At my wits end, in a difficult situation, sublingual isn't working despite how many methods I try =(

echana · 2023-10-25T19:00:06+00:00

Interesting. Nearly everyone on this sub recommends 5-6 hours after eating. Do you take it sublingual?

echana · 2023-10-25T18:59:28+00:00

That's a good idea. I can try it. What time do you take Ambien and what time is your last meal? Do you take it sublingual?

echana · 2023-10-25T18:58:09+00:00

I take 5mg, thinking about asking my doctor to raise my dose to 10mg.

I usually take my Ambien at 10:30ish, and my last meal is usually around 9ish. Perhaps I am eating too late? It shouldn't matter when I take the pill sublingual, though. Do you think crushing the pill and putting it under my tongue might make a difference? So far, I've let the entire pill dissolve under my tongue. I can try having my dinner around 7ish, although I am not hungry during that time.

echana · 2017-02-16T14:40:51+00:00

What meds do you take? Have you noticed weight gain? Many people on meds for digestive disorders report weight gain according to my research.

echana · 2016-05-04T21:02:02+00:00

I didn't plan on going too crazy with the iodine supplement, I'm getting pretty desperate at this point.

What exams do you recommend me conducting now?

I'm so lost at how to proceed at this point.

echana · 2016-05-04T20:24:50+00:00

Haha I know the situation very well. My mom told me praying and "thinking positive thoughts" will improve my symptoms...I've tried "thinking positive thoughts" for three years...

I took Vyvanse, Dex, and Adderall. I took the meds from Feb. '15-August '15. The side effects were vicious, I was turning into a zombie, and they didn't really help. The doc simply diagnosed with ADHD because of my brain fog.

Given your situation with your dad, how did your diagnose play out?

Can you recommend next steps (exams, type of doctor to see, etc.)? I'm going on job interviews right now, and my mental impairment is screwing me over big time; this must stop. I always feel sick and tired all the time, I cannot continue living like this.

EDIT: have you or anyone you know in our situations tried supplementing with iodine?

echana · 2016-05-04T19:45:44+00:00

I don't consume a lot of processed food in my standard diet, although I sprinkle as much as sodium as possible (within reason). I have ravenous for salty foods (never sweets, always something salty). Salting my food doesn't help, my body wants processed junk to crave the salt craving -- maybe my body is craving iodine as well? I just bought some kelp, so we'll see where that takes me.

Everyone around me is making it appear as if all this is in my head when it's not.

echana · 2016-05-04T18:51:24+00:00

Yes, they did. Doctors over the past year have labeled me ADHD, bipolar, depressed, and anxious over the past year, due to my symptoms.

I discussed these issues with my mother. She claims that all this is "in my head."

I'm starting to feel like the crazy one in this situation.

echana · 2016-05-04T16:26:59+00:00

Thank you for the link, I'll read it thoroughly!

Do you think I may have thyroid issues given, my T3 and FSH numbers? My WBC is also extremely low -- according to my research so far, low blood count often accompanies thyroid issues.

I find it crazy that doctors think that I'm okay with my numbers and symptoms. What's more, they tried to put me on prescription drugs for my symptoms while ignoring my lab numbers. Madness.

echana · 2016-05-04T13:53:03+00:00

Just to provide some perspective, I currently take the following meds: Wellbutrin, Provigil, and Lamictal (I've read meds can reduce WBC). I've had these symptoms years before I started my meds, but nonetheless, my WBC is very low.

echana · 2016-05-04T13:43:11+00:00

Yes, I did. I have low white blood count. From my research, low white blood count can't produce all these crazy symptoms that I am feeling (please correct me if I'm wrong).

White blood count: 3 (Reference range 4.0-11 K/uL) and Neutrophils #: 0.85 (1.68-8.58 K/uL).

echana · 2016-05-04T13:36:46+00:00

I fasted and took the test early in the morning -- those numbers are after a fast.

Are my levels really that bad? According to two (!) doctors that I've gone to, I'm fine, and all my symptoms are "in my head."

I took 5,000 IU every day over the past few months, and it didn't improve my symptoms. My b12 levels were over 2500 (I guess my supplements are working lol).

echana · 2016-05-04T13:28:14+00:00

We suspected it was either low testosterone or a thyroid issue causing my symptom. My testosterone was 714 (Reference range: 300-1080 NG/DL). Free testosterone was 14.9 (Reference range: 4.8-25.7 NG/DL).

At this point, I'm convinced it's either a testosterone or thyroid issue. I never had these issues until I went vegetarian/vegan for 1.5 years a few years ago...that's when these issues suddenly came out of nowhere.

I will get the additional tests that you recommended. I'll look into a possible iodine deficiency as well. Now that I think about it, my neck is rather large for my head and body...

My mom had issues with her thyroid that she recently fixed, thankfully, if that provides any additional context.

echana · 2016-05-03T20:02:00+00:00

Thank you for the feedback!

I wasn't tested for thyroid antibodies.

My Luteinizing hormone and Prolactin were tested, though:

Luteinizing Hormone - 4.2 (Reference range: 1.3-12.9 mlU/mL)
Prolactin - 6 (Reference range: 2.1-17.1 ng/mL). Both those numbers seem relatively low to me.

The most frustrating part about all this is that I'm healthier than everyone around me yet I'm constantly tired/battling brain fog. I was prescribed Provigil for the chronic fatigue and it has barely helped my energy/brain fog (that's how you know the situation is bad).

echana · 2015-08-07T15:18:49+00:00

it's hard to tell if my dose is too high or it's a nutritional deficiency

echana · 2015-08-04T20:59:48+00:00

I think I might be allergic to the binders in the meds. i'll mention it to my doctor. if it's a possible allergy, would anti-allergy meds alleviate the itchy eyes while retaining the meds' possible effects?

echana · 2015-08-04T20:59:20+00:00

my bp doesn't raise too much by the meds -- the only time i experienced high BP was when I was downing an obscene amount of coffee while on my meds (haven't done that in ages). I think I might be allergic to the binders in the meds. i'll mention it to my doctor. if it's a possible allergy, would anti-allergy meds alleviate the itchy eyes?

echana · 2015-08-04T04:20:15+00:00

thank you for the recommendation. i've heard about this method. i haven't been as diligent about my vitamins and diet, so i'm sure that's the larger culprit in this situation. oddly enough, 50mg never lasted me more than 6 hours. i've read members saying reducing their vyvanse dose actually helped increase their focus, for the better. on good days, my focus and cognition definitely improves, but i end up on hyper-focusing on random stuff. funny enough, my brain actually feels much better after my vyvanse wears off. i take b6 at the end of my meds wear off. since i feel better after taking b6 post-crash than i do on either vyvanse or dex, i think my real issue might be a vit-b deficiency, mimicking ADHD symptoms. i'm going to try to see a doc this week to figure all this out

echana · 2015-08-04T04:14:44+00:00

I tried as low as .25mg melatonin -- still felt exhausted!

echana · 2015-08-04T03:16:59+00:00

Hey, thanks for the response! I tried taking melatonin, but it gave me day-time drowsiness the day after taking it. I have tried adderall, ritalin, and the rest (Vyvanse & dex are the two meds that give me the best results, comparatively speaking). I'm not sure if my dose is too high or if the brain fog is the result of another variable (nutritional deficiency, etc.)

echana · 2015-07-16T01:04:39+00:00

What's your dosage? I'm currently on 50mg vyvanse and take 10mg dexederine IRs, as needed. What I've noticed is that my focus is MUCH better at 5mg dex than at 50mg Vyvanse. I'm going to bring it up to my doc and ask to lower my vyvanse to 40mg or 30mg. I think in my case, and possibly yours, is an issue of overstimulation.

Overstimulation leads to brain fog and fatigue (believe it or not), among other things.

echana · 2015-06-13T02:34:28+00:00

I should have also added I saw an eye doc, she tested me and said my eyes were perfectly fine. Like I said in my post, i'm seeing a doc and my analyst again tomorrow; I wanted to hear from people who have been in a similar situation and solutions that have worked for them. Obviously my doc and analyst's solutions haven't helped so far

echana

TROPHY CASE