Day 92: Operation HOPE...Is That a Glimmer of Light?

Do I dare say, "Is that a glimmer of light at the end of this long tunnel?"  It just might be!

In my last post on March 4th, I was going on a month of horrible brain fog, pain and a headache.  I had been experiencing those symptoms for a full month.  That afternoon, I spoke with Dr. C.  He told me that, at that point, he didn't feel that my issues were due to inflammation.  After some conversation, he then was leaning more toward this being a neurological {central nervous system} issue.  That night he started me on a 300 mg of 5-HTP.  That was ten nights ago.  Every morning for the first six days, I contacted Dr. C and gave him an update of how I was feeling.  During those six days, he gradually upped the dose.  On Friday, 3/10, he told me to take 700 mg for the next three days and contact him on Monday {today}.  I contacted him today, and now he's upped me to 1,000 mg for the next three days. 

Why is he doing this?   He's trying to up my serotonin level.  Why is he trying to up my serotonin level?  Remember I said he's thinking this is now a neurological issues?  Well, during the conversation I had with him on March 4th, I shared with him that years ago I took Cymbalta, and it actually worked.  I had three great days of less pain, however, the down side was my brain wouldn't shut off...I didn't sleep for three nights.  So, I had to stop taking it.  Once I stopped taking it, I slept just fine, but the pain was back full force.  He found this quite interesting.  That's when he started leaning toward this being a neurological issue and a serotonin deficiency {so to speak}.

Here's what "Health - How Stuff Works" has to say about Cymbalta and serotonin:  "Cymbalta is an SNRI, or a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.  That means that Cymbalta, along with other SNRIs, is thought to work by affecting the levels of two key substances in the central nervous system:  serotonin and norepinephrine.  Serotonin and norepinephrine are naturally occurring substances in the brain and the spinal cord, and they're tasked with modulating your emotional responses and communicating those responses to other parts of the brain.  Additionally, serotonin and norepinephrine help your body to suppress pain...serotonin and norepinephrine can also affect how much pain you feel."

Now, here's what the "University of Maryland Medical Center" has to say about 5-HTP:  "5-hdroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a chemical that the body makes from tryptophan (an essential amino acid that you get from food).  After tryptophan is converted to 5-HTP, the chemical is changed into another chemical called serotonin (a neurotransmitter that relays signals between brain cells).  5-HTP dietary supplements help raise serotonin levels in the brain.  Since serotonin helps regulate mood and behavior, 5-HTP may have a positive effect on sleep, mood, anxiety, appetite, and pain sensation."

Basically, 5-HTP is a dietary supplement with the same components of Cymbalta.  Who knew?!?  In addition to the 5-HTP, Dr. C put me on a specific B6 supplement that I need to take along with the 5-HTP.  The B6 is to help the 5-HTP convert/absorb into my system.

In ten short days, since taking the 5-HTP, the brain fog I was experiencing is totally gone, I'm sleeping much better than I have in years, I'm having dream recall every day {which according to Dr. C is HUGE}, my attitude and demeanor is much better, and although the pain is still present, it is much more tolerable and manageable than it has been in awhile.  I'm still feeling quite tired, but not any where near as exhausted as I was feeling.  Dr. C assures me that the tiredness will go away once my serotonin level has reached a normal level.  He said that it could take anywhere in between 1-3 months.  I'm truly okay with that, as long as I continue to see these gradual, positive changes.

If this continues, I may need to start wearing my sunglasses all the time!  I think that the light at the end of this long tunnel will just get brighter and brighter!  And, I'm so ready for that!  I can't wait to be walking on sunshine all the time!!

H.O.P.E. = Hold On Pain Ends!!