Antidepressants and Mood Disorder Meds

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tex
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Post by tex »

Terri wrote:Need to start up exercising more but terrified of losing weight from that
There's no need to be terrified. According to Dr. Briffa (and I definitely agree, based on my own experiences), the old claim that exercise is the way to lose weight is a myth. Actually, it's a poor way to lose weight, because people who exercise to lose weight, almost always eventually gain back any weight that they lose, plus interest. LOL.

True, it causes the loss of fat, but the fat is replaced by muscle. And burning calories by means of exercise should stimulate your appetite accordingly, so that if you eat right, to match your exercise program, your net weight change should be slight. The difference will be in improved muscle tone and improved health. If you lose a significant amount of weight while exercising, you're starving yourself — that's the message that your body is sending you. It's trying to tell you to eat more protein, and more animal fat, to provide fuel for your exercise sessions.

Note that it is not telling you to eat more carbs. That is clear from the fact that the paleo people and even modern aborigines were/are able to run for days while pursuing animals they were hunting.

Many years ago, (toward the end of the Jurassic period, :lol: ), I hunted with a Jicarillo Apache Indian guide. For lunch, I carried a couple of sandwiches and a coke. Guess what he carried — a pouch containing pemmican, which was a mixture of pulverized deer jerky and beef tallow, and a canteen with water. The Jicarillas didn't have any buffalo on their reservation in NW New Mexico, so they used beef fallow in place of buffalo, because it makes much better pemmican than mule deer fat.

I realize that most modern bodybuilders and athletes disagree with that position. They believe that carbs are an essential part of the diet for anyone pushing their body to the limit. That's simply not true, though. Carbohydrates are not essential for robust health, and the body can do perfectly well without them. They are simply a source of "cheap" and abundant (and tasty) fuel, and since bodybuilders and athletes burn a lot of fuel in their activities, they have learned to love carbs.

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
tlras
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Post by tlras »

Interesting Tex! Jurassic days huh!? lol!

I've been thinking about doing a strength training program to gain back some muscle mass. I've only been doing cardio for 15 minutes/day per instructions from my cardiologist and then slowly work my way up to 30 minutes of cardio 5 times a week. I do realize I need to give up most of my grains and do maybe a modified Paleo and hope to do that at some time in the near future when I can tolerate more veggies and hopefully add in some nuts. All this corn and rice I've been eating has raised my Trigs but they are still considered normal at 147. My good cholesterol is high at 72.....don't know what the heck I'm eating to get it that high. Maybe fish? Avocado? My LDL is at 132...not happy with that. I'm worried that meat may be the culprit here, not all the meat I eat but some. Like my Applegates Chicken/Apple Breakfast sausage (I have frequently) and the 92% lean Beef I eat 5 times a month. I ended up making a list of foods I eat....not a long list as we all know....and taking it to my doctor's office tomorrow to figure out what I need to cut down on. I think it's mainly that I need to exercise more and add more fiber...who knows. I'm worried about adding more meat to my diet as I'm afraid it may be causing these issues with my LDL. I honestly don't know. Maybe I should just stick with fish, but get tired of that. I have a feeling doc is going to want me on fish oil capsules again! I know you take one a day plus a flaxseed capsule as well and hoping maybe I can get by with that without any issues like the dreaded D.

So I must play detective once again. One good thing is I'm not pre-diabetic anymore. Go figure with all the grains I eat. I do eat a lot less sugar though so I suppose that's helping.

I will have to remember the doctor's name you mentioned. Thanks so much! I can't wait to get my dumbbells out again....actually have the energy to use them again!

Oh...and so much for adding boiled eggs to my morning breakfast! So sad as I tolerate them but they are loaded with cholesterol.


Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
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tex
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Post by tex »

Terri,

Just as fat in the diet doesn't translate to weight gain, cholesterol in the diet doesn't necessarily translate to an increase in cholesterol level. My old country doctor always told me that our cholesterol results are mostly determined by heredity. In his view, it was difficult to make any significant changes in cholesterol levels, by changing dietary habits. I'm not sure that I agree with him completely, but there's probably at least a smidgeon of truth in that viewpoint.

If you have eliminated a pre-diabetic state, then you're certainly doing something right in your diet, to say the least.

Has your doctor checked your LDL particle size/density? According to recent research, large fluffy particles do not carry an elevated risk. It's small, dense particles that cause cardiovascular problems. Just reporting the standard LDL result is of little value, because research shows that even "normal" levels of LDL can carry an elevated risk if the particle size is small.

A New Way to Measure Cholesterol: Particle Size Indicates Risk

Beyond Routine Cholesterol Testing: The Role of LDL Particle Size Assessment

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
tlras
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Post by tlras »

Thanks Tex! I will ask her about the LDL particle size....very interesting. I'll see her in a couple of hours. I love this doctor...haven't seen her in 3 years. It'll be interesting to hear what she has to say about my recent health issues.

Another good thing is all my vitamins, minerals, etc. were very good and my Vitamin D was at 81....only taking 2,000 units a day. Thyroid is normal as well.

GI doctor was happy to hear how well I'm doing. He insists on doing bloodwork twice a year. At least he doesn't plan on scoping me again for at least a few years. So happy about that!

Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
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Post by tex »

Outstanding vitamin D level. :thumbsup:

You must get a lot of sun.

Good luck with the appointment.

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
tlras
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Post by tlras »

I was shocked Tex as I haven't been out in the sun since early June! Today, my doctor asked me how much Vitamin D I took and I told her 2,000 units/day. She was shocked as she thought I was on more than that to get those numbers. Imagine what they will be once I start getting some sun soon.

She eased my mind on my cholesterol. She said I had the highest HDL of 72 that she has ever seen and said I didn't need to worry about my LDL or Trig levels. So I'm scratching that off my worry list. As we all know, the less we worry, the less we flare. So I'm a happy camper today. She did, however, mention a counselor to me....says I've been through an awful lot in the past year and that if I don't get my anxiety in check, then I'm going to get in trouble again. I told her my forum here was counseling enough and I know to stay away from people who stress me and stressful events. She still thinks I need a counselor though....guess it wouldn't hurt. She's also weaning me off my Librium to see how I do. When she mentioned weaning off the Amitriptyline, I freaked so we will try that after I get off the Librium, not now. Amitriptyline helps with my stomach and headaches, but she feels that now that I've been off gluten for 8 months that maybe I'll do okay without the anti-depressant. Crossing my fingers. She doesn't realize that the withdrawal is a nightmare!

Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
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Post by tex »

Terri wrote:I was shocked Tex as I haven't been out in the sun since early June!
Well now I'm shocked too. :lol: I get a fair amount of sun, and take around 6,500 IU of vitamin D per day, and the last time my 25(OH)D level was checked it was only a little over half your level. :shock: It just goes to show once again, that we are all different in our response to meds and supplements.

Kudos to her for recognizing that your cholesterol numbers are not something to worry about.

On the other hand, you shouldn't need a counselor, unless she insists that you should wean off the amitriptyline, so I don't understand why she would try to upset the apple cart by doing that. :headscratch:

To her credit, though, she obviously recognizes that untreated gluten-sensitivity is a very common cause of depression/anxiety, so she may well be right that you might be able to successfully wean off the amitriptyline. Maybe it won't be a nightmare, with gluten out of the way. And the fact that she correctly understands that issue, calls for another kudo or two for her. :thumbsup:

Tex

P. S. I intended to post a link to Dr. Briffa's blog, in an earlier post, but I forgot, so here's a link. He has a weekly newsletter that you can subscribe to, that makes it easy for you to be aware of blog entries that might be of interest to you.

http://www.drbriffa.com/
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
tlras
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Post by tlras »

Wow...that's a lot of Vitamin D you take. I remember about 6 years ago, she had me taking 5,000 units a day and within 3 months my levels had gone up to 113. So I won't be doing that again.

Oh...I do hope I can get off the Amitriptyline...don't like taking it and have been on it way too long. I get off birth control pills in a few months when I have my hysterectomy. So my goal is to only be taking Armour thyroid within a year.

Thanks for the link!

@Birdlover...how long did it take you to wean off Cymbalta? How did you lower your dosage? Very slowly I'm assuming.

Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
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