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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 95. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 3, 2002, at 0:55:15
Hi Everyone,
I've been taking Omega-3 fish oil for a while now, but only 1-2 capsules twice a day. I recently read Barry Sears' 'The Omega Zone' and decided to give the pharmaceutical grade high-dose fish oil a try. I can definitely feel it. The best I can relate it to is when I was transferring off Paxil to Remeron and had a few days of extra serotonin power or whatever it was going on. A little giddy, colors brighter, mucho enhanced mood, calmer. The fish oil purportedly enhances serotonin and dopamine production and I can believe it.I'm taking the brand Dr. Sears' plugs in his book, which is rather ridiculously expensive at $70 a pop, however, it does seem to be remarkably good quality. I'm mixing it with Carlson's lemon flavored high quality cod-liver oil as an extender and flavour enhancer (yes, you read that right; Carlson's cod-liver oil actually tastes good). Together, I'm taking a little less than one tablespoons twice a day, which is a moderately high dose of this oil. Considering how it's helped with my anxiety and depression is impressive enough, but my fibromyalgia seems to be much improved. I'm reminded of the Tin Man receiving a well-needed oiling of his parts. I believe I'm a believer. I'll keep you informed. - BarbaraCat
Posted by ShelliR on July 3, 2002, at 9:02:02
In reply to High dose fish oil is effective, posted by BarbaraCat on July 3, 2002, at 0:55:15
> I'm taking the brand Dr. Sears' plugs in his book, which is rather ridiculously expensive at $70 a pop, . . . . .
Hi BarbaraCat.It's so nice to see you on the board again.
What do you mean $70 a pop? 70 cents? Or are you talking about a week's worth?
Also, do you smell like fish?
Shelli
Posted by crepuscular on July 3, 2002, at 12:06:22
In reply to High dose fish oil is effective, posted by BarbaraCat on July 3, 2002, at 0:55:15
i'm using omegabrite and it does have an effect. i'm hoping that over time the incorporation of these oils into my membranes will be therapeutic in the deepest sense of that word. may try some lecithin too.
Posted by Roo on July 3, 2002, at 13:02:46
In reply to Re: High dose fish oil is effective, posted by crepuscular on July 3, 2002, at 12:06:22
how many mg's is considered to be high dose?
Posted by colin wallace on July 3, 2002, at 13:09:31
In reply to Re: High dose fish oil is effective » BarbaraCat, posted by ShelliR on July 3, 2002, at 9:02:02
Shelli,
I smell powerfully of fish, and am constantly being attacked by seagulls and mauled by domestic cats.
A small price to pay for my mental equanimity though.
Colin.
Posted by IsoM on July 3, 2002, at 13:24:15
In reply to Re: High dose fish oil is effective----shelli R, posted by colin wallace on July 3, 2002, at 13:09:31
So Colin, how do trips to the zoo go? Have they asked you to stay away as too many animals go wild, hitting the bars trying to reach you? :-)
I read last year that a something in catnip is 300x stronger than DEET in repelling mosquitoes. Don't ever try rubbing catnip on yourself to protect from mosquitoes & go for a hike in the woods. Between the catnip & fish oil, you'd be a prime target for cougars, lynx, & bobcats.
Thanks for a good chuckle today!!!
Posted by Ed O`Flaherty on July 3, 2002, at 15:02:54
In reply to Re: High dose fish oil is effective, posted by Roo on July 3, 2002, at 13:02:46
> how many mg's is considered to be high dose?
I would regard 10g (total of EPA and DHA) daily as high.However Eskimos take an average of 18g daily with no particular problem.Avoid if one has a blood disorder.I favor Eskimo-3 from Sweden -1500mg per 5ml in liquid form with a taste that is not too fishy (capsules available too).Omegabrite seems good too but more research has been done on
Eskimo-3.See my site at www.omega3.20megsfree.com
Reduce dose after a while if possible until you get the level that suits your condition.
Posted by angel1 on July 3, 2002, at 20:42:46
In reply to High dose fish oil is effective, posted by BarbaraCat on July 3, 2002, at 0:55:15
Do these oils cause weight gain? They are all
composed of fat grams aren't they?What is the name of the brand used in Dr. Spears
book?thanks
Posted by oona on July 3, 2002, at 22:11:48
In reply to High dose fish oil is effective, posted by BarbaraCat on July 3, 2002, at 0:55:15
How does the fish oil and digestion get along. Does it make you move faster or slower.
Just checking as I do not digest well and foods usually take the fast train.
Also, is that $70/week? Even that would be too much for me, maybe $70 a month.
thanks,
oona
Posted by JohnQ on July 4, 2002, at 16:17:19
In reply to Re: High dose fish oil is effective » BarbaraCat, posted by oona on July 3, 2002, at 22:11:48
> How does the fish oil and digestion get along. Does it make you move faster or slower.
>
> Just checking as I do not digest well and foods usually take the fast train.
>
> Also, is that $70/week? Even that would be too much for me, maybe $70 a month.
> thanks,
> oonaEach can of salmon contains about 2g of EPA/DHA, you know. Just eat alot of salmon. The pills really shouldn't run you much, certainly not $70 a week. Maybe $20 a month.
Posted by colin wallace on July 5, 2002, at 7:52:43
In reply to Fish oil and animals » colin wallace, posted by IsoM on July 3, 2002, at 13:24:15
Alas, I failed the zookeeper's interview, but I'm thinking of starting up my own business to retrieve stray cats...
*_-Incidentally, fish oils cause me to experience bizarre dreams (such as strolling through a 'museum' and browsing various meds., set like gems on display in translucent (fishy?) gold cases;Plaques reading'Remeron,Zoloft, Valium'...etc.
Not to mention my incredibly exhilerating light sabre dual with 'count' Dracula,(invincibly wielding my (fishy?) gold light sabre)...
Star Wars and fish oils don't mix, trust me.Col.
Posted by colin wallace on July 5, 2002, at 8:02:29
In reply to Re: Fish oil and animals----IsoM, posted by colin wallace on July 5, 2002, at 7:52:43
Posted by hildi on July 5, 2002, at 12:30:00
In reply to Re: High dose fish oil is effective----shelli R, posted by colin wallace on July 3, 2002, at 13:09:31
> Shelli,
>
> I smell powerfully of fish, and am constantly being attacked by seagulls and mauled by domestic cats.
>
> A small price to pay for my mental equanimity though.
>
> Colin.Colin, you crack me up! Reading this gave me the first good laugh I'd had in awhile.
Thank You!
Hildi
Posted by crepuscular on July 5, 2002, at 14:25:33
In reply to High dose fish oil is effective, posted by BarbaraCat on July 3, 2002, at 0:55:15
i'm trying an agressive trial of omegabrite (4grams/day) and will report my findings. at one week, i am noticing more than when i did the same experiment with Fisol.
i am looking for a mood stabilization effect, the gold standard for me being seroquel. i don't know if omegabrite will measure up to that, but if i could 75% of the effect w/out TD/EPS, that would be something to write home about.
Posted by fachad on July 5, 2002, at 22:09:57
In reply to High dose fish oil is effective, posted by BarbaraCat on July 3, 2002, at 0:55:15
How do you people maintain bowel continence on such high doses of oils?
If I take more than about 3 grams a day, it goes right thru me and comes out undigested and unabsorbed.
Posted by fachad on July 5, 2002, at 22:16:33
In reply to Re: High dose fish oil is effective, posted by angel1 on July 3, 2002, at 20:42:46
> Do these oils cause weight gain? They are all
> composed of fat grams aren't they?I don't think you could gain weight from taking fish oil. The usual doses are a few grams a day, that amount of fat grams in not significant. (It's less than you would get from a glass of 2% milk)
Besides, if you took enough to theoretically cause weight gain, it would, um, pass out too quickly to be absorbed.
Some people are even claiming that these oils help weight loss.
Posted by BekkaH on July 5, 2002, at 22:58:38
In reply to Re: High dose fish oil is effective...as laxative, posted by fachad on July 5, 2002, at 22:09:57
> How do you people maintain bowel continence on such high doses of oils?
>
> If I take more than about 3 grams a day, it goes right thru me and comes out undigested and unabsorbed.***********************************************
Hi Fachad,Well, I think some PB members are on so many meds that cause constipation, so the anticholinergic effects of the meds probably counteract the "Roto-Rooter" qualities of the oils. Also, I've noticed that some meds that are not classified as anticholinergic (according to those tables we discussed above) are still quite constipating.
Bekka
Posted by johnj on July 6, 2002, at 0:00:29
In reply to Re: 'duel ' ! (nm), posted by colin wallace on July 5, 2002, at 8:02:29
Your sense of humor really adds a definte light touch to this board. Hope the incarceration wasn't too harsh on you! How has everything being going with you? Meds still the same?
Cheers
Johnj
Posted by BarbaraCat on July 6, 2002, at 1:35:41
In reply to High dose fish oil is effective, posted by BarbaraCat on July 3, 2002, at 0:55:15
That's $70 a month. It's OmegaRx touted by Dr. Sears in his book. A therapeutic dose for us happily-challenged folks is 10-18 grams, which turns out to be around 2 tablespoons a day, and the bottle is 9 oz. Another very decent brand is Carlson's lemon flavored cod liver oil for around $13 a bottle. It has 2 grams EPA/DHA per tablespoon vs. per teaspoon like the OmegaRx. I don't mind the taste at all and no, it does not run out of me in smelly oily rivulets. Come to think of it, my cats have been very attentive to me lately. And here I thought the little stinkers were being nice to ME instead of my fishy vapor trails. - BarbaraCat
Posted by colin wallace on July 6, 2002, at 13:16:22
In reply to Welcome back Colin, posted by johnj on July 6, 2002, at 0:00:29
Hi john,
Unfortunately,I've been too ill to look in for a while; a relative's illness sparked another deep depression, which has been amplifying the mood 'undulations' I've been experiencing, even when otherwise quite well.
Meds are still: zoloft 25mg, sam-e 200mg, diazepam 5mg, amitriptyline 10mg.Moods are awful;erratically moving from stupefied, contemplatively suicidal, absent, enraged (this is by far the worst),bitter and irritable, 'runaway' irrational thoughts- and even occasionally high (singing aloud etc.)
Have asked my doc. to dish out a bag of lithium (300mg of lithobid would do nicely!)or a smidgen of lamactil- but have to wait a (further!!) month for a psych. consultation.(I could ******* throttle my GP.)If his head was on fire, I wonder how he'd feel if I said 'sorry pal, I've got a fire extinguisher here, but you'll have to wait a few weeks until I can find someone authorised to use it!!'
I don't need a psych. phd to work out that I'm cycling, quickly and dangerously.Suspected I was bipolar 11 or something for a while.
Actually drove to a psych. hospital today, but it was such a dump (like a Victorian era asylum!)
that I quickly opted for the pub instead.And the beer tasted like U-boat engine oil.
****, I hate the UK!!!!How are things with you anyhow?
Col. -__-
Posted by johnj on July 6, 2002, at 21:47:33
In reply to Re: Welcome back Colin John J, posted by colin wallace on July 6, 2002, at 13:16:22
Colin,
I am really sorry to hear about things taking a turn for the worse. Hopefully, the lithium will level things out for you. I tried to cut my lithobid little bit from 600 mg to 300 mg and it did make me feel worse so I do believe it plays an important part in my overall mental state. It must be that time of year since I have been fighting a battle myself. I feel I am on a tightrope and I could go bonkers or feel completely "normal" depending on which way I fall.
I did narrow one reason for the sleep problems to plain old stress from work due to a dictator jackass of a boss. I wasn't fairing too bad, but another young engineer was taking a lot of abuse and I just couldn't standby and do nothing to help the poor guy. The higher ups have slapped him down a peg; however, I don't know what position that will put me in after the dust clears. But, I do know that me just sitting by and seeing somebody berated for no reason is not tolerable and was causing much turmoil.
As far as my meds go, I gave the following a whirl:
1) another dose of sam-e, makes me anxious and adds to the insomnia. OH well, what is one more sleepless night?? I was hoping it would workout and I might give it one more try.2) Fish oil. It seemed to make me calm and help with heart palps, but I had way too much dreaming and it kind of messed up my sleep after a while. Feel better not taking it. I wonder if anybody else has experienced increased rem on it?
3) I had one excellent week in May when I quit remeron. 3 days after quitting I seemed to snap out of the remeron fog, and I had added 10 mgs of imipramine. I felt the best in ten years, but it only lasted for about 8 days or so. I was trying to titrate up on imipramine to get off the nortryptline, but I had nights of NO sleep at all. I would sweat a lot too.
I had to increase my dose of benzo(tranzene) from 7.5 mg to 22.5 mg to get relief. I was on 15 mg until a few years ago and now I have to add a little more to help me sleep. I guess benzo sleep is better than none. But, if I stay in bed and ruminate after waking up and let the irrational thoughts and worry start I pay for it all day.
I have come to realize that anxiety/worry give way to irrational thinking for me. I have found myself very irritable and my poor wife is the recipient of that which makes me feel worse. On top of that she is looking for a job so the stress around home is on high alert. I had to give up excercise completely for the time being and not being allowed to help myself makes me feel very helpless. I started having trouble afte working in the garden for a few hours. It probably is related to the heat so I am not sure what is going on. I have been on a low sodium diet and found out that is not the best for one that is on lithium so make sure you replace what you sweat out working out. How is the working out going? Hope you can still get some in to distract you for a while. Take care
Regards,
Johnj
Posted by Zo on July 7, 2002, at 0:51:02
In reply to Re: Welcome back Colin John J, posted by colin wallace on July 6, 2002, at 13:16:22
Gee, I feel like sending a care package with. . things. .. in it that you don't. .. have available in the UK, nnww.Sorry things have been hairy. See you still have great wit.
Zo
Posted by colin wallace on July 7, 2002, at 17:15:23
In reply to Re: Welcome back Colin » colin wallace, posted by Zo on July 7, 2002, at 0:51:02
>
> Gee, I feel like sending a care package with. . things. .. in it that you don't. .. have available in the UK, nnww.>Thanks Zo.. send me that package and I'll be your best friend...a few of those fizzy haldol chews would be great.
Col.
Posted by colin wallace on July 7, 2002, at 17:49:41
In reply to Re: Welcome back Colin (COLIN), posted by johnj on July 6, 2002, at 21:47:33
Hi John,
Would I be right in thinking that you've yet to try out an SSRI ? I'm sure you've already given this some thought, but they can really make a big impact on the anxiety (the short term worsening usually pays dividends, if you can weather it).Zoloft basically eradicated the remnants of my once crippling anxiety and took me a stage further than sam-e alone in tackling the depression.
Unfortunately, I was recntly persuaded to try a 'therapeutic' dose of zoloft, got catapulted into rage/mania as a result, and found myself accelerating hard towards a barrier in my car, hell-bent on killing myself.Things have been spiralling downhill since then, as I'm under phenomenal personal stress right now too.
Rode 30 or so miles today, great anger outlet, and having reduced the zoloft to virtually nothing has helped.
Have a feeling like a tight knot or constriction in the left side of my head, and keeping those cascading thoughts and sickening depressive troughs under wraps is exhausting.
Feels like trying to dig my way out of an avalanche with a teaspoon.But dig I will, 'cos I've been here before, and far worse too.So **** it.You sound as though you need a holiday yourself!
Cheers
Col.ps. What happened to Ron Hill? Did he get shipped off to break rocks at the colony too??
Posted by johnj on July 7, 2002, at 18:37:57
In reply to Re: Welcome back Colin ------John J, posted by colin wallace on July 7, 2002, at 17:49:41
Colin:
You are right I have not tried an ssri yet. I see so much conflicting info regarding them I am hesitant to try. You know, the receptor damage theory, the poop out theory, etc. I know that is very individual, but I don't know if I can take another trial of a new med right now. Too much going on that is stressing me and I don't want to be kicked in the teeth if something doesn't work well. My depression is so interlocked with anxiety that if can get a med that will let me work out I can help myself. I was thinking of lexapro, but it has not come out yet. But, I do hear zoloft has a good track record, but it is hard to give it a try. How much zoloft did you increase to that triggered things for you?
Haven't heard from Ron in a while, I don't think Dr.B has him banished, but I could have missed it.
take care of yourself!
JOhnj
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