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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by inanimate peanut on January 1, 2010, at 21:39:44
Does anyone use a light box? I got a blue light, but I'm not sure if that's proven to work like the big light boxes. How long do you have to use them before you see results? I probably need to use it regularly for awhile to see if it helps. Does anyone know specifically about the blue lights?
Posted by janejane on January 2, 2010, at 15:54:29
In reply to Light Boxes, posted by inanimate peanut on January 1, 2010, at 21:39:44
Peanut,
Since no one has answered yet, I will tell you what little I know. There is a small section about lamps in that Ross book if you want to do a "search inside this book thing" on it (I think she also has a list of places to buy them in the references or something). She thinks the lux rating doesn't need to be as high as others recommend. Whether she's right about that, I'm not sure.
I just got myself a full spectrum bulb and put in a regular lamp I have. Since it's not very strong, I just stay under it for a longer amount of time. I don't use it regularly, and have not really noticed an improvement in mood, but I haven't exactly given it a good trial, either. I do think I feel more awake while I'm under the light though.
On a related note, have you ever gotten your vitamin D tested? I found out mine is low and have been taking supplements. (Again, don't notice a difference in mood, but vitamin D is important for other things as well so it's important to have good levels.) My insurance co-pay for the test was like a couple bucks or something. If you live in a an area that has winter, you might want to get it checked. I think the jury is out on whether lamps actually increase Vitamin D (some say yes others say no). Supplements definitely do, though. Of course, sunlight also affects others things, like melatonin (and I think serotonin) so light therapy could be helpful beyond what Vitamin D supplements would do. I thought I'd mention the D though, since lots of people get low in the winter. It seems like I've been reading a lot more about it in the news lately too.
Posted by inanimate peanut on January 3, 2010, at 13:45:24
In reply to Re: Light Boxes » inanimate peanut, posted by janejane on January 2, 2010, at 15:54:29
I didn't ever get my Vitamin D tested, but I started to supplement it anyway, just in case it would help. I can't tell any difference, but that's not guarantee of anything since I've been so down and back up since then.
As for the light box, I have one of the blue lights. That is supposed to be the best spectrum of light for treating SAD. I bought it a couple years ago and have never really used it consistently. I'm going to use it for one hour when I wake up every morning for the next 2 weeks to see if it helps at all. I read that it should lead to improvement in about a week. So, here's hoping!
Posted by louise97 on January 24, 2010, at 0:07:53
In reply to Re: Light Boxes » inanimate peanut, posted by janejane on January 2, 2010, at 15:54:29
My pdoc and my gyn say you should use D3 and my pdoc has me on 50,000 IU of D3 per week - I just take it once a week.
Louise
Posted by desolationrower on February 2, 2010, at 3:25:25
In reply to Re: Light Boxes, posted by louise97 on January 24, 2010, at 0:07:53
50k of D3 or D2?
-d/r
This is the end of the thread.
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