| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Laura
USA
655 Posts |
 Posted - 10/04/2004 : 12:38:11
|
Hey, all,
My naturopathic doctor has told me to take a vitamin B formulation that helps to support the inner ear, and also another supplement that is called OilMax (a combination of borage and flaxseed oil). I have episodes of lightheadedness which are very brief in nature, and I have had confirmation that the problems is TMS. I'm confused though because I know I need to simply accept the TMS diagnosis, i.e. thinking psychological and not physical. I do that and it is helping. However, a part of me feels with regards to the vitamins that are chemically helping the inner ear system to be strong and healthy and that maybe I should continue them. I hadn't taken the OilMax for a couple of weeks and the other day I looked at the bottle, thought about how I hadn't been taking them and about what they are supposed to do to help, and then went to lay down on the couch and got dizzy. It is still the most bizarre thing to me how a simple thought can provoke the dizzy feeling. I know my mind is powerful but I truly wish it wasn't that powerful. Anyway, any advice? Should I continue with the Lipoflavinoid and OilMax or stop them and just continue to think psychological. Any input is greatly appreciated. By the way, my mind is so powerful that today, while sitting in the dental chair (which I dread) I began to feel anxious and remembered passing out a week ago when I broke my toe. My mind started playing tricks on me and I almost talked myself into passing out again, just from the fear. |
|
|
Susie
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2004 : 16:13:32
|
| Laura-I think it's all the nature of the beast--us and tms. While I was reading your post I got dizzy for a second. Is that not hysterical? I am sure that I cause my symptoms to arise by thinking about them but I have also been able to diffuse them by knowing they are just harmless tms byproducts. I took some herbal stuff for ibs and other symptoms but I have gotten rid of all that junk. I would suggest you do the same. As long as you continue to take them, you still give your mind a little "wiggle room" to convince you that maybe you do have a little physical problem. You are well on the recovery road because you seem to "notice" that your mind is running away with your thoughts. I think that's the main prescription for cure. |
 |
|
|
tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2004 : 18:08:32
|
Laura,
Susie is right when she calls all that stuff "junk". It is. For years I took all kinds of supplements. It was usually on the earnest advice of "healing" therapists like accupuncturists and body workers. I respected these people at the time. Some became friends or were good athletes. When people like that have you on their tables you are a captive audience. I think most of them believe in the "junk" they are pushing. It also becomes a nice supplement to their income.
I spent thousands of dollars on all sorts of supplemets. I recently filled up half a garbage can with them and threw them all away. It wasn't the expense so much, as the amount of time and tedium to swallow all these concoctions and snake oils.
Bottom line: THEY WERE ALL PLACEBOS. I feel no better or worse for having stopped taking them. I don't even take a vitamin now and no OTC pain kiillers. If you are defficient in something, I think it will show up in routine lab tests done during physicals.
I think even taking vitamins is like wearing a rabbit's foot on your keychain. |
|
|
|
FarmerEd
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2004 : 20:12:31
|
Hello Laura,
I agree with Susie and Tennis Tom on this. I'm convinced my Mom has several manifestations of TMS and she is heavily into vitamins and supplements. I agree with Tennis Tom that they are mostly Placebos. I noticed a pattern with my Mom. She started with just one supplement for a proplem she had. She got better for a while but it didn't last. She then added a new supplement while still taking the other. This too seemed to help but again didn't last.
This pattern continued till today she carries a small suitcase (the size of a large cosmetic case) full of different vitamins and supplements on any trip she goes on. If she were to lose the case I'm convinced she would start to physically manifest all kinds of symptoms. If this isn't an extreme example of placebo in action I don't know what is.
My son is a mechanic and in his trade they have a name for all the hundreds of additives people buy for their cars, "Mouse Milk", and I believe that is what most of these supplements are. I'm sure that for someone who has a proven deficiency in some nutrient a mutli-vitamin would be helpful, and for someone who dosen't eat as well as they should they would be an aid, but I also believe a good sensible diet will provide all that is needed. |
|
|
|
menvert
Australia
133 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 03:14:12
|
I would have to agree with what has been said already .
stop the supplements. Supplements for your injury should be included under the heading of 'therapy' they cause more problems than they solve when it comes to TMS.
I take a multi vitamin myself each day but it's got nothing to do with my TMS .
it's got to do with sometimes being lazy and not eating enough[particularly vitamin giving food] in a given day or week... I probably could stop that as well because its unnecessarily costly and the entire vitamin industry is probably a scam anyway. There are many claims saying vitamins do nothing anyway, we should get our vitamins from food and artificial sources don't work.
ahhh their I go again, getting long winded and off topic... |
|
|
|
Suz
559 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 10:28:54
|
This thread of topic is sooo interesting for me. I am in a real quandry about diet and supplements. I do a specific blood type diet -the guy - Dr. Peter D'Adamo is my naturopathic doctor - I really only see him and not a regular allopathic doctor. He has helped me no end after being on strong steroids. He works with many people with all sort of ailments. He is basically and biochemist who studies the effects of protein lectins on cells. I really believe in his work and try and stick to the diet.
HOWEVER - I link my diet of no grains, sugars or dairy to keeping my skin clear and not having IBS symptoms. I am very very convinced tha if I eat this food, my skin will break out and I will have nasty stomach symptoms. Consequently, if I do eat these things, my skin breaks out immediately - normally painful boils - very embarressing. I get terrible gas and bloating. I am seriously wondering if this is all TMS. I take a multi vit and calcium every day. He has also put me on one other thing to help my body lose water weight after the steroids. He doesn't believe in using many supplements as he says you can get it from your diet.
I would love not to have such a restrictive diet as I feel like I am a slave to it - but I hate having bad skin. I also get a rash all over my back and chest.
Do any of you have any recommendations of how to stop this? I went on a vacation recently where I was resting a lot and ate some different things to normal and my skin stayed clear - I even drank coffee which normally I can't do. I am taking a week off from work next week so maybe I will be brave enough to try.
This is a thinking that is so hard to change. Do any of you have any ideas or suggestions? I am so fed up of being so restricted |
|
|
|
Susie
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 13:14:49
|
| Before I knew about tms I had very bad ibs symptoms. I read up on it and followed the diet, i.e. fruits and veggies, no caffiene and chocolate etc. Took special natural supplements and alot of other baloney. I gradually got a little better and then found Sarno and got alot better. I eat whatever I want and don't give it a second thought. I threw out all the supplements and never looked back. I get gastric twinges from time to time but I get backpain twinges too. Twinges I can live with. I really think if you truely realize you have tms, you can toss all the c--p you take and forget about it. Thinking about which supplement to take for which symptom just reinforces the symptom. I think your symptoms are probably the result of conditioning. Hope this helps Suz. |
|
|
|
Suz
559 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 13:24:45
|
Susie,
Thank you for your advice - I suspect that you are right and my symptoms are from TMS. I am beginning to see that my IBS/constipation is from that but I just have to get the courage up to eat whatever I want.
I am not so much bothered by the IBS symptoms as I am by the skin as I hate having break outs. I am not sure how to break this conditioning as it has been around for a long time. Also - my body has changed because of the powerful steroids I was on for two months for my back pain (ridiculous suggestion by a "pain doctor")- according to the doctor, my body has changed its response to insulin and so I have to be really careful with sugar so I don't develope diabetes.
I will have to really think this one over - it would be incredible to eat whatever I want and not worry any more |
|
|
|
Suz
559 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 13:29:13
|
Susie,
Another question - I am not taking any supplements for my constipation/IBS, my skin or my back. I am only taking a multi and calcium. I am taking one supplement to help my metabolism after the steroids. I think these supplements are just good common sense for one's health. Did you take supplements specifically for the IBS? Are those the ones you stopped or did you decide just to pack it all in?
Suz |
|
|
|
Susie
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 14:45:12
|
| Suz-All I take is 1000ml of vit.c twice a day. I don't really know if it helps your immune system or not but I've taken it forever, way before tms. I know nothing about the steroids, but is your doctor guessing at the change of insulin use because of the symptoms you have given him? I just feel like the constant worry of maintaining a specific diet keeps your minds awareness going that you have a digestive problem. Of course, people with diabetes do constantly have to watch their diet so there are valid reasons for it. I started out slowly eating normal. I was very wary of greasy food so that the first hamburger was really scarry. Take it slow and give it a try. Integrate normal stuff slowly into your diet. I think if you go slowly you won't dwell on it so much thus causing the conditioned response you are trying to avoid. |
|
|
|
Suz
559 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 15:24:49
|
Susie,
I totally agree with you - I know that this restrictive diet keeps me focused on my digestion and skin problems. The problem is that I really believe this doctor is a genius - he has helped so many of my friends with so many ailments - even fertility problems. When I eat any kind of grain, I always feel really groggy and awful the next day - so could be valid - could be conditioning. I think I will try slowly - starting on vacation when I am relaxed.
Can you eat anything now? - do you happen to know what your blood type is? I can eat hamburgers/fat - all protein and veggies - not lots of raw broccoli - but I cannot eat any grains, dairy or sugar |
|
|
|
Susie
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 15:35:12
|
| Suz- don't know my blood type. I can eat anything. When I do have slight ibs problems, I can relate it to incidents rather than food. |
|
|
|
tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 16:31:58
|
Suz, I saw your mention of diabetes. FYI, Sarno, mentions diabetes on pages: 150, 159 & 162, of MBP. The citations may not appear in the index. I purchased a copy of MBP from e-books and now have a copy for reference in my Dell laptop. The word search on the e-book is more thorough than the index of the actual book I believe.
Hope this helps,
tt |
|
|
|
menvert
Australia
133 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 18:49:22
|
hmmm, that e-book sounds usefull... i want one :)
yeah my type o diet did not seem to help me much but I did not at that point have much faith that it was going to do anything... so for the placebo effect only lasted a couple of weeks and once I went off the restricted diet nothing got worse, as a result. Now I pretty much that everything I like, but I try to eat healthy still, which has nothing to do with tms :) |
|
|
|
Laura
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 20:49:05
|
Thanks everyone for your input. I think that I will get a large trash bag and dump out all the other supplements that have accumulated in the cabinet. I appreciate all of your comments.
|
|
|
|
JoeW
United Kingdom
61 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2004 : 23:05:32
|
menvert (and anyone else) - if you want to search Sarno's books (at least the last two), without having to buy an e-book, then you can use Amazon's "search inside" feature. Search for Sarno in the books section, and then click on the picture of the cover (with "search inside"). You can search for any word, and then select the page to be displayed on screen.
As with an e-book, this will likely find things that the index doesn't mention.
(edit - you do need to register with Amazon to use this feature) |
Edited by - JoeW on 10/05/2004 23:06:58 |
|
|
|
Burton
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2004 : 09:25:12
|
I don't know if this is really "on topic" but it does have to do with the power of conditioning. I read an article in my college paper recently about the perceived effects that dairy has on upper respiratiory congestion. I believe it was an AP article they reprinted but I can't remember the title/author.
The article detailed a study that a group of researchers conducted where they gave people, I hope I'm remembering this right, a capsule with what they said could contain lactose and other substances found in milk. The people given the placebos experienced an increase in throat mucous and upper respiratory congestion, just like the people given the loaded capsules and just as they expected they would. Many physicians recommend their patient's cut out or cut down on dairy because they believe dairy exacerbates asthma and other u/r conditions. It's also sort of an old wive's tale, that you shouldn't drink milk when you have a cold.
A good friend of mine who developed asthma as an adult was on a very restrictive diet, no dairy for some time and after the initial placebo effect wore off, it didn't seem to help her at all. This same friend of mine has a lot of neck/shoulder/cranial pain. She's been very supportive of me during my recovery from TMS but when I gave her my Sarno vhs tapes, she took them only to humor me and I've heard nothing from her regarding them. I've known her since childhood and I know many of the reasons she has repressed rage because they are similar to my own. Cutting out dairy or taking seaweed supplements isn't going to help all of that... |
|
|
|
tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2004 : 12:10:53
|
Burton, thanks for your post on conditioning. My ladyfriend "has" asthma and she is starting to see that it is TMS and having fewer incidents and beginning to deal with it from a mindbody perspective.
I think your post is very much ON topic. TMS is all about conditioning and de-conditioning. Don't worry about the details of the source of the aritcle and your accuracy, that concern is your humanitarian, goodist/perfectionist traits coming through. The message is clear, the mind is our most powerful tool for making us sick or making us well.
There is too much emphasis in our society on 100%, rote accuracy. If we don't dot an "i" or cross a "t", we get attacked by the a-holes for not being "correct", really, not being "politcally correct". They cannot debate the issues, so they attack people on irrelevant technicalities of accuracy. I feel it is the fault of our education system that rewards memorization over thinking.
How does this relate to our TMS? I feel having to fill up our valuable gray matter with billions of cells of "data", in order to prevent a "gotcha" momment, is stress creating. Our credibility, is being based upon, our ability to roboticly, regurgetate reams of facts, with litle regard for the ESSENCE of the issue. Instead of EXPRESSING our emotions and our heart-felt feelings, in our interpersonal relationships, we are forced to "argue" from a guarded, REPRESSIVE, over-thinking, brain oriented perspective, to prevent the dreaded "gotcha" momment and the consequent humiliation, loss of credibility and damage to self-esteem.
Regarding what is TMS and what isn't, Dave made a good point recently. Most everything can be TMS. Sarno wrote that he regrets the nomenclature he gave to his theory, TMS, because the "myositis" refers to muscle. As time went on he found tendons, ligaments and organs being affected by the sub-conscious, and also all the emtional equivalents. To streamline things I would assume all bodily senations, twinges, pains-physicaly and emotionaly are TMS. One should not PANIC-take a deep breath, observe the moment and decide to do something about it or accept it. To simplify things for myself, rather than having to run to Sarno for every twinge to see if he covers it in his books, I assume it is TMS and deal with it as such-unless I see bleeding or bones sticking out of the skin. The boilerplate says go to a doctor and get it checked out. This is a doubble-edged sword with it's own catch-22. If the doc (or dentist) is hungry for money to make payments on the new Jag or riding lessons for the kids, he might start fishing around and probably will find something like a herniated disc or TMJ. Then the patient's ringing in the ear will become, ka-ching, ka-ching. |
|
|
|
Susie
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2004 : 13:44:37
|
| Tom- I couldn't agree with you more. Bleeding or bones sticking out is my identical rational for needing to go to the doctor. I, too, think most bodily discomfort is tms. I have been able to quit my Pollypureheart routine of trying to "enlighten" everyone and generally mind my own business. I did mention Sarno to an aquantaince suffering from sciatica last month. She bought the book a few weeks ago and called today to tell me she was tremendously better. Interestingly enough, one of my best friends is an alcoholic and has been sober for 18 years. He has worked extensively through AA and has done a lot of soul searching for years. His first reaction to feeling "out of sorts" is to look for what might be bothering him. I have never noticed him symptomatic in any way with tms. I think his self-examination has given him a jump on it. |
|
|
|
Laura
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2004 : 15:34:21
|
Oh, my gosh. Tom, you are so right on the money with what you said. I could not agree with you more. Nicely put!
I remember back a couple years ago when I first started to experience "dizzy" feelings. We were at dinner with some close friends and another couple that I barely know joined us. The guy is a doctor and when I mentioned feeling a little "off balance" and "lightheaded" he ridiculed me for not having had every test known to mankind performed. I remember his exact words were "You are a fool - you should never play with your health like that. God knows, you could have Myasthenia Gravis or a tumor or something worse." What a nut job! I had already seen three doctors and they just kept scratching their heads and telling me they couldn't figure out what was wrong. Two ENT's had checked me for acoustic neuroma (tumor in the ear that can cause balance problems) but said I did not have that, especially since my problem started after returning from being on a plane and a boat trip. The closest diagnosis anyone could come up with for me is this disembarkment syndrome, for which there is no cure. That's when I took matters into my own hands and started looking more closely at TMS. I just love the way all these doctors love to alarm you. In fact, this doctor we had dinner with had a whole list of fellow doctors he could refer me to and I'm sure he would receive a nice cut from that.
I think you are so right that anything could be TMS and that you should treat it as if it is TMS and see how your body responds. I have a high pain tolerance, so I'm never quick to run to the so called "experts" (doctors) unless I'm bleeding or a bone is sticking out either.
Great post!
|
|
|
|
Burton
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2004 : 09:44:35
|
Tennis Tom,
You must have met my Early American Literature professor. :) This guy is driving me insane, talk about generating a pool of rage. I regret the day I registered for his class but since it's a required class, it really wasn't a choice. This guy assigns us 15 to 20 long, dense readings a week and lectures on and on in a fake British accent about the philosophy behind them, which might be enlightening if we could stay awake, if he made any of it relevent to our lives today etc.
Then he gives us a quiz 2 weeks ago, thinking he would ask us questions on the philosophical underpinnings of Puritanism, we studied and studied the minutiae and we all failed the quiz because all he asked us for were the names of the authors and the exact titles of the articles which we'd all failed to memorize... When we asked him if he would drop the quiz or let us take another one, he was so pompous and we had no argument really, we "should" have known them.
I came home and used some of John Lee's techniques to get my anger out. I'm glad that not all of my professors are such asses. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
Should I stop taking my herbs and vitamins?
