Posted by Bob Kingsley/BeeK (194.72.196.181) on July 04, 1999 at 03:38:02:
Hi All,
Firstly: a very happy 4th July to all my new-found American friends!
Secondly: now I've been here a while on a regular basis (a whole week!) I think I ought to adopt a more friendly "handle" like the rest of you, so from now on I'll use the nick-name I've been given by another e-mail list I belong to. So it's "BeeK" from now on!
Thirdly: my experience with trying to break the cycle -- using earplugs to cut out night-time sounds and using only one pillow instead of my usual two -- has met with *some* success, but not completely.
I used the earplugs for three nights (last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights), and managed to sleep through. First time for about three weeks. Coupled with this was the experiment with using only one pillow (Monday night onwards, still using only one). I stopped using the earplugs (simple wax stoppers) from Weds night onwards because they were hurting my ears.
Monday and Tuesday were completely clear; about 72 hours passed before an attack on Wednesday evening, about 11pm. Injected. Slept through.
Thursday: went to doc. Told him I seemed to be passing out of a cycle; we discussed preventative treatments. He's going to put me on medication if I ring and ask for a prescription (which I'm going to do tomorrow).
Friday, Saturday: one attack a day, with "shadows" passing from time to time.
So from a max of 6 attacks a day, I'm down to just one. Still sleeping through, even without earplugs. But I'm going to use them again as from tonight.
One other thing: I've been taking St. John's Wort tablets (a homeopathic mild anti-depressant) for two weeks in an effort to help lift myself mentally. While the diminishment of attacks didn't coincide with starting the SJW, now they've had time to "bed in" they could be helping to keep them down to one a day. Maybe.
Sorry this is so long. I'll try to keep 'em brief in future if I can! :-)
BeeK
ICQ#42353761