Re: Back From The Great Northwest

[Guest guest]

Did you get a chance to visit Mt. Hood? Isn't it a beautiful site

from Portland?

They also have vineyards south of the city.

I hope you got a chance to see the ocean? And of course the

Columbia river? I am sure you didn't have a problem getting to a

health food store, they are plentiful throughout Portland.

Oregonians are usually very healthy.

I am glad you are bouncing back from your trip.

Soon I will be going to Denver, to visit family. (Can't wait!)

I'll see you all in a week, or so.

Lynn

At 01:49 AM 6/26/2005, you wrote:

>Hey everyone!

>

>I am now back from my Portland trip. It was an

>interesting journey, both intellectually and

>physically. For the first three days, my husband and

>I walked everywhere-- I figured I logged about two

>miles a day. We stayed on the edge of downtown, so

>everything we wanted to see was easily accessible.

>

>At this point, I know I am healing, as I was able to

>walk without too much damage to my stamina. I did,

>however, keep up a rather normal routine. I stocked

>the mini-fridge of our motel room with carrot juice

>from the local Whole Foods and an array of healthy

>snacks; I meditated in the mornings, and took my pills

>on time, as always. I also took a nap every afternoon

>to recharge.

>

>Portland is a great city in terms of its livability

>and its civic sensibilities. I found that the people

>were a little on the dry side, though, but for the

>most part, polite. Maybe I wasn't meeting the right

>people.

>

>I managed to find some really fun, healthy restaurants

> and go to the biggest bookstore in the world,

>'s, twice. I also spent a lot of time at the

>local Goodwill, which was in a ritzy neighborhood, so

>I got quite a few cool things from there, including a

>real Japanese teapot and a vintage Singer sewing

>machine.

>

>I spent my first three days back resting, as I began

>to feel somewhat strained by the end of the trip.

>However, I do feel as though I am bouncing back much

>easier than I would have a year ago-- and I consider

>that amazing. I am so glad that I am very invested in

>my doctor's regimen.

>

>Hope all of y'all are doing well!

>

>Best--

>

>Courtenay.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is completely dumb, but I didn't get to go to any

of the gardens or rivers or the ocean because my

energy was too limited. We decided to concentrate on

the things I like the most when I'm on vacation: which

are people watching, wandering around, book hunting

and eating healthy.

We are thinking about the possibility of going up

there to work next summer, if I am well enough.

Thanks, Lynn!

Courtenay.

--- Lynn wrote:

---------------------------------

Did you get a chance to visit Mt. Hood? Isn't it a

beautiful site

from Portland?

They also have vineyards south of the city.

I hope you got a chance to see the ocean? And of

course the

Columbia river? I am sure you didn't have a problem

getting to a

health food store, they are plentiful throughout

Portland.

Oregonians are usually very healthy.

I am glad you are bouncing back from your trip.

Soon I will be going to Denver, to visit family.

(Can't wait!)

I'll see you all in a week, or so.

Lynn

At 01:49 AM 6/26/2005, you wrote:

>Hey everyone!

>

>I am now back from my Portland trip. It was an

>interesting journey, both intellectually and

>physically. For the first three days, my husband and

>I walked everywhere-- I figured I logged about two

>miles a day. We stayed on the edge of downtown, so

>everything we wanted to see was easily accessible.

>

>At this point, I know I am healing, as I was able to

>walk without too much damage to my stamina. I did,

>however, keep up a rather normal routine. I stocked

>the mini-fridge of our motel room with carrot juice

>from the local Whole Foods and an array of healthy

>snacks; I meditated in the mornings, and took my

pills

>on time, as always. I also took a nap every

afternoon

>to recharge.

>

>Portland is a great city in terms of its livability

>and its civic sensibilities. I found that the people

>were a little on the dry side, though, but for the

>most part, polite. Maybe I wasn't meeting the right

>people.

>

>I managed to find some really fun, healthy

restaurants

> and go to the biggest bookstore in the world,

>'s, twice. I also spent a lot of time at the

>local Goodwill, which was in a ritzy neighborhood, so

>I got quite a few cool things from there, including a

>real Japanese teapot and a vintage Singer sewing

>machine.

>

>I spent my first three days back resting, as I began

>to feel somewhat strained by the end of the trip.

>However, I do feel as though I am bouncing back much

>easier than I would have a year ago-- and I consider

>that amazing. I am so glad that I am very invested

in

>my doctor's regimen.

>

>Hope all of y'all are doing well!

>

>Best--

>

>Courtenay.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Glad to hear you had a good trip, Courtenay.

But couldn't you have brought some of that cooler weather back with you?? :)On 6/26/05, Courtenay <

courtenaymartin@...> wrote:This is completely dumb, but I didn't get to go to any

of the gardens or rivers or the ocean because myenergy was too limited. We decided to concentrate onthe things I like the most when I'm on vacation: whichare people watching, wandering around, book hunting

and eating healthy.We are thinking about the possibility of going upthere to work next summer, if I am well enough.Thanks, Lynn!Courtenay.

[Guest guest]

I wish I could have brought back some of that weather!

It was jeans and t-shirt weather for most of my trip,

with intermittant showers.

I don't know about you, but this heat really slows me

down.

--- Betsy wrote:

> Glad to hear you had a good trip, Courtenay.

>

> But couldn't you have brought some of that cooler

> weather back with you??

>

[Guest guest]

,

You visited my home. I'm from Portland. In fact, in two weeks,

we're going to Oregon to visit for most of July. My family lives

there and my nephew is getting married. My neice is visiting us

from there and is trying to talk her mom into moving to Texas. But

it probably won't happen. my neice loves the sun and the friendly

people in Texas. But Oregon is so beautiful!

Jeanne

>

> > Glad to hear you had a good trip, Courtenay.

> >

> > But couldn't you have brought some of that cooler

> > weather back with you??

> >

[Guest guest]

I'm with you there. I'm trying to get my butt motivated to start

walking again in the morning, but the heat and humidity at 4 AM really

turn me off on the idea. Then again, I couldn't seem to get motivated

when it was cooler, so maybe I should just shut up and do it! :)On 6/26/05, Courtenay <courtenaymartin@...

> wrote:

<snip>I don't know about you, but this heat really slows medown.

[Guest guest]

Welcome back, Courtenay!

I know I don't speak for myself only when I say we missed you around

here! I'm so glad you had a terrific trip and it sounded so fun and

restful and wonderful! And to think you might not have been able to

do it a year ago. Wow! Getting better is truly wonderful, isn't it?

Do you think you feel better when you get out of the San

climate? I notice that I always do, even if it's just going to

Dallas or Lubbock! The heat, humidity, molds, etc. might be

contributing to my fatigue. Dr. even said the pollution,

chemicals, sress, etc. could be playing a role in my feeling

rotten. I've been wanting to ask you for a long time, did you feel

sick like this in California? I don't mean to imply that San

makes people ill but maybe some of us, who by virtue of our

disease, are more sensitive?

Cheers! And again, glad you had a good (and safe) trip!

)

> Hey everyone!

>

> I am now back from my Portland trip.> Portland is a great city in

terms of its livability

> and its civic sensibilities. I found that the people

> were a little on the dry side, though, but for the

> most part, polite. Maybe I wasn't meeting the right

> people.

>

> I managed to find some really fun, healthy restaurants

> and go to the biggest bookstore in the world,

> 's, twice. I also spent a lot of time at the

> local Goodwill, which was in a ritzy neighborhood, so

> I got quite a few cool things from there, including a

> real Japanese teapot and a vintage Singer sewing

> machine.

>

> I spent my first three days back resting, as I began

> to feel somewhat strained by the end of the trip.

> However, I do feel as though I am bouncing back much

> easier than I would have a year ago-- and I consider

> that amazing. I am so glad that I am very invested in

> my doctor's regimen.

>

> Hope all of y'all are doing well!

>

> Best--

>

> Courtenay.

[Guest guest]

Oh Lynn,

You'll enjoy that! My husband and I took a trip up to Wyoming and

Montana last October, just in time to see the fall colors. It was

awesome. Have a good trip!

!

> Did you get a chance to visit Mt. Hood? Isn't it a beautiful site

> from Portland?

> They also have vineyards south of the city.

> I hope you got a chance to see the ocean? And of course the

> Columbia river? I am sure you didn't have a problem getting to a

> health food store, they are plentiful throughout Portland.

> Oregonians are usually very healthy.

> I am glad you are bouncing back from your trip.

>

> Soon I will be going to Denver, to visit family. (Can't wait!)

> I'll see you all in a week, or so.

> Lynn

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear --

It's really weird. With all of the dang TREES out

there, you think my sinuses would have been going

crazy, but it was just the opposite. I had no sinus

problems until I touched down in San .

Portland was recently classified " the cleanest city in

the U.S. " , but I don't know who said it. The air

there seemed especially clean.

The San climate is really getting to me. I

started to notice it a few weeks ago, and I've been

trying to avoid going outside during the day, at all,

if I can help it. Air conditioning doesn't really

seem to make much of a difference, either, as it is a

synthetic climate. I just don't think I'm designed

for heat. And I am seemingly allergic to everything

in the general area.

Regarding California, I lived in the Valley, which is

a basin next to L.A. proper that gets the worst of the

pollution. The first year I did okay, but my second

year of graduate school, I had four serious sinus

infections in six months. Then, I contracted chicken

pox and pneumonia, neither of which I had endured

before. Between the pollution, the traffic, the

noise, and the cost of living, I found that my body

was exceedingly stressed, more so than being here.

In my quest for health, I may find myself living

elsewhere in the future-- different climate, different

civic attitude. I'll just have to wait and see.

Thanks for writing me!

Best--

Courtenay.

Cheers! And again, glad you had a good (and safe)

trip!

)

[Guest guest]

Well, I don't know where you work or live, but since

you are capable of driving, I would love to recommend

the downtown YMCA. It rocks; it's air conditioned;

it's inexpensive; it's really clean; and nobody there

looks like Barbie or Ken. They have a fabulous air

conditioned walking track.

As soon as I am driving more, I am going to join a

yoga studio. Then, I am going to re-up on my Y

membership.

Best--

Courtenay.

--- Betsy wrote:

> I'm with you there. I'm trying to get my butt

> motivated to start walking

> again in the morning, but the heat and humidity at 4

> AM really turn me off

> on the idea. Then again, I couldn't seem to get

> motivated when it was

> cooler, so maybe I should just shut up and do it!

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Jeanne---

Your home is like a fairyland to me. I couldn't

believe how gorgeous it was. I am so excited for you

that you get to spend July there!

Best--

Courtenay.

--- john316 wrote:

---------------------------------

,

You visited my home. I'm from Portland. In fact, in

two weeks,

we're going to Oregon to visit for most of July. My

family lives

there and my nephew is getting married. My neice is

visiting us

from there and is trying to talk her mom into moving

to Texas. But

it probably won't happen. my neice loves the sun and

the friendly

people in Texas. But Oregon is so beautiful!

Jeanne

[Guest guest]

I work 1 block away from that Y. I eat lunch at Guillermo's from time

to time. I haven't seen anything other than the cardio room next to the

restaurant, but it looks like a great facility. I know a lot of my

co-workers go there. Unfortunately, I already have a gym membership (on

hold right now). I also don't think the Y hours would work (I don't

want to work out during lunch, and after work I'd run into rush hour

traffic going home - big YUK!). That walking track is tempting, though.

The psycho dog and I are going out in the neighborhood right now. :)On 6/27/05, Courtenay <courtenaymartin@...

> wrote:Well, I don't know where you work or live, but sinceyou are capable of driving, I would love to recommend

the downtown YMCA. It rocks; it's air conditioned;it's inexpensive; it's really clean; and nobody therelooks like Barbie or Ken. They have a fabulous airconditioned walking track.As soon as I am driving more, I am going to join a

yoga studio. Then, I am going to re-up on my Ymembership.Best--Courtenay.

[Guest guest]

WELCOME BACK COURENAY!!

Love

wrote:

Welcome back, Courtenay!I know I don't speak for myself only when I say we missed you around here! I'm so glad you had a terrific trip and it sounded so fun and restful and wonderful! And to think you might not have been able to do it a year ago. Wow! Getting better is truly wonderful, isn't it?Do you think you feel better when you get out of the San climate? I notice that I always do, even if it's just going to Dallas or Lubbock! The heat, humidity, molds, etc. might be contributing to my fatigue. Dr. even said the pollution, chemicals, sress, etc. could be playing a role in my feeling rotten. I've been wanting to ask you for a long time, did you feel sick like this in California? I don't mean to imply that San makes people ill but maybe some of

us, who by virtue of our disease, are more sensitive?Cheers! And again, glad you had a good (and safe) trip! )> Hey everyone!> > I am now back from my Portland trip.> Portland is a great city in terms of its livability> and its civic sensibilities. I found that the people> were a little on the dry side, though, but for the> most part, polite. Maybe I wasn't meeting the right> people.> > I managed to find some really fun, healthy restaurants> and go to the biggest bookstore in the world,> 's, twice. I also spent a lot of time at the> local Goodwill, which was in a ritzy neighborhood, so> I got quite a few cool things from there, including a> real Japanese teapot and a vintage Singer sewing>

machine.> > I spent my first three days back resting, as I began> to feel somewhat strained by the end of the trip. > However, I do feel as though I am bouncing back much> easier than I would have a year ago-- and I consider> that amazing. I am so glad that I am very invested in> my doctor's regimen.> > Hope all of y'all are doing well! > > Best--> > Courtenay.__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thank you, !!

--- susan leach wrote:

> WELCOME BACK COURENAY!!

> Love

>

>

[Guest guest]

I was going to the Y mostly in the late afternoons,

because most of the classes I taught were in the

morning, early afternoon or night. They get kind of a

rush around 5 p.m. when people get off work, so that

might not be a good option for you.

Oh, I can't wait to be a little more well so I can

start walking my dogs again. I'm not quite there yet,

and with the heat, well...

Courtenay.

> The psycho dog and I are going out in the

> neighborhood right now.

>

[Guest guest]

I agree with you about the heat. When my hypo was bad, I considered

Texas cold. What a change! Here in Houston, (I don't recall where

everyone lives), we have the afternoon ozone to deal with too. One of

my hypo symptoms is breathing difficulty, so the ozone scares me.

Anyone else dealing with breathing problems? What's helping if anything?

C

Courtenay wrote:

I was going to the Y mostly in the late afternoons,

because most of the classes I taught were in the

morning, early afternoon or night. They get kind of a

rush around 5 p.m. when people get off work, so that

might not be a good option for you.

Oh, I can't wait to be a little more well so I can

start walking my dogs again. I'm not quite there yet,

and with the heat, well...

Courtenay.

> The psycho dog and I are going out in the

> neighborhood right now.

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, I have breathing problems too, especially in the heat. The

only way I have found to deal with it is stay out of it as much as

possible. It's getting so hot now that I am going to have to ask my

husband to do any after work errands. I almost passed out today in

the HEB parking lot.

> I agree with you about the heat. When my hypo was bad, I

considered

> Texas cold. What a change! Here in Houston, (I don't recall where

> everyone lives), we have the afternoon ozone to deal with too. One

of my

> hypo symptoms is breathing difficulty, so the ozone scares me.

Anyone

> else dealing with breathing problems? What's helping if anything?

>

[Guest guest]

My breathing problems are most noticeable when I'm

having a hypoglycemic episode or an anxiety episode.

, I totally understand your shunting off errands

in this weather. I'm sorry you almost passed out.

Wow!!

The heat is really too much for me, as well. I've

been doing everything outside at night: grocery

shopping, watering the lawn, errands. I can't manage

in the heat, and so I haven't really tried.

--- wrote:

---------------------------------

Yes, I have breathing problems too, especially in the

heat. The

only way I have found to deal with it is stay out of

it as much as

possible. It's getting so hot now that I am going to

have to ask my

husband to do any after work errands. I almost passed

out today in

the HEB parking lot.

[Guest guest]

I think it's worse because they are land locked. We have the gulf airs

that move the air pollution around more...just a guess...

Kate

At 10:36 AM 7/9/2005, you wrote:

>Sara-Thanks for the information. I probably should invest in more filters.

>I recently visited Dallas on a weekend and the pollution choked me up and

>made my eyes sting. The air pollution there seems much more severe than

>here in Houston as hard as that is to believe.

[Guest guest]

Every single tranquilizer there is in existence now, suppresses MY

breathing, and it is because of still being hypo, or maybe the permanent

effects of having been hypo, who knows. We also have to think about the

fact of allergies to the fillers in these meds, like so many other meds, or

even allergy to the main factor in them.

Re: Back From The Great Northwest

> I am on on anti-depressant/anxiety med... the only time it supresses/ or

slows your

> breathing is if you are on too large of a dose. Have you thought of

getting some

> counseling??? I think it would help you feel better. Having been in

counseling/ therapy

> myself, your level of fear, anxiety, and compulsion concerns me.

>

>

>

> > (I'm catching up on posts from way back, so this might have already

> > been discussed in depth. Apologies if so.)

> >

> > Carole - I have had breathing problems since I moved to Texas in

> > 1979. I used to love summers, having grown up in Kansas and lived on

> > the East Coast and in St. Louis, where it was cooler. I could not

> > believe the Texas summers, the pollution levels and and how they

> > drained me. My breathing problems (panicky and gasping periods at

> > times) increased with my increasing hypo condition, especially the

> > last year. I live in Dallas, right in the heart of it.

[Guest guest]

The tranquilizer I take does not suppress my

breathing, as far as I can figure, but the two

antidepressants I tried, Lexipro and Wellbutrin,

increased my anxiety astronomically.

I took Lexipro right after going on thyroid

replacement for the first time. Lexipro actually made

me increasingly claustrophobic after seven days, and

we had to call the local doctor's emergency service

(that's how I ended up on the tranquilizer). It also

slowed my mental faculties and made me sound like a

robot. At fourteen days on it, I took my evening

dose, and immediately went to sleep for fifteen hours.

I went off of it immediately.

Wellbutrin was my second pass at an antidepressant-- I

hoped it would help me quit smoking. Within three

days, I had a massive panic attack and had to call EMS

because I was hyperventilating.

I had a really bad experience with Prozac ten years

ago, so I sympathize with anyone trying to find a

psychotropic drug that works for them.

As for me, it was determined by my previous therapist

that I was not clinically depressed, just anxious, and

I did not pursue additional psychotropics other than

the low dosage tranquilizer. I'm not happy to be

taking it, but for the moment, it does what Chamomile,

meditation, and therapy cannot.

I'm convinced my anxiety is a result of my collective

hormone problems and my smoking. I am hoping when

these are mostly resolved that I can just take the

tranquilizer on an " as needed " basis. I don't

consider it a permanent option-- it's a stopgap.

In addition, therapy has been absolutely essential

right now-- I don't know how I would have adapted to

illness and all the crud that goes along with it

without therapy.

Courtenay.

--- wrote:

---------------------------------

Every single tranquilizer there is in existence now,

suppresses MY

breathing, and it is because of still being hypo, or

maybe the permanent

effects of having been hypo, who knows. We also have

to think about the

fact of allergies to the fillers in these meds, like

so many other meds, or

even allergy to the main factor in them.

[Guest guest]

,

Personally, I'm on a 75mg Effexor (smallest dose). I don't feel slow or

anything, it just

takes off 'that edge', that used to make me want to smoke (i.e. the anxiety).

Wellbutrin is also known for causing seizures, so becareful of that one. Also,

for

smoking, have you thought of doing hypnotherapy? I have a friend who totally

quit

with no problems after going to a couple of sessions.

rebecca

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Every single tranquilizer there is in existence now,

> suppresses MY

> breathing, and it is because of still being hypo, or

> maybe the permanent

> effects of having been hypo, who knows. We also have

> to think about the

> fact of allergies to the fillers in these meds, like

> so many other meds, or

> even allergy to the main factor in them.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have been taking an SSRI for m any years. I have been taking 37.5 effexor now for a couple of years. Originally it was diagnosed for panic disorder. I really feel it helps me - just that little bit of serotonin - what a difference. However, I got off it about a year ago and I had a terrible headache. It finally went away but it was a bugger. we used a small dose of klonipin to help with the withdrawal. I was fine in a few days.

steph

[Guest guest]

i'm on 75mg of effexxor xr. there's a smaller dose of

the xr, cuz i take 2 pills to get to 75mg. i'm not

sure if it's helping or the armour, but i know i feel

much better as far as the depression, feeling like my

thoughts aren't my own, etc.

it's not for everyone, and from what i understand can

be hard to get off of, but i needed it. i'll deal

with weaning off of it when the time comes.

rachel.

--- rlkrug wrote:

> ,

> Personally, I'm on a 75mg Effexor (smallest dose). I

> don't feel slow or anything, it just

> takes off 'that edge', that used to make me want to

> smoke (i.e. the anxiety).

> Wellbutrin is also known for causing seizures, so

> becareful of that one. Also, for

> smoking, have you thought of doing hypnotherapy? I

> have a friend who totally quit

> with no problems after going to a couple of

> sessions.

>

> rebecca

>

>

>

>

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > Every single tranquilizer there is in existence

> now,

> > suppresses MY

> > breathing, and it is because of still being hypo,

> or

> > maybe the permanent

> > effects of having been hypo, who knows. We also

> have

> > to think about the

> > fact of allergies to the fillers in these meds,

> like

> > so many other meds, or

> > even allergy to the main factor in them.

> >

> >

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I take regular, not the xr... and yes, if I forget to take it for a day or two,

I can feel

pretty bad... but the key to getting off is weaning off very slowly, not cold

turkey.

What's sad is that there's still such a bad stigma associated with depression

and being

on anti-depressants.

rebecca

> > >

> > >

> > > ---------------------------------

> > > Every single tranquilizer there is in existence

> > now,

> > > suppresses MY

> > > breathing, and it is because of still being hypo,

> > or

> > > maybe the permanent

> > > effects of having been hypo, who knows. We also

> > have

> > > to think about the

> > > fact of allergies to the fillers in these meds,

> > like

> > > so many other meds, or

> > > even allergy to the main factor in them.

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>