Dextroampetamine & Retention

[Shelleynz]

I have heard/read that Dextro. may work for fluid retention, puffiness & swelling, and wonder if anyone who found Dextro. worked for them had this symptom.

I am thinking maybe IC belly, and did Dextro. help for this?

I do not have retention or IC belly, but am wondering if Dextro. is more likely to work for IC pain if you have this symptom.

I hope someone on this Board can give me some answers.

Thanks
Shelley

[ngazerro]

Hi shelly,

I have not been on the broad for a while. My IC has been so much better that most of the time I don't know I have it. I started Dextro about a year ago. I tried everything else before the dextro with no results. I take 5mg twice and sometimes just once a day. It has helped with my IC, which I no longer have, and retention. Last time I had a flare it was do to a bladder infection. I have had wonderful results with the dextro. In the year I have been on the dextro I have lost 27lbs that I put on the prior year from so many different meds. I exercise at the least 5 times a week.
Hope you find something that works.

Nina

[Shelleynz]

Thanks for your reply Nina.

I am still trying to find out as much as I can about Dextro. and your input is helpful.

What I am trying to find out is if Dextro. only works in IC patients who have retention as well.

I hope I get some more replies.

Regards
Shelley

[camackin]

Hi there,

I find that dextro really helps with the IC belly. I used to look like I was 3 or 4 months pregnant all the time and now most of the time my stomach is pretty flat. I also used to have more edema around my lower back and sides and it's better now. That water retention can be really sore so dex has helped me there. My pelvic pain is a bit better, but not 100% by any means. But I'm glad I started taking it. It's helped with my energy levels as well.

[justice4j]

I can say also that Dex improves lots of irritating symptoms like frequency and urgency. My results are not quite as good as Nina's, but having energy is such a nice thhing - even a little bit more.

I've also found - this is just my thing, NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, PLEASE ASK YOUR DOCTOR.......I need about 15-30 mg. of Dex a day. But, I get a little intense feeling and that worsens if I'm worried about something already.

But, I have Atarax 25 mg. If I take that every 4-6 hours, it has an anti-anxiety factor in addition to antihistamine. It seems to even out the stimulation in the sympathetic nervous systems that Dex causes me some problems with. I just feel a little too intense w/o this little balancing act I've discovered.

Dr. Parsons keeps having to move my appointment up until now it's in December and I'm dying to tell him about this. He will probably not like the Dex, but hey......I'm the one dealing with the pain....I've been his patient for 10 years and I may even be able to convince him of the merits.....always the rebel....I cannot help myself.:smile tee That's why I can stand and give public speeches before hundreds of people about healthcare.....I rail against any injustice whatsoever.....I won't tolerate it, and want to help others who can't speak for themselves.....once a nurse....you never get over that feeling of wanting to fix things.....

[camackin]

Hey Janet, good to hear from you! I didn't know you are an advocate for health care, that's great!

Good suggestion about taking the atarax during the day. I had been taking it at night (25mg) because it used to make me sleepy, but not anymore. I found atarax stimulates my appetite so maybe if I take it during the day it will counteract the appetite-suppressing aspect of the dex and I can eat normally! I'm really starting to worry about losing more weight. I'm going to mention it to my doctor on monday!

obligatory disclaimer...you nor I are giving any one medical advise. Every one should talk to their doctor before they modify any medication.

Take care,

Carolyn

[justice4j]

I am down to almost a size 2 - too small. I miss my curvy hips - they disappeared and I am having to alter my favorite pants or buy new ones...

Size 4 is great, but 2's - I don't even know where to find them except $$$ places out of the quesiton.

I have hypothyroidism and weighed 142 3 years ago. I'm 5'3", small bone structure and I need about 118 -122 to feel I look my best.....vanity....hard one...

[ngazerro]

Hi everyone,

Glad to hear you guys have done well on the dextro. It does like you guys are losing too much weight.:tsk: I take such a small dose 5mg to 10mg that is had no affect on my weight loss. The first 6 month I took the dextro, i never lost any weight. The only reason I have lost 27 in the last 6 months was do to I have and have had stomach problems. My bladder problems have been great. I need to get my sclero under control. I have a great rhuemy that is helping me. We are talking about Stem Cell replacement when the time comes. So far it feels like I have bet IC, I hope I do so well with the diffuse scleroderma.:smile tee

Hugs,
Nina

[snowgirl]

I can say also that Dex improves lots of irritating symptoms like frequency and urgency. My results are not quite as good as Nina's, but having energy is such a nice thhing - even a little bit more.

I've also found - this is just my thing, NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, PLEASE ASK YOUR DOCTOR.......I need about 15-30 mg. of Dex a day. But, I get a little intense feeling and that worsens if I'm worried about something already.

But, I have Atarax 25 mg. If I take that every 4-6 hours, it has an anti-anxiety factor in addition to antihistamine. It seems to even out the stimulation in the sympathetic nervous systems that Dex causes me some problems with. I just feel a little too intense w/o this little balancing act I've discovered.

Dr. Parsons keeps having to move my appointment up until now it's in December and I'm dying to tell him about this. He will probably not like the Dex, but hey......I'm the one dealing with the pain....I've been his patient for 10 years and I may even be able to convince him of the merits.....always the rebel....I cannot help myself.:smile tee That's why I can stand and give public speeches before hundreds of people about healthcare.....I rail against any injustice whatsoever.....I won't tolerate it, and want to help others who can't speak for themselves.....once a nurse....you never get over that feeling of wanting to fix things.....

Janet, Glad you are doing well on the dexedrine. does sound like you better not lose anymore weight. No I am sure your Dr. Parsons is not going to be elated about the dexedrine if he feels the way he does about opiates and IC.
However, that is private and between you and him the dex. If I lived in the same state as you since I am an RN on disability we could rally around together this health care reform.
Just emailed President elect Senator Obama my opinion on his health care reform. He also asked on CNN about hospital and insurance stories. I gave him a few stories. I asked him which you know his aides or whatever they are called get the emails not him. I said ask the patients their experiences with insurance coverage, drug costs, hospital stays etc HOWEVER do not forget to ask the RN's at the front line what we think, we see, what has changed in the delivery of our care to patients in the last 5 year even. Ask the RN"S.
I worked with a urologist he retired and moved out east. He wife is/ was President elect for ANA. She got invited to White House by First Lady Hilary Clinton to speak on healthcare and nursing. She is very politically involved and hopefully will stay that way. Pat Underwood Phd - RN. Have you heard of her? Vicky

[justice4j]

OR please feel free to give her my private email - I know you have it.

I've been out of the news loop lately, organizing my office so I can make it into my half studio/half office again along with organizing my ridiculous amount of music in the living room. I'm about 85% done, but it is very time consuming. Two weeks ago, I got a gig with one week's notice and they wanted stuff like Eagles, James Taylor, and Beach Boys plus Jazz. The only Beach Boys songs I can even fathom with a piano/upright duo are a few songs from "Pet Sounds" like "God Only Knows" and "Caroline, No." "Surfin USA....not. Not our bag anyway.

I didn't hear the CNN questions. Please if you can put me in touch with the ANA Phd.

If you and I lived near by, we could do some serious stirring things up.

A letter to Obama is on my list. My 10 year drug co-pay has now reached $49,000.00.
And that is including the last year getting PAP for Elmiron.

One of my friends in health care reform wants to do a documentary one me and some others who have pursued legal avenues.

Everybody, please send some helping energy from the Universe, God or whatever your spiritual beliefs. God Speed Shernoff Bidart Darras Echeveria. They are the best, but the wheels of justice move incredibly slow. This whole procedure will take 2- 7 years and they filed 4/28/08. Finished the first set of questions from Anthem - interrogatories. SBDE said I would probably hear something back. The interrogatories were in Anthem's hands Nov. 5- the deadline; and pulling out files from 10 years or more are just getting back into place. Hence the card table with a little left to file, scan etc. and no room for my keyboard. I pray my mother will live to see this conclude well for SBDE and me - and it will. But she's 87. My grandmother lived to almost 95. My mother DRIVES and very safely, lives in her own home, etc.

ERRRRR I've written 3 original songs and one is ready to record. We, my bassist and I want to do a demo that's more than just jazz. I also just met a guitarist we're going to hire to put on the first track - a bossa nova.

We/ I played at a man's birthday party - Brian with for part of it and we played some Eagles, an arrangement of "Shower The People" and "Carolina On My Mind" by JT. I did walking left hand bass on "Carolina"--what a jazz pianist does playing solo. WE had such short notice and Brian didn't have time to write out the bass lines. I really am a frustrated bassist and it comes out in the bass lines I play....anyway....We had the host sit in. He played some harmonica - pretty good too and his daughter sang with this great Stevie Nicks voice.....so I'm convinced there will be more gigs if we get more variety. It's also fun to throw some hints of jazz into this stuff.

We'll probably get called by this guy again. It was such fun. The guests applauded and were into it. You know, the dex I think has opened up the right brain like crazy. I'm convinced I have some mild ADD symptoms - the shrink thinks so too. A little hard to get used to thinking that....but...when they say artists suffer....it's not only money....I have NEVER known a really good musician that hasn't or doesn't suffer from depression, chemical dependency or ADD. I think many musicians smoke pot to try to feel normal. Not me.......I don't even think I'd do medical marijuana, although I know someone who has radiation cystitis- very similar symptoms to IC- who uses it at night before sleep.....