Reviews written by Maff

I used low dose amitriptyline (10mg) as a sleep aid for sleep problems associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). I found it helped with getting to sleep. It basically knocked me out in a way that felt like a general anaesthetic.

That would have been fine but the next day I felt extremely drowsy and wobbly on my feet and was basically unable to function. It was like I was walking around like a zombie. My memory was also affected.

It could be that I was particularly sensitive but 10mg is already a low dose (much higher doses of 50mg+ are used for depression treatment) so there was little point tinkering with dosages.

Not a good experience for me. In terms of medications the benzodiazepines such as diazepam/Valium help with sleep without the next day side-effects and I have also found melatonin and phosphatidylserine supplements highly effective.

I tried Armour thyroid after having no success with thyroxine. I suspected it would be more effective given that it includes the full range of thyroid hormones.

Unlike conventional thyroid medications (e.g. levothyroxine) which only contain thyroxine (T4) Armour also contains 9mcg T3 along with 38mcg T4 per 60mg tablet (referred to as one 'grain').

T3 is the active hormone which communicates the message to the cells. One reason people prefer to use desiccated thyroid extracts like Armour is because they don't respond to T4 alone. One possible reason being an inability to convert T4 to T3 in the body. I suspected this might be the case with me given nutritional deficiencies (particularly selenium).

I only took Armour for around 6 weeks but found the results were a little disappointing. I did notice an improvement in mental alertness and energy where there had been none with thyroxine medication but I had expected more. I started with 60mg (1 grain) for 2 weeks then increased this to 120mg (2 grains) for a further 4 weeks.

It's likely I may have needed to be on Armour for longer and made more dose adjustments but I certainly didn't respond to the treatment as I had expected. I know a lot of others do do very well so individuality certainly plays a role.

I did much better on T3 medication (Cytomel) so please see that review.

After finding thyroxine (T4) to be totally ineffective it was not until years later that I tried T3 (in the form of cytomel) and the results couldn't have been more different.



T3 is very fast acting once ingested and only 15 minutes after taking a 5mcg dose (which is small) I felt my mood beginning to brighten after years of depression and a lack of enjoyment in life.



On T3 I feel like myself again. I am able to find enjoyment in things, I am more focused and can think clearly, and generally have more mental energy. My physical energy is also improved.



The effects on mood and mental function are not surprising given that the brain has a high concentration of receptors for T3 which is needed to trigger the manufacture and release of major neurotransmitters including serotonin and the catacholamines (dopamine, noradrenaline/norepinephrine).



It is important to make sure that adrenal function is good before taking T3 as it can be over-stimulating when adrenal fatigue is present and make things worse in the long-run. Since T3 is short-lived in the body it is also a good idea to use a timed-release version so blood levels remain constant (otherwise regular doses are required and blood levels fluctuate which isn't the best situation).



I would recommend T3 therapy to anyone suffering from hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and depression where standard treatments (thyroxine, antidepressants etc) have failed.

I developed chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) aged 11 and later in my teens had my thyroid function tested by a ME/CFS who suspected low thyroid function may have been contributing to my condition.

My thyroxine levels came back borderline low so I was given thyroxine medication which I took at a dose of 25mcg, increasing to 50mcg, over a period of a few months.

I noticed no effects from the thyroxine tablets at all. There were also no side-effects to report however.

Years later I was given T3 medication. T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone where thyroxine is seen more as a storage form. The T3 produced very positive results very quickly. I'd therefore advise anyone with similar health concerns to myself to get comprehensive thyroid testing that includes T3 levels and to ask for T3 medication (or natural thyroid extract) to be added to their treatment if thyroxine alone is not effective or only partially so.

To put it mildly the Lifewave glutathione patch is impressive. Within 15 minutes of first applying one I began to feel slightly nauseous and woozy. Since nothing enters the body from the patches I can only assume this was a "Detox" reaction due to toxins being mobilised in my body by increased glutathione levels.

I have tried many other ways of raising glutathione from reduced glutathione and N-Acetyl-Cysteine supplements to non-denatured whey and intravenous glutathione and never experienced a reaction like this. Studies carried out so far on the Lifewave glutathione patch have indeed shown it is able to raise blood glutathione levels significanctly in a very short period of time.

I continued to wear the patches for a month and for the first 3 or 4 times I always experienced the "detox" reaction but after that I simply gained a general sense of well being which may well have continued to increased had I used the patches longer. Which brings me to my only negative point....cost.

A month's supply of the Lifewave glutathione patch costs around $60. I would like to use them on a continual basis but this is currently beyond my financial reach. I do use the Lifewave Silent Nights patches to aid sleep as I feel this is most important. When put into context however, Lifewave glutathione patches are comparable in price to non-denatured whey products which I have found to be less effective in a clearly discernible way.

My advice would be to try the patches for yourself and see if you get any benefits. Trial packs are available cheaply which allow you to see if they work for you before you pay out for a month supply.

Like many people I was initially sceptical of Lifewave patches but chronic illness has taught me that it is worth trying anything no matter if science has proven how it works or not (especially where there is no risk involved). I do and always have respected the scientific method but there are a lot of double standards. Lifewave patches and the principles of acupuncture on which they are based are often derided while antidepressant drugs are routinely dished out in their millions......despite a long side-effects list and compelling evidence that they are little more effective than placebo.

I'd recommend anyone try the Lifewave glutathione patches and make up their own minds. You may well be amazed at the results.

As a long-term sufferer of chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), amongst other complaints, I have tried many dietary changes in an effort to relieve my symptoms.

I have found that avoiding gluten and casein brings significant benefits. I have been found to have increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) using lab testing (as have others with these conditions in published studies). According to proponents of the GFCF diet this may increase the chances of opiate-like molecules from partially digested gluten and casein being absorbed from my digestive tract.

My experiences suggest there is substance to this theory as whenever I ingest gluten or casein containing foods I experience symptoms including brain fog, irritability, and restlessness a few hours later. I do not experience the same reaction from any other foods or food groups.

Additionally, I learned early on that removing casein-containing foods from my diet reduced excess mucous in my throat that I suffered badly from.

Surprisngly I can't report improvement in digestive symptoms when on the GFCF diet but it may well be that there are so many other factors causing these symptoms for any improvement to be negligible.

I will not pretend that the GFCF diet is easy, especially at first, but for me it has brought benefits that make it worth the effort. I am now used to a wholefoods diet free from gluten and casein and only run into problems when eating in restaurants. My advice would be to give it a go, you have nothing to lose and potentially much to gain.

As a sufferer of both chronic fatigue syndrome and depression I had all the signs of catecholamine deficiency e.g. sluggish thinking, poor concentration and focus, lack of motivation and mental energy. Since tyrosine is the amino acid building block of the energizing catecholamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine and noradrenaline/norepinephrine I thought it would be well worth trying it to see if it alleviated my symptoms.

Initially I bought a standard l-tyrosine product and after trying it for a month hadn't noticed any effect at all so gave up on it for a long while.

After a few other experiences with supplements that supply nutrients in a form closer to the end products used by the body I decided to give the N-acetyl-L-Tyrosine form a try. This time the result was positive and quick. Within 30 minutes of taking a single 300mg capsule I felt a significant improvement in all of the symptoms I mentioned above. My head felt clearer, I felt more like myself and the world generally seemed like a brighter and better place to be.

The positive effects on my mood and mental functioning I get with N-acetyl-L-Tyrosine last for around 3-4 hours so I need to take more than one dose per day to maintain them. The only side-effect is over-stimulation similar to drinking to much coffee if I take too much.

I've used epsom salts as part of my treatment regime for a couple of years now and wouldn't be without them. Having suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) for going on 18 years now I have been aware of the importance of magnesium and its reported calming qualities for a long time. I had never experienced these however until trying epsom salts. I had had blood tests showing low red cell magnesium levels and tried oral supplements in various forms as well as injections without noticing any improvement. Epsom salts however rapidly produce a very profound calming effect which lasts for much of the day. My anxiety and stress levels decrease, my muscles relax and my mood brightens. I have taken tranquilizer drugs such as diazepam (Valium) on occasion and have to say that the effect I get from the epsom salts is comparable to the drug (while being much safer).

As research shows sulfate is well absorbed through the skin from epsom salts as well as magnesium. It's harder to tell if I have benefitted from this or not however. It is true that my chemical sensitivities have remained minimal during the period I have used epsom salts which could certainly be in part due to the extra sulfate but I have also been using other treatments. Sulfate is very important for the detoxification of chemical pollutants such as vehicle exhaust and petrochemical based products such as perfume.

I use foot baths as I don't have a bath in my flat/apartment. I dissolve around 100g of epsom salts in a plastic bowl that would otherwise be used to wash dishes. This is probably more epsom salts than needed based on Dr. Waring's research mentioned above but it dissolves well and hasn't caused any side-effects. I have read elsewhere that people have had skin irritation when too much has been added to the water but I haven't experienced this. The salts can leave a rim around the bowl/bath though but can be washed off easily enough.

I'm in the UK and have found it quite hard to buy epsom salts in the shops/pharmacies so I now buy online which works out much cheaper anyway. Various websites sell 10kg buckets (which I buy) for around 20 Pounds including delivery. These buckets last me around 5-6 months doing foot baths every other day so are very good value. Oral supplements which I have found ineffective would cost many times more over the same period.

I would recommend epsom salt baths or footbaths to anyone suffering from environmental illnesses, particularly those suffering badly with mood disorders and chemical sensitivities. They are effective, safe and cheap.

I count myself very lucky to have found these I Can Breathe! masks when I developed multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and was unable to tolerate exposure to minute amounts of a huge range of chemicals from perfume, fabric softener and fragranced bath soap to vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke and ink.

Such exposures would immediately trigger a host of symptoms including fatigue, weakness, dizziness, confusion, pounding heart, headaches, and flu-like symptoms. I was left feeling extremely tired and ached terribly all over for days after such a reaction. I was basically housebound and had to keep my home free from any chemical products (basically everything) that would trigger my symptoms. I couldn't have visitors and couldn't go outside.

I Can Breathe! honeycomb masks with carbon filter changed all that. When wearing the mask I was able to be around people wearing perfume and other chemical products, I could go outside and be exposed to traffic fumes and the harsh cleaning products used in shops and public buildings.....all with no reaction at all. These masks effectively gave me my freedom back. I also suffer from hayfever and found them equally effective at protecting me from grass pollen during the summer.

The mask design includes an adjustable nose piece and elastic (non-latex) ear straps which make it a good fit on practically everyone. It does get quite warm and sweaty after a while but this is to be expected if the filter is to work effectively. It is also very hard to smell anything while wearing the mask but this is a trade-off that is easy to make!

My only disappointment with this mask is its durability. The ear straps tend to lose their elasticity quite quickly. Although replacement carbon filters can be purchased seperately I found this issue meant I was replacing the masks as often as the filters.

In conclusion, I can't recommend these masks highly enough to anyone suffering from MCS.

I have suffered from both fungal (Candida) and bacterial intestinal overgrowth to a severe degree for many years as a result of antibiotic use and the immune dysfunction caused by chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Over the years I have tried a number of probiotic products that have certainly altered the composition of my gut flora to some degree as I have experienced tell-tale die-off reactions while taking them. However, none of these probiotic products significantly reduced my gut symptoms of bloating, gas, and alternating constipation and diarrhoea.

VSL#3 is different. After taking two packets a day for around a month I really did notice a difference. This is no doubt down to the fact that VSL#3 contains far more probiotic bacteria than other products (450 billion per packet) and has been proven effective for a number of gastrointestinal disorders in clinical trials.

There are however, a few downsides. First off VSL#3 is expensive. For me at the present it is prohibitively expensive, especially using two packets per day. Also, it is a dairy-based probiotic which is a problem for me as both dairy and gluten affect my concentration and cause of symptoms associated with cognitive dysfunction.

Despite these reservations, I would certainly recommend that anyone with gastrointestinal issues give this product a trial.