5-HTP discussed

I said I would discuss my experience with 5-HTP.  

Dosage

I take it twice a day, when I get up and before bed.  I take 50mg tablets.

I felt positive effects quite quickly after taking this tablet but didn't outwardly show any signs for about 5-6 days.

The changes I noticed is that my mood is more stable.  I don't sink like I used to, especially before mealtimes.

All suicidal thoughts have been banished and I can get to sleep much more quickly.

I smile a lot more and am ready to laugh - a lot of the time - which is very unusual to how I've been since 35.  People have remarked that I seem a lot more cheerful and positive.  

I still lose my temper, momentarily, but its worth noting that these outbursts are much shorter and don't affect my overriding mood.

Because I've responded positively to 5-HTP, I can only assume that I must be a person that has never really made enough Serotonin and needs help in that department.

I've decided to take 5-HTP for the longterm, and probably the rest of my life, as life feels better with it.

But, there is a but, as usual.  5-HTP will make you feel happier in yourself but if you're exhausted, it wont give you any added energy.  Which is a weird thing to experience for me, because I usually associate an improvement in mood with an improvement in energy levels.    

Changes since stopping HRT

Since stopping HRT I've noticed that my sleep pattern is a bit weird again.  I wake up around 3 or 4am, visit the bathroom and then either lie awake for hours, or sleep in short bursts, till its time to get up.

I feel much better without HRT, and more like my old self.  I'm leading up to a supposed menses now.  I can feel that my cervix is quite sensitive and painful.  Its like the period pain I used to get as a teenager.  Funny how the whole time I took HRT, I didn't have period pain ever, but horrendous migraines instead.

I would prefer the pain to come from my cervix any day!  

Progress with supplements
I'm really pleased at the condition of my hair and skin as a result of taking Zinc and my trim figure as a result of taking Potassium and shedding all that water retention.  

I now also take Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid and Vitamin D3. 

I'm not sure if one of these is causing my sleeplessness, or whether its just life post-HRT?  If the sleeplessness continues, I might discontinue Vit E and Vit D3 and take them sporadically.   

Of all the supplements that I'm taking, the top 5 for noticeable results are:

Zinc

Potassium

Magnesium

5-HTP
Rhodiola Rosea

Thank Goodness the first three on the list are comparatively cheap to buy!

Here's a list of all the supplements I currently take (I've not mentioned DMAE because I haven't yet noticed any change, apart from the feeling that it freshens me up in the morning, especially after a double vodka the night before - lol!)

Fish Oil (High Strength)

Multivitamin (with Lutein)

Vit B3

Potassium

Magnesium

Liquid Iron (occasionally)

Zinc

Folic Acid

Vit E

Selenium

Vit B complex (pathetic RDA doses)

Vit D3 (new addition - will discuss at a later date)

Vit C (1000mg)

Vit B12 (new addition, need it for Thyroid etc - yet to be discussed)

Rhodiola Rosea

5-HTP

I take supplements in complementary groups, with food.  Rarely do they state you should take them before food. 

My life is pretty hectic again and I'm having to drive long distances.  Skipped meals and vodka when I get home are not the way to live but we all handle stress in different ways.  

I'm quite surprised at how exhausted I am and I think now that my migraines may be calming down, the true state of my health is emerging.  

I intend to take LIQUORICE ROOT EXTRACT quite soon, because I've read it helps with adrenal function.  

When I'm lying in bed with this damn insomnia, I can't help but wonder what lasting harm I've inflicted on my brain tissue and nerves in my head from taking HRT.

I just want to say that although it seems stupid of me not to have realised what was happening sooner, I need to remind myself that I had really bad migraines for 3 years while I was badly anaemic too.  This turned out to be a misdiagnosis and eventually I learned that my real problem was Hypothyroidism.  

Now all these years and nightmarish migraines later, I have come to think that my real problem is renal fatigue.  If my renal fatigue wasn't so awful, I think I would still be able to take HRT.

Anyway, who cares about all that, I'm just glad I'm off it!