Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Hope?

Well, we haven't called the doctor. This is not a bad thing. {smile}

On Sunday around bedtime, Dad brought up something he remembered about his older sister, my aunt Kitty, having trouble with flushing when she was taking niacin. I am taking niacin for my balance, so he thought that might be involved.

One thing led to another, and we discovered that I am not taking 250mg of time-release niacin like one of my doctors suggested. The current bottle is not time-release; it's all at once. I'm pretty sure I remember that my doctor specified time-release to reduce trouble with flushing and burning sensations, as well as to improve it's effects on my balance.

I found some time-release niacin like I'm supposed to take. I haven't taken it yet. Monday I didn't take any niacin beyond that found in my vitamins. I wanted to give my system a chance to calm down. It didn't get a long chance. I started having balance trouble after 10pm on Tuesday, so I took one time-release niacin pill just now. I do hope it works, and doesn't cause any flushing. We'll have to see what happens. If necessary, the flushing was worse than the balance. However, I don't think time-release niacin caused flushing before. {cross fingers hopefully, {smile}

So far I haven't had any flushes since I stopped the other niacin. However, it's only two days; that's too soon to tell. Last week I don't remember what happened Sunday and Monday. However, I do know I had one Tuesday morning, one Saturday morning, and no bad ones in between. That's longer than I've been off niacin so far. {resigned smile}

I'm hopeful - much more hopeful than I was when my doctor prescribed vitamin D. This might not be the full story. I am beginning to near the expected age for menopause, after all. Still, this looks promising. Even if it just cuts out the painfully burning flushes, that would be such and improvement! I hope I'd get my life back if I got rid of those. {Smile}

Anne Elizabeth Baldwin

6 comments:

  1. I hope this works for you! I'm playing a medication balancing game with my stomach troubles, but it is nowhere near as dibilitating as your flushing and balance troubles. The way you describe the flushing sounds much worse than hot flashes, so hopefully when menopause does come, the hot flashes will seem mild by comparison!

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  2. Thanks. I mostly just have to put up with the balance trouble, but the flushing is beyond what I can handle.

    I certainly hope the hot flashes of menopause are better! But then, I didn't find anything about them hurting or being associated with blackouts. If I can avoid the blackouts, I'll consider myself ahead. If I can avoid the pain, too, yes, I will consider them mild. {Smile}

    Anne Elizabeth Baldwin

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  3. I'm terribly sorry about all of your health issues. I had no idea. I know sometimes when your puppy Al has a need to be fed more than a milk bottle you are possibly not feeling well. I'm so glad your mom and dad are there to help you. Please take care and I pray you will get well and your doctor is helping all that she can. God Bless You and I'm always here to listen. Your friend, Denise

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  4. Thanks, Denise, especially for the prayers. {Warm Smile}

    I'm not surprised you didn't realize this. I was pretty much hiding this over at Facebook for a particularly long time. That's a little too easy to do.

    Anne Elizabeth Baldwin

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  5. Liz, I really don't have any news at this point. I haven't had any flushes in the week and a half since I changed my niacin. That is good, and it's longer than the previous space by a few times. However, the flushes tended to be less frequent in between That Time of Month, and I've firmly entered in-between in that cycle. I'll feel a lot surer that this really worked when That Time hits again, and I still have no flushes. {resigned smile}

    Anne Elizabeth Baldwin

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