Ritalin

I am not recommending that anyone try this without the supervision of a doctor, okay? Ritalin is a serious drug. Nobody should buy it online and take it without supervision. That is medically and legally very risky.

The Roux works. I have my weight down to normal and below and my body pain down to the occasional flicker. My energy level has improved a great deal. On its own, I'd say it's like the energy level of a rather mellow, low-key "normal" person. Not an energetic, lively "normal" person. On my own, I take two hours to wake up all the way, two hours I really can't spare. I'd resorted to more caffeine than anyone post bypass should be consuming. On my own, I don't have enough energy to handle what I have to handle with any kind of grace. I have ancient parents to take care of and editing to do and a book to write.

After three months of a schedule I really couldn't manage, in a daze of exhaustion, I got a Ritalin prescription - from a psychiatrist who took a decent history and a careful look at the current situation and reviewed my medical records. She made a careful, considered decision.

This stuff helps a lot.

One of the advantages is that it gives me enough margin to deal cheerfully with unexpected messes, which will happen in a household with people who are very old and have health challenges.

It also extinguishes the last spark of appetite.

I am liking the mood effects and not getting any side effects strong enough to feel. It's a very great relief to expect that I can do what I need to do and not go to bed feeling that I just barely managed to survive the day and wouldn't have, given one more challenge. I like it.

This doesn't surprise me because it is in the "speed" family. I take cymbalta and it acted just like speed on me and for a couple of months it acted that way but I'm building up a tolerance for it so I don't et that reaction anymore. In fact I actually lost several pounds when I started it. I definately agree tho that no one should try it without a doctors supervision because these drugs are very powerful and can be deadly if not propery used and supervised.

I would never encourage anyone to use these drugs without a doctor's supervision either, even though fibromyalgia patients often need to try several drugs before one works well for each individual, and the trial period can be aggravating. Unfortunately, I get very sleepy on SSRIs, and Cymbalta brings on a serious case of the runs for me. I'm glad it works for you.

I was diagnosed in 1998 with CFIDS.  In 2004, Fibromyalgia joined the party. Long story short: After 9 years or so, CFIDS started to get tired of partying.. I felt 'something 'give'; "release', like when you know that the flu you had, the fever etc... has expired. And I knew I might be able to start to get back to some kind of  functional life. There's no prove you can ever get back to 100% of a human being, especially if you had the insidious CFIDS onslaught that I had.  But, I didn't care if it was even 25%! Anything was a blessing after being bed and couch bound for 5 years.  In 2007-8, in yet another attempt to get some weight off, my physician prescribed Phentermine. It was a BRILLIANT mistake.  I had to decrease the dosage by half (ever tried emptying out a capsule halfway, then putting it back together? It's easy really, just kind of annoying =p...) because it was just way too much for my CFIDS to handle. If I took it one day, I would be couch bound the next 2-3 days. But, I started pushing myself to try and use it say every 3-4 days. I found it helped me stay up, and helped my body relearn how to function. And all of a sudden, I could  focus on tasks, and actually think clearly while using it. 

My doctor and I realized its' huge potential for me. And, at times, during the first year, the pain and associated discomfort levels from being up so much more went through the roof. In 2 years (with help from Phentermine), I feel like it has propelled my recovery like crazy. Now, I am getting where I can use it 4 times a week,  and the CFIDS repercussions are getting less. It is remarkable. That's why we call it a brilliant mistake. Granted, I still slip into crashes, and have to be Very careful and make sure I keep a good balance of rest and activity. But, as an example, I had to drive 4 hours (8 total) to see Dr. Johnell. I never would have been able to focus and concentrate on teh road on the way back if it had not been for the Phentermine. So, I also recognize it is  a valuable tool for when emergencies arrive, and I have to be able to respond clear headed, and with energy.  We (My doctor) stopped regarding it as a weight reduction tool and 100% a CFIDS/FM tool, that enables me to have a much higher quality of life.

I have heard Ritalin has similar effects for some people. However, I am not in any way encouraging anyone to use these drugs, but it is something I felt like sharing about how it has worked for me.

EDIT: Brain Chemistry is a very tricky, complicated animal. One thing may work for someone, and/or it could harm another. There's no formula anywhere really, for being able to say if one of these drugs may work for you or not. Please never consider anything, without first discussing it with your primary doctor.