ZenAlex

Does anyone have any experience with this? The logic seems sound. Willing to try, but wanting to hear what your guys experiences are with it.

Close your eyes and listen to this song - It is the best thing I've experienced in 6 months during struggling with my issues. I love ambience music. My mind isn't a great state right now but sometimes some music breaks through.

I did an gut test with a biomesight who were offering a special for those suffering from long covid. Most of the tests came back with positive results, apart from the section labelled "probiotics" which was scored as "poor". I'm not sure if these bad results are the result of a pre-existing condition or long covid has fucked up my gut. Any advice or even just interpretation would be helpful. Thank you. @undeather @Michael569

Shit just checked you cannot just add any practitioner it has to be one of their registered ones. There's a list of gut microbiome analysts and dieticians available. I'm not sure who I should exactly go to for full understanding and what to do with this. I have the tests and it shows some issues consistent with long covid but not all. Some things definitely do seem to need improving. I was mostly concerned with the below one.

There isn't really a report I can print off, but I can "add a practitioner" on the website, and it gives whoever I choose access to a version of my full health profile, including my results. The website is designed to allow people's doctors and nutritionists access. I understand I'm not paying you so I don't mind if you say no. But if it's something you're intrigued about or interested in, let me know. Thank you

When I hear nihilists and others argue about this subject, I personally find myself a tad uncertain... My question is - What would actually make something meaningful? Is it just something that has significance to you? For it to be objectively meaningful would it have to have some significance to everything in the universe? I believe in subjective meaning if what is meant by meaningful is that it experienced as important/emotionally significant to the individual. I don't know what the exact definition would be for something to be "meaningful".

I just with my palms up, eyes closed or open depending on the day, take some deep breaths and let reality be as it is.

I don't know how to make my time meaningful while housebound guys. I can get out for short walks 15-20 minutes once a day but that is it. I'm still off work, and cannot exert or concentrate for very long without feeling overwhelmed. Even typing this thread feels like an effort. I've got further appointments to see doctors but I feel like I'm gradually getting weaker and less able to handle exertion, physical or mental. Long covid, me/cfs, dysautonomia. One of these. I was on a call with a therapist and was asked to concentrate hard on something for like 30 minutes and I've felt more dizzy and unbalanced ever since. It exacerbated my default symptoms. I feel more drained more easily. I'm making sure to maintain a healthy diet including supplements. So I'm going to take the next month to just chill out. Exertion is something I need to avoid as much as possible right now. My plan is to just meditate for hours with reality, still try and get out for short walks to avoid deconditioning even thought it does bring on symptoms, and listen to audiobooks. But want to know what else you guys can recommend I do while recovering. I cannot work now because concentrating on work eventually leads to tinnitus and blurred vision, as well as dizziness. How to make it meaningful? I feel like I've done as much investigating into my symptoms as I can, and I've got an appointment in 2 months with a syncope clinic. Even concentration on writing threads like these - It's like I can only tolerate it for so long. Meditation is obvious, anything else?

Yes because meditation makes me feel better. Most I've tried to meditate at once is 2.5-3 hours. I do it largely just to see what happens, not looking for anything. After 40 mins to 1 hour or so I feel considerably better.

fuck

Going to document my recent suffering here and talk about everything I'm experiencing and everything I've tried to rule out and considered. Hopefully this will have some value to summarize all of it here, and may one day help someone else in a similar situation. I'll start by saying I'm annoyed at myself because at times haven't really done much practical to resolve these issues, just researched and procrastinated a lot when I couldn't find anything. ------------------------------------------------------------- About 7 months I started getting a strange set of symptoms. I've had unexplained symptoms for 8-9 years, and I'll document them below just in case a connection is made, but the symptoms I had before the last 7 months weren't getting in the way of me functioning like a healthy enough human. It was functional and reasonably enjoyable if I followed the right routine. Symptoms that started around aug/sep 2023 - Exaggerated stress response to physical activity - Any amount of prolonged physical activity makes me feel worse, but anything more than around 40-45 minutes of walking a day and I feel way more depressed, anxious, irritable. There's no way I could handle doing high intensity exercise or hikes right now. I've gotta keep the walks below a certain level or it ruins my mood for a while and also triggers physical symptoms. If I did 1 hour a day, I'd still be able to function but I'd feel terrible. Above an hour a day, I'd be seriously suicidal. At times I experience lightheadedness and weird feelings of being unbalanced - Especially happens on days where I've had to walk more or gone on walks. When I stop physical activity for a few days the symptoms calm right down. More sensitive reaction to mental exertion. Physical exertion impacts me more, but mental exertion is also pretty bad. Random bouts of tinnitus - Exacerbated by physical exertion and sometimes mental. At times sharp pains around my body - Ab, rib, testicular. If I keep physical activity to an absolute minimum, it's minimal pain. Sore stomachs - The worse the symptoms get the worse my stomach gets along side that. I get GI issues, although if I avoid physical and sometimes mental exertion, the symptoms calm and are correlated by the level of physical and mental exertion involved. -------------------------------------------- What have I tried to resolve this? - Tests Had many different blood tests done - Looked at vitamins, minerals, cholesterol, hormones, thyroid, autoimmune. B12 potentially not optimal, although active b12 within range, MMA test showed normal, so although it could be improved, not convinced b12 deficiency to such a degree that I'm willing to do Shots/High strength supps for reasons I'll get into below. Omega 3 ratios weren't in January 2024, but on advice from Michal took a Fatty Acids test and will see what that comes back with. SHBG levels were out of range. MPV platelets slightly high but no concern to docs, HDL cholesterol was slightly low in Feb, but doc was not concerned as LDL cholesterol and other cholesterol was "excellent". Other tests done - 24 hr ECG, 24 hr BP monitor by NHS doc. GP commented that sometimes BP dropping a bit low, have noticed this when taking myself, can do as low as 95/58, but often not that low, GP said it could be because I'm healthy. Heart results sent to cardiology, they want to do a 72 hour test and get me to fill in a diary of activity. Food intolerance and Allergy test - Food intolerance test was IgG, not sure I have much faith in it, but the Food and Environmental Allergy test was IgE - Dust mites was one of the highest and I have known dusty rooms were a big irritator to my eyes. Not sure if my eye problems are related to underlying health issues or one specific allergy, but will continue to eliminate and allergy proof my environment, and see if I notice any patterns and connections. Tests done and awaiting results - Done by me via company - Fatty Acids; Erythrocytes, DAO Histamine (Will consider an anti-histamine at some point to see if that helps). Done by nhs doctor - Fasting "9am test" SHBG/Testosterone, Cortisol, Thyroid recheck. Tests ordered - Cortisol 4 point Saliva test, Active b12 recheck test (to see if dietary changes are impacting or if amount has lowered since nov), Covid antibody check test (not hopeful but might as well). ------------------------------------- Diet - Eliminated Gluten - Stomach at times seems to feel a bit better, but not sure it had much impact. Other symptoms still very present. Am going to eliminate soy starting from later this week. Other - Ruled out hypoglycaemia - One of the first considerations since my issues come during physical activity. Thought it may be a blood sugar issue. My blood sugars were always within range. Even went out for a walk early morning, hadn't eaten since 6pm the day before, it was 8am, so 14hr fast. When I got back home after a walk, blood sugars within range, would often take 2-3 retests. The very occasional low result would be proven false after retests. Blood sugars would always return to normal in reasonable times after eating. Health Anxiety ruled out - I have at times taken holidays from work and using computers, so I wasn't researching or trying to figure out my symptoms at all for 1-2 weeks at a time, it made little difference to my mood, and my symptoms were present. Since physical exertion is the primary exacerbator, I'd say this is unlikely, especially since the symptoms started before I was even looking into the symptoms at all. I highly doubt this is the issue. Am seeing a psychologist - Have had depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD symptoms for many years, plus other negative mental health symptoms. Have never been able to resolve them just manage them. Since my mental health symptoms are obviously worse now, I am still open to the possibility it's a psychosomatic issue, although I'm not convinced. Still, trying to improve my mental health cannot hurt, I will hopefully gain more insight into my issues with a Paid Psychologist, rather than a free NHS one, which in the past have been basically useless. Allergies - Trying to make my apartment less friendly for Dust Mites, Mold, bought an air purifier, will see how this impacts everything. Considerations for possible causes/issues - Adrenal fatigue - I suffer from some of the associated symptoms. Nothing I looked into as an answer really seems to be differing from what I am doing. Nutrient deficiency - Still a possibility, although not entirely sure. Everything so far as come back either optimal or adequate range, except Omega 3 which Is why I'm getting the fatty acids etc test done. Dietary Issue - Gut problem. This shouldn't be too difficult to test for as I eat similar things most days. I'm annoyed at myself a bit for not going through dietary elimination sooner. Long covid - Maybe, although if I did catch Covid, it wasn't symptomatic at least not to a noticeable degree. Some of my symptoms line up with Post Exertional Malaise, although I don't feel particularly fatigued, just mentally bad amongst other physical symptoms. Cortisol Dysregulation/Nervous system issues/Mental health issues/Chronic stress - I haven't drank alcohol regularly or caffeine in years, but I have at times binged video games. I often am concerned about times in my life where I may have overstimulated myself. But the only thing is the only real answer to managing this seems to be stuff I'm already doing. My life isn't particularly stressful, there have been times I've not worked out as often, times where I've been less enthusiastic about meditation, times where I've allowed video games back into my life, but never have I allowed Allowed regular alcohol use, caffeine use, back into my life, and my diet has been healthy for a long time, I've never really slipped up on that. Potential bad reaction to supplementation - I have seen some people talk about b12 supplementation triggering symptoms, and the months leading up to my symptoms starting I supplemented Cyanocobalamin daily, which is something I'd never done before the months leading up to these issues. I've even found people with Adrenal issues talk about this specifically. I hate when people say "just take supplements", as if there are no downsides lol. Supplements are unnatural to the body, they could definitely have side effects. https://www.reddit.com/r/adrenalfatigue/comments/16e0szn/adrenal_fatigue_through_vit_b12_supplement/ https://www.reddit.com/r/adrenalfatigue/comments/16gyp1i/b12/ I'm very concerned about supplements and medications, I'd love a natural solution to all of this.

The emotional impact it has on you.

@Keryo Koffa @Leo Gura Something of great significance?

Well, I usually think that it means something of emotional significance to the individual, but i'm not sure if this is the truth and am looking at the wrong thing.

Not all fish have the same mercury levels, avoiding fish completely for this reason is silly. Tuna definitely avoid, Salmon is not so bad.

Why not just advise to eat Fish? Unless they're vegan obviously

For the last 6 months of my Veganism I ate 1, sometimes 2, portions of soy per day. No avocado, Tahini. No olives, although I did have some olive oil with salad/cooking. I was eating 1 portion of nuts, sometimes 2, and one portion of chia seeds 5-6 days a week. There may have been some variation depending on how many calories I needed.

I was Vegan for 8 years. I consumed a lot chia/flaxseeds and an EPA/DHA algae oil supplement daily, and my omega 3 ratios weren't good and despite only taking half of the recommended dosage of DHA, my fatty acids tests put me above the suggested range for DHA, and the test even said DHA supps are the cause. I switched to eating just Salmon and stopped eating seeds and DHA supps and my omega 3 levels are better. IMO just eat Fish and you'll be ok.

I was Vegan for 8 years. I made sure to pay attention to what I ate. I was eating 200-250% the RDA as a vegan (because vegan iron is non-heme iron), my Iron levels were all perfectly fine, except Ferritin was sometimes as low was 45 which is still normal, but I was surprised it would sometimes be normal but not optimal despite lots of iron in my diet. I'm still 90% vegan, but eat salmon 3x a week and a few more animal products. My ferritin has just test as 160. Some places say that's optimal, others say that's a big high, although I know ferritin can fluctuate, because when I was vegan it was fluctuating between 45-75.

Long story. I'm still mostly vegan but the way I feel and my blood work is better. I couldn't optimize my Omega 3 status also as a vegan, despite consuming plenty of omega 3 sources and DHA supp. 3 months of salmon resolved it. Veganism isn't a bad option, I just don't necessarily think it's optimal for everyone.

My inflammation levels have been checked, they're good. My inflammation levels are very low and the doc commenting on the test says no concerns with that. Only slightly higher than they were as a vegan.

I've been trying my best to live mindfully over the last 5-6 years. The goal of things like meditation I believe is to be more aware and more at peace, and there are ways to do this that are not meditation. E.G. Exercising without headphones can bring me to the present. I've tried different meditation techniques over the years such as the standard focusing on the breath, labelling, do nothing etc. I've fully realised that there is simply only so long my ADHD brain can focus on anything if it is not stimulating/interactive enough. This is the reason why I've loved to hike so much, it's so good for calmness and also mindfulness. I find sometimes that I find it easier to remain present if I keep my eyes open and just observe the room, because if I keep my eyes closed there's just sometimes not enough going on and I end up having days where not wandering off is just physically impossible. It's literally a physical force. I know people will just say "this is just you placing limiting beliefs on yourself", but I don't think it is. I've managed to learn how to live my life to become very aware of what is going on inside of me, but achieving this level of awareness took an entire lifestyle change. And many of my "aha" moments where I noticed this and came to realisations came while I was simply undistracted on a walk or standing in a spot in nature, mind clear for a moment and just aware of my feelings. TL;DR - Standard meditation will only ever be so effective for me unfortunately, but sometimes I notice if I make it a more stimulating or interactive experience, it can help like e.g. doing body scans or noting/labelling. But despite this, I still only get so much success, as the energy that makes my mind wander is sometimes incredibly strong. Sometimes I just cannot do it and have no choice but to go out for some exercise or just wait for things to calm themselves down. My mind has it's ups and downs. Some people just don't get it when it comes to ADHD. I'm trying to experiment more with alternate/custom methods, but not sure what to try at this point. What are the most interactive types of meditation you guys can think of?

In my therapy sessions I was taught a technique called "fluttering", where you flutter your hands on your collar bones and the extra activity/stimulation helps keep your mind more present. I did it during emdr to test the audio cues + fluttering with eye closes vs the visual stimulation of the dot moving on the screen + audio noises. It was so irritating to have to pay attention to the dot. Focused attention is hard lol.

I'm very confident now the issue I have is likely dysautonomia caused by Long Covid. Have mentioned this to the doc, being referred to the right clinic. Have spoken with work who are getting me in touch with occupational health. Don't want to get my hopes up, but we'll see what happens. Will continue to use this difficult period as an opportunity to better understand myself.

Sometimes you may have to accept that science may not always be able to explain things and everyone's body is different. Listen to your body, it doesn't like lentils. It may be intolerance/allergy. It may be the high fibre content. Have you had extensive blood work done.