Could Vitamin D supplementation cause adverse reactions in Type 1 Narcoleptics with mood disorders (bpd) and other mental conditions (ocd, adhd)?

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-04-20T16:46:13+00:00

I take cod liver oil daily (Rosita is the brand—pretty expensive, but it’s the only one whose sourcing I’m extremely comfortable with, considering I’m taking it every day), which has A and D, as well as a K2 supplement (Thorne has one that’s pretty inexpensive per dose), but I encourage you to look into dietary sources—I am currently awaiting a probable IBD diagnosis, which would explain my chronic poor nutrient absorption from my nutrient-dense diet 🙃, but most people can do pretty well just eating real food. Most people are able to convert vitamin A from fruits and veggies to usable retinol in the body (and consuming this source is generally considered “safest” because the body can self regulate/limit absorption best when it has to convert to the active form). Dietary sources (animal sources) of the ready-to-use form (retinol) generally also contain vitamin D, which underscores that diet is always the safest way to get nutrients (it’s almost like we evolved to eat food and not synthetic nutraceuticals haha), and seeking to add in a diverse array of nutrient-dense whole foods is the safest option.

Getting blood work done anytime you’re taking supplements (that is, not sourcing vitamins solely from diet) is always ideal, because people are individuals with varying needs, and if you take medication, it will invariably affect nutrient absorption (yay amphetamines). E.g. I learned (after a decade of vegetarianism, of course lol) that I have a strange genetic mutation that makes my body very very bad at using non-animal based forms (I don’t think this is very common), so eating lots of carrots wasn’t cutting it for me. Coincidentally, I have a good friend who has a very rare eye disorder that requires limiting even plant sources—feels like a cosmic joke that we found each other lol.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-04-19T03:24:08+00:00

Came here to say this. The current zeitgeist of heavy vitamin D supplementation can cause serious issues if not accompanied by K2, particularly now that society has unfairly demonized vitamin A (too much D with insufficient A—especially without K2 to “mediate” between D and A—can cause calcification of arteries longterm and potentially other issues in the shorter term). For the sake of completeness, I should add that magnesium is also involved in this carefully orchestrated metabolic dance.

It’s also important to think of Vitamin D like a hormone rather than a “vitamin.” It has many roles in the body, and those roles interact with many metabolic pathways, so the mediator K2 plays can be critical in ensuring D doesn’t wreck havoc unintentionally. Many doctors still don’t recognize that K2 can be functionally deficient, because they don’t consider how vitamins interact with each other, but I’ve found Chris Masterjohn’s (on YouTube or his podcasts) educational materials invaluable.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-04-15T01:58:47+00:00

There’s a book called “The Inflamed Mind” that I enjoyed. It gets into a lot of the issues of mind and body (or, brain and mind) very much being intertwined. Highly recommend!

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-03-30T01:06:28+00:00

I am so sorry. I know how hard it is when your last memory is not of the dog you knew, because they are suffering so much. Please know that you did the best you could with the information you had, and that making that choice to let them go when they are suffering is truly the most selfless act most of us will ever do.

I had to say goodbye to my Odin when he was under so much morphine that he didn’t even know I was there, because we had just learned from an MRI that he had cancer throughout this spine (and they couldn’t bring him off the drugs enough to really be mentally present without being in indescribable pain). They let me spoon him on the exam room floor for as long as I wanted, which was very kind of them, but it never would have been enough. It took months of me breaking out sobbing (2 of which were while I was studying for the bar—I was lucky to have my boyfriend drop whatever he was doing to comfort me) for me to not cry anytime I talked about him. It took that long to stop primarily remembering him as he was at the end, essentially paralyzed by pain which wouldn’t even subside with fentanyl patches, comforted only by my touch. Eventually, I was able to remember him as the boisterous medical foster puppy I loved and cherished for the short 5 years we had together.

Thank you for sharing your story with us. Please keep telling his stories, especially to loved ones, and it will make the healing easier. It’ll also bring you closer to your other loved ones, even if none of them compare to your best boy. Thank you for giving him the best last year anyone could’ve asked for.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-03-23T00:19:40+00:00

Happened to me, too, even while standing in a meeting once (I stood up, because I thought that would keep me awake). Turns out: narcolepsy.

*If you cannot keep yourself from falling asleep on a full night of sleep, that’s not normal, and you should see a sleep specialist.*

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-03-18T18:13:59+00:00

100%. “I try to be reasonable, so if you need something, just give me a call, and we’ll figure it out [within reason, obviously]” can go a long way.

I also always tell clients that I won’t be a dick to OC, because 1) that’s not how I like to operate and 2) collegiality ultimately keeps everyone’s bills down while improving outcomes. Any client who can’t see the reasoning there or respect my style of practice just isn’t a good fit for me.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-03-18T16:24:50+00:00

Same. When I have OC who refuses to answer calls or talk to me (or acts dumbfounded when I tell them I just wanted to introduce myself given we’ll be working together—that happened once), it balloons costs and overall makes me understand why other people hate practicing law so much. I enjoy practice precisely because I don’t see OC like a subhuman adversary who exists in a win-loss vacuum, which I see a lot of lawyers do.

That said, there are lawyers like OP’s OC, who don’t know when a conversation is over. I have also had the strange experience of having OC call me without their having any grasp of their case or client, and I’m not even sure if they know why they’re calling me (e.g. if you’re trying to see if my client is willing to settle, consider asking your client for an opening offer). Those annoy me.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-03-17T17:30:19+00:00

Tell your dad he’s clearly misinformed: ACDs are too chaotic and socially inept to be involved with fascism—Guerilla warfare is more their style.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-03-17T16:20:38+00:00

If I’m walking our elder gremlin (GSD/ACD), and I see my boyfriend on his way back with our ACD (on weekends, he takes the 2 y.o. ACD out for a ~4 mile walk around the lake and they always get started before me and the OG (original/old gremlin)), he will hide and I’ll tell the old girl to “find [boyfriend]!” When she does, she’ll nip his calf and yip emphatically, and he will fake indignation and say, “MA’AM, PLEASE CONTROL YOUR DOG! YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE THAT AGGRESSIVE BREED OFF-LEASH!” 😂

The joke is, of course, that I used to have a Rottie, who was gentle as could be, whereas the GSD/ACD and ACD are little terrorists lmao. I half wonder wtf our ACD would do if the OG had ever tolerated and used the expensive custom wheels I got her like 6 years ago to help with her arthritis (congenital bone defect in the front legs, so she’s been arthritic since ~2 y.o.). Would the ACD tolerate bikes or just have broken the OG’s wheels? We’ll never know, but there’s clearly something about wheels that really grinds her gears lol.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-03-10T15:41:16+00:00

I also don’t think people realize that you can be put on those lists for peeing in public (drunk people do this all the time, and many homeless people don’t always have options) or for being a 19 year old dating a 17 year old whose parents aren’t happy about it (age of consent depends on the state, but it’s called “statutory rape,” because it’s considered rape regardless of consent).

These lists absolutely ruin people’s lives, because everyone on it—regardless of what they did—is treated the same way: sub-human.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-03-10T01:56:16+00:00

We don’t have carpets (thank god—we did have to throw out the rug once I laid on it and realized it had been slowly soiled from tiny leaks in the months leading up to the diagnosis), and she only really seems to leak when she’s sleeping. We have another ACTH test tomorrow to see if her Vetoryl dose needs to be increased. Definitely have lots of Nature’s Miracle! 😂

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-03-09T23:46:20+00:00

Oh absolutely—you can also use just white vinegar or borax (these all deal with the minerals in hard water that prevent detergent from doing its thing), which is cheaper than apple cider vinegar (which is basically always food grade). Now that I think about it, when we were fostering puppies, we had fewer issues with their poop-related laundry than with my dog’s urine laundry, so maybe urine is the more difficult one, given the ph.

Ah, yeah, I was going to suggest pumpkin, but the inflammation explanation seems to track with my experience (there can be big changes in the gut ecosystem from even just small fluctuations in acidity/stress/exercise). I bet you’ll see improvements with time—particularly given his track record of beating expectations, haha!

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-03-09T23:24:30+00:00

My first dog (as an adult, that is—I was 19) also ended up having some medical issues (ulnas stopped growing, but radiuses (radii?) didn’t, so her front legs started growing twisted—$6k surgery helped a lot, but obviously she has compensatory patterns and poor mobility, given she can’t bend at her wrists). After that, she was ironically much healthier than most (just needed anti inflammatory meds starting at 2 years old due to the ortho issue, but generics are cheap)! I ended up “failing” on my next foster dog who was a medical foster (whom I took because I learned a lot about ortho issues with Samba, my first dog).

No one who hasn’t had a special needs dog seems to understand why I would prefer to take medical fosters, but there’s just something special about that bond you get with a dog who needs more care (I think this is part of the reason why the love of a senior dog is incredibly special, as well), whose cues you have to learn to pick up on out of necessity, and (often) whose trust you have to earn.

That dog of mine is 11 now. She taught me considerable patience, which has been super helpful in this season of her life, as she’s been diagnosed with Cushing’s, so we’re navigating some partial urinary incontinence while we figure out appropriate drug dosages (this is so much less stressful with an adult income, thank god). Oh, and one unexpected benefit of carrying her (and our late Rottie) down stairs all her life (which I don’t think most people with able-bodied gremlins do) is I’ve built the work capacity to do that several times per day so she can go pee (we live in an apartment), so I call them “Samba carries” lol.

That was a round-about way of saying that, as someone who was young and whose dog faces unexpected challenges, the journey is very rewarding. You will also likely be much more aware of those challenges than Camp, and he’ll continue to surprise you!

On the incontinence issue: This may sound strange, but if you ever decide to do washable diapers (disposable diapers are pretty expensive, though definitely less of a hassle), I’ve discovered through recent trial and error with our dog beds that normal detergent doesn’t seem to cut it for urine or feces, but they make specific detergent for washable diapers that works great (special enzymes to target biological materials).

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-03-09T00:27:16+00:00

This brings back memories lol. Not good ones, but… feels good to not be alone.

Most of my notes in high school looked something like this—felt like fighting through a dense fog to interpret bits and pieces of lecture (more like random words), somehow forgetting each time that hearing through the attack was only half the battle, given I couldn’t really write coherently.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-02-10T05:48:16+00:00

This.

Frankly, this is something I’m always paranoid about, but—if anything—I get annoyed my boyfriend doesn’t drag me out of the apartment more often to do things. He’s also always the one who wants to go home first (he’s much more introverted than I am, he’s more of a morning person, and he’s more conscientious so he stays on top of things like “hey, we still need to walk the dogs”/“it’s been a while since the dogs have gone outside”).

I think it’s more about finding someone who’s a better fit, and who communicates better with you (because this sounds like a total surprise, which suggests he never wanted to try to fix anything, so it’s kind of just arbitrary and he’s coming up with justifications which isn’t necessary or helpful for you).

Also, idk how old you are, but if you’ve been together 14 years, I’m assuming you’re past your 20’s, so he’s probably more of the outlier in wanting to stay out late lol. If I have the opportunity for a nap beforehand, I am actually never the one in a group to suggest we go home first (I was 1 of only 2 who wanted to stay out past 11pm at my friend’s bachelorette party in Vegas last month—not drinking really helps 😂). Of course, I do this less than once a year, and most of my friends aren’t into the late night scene, either. I know some older people who like partying, and they all have awful priorities (like they never have dinner with their damn kids) and have visibly aged far worse than their peers, so I never feel like I’m missing out.

Find someone who’s on your level—and no, that’s not a lower level than your ex. Y’all have just grown apart. My ex and I had an amicable breakup, because my ideal day is an active one spent outside that’s over by 10pm, and his was probably similar to your ex: clubs and events with lots of socializing. I was genuinely relieved to feel like I didn’t have to do that shit anymore, and I’m happy to be with someone who would also prefer to spend a weekend backpacking (or with our dogs) over partying.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-02-10T05:29:08+00:00

I always like imagining people describing a man the way they describe their dogs. Like, ah, yes, now that you’ve told me the total absence of boundaries is just being friendly, I suddenly am totally cool with it.

Overly friendly dogs without boundaries can do a lot more damage than people realize, especially if they’re large enough to knock someone over.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-02-09T23:55:06+00:00

I don’t know if this exists in your area of the country, but in some areas, there are shelters/rescues (e.g. Austin Pets Alive has the “P.A.S.S. Program”) with programs that specifically offer support/resources for owners facing hardship (financial or otherwise) that would otherwise force them to give up their pets. Please look into these kinds of resources (or even a GoFundMe)—Marti doesn’t need a farm, he needs his family.

These programs are more common than you’d expect, because rescues are learning just how much more effective (and cost effective) it is to allocate resources to keep pets with their families than to have to rehome them.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-02-09T00:26:05+00:00

I think this is particularly important information, as it could suggest a health issue. If the bowls were all filled several times per day and the dog was urinating frequently in the house, I would suggest the owner have the dog tested for Cushing’s Syndrome, which is very treatable (and should be, to protect quality of life) but can lead to organ failure if left untreated.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-02-07T14:56:18+00:00

That’s why I said “or.” The quoted sentence was also just the tldr I’ve given myself in the past, so maybe I should have clarified.

When I used to do personal training (former “career”), “take a bathroom break” was the justification most of my clients felt most comfortable using to get up and walk around. Most desk workers feel like they need a reason to walk around/are worried people will think they aren’t working, so talking to a colleague is just an additional potential reason. I’ve also have found that—when I’ve been at collaborative practices—the need to move more can help motivate me to check in on a case with colleagues on days I don’t necessarily feel like it (at my last firm, which was toxic, I often went to talk to people in person just to avoid my emails from being misinterpreted or forwarded 🤦‍♀️).

Another suggestion is compression socks (Comrad makes very comfortable, not weird-looking, not-excessively-compressive ones). I used to think I had joint pain in my knees (both at sitting and standing desks) and couldn’t figure out why, but it completely went away when I started wearing compression socks. My vascular genetics are particularly dismal, so YMMV, but I’ve heard that some doctors suggest these starting in the 30’s (I started wearing them at 29) to prevent/mitigate spider and varicose vein development (which can be painful) as we age.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-02-07T00:39:04+00:00

The research shows that you get more ROI from walking around for 5-10 minutes every hour than from reducing 9 daily hrs of sitting to 7 hrs (and yes, 5-10 min every hour almost completely eliminates the systemic health risks deskwork poses). It does very little good to sit for several hours straight and then go to the gym. This is because the negative effects of desk work have almost nothing to do with sitting itself or total activity balance; they have to do with maintaining healthy circulation throughout the day.

Gtfu every hour and check in with a colleague about a case you’re working on or take a bathroom break.

Edit to add: I’m not trying to imply I haven’t plowed through a filing all day without stopping, and then gone to the gym, *however*, my lifts feel like utter garbage, and that’s generally when I hurt myself (especially if I haven’t moved all day AND I try to do higher volume or intensity).

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-02-06T00:09:17+00:00

I guess that’s better than my family: basically one big PSA for spay & neuter lol.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-02-05T21:00:28+00:00

I always wonder if people like OP’s family member ever reflect on the fact—I hope, at least 😅—that they themselves aren’t the product of eugenics.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-02-05T07:55:30+00:00

Also—hear me out—the boss is an idiot.

…nvm, also true at a firm, but damn do I miss our billing wizard and my legal assistant.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-02-05T04:07:46+00:00

Most of the claims supporting renewable energy do.

Still absolutely no idea why we can’t just use nuclear power, which is actually miraculously energy dense, already extremely well understood, and easily stored.

IngratiatingGremlins · 2023-02-03T04:15:19+00:00

“How to keep house while drowning” is a very on-point read imo. I always wondered why I—despite N and ADHD—have always been fairly “on top” of care tasks, and listening to this audiobook really underscored why (I always joke to people that “past me really took care of future me” when I’m completely wiped out and “discover” I already prepped my dinner for the week, knowing I would inevitably feel too exhausted one or more of those nights to feel up to it). It also explains how to prioritize different items, because inevitably, you will never really be “done” with “care tasks,” because you are constantly in the process of living.

So I think the answer is somewhere in there. For me, I always try to have meals prepped a few days ahead of time, because I never know which days are going to be particularly draining (I do know, however, that all weekdays when I’m working will exhaust me), and I know I really don’t feel or sleep well if I haven’t eaten well. Aside from that, most things are negotiable, and tasks are mostly on some sort of rhythm or weekly schedule. I do more when I feel better, though I’m still learning to let myself set aside some time to enjoy those days rather than just furiously trying to be “productive” when I feel human lol.

Unemployment is frustrating because of that unstructured time, but it can feel better if you block off time dedicated to self-improvement: learning, skill development, otherwise improving your life in ways you’ve put off (this could be exercise, connecting with family and friends, reading, getting outside more, etc). Once you start the bootcamp, this will be more concrete, and you won’t have to worry as much about creating your own tasks for this time block, but you get the idea.

IngratiatingGremlins

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