Mauv--glad DH is doing well....I say give him drugs, keep him out as long as possible..all men turn into babies when they are in pain...no wonder were are the ones that give birth!

Virginia--kudos to you. While I am very against smoking..way to much cancer in my family and I was a pack a day smoker for many years and traded 40 pounds for quitting smoking and don't regret a day of it. You have taken on the weight program and stopping drinking...keep your focus, you will quit the smoking too, just don't try to do too much at one time, unless you really feel like it...You are AMAZING to have done only one of those things....I am feeling inspired!!

Den--it will probably help, those meds can wreck havoc!!! good luck

Jen--love the jelly bean costume!! how fun

Jessica....the ashes were awful....water water water..feel better

Thanks
rb

Hey, I saw the sun today for five lousy minutes. Thanks for the Light Therapy Info. I'm going to try to find a Canadian supplier.

Did the deed at the lawyer this morning (PA and personal care stuff), picked up drugs and now am getting H. his lunch. Hersh is off to her therapy job at 1. Too bad she can't drive herself. She has a **** of a time reaching the pedals! I am definitely having a nap later this afternoon.

Awwww... c'mon Ruth, what about my suggestion? Wouldn't you rather come visit your very sick Alternachicky friend with her house full of kleenex, chicken soup and germs?

Still very sick.

Jen - Forgot to say. I wanna try the spinach/ candy line next time I have trick or treaters. That was great!!!

Okay, off to the scotch & humor... laughter is the best medicine.

Hope you feel better soon Jessica!!!

Yes, Jess...
feel better honey.
Soozie

Ruth - I would send you some sun, but we don't have much either.

Feel better Jessica!

And I hope the new meds work out Den!!!!!

Get well soon Jessica!

its great to see you back here. Its funny, but I was actually just thinking about you when I logged on, before I saw your post. I was wondering if you had quit smoking! So glad to hear about your sobriety... you are amazing.

Sflake, I just saw this and thought of you and your sister.
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/11/07/ms_cannabis031107

Sojo - how are YOU doing???

Ellis ~ Oooh la la a cannabis pill. Worth checking into. She never enjoyed the real thing back in school except of course there was the time we did experiment with brownies....Yummmmm!
Thanks for thinking of us sweetie.

Jessica, I hope you feel better soon! If you need some TLC, I recall a post from Mauvais saying she had a naughty nurse outfit somewhere...

(If I could come to Cali, I would!)

Ruth, since we can't go to Jessica's, we'll have to get lights. I know somebody that got one on ebay - I don't know if it is the best kind or not. Worth looking into! If you find one and they won't ship to Canada, let me know and I'll get it to you!

Naughty nurse outfits, metal bras and thongs... what kind of place is this? Hmm, Jennifer has a cow suit! (to each his own )

I'm really curious about the light therapy. I haven't read much about it, but isn't it supposed to be full spectrum light? I bought a full spectrum desk lamp, for reading. I love it, I can actually see again. I wonder if I were to leave it on all the time, if it would make me feel better.

I don't know if full spectrum is the same. The page that Ellis linked above says this:

"The most common device used for bright light therapy is a fluorescent light box which produces a light intensity of 2,500 to 10,000 lux at a comfortable distance (1-2'). Light box intensity ratings are always at a given distance. Light weight portable boxes and those mounted on a stand are available. Full-spectrum light is not necessary since intensity is most important, but a balanced-spectrum light minus UV-B emissions is considered ideal. Fewer headaches and eyestrain are associated with using balanced spectrum light. Most light boxes cost from $250 to $525. "

It did say later that you can overdose from having too much of it, and the symptoms are irritability and agitation, followed by fatigue. Hey, wait a minute!.......

Hi girls,
I know that Gaiam has some reasonably priced full spectrum lamps and bulbs that you can install in your own lamps. I'll look up their url for you.

Intensity and time spent in the light are both important. Those light boxes are very intense. I would think if you installed some full spectrum lights or bulbs in a place where you spend a considerable amount of time, your office, your home, and made a point of turning the lights on and spending some time basking in their glow, it would be as effective as buying a light box and making it one more thing to add to your busy life...ie, ugh, must spend time in front of light box everyday... if you just use the bulbs and lamps you won't even have to think about it.

It's as important to get an ample amount of darkness in your 24 hour day as it is to have light. Both play important roles in helping us feel happy and in promoting sound sleep. If you are using light therapy try to use it early in the day. Dimmed lighting in the evening near bedtime will help you sleep better. The subdued lighting cues our brains that time to sleep is approaching.

the National Institute for Mental Health has fact sheets online on various topics, I'll check and see if they have one on SAD or light therapy...okay, I'll be right back with the urls...