Pardon me for jumping in here - but some of what you've said here sounds like it could be exactly what I'm experiencing. For the past several days, I have been trying to take a 250mg capsule of niacinamide 2 to 3 times per day. I have read all of the info on niacinamide which states that it's supposed to be quite helpful for anxiety - even acting as sort-of a benzodiazepine (sp.) in the brain. (Supposedly, people have been able to reduce or stop taking their benzos by taking this nutrient.) It's also supposed to be helpful for reducing the toxic effects of Candida/yeast - by helping to clear that nasty alcohol byproduct acetaldehyde. These are the reasons why I thought niacinamide would be great for me.
But instead of a calming effect, I've gotten this frustrating paradoxical reaction - I've felt agitated, even more spacey/foggy than normal - off-kilter. I have noticed that body-agitation - that figety need to move around. Sometimes when I take it, I feel like the agitation might be coming more from my body than my brain, if that makes sense: my brain may be pretty calm, but my body will have this uncomfortable, keyed-up feeling. Other times, both my brain and my body feel agitated.
In light of what you've shared, I wonder if this is evidence that my BBB is leaky - as I believe niacinamide directly or indirectly increases GABA levels. Before I read your post, I had my little "theories", such as:
-My brain/body has been accustomed to a certain biochemical state, and it is "rebelling" against niacinamide's pushing it toward another biochemical state. Maybe it needs time to adjust.
-the niacinamide is somehow increasing acidity levels in my body. I've had a problem over the years with many supplements making me too "acidic" - and my body doesn't respond well to that increased acidity. I've had to greatly reduce or even back off supplements altogether because of this type of reaction. I've read that niacinamide can increase uric acid levels.
I have found that with Vitamin B6 (if a lab test I took in November is to be believed, I have severe pyroluria) - I've had somewhat of the same reaction. It had caused agitation and insomnia - particularly the Twinlabs brand. I seem to tolerate the Source Naturals' brand of B6 (50mg) well, though - I attributed this to the calcium phosphate that Source Naturals put in the tablets. Maybe the calcium phosphate somehow has a calming, and/or alkalinizing effect - or it helps the B6 to "land more softly" in my system.
Maybe switching to a niacinamide supplement that has calcium (phosphate) in it might be a partial solution - although I feel like this could only be a superficial, "band-aid" solution.
It feels like there is a lot more going on with the niacinamide than just increased acidity, though. It sounds like what you've said about the leaky BBB could be a very real possibility with me. I've also noticed that supplements seem to have a very rapid effect on me - I can often start to feel the effect of supplements within 10 - 20 seconds. Could this be a sign of leaky-gut and/or leaky BBB?
May I ask what you did nutritionally to heal your leaky BBB? I'm sure you've shared it before - but it can be difficult to wade through all of the messages. (Maybe I'll try to do a Google search later.) You can just outline it - hopefully it won't be too much work!
It would be nice if I could somehow get my intestines biopsied to see if there is any damage. Since the things one has to do to heal a damaged/leaky gut can be pretty labor-intensive, it would be nice to have actual, tangible confirmation that I have gut-damage. I've been "toying" with the idea of transitioning to a gluten-free and/or casein-free diet, or even going further than that and trying the Specific Carbohydrate diet. But you're talking about someone who never cooks - it would be a huge, HUGE lifestyle adjustment for me.
>
> Hi, Kathy,
> Â
> Sorry to hear of your dilemma. GABA won't help if you have tight junction permeability or blood-brain barrier leaking.  GABA is what some doctors actually use to see if you have BBB leaking. If you do have it, you get very agitated instead of the calm, mellowed out feeling you are supposed to have with GABA. [Sometimes, tho, you first get the calm mellow feeling and then after another dose get the bad agitated, angry feelings.] This is perhaps a good way, however, to assess whether a leaky BBB and tight junctions have anything to do with your ES! You would have good evidence if you took the GABA after being badly emf-ed.
> Â
> Have you tried D3 from an all natural source? Carlson's Labs has a D3 made from Fish oils. It is pretty pricey, but you only take it every other day and so it lasts a long time.Â
> Â
> B12 is something which might help you. Get a sublingual pill, which bypasses the gut, and the best quality you can find. I use methylcobalamin. There are different types. B12 helps the nervous system.
> Â
> Possibly a hydrogen supplement would help.
> Â
> You mentioned not doing well on calcium, and I didn't either until I took calcium AEP. I personally always take it with pantethine. Emfs can cause calcium efflux from where it should be in the brain. Calcium AEP is the type calcium the brain uses. Again, this would pertain to you only if you know your BBB is leaking, and not necessarily pertain, if it is not.Â
> Â
> If you have a good doctor who you can go to, also, a calcium channel blocker might be helpful, if you know for sure you are having calcium efflux. I take the natural calcium channel blockers manganese and taurine once in a while (I do not consider these safe for me to take on a daily basis, but then, I have no need for doing that anyway, since I am now rarely having ES symptoms).  [If you need to try these, however, do ask me for more info, because manganese can act as a toxic metal. I am only here on weekends, tho, so expect to wait a few days before hearing from me. (Sorry!)] The way this works, from my understanding, if you have calcium efflux is: the tight junction is opened by emfs, then this allows calcium migration to occur. The tight junction cannot sometimes close properly, so sometimes the efflux doesn't stop till a calcium channel blocker is taken.  If you take a calcium channel blocker, it will block the calcium from
> leaking, often, in the first place. (At least that is how it is with the manganese and taurine.) However, know that many of us have conflicting medical needs for which calcium channel blockers are not a good therapy. (If it were that easy, we could all go running to our docs for calcium channel blockers. ;) ) You may share this with your doctor and if she is a very good doc, she will check it out herself and may have even better ideas.Â
> Â
> As to shielding..... There are a number of good options for windows: aluminum or steel screens for windows (I forget the size mesh, but it has to be small and you have to cover the windows including the window frames); there are anti-emf window films; there are anti-emf fabrics which can be made into curtain panels (I velcro mine to a painted lath board on the wall at the ceiling--glue the lath board up; my drapes are also ceiling height); I also use huge plants--fan palms, other palms, large ficus, scheffalera(?sp?); and I have used a large screen made from 3 doors hinged together and covered on one side with heavy aluminum foil, which is movable and portable. Outside trees are even better shields, especially thick evergreens, but placement can be a challenge and it takes at least 3 years before they are large enough. [However, as a home owner, I would like getting as many trees in place to help with neighboring smart meters, as possible!]
> Â
> On shielding with screen, fabric, foil.... It seems that if you double fabric or screen on itself, it will then negate shielding and allow emfs thru, so for edging and seams, you must make a 3 layer seam. Odd thicknesses block emfs, even thicknesses let emfs pass thru. Very hard to grasp, I know from experience. lolÂ
> Â
> Also, if there are aberrant, digital, or wireless frequencies inside your house, they will bounce off of some of these fixes and cause you problems from within. You can try heavy aluminum foil taped to the wall to see how it works temporarily until you get something better in place. Remember there might be also metal in the wall or nails in studding that could cause problems.Â
> Â
> Hope some of this is helpful; it sounds like you truly need something fast,
> Bless you,
> Diane
>
> --- On Sat, 6/11/11, KathyB <calicocat477@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: KathyB <calicocat477@...>
> Subject: [eSens] Supplements
> To:
[hidden email]
> Date: Saturday, June 11, 2011, 6:42 PM
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> I tried some cod liver oil must be low in D, it's helping lesson the
> nerve pain. . I read Amy Yasko, refers to healing nerves. Have any
> tried GABA?
> I react to D3 for some reason.
>
> She believes
> glutamate is the bullet & calcium the gun. We can get ammonia from
> too much meat. Have to balance w more veggies. Calcium can excite the
> nerves. Anybody read Russell Blaylock's peice on it?
>
http://www.whale.to/a/sudden_cardiac_death.html>
> I know many take calcium, but it causes more pain for me. I was taking the wrong kind though. She believes to keep your calcium
> levels in the low range of normal. It's hard w what emf's do to it. But maybe being low in cal caused my E Sens?
>
> Kathy
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