how have you been faring transitioning into fall?

Strange you shoujld ask...I seem to be worse alredy this year than ever before. Not sure what that's about. I love September and usually don't feel anything bad, but this year I can already feel it seepening in. Guess I'll have to go ahead and start using light.

It seems as if as I get older it begins to affect me earlier.

I started feeling it immediately when the sun turned the corner.

I live on the Oregon coast---I use my light all year round--I have one I use when I'm at the office and one at home.

Are you taking any supplements?

I take Vit D as well.

do tanning beds help with the SAD / vit D issue? I really struggle with the blues and fatigue in the winter since I moved from FL to a northern state. It is not incapacitating, but unpleasant. Luckily I am able to go a a sunny place 1-2x a winter to recooperate.

Now I am requiring more calories (about 100 a day) to feel satisfied, and am slowly regaining weight, even though I am sticking to low carb. I take a vit d-3 suppliment. Would tanning beds used in moderation help?

Cleve--not knowing if tanning beds would help, I went to one of my favorite books Winter Blues by Norman E. Rosenthal.

In the Q&A section there is a small blurb on tanning beds. He says that some people have reported immediate mood improvement following visits to tanning salons. There is a study by Dr. Steven R. Feldman and colleagues at Wake Forest University/Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina theat lends credence to the reports that some poeple find relief with tanning beds. UV rays from the tanning beds can cause certain skin cells to release the substance beta-endorphin, an opiun-like substance that may account for UV light's euphoric effect. Dr. Feldman recommends against taning beds because of the potential for those types of rays to cause skin cancers. I have to agree with Dr. Feldman and the use of tanning beds--every one who I've ever seen who uses a tanning bed regularly , their skin looks old and haggy. Even the young people.

You can try it and see if it works for you--just be careful of your skin.

Besides adequate Vit D, are you taking any other supplements?

I take...
Vit D
Sam-E
5-HTP
Omega 3s
Super B complex
Evening Primrose Oil
CoQ10
Cinnamon with chromium

I also take bio-identical hormone replacement and Wellbutrin (the only medication on the market approved by the FDA for SAD)

I am a faithful usere of light therapy daily.

I always take a winter beach vacation.

I have to say...it's November and symptoms haven't yet set in. I'm kind of waiting with bated breath to start becoming symptomatic. We'll see.

If you can, I highly reccomend that you get a copy of Dr. Rosenthals book.

Lisa

thanks for the info. I agree about how people look with too much tanning. I am going to try 1x a week (with sunscreen on face) and see if it helps. My main reason would be to get some vit D, as opposed to feel a high that some do. From what I understand sunlight is the best way to get Vit D. it is hard to absorb it through foods. Although I am trying to eat sardines or salmon almost every other day.

How do you get the light therapy?

As far as the suppliments, I am in pretty good shape with the ones on the list-minus a couple.

I can think of no other reason I am craving and eating more calories than seasonal issues. Do you (or other SAD suffers) have this problem?

I will try and find the book at the library, thanks for the recommendation.

I use this.....

I have two. One I keep on the desk where my computer sits at home and one that I use at work.

The one at home I've had going on five years. I've never had to change the bulb in it (it must be defective ) My mother gave it to me when I moved to Oregon. The one at work I purchased a year ago. I figured I was at work 8 hours a day--it definitely gives me an extra boost. I can certainly feel the difference.



http://www.verilux.com/light-therap...t-light-therapy





I usually start to crave heavier foods such as stews and soups, but so far the appetite has been pretty normal.

I'm just going to keep a watch on it and try and see when I start getting symptomatic.


OH, FYI--you can find the same light for less than what's listed at the Verilux website. I think my mom and I saw it at Jerry's (like Lowe's here in Oregon) for about $120

Another sufferer here.

I've been fine so far, but I feel that that's down to prevention more than cure. I take at least 5,000iu of Vitamin D3, 1g Omega 3s (in the form of fish oil) and 50mg magnesium daily, have regular sunbeds, and exercise every day, and at the beginning of October, I began using my Light Box again, and will probably continue to do so until around April next year.

Having said that, I don't usually start to flag until the end of January/beginning of February, so it will be interesting to see if I've done enough to keep it at bay.

We're in the thick of mid-winter--how's everybody doing.

I hate to say it, but I'm really doing well!!

Between my lights, supplements, and bHRT that I started last May, I am barely if at all symptomatic.

Everybody check in!!

Lisa

Demi--great article that you posted can you post it here also?

Me too! In my case, I really think that it's the sunbeds that are making all the difference. I feel so much brighter and more energised after each one.



I would post it here, if I knew which one you were referring to!


BTW, that should read 500mg mag, not 50!

Demi
I don't usually have a problem until Jan/Feb either. My light box goes on in early Oct and doesn't go off until April. I increase my vitamin D to 100-200k IU/week. However, during years that cloudy days last through Mar/Apr...like last year...I really have a problem and even the light box has little positive impact. At that point I have just have nothing left and have to go on meds.

I never go off meds.
Even in the middle of summer we still have a lot of dreary days.
I use my light box 365 days.

I can start feeling it as early as the end of August when the light begins to change.

Zoo--nice to see you! You been doing OK??

Lisa

Three weeks ago, I bought a blue light and started taking 5000 iu Vit D. My mood, attitude, and sleep have improved immeasurably. I used to be a tanner, but can't do that anymore - these measures are very adequate solutions!

OK my pretties, spring is almost here. The light is changing. How's everyone doing??

I got about 4 excellent days of sun on my cruise before the nasty little Noro virus hit. It's nice to be brown intead of pasty beige

I have to say I weathered (pardon the pun) this winter fairly well, in fact the one of the best winters I've ever had--I can't pin-point just one thing, but the one thing different than the past is that I've been on bHRT since last May which has made a HUGE difference not only physically, but mentally as well.

Ya'll check in.

Lisa