LDN Video Interviews and Presentations

Exploring the World of Compounding Pharmacy with Dr. Maria Torsello

Dr. Maria Torsiello, a pharmacist from Richmond, Virginia, was interviewed about her work at a compounding pharmacy.

She discusses her journey to becoming a pharmacist and her passion for science and helping people. Dr. Torsiello also provides insights into the compounding pharmacy where she works, describing the nonsterile compounding services they offer.

The conversation delves into the compounding of LDN (low-dose naltrexone) and its potential applications for various conditions, including in children and for sublingual administration. Additionally, there is mention of an upcoming conference where Dr. Torsiello's pharmacy could benefit from learning more about LDN and other pharmaceutical advancements.

In the future, the pharmacy aims to continue educating providers about LDN and its potential uses, particularly in cancer treatment.

Cheryl's Experience with Long COVID and Managing Symptoms

Today, Cheryl from Australia, shares her story of LDN for long Covid that resulted in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

I got COVID in August 2021, which resulted in a severe infection with double pneumonia and landed me in the hospital for a month. When I arrived home from the hospital a month later, that was exactly when long Covid began. However, back then, it was still relatively new, and nobody knew much about it. It is actually very common for long Covid to set in a month after having Covid. As you mentioned, I've since been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia, which are my worst symptoms.

Would you like me to go through the treatment options?

Yes, I would. I'd like to know when you were diagnosed, what treatment options you were given, and what has happened from then until now.

I had to seek help from a long Covid clinic because no treatment options were offered, as the doctors simply didn't know what to do with my symptoms. I experienced severe pain throughout my upper body and in all of my joints, which I rated at 9 to 10 out of 10. They put me on a high dose of Gabapentin (2400 milligrams) as a treatment option, which helped alleviate the pain, but also caused drowsiness and fatigue. I eventually started researching and found out about low-dose naltrexone (LDN), which my doctor was willing to prescribe. As I gradually increased the LDN dosage, I was able to decrease the Gabapentin slowly as well. Over the years, my pain has decreased from 9-10 out of 10 to 1-2 out of 10, which has significantly improved my quality of life.

I experienced a lot of drowsiness, which wasn't great since I was already dealing with fatigue. Those were my main side effects, although I also experienced extra fatigue. I always took it at night. I was on it for at least a year. When I was on Gabapentin, my pain levels were still at least 8 out of 10. They didn't reduce much, but they took the edge off the pain. The pain was very severe, and I had to take a high dose just to cope with it. It got me to a level where I could manage, but I couldn't do much. My fatigue was so bad that I could only go out once a week to shop for 18 months. The post-exertional malaise was so bad that for 48 hours after going out, I would sleep for 24 hours straight. I had to set an alarm to wake up and eat before going back to sleep.

I have been taking Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) for the past 18 months, and it has significantly reduced my fatigue. It took some time, but now I can actually get up and function. Before taking LDN, I was practically nonfunctional. Taking it when I wake up works best for me, giving me a bit of energy to cope with the day. It wasn't just about the duration of taking LDN, but also finding the right dosage for me. It's been a combination of factors that has allowed me to really improve. Between 8 and 12 months, I didn't experience much improvement, and I could only shower once a week. However, now I can go out every day, and my post-exertional malaise is almost non-existent. I always advise people to see LDN as a long-term solution and not to expect instant results. It took a while for me, but it has definitely been worth it. Some people may notice amazing results in the first month, but for others, like me, it takes time and patience. It's not easy to be patient when you're not feeling well, but sticking with it is well worth it. LDN has also significantly reduced my severe shortness of breath and swallowing issues. I used to struggle to swallow medications, but that hasn't happened in quite a few months. My nighttime throat spasms have also reduced in severity and frequency. Despite being diagnosed with paralyzed vocal cords and vocal cord dysfunction, a combination of LDN and exercises taught by a speech pathologist has helped me greatly. Additionally, the headaches with concurrent eye pain have stopped, which I am thankful for. I've been lucky to have only experienced fairly mild brain fog compared to others with severe long Covid.

Cheryl hopes her story will give hope to others struggling with Long Covid.

Jenn's Story of Managing MCAS, EDS and POTS

Jenn from Canada shared her experience with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). She described experiencing symptoms of disautonomia and dislocations from a young age. Her health challenges worsened during her teen years with symptoms such as mold exposure, recurrent hospitalizations for mystery illnesses, and autoimmune-related issues. It wasn't until two years ago that she was diagnosed with MCAS after discovering hidden mold in her home. After consulting with an allergist and starting on a personalized treatment cocktail, including low-dose naltrexone (LDN), she noticed improvements in her chronic headaches, sleep, and other symptoms. The LDN helped alleviate her symptoms more than she expected and significantly improved her quality of life.

Sunita Shares her Multiple Conditions and How LDN has Helped

Sunita from the United States who takes LDN for fibromyalgia depression dry eye and dry mouth, her journey start end of 2013 living in a house with mold. She has Thyroid issues, Sjogrn's syndrome and LDN changed her life.

Anno's journey with Health Challenges: A Story of Resilience and Diagnosis

Anno, from the United States, has been dealing with health issues including mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
The journey with these health issues started after the birth of the guest's son in 2016, with severe digestive problems and classic indicators of methane dominant SIBO.
Despite multiple treatments for SIBO, relapses were common, leading to a search for underlying causes. Eventually, a GI specialist diagnosed EDS and suspected POTS, leading to the turning point in the guest's health journey.
As a child, symptoms such as constipation, temperature regulation issues, and a delayed onset to anaesthesia were noted, indicating early signs of the health conditions later diagnosed.
Anno's mornings were challenging, with low energy levels and severe GI issues upon eating, making even showering in the morning difficult.

Overcoming Adversity: Dani's Journey with MCAS, EDS and POTS

Dani from the US has undergone a gruelling and arduous health journey. Recently, she uncovered a tumor on her liver, prompting a series of tests that ultimately led to the diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Throughout her life, she has grappled with issues such as dislocating limbs, vertigo, gut problems, erratic sleep, rashes, and mental health challenges. By eliminating gluten and dairy from her diet, she has found some relief. It's evident that she has endured a great deal and has consulted numerous specialists before finally receiving her diagnosis.

Jade's Journey: Overcoming Health Challenges with LDN

Jade shared her story on the LDN radio show, discussing her health struggles, including fatigue, gut issues, severe nausea, and neurological symptoms. She also mentioned being diagnosed with long COVID. Despite seeking help from various doctors and specialists, she continued to suffer. After nine months of struggling, a naturopath put her on LDN, which significantly improved her nausea. Although she started experiencing widespread pain and other symptoms later on, LDN proved to be a game changer for her. She expressed hope in figuring out her health issues with time.

Jade's Journey with Hashimoto's and Low Dose Naltrexone

Jade from South Africa talks about dealing with Hashimoto's and her journey with Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). Jade was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in 2010, but she only discovered LDN in 2019 after stumbling upon it in a Hashimoto's Facebook group. She consulted with a functional doctor in South Africa who prescribed LDN for her.

Before receiving her Hashimoto's diagnosis, Jade experienced severe hair loss, which prompted her to seek medical attention. Although she didn't exhibit typical symptoms such as weight gain, she suffered from fatigue, which she later learned was related to Hashimoto's. Initially diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, it took years before she was informed of her Hashimoto's condition.

After moving to Germany in 2016, Jade's symptoms worsened, leading her to research and seek out support groups to manage her condition better. Despite making dietary changes, she found that her antibodies remained high, which motivated her to explore LDN as a potential solution. Since then, she has seen significant improvement, with her antibodies dropping to remission levels.

Obtaining LDN in Germany proved to be challenging, as many doctors were unfamiliar with the medication. Ultimately, Jade continues to source her LDN from her doctor in South Africa and relies on family members to bring it to her when they visit.

Jade started LDN at a low dosage of 0.5mg, gradually increasing the dose each week until she reached 4.5mg. Initially, she experienced vivid dreams and fatigue for the first few weeks.

Overall, Jade's journey with LDN and Hashimoto's highlights the challenges of accessing specialized treatments and the importance of advocating for oneself in managing chronic conditions.

In addition to managing her Hashimoto's with LDN, Jade continued taking LDN throughout her pregnancy. Despite some doctors advising against it during pregnancy, she did her own research and found a supportive community. She believed LDN potentially helped her from having a miscarriage and had a positive impact during her pregnancy. She had a healthy pregnancy and a smooth birth, and her baby is now three months old and healthy. She values the importance of doing her own research and seeking second opinions from doctors and is grateful for the positive experience she had during her pregnancy.

Makiah’s Seeking Answers to Complex Health Conditions

Makiah from the US, shared her health journey, which began in childhood but became more noticeable after her second pregnancy. She experienced fatigue, gut issues, and abnormal postpartum recovery. After her third pregnancy, which was difficult and ended tragically with the loss of her son, she faced persistent health challenges, including bleeding, weight fluctuations, and fatigue. Seeking answers, she was diagnosed with endometriosis, adenomyosis, insulin-resistant PCOS, adrenal insufficiency, and gut dysbiosis. Despite following treatment protocols, she still experienced fatigue and food reactions, eventually discovering a potential link to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and mast cell activation syndrome.

Mandi talks about LDN, MCAS, EDS, POTS and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

This interview offers a detailed and introspective look into Mandi's journey with LDN, thoracic outlet syndrome, MCAS, POTS and EDS. Through her account, she delves into the intricacies of her diagnosis, the complexities of surgical interventions, and the impact of her children's medical challenges on her own health journey. Additionally, Mandi provides an in-depth exploration of how LDN has played a pivotal role in managing these intricate conditions, offering a comprehensive and informative perspective.