Re: frequent waking or frequent waking with eating (night eating syndrome)

[Guest guest]

Hi Addy!

It's been YEARS since I was on Theophylline, but I ABSOLUTELY had the night

eating syndrome. I would wake at a minimum of four times in the middle of

the night with a craving for bread. I would just open up the loaf and grab

a couple of slices and gobble them down as if I hadn't eaten in days. It

got to the point where I had to buy 3 loaves of bread each week and I would

also buy a bag of dinner rolls just to make sure that there was always bread

should my husband or kids want sandwiches. Of course, I was also on pred

back then, but once I stopped the Theophylline, those bread cravings stopped

for me. However, I wasn't a long term Theo user as you were. Sometimes

things do stick with you!

I never did think to mention it to my doctor, but because of the prednisone,

it wreaked havoc with my blood sugar levels. I had to be VERY careful for a

long, long time with carbs to keep my blood sugar under control. I also had

to take a pill called Amaryl for several months to help.

In my opinion, Theophylline and pred is a scary combination. Prednisone, as

Doug found out the hard way as so many long term pred users do can

eventually cause diabetes. Theophylline, with the side effect of craving

carbs only makes matters worse in raising those blood sugar levels.

It can't hurt to discuss this with your doctor and to be on the safe side

have your blood sugar checked. Better to be cautious and prevent a disaster

down the line.

That's why this group is so wonderful. So many of us have had similar

experiences and can learn from each other and apply that to our treatments.

It never hurts to ask your doctor such important questions. And, if it's a

good doctor, they will be impressed by your initiative rather than annoyed

by your persistence. Some doctors call it meddling and don't want your

insight. My doctor LOVES it when I bring my thoughts to an appointment,

because together, we've really done some great work.

Good luck, and please do let us know what you find out!

~

-------Original Message-------

From: pyle456

Date: 09/17/06 07:56:29

Subject: [ ] frequent waking or frequent waking with eating

(night eating syndrome)

I've asked before if any of you have these symptoms. I am now

wondering if my struggle with these is totally separate from my asthma

or could be the result of long-term use of theophylline (when I was a

teen) and/or pred.

Has any of you had any conversations with your doc about this?

Ron, the next time you ask someone at National Jewish questions, could

you bring this up?

Addy

[Guest guest]

Hi Addy

Yes, I have frequent night waking...not with eating though...I must say

that I am a BREAD CRAVER during the day though!

My dr. thought that waking up 8 times a night was too much, so she just

prescribed me amitriptyline (sp?) 2 weeks ago. I am on a low dosage of

20mg/day and last night I acutally only woke once during the night!

What a concept!

Pamela

Kingston, Ontario

>

> I've asked before if any of you have these symptoms. I am now

> wondering if my struggle with these is totally separate from my

asthma

> or could be the result of long-term use of theophylline (when I was a

> teen) and/or pred.

>

> Has any of you had any conversations with your doc about this?

>

> Ron, the next time you ask someone at National Jewish questions,

could

> you bring this up?

>

>

> Addy

>

[Guest guest]

Yeah, I just haven't brought it up b/c I don't want one more pill or

one more machine. There's not a lot out there on night eating

syndrome yet, but some folks are having success on a low dose of

Zoloft.

It's always something, isn't it? Hope the amitrip.... helps!

Addy

> >

> > I've asked before if any of you have these symptoms. I am now

> > wondering if my struggle with these is totally separate from my

> asthma

> > or could be the result of long-term use of theophylline (when I

was a

> > teen) and/or pred.

> >

> > Has any of you had any conversations with your doc about this?

> >

> > Ron, the next time you ask someone at National Jewish questions,

> could

> > you bring this up?

> >

> >

> > Addy

> >

>

[Guest guest]

--- pyle456 <coachmac@...> wrote:

> I've asked before if any of you have these symptoms. I

> am now

> wondering if my struggle with these is totally separate

> from my asthma

> or could be the result of long-term use of theophylline

> (when I was a

> teen) and/or pred.

>

> Has any of you had any conversations with your doc about

> this?

>

> Ron, the next time you ask someone at National Jewish

> questions, could

> you bring this up?

I've been on theo since I was 19 (42)now. I've ALWAYS had

the late night power munchies. Used to blame it on the

pred, or " lack of will power " .

Since age 19, I've consistancely woke up at night to snack.

Like I said, being overweight=lack of will power=bad

person, in the US, so I never brought it up with the

doctor.

To test your theory, I've been decreasing my theo,

especially since starting the Xolair. I figured, what the

hell, the worse that can happen is I have to go back on it.

The doctor said to try the experiment.

For the last three nights, I've been sleeping in four hour

blocks (a first for me), and the starchy-carby-cravings are

more or less gone. I grilled up some cauliflower, which I

like, and left it in the fridge incase I wanted to snack.

Didn't even touch it.

As for the low level Zoloft. I tried that for a few months

and the stuff stopped working for a stress related problem,

and did nothing for the late night munchies.

Nan

Xolair, Intal, Pulmicort, occassional albuterol

****Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff***

-=Harvey Pekar=-

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Nan,

Thanks for the reply. I am glad you are sleeping better. I also

sleep better thanks to Xolair - I only wake up 3 or 4 times a night

instead of 7 or 8, which used to be the norm. Also used to get

night sweats due to pred, but no longer.

Take care, and keep getting well!

Addy

>

> > I've asked before if any of you have these symptoms. I

> > am now

> > wondering if my struggle with these is totally separate

> > from my asthma

> > or could be the result of long-term use of theophylline

> > (when I was a

> > teen) and/or pred.

> >

> > Has any of you had any conversations with your doc about

> > this?

> >

> > Ron, the next time you ask someone at National Jewish

> > questions, could

> > you bring this up?

>

> I've been on theo since I was 19 (42)now. I've ALWAYS had

> the late night power munchies. Used to blame it on the

> pred, or " lack of will power " .

>

> Since age 19, I've consistancely woke up at night to snack.

> Like I said, being overweight=lack of will power=bad

> person, in the US, so I never brought it up with the

> doctor.

>

> To test your theory, I've been decreasing my theo,

> especially since starting the Xolair. I figured, what the

> hell, the worse that can happen is I have to go back on it.

> The doctor said to try the experiment.

>

> For the last three nights, I've been sleeping in four hour

> blocks (a first for me), and the starchy-carby-cravings are

> more or less gone. I grilled up some cauliflower, which I

> like, and left it in the fridge incase I wanted to snack.

> Didn't even touch it.

>

> As for the low level Zoloft. I tried that for a few months

> and the stuff stopped working for a stress related problem,

> and did nothing for the late night munchies.

>

> Nan

>

> Xolair, Intal, Pulmicort, occassional albuterol

>

> ****Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff***

> -=Harvey Pekar=-

>

> __________________________________________________

>