What is LDN? I'm about to find out

Last week, I was having some trouble falling asleep a couple nights  (my long covid flareups strike any time of day or night) so I got on my tablet to do some more reading on nicotine patch therapy.

(I bought them back in June, used them for a few days, didn't like their effect on me.  Maybe I didn't give them enough time.)   But the recent articles and videos I was seeing weren't very hopeful.  More and more users and doctors were saying they did NOT help with chronic LC issues; the nicotine was only serving as a distraction, a mild stimulant.  Now what?

That's when I began noticing more and more articles & videos about something called "Low Dose Naltrexone", or LDN for short.

What is LDN?   It's typically prescribed in much larger amounts, 50mg pills to combat opioid and alcohol addiction.  But some years back, medical professionals began noticing that much smaller doses, typically 1.5 to 4.5 millograms, were helping some people with chronic diseases like fibromylgia and MS, and others with chronic fatigue, brain fog, nerve pain, and inflammation.

But most pharmacies only carry it in 50mg form, so if you want to try micro-dosing, you need to get the pills from a compounding pharmacy.  You'll also need a doctor's prescription.

I found both a doctor and special pharmacy online (at 3am!) and had to fill out a lengthy medical profile.  A couple days later I got a call from Dr. Ira Shika that she was approving my prescription.

I just got the pills in the mail Monday afternoon.  It was $105.00 for a 3 month supply if you take 0.5 mg a day.  I'm expected to increase my dosage by 0.5 every 2 weeks until I reach 4.5 mg daily, so this could get expensive.  Also, you're not expected to see results anytime soon, not for a couple months.  But right now I'm willing to try anything to reduce these LC symptoms.

What have I got to lose besides a few bucks, right?  Wish me luck...

Why 1971 was a big year for my dad, Donovan Morris

After the recent passing of Dolly Parton and my mentioning Dad was part of the country music scene in the early 1970s, I thought I'd share a little more of that here.  After forming the Morris Brothers band in the 1960s with his brothers Mike & Shane, Dad struck out on his own and got a weekly gig performing as a singer and piano player on the WWVA Jamboree in Wheeling, West Virginia.  

One of Dad's publicity photos

It was a very popular live audience radio show showcasing regional country music, but always billed someone famous.  Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, June Carter & Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Charley Pride, Dolly Parton--the Jamboree had 'em all, and was considered second only to the Grand Ole Opry.

Mom with Charley Pride, after one of the shows at the Wheeling Jamboree

Dad became a local celebrity of sorts, and when he recorded 2 of his songs for a 45 record, the local paper accompanied him to the recording studio and did the nice article above.

Those songs got played plenty on our own local AM/FM radio station in Waynesburg, WANB.

I remember as a kid, strangers often approaching myself or one of my siblings and saying "Aren't you Donovan Morris' kids?  We're big fans!"

One time in sixth grade, the kids were invited to bring in their favorite records for an afternoon party.  The girls brought in Donny Osmond, the Carpenters and Partridge Family, and one boy (Audie M) brought in my dad's 45.  I was so proud of my old man.

Anyway, Dad spent a couple years on the Jamboree then reteamed with his brother Mike and played music for the rest of the 70's as Donovan & Mike Morris and The Country Rockers.  But those early years were some heady times for sure.  You can listen to my dad's 2 "hit songs" below.

Goodbye Dolly

Mom & Dolly Parton, 1971

In the early 1970s, my dad was a weekend fixture (a singer & piano man) on the WWVA Jamboree, a country music radio show in Wheeling, West Virginia.  It was second only to the Grand Ole Opry, and my parents got to meet and hang out backstage with some pretty big names--Jerry Lee Lewis, Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash--and Dolly Parton.

I was never a big fan when it came to her music, but of course I loved her dearly and in the few movies she made; 9 to 5, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias.  Never missed her on tv, she was always funny and sweet & honest in every interview.

And of course, she devoted her life to helping millions thru various charities and her famous literacy program.

Anyway, I was just sitting down with my dinner and turned on the 4:30 local news and saw where she'd died.  I've only shed tears over 2 celebrity deaths in the last 20 years--Ralph Waite (who played John Walton on The Waltons) in 2014, and Leonard Nimoy in 2015.  Dolly Parton is the third.   Goodbye, Dolly.