I am a former endurance athlete - cycled 760 miles in 90 hours in 1995, born 1949.

Open cholecystectomy a year ago.

Postural hypotension (low blood pressure causes inadequate blood flow to the head when standing up) since childhood.

I cannot find my resting pulse, but a machine at the chemist made it 41 beats/min.

Blood pressure 112/71.

Rhodiola helps, causing hyperactivity if taken in excess... I have increasing Rhodiola from 250mg/day to 500mg @ breakfast, 250 @ bedtime. Rhodiola can cause insomnia, I think, so I take the bigger dose at breakfast ...it seems to have most effect after about 9 hours. I have no difficulty getting to sleep, but often wake at 05:00. I used to wake feeling groggy due to Bradycardia and cerebral hypoxia. I need enough stimulation to get oxygen to my brain all night, but not so much that I cannot get to sleep.

The other weekend I had 250mg Rhodiola on Saturday, and a very busy day and several cups of coffee. left my pills at home, no medication on Sunday and felt awful... I could hardly walk or keep my eyes open. 500mg Rhodiola on Monday and felt fine and a bit irritable, almost over-energetic.

I read that Co-enzyme Q10 at no more than 30mg/day can help.
I have now reduced Co-enzyme Q10 from 60 mg/day to 30mg/day.

UK National Health Service is free, but mostly not worth the 10 minute walk to the surgery ...but I have now changed to a doctor who has heard of a few complimentary herbal medicines! Dr diagnosis was depression... treating the symptoms not the cause!

Has anyone any additional advice or experiences to share?


I am now on 500mg Rhodiola @ breakfast, 250 @ bedtime
ginkgo 150mg
CO Q10 30mg
EPA fish oil
garlic
Mag Phos tissue salts bedtime (for fibromyalgia=fibrositis)

and this seems to work.

Coffee helps in the short term, but makes me feel awful the following day.