Thursday, July 19, 2012

New Habit – Supplements



I hate pills.  Always have.  I’m not one to take them unless it’s absolutely necessary.  Just the idea usually turns my weak stomach.  Let’s face it though; we are not getting the nutrients we need from our food.  People with fibromyalgia are often deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, and may need some help getting our bodies back to the right levels.  It IS necessary.  My Dr. recommended a few for me, and like I mentioned in a previous post, Figuring out Fibromyalgia, one of the things suggested was to take a few supplements.  So I decided to give it a try and see if it made any difference for me.

I began to do a little research on the supplements I should be taking and quickly became overwhelmed.  There are so many to choose from, so many different brands, dosages, different kind of pills, powders & drinks.  I had to walk away from the computer in frustration many times.  I had no idea what the best way to take each one was, the best time of day.  BLAH.  Then one day I was out shopping at Costco & just decided to go get what I needed there, give it a try and then change later if I needed to.  I stood there in the isle with a very unhappy 2 year old in the cart (he hates shopping) and read through the supplement chapter of Figuring out Fibromyalgia on my Kindle.

     2. Super B Complex 
        3. Vitamin D3
 
Got it!  Now I was committed.  Those Costco size supplements are no joke.  It was around $50 for all 3.  I'm getting close to running out of the Triple Omega now, but the other 2, I still have plenty!  And it's been months since I bought them.  Little tip, keep them in your fridge!  (They keep longer & no fish smell from the omega)

I devoted myself to taking them every day.  And for the most part I have!  I forget some mornings, and there was a month that I stopped as a little test to see if they really were helping, and about a week when I was pretty sick.  Other than that, I have been faithful since January 2012.

Another thing I wanted to try was herbs.  My sister is studying to be an herbalist.  She took some time and knowing what was going on with me, made up a few different things to help.

For me, just doing this small thing with just these few supplements & herbs has made a HUGE difference in my life.  It took about 2 weeks to really kick in.  Taking the Omega Blend has helped tremendously with my brain fog.  I would say I have about an 80% improvement.  The B complex has given me a little bit of my life back.  Instead of heading downhill at around 4pm every day, I’m usually just fine until bed time.  Having more energy is such a blessing.  I would rate it at about 50% improvement (and getting better).  I don’t feel any difference with or without the Vitamin D3, but from what I’ve read, this is worth taking.  And it’s just a little easy pill.  The herbs that I take have helped me with a few other health issues, not necessarily related to fibro.  The more I read & learn, there are probably some more supplements that would be helpful for me.  I have just started taking MagnesiumGlycinate.  I’ll let you know how it goes!

I urge you to talk with your Dr., get some testing done to see if there are deficiencies, and do a little reading for yourself.  It is worth it!  I am VERY pleased with my experience & will continue to take my pills every day.  Hey, it forces me to eat a little breakfast every morning so I can stomach taking the pills.  There’s another good habit.



9 comments:

  1. Just a quick note: My doc tested me for Vitamin D deficiency (sounds funny in sunny Arizona), and sure enough, I was terribly low. Apparently this is fairly common among women and fibromites in general. So you're on the right track with the Vitamin D3.
    Kim

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    1. you know I still haven't checked to see if I am deficient. Something on my list to ask my Dr. at my next appt. :)

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  2. I was also anemic. Have youbeen tested for that?

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  3. My Doctor was convinced I had an Autoimmune disease but it turned out to be severe Vitamin D deficiency. I was so sick. I have been on clinical strength D3 for five months and I am feeling so much better. I too~ live in the Midwest and have a pool and get lots of sun. Have those levels checked!

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  4. I too take D3 and B12.....as regular as I can remember them. But I have another problem....do any of you have a problem with ITCHING all the time....it's like Fribro...it comes and goes at all different times in different places on my body...but it is pretty constant that something on my body is itching at all times. I have triad about every lotion on the shelves...with mostly unsatisfactory results. HELP !!!
    Thank you, Rose

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    1. I get a lot of itching, arm's and leg's. I go to the Dollar Store and get Hydrocortisone Cream. It works pretty good for me.

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    2. Perhaps you should have your blood sugar checked.

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  5. I itch constantly and nothing helps. When I mention it they don't seem to have an answer.

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  6. I was diagnosed two months ago with fibromyalgia.they say it's a belated side effect to chemo.ive tried supplements holistic herbs.canbis oil.i can't keep the flare ups .at bay.it gets real bad.the itching.pain for no reason in my ears.electticty shooting thru my legs.the cramping and stomach pain.the inside of my knees continuously hurt.my left hip across my butt.some times my chest hurts so bad.i think I'm having a heart attack.im so tired and fatigued.i can't think straight.i try to excercise.but.it causes more pain.this is so unfare

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