I have been recommended to use NAC as a COPD therapy so I guess I would like to hear something about this medication. Will it works, what are the possible side effects. I have also heard that if you are using it for a long time, combining it with copper supplements would be a smart thing to do. Why is that?
View 1 RepliesA year or so ago I woke up with heart palpitations. My heart beat was very irregular and BP was high. Because I am a heart patient, I went to the ER. They checked me out and said the only thing they could find was that my TSH was 7.9 and to notify my PCP. I thought he would put me through more testing, but instead he prescribed 25 mcg. I started to feel better right away, but after a week I felt terrible again, so I stopped taking it. Then I felt fine. When I went back for bloodwork it was "normal." I told him I was no longer taking the meds, so he testing again in 3 months. It was a little higher, but still normal to him. My reading since then have been in the mid to high 3s. (TSH 3.2, 3.7) He says that's normal, but I still get symptoms sometimes. Other times, I'm fine. So if he tests at a time that I'm feeling fine, he will get a good reading. He says my reading would not be going up and down. Recently, I have been feeling very cold, low body temperature, with dry flaky skin and constipation in spite of taking a stool softener, puffy face. On my own, I started taking 1/2 of a 25mcg tablet I had leftover from when he had prescribed the synthroid. Now I feel great! Temp is back to normal, sleeping much better, normal bowels, and I've even lost a couple pounds! But I know he is getting tired of hearing me request thyroid tests when he feels they are normal.
Also, he says that TSH up to 5 is normal, but I've heard that anything over 3 is high.
I know that a lot of people have it way worse than this, but there is such a big difference in how I feel when I'm taking this tiny bit of med.
My question is, are there any supplements I can take that will really help? I see so many touted as helping with thyroid function, but I don't want to waste my money on something that isn't really going to help.
I'm trying anything now to try and make myself feel more normal and a big human if you know what I mean. I have been reading up on the internet and there is a website saying supplements can help menieres in a big way. Is this avenue worth trying I don't mind paying if it's going to work. It states you have to have these five supplements which u can buy almost anywhere.
View 7 RepliesI need to get an idea of which brand of vitamins is best. I've taken many different brands and would like to get on one brand rather than get a vitamin in one brand and another vitamin in another brand. I just don't seem to be getting any satisfaction from the typical supermarket or drugstore brands. I'll list the ones I take so maybe I can get an idea of what some of you members think.
Mature Multivitamin
Vit C-1000 mg
Vit D3-2000 iu
B2-100mg
B12-2500mcg
Magnesium-500 mg
DHEA-25 mg
Fish Oil-1200mg, Omega 3-360 mg
COq10-300mg
What are the best supplements to treat hemorrhoids? I have a few suggestions I am willing to compare.
View 2 RepliesI was diagnosed with High a risk HPV 8 months ago. The doctor said I didn't need to do nothing because it usually clears up on its own. Oooh too bad I listen and didn't started doing something on time. I'm a 28 yr old female. Based on other testimonies I just started my own regimen. So I was wondering if this supplements will help:
Methyl Folate, DIM- Plus, Curcumin, Monolaurin, Food Carotene (vit A), 3000 mg vitamin C, Host Defense Mycommunity (comprehensive immune support) and I will start a mostly vegetarian diet, no alcohol or sugars (just stevia)...adding also fish oil, vitamin E, B-complex- probiotics and D3... any suggestions?
I read on the RSA website that Magnesium supplements may be useful in Raynaud's. Anyone got experience of using it, and how much to take?
View 2 RepliesSince my symptoms started over two years ago (I was 22), I have lost 70% of my hair. My iron status at the onset of symptoms:
Hemoglobin 13.5 (11.7-15.5)
Hematocrit 39.3% (25-40)
Iron, total 160 (4-175)
Ferritin 18 (10-154)
After supplementing with 150mg of elemental iron for 6 months (per a dermatologist that diagnosed me with telogen effluvium and advised that I increase my ferritin to 70-80 to stop hair loss):
Hemoglobin 13.1 (11.1-15.9)
Hematocrit 39.6 (34-46.6)
Iron, total 103 (35-155)
Ferritin 62 (13-150)
Reticulocyte count 0.6 (06-2.5)
After supplementing with 100mg of elemental iron for about a year after that:
Hemoglobin 13.9 (11.1-15.9)
Hematocrit 42.0 (34.0-46.6)
Iron, total 82 (35-155)
Ferritin 59 (15-150)
Iron saturation 28% (15-55)
TIBC 291 (250-450)
Reticulocyte count 0.4 (0.6-2.6)
I stopped taking iron supplements because I was not getting better, and because I had a few doctors tell me that I should not be on iron supplements because my hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and RBCs were in the normal range. So I stopped for 3 weeks. Yesterday, I had a ferritin test done with a result of 87. This makes absolutely no sense considering I have not taken an iron supplement.
A physician I saw theorized that I could possibly have anemia of chronic disease, due to a low reticulocyte count, low TIBC and normal MCV. But that doesn't make sense to me either because although my ferritin did increase for some strange reason, it was on the low side before I started supplementing. And, my RBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit have always been in range, and do not vary much despite supplementation.
I'm nervous that I shouldn't be supplementing with iron. In addition, my TSH (3.3), and midrange FT3 and FT4 have not changed despite supplementation--one physician theorized that maybe if I increase my ferritin levels, my thyroid levels will get better and I will stop losing my hair. Also, when I went on Naturethroid (went up to 2 grains over 6 months), my TSH decreased, but my FT3 and FT4 did as well--I felt awful.
I am terrified to get off this drug. I have only been on it for 3 months at most and going through all the symptoms of withdrawal described. It seems like even weaning is no use. Does anyone have any over the counter supplements that can be taken to feel decent and stop taking this?
View 2 RepliesHas anyone tried Q10 supplements, and are they alright to take with pred.
View 33 RepliesI have COPD along with CHF. My blood pressure is normal. Have only 20% use of mitral valve. ( Cardiomyopathy). I was put on 60 mg of Furosemide (Diuretic) then 2.5 mg. Then after 2 months I am now at 7.5 mg.
My question is I have a constant cough, pulling up mucus. It starts with a real itchy throat and then the coughing. There is no relief. It goes on for anytime 7 to 15 minutes stop and then starts again. At night it is worse.
I am afraid that my COPD will get worse. Please let me hear from you if you have the same problems.
I am a carer for my Hubby, who has Pleurisy at the moment. I am his carer & I am meant to be going into Hospital for a hip operation. I am full of acute Anxiety myself as I need to get my Husband better. He is on antibiotics and strong painkillers as well. He also suffers from arthritis and also is deaf & severely sighted.. I am giving him hot fluids as much as possible.
View 1 RepliesI received a pancreatic resection of my tail in May of last year and have just been diagnosed with a 10 mm cyst in the head. I'm told all that can be done is manage pain/rest and food. Energy is lacking. Has anyone had any luck with B12 shots?
which supplements to buy to help me with withdrawal of Effexor!
I've read that a good quality Omega 3 supplement will help and maybe 5 htp?
It's day 3 of withdrawal and I'm feeling so so tired and in need of some energy!
Anyone ever told to take Vitamin D, my lab work came back that I was deficient in it, was told to take Vitamin D 1000 daily? I don't know what my level was, but I am looking it up on the internet and see there is D3 and D2? Looks as though the D3 is best?
View 31 RepliesI've been struggling with my Hashimoto's diagnosis. I am actually "alright" at this present moment, but it was a long and rocky road. My Endo is not very informative at all and does not answer my questions. Last time I asked her about taking supplements. She stated she is biased because she practices Western medicine and won't comment on whether or not she thinks it's a good idea to take supplements.
I decided a little over a year ago, to take 200 mg Selenium as an added supplement, because I've been reading on here, that it will help with getting the antibodies down and I must say, I can tell a difference in how I feel today from before.
Now here is where I'm confused: my best friend since Kindergarten got diagnosed with Hashi's last year. She's really been having a hard time with it. Last time she saw her Endo, she asked the Selenium question. Her Endo said don't take it, because your risk of developing diabetes increases! That's something I've never heard about. So all day today I've been reading and researching this and I'm reading either it's so good to take when you have Hashi's and then some study they did that confirms my friends' Drs' point about the increased diabetes risk. Any thoughts?
I know a lot of people that have cold extremities and they don't have COPD. My adoptive Mom was one of those people. Her hands and feet were always freezing cold and she did not have COPD. I've had cold feet and hands all of my life long before the diagnosis of COPD.
View 2 RepliesI was diagnosed with copd two years ago and use a serovent inhaler twice a day and have a ventolin for back up. This is my second winter since being diagnosed and the cold weather seems to be affecting me more this year. My spiro test in January showed a slight improvement but generally l feel more breathless and l wondered if maybe l should ask for a change of inhaler. Does anyone know of an alternative to serovent or is it just the weather making me feel worse.
View 4 Repliesi was lying down on my back last night and suddenly felt my whole chest (lungs maybe)inflate. Does anybody know why this happened as its happened quite a few times recently? This left me really gasping for breath.
View 3 Repliesi was diagnosed with Emphysema in February and am having further tests. This has all come at me so quickly and caught me off guard. Is anybody else suffering with these headaches?
View 4 Repliesi am 25 years old, i have been suffering from breathing difficulty or not able to take deep breath problem.. all day i feel like taking deep breath. but when i try for it.. am not able to take deep breath. during night time i sleep normal.
what could be the reason. anybody pls help.. my Xray CT scan all normal.
could this be psychological problem. doctors trying to say that also. if so. how to recover from this.. it feels like i don't have any life without solving this problem.