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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/1/2009 11:49 PM (GMT 0)

I am seeing a new Dr who prescripes vitamins & supplements. On my first visit, he took extensive blood tests. Where he came to the conclusion that I was a really sick person. After reviewing my blood test with me, he told me of the vitamins & minerals that I was lacking. He prescriped about 13 of them. My goal & his plan is to build up my immune system so I can get rid of UC through vitamins & supplements. He has not suggested that I stop taking my regular UC meds. In fact when I told me that my GI was considering taking me off of methotrexate, he suggested holding off for a while until I get further into the vitamin & supplement routine. I have been in remission for about 9 months now. I am a little nervous about this because he said that when he started pumping up my immune system that my UC could worsen for a while. I am willing to try it so that I can stop taking all these potential horrible side effects drugs. I was wondering if anyone else has experinced this kind of regiment?

Posted 9/1/2009 11:52 PM (GMT 0)

these are the vitamins & supplements that he prescribed

Lialda 1.2GM    3 tablets daily

Methotrexate 2.5 mg 3 times a week

Remicade 5mg per kilos

Triamt/HCTZ 37.5-25

Famciclovir 500 mg 1 tablet 2 times daily

Cimetidine 400 mg 2 tablets twice daily

Acitvated B 2 pills 2 x a day

R Alpha Lipioc Acid 1 pill 2 x a day

Beta Carotene 4 tablets 2 x a day

Folinic Acid 1 pill 2 x aday

D3-5000 #250  3 pills 2 times a day

Niacin 100 mg 4 pills 2 times a day.

Pantothenic 500 mg 1  tablet 2 times a day

Vitamin K 1 tablet 2 times a day

Zinc AG 1 pill 2 times a day

Copper 2 mg -3 per week

 

Posted 9/2/2009 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
I think it's a great idea that he's getting the vitamins and supplements going, and the ones on your list seem to make sense to me.

But, that's A LOT of pills to be taking....I think I lost count after 45 pills a day! You probably won't feel hungry after that.

Hope it works well for you.
Posted 9/2/2009 7:25 AM (GMT 0)
i hope it works!  keep us posted and let us know your progress if you can!  good luck!

Posted 9/2/2009 12:43 PM (GMT 0)
Yes that is a lot pills to swallow but it doesn't bother me. I think the way I understand it that I will be gradually weaned off or cut back on the supplements as my body builds up & maintaings the level of vitamins or minerals that I need. The supplements are not covered by insurance but since he is prescribing them, I can deduct them from my income taxes. So far things are ok

Posted 9/2/2009 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
I honestly would not quit taking your UC meds, even once you've been on the vitamins and supplements for a while...I've heard too many stories of people who quit taking their meds, only to have the worst flare they've ever had, and have the meds they were on previously not work any more.
Posted 9/2/2009 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
I don't want to put you off but I don't see how those supplements can rebuild your immune system (I'm an immunologist). A well balanced diet will provide all the nutrients you need. I presume you will be paying for these pills? If you are in remission on your current medication then I go with the dogma that if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Posted 9/2/2009 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Capsid, I don't know whether doing this helps re-build the immune system, and I agree that a well-balanced diet should provide the nutrients. But taking vitamins and supplements just ensures that you are targeting specifically what you lack, especially as these supplements have been prescribed based on the results of blood tests.

When I have seen GI specialists in England and in India, it was very common for them to prescribe vitamins after doing blood tests. For some reason, that isn't done much by the GI specialists that I have seen back here in the USA.

That being said, I also believe that if it ain't broke then you probably shouldn't try to fix it. So there is that risk that things could worsen.

Winter that's a good idea to get a prescription for the supplements, so that you can then deduct the expenses from your income taxes. I wish I had done that earlier, given how much I have spent out of pocket on probiotics.
Posted 9/2/2009 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
I always found if you wait till its broke it costs alot more to fix, lol.
Posted 9/2/2009 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Dr. A, true. And UC seems to be an ongoing puzzle of figuring out what is broke and what ain't. Sometimes with the supplements I have tried, it seems like I'm playing Russian roulette with my guts....pop a pill and wait to see how things come out the other end.
Posted 9/2/2009 7:19 PM (GMT 0)

Dr-A said...
I always found if you wait till its broke it costs alot more to fix, lol.

Yes, but not if there is ongoing monitoring and servicing. We should all be visiting out doctors on a regular basis to make sure we don't break.
Posted 9/2/2009 7:21 PM (GMT 0)

Rio in Maryland said...
Capsid, I don't know whether doing this helps re-build the immune system, and I agree that a well-balanced diet should provide the nutrients. But taking vitamins and supplements just ensures that you are targeting specifically what you lack, especially as these supplements have been prescribed based on the results of blood tests.

I'd be very concerned if my blood tests showed I was deficient in all those vitamins!
Posted 9/2/2009 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
The supplements that I am taking are targeting the vitamins that I am lacking. I also have Chronic Epstein Barr(mono). The dr hasn't yet tried to boost my immune system. Right now he is just trying to replenish the vitamins that I am missing. I must say that he is thorough. He had 26 vials of blood drawn on the first visit to run test on vitamin deficiencies & the epstein barr. When I went back this week, he took 6 more vials to run some more test. He is checking for strep & cassine allergies plus some more things. He is trying to get my immune system into balance. Right now it is one sided according to this graph he has & my blood work. I am also on a restricted gluten diet. I eat very little foods that contain gluten. After looking at my blood test results, he actually was surprise that I had enough energy to walk because I was so low on some of the vitamins. I will continue to take them & see what happens. I actually see him more than my GI. I don't mind taking the Lialda but the methotrexate & remicade that I take sort of scare me. thanks for all of your input
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