Thanks mrsD..

I think I will spend a little time researching the ingredients of the NSF product and then combing through all the info I can find of the individual ingredients and then trying to determine what has worked for others similiar to me.

As far as diet, fortunately for me, I am not a sweet eater at all. I do like the occasional chocolate bar but its a take it or leave it issue for me.

I do eat well and walk a couple miles a day when its nice out. But, I am looking for a vitamin supplement to replenish and\or rebuild the 'stuff' I have lost over years of drinking.

No where to go but up from here...

Do you know your A1C levels? This is a predictor to determine
if you need help with blood sugars during the day.

R-lipoic acid is very effective (and not in the supplement you asked about in the best form). If you have some beginning
diabetic issues, R-lipoic STABILIZED form (also called NaRALA)
can help. Take one an empty stomach. 2mos supply at one a day.
http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-S...9848484&sr=1-1


But for you and the drinking history, I'd do at least 300mg of Benfotiamine daily to start. This helps with the thiamine problem. 2 mos supply at 2 a day.
http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-B...9848441&sr=1-2

A good Bcomplex to start is easy to find.
This is one:
http://www.amazon.com/Jarrow-Formula...9848314&sr=8-1
This one is affordable, has methylB12, and a good formula 50 to 100 days supply

You can also take a generic Centrum Senior for savings too.
That has all the other vits and minerals without iron.

That is the nucleus for alcohol induced neuropathy. Your diet should have EFAs in it --omega-3's from salmon and flax, canola oil, walnuts. Some smart foods have Omega-3's added as well as some eggs now. Some almonds for magnesium,
and this is a good start for you.

You can leave off the R-lipoic until you see how the rest work, in a month or two. You can add it in later if you like.
This is the typical diet given to recovering alcohol excessive users.

Amazon has free shipping for $25 which is the lowest I've seen yet for quality supplements. I am buying most of mine now there as well.

No, I don't....but I will look into it as Diabetes does run in my family but I don't have the "normal" symptoms....

I have saved the list of vitamins you mentioned in my amazon wish list...thanks for the info, you have been great so far mrsD!!

I have thought about the Bcomplex vitamins when I started taking the B12, so thats a definite on my list.

Hey! What are you trying to say? I am only 38!!

I will still keep doing some research but this is a great start...I am a total noob to vitamins and such, never taken much in my entire life, I dont even take aspirin!

So, thanks again.....I will let the board know what I purchase and the results....

Ok, update. I did some more research and ran the info past a RN friend of mine too and I bought the following for an initial testing.

Centrum Men Under 50, Multivitamin, 200-Count Bottle
Doctor's Best Benfotiamine (150 mg), Vegetable Capsules, 120-Count
Jarrow Formulations Jarrow B-right Complex, 100 Capsules

As posted here and with a second opinion, it is a good start to getting myself back on track - healthwise - from what is considered Alcoholic Neuropathy.....

I will post weekly reports on if the above make a difference in my daily well-being. I have not bought the R-Lipoic yet, but I will add that if needed.

Merci!

Month one down. Overall I feel better and have noticed minor improvements at this point. I only use my cane if I leave the house now, I am taking the stairs a few times a day and have managed to carry large objects without a fear of falling on my ***. So, for me its a big step, but for most its just life as normal. I know.

I dont have the "drunk" feeling I normally would get if I stood too quickly or exerted myself too much.

With a decent diet (not great) and walking a couple miles a day even with the cane, I am getting slowly better.

So, IN MY CASE, diet, moderate exercise and ZERO alcohol (242 days) and a daily vitamin regiment is helping me get back to normal.

One day at a time, as they say.

I will report back May 1 unless something great happens...

Month 2 down.

Still sober @ 272 days, been on the vitamins religiously and I can say that I am feeling better steadily. I have been only using the cane when I leave the house and I have found that I 'carry' the cane every so often and walk without it.

Now, here is the kicker, the good part. I have a client in Oregon that refuses to shop at big box stores so she offered me a $200 giftcard to Walmart in exchange for some IT work. I took it and went shopping. I am now the owner of a brand new 18spd mountain bike that I ride about 3-5 miles a day. Now, I live in the Blue Ridge Mts so finding a flat straight road is like a needle in a haystack......but I ride around my neighbourhood and up to the main street for shopping. Its tough on the legs for sure, but my balance is improving and I have pretty much lost that 'drunk' feeling when trying to walk. Its kinda nice.

So, to recap, good diet, moderate exercise and ABSTINENCE is absolutely working for me to beat "Alcoholic Neuropathy". Slowly but steadily.

Thanks again MrsD

I am happy for you that you are feeling so much better.

Keep it up!

judi

Minor Update. Perhaps I should have my own thread

I have started to walk without the use of the cane. Mind you, not any long distance, but sometimes up to a half mile. Now, I know that does not sound like a lot, but it is! What I do is when I am on my normal day to day activity I just hold the cane to my side horizontally and walk "normal". I do this daily now and I am getting more confident.

See, its true, if ya have a problem with the drink, just stop and things do get better, I am proof of that. BUT, I tell ya, I have been through some pretty tough stuff in my short life and abstaining from alcohol has been the hardest thing I have ever encountered.

It does not have to be the end.

Month 3 down on vitamin regime - check
10 months sober (tomorrow) - check
walking unassisted - check

Sobriety sucks, but its so worth it.