The regimen Sheltiemom has recommended should be no problem for you to swallow if you can swallow the 100mg nerontin/gabapentin. The Meythl B12 is a chewable if you get the Jarrow Methyl B12. I use the 5000 which was recommended here. The R-liopic is a 100mg capsule and instead of thiamine I was recommended here to take 2-150 Benfotiamine. These are smaller than the neurontin. I forgot to take mine today and can't sleep even though I took a 300mg gabapentin. I had to take the supplements and after writting this will probably be able to sleep

I have a thread here if you want to search titled "CHEMO Neuropathy" where the board helped me figure out the supplement thing. I posted some results. I think I'm at about a month doing it and am seeing results.




I hate swallowing pills. I chew aspirin. I chewed antibiotics and considered chewing xloda, which was a chemo pill. I don't know why they make pills so freakin big I'm a comedy act when I take meds. I have to take a step when I swallow

I learned some things while having to take xloda 8 x's a day that may help. I have a harder time with hard pills as oppose to capsules. Chemo pills make you want to throw up while taking them. I cut the xloda in half with a pill cutter and took them with store bought chocolate milk. The thickness of the milk made it very easy to swallow

Chocolate milk saved me during this ordeal. It makes swallowing pills a whole lot easier and safer

I use a B12 sublingual, which I can manage.

I have to crush most supplements....there is no way I can swallow them with my esophageal status.

I am to be honest, a bit intimidated by all the supplements and how they could potentially affect me, with the autonomic neuropathy and all.

Thiamine, is likely fairly benign? Benfotamine is? And last question, is Lipoic Acid toxic at all?

I am totally on the fence on Vitamin D, since it is supposed to be BAD for autoimmune disease?? or not?? I am out in the sun all day in summer and my vit. D soars.

I can't really eat normally due to my autonomic stuff....poor appetite...nausea...If I could just eat all the good stuff I grow, i would be set. I also don't eat enough protein and I wonder about all these drinks with soy in terms of pesticide residue. I live in soy and corn country and I see all the insect like machines they use to spray, and spray and spray the fields. My grandson that I care for is on Soy formula and I cringe every time I have to mix it...there is no evidence he is lactose intolerant, and I don't see why he can't be on milk formula.

I have to go put a cold compress on my bruises, and neurontin makes me forget the foreign languages I speak. I could not even remember how to say 'thank you' in Spanish last nite. (I review my languages while I am falling asleep.)

Thanks Unstapbl, for the info about the things I'd asked Cycleops. Wasn't recommending Cycleops try them, just trying to find out if they had been tried and what the result was.

From what you say, I will definitely start this regimen. And thanks for the tip about which kind to do and dosages. Only thing the pharmacist has recommended is to take the RALA at the other end of the day from when I take levothyroxine for hypothroidism med because RALA can interfere with it.

Oh Sheltiemom, I WOULD try them if people are having positive results!

I just need small pills or liquids.... I have an esophagus that decides to clamp down like a python when something is half way down, and then whatever I ingested has to degrade right there, midway down. I have gotten some nasty problems from that. I don't understand why the docs keep giving me horse pills when they know this.

I just wonder what benfotamine is....will I have any problems with Lipoic acid?

I don't think supplements are benign. They can be very active, interact with drugs.

Sheltiemom....thanks for the lead on the nice undies! Comfort above all else!

Hi, cycleclops -

First things first - those undies I suggested are truly great or I'd not suggested them. Hope you try and are as happy as I am about your choice.

About the new bed - sounds like something from a Stephen King novel - like maybe "Cristine II?"

Secondly, yes - am aware that dietary supplements must be used with great care, especially when taking meds and/or certain other supplements. The benfotiamine form of B1 was recommended here in a reply by unstapbl(sp?) to this topic of yours, I think because it might be a superior(?) form of it rather than plain old thiamine.

The new bed is very nice....just a titch high....and of course, the luxurious footboard....ah yes, be careful what you wish for, eh?

We bought a newer home, one third the size of our old home and thought this downsize would be fairly easy since most of the kids were gone....eeesh....It has been a lot like packing for vacation and not being able to get the luggage closed. Plus the house had a few 'design' issues, and a few shortcuts, that needed repair....can we say 'money pit?'

So, we endeavored to remodel things....sort of. This too shall pass. The view is great, the neighbors nice and appropriately geographically distant....and I got my small acreage....and chickens. On a good day, it's heaven....on a bad day, it's a whole lot of pain pills, and a few curse words.

OK Cyclelops....... I just might have you beat on the pill swallowing act. I swear I never try to take pills in public because I "look a fool." I am a closet pill swallower. I try to time my doses so NO-ONE has to / or can watch. Here is the routine....I put the pills in my mouth (of course, one at a time) take a drink, bend low at the knees and the POP-UP real quick as tho gravity is gonna help get those pills to where they need to be. I am sure it is comical none the less. Funny thing is that I go through periods where I can swallow just fine and then all of a sudden it is as tho my esophagus has a stricture and nothing passes. I am constantly choking. What a mess...only thing I can do is laugh cuz otherwise I would spend my day crying!! Out to the garden to see what the Lord has blessed us with today!! Take care everyone.

I'm not recommending anything either. I can only say what was recommended to me or refer you to the thread. And that "I BELIEVE" it's helping.

Your correct on the Benefotiamine. The 150 mg capsules I have are less than half the size of my 300mg Gabapentin, Which I ASSUME is the same size as the Neurontin. The R-Liopic is the same size

My main purpose in posting wasn't to advocate a regimen to Cyclops,as I'm not qualified, but to offer you the Chocolate milk tip and to let you know the sizes of the capsules. Also to offer empathy as I hate swallowing pills but I'm much better at it now

Mr.s D is on vacation but is very knowlegable on this stuff and can at least direct you to threads and other sources that may help you. i think your right to take seriously anything you put in your body. And to by extremely discretionary about whom you take advice from. I'm certainly not that guy LOL

Hi, cycleclops
Let me join this conversation. I get great relief from benfotiamine--I take one pill four times per day, Dr.'s Best 150 mg. ea. I also take a bunch of other supplements similar to those posted, and the only one I've had a problem with is alpha lipoic acid--it always upset my stomach even when I took it with food; however, the r-lipoic acid does not so that is my pill of choice now. Joan

So, is r-lipoic readily available? And the benfotamine.