I do not have exact diagnosis yet, but it is Neuropathy due to auto immune issue. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 12 months ago and I have been feeling pins and needles in scalp and feet and legs for last 5 months. I am also diagnosed with Blepharitis (eye lid inflammation) about 8 months ago. Healthwise it is a downhill slide for last 12 months. Blood work came out normal. All X-Rays and MRI of brain and spine are normal. I will be going for skin biopsy test soon. I am taking Gabapantin (400mg 3 times a day) for Neuropathy pain. Some days pain is tolerable. Would you please help me what supplements I should start taking especially for Neuropathy? I have been taking fish oils for last 12 months.

Welcome shortwoman.

First off, you need the results of your B12 and vit D...if you haven't had them tested, it is a good idea to do so.
Doctors still follow old lab ranges, for B12, so make sure you have
at least 400pg/ml. The vit D is best taken OTC for D3 and not the RX form doctors give which is D2. But you do need your doctor to test you... just bring your results here instead of listening to potential poor interpretations.

Make sure you are taking a good multivitamin like Centrum Silver.
Skin conditions do respond to zinc and Vit A. Make sure your vitamin has both.

Fish oil does best with some magnesium too. A good supplement for that if you don't eat nuts or beans, is SlowMag.
One of those twice a day will help with the fish oil metabolism.

B12 (methylcobalamin form), Vit D3 and magnesium are the Big Three, supplements to start with.

MrsD,

I tried searching the forum in case you've already talked about D3, but I'm getting zero hits. Not sure what that's all about, but sorry if you've covered this before.

I have a cheap bottle of Nature Made D3 with 1000IU as Cholecalciferol. Since I've learned many of my vitamins aren't provided in the best form, I was wondering if you had any input on D3 in this form. As best I can figure out D3 = Cholecalciferol, but I thought I'd check.

Also, any thoughts on how much? My bottle says 1000 IU is 250% RDA.

On my last blood results, my D3 was 38 on a scale of 30-100 which is why I started supplementing on my own with one a day.

Yes, Cholecalciferol is D3... It is in most supplements now, as they have been reformulated. It is also now in milk and dairy products (which used to be D2).

D2= ergocalciferol and remains on RX-- this is an old historical product that has never been re-evaluated. So the 50,000IU given by doctors as an RX is mostly ineffective today --according to new studies.

The general rule for D3 supplements is 1000IU D3 daily for every 10 points you need to raise. So use a level of 50 as your goal.
At 38, you may only need 1000 IU D3 daily.

So your NatureMade is fine.

Thanks for this! I didn't know how much D3 I should be taking...my number is only 22, and my docs think this is adding to (or even causing) my muscle and bone pain that I'm getting. I've been taking 3,000iu a day, which now seems like a good dose. Just started it over the weekend.

My blood work results:
Vitamin Results Ref Range
B12 576 211-946
Magnesium 2.5 1.6-2.6
Zinc 725 440-860
Vit D 30.3 30-100
B6 31.2 2-32.8
B1 220.4 66.5-200
Hemoglobin Alc 6.1 4.8-5.6
Copper, Serum 126 72-166
Glucose, Serum 88 65-99
Calcium, Serum 9.3 8.7-10.2
Potassium, Serum 4.8 3.5-5.2

Current supplements: Multi-Vitamin, 1 Calcium, 4000IU Vit D, 2 Fish Oils
Current Medications: Imuran for Ulcerative Colitis (50mg each 2 a day), Gabapendin (400mg 3 times a day)
Age: 54 Sex: Female Weight: 90lb Height: 4 feet 8 inches
Diet: Mostly Vegetarian
Medical Issues: Ulcerative Colitis (2014), Blepharitis (2014), Small Nerve Issue (early 2015)

Could you please advise me what supplements do I take for nerve issue? I think it is Small Fiber Neuropathy due to autoimmune.

May I ask.... were you taking vitamins when this blood work was taken?

It is best to stop all vitamins for several days before testing to
see what the more realistic values are.

The ranges labs report were done on volunteers who were NOT taking any supplements.

If you did not stop your vitamins, I'd say the B12 is rather low.
It is adequate but not sterling, if you were not using any supplements at the time of the test.

The first choice, for other supplements would be R-lipoic acid stabilized. This may help your A1C come down a bit.
100mg of the new stabilized form is all you need once a day.
this is an example of a good one many of us use here:
http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-S...+r-lipoic+acid
This form allows better absorption and lower doses than the old
ALA.

Start with this one, and see how you do in a couple of months, before adding in another item.
Make sure you are taking a good multi like Centrum Silver for the biotin and Vit A, which may help with your blepharitis.

So you take something for the colitis? Some drugs used for that deplete folate.

MrsD; Yes, I was taking the supplements except Vit D when blood work was done. I take Centrum Silver for Multi. Just 1 calcium. Fish oils was recommended by an eye doctor. Vit D (4000IU) was recommended by GI.
Do I start with B12 too? Thanks,

Yes, I'd start some methylcobalamin (which is the active type) once a day on an empty stomach (no food for about an hour after).

1000mcg (1 mg) should be enough, but it would be better and faster to take slightly more for about 3 months to get going.
you can do 2000mcg to 5000mcg --it is your choice.

Keep things simple to start...so you can see what is working best. Some people don't need as much as others, so introducing things slowly is more revealing and saves money.