Supplements
 

I posted this on the supplement page but I'm not sure if anyone will see it.

Hi everyone, I haven't posted in awhile but I've been reading everyone's post off and on. My rheumo told me to start 5 HTP with thiamine and cayenne pepper tablets. He said he has been using both and it is helping him with joint pain. I did buy them today and then realized I probably should have checked them out first.
Do any of you take these? Do they help?
I currently take fish oil, D3, probiotics, Curcumin, B12 every other day and COQ10 for supplements. I use to take R lipoic acid but read that it really works for those with diabetes.
I'd appreciate any information you can give me. Thanks!

I've used all three in the past with no problem. I still use cayenne and thiamine.

Thanks Icelander, I'm going to give them a try. I started tart cherry juice last night so I want to try that for a week or so first. Then I'll try the 5HTP. I like to try one thing at a time so I know what is working or not working.

Everyone is different. Some will respond to things, and others not.

I don't see any harm in trying....but with one caveat.

If you are intolerant to nightshades, the cayenne pepper will not agree with you, I'd expect. Some people get irritable on 5-HTP but others like it. The Thiamine is easy to tolerate, even in the benfotiamine form.

Thanks Mrs D., the thiamine is in the 5HTP. That's what my doctor told me to buy. I scan ussually eat red & green peppers so I don't know if the cayenne supplements will bother me but thanks for that tip. I started tart cherry juice before I went to bed last. I couldn't sleep because I got anxious. I don't usually have anxiety however I do have a family member I'm worrying about. Have you ever heard of cherry juice causing anxiety? I'm using it full strength. Two tablespoons. Do you think I should mix it with some water?

I'd take it in the morning. Sometimes things can upset your stomach but not enough to "hurt" etc. But on the fringe there, it can cause an anxious feeling. I get this before I have a GI attack...I have malrotation, and when things twist up I get anxious before the real pain etc starts.

So I'd take it at another time of day. Just to see if the anxiety remains.

Thanks a lot Mrs. D. I appreciate the advice!

Mrs. D. I had taken the cherry juice before I saw your advice last night. I too it at about 8pm. I went into a flare up last night. It is still here today. The burning from my neuropathy is really bad.
I'm not diabetic but could it be the sugar in it? I haven't added anything new but the juice.
Is it possible for a person to have this reaction to cherry juice? Have you ever heard of this before?
If anyone else has ever had bad results from tart cherry juice could you please let me know.

Hi hopeful, I haven’t had any problems from drinking cherry juice, but I use black cherry juice instead of tart cherry. I’m currently using a product from R. W. Knudsen called Just Black Cherry. It does have 25 g of sugar in it, so I drink it sparingly.

If you think the sugar content in your cherry juice is causing your problem, one alternative is to use tart cherry capsules instead. Here is a link to one brand that has less than 1 g of sugar in it:

http://www.traversebayfarms.com/tartcherry.htm

They advertise that the content of the capsules “equals the specific antioxidant benefits of 5+ glasses of cherry juice without the sugar.”

are there additives in that juice?

I cannot stand red wine...I get terrible flares from it. I think it is the sulfites in it, which are added as preservatives.

I called the company and they said there is nothing in there but tart cherries. I just tried it again. I figured I would try it again during the day. I really want it to work and I figured my neuropathy is really bad right now so I'd try again and see if it calms down. I mixed it with half glass of water this time.
I just think it is so weird that no one else seems to have problems with the cherry juice. It's making me think that it is not the juice.
Could it be that my neuropathy is do to antibodies?

Some people react to the polyphenols in fruits and veggies with vasodilation. This dilating effect allows blood to rush in to constricted areas, and the feeling is burning and pain.

This effect may wear off with time. And it doesn't happen to everyone.

I once knew a woman who had terrible headaches from tea (of all things). This is because she was very sensitive to the polyphenol content and had a dilation effect and hence the headache. It was only on one side of her head too.

That's a good thought Mrs D. I don't have trouble with other fruits but maybe cherries are a trigger for me. As I said I tried it again and it's happening again. I think I just have to accept the loss of the $24
I guess I'll move on to the 5HTP and see how that goes. The best supplement for my joint and muscle pain thus far has been the Curcumin!
Thanks again!

I like the curcumin too... I just cannot take it every day....sometimes it upsets my stomach.

Funny no stomach problems with me. I take it with my breakfast. It's funny how things react so differently for people!

I am ultra sensitive....I was born with this congenital defect....and it has been with me for over 65 yrs. It would be nice to be able to eat anything...but I just cannot.

My sister is like that. She can't even eat raw veggies.

That's a shame!

I can eat everything too and like everything. My mom was like this. Anyway, I'm forever, it seems, want to try to help with this neuropathy, which for so many is unknown. I have a friend who is off neurontin since taking grape seed extract for about 5 yrs now. She goes back about 20 yrs with the neuropathy she deals with, I have my thoughts on why, but keep my mouth shut a lot. She listens to her doctors. And isn't good on nutrition as I would be and am. I'm not perfect but I know what to avoid in general.

Anyway, here is a good link too and the author talks about the deep color of the grape seed extract, mine are all deep in color. One of my favorites is Muscadine grape seed 500mg cap.

http://www.joyfulaging.com/Neuritis.htm

I read this link and with a tiny few exceptions I'm doing what he's saying. I feel good much of the time. The nights are still pretty sketchy however.