Guest guest Posted September 21, 2001 Report Share Posted September 21, 2001 Hi Glenn, I was also thinking about a subject of the week, and it was very close to yours... I have a theory, and those of you in the medical profession may have more " facts " than I do about this. I believe that we may be more prone to other illnesses etc. due to the depletion of nutrients, etc. from our bodies due to the medications that are taken. I think this may be a major factor in the weakening of the immune system. I wonder how many of us actually take supplements to replace what is depleted??? And if so, does that seem to help at all. I know that when I stopped taking meds, I did not have nearly the " other problems " that I did when I was taking them. I notice since I've started taking things again since my last accident, I am having more problems with allergies, rashes, etc. Hugs, Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2001 Report Share Posted September 21, 2001 Hi Guys, I find it strange that I have not had too many other illnesses, i.e., cold, flu etc. I do take daily multi vitamin along with 600 mg of calcium. I do agree with Jo that we should replace what the drugs take away, but what do we take for that? Jo? Hugs and a pain free minute, Deb Debgena@... " Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops at all " Dickinson Listowner rsd-crps Deborah Genatossio Massachusetts Charter Director and Planning Director for American Society for RSD/CRPS (ASRSD/CRPS) PO Box 1397, Abingdon, MD 21009 Toll Free Hotline: 1-866-OUR-PAIN Main Office: (office hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 10 AM to 3PM) online membership: ASRSD_CRPS http://www.americansocietyforrsd-crps.org http://americansocietyforrsd-crps.org/societypages/handbook.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2001 Report Share Posted September 22, 2001 Hi Debi4, I agree with the idea of a flu shot. It is important, however I am still not finding any evidence myself that the rsd has affected my immune system. I do take a multi vitamin and try to eat right, and I am constantly using hand wipes and washing my hands, so maybe that is why. If we could get some research on this it would be great huh? Then those that feel they have been affected by rsd in their immune system could take the necessary drugs or whatever. Hugs and a pain free minute, Deb Debgena@... " Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops at all " Dickinson Listowner rsd-crps Deborah Genatossio Massachusetts Charter Director and Planning Director for American Society for RSD/CRPS (ASRSD/CRPS) PO Box 1397, Abingdon, MD 21009 Toll Free Hotline: 1-866-OUR-PAIN Main Office: (office hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 10 AM to 3PM) online membership: ASRSD_CRPS http://www.americansocietyforrsd-crps.org http://americansocietyforrsd-crps.org/societypages/handbook.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2001 Report Share Posted September 22, 2001 Just to coment on the subject of the week. I was told by my Dr. that my immune system has become " affected " . I constantly have flu/cold like symptoms. I can take medicine, cough syrup, decongestant but as soon as I stop, the symptoms come right back. This is year round for me. My Dr. told me that taking any type of cold medication will just eleviate the symptoms but not get rid of them. Anotherwards, when others get colds and flus, they take the meds just to feel better while the cold is leaving their bodies. Since I don't really have a cold, then when I take the meds, I only take them to feel better. Hope this helps. If anyone knows of any treatments out there for this, please let me know. I've been in agony with these symptoms for such a long time now - I don't even want to go into the pool anymore because of my coughing and sneezing. Love and Prayers Danette in NJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2001 Report Share Posted September 22, 2001 Just to coment on the subject of the week. I was told by my Dr. that my immune system has become " affected " . I constantly have flu/cold like symptoms. I can take medicine, cough syrup, decongestant but as soon as I stop, the symptoms come right back. This is year round for me. My Dr. told me that taking any type of cold medication will just eleviate the symptoms but not get rid of them. Anotherwards, when others get colds and flus, they take the meds just to feel better while the cold is leaving their bodies. Since I don't really have a cold, then when I take the meds, I only take them to feel better. Hope this helps. If anyone knows of any treatments out there for this, please let me know. I've been in agony with these symptoms for such a long time now - I don't even want to go into the pool anymore because of my coughing and sneezing. Love and Prayers Danette in NJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2001 Report Share Posted September 22, 2001 Hi Glen, Yes I had immune system problems after I developed RSD. I almost never got sick before. I remember having a bad cold or flu in 1991 and never got sick again until about 6 months after the onset of rsd. since then I have had three upper respiratory infections in one year. I also developed a liver problem, some type of internal infection attacking my liver and a chronic low white cell count. Hugs and love, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2001 Report Share Posted September 22, 2001 Hi Deb. I will research it and see what conclusive evidence that I can come up with. I might be on the wrong track here but isn't Gamma Globulin (An Injection) for immune disorders? I think it helps a number of things. In the Pediatric office I worked there was one child on it as his own immune system shut down. He was a very sick boy. I have lost track now but last I knew Mom was giving injections at home. Anyway I will research it and see what we can come up with. AnyFeedback would be appreciated. Thanks Debi RSD 4+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2001 Report Share Posted September 22, 2001 Hi, all I take infusions of Gamma Globulin every two weeks. This was before I had RSD. I had chronic bronchitis for nearly 3 years before the doctors figured out that my immunoglobulin was too low, so I couldn't fight infections. I've been taking the infusions every two weeks for about 6 months and I've only had bronchitis a couple of times, and not nearly as bad as before. I go to the infusion center at the hospital to get my treatment and it takes about six hours. I have a port in my chest that is used for the infusions and any blood draws. I'm not sure how the RSD will impact all of this, since I've only had it about a month. We'll see... Here's to a low pain day! Anita Re: Subject of the Week Hi Deb. I will research it and see what conclusive evidence that I can come up with. I might be on the wrong track here but isn't Gamma Globulin (An Injection) for immune disorders? I think it helps a number of things. In the Pediatric office I worked there was one child on it as his own immune system shut down. He was a very sick boy. I have lost track now but last I knew Mom was giving injections at home. Anyway I will research it and see what we can come up with. AnyFeedback would be appreciated. Thanks Debi RSD 4+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2001 Report Share Posted September 23, 2001 Hi all, I, too, have been affected by illnesses I wouldn't normally have contracted due to RSD pain. The way I understand it from my doctors is that our body fights RSD like it fights any infection. This means that part of our immune system is always fighting the pain leaving the remaining energy to fight off attacking germs. For example, a normal person with no pain has 100% of their immune system to fight off infection or germs. We have 30% or so constantly fighting the RSD and only 70% left to deal with other problems. The harder we fight the RSD or the worse it gets, the harder it is for our bodies to fight other germs. Back in the early 90's when my pain was as bad as it is now I had a big problem with allergies, which I never had prior to this time. I had a sinus infection that would not clear up, was on antibiotics for 7 months and ended up having to have allergy shots to finally get better. This time I have a real problem with my throat but noone can tell me what it is or how to 'fix' it. I have almost lost my voice and have a constant sore throat that looks to my doctors to be dry and inflamed but for no apparent reason. Last time, after I had the reconstructive surgery on my ankle, my other problems went away. No more sinus infections, dizzy spells, headaches, neck pain, back pain subsided for the most part, etc. I am hoping that once these surgeries are over and my pain is back under control my other symptoms will clear up again. I would like to hear my normal voice again and I would most definitely like to get rid of these horrendous headaches and neck pain. As Deb and others have pointed out, the meds we take do deplete our reserves of certain key vitamins and minerals and a good supplement is very helpful. I find that when I take my vitamins regularly I feel much better and have less physical complaints. I hope this helps explain how my doctor's view the side effects of living with RSD. Take care, Debbie/DJ ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2001 Report Share Posted September 25, 2001 Hi all, I know that I have been told that RSD does use up the chemicals in our bodies faster than a 'non-RSD-er' s body would. Therefore, the doctor has stated that I need to be taking high quality supplements. Since I was at the time, it just substantiated what I had already figured out. It has certainly changed my thyroid and they had to change the medication I took for this. However, since money is tight, I had to cut back and am only taking vitamin C at this point. Possibly that is why I was so sick. I don't know. What I do know is that I have never had strep before, so I have nothing to judge by personally, as far as how bad the strep was. However, I do know, now, that I had the doctor quite scared and the pharmacist is saying that he is proud of me that I won this battle. I do know that I have never been so sick that I became toxic. With this strep, I became toxic twice. However, I also believe that I had this for 2 weeks without knowing because of the pain meds. I couldn't figure out why I was so tired, excessive exhaustion. I figured I was going into a worse flair and I was already in a bad one. Now I know I was sick. I've been really sick before, even had pneumonia, but I've never been like this. So, is it the RSD, lack of supplements, or pain meds masking the problem? I do know that I didn't fight it like I used to. Bob has never had to stay home with me before. He took an unbelievable amount of time off this time, and with harvest coming it was quite a sacrifice on his part. I am 2.5 years into my RSD. It will be interesting to see how the rest of you respond to this question. However, if you decide to start supplements, please be careful what you choose. Centrum sounds like a great choice, however, it has a coating on it that doesn't allow it to be absorbed. You are just eating money that you pass. So choose something natural, like Herbalife (I know I sell it, but this isn't a sales call). It is more expensive, but I give RSD-ers 25% off, lol. Walmart has some good supplements or your pharmacy should have some natural. If you have supplements questions, just ask and I will share what I have been taught. Just remember the body is a closed system and it is using chemicals faster then normal. So if we don't input what we are losing, we are probably going to have additional problems. The other thing is our bowels, yes a disgusting topic. However, I have noticed that since the RSD I have horrid bowel problems. The pain is horrid and well I won't get any more graphic. Again, we need help. The doctor gave me stuff and it just made things worse. I thought maybe I was getting an ulcer. Then I went back to what I was taught and realized that I needed a different kind of help. I started on Citricel (sp?) and it is amazing how much better things are. Most of our pain meds are constipating and we do need help. So I will be starting my nutrient program again and will stay with the Citricel and maybe we won't get down like this past time. Okay, I will close this book now. May God bless you and keep you, " Pain is a subjective experience; it is a personal possession, a private feeling, and as individual as a fingerprint. " How to Cope With Chronic Pain, by Hendler, M.D. and Judith A. Fenton, 1986, page 5. Deb Lundquist (McPixie@...) Administrative Director, American Society for RSD-CRPS (ASRSD/CRPS) Co-Chair, American Society for RSD-CRPS Assistance Center (ASRSD/CRPS AC) PO Box 1397, Abingdon, MD 21009 Toll Free Hotline: 1-866-OUR-PAIN Main Office: (office hours: Mon, wed, Fri 10 am to 3 pm) online membership: ASRSD_CRPSegroups http://americansocietyforrsd-crps.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2001 Report Share Posted September 25, 2001 Hi all, I know that I have been told that RSD does use up the chemicals in our bodies faster than a 'non-RSD-er' s body would. Therefore, the doctor has stated that I need to be taking high quality supplements. Since I was at the time, it just substantiated what I had already figured out. It has certainly changed my thyroid and they had to change the medication I took for this. However, since money is tight, I had to cut back and am only taking vitamin C at this point. Possibly that is why I was so sick. I don't know. What I do know is that I have never had strep before, so I have nothing to judge by personally, as far as how bad the strep was. However, I do know, now, that I had the doctor quite scared and the pharmacist is saying that he is proud of me that I won this battle. I do know that I have never been so sick that I became toxic. With this strep, I became toxic twice. However, I also believe that I had this for 2 weeks without knowing because of the pain meds. I couldn't figure out why I was so tired, excessive exhaustion. I figured I was going into a worse flair and I was already in a bad one. Now I know I was sick. I've been really sick before, even had pneumonia, but I've never been like this. So, is it the RSD, lack of supplements, or pain meds masking the problem? I do know that I didn't fight it like I used to. Bob has never had to stay home with me before. He took an unbelievable amount of time off this time, and with harvest coming it was quite a sacrifice on his part. I am 2.5 years into my RSD. It will be interesting to see how the rest of you respond to this question. However, if you decide to start supplements, please be careful what you choose. Centrum sounds like a great choice, however, it has a coating on it that doesn't allow it to be absorbed. You are just eating money that you pass. So choose something natural, like Herbalife (I know I sell it, but this isn't a sales call). It is more expensive, but I give RSD-ers 25% off, lol. Walmart has some good supplements or your pharmacy should have some natural. If you have supplements questions, just ask and I will share what I have been taught. Just remember the body is a closed system and it is using chemicals faster then normal. So if we don't input what we are losing, we are probably going to have additional problems. The other thing is our bowels, yes a disgusting topic. However, I have noticed that since the RSD I have horrid bowel problems. The pain is horrid and well I won't get any more graphic. Again, we need help. The doctor gave me stuff and it just made things worse. I thought maybe I was getting an ulcer. Then I went back to what I was taught and realized that I needed a different kind of help. I started on Citricel (sp?) and it is amazing how much better things are. Most of our pain meds are constipating and we do need help. So I will be starting my nutrient program again and will stay with the Citricel and maybe we won't get down like this past time. Okay, I will close this book now. May God bless you and keep you, " Pain is a subjective experience; it is a personal possession, a private feeling, and as individual as a fingerprint. " How to Cope With Chronic Pain, by Hendler, M.D. and Judith A. Fenton, 1986, page 5. Deb Lundquist (McPixie@...) Administrative Director, American Society for RSD-CRPS (ASRSD/CRPS) Co-Chair, American Society for RSD-CRPS Assistance Center (ASRSD/CRPS AC) PO Box 1397, Abingdon, MD 21009 Toll Free Hotline: 1-866-OUR-PAIN Main Office: (office hours: Mon, wed, Fri 10 am to 3 pm) online membership: ASRSD_CRPSegroups http://americansocietyforrsd-crps.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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