Was: Re: iron supplements Now: Gland Supplements

[Guest guest]

At 09:58 AM 3/17/2009, you wrote:

Let's **assume** legality for a

second- what do you think about gland supplements? Yay or

Nay?

Jodi,

This is honestly a tough one, because I haven't really researched gland

supplements and their effects, although they are on my list of things to

do. In, of course, my copious quantities of spare time!

I've been looking at things like liver powder, as suggested in another

post, because I really, really don't like liver. I'm not planning any

more surgeries, and I'm praying my lab tests stay negative. But I also

want to be prepared!

I've considered thyroid and adrenal support, but haven't yet researched

it as well as I'd like (I'm taking most of the supplements which are

typically recommended). My thyroid, the doctors insist, is perfectly

normal. They blithely skip over the fact that my father, my sister, my

niece, and my nephew are all on thyroid meds, in spite of originally

having " normal " labs.

The products you referenced look like quality products, although they are

pretty expensive. I might be concerned about the capsules and their

legality.

You say that your doctor doesn't think these will help and/or that she

recommends not taking them. Did she say why?

You are taking enzymes, and they appear to help, but they contain

illegals. My inclination would be to try to find someone who could

compound them for you if these enzymes actually help.

One worry I have is that we -- all of us -- have a tendency to want to

throw this supplement or that remedy at our health situation and try to

get better, fast. Sometimes, all we succeed in doing is making ourselves

worse, fast, because our bodies can't tolerate everything we throw at

them.

You, in particular, are very sensitive to so many things that I think you

may need to step back and consider where you're trying to go. It's not

surprising, after your recent set back in Israel, that you want something

which will help right now. Two months ago would have been nice, too, so

you could have avoided the mess while traveling!

It took me a good three years to reach stability because I had been sick

for so long (25 years!). I'm currently frustrated because I'm just not

able to get the weight loss started again since my surgery -- and I'm

fighting lymphedema. It's very depressing when one day, the scale goes

down two pounds, and then the next day, it is up ten pounds. And then

over the next five weeks, it comes down, two pounds a week... and then

wham, over night, it's up ten pounds again. And you know it's all

fluctuations in fluids -- because your calorie intake is a thousand

calories a day under your calorie expenditure, and you OUGHT to be

losing, but you aren't. And then the doc says, " Well, if you'd just

stop stuffing your face and get a little exercise, like pushing yourself

away from the table, you could lose weight if you really wanted

to... " it just makes you want to scream. Especially since the

attitude is that my losing 180 pounds is irrelevant. (People who are

trying to gain have this fight, too... they feel like they ARE stuffing

their faces 24/7, yet the scale just won't inch UP! And the least thing

sends it into a nose-dive.)

Have you stabilized after your trip? How are you doing with that? My

honest feeling would be that these products may be useful for some

people, but I would approach it one thing at a time. Make one change, and

then observe your body for at least a week. Make one more change, and

observe. Remember our SCD rule about adding foods and how, when you start

a whole bunch of foods at once, you don't know which one disagreed with

you if you have a problem. It's the same thing with treatments or

supplements.

One treatment or supplement at a time.

Low and slow.

Observe.

—

Marilyn

New

Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund

[Guest guest]

Hi Marilyn,

> This is honestly a tough one, because I haven't

> really researched gland supplements and their

> effects, although they are on my list of things

> to do. In, of course, my copious quantities of spare time!

Just in the past year, I remember some topics of the subjects you would like to

research about.. You must have a list and I am sure you have your own interests

TOO!!.. It gets to be a bit much!

> I've been looking at things like liver powder, as

> suggested in another post, because I really,

> really don't like liver. I'm not planning any

> more surgeries, and I'm praying my lab tests stay

> negative. But I also want to be prepared!

My mom used the liver pills from this company before and after her ovarian

surgery- she was very anemic. She also spritzed lemon on her steak and used a

cast iron. Luckily, after the surgery her bleeding stopped. She had a cyst the

size of a newborns head on her ovary that was putting pressure on her intestine.

Her previous GYN failed to mention she had a cyst growing. I begged her to get

a second opinion. Thank goodness she did. She still follows SCD but has

incorporated illegals like Agave..

> I've considered thyroid and adrenal support, but

> haven't yet researched it as well as I'd like

> (I'm taking most of the supplements which are

> typically recommended). My thyroid, the doctors

> insist, is perfectly normal. They blithely skip

> over the fact that my father, my sister, my

> niece, and my nephew are all on thyroid meds, in

> spite of originally having " normal " labs.

My Grandma and her mother both have Thyroid problems too.

Have you ever had your whole Thyroid panel checked? That is a simple blood

test- would your doc not order this for you? Could help with metabolism, water

retention etc. I never had this done only TSH. But low and behold T3, Free T3

and Free T4 were totally off. It has been a remarkable difference treating

these.

> The products you referenced look like quality

> products, although they are pretty expensive. I

> might be concerned about the capsules and their legality.

They are super expensive!! Apparently they go the whole 9 yards.. pasture

raised, grass fed, hormone free animals etc..

Actually do you remember a Millie from back in the day? she has a son that

has ASD type issues (she says she remembers you- a while back she told me to say

hi to you, I totally forgot about this) anyway, she is on the GAPShelp yahoo

group and she researched this company and believes them to be legit. Her son

cannot take supplements and is very sensitive like myself.. If I were to

take it though I would pursue calling the company and all that jazz.. I totally

trust Millie and her process!

> You say that your doctor doesn't think these will

> help and/or that she recommends not taking them. Did she say why?

She said she has never been a big supporter of putting patients on gland

supplements, she rather give them the key ingredient they need. I totally

understand this logic but I seem to be natures baby- and the least amount of

processing the better.. So many times ingredients in their whole state in a

supplement is like a punch to my gut. So, I try as much to get nutrients from

whole food sources which is what I learned from the SCD and from you. Like, I

am supposed to take bromelain but many of the supplements out there are made

from the stem of the pineapple- I am unsure of legality in this instance

although pineapple is totally legal. So every 2 days I juice, strain and dilute

pineapple juice (only drink a cup every two days) and I find it to be super

helpful in my regiment- I love my Omega btw.. awesome!

> You are taking enzymes, and they appear to help,

> but they contain illegals. My inclination would

> be to try to find someone who could compound them

> for you if these enzymes actually help.

Yes, I take enzymes that are helpful. The ones I am taking are totally legal!

The one my GI wants to put me on are prescription enzymes which contain

illegals. I have contacted a couple of compounding pharmacies and they can't

make SCD compliant pancreatic enzymes. I have not contacted Skip's yet.

I am concerned with a couple of things;

The current enzymes I am taking now are %100 legal.

They are broad spectrum, so I have to take a lot to experience Right Upper

Quadrant relief or else I am in pain from eating (not just nausea and I have

switched to a low/no fat diet- feeling better) My Amylase is still elevated and

my doc and GI told me it will take a while for it to lower after the type of

attack I had in Israel.

So, with these OTC legal ones I must take a lot of them daily about 18-26 pills.

My doc said to use it until we figure out whats going on. So I am worried I am

taking way too much??

My GI wants to give me a prescription for pancreatic enzymes that have illegals

in them. I am still looking into compounding although this seems to not be

possible. So, if I go with this route I am going to be ingesting illegals on an

on-going basis and this concerns me even more.

Do you know of a place that compounds enzymes?

This is why I was looking at the Pancreas supplement as it contains *natural*

enzymes although I don't understand the chemistry behind it if it will still be

useful for me as a pancreatic enzyme type of thing. How are the enzymes in this

Pancreas supplement useful for my situation? I have to look into this to

understand if it will be bio-available for my circumstance..

> One worry I have is that we -- all of us -- have

> a tendency to want to throw this supplement or

> that remedy at our health situation and try to

> get better, fast. Sometimes, all we succeed in

> doing is making ourselves worse, fast, because

> our bodies can't tolerate everything we throw at them.

Boy, do I keep learning this one.. LOL.

> You, in particular, are very sensitive to so many

> things that I think you may need to step back and

> consider where you're trying to go. It's not

> surprising, after your recent set back in Israel,

> that you want something which will help right

> now. Two months ago would have been nice, too, so

> you could have avoided the mess while traveling!

Ok, I need to take stock and prioritize.

> It took me a good three years to reach stability

> because I had been sick for so long (25 years!).

> I'm currently frustrated because I'm just not

> able to get the weight loss started again since

> my surgery -- and I'm fighting lymphedema. It's

> very depressing when one day, the scale goes down

> two pounds, and then the next day, it is up ten

> pounds.

This is awful Marilyn.. I wouldn't look in the mirror if I were you.

I would of thought with figuring all the stuff out about the Sleep Apnea that it

would help with your weight loss journey..

I'd be very interested to know how your Thyroid, Adrenals and even Pituitary

functions are doing..

Something is totally going on.. But again, You had such major surgery that put

you into rapid menopause (were you in menopause before?) Maybe bio-identicals

could help you.. Not trying to be all Suzanne Summers. LOL.

I feel for you.. When I went up 12 lbs in one week it was just the most awful

feeling. I am so used to fluctuating that it is crazy seeing the body behave so

outta whack! Emotionally it is awful too!

> Have you stabilized after your trip? How are you

> doing with that? My honest feeling would be that

> these products may be useful for some people, but

> I would approach it one thing at a time. Make one

> change, and then observe your body for at least a

> week. Make one more change, and observe. Remember

> our SCD rule about adding foods and how, when you

> start a whole bunch of foods at once, you don't

> know which one disagreed with you if you have a

> problem. It's the same thing with treatments or supplements.

My gut has been *remarkably* better since Israel- I think I was ingesting

illegals and gluten left and right there even though I tried so hard. I don't

know what's worse knowingly making the choice to cheat or having illegals in

food.. I think the later.. anyway- made me realize how far I have come since the

first trip to Israel I was still so sick with bad gut issues that I hadn't even

realized the extent of illegals getting in my food. Obviously, I have a long

way to go- but for me to bounce back like this so quickly just by being in my

own kitchen prepping away is awesome!

Pancreas wise is so so but since going low/no fat and cutting out beef doing

more fish and bison (been grinding my own grass fed bison for patties and

meatloaf!! I can eat tomato sauce now!!) I have been better although it is a

struggle for me since I am used to having ghee in my food and I am always

feeling hungry.

> One treatment or supplement at a time.

>

> Low and slow.

>

> Observe.

>

I wish I was more patient -sigh-...

Always so helpful and insightful!

Thanks,

Jodi