vitamin c

[scoobydoo1]

anyone tried taking vitamin c supplements and if so was there any effects?

[SarahHeney]

My rheumatologist told me not to as it would stimulate the immune system! X

[scoobydoo1 in reply to SarahHeney]

ha ha, so I suppose you where advised against eating pineapple, oranges and leafy greens.. can cope with the don't eat Brussels sprouts worrying sometimes the advice given.

[chrisj]

Hi Scoobydoo, yes I'm taking a supplement vit C and D tablet...Taking 4 a day because my vit D levels dropped..no ill effects so far, in fact I've felt a lot better.

It seems my bodys ability to make vit D has packed up, hence the supplement...The consultant picked up on it last year after I complained about aches, pains and more than usual shortness of breath....I had to go to hospital once a month for a capsule thats not available on prescription here and once the boost was done they put me on the 4 a day caplets. I wouldnt recommend you take anything not prescribed by your doctors. I was diagnosed with mild SLE IN 2005....

[Hidden in reply to chrisj]

The primary source of Vitamin D is sunlight, Chris - and many people in the northern hemisphere are now believed to have low levels of Vitamin D. Lupus sufferers, who can't get outside n the sunshine, are more likely to suffer, but even when we supplement, the evidence shows that we tend to have lower levels. Supplementation with D3 (not D2) is shown to be useful. For me it really helped with bone pain. I hope it goes on being helpful for you, too!

[chrisj in reply to Hidden]

I read about the sunshine shortage up here my sons been diagnosed with D defficiency as well, he's on Adcal like me but hopefully his levels will go up enough to take him off the pills...must boot him outside more, he spends most of his life indoors and we've had such a poor year for weather, what with a long winter, hardly any spring...

My sister in law was forever telling me to sit in the sun whenever I could, I got sick of telling her it was no use..she just didnt understand.

[Lulabelle]

I attended a Lupus UK meeting over a year ago int Warrington! A top Consultant attended and gave a speech - he said that he recommends that we all take vitamin c everyday to assist our immune systems.

I have take this with zine (soluble) everyday since then and swear by it - you cannot overdose on this as what you don't need the body gets rid of and it doesn't interfere with any other medication.

I also give this to my daughter who is 12yrs to help starve off colds especially in the winter months! it's speeds up recovery time also.

Lulabelle xxx

[Cann]

I can't take vitamin C in supplement form any longer as it upsets my gut, but I eats loads of fruit and certain vegetables as much as I can and get out whenever possible as I know when I am short of vitamin D.

[Thaddeus]

I dont believe in vitamin suppliments in general, but I do take a vit C as the pot is next to my hydroxy and omega and I like the taste as it fizzes on my tongue. And I have not picked up the horrid cold which is in the house, so actually I say do it.

[emilyb]

I swear by Q10 and have taken it since 1994 (its very subtle but for me it works) just thought I'd throw that in the pot !!

[Thaddeus in reply to emilyb]

~When I started on Statins the first time about a decade ago, i was told that Q10 was good for cramps by my specialist at Guys.

I has since read that Q10 is Alpha quinone, and I wonder if it is related to our hydroxychloroquin, -if it is the maybe we should be advised about the combined dose.

[Thaddeus in reply to Thaddeus]

Also if you do have muscle cramps sore joints and weakness perhaps a CK ( =CPK, Createnine Kinase ) test would be a good idea.

[scoobydoo1]

thanks guys, been taking the vit c for a few days, don't feel any worse and maybe slightly better.

[Loopylooby]

Hi there. My vit D was so low that tablets would not have been sufficient. I had an injection and felt the effects within days. Much brighter and mentally clearer. As the injection has worn off I can feel it going downhill again. Nearly reaching the time for the next injection. I am also on hydroxi and have also been on pred injections and tablets.

[SarahHeney]

The high dose vit d I get on prescription has worked wonders for me as well. My level was 12. Vit C and zinc I took for years but my rheumatologist said vit c, echinnacea etc are immune system stimulants and as our drug treatment is to suppress our immune system activity they should be avoided. I have to say she is one of the top lupud specialists in the uk so I tend to go by what she says!