Over the counter suggestions

[peggyp14]

The only dietary supplement I take is a multi vitamin. I'm not the type that wants to bombard my body with a lot of vitamins and supplements.

I like to stay conservative as far as health supplements go.

Can anyone recommend any other simple supplements I should consider taking?

I don't want to go overboard. Maybe just one suggestion that might be helpful in dealing with CLL.

Thank you all.

Peggy

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Hi Peggy,

Study after study shows that the best way to provide our bodies with essential vitamins and nutrients is in food. Unless we are low in a given vitamin, taking supplements is generally just a waste of money. That said, with CLL, we are more likely to be low in vitamin D, but that needs to be verified by a blood test and if so, addressed preferably by a vitamin D3 supplement dose recommended by your doctor and your blood serum level monitored until the right dose is determined. Vitamin B12 might be worth checking if you have low haemoglobin, but generally it is bone marrow infiltration that reduces our red blood cell count and hence our haemoglobin

Some of us get bad cramps and find either a magnesium supplement or topical cream or spray provides relief.

Neil

[peggyp14 in reply to AussieNeil]

Thank you so much!

[Ernest2]

I'll second Neil's three suggestions (as I take them all) but do get tested before you start supplementing, to get the level right.

Silly question: Do you have any particular symptoms that concern you?

All that said good diet is always the first priority.

Best wishes,

Ernest

[peggyp14 in reply to Ernest2]

Other than fatigue which I have learned how to manage I'm symptom free. work part time until 2pm and I'm usually am able to walk over 1.5 miles each day.

Your suggestion about eating healthy meals is something I know I should work on. Thanks for reminding me about that! It makes perfect sense.

[Ernest2 in reply to peggyp14]

Sounds like best to concentrate on the food then. You might like to get the vitamins checked though for piece of mind. With 1.5 hours a day outside your vit D may be ok, depending on how much you have to wrap up against the weather.

Best wishes,

Ernest

[peggyp14 in reply to Ernest2]

You're right Ernest. Thanks.

I am very blessed.....I live 1 block away from the boardwalk. I forgot that the sun was a good source of vitamin D!

[cajunjeff]

I agree with Neil, getting our vitamins naturally is the best way. It’s kind of ironic that many people who advocate supplements also are advocates of natural remedies. Vitamins and supplements tend to be under regulated, so you are never quite sure what you get and getting a massive dose of a vitamin can be bad.

Unless one has been diagnosed with a vitamin deficiency and has been recommended supplements, I like the variety of color approach.

By eating fruits and vegetables with a variety of colors we insure we get a variety of vitamins and minerals. Eat green broccoli, orange carrots, red tomatoes, purple cabbage, yellow squash, etc.

Did you know that red, yellow and green bell peppers are the same peppers, just picked at various stages of ripeness? I will put all of them in my dishes. But it is the more ripened peppers who have more nutrients like vitamin c and beta carotene. The red and yellow peppers are more ripe.

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

Peggy, if you are not taking Vitamin D already, it would be smart to get your levels checked and ask your Dr. about the dosage that is best for you.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[peggyp14]

Thank you. I will definitely check on that,

[Sepsur]

I take Vitamen D - tested & low - not only is there a connection with CLL & low Vit D levels but also with sepsis! - which I don’t fancy again.

Everyone said you should get medics to check which dosage - too much Vit D is not so clever. I also took magnesium because of leg cramps ( all night) - these suddenly stopped as soon as I started Ibrutinib.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Sepsur]

Interestingly my regular bad calf and sometimes thigh cramps, which I found had their intensity greatly reduced by taking magnesium, stopped when I started Acalabrutinib!

[Sierrastar]

Peggy,

I find Magtein Magnesium (MagEnhance on Amazon) really helpful for muscle cramps and Biotin for brittle nails and hair loss will improve both.

Magtein magnesium threonate is the only magnesium which penetrates the blood brain barrier.

I am 5 months on Imbruvica and doing really well. I hope you are too. Elizabeth.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Sierrastar]

Magnesium in the ionic form is quite able to pass through the blood brain barrier. The claim you quote sounds like advertising spiel to me.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK5...