Using natural therapy over hu

[sogtyme]

Hi I have been on hu and coversil for 7 years no side effects but worried about long term usage. Has anyone been on and sopped to use natural therapy? would love to hear some opinions!

[Loubprv Volunteer]

Hi,

I can - slightly - understand your concern but I really don't think that we can ever rely on natural therapies over conventional medicine.

I too have been on HU for 7 years, but you know, I know people who've been taking it for 28 years with no detrimental effects.

Yes, we all know that long term there's a SLIGHT increased risk of leukaemia, but personally I prefer to stick with the devil I know!

If I were you I would discuss with my haematologist before making any moves. Unfortunately for you, we all know the medic's opinions of natural therapies......however, please bear this in mind:

Five years ago a friend of mine was diagnosed with a very underactive thyroid. She refused levothyroxine (conventional med) and went to see a Chinese herbalist, after which she spent a year being treated with some concoction or other. Twelve months later she had put on another 3 stone ( one of the signs of underactive thyroid) and was in a very much worse state than before. Four years on and she's popping the pills like the rest of us ( I take levothyroxine as well)

Quite honestly I think the best we can do is stick to an uber healthy diet, not smoke, limit alcohol big time, drink 3 litres water every 24 hours and get plenty of exercise and a decent nights rest. Rest, even if you don't sleep well that is.

Hope that helps.

Love

Louise

[sogtyme in reply to Loubprv]

Thank you Louise I wiil listen to my doctor for now, but am pro natural where ever possible. He had me on warfrin and now I take omega 3,magnesium, and vitamin E and have the same if not better result than the rat poison! Wish you the best and thank's again for your input.

[Tinkerbell13]

Really agree with Louise re water intake, good exercise, healthy diet, limiting alcohol, but as I reacted to all the drugs on offer, have had to do my own thing. On aspirin and eat lots of pomegranates, take vit D and magnesium, turmeric root extract and flax seed. V keen too on broccoli and salads. Haematologist keeping careful eye, as platelets gone up, but she says I look so healthy she doesn't really want me to go on anything unless it is absolutely necessary. Best wishes, Tinkerbell13

[mickey64 in reply to Tinkerbell13]

Hi Tinkerbell I am 64 pretty soon to be 65, went to two experts who said meds not needed except for the daily headaches I get but the one True expert just said take a full aspirin. My local prescribe angreylide but I have so many horror stories about it I'm kinda afraid to try it. Had some bad reactions on HU have you ever tried AG? Mickey

[sogtyme in reply to Tinkerbell13]

I also agree that diet and water intake are very important! we eat only organic, and free range and no hormones or anti biotics have been this way since early nineties to help our children stay heathy. We have also been under the care of a highly respected chiropractor/nutritionist. Cheer's

[Tinkerbell13]

Hi Mickey, Yes, have tried Anagrelide and reacted horribly to it (I tend to do this to every drug and even have to give up taking the very low dose of aspirin every now and then!!). One of the effects I had with each drug was utterly appalling headaches, which went on for months and really took away any quality of life. If you can manage to get along with healthy diet, really 3 litres of water a day, if you can, plus exercise, and avoid alcohol, except for special occasions, sure it would help. Really wish you so well. Tinkerbell13 p.s. your spelling of angreylide is most appropriate! I can never spell it, but yours is brilliant, just makes me thing 'angry stuff'!!