Thiamine

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 6:53 am

Any opinions about the use of thiamine to help with muscle pain issues? I ran across an article about thiamine being a missing link with fatigue related thyroid issues. When I read further, it seems to help with nerve issues too. I am thinking about ordering Doctor's Best Benfotiamine to see if it helps any with any of the above mentioned issues.

I am hesitant though since it warns against people with cancer using it because it can fuel the cancer cells. I have been told I am cancer-free and the warning applies to those that have active tumors. Considering all of the neck pains and discomforts I have, I do wonder on a daily basis if something is going on. Last spring, I had a fine needle aspiration done for an enlarged node but it returned inconclusive since it was so small my endo was unable to get a usable sample. There was debate if was actually a forgotten surgical clip and turned out to be quite a worrisome mess for me. It ended with the wait and see method. My tumor markers are fine but I am always wondering. I will have another ultrasound this spring to see if there is any change in size.

I am taking LDN and it has been helpful (except for the impact it had on the thyroid end of things) but I'm finding the joint pains in my hands are becoming more noticeable and the stabbing pain in the bottom of my foot is back. My arms continue to go numb when I lay down which is very bothersome. I am most comfortable at night sleeping with my arms extended above my head. I don't plan on discontinuing the LDN since it has helped tremendously with the quality of my sleep and my mood to some degree. I don't really want to adjust the dose anymore (currently at 4 mg) because it seems each time I do, I have increased thyroid symptoms and I am very intent on getting that leveled out. The muscles in my arms are very sore and my calf muscles and knee is also bothersome. I increased my magnesium to see if that would help but it hasn't.

I see the rheumatologist this week so it will be interesting to see what she has to say but since I've been taking LDN for 13 weeks now, I'm not sure what she will be able to determine. When I saw her years ago, it was the same scenario..... bothersome pains and fatigue but I'm still functional so there wasn't much she offered aside from offering sleep aides which I declined. I am inclined to think I have lupus but I don't know exactly how a dx is decided and I don't know if it's necessary. The LDN is working enough that I won't switch to an immune suppressing drug. I will be curious to see if the rash on my face appears again this spring. I've made the connection that the sun is a trigger and I need to more cautious about exposure.

I don't want to be chasing the magic cure since I really don't like taking supplements if I don't have to but at the same time, if it is something as "easy" as a deficiency, it may be worth a try.

http://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/t ... id-fatigue

Post by **tex** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 10:12 am

Deb,

Are you taking plenty of vitamin B-12. The symptoms you describe can be caused by insufficient vitamin B-12. A test result anywhere in the normal range below the top quarter is not good enough for many of us. We do much better if we keep our level at the top of the normal range or above. I take 2 mg of the active form of B-12 (methylcobalamin) daily, regardless of the fact that my test result is always high.

How much magnesium are you taking? Some of us have to take a lot to do the job.

Tex

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 12:11 pm

I haven't been supplementing with the B vitamins for a while. I wasn't sure what to do after my labs came back high for B-12 but that was in Sept. of 2015. The result was 1249 pg/mL (low 160, high 1000). None of my doctor's have commented on it but I figured it may not be needed. It isn't that far above the normal high so maybe I shoudl try that instead? I do have some Methyl Cobalamin (Wonder Lab) 5 mg sublingual tablets in my cupboard.

I am taking 400 mg of Doctor's Best Magnesium (I believe this is the one you recommended) daily. I just started taking two a day last week so maybe it hasn't been enough time yet.

I was just browsing my test results and ran across my ANA Immunofluorescent (HEp2) test. I see the rheumatologist on Tuesday. The test done in November returned positive 1:80 with a speckled pattern. I dismissed it because it didn't seem to matter much as far as being reliable. I know I said giving a name to what I have isn't that important to me as long as I found something to minimize it but maybe it's more important to rule out more serious issues I don't have? I ran across an article explaining this test and it listed possible autoimmune issues that it could mean. I know that's a pretty broad statement but seeing autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis caught my attention since that is the road he is traveling (although he has PSC instead of PBC). This may be the hypochondriac tendancies kicking in but certain things catch your attention. It's interesting how post dx of issues you can look back and see a clear pattern of symptoms. I find that with both my MC and thyroid issues. I can remember many years ago prior to my MC dx, a friend at the campground we spent our summers at commented on the yellowness of my skin and asked me if I was ok. He was a paramedic so I took his comments a bit more serious than just the average person making a comment. It always stuck in my head but at that time, I had no major issues. Now I wonder if he noticed something that I was oblivious to. Now I'm rambling.....

I've already dismissed my appointment as something that won't be productive and I haven't even gone.

Maybe I should suggest doing the ELISA test just to see if it's negative?

I think I have a pretty strong case of cabin fever and need spring to come so I can get outside and take my mind off of everything that may be slowly killing me.

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 1:22 pm

Hey Deb, that drs best magnesium is 100 mg each, so if your taking 2 pills your only getting 200 mg, not 400....

I hate the way they label those bottles plus their horse pills! I am trying to get in between 500 and 700 mg of mag oil daily. I would increase definitely if it doesn't interfere with your other meds.

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 1:45 pm

Thanks Martha! I checked my bottle and this one is 200 mg of elemental magnesium per pill. I'm not sure where you order yours from but I get mine from Amazon and they offer different doses. I've had that same issue with my Vit D. It comes in different doses, which is great but not so much if ordering in a hurry. I know what you mean, though.... it can be tricky if you aren't paying attention.

I agree- they are horse pills! I have challenges with swallowing pills and have had those get stuck on the way down. Thanks for looking out for me.

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 2:18 pm

Oh good, I was mistaken with a dosage awhile back!

Post by **tex** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 2:50 pm

Deb,

That's what it says on the front label. Please read the back label where it points out that the dosage per "serving" is 200 mg, and the serving size is 2 tablets.

Tex

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 5:41 pm

Bah! Pills should not come in "serving" sizes!! It's not like a serving of ice cream or a serving of pie..... It's a pill. I was wrong even though I double checked and thought I was right.

Thank you both for pointing it out (again). I was not taking nearly as much as I thought I was. Semantics, sigh.

Post by **tex** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 6:52 pm

I agree. It's a very misleading labeling practice, but it seems to be followed by everyone in the business of making magnesium supplements. I have a hunch that this is a primary reason why most people in the world today are magnesium deficient. It's definitely the reason why my magnesium deficiency just got worse and worse until I began to have severe symptoms last spring and I finally figured out the reason.

Tex

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 7:46 pm

very misleading and aggravating. Same labeling with children's d3 gummies, very confusing. It shouldn't be that way. The front says 2000 units then you realize they have to eat 2 to get that....

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 1:37 am

tex wrote:I agree. It's a very misleading labeling practice, but it seems to be followed by everyone in the business of making magnesium supplements. I have a hunch that this is a primary reason why most people in the world today are magnesium deficient. It's definitely the reason why my magnesium deficiency just got worse and worse until I began to have severe symptoms last spring and I finally figured out the reason.

Tex

Hi,

I found the e-mail address to Doctor's Best, and I have now written them an e-mail and asked them why they practice such a confusing labeling. I remember Tex and I had a discussion regarding this several months ago, since I had thought that 1 tablet contained 200 mg, until Tex explained that I had misunderstood.

Lilja

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 1:58 am

Lilja
it is not iHerb, it is the manufacturers etc that do the labelling. iherb are just a selling portal.
I have to say that iHerb provide the most accurate information about ingredients and dosage of any website I have used...
a big part of the issue is, most people do not read the small print.

Of note, the reliable brands of magnesium in Australia (where labelling laws are way way better than the USA) this issue does not happen.

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 2:30 am

Thank you, Gabes. As you may see, I changed my post, because I found Doctor's Best e-mail address.
I think that both the manufacturer as well as iHerb have an equal responsibility.

As long as we don't do anything, things will not change. However, I doubt that my e-mail will make them change their practice.

Lilja

jlbattin · Post by **jlbattin** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 7:34 am

Lilja,

Would you pm that email address for Doctor's Best? I also will email them. I made the same mistake when I first started them and I believe read it in a previous discussion about the dosage. They need to clarify it. Thanks.

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 8:50 am

Hi Jari,

info@drbvitamins.com

Lilja