Vitamins and supplements for CIDP

Thinking outside the box:

CIDP affects each patient differently. If you have a slow onset CIDP it is possible that your body is very depleted in the building blocks necessary to repair your myelin. I think some unorthodox experimentation with supplements might be necessary – to augment, not substitute the traditional approaches.

Always check with your neurologist before you play with herbal remedies. (Our own Doctor David does not think supplements and vitamins are a good idea.) Supplements – especially herbs – are not benign. Do your research for your own particular symptoms, avoid over dosing, avoid toxic prescription drug interactions and purchase only from a quality supplier. You are responsible for taking care of your health – but only you truly knows what it feels like inside there so do look into all possiblities.

Miracles don’t happen in the first week of course – but I think you’ll notice a difference within the first few weeks. (In addition, think “happy thoughts” about learning meditation type breathing exercises to get you through the tough moments.) You’ll still have CIDP and need your prescriptions but hopefully you will feel stronger and have less pain.

I am a huge convert to using antioxidants to combat oxidative stress. That’s a lot more than just vitamin C. ( Eat brocolli !!)There’s a whole integrated system that repairs tissue. I am constantly tweaking my own supplement package to deal with my specific nerve damage.

For instance, I found a tremendous difference in pain level and sleep patterns when I added grape seed extract to the more publicized antioxidants. On the other hand, GSE did not do a thing for an email friend with CIDP. This is a highly individualized process. ( Another example is my friend with arthritis who noticed immediate symptom relief when she started taking MSM and ALA. However she can’t tolerate the magic food brocolli.)

Take your clues from your own body and symptoms. These will change over time so be prepared to tweak your supplements. You cannot direct certain molecules do do certain tasks of course – but you can supply the necessary materials for your body to work with. The worst you will do is flush very expensive pee down the toilet.

Utilize a “licensed natural pharmacist” if you find one you like. He has the training to start your program (I don’t believe in reinventing the wheel). Later as you do more reading you will feel confident to adjust and experiment on your own. Always remember that no single supplement is a magic bullet for anyone. (Do not go to a health food store. Ordinary pharmacists are not usually specially trained to help you either.) If you carefully read the literature that is available on the various prescriptions then you can avoid any possible “toxic” combinations with the vitamins.

If you are already eating a sensible healthy diet then I doubt you need to alter it drastically for your CIDP. You do need lots of protein. Do try to avoid the “whites” – sugar, salt , fat. Supplements are not substitutes for food; they are meant to provide the body with extra nutrients to address specific needs.

I do realize that it is a leap of faith to think that nutrients might be important like prescription drugs – but even medical schools are beginning to incorporate this idea.

Flossie

Hi Norbert,

Supplements are indeed costly – but since you are careful to eat a healthy diet perhaps you don’t truly need them.

Supplements are meant to fill in any gaps in “building blocks” for the body to repair itself. I take prednisone long term so I need to replace a lot of things that the medicine leeches from my body. From my own experience I know which pills make me feel better. There are other supplements I tried that did not seem to make any difference in my perception of my health.

I do not know what specific nutritional toll your heart disease and /or diabetes takes on your body. That’s where your personal research should begin. Since you don’t eat red meat I hope you are careful to get enough protein. It sounds like your body is working hard to repair damage on a lot of fronts.

I do think everyone needs to take a good quality multi vitamin every day. A heat pressed pill from a reputable company is much better than none at all. Your B pill replaces the potency lost in manufacturing.

High dose ALA is used in europe to safely treat diabetic pain so perhaps that could be on your short list as well. Even though your diet is high in antioxidants from veggies, pills supply more of any nutrient than you could ingest normally through food. Sufficient ALA (100 mg a day) will allow all the antioxidants you eat to be used most efficiently.

I personally find the MSM and the fish oil pills to be important for pain and strength.

CQ 10 is used by every cell for maximum efficiency and often recommended to heart patients. I think it helps with my CIDP weakness – but I too have considered dropping it from my program because of cost.

Good quality supplements from reputable suppliers are available at places like Costco. (That’s where Consumer’s Report magazine found the best Omega 3 fish oil pills.) Walmart carries supplements – although you need to be careful to read the labels; some of them are less expensive because they are less potent. Do your research about manufacturing companies on the net so you can buy with confidence at discount prices.

Naturally with your diabetes and heart troubles you need to be very careful about playing with your body at the cellular level.

Keep eating healthy!

Flossie