Medication Diary 2011 to 2017-SIBO, Psoriatic Arthritis and Menopause

My regularly updated medication diary from 2011 to 2017 with a brief narrative explaining why I stop and start the various supplements, hormones and medications I have tried. The big picture: chronic diarrhea led me to a gastrointestinal doctor that diagnosed SIBO in 2011. Antibiotics cleared up the SIBO but no one could address the underlying cause of the SIBO. In hindsight, it was the first indication that I was experiencing “leaky gut”. Probably from alcohol and gluten. In 2016 I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and began experimenting with biologics. An especially significant part of this story is that I was also going through menopause. I hypothesize that estrogen is highly protective of disease progression in a woman’s body and the sudden and severe decrease that happens with menopause allows diseases to flourish. But there is almost no research on this important transition. I am documenting my experience in the hope that it will be used for research to help future generations.

To fully understand why I was taking each of these supplements you’ll want to review my post on the progression of my disease and the diet and elimination protocols I have tried.

2017 October Medication Diary

• STOPPED:  Move Free Type II Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid (HA), Boron–don’t seem to notice a difference with any of these!

2017 August Medication Diary

• Decrease D3 to 800 IU based on research showing balance issues as age.
• Check results of Calcium research in 2018…may benefit me 5ish years after menopause.
• Restart Iron glycinate 28 or 29 mg

2017 April Medication Diary

• Added:
• Colcrys 0.6 mg 4-2017
• Allopurinol-100 mg 4-2017-noticed improvement in big toe joint
• Cod Liver Oil interrupted and not yet started regularly again (8/2018)

2017 February Medication Diary

• stopped Ferritin-ran out & didn’t refill
• Started Devil’s Claw for gout-didn’t notice a difference

2017 January Medication Diary

• Stopped meloxicam & Colcrys
• No sugar, gluten, corn, alcohol, minimal dairy & soy for 30 days
• Started Vit. C for gout
• Started 1/2 tsp baking soda morning & night for gout

2016 December Medication Diary

• Increase Estradiol to 2 mg
• Increase Progesterone to 200 mg
• Humira 40 mg
• Started Colcrys for gout pain
• Change: Slo Niacin 500 mg
• Increased B-12 5000  mcg, methylcobalamin
• Change: Cod Liver Oil-noticed triglycerides higher with krill oil tablets.
• Start 5-HTP
• Take either chelated iron glycinate or Ferritin, not both.
• Stopped Calcium on a regular basis.
• Last menstrual cycle October 2016.

2016 July Medication Diary

• Increased Vit. D 5000 IU.
• Change from Cod Liver oil to Krill Oil tablets 1000 mcg
• Change: Move Free Type II Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid (HA), Boron-1/day compared to Gluco/Chond
• Started trying Sam-E-notice mood improvement but no joint improvement
• Taking samples of Humira or Enbrel but not consistently because insurance wouldn’t cover

2016 March added the following based on hormone doctor recommendations

• Estradiol 1 mg increased to 1.5 mg
• Testosterone 1/4 gm
• Progesterone 100 mg
• Meloxicam 15mg
• Increased D to 4000 IU
• Iron Glycinate 29 mg
• Niacin SR 500 mg, Nicotinic acid or Niacinamide
• Ferritin 5mg
• DHEA SR, 10 mg

2016 Added

• Psoriatic Arthritis diagnosis this year but also 2 years past menopause and no hormone supplements until March!
• Humira 40 mg 1/15/16

2014 Added the following

October was when I was considered to be in menopause.

• Vit. D 2000 IU. Some recommend 7,000 IU/day
• B-12 1000  mcg
• Fish Oil 1200 mcg
• Calcium 600 mg+D3
• Flex: Glucosamine 1500 mg, Chondroitin 800mg, MSM 750mg
• Maca 500 mg for hot flashes
• Pine Bark Extract 240 mg for menopause

2013 Medication Diary

Herbs taken with acupuncture. I have no idea if any of these did any good but acupuncture made my feet feel better. Perimenopause

• 6/11/13 Tian Qi Du Zhong Pian & Shou Wu Pian
• 5/2013 Gu Ci Xiao Tong
• 4/13/13 feng shi xiao tong pian
• 3/19/13-Tian Qi Du Zhong Pian
• Jan 2013
• Si Wu Tang Pian
• Ba Zhen Pian

2011 Medication Diary

• Perimenopause
• Kirkland Premium Performance Multi—the first supplement I took that made a noticeable difference in the way I felt.
• Iron 65 mg
• Tried: Garden of Life brand Raw Probiotics. Worked pretty well
• August: Two rounds of antibiotic Xifaxan (rifaximin) for small intestine bacterial overgrowth, SIBO

Took Magnesium for years to attempt to help eye twitching & that may have caused some of my digestive issues.

• Hydroquinone 4%-skin bleaching cream, generic-started after blepharoplasty surgery in 2011 no longer made June 2013. Lustra AF & Melpaque are name brands that are equivalent but have learned it may be carcinogenic so no longer on the market.
• Tretinoin cream .05%, started after blepharoplasty surgery in 2011, and possibly stopped when stopped hydroquinone.