Autoimmune Roots

Large quantity of supplements taken for autoimmune condition

Medication Diary 2021-my New Normal

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Psoriatica
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Medication Diary 2021-my New Normal

I began to get comfortable and confident with my new normal. I have to take a lot of supplements but I am NOT on a biologic for my psoriatic arthritis. It has been 2 years since my Disseminated Zoster diagnosis, and over a year since I broke the disease with a very strict 5-day fast and 21-day elimination diet. I decided to restart some of the supplements that I had paused for various reasons while doing the fast and elimination diets. I hate waste and I owned them and I decided to experiment with adding them back. My biggest takeaway from this experiment is that Hair, Skin & Nails had a significant impact on my nail strength. I took them from September 2020 to July 2021 (11 months). My diary says I noticed stronger nails in September 2021. It took most of that 11 months for the benefits of those vitamins to build up on my system. By January 2022 I was recording weaker nails that were splitting again. For those not familiar with the it, ridged, splitting, and weak nails are a symptom of psoriatic arthritis. I am adding back a B-vitamin complex in 2023 so the experiment continues.

Refer to my Food, Exercise and Symptom Diary 2021 to read about my symptoms through this year and see how they correlate with the supplements I was taking. Overall, I had continuing back pain but the inverse psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis symptoms are improved from 2016-2018.

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

January 2021

I am not using the first 3 as much as I used to. I tend to use them when I’m doing a 3 day fast.

  • Superzymes by Natural State Labs (can’t find on Amazon or via a manufacturer), 1/day before meal but often forget.
  • GlutenAde by Natural State Labs, take 2 tablets anytime I think I might be exposed to gluten.
  • L-Glutamine, Using 5mg /tsp powder under my tongue to control alcohol & sugar cravings.
  • NOW D3/K2, 1000 IU/45mcg 1/day
  • Iron bisglycinate, 18mg
  • L-Lysine, 1000mg, 9/22 until run out. Have leftover from Disseminated Zoster.
  • Hair, Skin & Nails by Nature’s Bounty–includes B2, B3, & B9 for liver detox. Leftover from Disseminated Zoster. Sept 2020 to July 2021. Made a big difference in nail strength.
  • Zinc L-Carnosine–to heal gut. 1 tablet
  • Chelated Magnesiuim, 100mg tablets, taking 3 each night
  • ADDED until finish off: Methyl Folate, 400 micrograms, a cofactor in sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism. cysteine & methionine are precursors to known heavy metal chelators alpha-lipoic acid & glutathione.
  • ADDED until finish off: R-Lipoic Acid, 240mg by Life Extension.
  • ADDED & STOPPED: Slo Niacin 500 mg. Finishing off end of month and will not restart.
  • STOPPED: Super Omega-3 by Natural State Labs, 1,000 mg-300mg EPA, 200mg DHA. Ran out mid-December and am going to try just eating sardines and salmon?
  • STOPPED: Garlic, 1000mg. Ran out end of month & will not buy more.

February -June 2021

Took the first 3 while doing a 3 day fast from Feb 15-17.

  • Superzymes by Natural State Labs (can’t find on Amazon or via a manufacturer), 1/day before meal but usually forget.
  • GlutenAde by Natural State Labs, take 2 tablets anytime I think I might be exposed to gluten.
  • L-Glutamine, Using 5mg /tsp powder under my tongue to control alcohol & sugar cravings.
  • NOW D3/K2, 1000 IU/45mcg 1/day. 2/23 bloodwork shows D 25 OH went down to 25 so adding D3 at night starting 4/27, but not consistent! Lichen planus flaring and subsides when increase D3!
  • Iron bisglycinate, 18mg. I was sent the wrong iron but I already opened it so will take it until it is finished. Ferrous Sulfate 65mg, 365 pills so 1 year!.
  • STOPPED: 7/4/21: L-Lysine, 1000mg, 9/22/20 to 7/4/21 when ran out. Leftover from Disseminated Zoster and took for potential COVID protection.
  • STOPPED: ~7/10/21 when ran out Hair, Skin & Nails by Nature’s Bounty–includes B2, B3, & B9 for liver detox. Leftover from Disseminated Zoster. Sept 2020 to July 2021. Made a big difference in nail strength.
  • STOPPED 4/30/21: Zinc L-Carnosine–to heal gut. 1 tablet finished 2/15, start zinc Gluconate 50mg until finish.
  • Chelated Magnesiuim, 100mg tablets, taking 2 each night
  • STOPPED mid-March: Methyl Folate, 400 micrograms, a cofactor in sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism. cysteine & methionine are precursors to known heavy metal chelators alpha-lipoic acid & glutathione. Will finish mid-March
  • STOPPED 2/20/21: R-Lipoic Acid, 240mg by Life Extension.
  • ADDED 2/15/21 to 6/13/21: CoQ10, Kirkland brand, 300 mg. Added because of COVID and I recall thinking it helped during the Disseminated Zoster scare.
  • ADDED 3/28-6/30/21 when ran out: Citracal 1 tablet, 250 IU Vit D, 315 mg Calcium, 2.75 mg zinc, .225 mg copper, .57 mg Manganese, 2.5 mg sodium
  • ADDED 4/1/21: Maxasorb D3 cream directly to inverse psoriasis. Works really well. Used in Feb 2020 but the Functional Medicine doctor advised against it for fear it had gluten. I called mfr and it is gluten free.

July-August 2021

I added back a multivitamin that I took a long time ago. When I first took the Kirkland Multi Vitamin I noticed an immediate difference in my energy, so it was my go-to Multi-Vitamin until my health problems got so serious I needed more help. Once I finish the bottle I’ll stop for a while & see if I notice a difference. It feels good to get it down to the essentials. I tried getting my Omega 3’s by eating sardines and salmon regularly, but I don’t think I’m getting enough. I experienced more Psoriatic Arthritis pain this summer than I should based on how I’m eating and working out. So I’ve added back the high quality Omega 3’s recommended in The Keystone Approach.

  • Iron bisglycinate, 18mg. I was sent the wrong iron but I already opened it so will take it until it is finished. Ferrous Sulfate 65mg, 365 pills so 1 year!
  • CHANGED: 5000 IU D3/100mcg K2 1/day
  • RESTARTED 7/13/21: Kirkland Mature Multivitamin 1/day
  • RESTARTED Ultimate Omega 3, only taking one so 325 mg EPA, 225 mg DHA, 90mg other Omega 3s
  • FINISHING a bottle of B-100 7/13/21 to August 31. 100mg of B1,2,3,5,6,7,12 400mcg Folic Acid
  • Chelated Magnesiuim, 100mg tablets, taking 2 each night
  • ADDED: Black Cohosh 540 mg, 1/night will take until I finish

September 2021-February 2022

I am forgetting my vitamins more than I am remembering them right now. My back is hurting worse too so I need to be more diligent about the vitamins to see if the back pain improves or if I should restart some of the previous vitamins. I also had 2 potential gluten exposures in the first 2 weeks of September that might be causing issues. Specific details are in my Food, Exercise & Symptom Diary.

  • Iron bisglycinate, 18mg. I was sent the wrong iron but I already opened it so will take it until it is finished. Ferrous Sulfate 65mg, 365 pills so 1 year!
  • 5000 IU D3/100mcg K2 1/day
  • 7/13/21: Kirkland Mature Multivitamin 1/day 7/13/21 to
  • Ultimate Omega 3, only taking one so 325 mg EPA, 225 mg DHA, 90mg other Omega 3s
  • Chelated Magnesiuim, 100mg tablets, taking 2 each night
  • FINISHED: Black Cohosh 540 mg, 1/night