fish oil | Arthritis Information

I've seen lots of posts about how much fish oil helps some people, including children, but we have never tried it for my daughter because no doctor has suggested it.

We recently saw a new AP (antibiotic protocol) dr., and I asked him about supplementing fish oil because months on NSAIDS never did anything for my daughter's swelling. He said he thought it was good idea, and recommended a pediatric liquid version that has lemon-flavoring.

When we saw the ped rheum, I told him we were adding fish oil, and he said he thought that was a good idea (why did he never mention it before???).

Well, the liquid pediatric kind has still not arrived, and when I called they said it was backordered until the end of this month. Grrrr.

So yesterday at Costco, I found "Gummy Fish"!!!! They are made by the same company that makes those Gummy vitamins. The marketing on the label says it is a "Brain Booster", I guess because not many moms are concerned about joint swelling. But I compared the ingredients to the adult fish oil, and it was the same, plus sugar LOL. Omega-3 DHA, ALA, EPA.

No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. No gluten, milk, eggs, peanuts, or tree nuts.

I tried one, and did notice the fishy taste towards the end, but I think only because I was 'looking' for it. Both my girls liked them a lot. They can have two a day, but my little one says she wants three, if that tells you anything!

Unfortunately, one of her fingers looks MORE swollen today! She does the opposite of everything! I'm going to give it a couple weeks.

[QUOTE=Suzanne]Unfortunately, one of her fingers looks MORE swollen today! She does the opposite of everything! I'm going to give it a couple weeks. [/QUOTE]

Suzanne...FWIW it took me nearly three months before I began to notice an improvement in digital swelling and stiffness with fish oil. I very nearly threw in the towel on more than one occasion as my hands and feet seems to be worse with the oils than without. However, now, some nine months later the _herxing_ effects seem to be quiescent and if I miss more than a day I can most certainly tell the difference.

Whether this has any correspondence to JRA I cannot say: merely reporting anecdotal adult experience.

Happ, you don't know how good that makes me feel, to hear your (bad) experience! I have been prepared for it to take awhile to see improvement (and everybody seems to report the same time frame, three months). But I wasn't prepared for anything to get worse!! Thank you so much for sharing.

You mention herxing - I thought of that, but was afraid I was taking an 'easy out'. Were/are you on AP, or did you feel it was herxing regardless? Thanks!

Suzanne - Becky has been on the EyeQ capsules (supposed brain boosters and again with the same ingredients like the Gummy Fish, Omega 3 etc) for a couple of years and when my latest supply of these has run out I have got her some Omega 3 fish oil capsules to move on to (heck of a lot cheaper that EyeQ). Not sure if there has been any benefit re her arthritis BUT I have noticed that she is more confident re her school work etc. Becky hates the sweetie chewy type things like Gummy Fish but at 10 is great at taking capsules and tabs. If Gummys have got the same ingredients as a paediatric recommended liquid (and are cheaper - great!). And I know everyone seems to say it takes about 3 months for any benefit to be noticeable - I agree.

Dee

[QUOTE=Suzanne]You mention herxing - I thought of that, but was afraid I was taking an 'easy out'. Were/are you on AP, or did you feel it was herxing regardless? Thanks! [/QUOTE]

Regardless

Thanks for the advice on the vitamins. I think my son would love the gummies.

Stopped fish oil for now! Once we started the liquid, she developed an overwhelming fishy odor. Horrible! It has not washed out of some of her clothes. well i also heard much about this fish oil what is it really about I don't know or is it really help in such diseases but I like to know more about this. It is odorless and tasteless. I found out from posting on another board that this has happened to some people when they took too much. I think this product was too strong for a child (but the product and dose was recommended by a doctor). We are going to try a pediatric version.My husband takes capsules that smell a little fishy, but he doesn't get an odor. I really think it was just too many mgs for her.

I went to a health food store yesterday, and they carry the adult kind of what I need and are going to order the ped version for me. The girl helping me was so nice, and I told her what happened. She looked worried, and said, "Well, I take it. I don't smell, do I?" I guess everybody who hears my daughter's story is going to get a complex LOL.

Wow, that's good to know that it can make little ones smell like fish. What about the gummy fish. Do you think that would cause the smell as well or is it the ped version?

She took Gummy fish for about week with no problem, so I think they are fine - but there was a discussion on another board that they don't really have fish in them. The ingredients say some type of algae? My daughter likes them, so I'll give her some when she asks, but I'm not going to make it a daily thing like I plan to do with the ped version.