Hi Everyone
I have a silly question, but one I'm stumped on...
If we are taking immune suppressing medication to supress our immune systems, but we are trying not to get sick from the flu or colds so you then take vitamin C or drink certain teas to help boost your immune system to fight off these things...wouldn't that be boosting the immune system when we are trying to do the oppposite?
Does that make since?
Are we supposed to take things to help us fight off colds etc, or not supposed to?
Kelly
Kelly, that's not a silly question at all, and I think it's actually a subject of debate. Unfortunately I don't have an answer for you.Kelly, do you own frickin research! Lazy!klynn - a great question, and one I have pondered. On top of your query, I have a hard time accepting the theory behind autoimmune that suddenly, for no apparent reason, your body's immune system decides to not protect but attacks you. ??? Everything that is alive works to live, not hurt itself. Keep posting, and no question about our common disease is out of line in here. Take care ~~ Cathy
justsaynoemore2008-11-14 16:44:07klynn, I have been told by people who believe in the "auto-immune" theory to avoid echinacia because it boosts immunity, but just like JSNM I don't subscribe to that theory. I do many immune boosting things, and my health has been improving slowly but steadily.
Incidentally, RAers are always being told about the importance of regular excercise. That's an immune booster if I ever heard of one!
Infalmedonline:
I did try and research this and didn't come up with a lot. Part of research IS joinging forums like this one and asking questions to learn new things. It's also a great place to make friends and be able to vent and talk about things with others going through the same things you are, so your comment was pretty rude.
Thanks to everyone else for your comments. I appreciate them.
Just our resident troll, we know who it is, the best thing is not to acknowledge it. That's a good question. I know that vitamin c will make certain chemotherapies less effective. I think that might include MTX since it is an antimetabolite and is used for chemo. I can't remember where it was I read this though.
Keep us posted on what you find as I would like to know myself about that one.
Bob H
I was actually taking 1000mg of vitamin c per day for a while after the bout with shingles and cellulitis I had back in sept. Until I found that out, then I stopped taking it pretty quick. I don't think that MTX is doing me much good at all but I don't want it's effectiveness cancelled out either if it is helping just a small amount.
Hi Kelly firstly, that is a new poster check status under name on left hand side of your post, inflamedonline would not do that to you, we have unfortunately got some very silly people that play games on here, inflamedonline is not a new member, check out the members information under memberlist the 'O' and the '0' are different. We are choosing to ignore them as best as possible as this forum means so much to so many people and dealing with these people just isn't worth it, they love that!
Now getting to your question, I was told not to take echinacea and vitamins for that reason, not to boost my immune system, I guess we should just do what helps us, so its worth a try. Best of luck, but always check with your Dr for interactions, even natural things can hurt us when taken with some medicines. Kind regards Janie.
Kelly,
I don't supplement with anything but Vitamin D and that's only in the winter months. I
find that I don't need to enhance my immune system with anything as I am rarely sick........
Lynn492008-11-15 06:37:12I only take Vit D., Magnesium, Potassium, folate supplements. Try to stay away from immune builders. I subscribe to the theory of an overactive system. LindyHi LinB, can you tell me how much potassium /magnesium you take ?
thank you
My RD told me not to take anything that's supposed to build the immune system. He said it defeats the purpose of the medication that is designed to suppress it. When I told him I was worried about getting sick more easily, he said the drugs are supposed to make our immune system more normal, not suppress it to the point of illness. But I know that's a tricky balancing act and it doesn't always work that way. Having said that, I can tell you that last winter (my first winter on the drugs) I had no more illness than any other year. I continue to defy every cold/virus germ that comes along. Of course, I do get a flu shot, try to avoid obviously sick people and wash my hands often. It all helps. I'm on 10 MEQ of Potassium and 200 mg. of Magnesium. I haven't had a cold in the last 4 years and no flu. Have had several surgeries with no infection. LindyHI LinB, my bottle of potassium say 99mg and pharmacist said thats the strongest I can get over the counter.I don't know what 10MEQ is,is this a different kind?
thanks again
1 mEq = 39mg potassium. A typical OTC potassium supplement tablet (99mg) is therefore about 3 mEq.
thank you JasmineRain Jesse88: "When I told him I was worried about getting sick more easily, he said the drugs are supposed to make our immune system more normal, not suppress it to the point of illness. "
That makes since to me. It's also very interesting hearing about a lot of people that have RA and seem to not get sick very often.
Thanks for all your comments!
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