sorry to hear about your relapse. the supplement you suggested Zyflamend aggravates my joints. i took it last month and my joints started killing me. so i went off it for a week and tried again. same thing joints were screaming. tried it again and same results.
olga

Well, natural therapies will aggravate your body until your body detoxes. Basically, when you take natural stuff, the toxins go back into your blood stream so they can be eliminated. If your liver and kidneys aren't functioning well, you'll have even more trouble eliminating them. That's why it's important to read about Hering's law and understand Herxing because that's essentially what it talks about. Natural therapies make you worse always before you get better. In fact, it's often said that if a natural therapy does aggravate you, you're probably on the right stuff. It's tricky though, so trust your instincts.
hugs,
Sarah

Hi, Sarah,

My name is Jeanne and I saw your old post from 1/10/12. How are you doing now?

I'm not on any biologics. I only take one aspirin twice a day and it may give me a bit of relief from my
severe pain. I was diagnosed in January of 2010.

No kind of supplement I take seems to help me. I was on a very strict diet through a naturopath for six months but I never got any relief. I was also taking supplements through him.

I no longer see my rheumatologist because she just would recommend biologics at each appointment.

Right now I just live with the pain. I have a lot of fatigue and pain in most of my joints.

This board doesn't seem to be very active. It would be nice if we alternative seekers can pull together and
help each other.

Take care of yourself and have a good day and life.

Hi fivebooks,

So sorry to hear that you haven't found any solutions really, not yet... At the moment I am doing ok. Compared to the beginning of my RA journey I'm doing spectacular. Compared to being in remission, well doing good enough. I haven't been taking as many supplements as I need to lately. It's a lot of work, keeping up with everything. Liquid supplements have helped me the most.

I think for you, you really need to dig into your health. I learned that my magnesium was low because of extensive testing that was done when I tried a clinical trial. Doctors generally don't test magnesium. I also learned from tracking all my blood tests and from intuition that one or both of my kidneys aren't filtering as well as they should. Perhaps excessive drinking over the years and in my youth led it to be that way, chronic dehydration, adrenal fatigue or suffering from low blood pressure caused it. Either way, kidney trouble can cause little to no symptoms, but for some, swelling of the hands and feet. And it's super hard to detect and no one notices any kidney problems generally speaking, until it's way too late.

My guess for you is that you're still not on the right stuff. Taking the right stuff for at least two months will get you there. But you have to go through getting worse first. Aspirin thins your blood obviously. I think you should try serrapeptase. It doesn't get any better than serrapeptase. Serrapeptase will reduce plaque in the arteries. This will significantly, over time make your RA much more manageable, if not fix your problems completely. Read up on this stuff and get some as soon as possible. There are lots of sights that sell it, price hunt, there's some affordable ones out there.

Above anything else, listen to your intuition and focus on what your body craves. Are you craving certain foods... focus on healthy foods but listen to your body. Baths with a cup of baking soda daily for a half hour can help out quite a bit.

Also, drink tons of water. Flush your system out. Hydrate your body.

Here's one thing to realize about the body that's curiously crazy and amazing. When the body has an organ for instance, that isn't getting enough water or nutrients, or whatever, it will take those nutrients or water from an organ or bones or muscles from healthier parts of your body. So if you have a joint for instance or a tendon that needs calcium or vitamin D, the body will pull those things from other joints and tendons, thus making those joints and tendons also ill.

As well, your body puts all it's energy into protecting the brain and the heart. If your brain and your heart aren't healthy, your body cannot focus on helping the rest. Figuring out what you need not only physically but mentally and emotionally will help your body heal. Doing things that help your brain and your heart will help your body focus more on healing. Research ways to help your heart and your brain be healthy. Fish oil, gingko biloba, etc. will all help with your RA as well as your brain and your heart.

Let me know how you do!
take care,
Sarah

Also, go through your blood tests and figure out which ones are right in the middle, which are on the cusp or getting close and which ones are flagged.

For instance, my potassium is at 5.2. Doctors won't worry about this, but I do. It means it's too high. It means my body isn't filtering potassium and looking at my salt levels, though they are in the normal range, are also a little higher than what they used to be. This means my kidneys aren't filtering potassium or sodium that well. It means I have to start taking calcium. So I now take a high quality calcium that I can eat as wafers. Quite tastey and easy to get down.

My hemoglobin is flagged, meaning my red blood cells are low. That's probably because my kidneys aren't functioning again as well as they could be. If they were, my bone marrow could make more red blood cells.

I know this might sound crazy, but look at your tests extensively. If something is not right in the middle of the normal range, look it up and learn everything you can. These are all clues that will help you find what you need to slowly heal your body over time. If you're having trouble, feel free to post what you find.

Also, I just looked up your profile and saw that your knees are bothering you the most.

Go to the gym and use the machine where you sit and hold a bar on your ankles and lift it up. Or do something similar, like lie on your back and straighten your legs (the best you can) over and over again. At first this will really hurt. So don't do too many, work up to it over time. Over time though, you will build the muscle surrounding that joint. And in time, when that happens, the inflammation will either drastically improve or go away. That muscle supports the knee, like a natural brace. The stronger it is, the more you have a natural brace around that knee. Don't use knee braces except for short periods of time. Work on that muscle. As well, a worked out muscle will help push the inflammation out of the knee. Wrapping the knee or bracing it as well as exercising the knee is a good combo. Ice and heat as well, to increase circulation. Take gingko biloba to increase circulation. It's a natural blood thinner. Use celadrin, a cream, that in time will improve the health of your knee by adding natural healthy oils to that joint in particular. The more you use it, and the longer you use it, the more improvement you'll have.

Dear Sarah,

I really appreciate your response and being so thorough. I'll have to get bloodwork again because it's been
awhile. I stopped the aspirin. I'm taking supplements again which I won't bore you with now. I'll look into
serrapeptase at the health food store tomorrow.

We recently had a pool heater installed and I spent about 45 minutes doing gentle exercises.

Have you ever heard of the Hippocrates Health Institute here in Palm Beach County Florida? Their clients include those with cancer, ms, ra, etc. It's geared to raw foods and drinking wheat grass juice which I have
done on my own.

I have a girlfriend in New Mexico with RA and she has gotten relief from naltrexone. Have you ever heard of that? I have used it and it didn't help me.

I just wanted to touch base a bit but I'll get back to you again.

Thanks so very much for your help which was very extensive. I really appreciate your taking your time to share with me what has benefited you, Sarah.

Ciao and cheers to your continued health,
Jeanne

HI Jeanne,

Thank you, I haven't heard of Hippocrates but I'm in California, so that might be why.

Yes, I've been on Naltrexone. I stopped Naltrexone when I began taking a supplement called "deep sleep" because I feel it helps me better. That supplement interferes with Naltrexone. How long did you try Naltrexone and at what dose? Most people take too high of a dose and that's why it doesn't work. Or they take it, they start to feel worse and stop. Usually if something makes you feel worse, you're on the right track but it's tricky because you have to also pay attention to allergic reactions.

I think you're going to figure out what works for you though. I have a good feeling. :)
Just curious, are you Italian? Ciao and cheers,
Sarah

P.S., yes I believe a raw food diet can really help with RA.

Greetings!

I should be asleep but I wanted to get this off to you.

Thanks again for your response. It's nice that you reply so promptly.

I was in the pool yesterday again hope I'll be able to discipline myself to do some water exercise each day to help with the RA.

I was taking the lowest dose of Naltrexone for around three months. I probably should have been on it for longer. I got it through a pharmacy in Canada and then when the Naltrexone finally did arrive it was from India. I don't know if it's powerful enough as I when I was researching it for MS (which I do not have, thankfully), I read when an MS patient took a different brand, their MS started up again. So I don't know if this was
true with the Naltrexone I took. None of my doctors would write me a prescription for the Naltrexone so that is why I went that route.

I have had acupuncture over time which never helped me. And as I related to you before, the naturopath's treatment didn't work out either. But I did find I had parasites and I was on a program for that but I don't know if they're completely out of my system. We also were tested for heavy metals and tested over the top for cadmium and lead. I try to keep my ph at an alkaline level.

I'm still on the Blood Type diet and I don't eat nightshade plants, dairy, or gluten. I was doing some wheatgrass juice but only once a day and would juice veggies once a day. I've also gone on water fasts and not one of these methods have helped me.

Now for the list of supplements I just started randomly taking recently:

vegetarian glucosamine
pomegranate from the seed capsules
bromelain
curcumin
b-complex
spirulina
devil's claw
B-12
astaxanthin
graviola
licorice root extract
Ovega-3, an Omega-3, DHA, & EPA oil supplement
grape seed capsules
Dr. Ohhira's Essential Living Oils capsules
Valerian
CoQ10
Resveratrol
Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil
Pure Synergy Super Food Supplement Powder

I also have an arsenal of other supplements these. I don't know exactly what I'm doing. I just read about these products online and hope they'll give me some relief.

I've also tried aloe vera juice, tart cherry concentrate, Epsom salts, apple cider vinegar plus other stuff.

Are you seeing a rheumy? Do you have any swelling? My fingers now are like sausages. I can't make a fist.
Both of my shoulders and both of my knees really kill me plus my neck and right jaw. Are you able to function pretty normally? I'm at my worst in the morning and I usually sleep till noon because I don't fall asleep till around 4 A.M. I can 't do housework. We have a cleaning lady that comes and does our floors every two weeks. Sometimes I need help dressing. I can still drive and go grocery shopping. It doesn't bother my fingers to type. It's difficult for me to reach into my kitchen cabinets and carry heavy items, which I learned not to do. I let things go a lot. Our 28 year old son lives with us and he helps out at times. The other night my husband fell and he could not get up so it was good our son was home. I've fallen and not been able to get up myself and have had one of our he-man friends lift me into my bed once when I fell out of my bed. I need to use pillows on any chair I sit on because it's too hard for me to get out of the chair. How are all of these things for you? When were you diagnosed? Did you ever take any pharmaceuticals? When I first was
diagnosed with RA I had prednisone a few times which eliminated the pain but I do not want to go that route. When I was on it, I experienced "roid rage" and was super angry and upset. Who wants those side effects?
I attend an Arthritis/RA support group here in Palm Beach County, Florida twice a month, but most members are on some kind of medication.

I like to check out Mike Adams' naturalnews.com and Dr. Mercola's site. I also read RAwarrior's web site at times. BTW, there's a Hippocrates in the California wine country FYI. I think it's for a three week session which runs between $5,500 and $6,000.

You asked if I am Italian but I am not. I'm a mix of German, Czek, and Polish and grew up in a small steel mill town in western Pennsylvania. We've lived in both Malibu California back in the late 70's and into the 90's. staying in our travel trailer in an RV park while our son was being treated for an eye problem and then we lived in a mobile home park in Marin County. I liked living there but my favorite place of all is Flagstaff, Arizona.

Sorry to have gone on and on. Sometimes when you're at your wit's end you just have to share what you're going through with someone of likemind. :) I want to go the alternative route and hopefully some day it will work out.

Happy Day! I found the instructions to a sprouter I got on eBay which I have never used yet. I'm going to sprout some sunflower seeds and broccoli seeds.

BTW, I notice your names are of two Biblical women, both who were Abraham's wives. Were your parents Bible students and are you? We try to live our best by following the Bible. Don't want to be preachy on you. :)

Thanks again for writing. I appreciate your replies. They are quite helpful.

I'll say "Cheerio" this time! :)

Jeanne

HI Jeanne,

I was named after my great grandmother...I have her full name... first middle and last. Yes my parents are Bible students, but I'm not, I have my own interpretation.

I started off like you in terms of swelling and disability. Jaw, neck, couldn't make a fist, if I fell I couldn't get up, etc. etc. Yep, took methotrexate, prednisone, sulfasalazine.

What dose exactly were you on with Naltrexone? To use it, there's a very specific way of taking it and I'm thinking you may not have been taking it right. Were you mixing it with water and making your own solution? What dose did the pills come in and what did you do with them? India doesn't make low dose naltrexone, which is completely different than naltrexone...so you have to make it yourself and you can make it from those pills from India.

I now basically have limited syptoms to just hands and feet. The symptoms are super minimal compared to what I was...they are practically nothing.

It sounds like your diet is fine and you've tried a lot of different things. I think serrapeptase might be really helpful to you....it was to me and still is.

Instead of taking low dose naltrexone, perhaps you should try taking "Deep Sleep". I believe the way it works is very similar to low dose naltrexone, in that they both increase your endorphins. So try buying that supplement in liquid and taking it every night. That has REALLY helped with my inflammation as well. Don't take it with naltrexone as they will counteract each other.

Keep up with your other symptoms in the meantime, as you are on the right track. you should probably consider a supplement that will chelate the metals in your body. A good one for that that you can take long term is nacytlecystine. I know you have enough supplements, but consider that one way down the line. Better yet, start consuming parsley (I should double check this) but I think it's parsley that naturally chelates mercury.

It's late and I want to rest, but consider most important is the serrapeptase and deep sleep.
Cheerio,
Sarah