That's really fascinating. I was beginning to wonder if my vitamins just made really expensive pee. I also take them "just in case." I had always thought they weren't doing much, but I haven't had to stop them for an extended period like you describe. Thank you for sharing this. I find your experience very interesting and compelling. Smiles.

I've also found it very helpful to take vitamins and supplements. I agree with you, these seem to impact how I feel quite a bit. Gives me a fighting chance to be able to do things for the day.

I take b complex, b12 high dose, magnesium, potassium, biotin, b1, and a minimal gummy multi.
Without all but the multi I have the same experience.
Testing over the yrs has shown me deficient in b1, b12, magnesium and potassium...naturopath says if you have leaky gut you dont absorb them well from food. I think of them as meds at this point.

Ps, vit A and E are skin vit as I remember

I also take lots of vitamins, minerals, and other supplements. They are recommended by my nurse practitioner at an alternative health clinic. I believe they help minimize my CFS symptoms. The down side is they help me feel better, so then I try to do the things I used to do in my "before CFS life". Which means I do too much and crash. However, I get to enjoy my life.

Hi! I have a different perspective on this subject! I'm not saying anything is right or wrong practice for those of us with this debilitating disease! Try everything! If it works for you...GREAT!

Now, as far as the vitamin thingy goes. My specialist in Pennsylvania, told me, right at the onset of my illness eight years ago, NOT to take vitamins/supplements that you are NOT deficient in.

For example. I was tested for COQ10. I had plenty. I do not supplement. I am checked for the B vitamins, magnesium, sodium and potassium, as well as Vit D3. I am NOT deficient in any of these. PHEWWWWW!

Anyway, my doctor's take on this, is that if your body is producing enough of something there is no need to supplement. Supplementing can actually hurt you, if the extra isn't peed out!!! For example, VIt's A and D remain in you system and are not excreted. Too much of either of these can be harmful to you.

I may hear it from some other members about this, but it's not my opinion. It's my Doctor's opinion. I have found that the supplements I did try, right down to a basic vitamin with everything in it, actually made me feel sick. That's my body's way of saying "I don't need this".

Like I said, if you're tested and come up short, you need to supplement. If you're thyroid is working fine, there is no need for Thyroid meds.

Hope nobody gets mad at me for this. I just have to throw out this side of the topic, because it is true, I follow it, and I trust my doctor! xo

I'm totally with you on this one Darla. I guess everyone's different. I think I made myself really ill taking huge amounts of supplements. Took me a while to detox them when I gave them up so initially felt worse, but now am better off them.

Lindasch100, VITAMINS WORK for me. I cannot function without them. These keep me from using medical drugs, but I cannot take them anyway. I also invest in Deep breathing throughout the day and this has also removed some nasty symptoms. I take Dr. James L Wilson Vitamins for adrenal fatigue (3 bottles); they seem to have everything I need to get me thru super stressful episodes. They're pricey but worth it as long as they make me feel normal
It's strange that you mention ITCHING, because this has returned. It might be from a deficiency of something because my itching comes and goes.

I take the following supplements at dosages recommended by my oncologist and naturopath (who work together): B-Complex, Co-Q 10, D3, Multi-vitamin plus Ginseng, fish oil, magnesium, and melatonin. I have cancer follow-up visits every six months and the dosages are adjusted according to results of blood work. I dont notice any difference if I miss a dose here and there, but I am disinclined to experiment with how I would feel if I discontinued them for more than a day. Im pretty sure my experience would mimic yours. Thanks for sharing.
I posted about itching some time ago. I never did pinpoint a cause. Topical anti-itch solutions did not help. For immediate relief, I used ice water or ice packs. I also took Benadryl as needed which relieved the itching long enough for me to get to sleep. Gradually, over several months, the itching episodes decreased and resolved. Its a mystery!

Darla, I agree w you. Don't take them unless you are low.
I have never had my levels checked so I took "normal" amounts, never huge amounts. So when I stopped them before my physical exam, it never occurred to me that it would make much difference.

I have been reading about CFS and vitamins. It seems that many of us are low on a number of vitamins. Now I BELIEVE!

I don't want to go off them again before the physical. Does anyone know if there is a way to test levels without stopping them? Doesn't sound likely. I will talk to my doctor. Maybe she can tell me to stop some for just a few days and then test.

I think it is great if anything helps you with this illness. I have found, for me, I have no reaction one way or the other with vitamins & supplements. I try to take a multivitamin when I can afford it but notice no difference in how I feel. I don't eat well when I am crashing so it is a good habit to get into to take one every day. I take D3 because my D levels were very low & I take CoQ 10 because my cholesterol meds deplete it from my body. I don't take anything else, I tried many different supplements, but nothing helped me so I don't spend the money on them. Take care of yourself, hugs, Denise

Linda, CFS has the same symptoms as Adrenal Fatigue. There is a lot of info on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnb2O7UgZmM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP0rsxGeeCs
Dr. James L Wilson describes the role of stress on the body the adrenals.

I found a good list of vitamins/minerals and what they do. On Andrew Weil's website:
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/PAG00321/Vitamin-Library-Supplement-Facts.html

Thank you EnergyLost for the info on Adrenal Fatigue. I will watch it when I have more energy :-)