Here are the mostly natural things Im taking:

Multi-Nutrients (multi-vitamin/mineral Vital Nutrients brand), 6 capsules/day.

Coenzyme Q10 (CO-Q-10) 100mg/day .

IgG Pure Xymogen brand (whey protein concentrate), 1 heaping scoop of powder in organic yogurt every morning.

Beta Carotene drops (Vitamin A as beta carotene 15,000 IU per drop), 10 drops per day which turns you a bit orange.

Vitamin C capsules (1000mg/day - high quality).

Thymucin Integrative Therapeutics brand (Thymus Polypeptide Fractions 750mg and Astragalus 250mg), 4 capsules every 2-3 days. If I get sick Im supposed to take 4 caps twice daily.

Coriolus-MRL (Coriolus versicolor mushrooms 1000 mg), 4 capsules every 2-3 days alternating with Thymucin.

NAC (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine 500-600mg) 1 twice daily only when starting to get sick (sinus or bronchial issues).

Phyto Immune (Vit A + herbs) 2 twice daily only when starting to get sick (sinus or bronchial issues).

Drug (prescribed by my medical doctor but it works well to stop bronchitis):

Benzonatate 100mg 3 times daily if a chest cold is starting.

Other:

Im taking Juice Plus brand capsules with fruits and vegetables concentrated at the recommendation of a friend. Basically this is because I dont eat enough fruits and veggies in my regular diet. This wasnt at the direction of my naturopath but he said it was ok.

Hi, Can you give me more info on the treatments you are getting? Does your body work adversly to any of the preventions Homeopothy or neuropathy treatments? Are they gentle? Is it more like vitamins and herbs? These specialists know about IGA immunodeficiency? How can they treat something that is deficient in someone? Sorry for all the questions but curious!

Thanks!

Kim

Thanks

Hi, Can you give me more info on the treatments you are getting? Does your body work adversly to any of the preventions Homeopothy or neuropathy treatments? Are they gentle? Is it more like vitamins and herbs? These specialists know about IGA immunodeficiency? How can they treat something that is deficient in someone? Sorry for all the questions but curious!

Thanks!

Kim

Thanks

Hi Kim,

These days I only take the supplements and dont need any treatments. I haven't been sick much since I started taking them. Before I took these supplements I would take antibiotics (z-pack which didn't always work) every month or two to kill my bacterial infections - usually bronchitis. Now I dont catch every cold that my kids bring home from school. This weekend I climbed 6 major peaks in 3 days and my chest felt great (my knees are another story).

My body doesnt react to the supplements. Basically these are just vitamins and natural substances so they arent harsh or hard to digest. I take them with meals some with breakfast and some with dinner. I recently had a detailed allergy exam too. It helps to know what you are allergic too, especially foods.

My naturopathic doctor told me that he treated a young IgA deficient patient years ago when he lived in Tacoma and that patient (now in high school) came to visit him in Seattle and thanked him for the great care and told him that he has a normal life too.
When I visited my naturopath the first time, we got on the computer together and did some research on IgA and found some tests where supplements helped he recalled these from his past IgA deficient patients. I just think these doctors read a lot of information on herbs, vitamins, minerals, etc. and remember which ones boost the bodys immune system. I really trust this guy. He helped a friend who is diabetic thats how I got introduced to him.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

-Bryce

Hi Bryce,

You are only on supplements now? Which ones in your list do you now take? Is it just the multi-nutrients? If so, is this a multi vitamin/nutrient you can get at a store or order online? I heard visits to homeopaths or neuropaths can be very expensive, is that true? I know insurance does not cover it.

I guess, like you, I tire of being treated with antibiotics when I go through episodes of ill health.

Yes, I'm only on supplements now. I take all of the supplements I listed above in this thread. Some I only take when I feel like I have a cold or a chest/sinus infection starting (NAC & PhytoImmune).

My insurance company covers the cost of the naturopath visit, but not the supplements. If you have a health savings account with your employer that helps. Here's the multi-nutrients vitamin supplement I take but there are probably other brands:
http://www.vitalnutrients.net/vnestore/detail.asp?product_id=vnM

Most other products can be bought online or at your local supplements store. Don't take regular hard vitamin pills that you get at Costco and the local drugstore or supermarket. Only get high-quality vitamins because they absorb better.

I still take benzonatate when I feel a chest cold starting (very important). And of course if I get sick I will start an antibiotics routine if necessary. Be sure to take probiotics while you are on antibiotics to keep your intestinal tract healthy. I wound up in the emergency room a while back because of all the antibiotics I was taking.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probiotic

-Bryce

Hi Bryce,

The information you gave is very helpful. You are right, I have heard that the regular multi vitamins do not absorb as well. This is something I should look into. I have been taking a women's multi vitamin called Life Fitness which is better than a regular brand but still in usual pill form. I will look into the multi vitamin you mentioned in your last post!
Can you tell me what benzonatate is? Funny thing, this past month I was in the hospital for three nights they feel from food poisoning. In the back of my mind I wonder if it was from all the antibiotics I was on for a sinus infection. I was on my third round of a third type of antibiotic. When I see the GI in follow up to it all this Friday he can give me more of an idea if it was food poisoning or something else.

Like yourself I like to be active outdoors, stay fit etc. It is hard when you are like this but then your body can run you down due to the IGA immunodeficiency off and on.

Thanks,

Kim

Hi Kim,

You can read about Benzonatate here.
http://www.livestrong.com/drug-info/335-benzonatate/

It is recommended as a cough suppressant but I dont think it works that well to stop coughs. However, I have found that this drug stops the progression of a cold from a minor chest irritation to bronchitis. If taken 3 times per day as soon as a cold starts, I have been able to stop bronchitis from happening and therefore I can avoid taking antibiotics to reverse a chest infection. And this was even before I boosted my immune system with the supplements. To me this is a wonder drug.

I googled IgA deficiency and naturalpath and came upon your post. I joined this forum to chime in on naturalpathic treatment of IgA deficiency. It's nice to find a board about my specific ailment. Although it is relatively common as far as PIDs go there doesn't seem to be much information out there.

I was diagnosed with "selective IgA deficiency" late last year and have been seeing a naturalpath for approx. 6 months now. I've found that the vitamin routine, accupunture and diet modification have really helped with my energy and as a result I am a lot less sick than I was even a year ago.

the vitamins I take are:
CoQ10, Vit A, Vit C, Vit D, Magnesium, Zinc, Formula SF722 (for yeast), and iron. I've cut back on wheat, dairy, refined sugar, coffee and yeast. I also have acupuncture to boost my immune system.

It would be nice if science finds a cure but in the meantime in order to keep myself as healthy as possible I'm going the naturalpathic treatment route. I find it really helps. I still get sick but I think it is more the normal sick now. Not really sick like before.

Thanks for being here,
Cheers,
K.

K, good to hear from you. Nice to see others having luck with natural stuff. I don't take iron, magnesium, and I drink coffee a lot - however I'm ordering "half-caf" these days. I avoid alcohol, refined sugars, and anything else that is terrible for you (deep-fried stuff, etc.). I spend a lot of time hiking, climbing, biking, etc. to stay fit.

Thanks for your input here. Sharing what has worked for us is important to help other.

Best,
-B

Fellow IgA deficient people, I wanted to give an update.

Just the other day, I got run down by not taking care of myself (beers, etc.) and not sleeping enough and wound up with a sinus issue that went into my ear (very painful). The first day I took Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine to ease the pain, but immediately I began following my naturopathic regimen for when I get sick (add a few items and increase a few). After about 5 days, I was able to beat it.

It's been almost 10 months now and I haven't had to use antibiotics to fight off infections since I started these natural meds. Please see my first reply to this thread which shows what Im taking and consider reviewing this information with your local naturopath. It has saved my life.

bdstevens, I have been reading your posts with interest. I am a mother of a 3.5 year old little girl and three months ago she was diagnosed as IgA deficient. Right at this minute we are sitting indoors ( In London UK ) fighting off a cold that she got the minute she went back to Nursery last week !! She is (of course) on antibiotics and will be so for the next 2 weeks. Her fevers are very persistent and it breaks my heart to see her like this. Do you think that a child of her age could benefit from all of this too ?? Obviously she can't swallow any tablet form but is there stuff in liquid she can take that might help her ?? Do you think I should take her to a homeopath here in the UK ?? I would love to hear your opinion as I am truly intrigued by your posts.Thanks in advance.Yours kindly Mrs Campbell.

Hi Mrs Campbell:

I wanted to chime in too. A naturalpath I'm absolutely positive it would help your daughter. The dosage and types of vitamins, herbs would likely be different since naturalpaths custom make their treatment specific to your daughter's health needs. They take a close health history and help you rule out food allergies. IgA deficiency and allergies are common. It's like our immune systems is tottering on the edge just waiting for an opportunity to get us sick.

I'm glad you have discovered your daughters deficiency since keeping healthy it the key to avoiding complications such as respiratory problems/sinus/gastrointestinal problems in later life. I now have asthma and weight loss and I'm sure it is from the constant colds, viruses, bacteria I have been fighting off my whole life.

The key it to find ways to avoid getting sick in the first place. A naturalpath is a great start. Your daughter is lucky to have a mom like you :-)

nijntje,

Absolutely you should see your local naturopath/homeopath doctor - try to get a recommendation somehow. My doctor said he treated a small IgA defecient kid in the past and that kid is now a teenager who recently visited him at his new office in Seattle. He said this kid is leading a healthy normal life and thanked my doctor for all he has done. There are liquid vitamins and chewable tablets that kids can take. Get a broad allergy test done (food, airborn, etc.) so your daugher can avoid allergens that further weaken the body's ability to fight infections. Let us all know how it goes.

Dear theedgeof and of course bdstevens. Thank you both for your replies! Theedgeof your comment about me being a good mum actually made me cry as we have had a hard few days !! I have had to go back to the doctor 3 times this week as the antibiotics she was given just didn't work and her fevers remained a steady 39.4C.I sometimes look at her and wonder if there is any more I can do for her, she is such a loving happy child and at the moment she is missing out so much in being able to just enjoy normal life like going to Nursery and having her swimming lessons. I long for that moment when she starts to feel well again, unfortunately during the winter that doesn't happen very often. She doesn't seem to have any allergies, she eats and drinks most things without any problems and I am not aware of any other allergies(at least not so far)with my daughter it seems to be her chest, the slightest cold sends her over the edge and can take up to two weeks to get over. I will speak to my husband and start looking for a homeopath, At least I feel like I am doing something then to help her. I will keep you posted and thanks again for the replies.
Kind regards
Monique Campbell.