Supplements

Hello Elizabeth @ess77, Thanks again for the kind words! I thought I would try to answer your question from my response to @peach414144 in the What's outside of your picture window discussion (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/610874/) in this discussion on Supplements. Peach mentioned a side benefit of taking Hydroxychloroquine for her psoriatic arthritis was that her fingernails were growing back healthier than ever. I don't take the same medication as Peach. I had mentioned taking a collagen supplement along with my wife and it has improved our fingernail health noticeably.

I take a few different supplements that I have researched and have little to no risk as far as I know...but I still run supplements by my primary care doctor or a pharmacist. If you read the description and provided link for this discussion at the top by @contentandwell and the following post by @jakedduck1, you can get an idea of why it's good to research any supplement you take and also run them by your doctor.

Here's are a couple of the sites I used when I was looking for any health benefits of taking a collagen supplement.
-- Top 6 Benefits of Taking Collagen Supplements: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-benefits
-- Collagen Types and Linked Disorders: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Collagen-Types-and-Linked-Disorders.aspx

Here is another great article you might find helpful -- Get radiant hair, skin and nails naturally: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/get-radiant-hair-skin-and-nails-naturally

Hello Elizabeth @ess77, Thanks again for the kind words! I thought I would try to answer your question from my response to @peach414144 in the What's outside of your picture window discussion (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/610874/) in this discussion on Supplements. Peach mentioned a side benefit of taking Hydroxychloroquine for her psoriatic arthritis was that her fingernails were growing back healthier than ever. I don't take the same medication as Peach. I had mentioned taking a collagen supplement along with my wife and it has improved our fingernail health noticeably.

I take a few different supplements that I have researched and have little to no risk as far as I know...but I still run supplements by my primary care doctor or a pharmacist. If you read the description and provided link for this discussion at the top by @contentandwell and the following post by @jakedduck1, you can get an idea of why it's good to research any supplement you take and also run them by your doctor.

Here's are a couple of the sites I used when I was looking for any health benefits of taking a collagen supplement.
-- Top 6 Benefits of Taking Collagen Supplements: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-benefits
-- Collagen Types and Linked Disorders: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Collagen-Types-and-Linked-Disorders.aspx

Here is another great article you might find helpful -- Get radiant hair, skin and nails naturally: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/get-radiant-hair-skin-and-nails-naturally

And, I will add, from personal experience, it is important to take the least-ingredient version of these supplements. I was taking one that had added Vitamin b12, which is fat-soluble, and I now have to monitor my B12 levels, and be cognizant of how much I take. My hair and nails were great, but the B12 was approaching toxic levels in my body!
Sue

Hello, John and Sue....and Peach. @johnbishop, @sueinmn, @peach414144 and all.
Thanks for the response and suggestions. I am very careful what supplements I take. I learned that years ago and only take what I know I need and in the form I can best utilize the thing.

I have severe B deficiency, my Grandfather died of aplastic anemia. I take B12 shots every 2 weeks, B complex and Centrum Silver for Old Women. I also have severe iron deficiency, so take Vitron that is iron plus C for absorption. That was diagnosed by my sleep doc at Mayo. I have RLS and my legs never slow down nor feel good, so I take iron supplements daily. Works wonders. With requip to increase dopamine.

Oh, interesting side here....since taking the iron supplement, my silver hair which was salt and pepper for many years, is now more pepper. The iron is darkening my hair! Really funny when I noticed and realized the cause. Should make a fortune marketing it as a hair color supplement.
I take D3, am D deficient. Zinc for immune system. Magnesium for electrolytes. Biotin, although I may stop that one. We'll see.
I do wonder if hydroxychloroquine would help my sarcoid/autoimmune system and arthritis. Might be a good profolactic. We'll see.

I'm not adding anything to my regime right now as I'm having lots of bloodwork and tests re the out-of-sight numbers in my urine with this UTI. It's apparently a real monster. The protein is over 600, which kind of indicated my kidneys aren't filtering the protein intake and getting the nutrients through the blood. Hogging it all for themselves and the bladder! That may be why my hair and nails are suffering right now. Badly. And muscles hurt like the dickens. No protein's available?

Saw the nephrologist today. She doesn't think my kidney function is bad, so that's good. Doesn't know what up, so after I finish the antibiotic July 3rd, I have a huge series of bloodwork done. Lots of it is related to autoimmune stuff, which is really good since I haven't had any of those tests for years and the sarcoid has been active. As have other autoimmune areas as well. Will be interesting to see results. Also, see new urologist tomorrow morning, due to recurrent and some severe UTI's this year. Getting these docs helping me is a really good thing. Now, just need to add a pulmonologist and I'll be in business.

Doc today referred me to Integrated Medicine. Got home and had a new appt on my portal....for a massage! is God good or what? That's next week. maybe some biofeedback and CBT classes too. Hope has arrived to my home.
Hope you're all well, Sue you're listening to your body????? Doubt that...John, thanks again. Blessings to you all and be your best selves. Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth - I saw the part where your nephrologist thinks your kidneys are fine, but you are getting UTI's - May I was having severe urgency issues, but no actual infection. Extensive blood work followed and I was ordered to stop taking magnesium or any supplements that included it and lower (drastically) my vitamin D3 intake. I'm wondering if those or other supplements may be part of your issue? Maybe a question for before the blood draw.
Sue

Good questions, Sue. I'll pass them along today. I have all my supplements listed and we discussed them w/med list at nephrologist's appt yesterday. I have D deficiency and I think I recall being told to take magnesium. As I was the B's and levels are ck'd. Maybe they need to add those levels to the testing next week. Important all.

Thanks, Sue, elizabeth

Sue, I have the urgency issues of course, but the infections I've been having are severe. Pretty high numbers, including the one a few months ago with sepsis. I wonder if something is going on with my immune system to allow so many and such infections. I think we'll begin to get answers or at least knock off some suppositions after the 24 hour urine tests and blood-work. I truly can't wait to have the results. ess