Wheelchair

[ssmme]

I can see a wheelchair getting closer and closer. I'm scared. My independence is slowly getting chiseled away. I know someday I'll be okay with it but right now I'm I having a tough time accepting.

[jimmylegs]

marcia, sounds like no fun

remind me what you do for diet and supp regimen at this point? i know you mentioned some time ago that your immune system went down to a couple of viruses. ever had zinc or selenium checked? or any of the other levels known to be off in ms patients? i think you said you had 'average' vit d3. since on average we all suck, do you happen to remember what the actual value was, or can you check?

[ssmme]

I'm not sure what it was. It's been a couple years but I take:

Magnesium (400mg) with chelated zinc (15mg) - 3 tablets
Co Q-10 (200mg) - 1 tablet
High Potency B-complex - 1 tablet
Acai (1g) - 2 tablets
Vit D-3 (5000 IU) - 1 tablet
Aspirin (81mg) - 1 tablet
Centrum Multivitamin - 1 tablet
Omega 3,6,9 - 1 tablet
Calcium Soft gels - 1 tablet
Alpha Lipoic Acid (200mg) - 2 tablet
Acetyl L-Carnitine HCI (400mg) - 2 tablets
L-Arginine (500mg) - 2 tablets
Lutein (25mg) & Zeaxanthin (5 mg) - 1 tablet

I take the doses specified on the label. If it says take two I take two tablets, pills, capsules or softgels.

I also go to the tanning bed twice a week for 5 minutes. Not to tan - just for the vit D and I cover my face the whole time.

What I found out though is that average means average based on what other people in your area have. So to me it didn't mean anything.

Thanks for asking Jimmylegs.

[ssmme]

I forgot to add diet - I am gluten free and eat a little lean red meat and chicken. I do not eat much fish since I live in KY so I'm landlocked. If it smells fishy it makes me gag. Mostly it smells fishy.

[jimmylegs]

k thx i'll check it all out tomorrow, might have a few follow up questions. ttfn

[gymbuff]

Hi Marcia,

I started using a wheelchair about 7 years ago. I didn't realise how restricted my world had become and the wheelchair opened it up again. I don't use it all the time but it is a blessing when on holidays, shopping or any long treks. Your body will tell you when you are ready for it and your mind will sync. The wheelchair improved my independence and I am sure it will have the same result for you. I think that the main thing is to know that it is there for you when you need it. I was diagnosed 24 years ago. Stay strong & positive

[ssmme]

Thanks gymbuff!

[MrsGeorge]

Hi - I started using a wheelchair a few years ago and I found the same as gymbuff. I can get out & about, move at a decent pace and not fall over continuously. Far less exhausting too. I was really self concious at first but now it's just part of me. I did manage to get a really good chair with a redundancy payment which helped.

[HarryZ]

I can see a wheelchair getting closer and closer. I'm scared. My independence is slowly getting chiseled away. I know someday I'll be okay with it but right now I'm I having a tough time accepting.

Marcia,

When and if you get to the point that you require a wheelchair, ensure that you obtain the assistance of a professional in this area before you purchase any chair.

There has to be a lot of thought and planning into what chair suites you best. Because you would spend so much time in one, you want it to be as comfortable as possible combined with giving you the proper support. Cheap and cheerful is not the way to go when it comes to wheelchairs. I went through the exercise with my wife a number of years ago and believe me, you need to do it right.

Harry

[jimmylegs]

well i'm ashamed that this lapsed for so long :S sorry!

can you tell me what form of magnesium you take daily?

[ssmme]

Sorry JL, I should have responded sooner. I went off all my vitamins and supplements about a month ago. Yesterday, I took two Spring Valley Magnesium with chelated zinc pills. Each pill contains 400 mg Magnesium Oxide and 15 mg zinc gluconate. I planned to do this for a week (do you think I should go longer?) then add back another supplement to get an idea if any one supplement provides a noticeable benefit.

Thanks for taking an interest!

[jimmylegs]

no worries!

arg, magnesium oxide :S one of the least soluble/absorbable forms.. that one is better for laxative use than anything else... certainly won't stand up against the vit D3 5000IU.. especially if you take them at the same time

if you can find magnesium glycinate, or at an absolute minimum something like magnesium glycinate, that would have far more potential efficacy in terms of muscle function. take one with d3, one separately.

one more question, what were the details on the calcium soft gels? ie dose per gelcap, and form?

[ssmme]

The calcium soft gels have 1200 mg calcium carbonate and 1000 iu D3 Cholecalciferol.

I'll look at my local GNC for magnesium glycinate. What dosage do you recommend for a 5'2" 105lb person?

Thanks!

[jimmylegs]

heya, might be a thought to back off on the calcium w/ extra d3 as well, until you can get the magnesium balanced out..

GNC should have something called 'doctor's best' which has a decent looking magnesium glycinate blend (includes magnesium lysinate also, which i know less about). the GNC online store says $16.99 CDN for 120 tablets.

i am currently heading out the door to pick up some supplements and will be grabbing a bottle of magnesium glycinate by kirkman labs. it's plain old magnesium glycinate, 100 powder caps, for about the same price per bottle.

upper limit recommendation for elemental magnesium: 350mg
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/ ... bl-eng.php

that's without adding high dose d3 in the mix. you could take 100mg with breakfast and lunch, then another 100mg with 2000 IU d3 at dinner.

zinc levels are low in ms and can have a significant effect on d3 absorption. i noticed that from the same dose of d3, my absorption tripled after ensuring optimal zinc status. it was awesome! don't throw money away on high dose d3 if you can max out retention by spending a few cents on zinc levels my 2c!