Sam-e?

Diseases & Conditions Rheumatoid Arthritis
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I will ask my doctor about this, but I wanted to see if anyone had personal knowledge or experience:
 
Someone recommended I start taking the multi-vitamin (or whatever it's supposed to be) called Sam-e. They said their doctor perscribed it for their liver problems (which I've been dealing with for 6+ months now.) I saw it at Costco today and it also claimed to be good for the joints and your mood as well??
 
What's the deal with this stuff? Does it work? What exactly is it supposed to be doing for your body? I did not recognize many of the ingredients on the box, and I couldn't find anything that listed info like a vitamin box would (hence the not being sure if it is a vitamin or not.)
 
**
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yeah  Hi Camama,
Sorry, I don't know anything about Sam-e, but my hubby has Hep-C, and he uses Milk Thistle, which you can get at Wally World. Fairly inexpensive too.(cleanses liver). If you hear of anything else..PLEASE post as we are always looking for anything that will keep his numbers down.
 
Have a wonderful weekend,
 
flopsie

Ps..there is a good discussion on this Sam-E at www.mdsg.org/same.html

Don't walk in front of me....I may not follow
Don't walk behind me....I may not lead
Walk beside me..and be my friend...
                                    Albert Carnus
 
and Lord, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth
 
 
VIEW IMAGE

Post Edited (Flopsie) : 7/8/2005 9:52:25 AM (GMT-6)

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Mods, if the above reference to this discussion is not allowed and you need to edit..I will not be offended

flop

Don't walk in front of me....I may not follow
Don't walk behind me....I may not lead
Walk beside me..and be my friend...
                                    Albert Carnus
 
and Lord, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth
 
 
VIEW IMAGE

Post Edited (Flopsie) : 7/8/2005 3:58:19 PM (GMT-6)

4

Thanks Flopsie, I heard of milk thistle helping also. My rhuemy wants me to see the liver doctor again soon, I will try to remember to ask him and my primary (who I see on Monday.) The only other info I have found was a book called the liver cleansing diet - the jist was a raw food diet - more or less - is the best for you.....last time I asked liver doctor, he laughed....he is, however, very old school and isn't in to any homeopathic methods.

I'll take a look at that discussion you posted.

I have a question - they are calling my problem auto-immune hepatitis (meaning traditional hep tests are negative) - I get a burning pain in that area of my back and side that makes it hard to move around or stand up straight. Is this common with liver problems or is that something completely else? They checked for RA and I think the scan came back clear. The rhuemy gave me some pain patches to put on them yesterday, but I have also found a water bottle helps as well. I'm just concerned on the pain and why it's there and what makes it flare or not.

Thanks.

**

 

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sad  Hey Camama,
 
You have a very rare type of Hepatitis, and have not found a lot on it.Have you asked your Doctor about the pain? That would be the first step to take. What I can tell you is my hubby has pain in his limbs,sometimes in his back and sometimes in his side, but he has a different kind of Hepatitis than you.
 
I think you should first tell doc about this pain..just to make sure nothing else going on, if it is from your Hep, there are a number of things you can do but rule of thumb..If in doubt..rule it out.
 
will close for now, Dennis is getting closer and need to restock my emergency box. Hope you start to feel better soon,
 
flopsie
 
 

Don't walk in front of me....I may not follow
Don't walk behind me....I may not lead
Walk beside me..and be my friend...
                                    Albert Carnus
 
and Lord, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth
 
 
VIEW IMAGE

6

Yes, I've asked all the doctors. They don't have answers as to what the pain is.

I hope Dennis passes quickly and as quietly as a hurricane can!

**

 

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Oh, the doc gave me some lidoderm patches? I tried one yesterday....couldnt tell if it helped or not....

 

8

Keep us posted on the results of those patches, might need to get some for hubby!

ttyl, flopsie

 

 

Don't walk in front of me....I may not follow
Don't walk behind me....I may not lead
Walk beside me..and be my friend...
                                    Albert Carnus
 
and Lord, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth
 
 
9

Will do. My PCP said to keep using hot water bottle instead with castor oil (hot h2o bottle does help) - due to the fact she's afraid the patches are just adding more meds to my liver and doing more harm than good.

I tried it again today, I can't tell if it's working or not...I'm not willing to use them for 7 days straight to see if it does (the info says it may take that long to get full results.) The fact is, it comes and goes (though the pain has been daily lately - I wonder if it has to do with adding motrin to my daily routine....hmmmm....) and I'm so fat sad the patches don't want to stay on my rolls..... redface

oy, I'm so embarrassed! I am such a mess. ugh.

**

 

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Oh, and you know what? I COMPLETELY forgot to ask her about Sam-e! can you believe that?  My mind was on so many other things!

**

 

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yeah  Oh my goodness, Camama,
I know it is not funny...but you certainly gave me a laugh today..when it was so badly needed.
 
Not laughing at what you are going through, just the way you put it. Now let me get this straight, you are using hot water bottles. but, what are you doing with the castor oil?
 
I Just bet you are not a mess at all, we all feel that way when we don't feel good.  Who cares if you are in your PJ's or undies, I mean,we can't see you.
Praying you will get some relief soon,
 
flopsie

Don't walk in front of me....I may not follow
Don't walk behind me....I may not lead
Walk beside me..and be my friend...
                                    Albert Carnus
 
and Lord, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth
 
 
VIEW IMAGE

Post Edited (Flopsie) : 7/13/2005 2:56:06 PM (GMT-6)

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Yeah, YOU can't see me, but the neighborhood does when I take my trash out (and I don't mean just to the curb!) Trust me, it is NOT a pretty sight to see an 80 lb overweight woman with thinning frizzy hair in tiny summer pjs! tongue   Not to mention, the embarrassement of my house when people "drop" by unexpectedly! redface

I actually do not use the castor oil, she mentioned it - I was so out of it (infection) when she first told me about it months ago, I didn't understand her. I think what she said is the castor oil is a natural healing component that when warmed, it seeps in to help heal your organs. I believe she said that you can buy castor oil packets at the health store, use flannel between the water bottle and your skin and I THINK put the oil packet against your skin (or was it wrap it up in the flannel? I cannot remember.)  Honestly, I was lucky to have enough strength to remember and get the hot water bottle at the time with my antibiotic. I just use the bottle through whatever t-shirt I'm wearing.

Interestingly enough, when this all first happened, I had a sinus and ear infection (December 04) - to this day, my ear still bothers me, especially when I don't feel well or am having a flare. (side note - this affects my hearing at times which is such a drag because I've always had better than good hearing! tongue  ) Anyway, when the ear pain gets bad, I sit with the water bottle against my ear. It helps a LOT!

If your husband has pain in his side also and hasn't tried the bottle, I do recommend it. It works well - but, at the same time, it's a little tough to stop where ever you are and sit with a hot water bottle when the pain flares!

I will say one thing my doc said - the water bottle is MUCH more effective than a heating pad. Something about the moisture created by the bottle allowing the organ to open up to better blood flow which helps it heal better.

Have a good night**

 

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eyes  Oh Camama.
 I too, have embarrasement about my house..I use to be a fairly decent housekeeper, but can not get around anymore...so One day I will just have to move..LOL
 
Actually, hubby does most of it, along with working an outside job, and poor man, he can not quit work cuz we have to have the insurance.On my good days, I can run the vacum, or load the dishwasher , but don't have very many of them.
 
We don't socialize anymore cuz of it..I would just die redface f someone walked in unannounced. My children come of course, but if they do not like what they see..so what, they will get over it.
 
Most days the pain is just too darn bad to worry about it anyway...and I do not want any one to come over..cuz I don't want them to see me like this. sad skull Well, this was intended to make YOU feel better, and all I did was whine about me. yeah Forgive me please. I did not mean to burden you with all this...I have not been feeling well, this last week, and I try not to let anybody know I am hurting.
Worst flare in a long time.
 
Will try to research the water bottle and castor oil theory (long as we don't have to take it ) nono lol.
 
Hope you begin to feel better soon, warm wishes coming your way,
 
flopsie

Don't walk in front of me....I may not follow
Don't walk behind me....I may not lead
Walk beside me..and be my friend...
                                    Albert Carnus
 
and Lord, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth
 
 
14

No no no....please dump it all out....I do enough of it myself! And, like they say, misery LOVES company! And the more people can assure me I am NOT ALONE, the BETTER.

Feel better soon.

And no, it was not to be taken by mouth! ha ha! they were packets that were to put under the hot water bottle! tongue **

 

15
hey camama!
oh i long for the days where i could go get my mail in my underwear! now i have neighbors! yuck! if it makes you feel any better...i'm scary too....especially in my scivvies! very Ally Mcbeal frail like...with a dinosaur spiney back.
SAMe:adenosyl methionine, it's a dietary amino acid for good health..it's great and good for joints, mobility and depression. i believe in it and i am a skeptic! it is widely used and prescribed in europe. i took it in the past and i felt it made a difference in my health. just watch out for drug noncompatability! and photosensitivity. good luck with it!!!! i hope you benefit from it!!!!
{{{{{{{{{{{{ hugs }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
erin
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Depression as well as joints? my friend recommended it for my liver....I wonder. Maybe I should try it.
 
Well, other than the occasional set of vitamins.....I only take Plaquinil and soon Enbrel...if I don't chicken out on the shots, that is.....where would I find out if there are drug interactions to any of the vitamins I take or the meds? Or if it's even good for me to take with the problems that I'm having?
 
Had blood taken today .... will see how my sugar, liver, RA factor, etc. are all doing. Also got a call and am having Enbrel delivered tomorrow....but, I have to call dr....thought he didn't want me taking it until next month.
 
I'm already too sensitive to the sun, if that is what you mean by photosensitivity.
 
Ahhh....Erin.....you can't keep the pounds on and I can't take them off....what are we going to do? I try to loose and every time I gain it instead...you try to gain and you get sick. What a pair! tongue
 
My ssi interview was today also - ugh - the guy made me feel like I'm on trial....and his questioning was so sneaky sounding! They called me right after I got home from being at the labs all morning, I had to fast and was starving as it had been over 15 hours since I ate last, and caught me off guard as they weren't supposed to call for another 2 hours!  I don't feel good about it at ALL....and they HAD all the information there, I guess they were just looking to see if I was a crook or not, because I'd answer something then he'd tell ME something about myself. It was freaky to hear someone have all that info about myself!
 
By the way, congrats on becoming a Moderator, Erin!!!!  yeah

 

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perhaps a drug reference book will be good for you or a PDR! they list all the drug interactions and cautions with mixing meds....they are great! talk to you later mama!
{{{{{{{{{{{{ hugs }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
erin
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I looked it up online, so far, the only interaction warning I found was not to use it w/antidepressants - and even then, it sounds like they sometimes Rx it for the first few weeks/months before the anti takes effect in your body.
 
I found listing of other supplements that are similar to that of Sam-e, I think before i spend more money on a vitamin bottle, I finish what I have. The doc gave me some months ago to try and I had to stop taking them for a while, they have a lot of the same things listed.
 
Hope you are having a good weekend.
**

 

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Flopsie, please dump on us when you are not feeling well, that is why we are here. Sorry to hear that you are having such a bad flare right now. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Camama, I wish there was something that I could bottle and send it your way to give you relief. Research whatever you want to take and when you feel comfortable, go for it. The worst that happens is it doesn't work or you react to it. (assuming you will only try something that doesn't say it will interact with something else you are taking) I wish you all the best in your quest for relief.
Thank you girls for making this such a great forum.
Oreo

Worry not for tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.
 
Remember healing comes one step at a time, sometimes it seems that its one forward and 2 back but ultimately, always in a forward direction!!!
 
Help HealingWell continue to help people.  Please donate today.  Every little bit helps.  To donate go to www.healingwell.com/donate
 

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Yes, dump away  - I certainly do enough of it and it DOES feel good to get it off one's chest!

tongue