As floxies we want to improve our health, reduce our pain,
and try to get back to leading a more active and productive life so we
constantly wonder whether or not we should try some new therapy or supplement
someone else says helped them. The more time I’m on the boards and support
groups the more I see this topic come up. As a newly floxed
person I have jumped on the bandwagon to try supplements that someone else has
recommended sometimes with good results, sometimes bad results, and
sometimes with nothing changing at all. Whether or not to try a new
therapy or supplement is a question we all face in trying to recover.
As a longtime floxie with numerous health issues the best
advice I can give is to research, research, and research some more
anything you are considering trying. And this goes for mainstream medical
options as well as alternative therapies and supplements. I cannot stress
enough that we are all different so what works for one may not work or even
harm others. Then when starting something new start low and go slow.
Sometimes we learn of more than one new supplement at a time
so we buy a few things and start taking all of them the same day. Early on I
was guilty of this as well. I now know that the best way to approach a new
supplement is to take one new thing, wait several days, note any changes in
health and if nothing negative happens then try it again. Proceed slowly and
with caution. I’ve heard of those who’ve felt good on a new supp, only to
increase the amount and after several days start feeling worse. Sometimes
feeling worse can just be a cycle that coincides with the new supp but
sometimes it can be the supplement itself. If you’re not sure what’s causing
the worsening err on the side of caution and stop the new
supplement. Wait a few days and then decide whether or not to try it again.
Start something new slowly, use a small amount and gauge your reaction. One
example of this is essential oils (EOs). I had great success with these as have
many others and I still use them almost daily however I’ve met two floxies who
reacted badly to them. So I advise caution here. Also, when I realized they
were helping me I began using more and more of them. I learned that with EOs
that less is more. Increasing the amount didn’t help any more than the lesser
amount did. So I learned through experience to use them diluted to 10% with a
carrier oil, and applied topically or diffused (never ingest them!). This leads
me to my next bit of advice; listen to your body.
You know yourself better than anyone else. What is your gut
telling you about your floxing? If you aren’t sure then keep listening. There
are many well meaning people in the groups who will give you advice on what helped them and they are wonderful to share their experiences with the rest of
us. I’ve found some very beneficial remedies this way. I’ve also tried some
things that didn’t help so at the end of the day you need to sit down and think
about what you need to do for you. So after you’ve done your research, listened
to advice of others, thought about your unique situation, and done your budget
then ask yourself is it still something you want to try? If it’s a very
expensive therapy and some did well with it but others did not and it’s going
to set you back financially do you still think it’s a good idea? Weigh the
pro’s and con’s before jumping in. Also remember if you hold off on it for now
it’ll still be around if you decide to try it later. Some of the best results
have come from simple dietary changes such as eating organic, avoiding GMOs,
reducing toxic exposure from household cleaners, detergents and Teflon pans,
and switching to organic personal care products. And the best thing is that
this won’t break the bank. My laundry detergent I use now is a lot cheaper
than the name brand I used!
Remember we are all unique. We all come from different
backgrounds and have different genetics. That’s one of the things that makes
this world so beautiful. Keeping that in mind what works for one might not work
for another so do your research, ask questions, start low and go slow, and
listen to your body. And if you
aren’t sure about something you don’t have to decide today. There’s plenty of
time and there are simple changes you can make now. My last bit of advice is to
keep a journal of what you’ve tried, what worked, what didn’t work, and
supplements that work synergistically. This will help especially if you have
brain fog.
Yours in Health,
Betsy
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