I Had My First Myers Cocktail Today

[BrokenBladder]

I went to my Rheumy's office today and had my first IV of vitamins. I'm not sure what I think of it but I wanted to share with you what I was told. First of all the doctor told me that the first 2-3 times I have it done I will probably be wiped out. I didn't think it could be any worse than now, but apparently so.:( Anyway it's called Intravenous micronutrient therapy using the Myers cocktail. Apparently this bypasses the digestive system so that much higher levels of the nutrients can be delivered to the cells and organs of the body. This therapy was formulated in the 1970's at John Hopkins.

According to the doctor it has shown positive results in people with FMS, CFS, RA, muscle spasms, heart disease, and migraine headaches. It's also used in patients with cancer that are undergoing chemo. The infusion consists of high doses of B complex vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium.

I guess time will tell if this helps me. I have had alot of n/v of late and have lost 15 pounds so I really needed to find something.

Has anyone here heard of this or had any experience with it?

[rose]

I've heard of it, but have no experience. I understand it is extremely helpful for some.

Looking forward to hearing more from you. I hope it helps you a great deal.

rose

[BrokenBladder]

Thanks for your response Rose, I really value your opinion.

I will be happy to let you know how things progress with this. Currently I'm set up to have a total of 6 Iv's, 1 per week for 6 weeks.

Currently I'm very tired, but the doctor told me to expect that so I can deal with it.

[annelb]

I don't know anything about this "cocktail" either. I want to wish you well and hope this helps.
Anne:)

[mrsdoubtfyre]

glutathione in it? Some do.

If you continue with benefits from the cocktail, I would suggest you explore
malabsorption as a possibility in the your GI tract.

Gluten intolerance/celiac is a major cause of this. Another is Crohn's disease.

[copperhead]

I don't know what n/v means. "I have had alot of n/v of late..."

Do you understand why IV infusion is necessary? I went to this doctor who gave me an IV infusion. That was a complete waste of money. That doctor wanted me to do those infusions more than once a week which I didn't think was practical. It would mean being out of work for several hours each time and I did not see the need for it.

I think some doctors use IV infusions to make money. The doctor I went to seemed to think she could tell me what nutrients I needed form that initial interview, before any tests were done. The IV she gave me did nothing for my swollen ankles. I later figured out what was causing my ankles to swell and corrected that problem with oral supplements.

I would suggest that you consider the money it costs, the time it requires from you each time and factor that against the benefits you get. I personally feel that oral supplemention is completely viable for most people. Is there a reason why oral supplementation alone will not work for you?

In the hands of a doctor who does not know enough about nutrition you can be wasting your time and your money on that. Do you know what method this doctor used to come up with the nutrients you need? Any doctor who uses an interview only has to be highly skilled and have a lot of experience. If you were not given any real nutrition tests than I think you may be getting ripped off.

I think RA can be helped with oral supplements of DLPA. This amino acid not only helps witht the pain of RA but also the imflammation. I think that getting vitamins and minerals and NO amino acids should also be questioned? Were you also tested for amino acids? To spend that kind of money on supplements that may not be complete seems useless to me.

[B12Bob]

If you are suffering from a condition that keeps your gut from absorbing nutrition then you can swallow a boat load of vitamin pills and get no benefit from them. The IV vitamins, if they are the ones you need, could help you. I think the important thing is to discover what is causing your deficiencies. If that is corrected you might start getting your nutritional needs satisfied through your normal diet.

[BrokenBladder]

I don't know anything about this "cocktail" either. I want to wish you well and hope this helps.
Anne:)

Thanks for your well wishes, I hope to feel better soon!!

[BrokenBladder]

I don't know what n/v means. "I have had alot of n/v of late..."

Do you understand why IV infusion is necessary? I went to this doctor who gave me an IV infusion. That was a complete waste of money. That doctor wanted me to do those infusions more than once a week which I didn't think was practical. It would mean being out of work for several hours each time and I did not see the need for it.

I think some doctors use IV infusions to make money. The doctor I went to seemed to think she could tell me what nutrients I needed form that initial interview, before any tests were done. The IV she gave me did nothing for my swollen ankles. I later figured out what was causing my ankles to swell and corrected that problem with oral supplements.

I would suggest that you consider the money it costs, the time it requires from you each time and factor that against the benefits you get. I personally feel that oral supplemention is completely viable for most people. Is there a reason why oral supplementation alone will not work for you?

In the hands of a doctor who does not know enough about nutrition you can be wasting your time and your money on that. Do you know what method this doctor used to come up with the nutrients you need? Any doctor who uses an interview only has to be highly skilled and have a lot of experience. If you were not given any real nutrition tests than I think you may be getting ripped off.

I think RA can be helped with oral supplements of DLPA. This amino acid not only helps witht the pain of RA but also the imflammation. I think that getting vitamins and minerals and NO amino acids should also be questioned? Were you also tested for amino acids? To spend that kind of money on supplements that may not be complete seems useless to me.


copperhead the n/v stands for nausea and vomiting. Sorry I should've been more clear. The reason I can't take vitamins orally is due to bleeding ulcers on the inside of my bladder wall. Taking them orally would cause me a great deal of pain. I may be getting ripped off but this seems like the best thing for me right now. Thanks for all of your input, I really appreciate it!!

[BrokenBladder]

B12Bob I couldn't agree with you more. Thanks for the info!!

[mrsdoubtfyre]

just a thought....

but all the vitamins you get IV will be excreted just like the oral ones. Thru the urine.

Now to address the bumkum thinkers....

I live in an area with a large university teaching hospital. And the holistic MDs there do use the Myer's cocktail often. It is usually done for those who have
been thru the "system" and have had no success. By the time they get to the Holistic MDs... this option is viable, and sometimes useful.

However, not all Myer's cocktails are the same. It depends on what the doctor has in place with the compounding pharmacy in your area. So I suggest you
find out exactly what is in yours. You are entitled to that information, after all.

I think the Myer's success is greatest when there are malabsorption issues.
I don't see any reason for improved bladder response however. That reason puzzles me.

[BrokenBladder]

Why would the doctor do this to me knowing what my history is with my bladder? In fact it was my urologist that referred me to this rheumy a year ago.
The only paperwork I was given on this says that the infusion consists of high doses of B complex vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium. Does this tell you anything? If not what should I be asking the doctor for?

[mrsdoubtfyre]

If you are not absorbing nutrients from your food or do not take supplements, then things do deteriorate. For example, cell structure fails if there are not
enough repair substrates to fix them. A typical example is GERD.

So giving them IV guarantees that they get into your system. If you show
improvements, this implies that you are very deficient and a reason for malabsorption should be sought.

But to say that they won't get excreted in the same manner as oral supplements doesn't make sense.

With high B-complex you should see an intensely colored urine, as they come out. The B's are the only vitamin that give you that flag.

Many people do well on the Myer's cocktails. See what happens for you.

[Cry Tears]

OK Lisa...why didn't you invite me over for a cocktail too!
I too suffer lots of N/V as well....crohns! ug!
For those who don't know what n/v means.....NASEUA and VOMITTING! Yuk!
AKA drive the white bus (toilet seat as wheel!lol)
I wouldn't care if it cost me my last nickel...I'd love to at least try one.
You all know all I've gone thru the last few years...I have no doubt all nutritional related for sure.
My symptoms wax and wayne so much. Thats gotta be their 1st clue!
Why do some days I have PN over my entire body...then few days later its gone?
Then weeks of muscle weakness...then others I'm Incredible Hulk!
Awesome tho...that when I found BT years ago...I was so weak I could hardly swallow...my EMG and NC test proved moderate PN, sock glove pattern.
Few weeks later after taking sublingual B12...miraculously I began to live after a nightmare of bedridden over half a year! Then 2 months later back to normal EMG and NC test...PN gone! Then when went off B12 a month while basking in the sun like a fool...forgot to take it with us....by time I got home I was back to being too fatigued to chew a bite of mashed potatoes! And PN over my entire body...what does this tell you?
I'm not absorbing.... people! Well duh!
I finally got a Primary doc...he's going to try and get to the bottom of whats going wrong with me....wants all the paperwork and test results from all I've had done...I said...lets just cut to the chase...I'll just put in a time line what all I've had done, what the results were...just trust me on this, lets go with what I think is wrong...he agree'd with this...guess his years of experience tells him I may be right.
I did have ANOTHER stomach biopsy...I'm told I do NOT have C-sprue and Crohns not in my stomach as thought (I've been vomiting a lot) , so should I rule this out or should I try a GF diet? Meaning...how good are these biopsys in telling whats really going on.
Think I'll ask my gastro for one of those cocktails...thats if she knows what they are...or who do I go for one of these? My Ruemy? What sort of doc knows about these vit cocktails.
Is this similar to TPN?
Thanks for your input...hope you're fatigue lifts soon!
Hugs to you! Cheryl
And PS to Rose and MsDoubtfyre...you guys are my heros! Hugs, hugs, hugs to you!
A rose is a rose...is a rose!LOL!

[BrokenBladder]

Hi Cheryl!! Wow don't you just love the white bus? Can you tell me more about Crohns? I don't know anything about it, but I do know that my n/v will sometimes go on for weeks and then stop for a while only to rear it's ugly head again!!
As far as the cocktail goes my rheumy gave it to me. I'm not sure which doctors would do it, but it's actually done right in the office and takes about 30-35 minutes. You will feel tired the next day and the day after that. I will let you know how tomorrow goes.
I go in for my next one on 3/7, which the doctor says I will still get tired and not see any results until probably the 3rd IV. However I will say the vomiting has stopped. I've felt nauseted a few times but that's it!!

[annelb]

If you are not absorbing nutrients, please consider the possibilitly of gluten sensitivity/celiac disease. Celiac disease, which is defined by flattening of the intestinal villi, affects 1% of the population. Many doctors believe that gluten sensitivity without villous flattening affects as many as 10-30% of the population. It is known that both skin and neurological problems can be directly caused by gluten. As far as the bladder, I have read anecdotal information about the benefits of a gluten free diet when one has interstitial cystitis. There are articles linking increased UTI's and celiac disease. IgA nephropathy can be linked to celiac disesae.

There is a gluten sensitivity/celiac disease forum here on BT. http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=152 If you want to read more about GS/CD and associated diseases go to the 3rd "sticky" on this forum - The Gluten File.

Anne

[Cry Tears]

But just considered it...have NOT tried such drastic measures because my gasto assures me I do NOT have it...I just had another stomach biopsy last month...came back negative for C-sprue...the villa stands ready and able still, so thats not my problem...but I still wonder...can it be in patches...and the patches they tested are fine while down the "road" so to speak,,,the Villa are wounded and flattened! Could this be the case?
I too have bouts of N/V then suddenly goes away. I often have projectile vomiting! Can hit a wall standing 15 feet away! Weeee! Hang onto the white wheel!...hubby comes running to help...he knows the routine...Hold Cheryls long hair back, put in pony tail, give baby wipes to wash her face...Pull the heck over the moment she says so...keep good supply of 1 gal zip lock bags in the truck for vomit sessions...so far I've puked 3 times in my new truck! And I rarely leave the house!
Lisa...Crohns is auto immune disease where the body attacks the lining of intestines. It can happen from you lips clear down to your anus. Mine is in my small intestines. I've had 2 bowel resection, one for the Crohns disease, another section I had an anuerism like mass aka Arterveinous malformation. I nearly died from it...severe anemia from its constant bleeding. What a nightmare that was for over 2 years...whew!
I'm taking steriods and an imuno supressor trying to trick my body into not killing itself...gosh...even my body hates me!
I used to have sooo many bladder infections...life was horrid...till one day I saw a very savy urologist.
He said all I needed was physical therapy.
I'm thinking this doc is nuts...PT for bladder infection?!? What a weirdo!
But after much pain and pondering I finally gave into his urging my having the PT by a specialist.
The PT specializes in muscle disfunction in your pelvic floor. She exclaimed the muscles have knots in them just as your back muscle tend to have...that there are trigger points in your vagina just as the ones in other areas.
So I underwent several weeks of trigger point release sessions...a little painful but only for a moment.
But miraculously my bladder infections disappeared...no more painful intercourse either...so I was very happy to have found answeres as to all those UTI's...But...my insurance is fighting me, the PT is an hours drive away and I paid $50 out of pocket for each session. So I've not been going to these and I'm back to having pain again, but not very many UTI's. I've had a full bladder workup such as MRI's and other studies by a specialist in my area the origianl Urologist moved to Texas. My new U doc also in thinking my problems are muscular and agrees that I need trigger point release PT treatment, but can teach my husband to do them...thats if he's willing. Pretty invasive and embarrising!
Its a never ending battle with my body's different health issues...fatigue and muscle pain are the most bothersome.
Hope this helps...have you ever heard of such PT treatments...perhaps try that...see if this helps your UTI's...it may be an answere to yours, but only if the cause is muscular disfunction.
blessings, cheryl

[BrokenBladder]

Cheryl, thanks for opening up to me and giving me all of your personal experience, it's great!!
Now about that cocktail...............LOL!!

[annelb]

Cheryl, yes, damage to the small intestine can be patchy. The amount of damage does not correlate well with symptoms either. Another thing to consider is that villous atrophy is not the complete story of gluten sensitivity. More and more doctors are realizing that one can have gluten sensitivity without villous atrophy. Here is one GI doc's take on this. http://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=1417&p_catid=&sid=91hH9H1js7kHDfr-55107344918.c3

Glad to hear that you found releif with the PT - hope your husband is willing.
Anne

[nopain]

I have done more than 20 IV treatments with various vitamins formulations. The cocktail of which you speak is a formulation that has many variations. Each practicing physician will probalby have their own spin on it.

For the person who said they had it one time and it did nothing for their ankles is not really a good source. You can not expect a body that is damaged and has not been absorbing nutrition properly to repond to a single treatment. You can also not expect the body to fix a specific problem as the result of a single treatment of anything.

The therapies are valid and do work for some individuals - the key factor being that you are in fact a candidate for this type of treament; and by candidate I do not mean someone who can afford to pay the Doctor, I mean someone who has a legitimate diagnosis that this should be able to treat.

I have seen remarkable results. One individual in particular was so depleted as a result of long term steriod treatment she could hardly walk and was severly underweight. I watched her progress from that state to seemingly healthy, with much more energy and the ability to walk normally in a period of about 90 days.

She was receiving 2 to 5 hours of IV drips 5 days a week during that time. In addition she was eating solid foods from a specific list of healthy foods.

So to say this will or will not work for you is really a question of your condition and your diagnosis and the ability of your physician to work with and monitor blood chemistries. There are few doctors who practice this type of medicene and even fewer who are experienced.

This is an expensive treatment - I know of people who are spending 1,000's a week.

So what are your alternatives?

Look to correct your exisiting diet first. Take this slowly. Only you can know if your own body is repsponding.

For me my problems were not malabsorption. I responded well to some drips and not at all to others. I do believe the benefits in my case were not worth the time and money invested.

It's really a case by case thing.