This is for Tom - Vitamin B treating Neuropathy

truckingalong

Hi, Tom,

Just remembered (here goes my chemo brain) my intention to let you know that I asked my onc about your question about vit B 12 question. He said it is the B complex that helps with treating neuropathy. I did quick check on the internet - not much but saw something interesting from Canada's services for AIDS patients so I am posting it for your info.

"Although vitamin B12 is most commonly associated with the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, supplements of other B vitamins may also improve this condition. In her book Positively Well, Lark Lands reports that biotin and thiamine supplements have helped improve symptoms of neuropathy. Other “unofficial” B vitamins such as choline and inositol, which are often included in B vitamin supplements, may also help to treat neuropathy. According to Lark Lands, these vitamins have improved symptoms of neuropathy in many of her HIV-positive patients. She recommends supplementation with all of the B vitamins, as taking only only one of this group can lead to deficiencies in others."

Hope this helps.

Liz

tcvine

Thanks, Liz
I have already started on b-12 shots and B complex supplements. So far I can't tell that they are doing much - but I will continue on with them anyway. I really don't think it will hurt anything. My last infusion my doc reduced the dose of the vincristin? because of the neuropathy, but it still got worse. I'll keep him apprised.

Thanks again.
Tom

dixiegirl

tcvine said:

Thanks, Liz
I have already started on b-12 shots and B complex supplements. So far I can't tell that they are doing much - but I will continue on with them anyway. I really don't think it will hurt anything. My last infusion my doc reduced the dose of the vincristin? because of the neuropathy, but it still got worse. I'll keep him apprised.

Thanks again.
Tom

Vincristine
Tom,

My onc stopped the vincristine at the 4th treatment due to the neuropathy. I can't remember if I told you or not, but he had me take magnesium supplements for it. Can't say it completely helped, but I did help some. The leg cramps were horrible and it did take a couple of months after I got done with chemo before it got better. I know that doesn't help when you're going through it, I'm sorry.

I hope you get some relief soon.

Take care,
Beth

tcvine

dixiegirl said:

Vincristine
Tom,

My onc stopped the vincristine at the 4th treatment due to the neuropathy. I can't remember if I told you or not, but he had me take magnesium supplements for it. Can't say it completely helped, but I did help some. The leg cramps were horrible and it did take a couple of months after I got done with chemo before it got better. I know that doesn't help when you're going through it, I'm sorry.

I hope you get some relief soon.

Take care,
Beth

Vincristine
Thanks, Beth.
I had not heard about magnesium. But you can be sure that I will check into it. I am all about nutritional supplements - not really, but I've used vitamins and minerals for decades, so it works for me.

I appreciate your help.

Glad to hear that it got better after you finished.

Thanks,
Tom (DLBCL-4-7/10)

truckingalong

tcvine said:

Vincristine
Thanks, Beth.
I had not heard about magnesium. But you can be sure that I will check into it. I am all about nutritional supplements - not really, but I've used vitamins and minerals for decades, so it works for me.

I appreciate your help.

Glad to hear that it got better after you finished.

Thanks,
Tom (DLBCL-4-7/10)

Powerful chemo drugs
Hi Tom,

Vincristine is a powerful drug that is for sure. I realize I got sharp pain in my right calf leg few days ago. Guess it was from that.. My hands and feet got more tingling than before. Will meet with the onc's assistant to ck about that. If you just started B vitamins then they may take time to work its system into your body effectively but with chemo - ha anything goes!!

Hope you feel better this week,
Liz

Jian

truckingalong said:

Powerful chemo drugs
Hi Tom,

Vincristine is a powerful drug that is for sure. I realize I got sharp pain in my right calf leg few days ago. Guess it was from that.. My hands and feet got more tingling than before. Will meet with the onc's assistant to ck about that. If you just started B vitamins then they may take time to work its system into your body effectively but with chemo - ha anything goes!!

Hope you feel better this week,
Liz

Vinchristine
I am on a regime that involves vinchristine. They reduced the dosage according to protocol but i didn't drop below the required 0.5. So they increased it again. The pain was bad. Everything I touched felt like razor blades.
As the bulk of my cancer "melted away" as the doctor likes to put it, they switched me into vin blastine. One of the doctors explained that vin blastine could do the same job but surpressed the bone marrow more than vin-c,

My hands and feet have reduced sensitivity and mold pins and needles, but I can touch things again.

truckingalong

Jian said:

Vinchristine
I am on a regime that involves vinchristine. They reduced the dosage according to protocol but i didn't drop below the required 0.5. So they increased it again. The pain was bad. Everything I touched felt like razor blades.
As the bulk of my cancer "melted away" as the doctor likes to put it, they switched me into vin blastine. One of the doctors explained that vin blastine could do the same job but surpressed the bone marrow more than vin-c,

My hands and feet have reduced sensitivity and mold pins and needles, but I can touch things again.

Visualization
Yes, I will need practice to visualize positive things while feeling the pain in my body - I notice it helps when doing that. I had a hard time going to the infusion center but dr said it helps kills cancer, etc. Then I was able to move on and go to that room!!!

Hope your hands and feet feel better soon.
Liz

tcvine

Jian said:

Vinchristine
I am on a regime that involves vinchristine. They reduced the dosage according to protocol but i didn't drop below the required 0.5. So they increased it again. The pain was bad. Everything I touched felt like razor blades.
As the bulk of my cancer "melted away" as the doctor likes to put it, they switched me into vin blastine. One of the doctors explained that vin blastine could do the same job but surpressed the bone marrow more than vin-c,

My hands and feet have reduced sensitivity and mold pins and needles, but I can touch things again.

Vinchristine
Jian,

I really hope that your sensitivity is further reduced. Mine was never as bad as what you describe. And since my onc reduced my dose a little, it has not gotten any worse.

Thanks for your input on the vin blastine. I didn't even know about that.

Best of luck,
Tom (DLBCL-4-7/10)