As promised I’ve started taking D-Ribose and implemented my plan of action.
I’ve been taking daily three 5mg doses of D-Ribose for a week now. I also introduced 200mg of Co-Enzyme Q10 and 500mg of L-Carnitine daily on top of the key suppliments I already take.
Two weeks ago I started making (even more) dietary changes to target my IBS problems following advice on helpwithibs.com - mainly to be stricter in avoiding dairy, red meat, chocolate, egg yolks, and carbonated drinks (having already reduced my dairy intake and spurred on by having terrible gastric problems after switching to scrambled eggs for breakfast).
The first two days of D-Ribose I could feel it having an effect - giving my body a boost and lifting fatigue levels. This came after a “good” week where I had been out a few times and had company for a few days. I was at a low ebb and the D-Ribose felt magical.
Then on day 3 I experienced some kind of gastric flare up due to … I don’t know what. Certainly D-Ribose is not supposed to have any side effects other than a risk of hypoglycemia and possibly loose bowels (definately not my problem!).
Having felt extremely naseous with the anti-oxidant N-Acetyl Cysteine in the past I stopped taking my one of my new suppliments Q10 just in case. I’ve had L-Carnitine 500mg in the past without problems so have persevered with it for the full week.
So on day three I felt as exhausted as I would have typically after the previous week’s exertions and without the D-Ribose. Am I getting the kick start I was promised? I’m not sure yet. But I’m giving it time. At least the 2-3 weeks that was suggested.
The gastric flare up has continued pretty much constantly - the only let off being Friday through to Saturday morning.
I’m utterly miserable with near constant discomfort, heartburn constipation and wind with the occasional reflux. And it’s exhausting to deal with. Sigh. Three weeks ago I’d concluded the eggs had triggered it. Now I have it even with the best IBS diet I’ve had ever before. It could just be a bad IBS flare, it could be some kind of virus, I could be detoxing or it could be something totally new requiring a visit to the doctor. All I know for certain is I’m fed up with it.
My world had started to expand a little since March when I finally shook off the Christmas virus. Now it’s gone very small again. Frustration led to a bout of only seeing the can’t-do stuff instead of my can-do stuff thinking. I didn’t blog then because … well what’s the point. I feel more optimistic now but still utterly miserable about my current symptoms.
The prospect of having to see a doctor to find out if this is something new (you know kidneys, gall bladder, undiagnosed bowel hell …) is not filling me with joy - especially as it always feels a gamble with CFS/ME to know if you’re going to get the correct answer or a ‘blame in on the CFS’ response.
OK. So this turned out to be more of a self pitying rant than a progress report - but if you avoid the glum bits you can still hear how the D-Ribose plan is going. Undecided and complicated by my stupid CFS riddled body.
Well, you changed a lot of things at the same time (new suppleents, different food) so, of course, there’s no way of knowing if just one of those things is a trigger. Taking away possible irritating food doesn’t seem like it should be a problem — what are you eating instead?
I don’t have IBS specifically, but of course I have other GI problems. I did quit dairy this year and it has helped. I’m thinking about wheat (which you didn’t mention) — it’s a difficult one to subtitute — but not there yet.
You’re not going to like this suggestion, but what about starting again w the supplements one at a time, adding every 2 weeks.
Of course, you’re right — it could be something completely different —aacccccckkk! I’m with you on the frustration, and impressed that you could see yourself thinking “half-empty” and switch to “half-full”.
Moving thru frustration to acceptance is something I still haven’t mastered. I can do it sometimes, but not when things really suck.
Sending you good vibes and a big hug
Thanks for the vibes Nina :o)
I am thinking I might have to go back to scrath and re-introduce things s-l-o-w-l-y. But what’s annoying is I haven’t made HUGE changes. Only really dropping a few things from my menu which I have occasionally but not all the time.
I’ve been pretty much wheat free for over 18 months now. It was hard to give up my beloved bread but once I found rice pasta is (in my opinion) better than wheat pasta things got smoother. I have wheat very rarely - and then it tends to be the odd treat (like a biscuit or cake) or when I’m eating out and it’s difficult not to (like lack of choice). I can’t say it has done anything to help CFS although maybe I would be a lot worse if I DID have wheat every day. But I certainly feel a LOT better on my insides for not eating it.
I decided it was silly to avoid wheat some months ago and started back on bread type lunches … and felt really bloated and disgusting pretty quick.
So yes. I might have to stop the new suppliments and focus on one things at a time. You’d think I’d have learnt by now to be a little more patient ;o)
Glad the ribose is helping… it seems to cause a little bit of jitteriness, which could be manifesting as upset GI with you. Hang in there. I know (from my own experience with IBS) how uncomfortable it can be. I usually go on a week-long rice-bananas-water-peppermint tea diet and then slowly add stuff back in. I did find that once I limited my wheat and dairy consumption (as well as upping my protein and veggies) I feel much better for much longer periods of time. But back to the Ribose — yes, it appears to help! Dont’ know if this is helpful since you’re in Britain, but have you checked out this website? http://www.vitacost.com/ Great prices!
Daphne thanks for this. The jitteriness comment is soothing words for me. You could well be right.
Oh and thanks for the link. I think postage and possibly import taxes would bump these great prices up for us Brits but I’m sure some US folks will find it useful. Great prices indeed!
I tried D-Ribose about 18 months ago & remember a definite small but significant energy boost, but also had tummy pains. As I was being patient at the time & the Ribose was the only recent change I concluded it was the problem. I carried on taking it but only 1 flat teaspoon a day & I did not purchase more. Have heard others conclude that it helps with energy but has no apparent long term benefit. I think the Fatigued To Fantastic Energy Revitalization System sounds a better bet & have heard that it really helps altho not a cure.
http://www.enzy.com/go/EnzymaticTherapy/productDetail.aspx?alias=EnzymaticTherapy&tabalias=productDetail&partcode=03250&sc=True
iherb.com seem to be the cheapest…….but go for the DLS posting option otherwise u end up paying taxes when it arrives in UK.
D
I just tried D-Ribose at what I now gather is a relatively low dose of about 4 gms spread throughout the day. It gave me a tiny energy boost, but terrible constipation and migraines by the third day. I was compelled to stop it after only 5 days, and the side effects and the mild energy boost are disappearing. Has anyone else experienced these side effects? Due to the timing and addition of only the one change to my routine, I feel confident that the D-Ribose was the cause.
Hi Susan.
I have found that the energy boost effect is not long lasting but requires the regular dosing. I am losing the boost by the the time the next dose is due.
Most of what you read on the internet says there are no side-effects from taking D-Ribose.
I did find this but it refers to large doses (10g or over):
“The first is a transient hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) that can be eliminated by taking larger doses of ribose with other carbohydrates (such as in juice). The second side effect that may occur in some individuals is loose stools. Again, this side effect has only been reported in very large doses, greater than 10 grams.”
It is a simple sugar and so most ‘experts’ say it’s not possible for it to cause side effects.
There are some people who say that the D-Ribose gives your body and your cells the energy they need to function more efficiently and thus fight hidden/chronic/stealth infection in the body. It fuels your mitochondria.
When fighting this/these infection(s) it is possible you may get a Herx reaction.
A Herx reaction would fit with the side effects you describe.
It’s also possible that if the D-Ribose is fuelling your body properly you may be better absorbing other suppliments/nutritional elements that are fighting the infection and thus feeling worse.
Also I found this:
“Ribose may support the body’s innate antioxidant mechanisms while promoting an antioxidant effect of its own.”
From 15 May - Almost Random Research http://mantamedia.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart&partqs=amonth%3d5%26ayear%3d2008
Personally I am still undecided about whether I buy into all of this ’stealth infection’ and the idea that you have to feel worse before you can fell better.
So mainly I mention it all of this because I haven’t seen it written down in those terms on my web searches and it may be of interest to you to do some reading on it. I am not an expert - I am just recounting some of what I have encountered myself reading around the web.
I first came across the idea of herx reaction when fighting “stealth” infections in ME/CFS when I was trying large doses of AllicinMax http://www.cfs-allicin.com/
You read a lot about Herx reactions on things like the Marshall protocol.
Some reading on herx reactions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herxheimer_reaction
http://lassesen.com/cfids/herxheimer.htm includes suggestions for treatment
And a mention about “die-off” and Herx reactions when de-toxing:
http://www.ahummingbirdsguide.com/treatingmeantioxidants.htm
I don’t know if any of this helps! It may be worth discussing the problem with your doctor in case there is some underlying condition which could cause the symptoms when taking this small dose of simple sugar.
I’m no expert. I’m sorry it is having these horrible side effects for you.
just thought i would say in case anyone buys from iherb - i bought 2xenergy revitalisation system and 1xjarrow formulas mityqondria tablets and it did seem the cheapest - i also got DHL delivery and it came within 3 days which was amazing as from the US, but now i have an import VAT bill from DHL for £12.28 so factor that in folks!