Assessment of sea buckthorn oil

Hi Barbara, I think it would be OK to take it in your case, but only at a half-dose. It's normally sold in a format where the daily dose is contained in two capsules, so you could take just one. If I feel I need to take another three-month course after "resting" from this one, that's probably the dose I'll take.

All this on the assumption you're not eating a lot of liver as well - I mean animal offal, not fish liver oil. There've been stories in the medical press of people ODing on vitamin A just by eating liver twice a week!

Thank you for the advice.

Hi Shira, along with changing my diet, I have worked on managing my stress levels (as much as possible), exercising, reducing the amounts of chemicals and toxins, getting enough sleep, mediating (even if it's just 5 minutes a day). Along with all this, I have been seeing a naturopath, who among many other things, has helped me monitor my health through blood tests. There are many details, but the main thing I wanted to point out today is that she has been helping me to keep my hormones balanced. I mentioned this, because I wondered if you have had this checked already? I have noticed that I sometimes have a resurgence of my symptoms when my hormones get wacky. Just a thought in case it might help. She is also checking the metals in my body. Last summer I also finished a treatment to make sure I didn't have any parasites.

Hi Morelia, so how are you feeling now with these treatments?

Which symptoms do you feel are now under control?

Yes, I've had my hormones checked and the Estradiol (=estrogen) levels are sky high! My rheumy said that has "nothing to so with Sjogren's" as in SS these levels are usually low, but I think otherwise.

I've ordered a supplement called DIM which supposeldly brings down estrogen levels, so we'll see.

(I also had an Infectious Disease doctor check me for parasites and toxins, and all clear in those areas.) 

Hi Shira, I think you probably should give it a rest if you've been taking it for over three months. I've taken the alarming diarrhoea of the past few weeks as a wake-up call and stopped taking it as of yesterday, even though it did seem to be helping me. (No morning diarrhoea today for the first time in 18 days, so fingers crossed!)

From now on, I'll probably put myself on a yearly three-month course starting around November, to build up protection against dry eyes in the cold months, when they're always worse, then give myself nine months off.

Hope your hormone-reducing supplement helps.

Hi Lily, so surprising to hear the sea buckthorn had those effects on you...I don't experience anything that comes close for better or worse...I suppose you'll know for sure if it was causing the diarrhea now that you've stopped it.

Hi Shira,

My doctor is helping me add progesterone (male hormones) because I have much more estrogen which creates an imbalance. My symptoms when my estrogen levels are high are bloating, swelling or heaviness of the breasts, often accompanied by a resurgence of dry eyes and dry mouth. I cannot say that I am 100% certain that it is a cause or association, because I've conducted no scientific study. But all the symptoms above seem to disappear when the hormones are balanced. I do feel more energetic and the swelling and bloating does go away. My dry eyes and mouth usually much improved to the point where I don't think about it, but never quite back to normal--not yet anyway. Of course, I can't say for sure if it is the hormones because I also fluctuate with my diet (particularly if I eat out). My doctor does, however, seem to think that balancing my hormones is important to my recovery.

Morelia- we seem to be following similar paths.

I was also given progesterone to balance me out in the past, and it "cured" the CFS and migraines I was suffering from then for 2 wonderful years.  However, when all the SJS symptoms began the progesterone suddenly stopped working and all my hormonal symptoms significantly changed. My last blood test showed my progesterone was at a good level along with all other hormones  and only my estradiol was off whack and extremely high.

So interesting your dryness sysmptoms improve when you're balanced! My doctors claim there's no correlation between any SJS symptoms and high estrogen, however estrogen dominance may also affect testosterone activity (even if the later are normal) because of the balancing effect from what I've read. That's why I've decided to attempt to bring the estrogen levels down instead of playing around with both progesterone and testosterone which are both fine. 

We seem to be the only ones on these boards with high estrogen instead of low...may I ask how old you are Morelia?

Yes, like I said, I'm not sure if the hormone imbalance is a direct correlation, but regardless, I know I feel better. I'm 50 years old, by the way. I have been having symptoms of autoimmune disease since my early twenties, but didn't recognize them until it became severe in my forties. I feel better now than I have in a long time. So I'm motivated to keep doing all the things I'm doing without taking prescription meds (with the exception of the hormone pills). However, I'm hoping to eventually balance my hormones through more natural methods.

Morelia, I really appreciate your post and strongly agree with the hormone level issues, etc. I don't think there is enough respect, by physician, about hormone imbalances. Exercise will control imbalances between estrogen and testosterone. Insist that your gyno or internist check your hormone levels. If they will not, change drs until you find one that will. Until then, exercise if you are a post meno woman to burn off some of the imbalance, take a multi, drink water with lemon, eat a paleo or darwin diet. Take care. 

How old are you, Shira?

Dear Lily, I have a very important suggestion. Get an ultrasound of your heart. Make sure you do not have a blocked artery. Too much magnesium and calcium will block your arteries. This is very important. See a heart dr immediately to have their watchful eye. Water, water and more water, just one multivitamin that already contains magnesium, yogurt for calcium, lemon water to restore a proper ph, fruits, veggies, lean fish and chicken, no caffine or alcohol, no sugar, walk for exercise, sleep eight hours or more and no stress if possible.