Immune Recovery Programs

 

PROGRAM 1: GET ON A GOOD VITAMIN/MINERAL PROGRAM RIGHT NOW

The doctors have expressed no concern about being on vitamins and minerals while on medical treatment. Read the section in Nutrition & Immunity regarding the vitamins and minerals and get started on this program.

• Vitamin A - 5000iu - 10,000iu (iu means International Units)
• Vitamin B-Complex (capsules preferred) B-50's or B'100's
• Vitamin C - 500 mg to 1000 mg several times a day
• Vitamin D - Usually included with Vitamin A but ensure it has 400iu to 800iu
• Vitamin E - 600iu to 800iu
• Calcium/Magnesium - Either make the the Calcium/Magnesium drink and have that several times a day or take Calcium/Magnesium capsules with each meal to ensure there is stomach acid to dissolve the Calcium. If you can only find tablets, do the Vinegar test to ensure the tables will actually be absorbable. Take 1,200 mg to 1,500 mg of Calcium spread over the day.
• Selenium - 100mcg to 200mcg Sodium Selenite preferred
• Zinc - 15mg to 25 mg
• Chelated multi-mineral - Look for one with a good collection of minerals in them. If the Selenium and Zinc levels look fine, you can drop the above 2. Reports I have seen have shown regular metalic minerals being about 3% absorbable. Chelating the minerals uses a protein to chemically bind with each of the minerals to form stable water soluble products which are about 30% absorbable. The multi-mineral label will state 'Chelated' on it as it is a selling point. Again if possible, powdered capsule is better than a rock hard tablet. If you are receiving frequent blood transfusion (2 bags every 2 weeks), you really are already getting more Iron than your body can handle. You must ensure your multimineral does not contain any more. You may have to buy your minerals separately to avoid the Iron.
• GLA - 1000mg of Starflower oil per day. I have found Starflower oil to be the most potent per reports.

 

Apart from the Clean Diet, there are a number of other precautions and rules you should take to ensure you do not pick up some infection. Hygiene is very important so do not skimp on this program.

• Tests have shown that you can prevent 50 percent of the risk of catching a cold or flu by taking care not to touch your nose or mouth with your fingers or hands. At least half of the viruses that cause these diseases are transmitted by touching others who are infected as in shaking their hand. Just don't touch your nose or mouth until you have washed your hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water.
• Keep your mouth closed if possible in public places. Your nose was designed to filter out microbes and kill them with the fine hairs in the sinuses, mucous traps containing potent enzymes to kill them and is lined with mast cells ready to release toxins on any invader that comes in contact with the antibodies on it's surface.
• A partner in a stable relationship can at times be experiencing an infection such as Candida albicans , also called yeast infection or Thrush. Until you have recovered your immune system, condoms are a good idea. Also be aware that your partners mouth will be a source of bacteria which his or her immune system may be keeping under control, but which yours may not be up to the task.
• A recent TV show demonstrating hygene used a special camera to pick up the bacterial hotspots in the bathroom. The worst was the bar of soap which is apparently the ideal breeding place for them. They could follow everything the children had touched after using the bar of soap by the trail of bacterial laden hand and fingerprints. Switch to a liquid antibacterial brand in a bottle.
• Avoid exposure to crowds or to people with colds or contagious diseases.
• Practice good hygiene, including frequent hand washing after touching dish cloths, garbage bins, picking up stuff from the floor, toilet seats, plants or unwashed fruit, eggs or meat.
• Make a practice of taking your temperature if you are having a poorer day than normal. The reason might be due to some internal infection. Your body will tell you by raising it's temperature above 37.5°C in an effort to handle it. Contact your doctor if it is above 37.5°C , certainly if it is above 38°C.
• Brush teeth regularly, bathe or shower daily and pay special attention to hard-to-clean areas such as skin folds and the rectal area.
• Avoid cuts and scrapes. Patients with AA or MDS, especially after Immunosuppressive treatment or the Bone Marrow Transplant , who think they might get injured while at work or engaging in hobbies or sports activities, should ask their health care provider about ways to protect themselves.
• If you notice some infection such a cut that is inflamed, gum or tooth infection, or your temperature goes high (37.5° C +) report this to your doctor ASAP so he can evaluate your situation and give you the correct antibiotics if needed. It may require a stay in the hospital to handle it fully.
• If your neutrophil count is less than .3 (some doctors have said .5) you should be in an isolation ward when you are in the hospital. Therefore it makes sense that when you leave the hospital and go home you should treat your home as an isolation ward as well. The soil and plants inside your house and outside are a source of the fungus aspergillus which grows in decaying vegetation. Get rid of plants and fresh flowers in your house and limit your time outside as the aspergillus spores are usually present in the air all year round. Aspergillus is difficult to handle once infected.
• Showers should be run hot for at least 5 minutes each week if not normally used to eliminate bacterial growth in them and grouting around shower kept clean to prevent mould.
• Kitchen and bathroom sinks and bath tubs should be cleaned with soap and water or a disinfectant and dried thoroughly after each use.

 

PROGRAM 3: KEEP THE INTERNAL MICRO-ORGANISMS UNDER CONTROL

There are a number of supplements that can be taken which will not be modifying your immune system just yet but will help ensure the fungi, moulds, bacteria, parasites and viruses are held in check without damaging the new good intestinal bacteria you are trying to get started again.

• Start a course of Elderberry extract to protect yourself from viral attack. If taking Sambucal, take one desert spoon with each meal. If taking the capsules, one with each meal.
• Begin either adding Garlic to your daily meals or begin taking garlic supplements. Eat a clove a day for maintenance and a couple cloves a day when there is an infection or possibility of one. Health food stores carry odour free tablets with instructions on quantities.
• Once you have finished your supply of the antifungal medicine Fluconozole , (trade name Diflucan) start a course of Caprylic Acid supplements to ensure the Candida does not have a chance of settling in. Take 400 mg daily.
• Start a course of Artemesia as a broad spectrum antifungal, anti-parasitial and antibacterial agent.

• Begin a ten day regimen of Zinc supplementation at a level of 2 mg per kg of body weight. After the 10 days, drop back to a minimum of 15 mg per day.
• Begin a two week regimen of L-Arginine supplementation. 2000mg L-Arginine a day 2 hrs after eating. It is recommended that arginine be taken in combination with 2000 mg of ornithine and 1000 mg of lysine. Then cut back to 500mg per day L-Arginine with same of Ornithine and a good multi-amino acid capsule.
• Increase the number of foods you are eating that contain Beta-Carotene to increase your Vitamin A levels to maximum.
• Purchase Shiitake mushrooms from your local supermarket and start including them in your daily diet.

 

PROGRAM 5: AVOID IMMUNOSUPPRESSORS AND GET BACK IN SHAPE

You have been low in red blood cells which has made exerting yourself difficult. You have been in an isolation ward and your muscles have been wasting away. Start a step by step program of exercise to get your body back in shape and build up your immune system again. To rejuvenate your immune system, and to keep it then in top condition, regular daily exercise is a must, not an option.

• Cut back or eliminate coffee, tea, cigarrettes , alcohol , overeating and large portions of meat.
• Make sure you are getting enough sleep each night.
• If your neutrophil count is below .5 it is best to keep indoors as much as possible and limit your exersise program to the use of a rowing machine, exercise bike or simply walking up and down the stairs. Pay attention to your heart rate and breathing as if your HG levels are down, it won't be long before your heart rate and breathing will go up. Keep it short.
• Continue your indoor exercising daily trying to do a bit more each day.
• Once your neutrophil count is up above .5 to ensure it is safe to be outside, start a daily walking program in an unpopulated place where you are not going to have the fumes from cars to breath in and additionally suppress your immune system. Also avoid areas where there may be a lot of rotting vegetation. Walk at an easy pace for 20 minutes or less if you get tired. Make sure you have good walking shoes before you start this program.
• Continue this daily activity until you can walk briskly for 35 minutes. This is an an aerobic (it oxygenates your system) and the rule is that it must tax your capacity. Keep your arms loose, extended and swing them as you walk. Keep in mind that if you exert yourself too hard to a point where the exercise felt extremely hard you will be reducing your immunity level and can keep it suppressed for up to 15 days. Start off slow and build up.
• After a few weeks when you feel you have reached higher level of endurance, vitality, stamina and fitness, increase to 50 minutes. First thing in the morning after breakfast is best as the 'feel good' benefit you will get will last all day.
• At some point you will feel you have reached a new, higher plateau of fitness, vitality etc. At this point, join a fitness club and alternate your brisk walking day with a strength training workout. Make sure the facilities are clean. Also it is best to choose a time when there are as few people as possible. Go over a program with the clubs fitness instructor to work out each of the muscle groups. Repeat one exercise on one muscle group about 6 times, have a brief rest and then repeat one exercise on the next muscle group for about 6 times. Do not over exert yourself.
• As you feel your muscle strength is increasing and reach a higher plateau of fitness and vitality, on your workout day, after working out each of the muscle groups, do it again so that each is worked out twice.
• As you get stronger continue in this gradual way until each muscle group is worked out 3 times.

 

PROGRAM 6: BUILD UP YOUR GOOD BACTERIA

Once you are off the antibiotics , the first priority is to replace the good bacteria that have been killed off. They are your first line of defence against the fungi that will inevitably try to fill up the empty space in your intestinal tract where up to 1.8 kilos of friendly bacteria were keeping them under control, helping you digest your food and producing a number of B vitamins for your benefit. Once these good bacteria have been killed off (if you are not still medically on antibiotics and antifungals), yeast-like fungus microbes multiply rapidly and can invade the intestines, skin, nails, mouth, lungs, and vagina. Make sure you are also doing Program 3 to further ensure the fungus doesn't get a foothold on your weakened system.

Most fungi are harmless, but in a person with a suppressed immunity, about 200 varieties can cause serious conditions in the brain, lungs, intestines and skin.

• Once you are off the medical antibiotics, feed your intestines a fresh supply of good bacteria with Live Yoghurt. There are long life yoghurts that have no live Lactobacillus acidophilus and should be avoided. The package will tell you it contains Live Lactobacillus acidophilus as it is a selling point. There are a number of other products in good supermarket stores which contain other types of live beneficial bacteria as well such as "Yakluk". Another company, Danone, does a brand containing some as well.
• At the same time, get from your healthfood store the capsules of Acidophilus complex. These provide 2 - 3 billion Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus bifidus.
• Try to also get Lactobacillus bulgaricus as well. The "Benefits of Yoghurt," a report published in the Journal of Immunotherapy, found that acidophilus containing the bulgaricus strain enhanced the production of IgE, an immunoglobulin that is effective in destroying parasites. Lactobacillus bulgaricus was also found to have powerful antibacterial properties.
• Ensure you are taking at least 300 mcg of Biotin supplement 3 times daily to help grow your new colony of bacteria. There will be some Biotin in the B-complex capsule if it is a good one, but it may not be enough. Plus you want to take it 3 times a day. If taken with a salad with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, you will be further helping the good bacteria to grow.
• The live yoghurt and capsule supplements should be taken with each meal and stored in the fridge when not in use.
• Include as many plant based foods with plenty of fibre in your diet as you can to help the bacteria move through and colonise the gut.

 

PROGRAM 7: ACTIVATE YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

THIS IS AN OPTIONAL PROGRAM

(Done after you are finished with Cyclosporine or any other drug designed to suppress your immune system)

There is so much evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the nutritional approach to boosting the production, activity, and optimum function of your immune system that it cannot be ignored. I have listed as many research papers on this as possible after each supplement so as to give them credibility to the medical people who are still going to be feeling responsible for your care. Thank goodness the Doctors are there with their technology, drugs and antibiotics to handle our condition. But this is an optional program; one that you will have to make an educated decision on, as I am not in a position to prescribe. I've presented the information as clearly as I can and the research papers can be checked out and you can do your own investigating. With the advent of AIDS, there are now thousands of researchers making new discoveries about how foods, exercise habits, emotional outlook, vitamins, minerals, herbs, plant extracts, etc. are influencing our immune system.

• Astralagus - 55 mg per day
• Glutathione - 75 mg of the most active form, reduced L-glutathione
• Coenzyme Q10 - 30mg to 60 mg per day
• Cat's Claw - 1gm to 3gms in daily divided doses before meals
• Echinacea - up to 2gm per day. Three days on and three days off
• Colostrum - up to 2 gm in daily divided doses on an empty stomach.

 

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