Batch,
Update:
Still getting low level hits in the kip 1-2 range for the past four mornings (this morning included) and O2 knocks them out pretty easily (honestly, I've been getting one or two very low level hits that have gone away all by themselves before getting a longer lasting hit that annoys me enough and lingers too long, then I'll get the O2)

I'm on day four of the five day 40,000 IU D3 loading dose you suggested.
I'm going to up that to 50,000 for today and tomorrow and see if that eliminates those low level hits.

I'm still taking all the other co-factors as well including the B-50 and 800 mg magnesium. Still taking vitamin C but now at the 2,000 mg daily you suggested.

Kathy had some minor surgery and was prescribed antibiotics, so to get her back on balance I got a probiotic and have been taking that as well.

Gary

Hey Batch,

I had a few hits over the last few days of about 5/6 strength. I had been doing really well up to that.

The only thing I can think of is that I bought a new supply of Magnesium. Ingredients on the back of the bottle says Magnesium, no mention of Citrate, Malate or anything else.

Any advice?

Many thanks as always,

Peter.

Batch,

I'll certainly try that and report back on developments.

Thank you, as always,

Peter.

Hi all

I have been a 20 year sufferer of Episodic CH.   For the last 4 years I have been in and out of the message board and picked up the D3 regimen.  My period to suffer has always been mis February through to mid June.  I would have a nightmare couple of weeks where it would be a big hit every 1.5 hours and then settle to something liveable with but a right royal pain in the butt for the rest of the time.  Each of the last few years I would tail off the regimen when the pain stopped. Last year I kept going, I tested my serum level in September and in was 325 Nmol/l .  I went to the doctor and got a test and calcium checks and it was 405 nmol/l and the calcium was fine.  She wanted me to stop taking the D3 but understood why I would not.  I took 5000IU per/day through the winter, I tested 4 weeks ago (when the beast usually rears its head) and I was on 250 Nmol/l.  So here we are in the second week of March, no pain for the first time in 20 years, it has let me know it is still there in the background by a couple of low fly bys. But I am fine.  Intend to test again just before Easter, get doc checks at Easter, then see where I am.
I guess the key thing for me here is that I was very very high with my serum level, and with still taking 5K D3 a day it still fell by 150nmol/l over the winter period.  I had no illness at all in that time, so a lesson learnt for next year..........keep a maintenance dose going after the pain goes, think about the future, but check those calcium levels.
Kind regards all PF days to all
Ian

Thanks Ian and Peter for the good input.
I'm episodic (and hope to not go chronic!). From my recent "burn down" experience, I see the D3 regimen as being very much similar to blood pressure meds (which, thankfully, I do not need), in that it is a life long and daily necessity.

To give more information on the magnesium switch, I went from softgels (150 mg, and I think the brand was Nature Made) to tablets (200 mg, the Vitamin Shop). I don't know if going from softgels to tablets would make a huge difference but no bit of information should be overlooked...and maybe Batch has heard something along those lines that would verify yea or nay...

On the good side of things... no morning headaches of any size or length of time!

Cheers!
Gary

So you're happy then?   

Peter.

Hi Batch, I've been on your anti-inflammatory regime for about 3 years now, and I just wanted to register, log in, and personally thank you for all of your research. I was episodic for 15 years, until I starting taking the regime and I've been virtually pain-free since.  I've also made some some minor changes in my diet, and started implementing myofascial trigger point therapy, which also helped tremendously. The combination of all three has completely changed my life.  Anyway, thank you again, sir. You've helped hundreds of people become pain-free, & without the use of drugs.

Hey Batch,

Weekly update and it was a strange one.

If you remember I had changed my brand of Magnesium to one without Citrate, the week before and got a bit of Beast activity.

So on Monday I bought a supply of the previous brand and started them on Monday evening. Other than that, I have not changed a thing with any of the cofactors or dosages.

Anyway, Monday & Tuesday were good, no pain and sleeping well, thank God.

I woke on Wednesday morning feeling well after a decent nigt's sleep. HOWEVER, at about 9:15, while driving to work, I was hit hard (kip 8/9) out of the blue. It came on really fast and I had to pull off the road for about 40 minutes.

Anyway, it eased back somewhat and I continued on, arriving in the office about 30 minutes later.

And it hit again, same strength. This time it lasted about an hour and half, with me hiding behind my desk for that period.

Again it eased back somewhat and I was reasonably OK until about 3:00, when once again, it's back. ( this time I'm in the Baoardroom with about 20 others). So I hold on for about 30 minutes and have to leave, because I would have made a show of myself if I hadn't.

I crawled into the car at 4:30 with heavy shadows, and managed to get home safely, where the shadows stayed with me until about 10:30 p.m.

Slept OK on Wednesday night. Thursday and Friday, not a twinge and so far this morning ( it's 10:15 here in Ireland) everything is good.

SO... Is it conceivable that the change in magnesium and the citrate element was enough of a trigger to cause all that on Wednesday, for one day only?

I would welcome your views.

Gary,

How are you getting on?

As always Batch, thanks a million.

Peter.

Gary,

Well, last Wednesday seems to have been an exception. I am still getting small hits daily, but nothing I can't handle and I started trying Red Bull yesterday to stamp an oncoming attack down and it worked. Same again about half hour ago.

So it's all relatively good again ( for the moment).

I'm going to Rome for a week, next weekend. It will be interesting to see how I get on and how the Beast behaves on the flight.

Also, I think I'll get my bloods done on Saturday next. The results would be available when I get back from my trip and it will be interesting to see what's happening with the D3 and Calcium levels.

I'll update next week.

In the meantime, mind yourself.

Peter.

Hi Wayne - Great news about being pain free plus feeling extremely well. That is wonderful.

Don't worry that you need the combination of some verapamil plus the D3 for this, all that matters is that you've found your recipe for being pain free.