I've seen ads for IV therapy businesses, and I'm curious if anyone has experience with feeling better after getting a saline IV? They also offer different vitamins you can add, and I am curious what vitamins I would want to include for SJS/autoimmune, or maybe avoid?
I had an IV in a hospital setting while sick once, and felt better (not cured but better) within an hour, so I'm wondering if there could be some benefit doing this on a regular basis.
Hi, Welcome. I have never seen as ad for IV's and vitamins. Generally if a person needs an IV or IV vitamins or supplements of any kind they have seen a doctor and had blood work to determine what supplements they need. There are many kinds of saline solutions with many types of additives like sugar, sodium, electrolyes and a whole lot more.
I would check with your doctor about this as it sounds a little "iffy" to me. Especially when a person has a chronic disease that is as unstable as autoimmune disease. Also, if you got an IV in the ER, docs office, urgent care, etc it was probably because you were dehydrated and/or needed iv medication. If one gets an IV when dehydrated yoyo feel a whole lot better afterwards. Try drinking more water.
I run a little dehydrated lately and have a heck of a time getting enough fluid in. When I was younger I drank about 3 qts a day and now I need to and can't. When I was at my doc 2 weeks ago he told me to try to drink the equivalent of 6-12 oz cans of pop...inly mnake it water. I told him I couldn't do it. I am lucky to drink 36 oz of water or the equivalent to 3 cans of pop.
Just tp mention that there is a big push on supplements both IV and oral lately with the people who do a lot of exercises in gym plus running. This can get to be a problem for some people because it is hard to judge what supplement a person needs and how much. As a retired registered nurse this type of "drug taking" has always scared me. Even taking too much potassium can kill a person. Need medical supervision for a lot of this. Take care and good luck. meirish
I completely agree with meirish on this one.
I've seen those ads, and immediately went to the "fluid overload/vitamin toxicity" thoughts. IV fluid replacement is good, even lifesaving , when there's a need for it, like electrolyte imbalance, dehydration or hypovolemeia (decreased fluid volume usually due to blood loss) In the absence of those things, it can cause them! Excesses of either Sodium and Potassium can be fatal!
In the case of vitamins; for the water soluble ones, it wouldn't make much difference since an excess would be excreted by the kidneys (peeing your money away), but in the case of fat soluble ones, like Vitamin A, it can cause toxicity.
All those things notwithstanding, IV therapy is invasive and if you are prone to bruising or skin infections, it's one injury to the skin that can be avoided in this case.
Thank you both. It is a good reminder about the complexity.