![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 10:43:48
Hi everyone. I have been taking fish oil in capsule form about 6-7 capsules a day with food. For 1 1/2 months now. It does work well.
I have a problem with bloating up from it though and feel like I gain weight. Twice I have had MAJOR stomach problems from taking it. I am afraid to resume taking fish oil again but don't want to miss the benefits. Any advice?
Mary
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 3, 2003, at 11:05:36
In reply to fish oil woes, posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 10:43:48
> Hi everyone. I have been taking fish oil in capsule form about 6-7 capsules a day with food. For 1 1/2 months now. It does work well.
When you say "works well", just what do you mean by that? I'm curious how it works for you.
> I have a problem with bloating up from it though and feel like I gain weight. Twice I have had MAJOR stomach problems from taking it. I am afraid to resume taking fish oil again but don't want to miss the benefits. Any advice?
> MaryQuick thoughts:
Cut the dose. Take it every other day. Try a different brand. Check for freshness codes before you buy.A single gram of fish oil has roughly seven calories in it. Gaining weight, literally from the fish oil, is unlikely, though bloating is certainly an unpleasant experience. Don't take it all at once, or reduce the dose altogether. You may also benefit from GLA (as in evening primrose and borage oils), taken at a ratio of one gram GLA-source to five grams fish oil.
You don't have to take it every day. Your body absorbs it as it's available, so that your tissues get the net effect of the average consumption over an extended period.
Rancidity in the fish oil can definitely cause digestive upset. To check your own supply, just cut one capsule open. It is OK if it smells a little bit fishy, but if it smells gross, discard the remaining fish oil, and buy fresh. Omega-3s are routinely removed from the food supply by food processors because of the rancidity issue, to extend shelf life. Omega-3s are perishable, and there's no way to restore palatability once they've gone too far.
Maybe you'd do better just eating fish. 100 grams of salmon has around one gram of omega-3. Similar for sardines or herring.
Lar
Posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 12:29:10
In reply to Re: fish oil woes » oeps7, posted by Larry Hoover on November 3, 2003, at 11:05:36
Hi Larry,
Thanks for getting back to me. The fish oil has seemed to help a lot with my depression and overall relaxed me.
The stomach trouble has happened on two different brands Carlson and another. Most days I am fine on it but it does bloat me up.
Friday - I got so sick after taking it I haven't taken anymore until this afternoon.
So fish oil is not something I need everyday?
What do you thik about folic acid and magnesium for depression? I wanted to try 5htp but am on a small dose of zoloft 50mg, I used to be on 300mg of effexor. Would it be safe to combine since I am on such a small dose of zoloft?
I am trying to go more natural because my fiance and I want a baby soon.
Good to see you back on the board. I missed you last week :). How have you been feeling?
Mary
Posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 12:31:55
In reply to Re: fish oil woes, posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 12:29:10
Should I keep fish oil capsules in refrigerator?
Posted by Ron Jones on November 3, 2003, at 13:41:47
In reply to fish oil woes, posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 10:43:48
You need to get a concentrated oil.
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 3, 2003, at 14:48:14
In reply to Re: fish oil woes, posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 12:29:10
> Hi Larry,
> Thanks for getting back to me. The fish oil has seemed to help a lot with my depression and overall relaxed me.
> The stomach trouble has happened on two different brands Carlson and another. Most days I am fine on it but it does bloat me up.
> Friday - I got so sick after taking it I haven't taken anymore until this afternoon.
> So fish oil is not something I need everyday?It's really good to keep the dose as high as you can tolerate. The amount you were taking was by no means excessive. You don't need it every day, in the sense that it will be harmful if you don't take it. It's just easier for most people to follow a daily pattern of supp consumption.
Like I said, maybe fish itself is something more readily adapted to, than fish oil.
> What do you thik about folic acid and magnesium for depression?
Magnesium is one of the core "depression supps", IMHO, as are all the B-vitamins, not just folate.
> I wanted to try 5htp but am on a small dose of zoloft 50mg, I used to be on 300mg of effexor. Would it be safe to combine since I am on such a small dose of zoloft?
It can probably be safely added in, but go "low and slow"; low initial dose, and very gradual increases. E.g. 25 mg/day (half of a 50 mg tab, the usual size), increased by 25 after 3 or 4 weeks if no adverse effects.
> I am trying to go more natural because my fiance and I want a baby soon.
That's wonderful. I hope things go smoothly for you.
> Good to see you back on the board. I missed you last week :). How have you been feeling?
> MaryStrained, but functional, thanks. Happy to be around. I've posted more stuff on Admin. I hope Bob is listening. I mean, really listening.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 3, 2003, at 14:48:55
In reply to Re: fish oil woes, posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 12:31:55
> Should I keep fish oil capsules in refrigerator?
It's one of those things that can't hurt, and might help (extend the shelf life).
Lar
Posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 15:13:40
In reply to Re: fish oil woes » oeps7, posted by Larry Hoover on November 3, 2003, at 14:48:14
Thanks Larry, I added the magnesium and folate in today. I have tried a B vitamin in the past but that made me extremely anxious. So far so good with the folate.
The fish oil capsules are a blessing for me because I don't like to eat fish :).
I also sometimes take klonopin but I find even .50mg knocks me out and I am slightly depressed on it. My new pdoc is pushing for me to up the zoloft but I am against that. He doesn't even know me only met with me once.
Again thanks and its good to see you back on this board. I hope you feel less strained each day.
Mary
Posted by sadmom on November 3, 2003, at 15:39:35
In reply to Re: fish oil woes, posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 15:13:40
I had the bloating problem as well. It went away when I went to a more concetrated expensive brand. I am taking Dr. Sears OmegaRx brand of fish oil.
Posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 15:43:20
In reply to Re: fish oil woes, posted by sadmom on November 3, 2003, at 15:39:35
Dear Sadmom, do you notice a benefit from the fish oil?
Posted by Ron Jones on November 3, 2003, at 15:48:17
In reply to Re: fish oil woes, posted by sadmom on November 3, 2003, at 15:39:35
ALso take it before you eat food .This stops the burp.I use flax in the daytime and fish oil at night.Do not take a lot of other vitamins with it.I think they interact and upset the stomac.Look at the DHA and EPA content.Rancid fish oil will make you sick for sure.It spoils very fast .fish oil,magnesium and lechticin about does it all.maybe some taurine or glycine.A B complex vitamin pill.
Posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 15:53:00
In reply to Re: fish oil woes, posted by Ron Jones on November 3, 2003, at 15:48:17
Ron,
FYI
Did you know flax may not be the best thing for men to take. I know they have found it can accelerate prostate tumor growth.
Posted by Ron Jones on November 3, 2003, at 17:30:55
In reply to Re: fish oil woes, posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 15:53:00
Must be the estrogen thing.cancer or mental illness ,let me think.Fish oil stops cancer .better go with it.
Posted by Ed O`Flaherty on November 4, 2003, at 16:01:29
In reply to Re: fish oil woes, posted by Ron Jones on November 3, 2003, at 17:30:55
I like the Eskimo-3 brand in capsule form because it has little of the fishy taste.It is though quite expensive.
Posted by oeps7 on November 6, 2003, at 12:47:08
In reply to Re: fish oil woes, posted by Ed O`Flaherty on November 4, 2003, at 16:01:29
Thanks Ed,
I will try the eskimo brand.
Posted by tai daluna on November 8, 2003, at 7:55:20
In reply to Re: fish oil woes » oeps7, posted by Larry Hoover on November 3, 2003, at 11:05:36
just skimming through, but wanted to mention: if it is omega 3 and 6 that you folks are after, you should try omega-3 or born-3 eggs. don't know if they are called the same in the states. they contain omega 3 and 6 as additives, sort of like the way milk is augmented w/ vitamin d. i eat two eggs a day and the added fats have helped regulate my menstrual period. i used to bleed very heavily and now bleed very moderately. plus, when i was depressed i would bleed for 2 weeks at a time. arg. haven't had any trouble in that respect for years now, since i started eating these eggs every day, plus salmon once a week. i couldn't bring myself to eat fish oil, but the eggs make it super easy. didn't help my anxiety tho. peace. tai
Posted by sadmom on November 10, 2003, at 15:31:32
In reply to Re: fish oil woes, posted by oeps7 on November 3, 2003, at 15:43:20
I still feel depressed, but it is not because I have a low energy level anymore. Fish Oil greatly improved my energy level and helped my allergies and arthritis-like symptoms.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Alternative | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.