#suppliments

Do you know that feeling when you are having the worst flu of your life?!  When your whole body hurts, just a slight breeze going across your skin feels like it burns or when your clothes touch your skin and hurts so bad you might cry?..

You feel weak and to fatigued for the smallest task.

Now imagine you feel like your entire body, from head to toe, is filled with san Francisco smog.

Okay, you got that image? now imagine feeling like this every single day.

People with fibromyalgia feel like this every day and that’s not even describing their bad days.

I have fibromyalgia.

I went from barely being able to function to living my new normal.

I have tried and been on so many medications. I finally found a combination that helped along with supplements.

The meds and supplements never took the pain away but it was enough to get me through a couple days of work but that was about it for the week. Not to mention dealing with the side-effects of the medications.

I got to the point I was taking a hand full of supplements and medications every morning and every night. (Literally a handful) It was so much to keep track of.

My husband and I decided to go a different route for my suppliments, This new supplement routine cut down the number of pills I take to just a few capsules every morning and night instead a hand full.

I recently was able to work a 7 day straight work week, working 12-hour shifts without crying in pain every day, actually I made it that whole week without crying in pain… An amazing improvement from what I was going through before.

I now have the energy to exercise more, work more and play with my daughter more.

And top of that I have now been able to wean off of one of my very harsh medications.

I am thriving and it’s only getting better.

It can be really tricky when your vegan finding plant-based formulas for either full-time use (such as tube feeding) or part-time use (such as additional supplementation) so I thought maybe making a little list of some fully plant-based ones might help? of course, veganism is about doing what is possible and practicable and not everyone can access such formulas, such as those of us that rely on the NHS, and that doesn't make us any less vegan! but I hope still that spreading some awareness of some fully plant-based formulas currently available might be helpful!

~ KateFarms:  A full plant-based formula manufacturer in the United States which are suitable for tube feeding or oral supplementation for adults and children over 12 months old, and are widely covered by insurance in the US when prescribed by your doctor. 

~ FuntionalFormulies: Their formala is also widely covered in the US and is an organic, vegan whole foods meal replacement blend.

~ Vega: Their all in one shakes are great either as part-time liquid meals and can also be used with tube feeding but I would absolutely double-check with your medical team as different doctors may have different opinions based upon personal patient circumstance.

~ Realfoodblends: Their quinoa, kale and hemp formula is fully plant-based (though unfortunately, it's their only plant-based one) and is also widely covered by insurance. 

Huel: A great option for drinkable liquid meals and all products are plant-based! 

~ Aymes: This isn't fully plant-based unfortunately (it contains vitd from sheep's wool) but this is the “best” options people who need extra supplements that the NHS provides in the UK as its the only soy-based option. The NHS are working to provide a full plant base option but this is currently the best they have.