Two years ago I wrote an article for the website explaining how much my oedema
had been reduced by regularly taking a “nutriceutical” compound of
proanthrocyanidins and ginkgo biloba. (Click
here to see original article.) Since then Paul has had a lot of people
asking for more details about what exactly I take and what my general management
of oedema programme is: so I’ve written this update to deal with these
questions.
To recap: my feet and ankles had been severely swollen for some four or
more years, as a result of the combined effects of childhood polio, recent
confinement to a wheelchair and the onset of menopause. All of these elements,
individually, can give rise to oedema: together they compounded to bring about
gross and painful swelling that nothing helped. Even diuretics – which my
doctor prescribed only with extreme reluctance when the skin of my feet seemed
so tight that it would burst – had only minimal effect. Support socks or
bandaging gave some relief, but -
having weak hands and arms – I had to rely on other people putting them on for
me. The treatment that helped the most was lymphatic drainage massage coupled
with virtually 24 hour a day leg elevation – but liquid would pool again in my
feet and ankles whenever my legs were down.
Nutritional Supplementation with Proanthrocyandins and Ginkgo Biloba:
We discovered the effectiveness of Revenol (the compound that I take) in
reducing my oedema by accident: I had started taking it in May 1999, as it is a
complex anti-oxidant, in an attempt to ease the eczema I suffered from. (To read
what I wrote soon after this wonderful accident, click here.
I take two tablets morning and evening as my maintenance dose and increase
this to two three times a day if I am going to be in a situation where my
circulation is stressed. (A long
plane journey for example.) If I do this routinely I don’t have any
appreciable swelling any more.
The only time that I have had oedema in the last three years was when I was in
hospital for three weeks a year and a half ago. After about two weeks with no
supplements my feet, ankles and calves began to swell significantly: I explained
my normal routine to my Consultant Neurologist and he arranged for Revenol (and
Maximol, the mineral and vitamin supplement that I take with it) to be added to
my routine medications. The oedema gradually went down and after ten days had
disappeared again.
We had many people ask where to buy Revenol after the British Polio Fellowship
published my report in their Bulletin in late 1999. It is not sold in retail
chemists or health food shops, but is sold by independent distributors.
This caused some difficulties for people who had read the article who couldn’t
find a distributor, so we now have a system in place whereby we arrange for
people to buy directly from the manufacturers (this also reduces the price.)
Paul can arrange this for within the UK and several European countries, and
also in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Contact him for more information: drmcelroy@collectiveability.co.uk
.
Telephone: +44 (0)779 932 4842.
Although we don’t have a retail business, for a short period people can buy
directly from us, until they have decided whether or not the product is of any
help in their own individual instance. (And the medical studies, and now our own
experience, have shown that proanthrocyandins help in about seven out of ten
cases of simple oedema.)
Physical Management:
Although my oedema is much reduced, I still am in a wheelchair and it is
essential to look after my circulation in practical ways. These include:
