Hello! I have been spending lots of time reading posts, but haven't written anything myself. I have had a lot of random health problems over the last two years (nothing serious) and have had no help from doctors, and finally was told by a holistic doctor that at least part of my problem was a Vitamin C deficiency.
I started researching and was excited to find that a lot of the problems I've experienced made perfect sense with Vitamin C. I have been under severe stress and have had terrible problems with anxiety for years. This combined with a LOT of drinking and partying from the ages of 18-23 (I am 25 now and take great care of myself) and with a surgery and several infections all thrown together - my vitamin C levels were completely shot, which in turn made me more stressed and vulnerable to more illness, which made my vitamin C levels even lower, and round and round.
So, once I started taking C I started feeling a LOT better and lots of my symptoms vanished or have gotten better.
Now here's the problem - I started off just taking three 500mg capsules per day, and slowly increased. Eventually I was taking about 9g in time- release pill form only. I found some pure Ascorbic Acid powder and decided to try that. I cut back on the pills, only taking two with each meal, and started taking the powder - about 1.50g three times a day. I felt great for two days, and then BAM - I got very sick at work - terrible nausea, and horrible diarreah all day long, and awful flu-like symptoms, chills and achiness. I cut back on the C but didn't stop. The next day, I felt completely fine. I resumed the C back to it's original level and slowly increased it every day with no problems whatsoever. This led me to believe that I had experienced a Herxheimer reaction, not bowel tolerance. i figure I have a lot of toxins/bacteria/viruses in my system from being ill for awhile, and they were all coming out. Especially since I have horrible skin, which makes me think I have lots of toxins, and I had a nagging prostate infection (which is gone) and was also told by a holistic MD that I had a Cytomegalovirus in my liver (?). through Direct Resonance testing.
I felt great for about a week and a half, and was taking about 3g three times a day of powder, with 2g of time-release pills three times a day, and a multivitamin. So, total - roughly 16g. Around this time, I started getting VERY gassy and bloated, but didn't cut back. The next day, the gas was gone, but ever since then (about 4 days ago) I have felt VERY bloated, with a distended belly and some mild cramping, and I never have gas problems so this feeling is new to me. It hasnt' hurt, just been uncomfortable. And I haven't had any diarrhea, in fact, if anything I've had LESS stools than normal, almost mild constipation. I cut back on the C last night and my belly feels more comfortable.
So, questions is, what do I do? I haven't hit bowel tolerance yet, and when I was taking the 16g a day, I felt GREAT - besides this awful bloating.
Any advice would help - sorry to write a novel here! You guys are all great, I enjoy reading your posts and am thankful to have discovered this wonderful vitamin.
Chris