ROANOKE, Va. – In an effort to get healthy, many people take supplements each day or on a regular basis.
However, some medical experts say taking supplements or vitamins in pill form orally isn’t the most effective way for your body to absorb them. That’s why another form of vitamin therapy is quickly growing in popularity, receiving those same medications through an IV.
IV hydration therapy is a multi-billion-dollar medical industry and is expected to grow over the next decade. Several IV hydration businesses have opened in Southwest Virginia in recent years, so I went to learn more about it and tried it out myself. I met with Registered Nurse Aimee Dickenson, the owner of Revive Hydration Therapy and Wellness in Roanoke.
My visit
On my intake form and in my discussion with Aimee and an intake nurse at Revive I discussed having a vitamin D deficiency and wanting some help with overall wellness and some extreme fatigue I frequently deal with due in part to sleeping problems. Both recommended the Myers Plus drip. “This is a great beginner’s drip. This is the Myers Plus. And it’s full of B vitamins, and vitamin c. Those are all vitamins that not only give you a great immunity boost, but it’s also going to give you some energy. And at the end, because this is a Myers Plus I’m going to give you some Glutathione with is going to make your skin glow,” Aimee said.
I was particularly excited about the skin benefits.
According to Revives website, the Myers Plus drip contains higher doses of B-Complex, Vitamin C, extra B12, Minerals, B5, & Glutathione. I was given 1000 ml of IV fluids.
I did some research into the “Myers cocktail” which was named after Dr John Myers, a Maryland doctor who turned to micronutrient infusion therapies in the early 1960s to help his patients better handle chronic conditions.
More information from the National Institute of Health here.
About the owner, Aimee Dickenson
Aimee has an undergraduate degree in Health Science and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH). She worked for over eight years as an Epidemiologist at the Virginia Department of Health and even taught Public Health at Roanoke College.
Amiee opened Revive in June of 2023. She also works as a Labor & Delivery nurse at Roanoke Memorial Hospital and is a single mom. I took away from our conversations that she knows the value of hard work and is constantly on her feet. She has plans to expand her business. She says she increasingly sees more patients who continue to come back for return visits.
She first tried IV therapy as a patient during a COVID-19 infection.
“I got COVID while I was in nursing school, and it wiped me out. I was terrified of missing not only class, but clinical,” Aimee said. But, at the time, she couldn’t find exactly the services she needed from the IV hydration facilities in northern Virginia.
“I wanted someone to come to my home because I didn’t want to go out and spread COVID. I wanted the drip within a few hours of me calling. I wanted it to be in my bedroom where I was comfortable,” Aimee said. “That’s how Revive came about.”
Now, she not only focuses on treating illnesses but also preventing them, which is something the drip I am trying should help me with.
“After researching, I had been on what I called my COVID cocktail. It was a bunch of different vitamins that I was taking every night before bed to protect myself from getting COVID. But then I realized, well it may not have done a great job because I still got it. I realized that what I was taking orally, I am only absorbing about 20%. But, if I had an IV, with the same ingredients of my COVID cocktail, then it would be immediate. It would hit my bloodstream, and I would absorb all of it.”
If businesses like Revive didn’t offer IV treatments, she said patients could only find these services at a hospital.
“You’re also going to get stuck with a really hefty copay. Emergency rooms are not designed for that.”
She said you also wouldn’t receive an IV that is specifically designed for your needs. Additionally, she said it’s much cheaper to get exactly what you’re looking for at Revive. In addition to general wellness, they can also help supplement other treatments. Some chemotherapy patients reportedly find a benefit in helping restore their nutrient-depleted bodies with vitamins from IV therapy. I also found medical studies published about the effects of IV therapy on cancer patients. Aimee said IV therapy can also be used to treat minor illnesses.
“When it comes to someone let’s say having the flu or norovirus, that’s something we take care of all the time during cold and flu season. So, we have specific formularies for our drips. They have been reviewed by physicians and pharmacists to make sure that everything is safe and that what we are going to give you is going to be effective for whatever ails you. We have different drips for everything from Lyme’s Disease to the common cold.” What is unique about Aimee’s hydration business is that their nurses will travel to patients if needed for an extra fee. If you’re too sick to get out of bed, one of their nurses will come to your home.
I received my Myers Plus drip in their drip room at their Roanoke office near Tanglewood Mall. It took about an hour and Aimee monitored my progress the entire time.
A general disclaimer found on Revives website, along with other IV hydration businesses I found states that “the services provided have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.” However, Aimee ensures all their services are safe. All IVs are administered by a registered nurse and performed under a medical director. Before a client receives IV therapy, their health history is evaluated. I listed my medical history on my intake form before ever being seen.
Additionally, I spoke to local patients at Revive who said they noticed a positive difference after receiving an IV drip. They were repeat customers. Noting her background in public health, Aimee said her goal is to promote general wellness and help people get and stay healthy.
“Ultimately that’s my goal is to keep people out of the emergency room, keeping people healthy so they don’t have to flood our PCP’s and nurse practitioners.”
My personal experience with IV hydration
I found the process to be very relaxing. The drip room was a nice environment with relaxation music and comfy chairs. It was very much a “self-care” day for me. What I found most interesting is that after the IV is administered, you get a taste in your mouth that is reminiscent of the flintstone vitamins we took as children. Aimee said that is normal and is because of the vitamins you are receiving through the IV. Aimee said the effects last about two weeks. I noticed a difference in my energy levels after taking the treatment. I even slept better. It was right around the two-week mark when I started to feel low-energy again. So, I decided to give it another try and go back for a second visit just in case I was imagining the effects. It worked. I noticed a positive difference. I went home and decided to do some house cleaning that night after the visit. I felt an extra “pep in my step.” I plan to continue incorporating IV therapy into my wellness routine, or when I need another “self-care” day.
Is IV therapy for you?
Aimee says while IV therapy can be used for different ailments or wellness routines, it’s not for everyone, especially those with serious medical conditions. According to Revives website, “If you have been diagnosed with heart failure, high blood pressure that is not controlled with medication, kidney failure, or are on a fluid restriction diet, IV therapy is not recommended. However, our Vitamin Injections are still available and safe for you!”
Aimee said some lab work may be required from a doctor before vitamin injections are given at Revive.
Additionally, it is recommended to always consult your physician before beginning any therapy program. It is also important to make sure the facility you are receiving IV therapy at is run by licensed medical professionals and follows proper sanitation guidelines.