Stress & Inflammation Connection

06-14-09 I have not needed prednisone for nearly 2 months, of course it has not been terribly hot so far so we shall see. I have been taking Turmeric to help with that and I believe my diet changes have made a big difference. Stress management is also helpful since stress also causes inflammation. Chronic stress can cause or exacerbate MS. I have not been overly stressed lately, that's a big help. I also think the acupuncture treatments are helping with keeping exacerbations at bay, I'm still a bit nervous because it has not really been all that hot here in the Chicago area. It will be interesting to see how my body handles the heat that I have learned to detest over the years.

Have a great week! ~Lisa

04-17-09 I am unfortunately still using 2mg prednisone. This disease is really a hard nut to crack. Stress has always played a key role for me, and my symptoms, and now reading about certain foods, and their role in inflammation really makes this so difficult. I have not eaten sugar for a few years since my father has type 2 diabetes, and I really do not want another disease especially when I can prevent it. Insomnia also causes inflammation, which is a huge problem for me! I just found this link (below)...scary! I am lucky? that my GP wrote me a prescription for Xanax after I called him after I had my first, and so far only hallucination. I have tried melatonin, and tryptophan, and also Benadryl. Those over the counter products work to a point, then they do nothing. I suppose one could say I am addicted, but my other option is to not take anything, and have more hallucinations, lose my mind, or just die. I'm not ready to die, I'm a fighter and this disease just pisses me off! I have been doing a lot of research into chronic insomnia, and the brain. I have not had an MRI since 2000, and have had quite a few exacerbations since then even new ones that affected the left side of my body very badly, usually symptoms occur on the right side of my body. I have had 2 MRI's '98 &'00 the lesions were always strictly in my cerebellum, and frontal lobe. I would not be surprised if I now have lesions to my brainstem, this is just an educated guess on my part but I kept finding articles that "talk" about brain stem lesions, insomnia, and then I read one that included hallucinations with MS & Insomnia. So that is my reasoning behind chronic insomnia & brain stem lesions. I think I may need to decide between saving money for an MRI, or spending money on anti-inflammatory foods. It would be fascinating to see what my brain looks like now, lesion-wise, and if I do have any new lesions maybe in my brain stem. ? I will start checking labs in my area that so I can start pricing MRI's. I will also do my best to limit stress since that too = inflammation, stress has always kicked my butt. Though I feel really good today, I am walking around the house mostly with no cane, but that of course will change when it begins to get darker outside. I've been exercising but know I need to not over do it or it will be back to a higher dose of steroids. I will continue to do my best to keep inflammation to a minimum. Cya ~ Lisa

http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/sleep_problems_cause_inflammation_and_early_death/

03-27-09 I am still weaning off the prednisone 2mg but I am truly and finally seeing and believing for myself that it's not just stress that causes inflammation, our true enemy but likely so do some of the foods we eat. I hope to be getting my Human Bloodprint tests results back next week. I do understand that it seems absurd that foods could really be partly responsible for our MS symptoms. That is why I am having this test done to see for a fact that there are some foods I need to stop eating if I want to get better. It still just seems awfully coincidental that there are more and more MS patients who talk about "curing" their symptoms through diet alone. They also talk about trying to alleviate stress as much as humanly possible since that also causes inflammation (sometimes easier said than done). It's taken me a long time to finally believe that inflammatory foods & inflammation from stress play a key role in this "sucky disease" that my friend Scot called it before MS took his young life. He did eat inflammatory foods as does another young MS friend who I fear will also meet the same fate he did. Unfortunately this way of eating is not yet widely accepted by the Neurological community as a treatment for MS and other auto immune diseases. Scot used the ABC drugs but still died, that really ticks me off! I'm certain some of you know, or know of an MS patient who used those drugs and are not here with us today! I know eating anti-inflammatory foods will likely not sit well with the drug manufacturers...awe poor them! It's going to be up to all of us patients who believe that diet could actually help us recover as much as we can or maybe even cure us. If you can I would really suggest contacting the company that does this test and no, I get no monetary gain for mentioning this blood test just the hope that this test can help or maybe even cure or save another patient. I just don't think MS should be a fatal disease. You of course will have to make up your own mind.

Never give up! ~ Lisa

02-20-09 Stress has been rather heavy as of late with my grandmother's passing so I am still often relying on my old friend prednisone, I can still walk with my cane I'm just a bit wobbly. Things should calm down soon, I just need to take it easy and remember that certain stressors and dietary changes do not get resolved overnight. It will be nice when life settles down and I find out exactly what foods I definitely need to avoid. It is difficult giving up so many foods, I would like to know which ones I can and cannot eat according to my own body's chemistry. I will always be grateful to all of the information I have found about other MS patients who have changed their diets and found lasting relief as long as they "stuck to the program". But now I want to know for sure about any particular foods I must avoid. Never give up! ~ Lisa

01-23-09 My stress is much better, now that I am able to fall asleep at night and even take naps. That alone really helps my stress levels. Of course there was stress when I was having my fillings replaced and I have 2 left to go then they will all be out of my teeth! The holidays are over, another love/hate relationship! LOL I have not had any uncontrollable crying episodes, I think that too is due to my being able to sleep better! I like sleep! One never knows when stress will pop up, but for me so far so good! Have a great weekend! ~ Lisa

12-12-08 Stress is still there, maybe not as bad as our dumbass Governor of Illinois, how embarrassing! My stress is being alleviated because I will soon be having all 9 of my amalgam fillings properly replaced, that will be complete on January 6th! I'm very excited about that. I did have a sad stressor yesterday when I received a Christmas letter from my Aunt's sister Sue who's only child, died in a car accident about 6 months ago. I opened it and instantly saw the picture she sent of her son, grandson and his wife. I could not read it I burst into tears and my only child AJ swiftly left the room. I don't blame him at all, I don't think I could handle seeing my mom crying so often and there being nothing he could do to help. I love him so much! It took me all day and some Prozac before I could finally read the letter. It was very nice. She actually came to my grandma's 100th birthday party, I wanted so bad to express my deepest condolences to her but felt this was probably not the best time, because I knew it would quickly become a sob fest on my grandmothers big day. I have tried to write her a letter but would just burst into tears, but I think I can write that letter now. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband who was a godsend for her. Stress will always be there, I know having my fillings replaced will be a different type of stress, but that stress I am looking forward to. Never give up! ~Lisa

09-26-08 Not much has changed. My legs are still pretty weak and silly me I was "playing" with the amount of Xanax to use...ooops! My mattress was starting to slide a bit and I did not ask AJ to push it in a little, I'm sure you've heard this phrase or possibly used it yourself, "I've fallen and can't get up!" Not something AJ wanted to hear at 6 am, but my son was a good sport. I definitely outweigh him, but he helped me greatly! As I'm sitting on the edge of the bed I start having that scary feeling that Oh crap! Though I admit that was not the real word I used. LOL There is a couch in the next room and in my delusional state I actually thought after I scoot on my butt to that couch, I could simply get to my knees and stand up...duh! That's when I shouted for AJ, I knew I could stand up so I could get to the couch if he just gave me a boost from my pits. It worked, but still sucks! I was starting to wean off the prednisone, but so much for that brilliant idea! I hate that bloating, but it does help and at least the weather is cooling off. In my experience that is a the monumental difference between prednisone and the vaccine...no water retention!!! I can still use the cane but I think after my tumble, I will only use it when I go into the bathroom. Big duh! Cya ~ Lisa

09-08-08 My stress is up right now. My legs are pretty weak although I can still walk with my cane, I'm finding myself using the wheelchair more. I still believe in diet being key, I wish I would have started that at 13...oh well. Since I am self taught when it comes to this website, I some how mess it up from time to time...this has been one of those times, hopefully everything will be up & running smoothly :)? Thanks for your patience! ~Lisa

08-22-08 My stress levels go up & down. The vertigo is completely gone, my balance is still pretty bad I cannot stand with my feet together & close my eyes with out falling over. (that may require stem cells one day) I'm confident that once I can sleep better on a regular basis I will continue to recover more quickly. It has only been about one year since my eating habits changed to eating non inflammatory foods only. The summer heat has been amazingly mild here in the Chicago area I'm certain that has helped. Being able to use the Immunosyn vaccine has helped with riding my body of inflammation as well. Though in the past I have had exacerbations start up at only 75°, so something is working. I am only using diet to treat MS now, for roughly 1 year, though I quit eating sugar 3 years ago. Inflammation is the enemy! Stress causes inflammation just as much as eating inflammatory foods and being in the heat. I'm going to do my best to get some Neurologist's on the same inflammatory foods page. I've been to 5 different Neurologists since 1975 and all of them told me diet would not make a difference, including the one Chicago doctor I have the most trust in. I am going to make an appointment with him today. I still have problems with insomnia but I'm now thinking a lot of that is because I have an overactive bladder (how can I sleep when I wake up every 2 hours to go to the bathroom?). I took Ditropan about 12 years ago but it dried my mouth out so bad I quit taking it, my dentist told me that that is really bad for my teeth. I'll have to figure that out! I hope I can get my Neuro to see the idea that diet does make a difference. Knock on wood! ~ Lisa

07-06-08 I'm feeling a bit less stress, the vertigo is much better in fact I don't really notice it very much but I was expecting that to happen, that seems to be the norm for me. I am really working on being as stress free as possible, that also causes inflammation and we MSers really need to stay a way from that! I have spoken with some MS patients who are parents of small children, talk about stress! That is a tough one for me to comment on since that is not where I am now, my only child is now 20 though there are some new stresses with that I don't think it compares with having to care for young children. However one must try very hard to find a way to alleviate some of that stress since stress is a factor in causing inflammation, which is the enemy. Inflammation Stress MS There are quite a few really interesting links at the link to the left. Because I have been fortunate to be able to use the Immunosyn vaccine (SF1019) I know that that also helps in reducing inflammation. My hope for the future is to show that by using dietary changes that include not eating inflammatory foods, like sugar for one and using the vaccine (which has not yet been FDA approved) in conjunction with the dietary changes that MS patients can heal a little bit quicker that through diet alone. That is my opinion from being able to use the vaccine and making the necessary dietary changes. Stay Strong. ~Lisa

06-27-08 Stress has again resurfaced, heat & still not receiving my alimony. Even when I have the AC running the heat still bothers me, I know that is the same for so many of us MSers. I again have a touch of vertigo, though that seems to go away after a few minutes, but I then have to remember to wheel myself around since my balance is having a temper tantrum! :( My legs still feel pretty strong walking is only an issue since I am having quite a bit of stress and balance is a problem at the moment. Insomnia is also still a problem, but last night I did some visualization exercises and EFT, I slept pretty good after that. I know I need to get real and know that I will probably never be able to sleep as soundly as I did when I was a kid so I must figure what works for this body I'm in. I still completely believe that diet does make a difference even though I never believed it before. I do not have insurance but I plan on making an appointment with the one neurologist that I went to for nearly 20 years he also never believed that diet makes a difference, but he always had an open mind when I would come to him with alternative treatments like bee venom, antibiotic therapy, and B1 & liver extract and he would go along with these ideas. He even understood when I stopped using the 2 ABC drugs I had used over a few years because I could see one of them simply made me feel worse. My personal experience & belief is that eating non inflammatory foods is key to kicking this disease in the keester! From reading about other MSers experiences with these dietary changes and becoming MS free because of that I hope to show that by using dietary changes in conjunction with the SF1019 vaccine that healing will happen a bit quicker than just using dietary changes. From reading the MS dietary changes books it appeared to me that dietary changes alone took an average of about 4 years for those patients to become well. Things seem to be going very well for me & my MS. I have been very fortunate in being able to use the vaccine, it has been just over a year, the dietary changes have been pretty recent a little over a year though I stopped eating sugar 3 years ago. So my hope is to be much better over the next couple years. My doctor is a pretty well known Chicago Neurologist so that could help other doctors to believe that diet does make a difference and using both treatments together will help MS patients to heal more quickly. The rebel in me will do whatever I can to have these 2 treatments given together so that all my MS compadres can become well. My friend Scot never had a chance, my hope is to help the rest of us that do. Try to keep an open mind about diet, it has taken me over 30 years to believe this, I believe it now! My other hope is that the SF1019 vaccine will be approved by the FDA in the next year or so. Knock on wood! ~ Lisa

03-16-08 In this area I would like to share my personal experience with stress and how I can look back and see just what an impact it has truly played with my symptoms and looking back again how I may have been able to alleviate some of my numerous exacerbations if I would have worked on relaxing, being laid back letting things roll off my back was never my strong suit. By not learning to use the knowledge my mother gave to me on learning meditation techniques and applying them I'm certain many of my exacerbations have been somewhat self induced. I would not pay attention to the signs of limb weakness for example and continue to overdue it which would lead me to needing steroids. This continued throughout being a mom, mother guilt and such. Being a parent is the most difficult job in the world! At 46 I feel I've learned a lot so I try to wake up and meditate, attempt to stay away from stress of course easier said than done. Another example I have about stress is one about 2 MS female patients who are related by blood. I've known them for about 25 years now, we'll call them "Tess" and "Jess". "Tess" is much like me hard headed with a big chip on her shoulder, has a difficult time letting things roll off her back. She is presently secondary progressive as I am, she also like myself did not grow up eating the most healthy foods in the world, some healthy but an awful lot of junk food! "Jess" on the other hand grew up eating mostly healthy foods, very little junk food. She also is the kind of person who was very laid back and lets most stresses just roll off her back, she is also very happily married. Her MS is for the most part still RR. Maybe this is all coincidence but looking back at my life honestly, I now think trying to take things easier is a better way to go. Not necessarily easier, but I know I will work more diligently at trying to take things a bit easier, trying to let things roll off my back. If you have an example you would like to share let me know, you can remain anonymous like my friends "Tess" & "Jess". I'll look for other examples as well.

Take care. ~ Lisa

03-20-08 I thought I'd add some links on how stress and certain foods can add to the problem of inflammation, something people with inflammatory diseases like MS really need to do their best to control. I hate the idea of changing my eating habits and it appears that even after changing these eating habits, it will take a very long time to recover. However again, what else is there to try? I just Googled stress & inflammation and foods that cause inflammation. There are quite a few links about the subjects. From my point of view, if one of my Neurologists had suggested that changing the foods that I ate may truly help, I would have at least given it a try. I'm sure many if not all of you have heard of Dr. Roy Swank, who is now deceased but I don't remember any other doctors who suggested these dietary changes. I hope in the very near future there will be studies done on the facts of how diet can make a difference, but in the meantime I will just keep doing my best to stay away from the offending foods. It sucks to change my diet, but MS sucks more! Hang in there! ~ Lisa

03-25-08 I was just looking again at Ann Boroch's site and forgot she has some links to items in her book, like this one on Stress & Mental well being. Tips on changing those negative thoughts that just pop into one's brain, and yes I also have those nagging thoughts! This link she gives her thoughts on the real cause MS, I feel the same way as Ann Boroch does now. It is still going to be a challenge but I'm so tired of being this way, my drivers license is up for renewal in 2 years and I would really like to be able to drive again! There is a simple and free saliva test that can give you an indication of if you do have Candida. I will never give up until as my friend Scot called it, "Sucky Disease"! is GONE! ~ Lisa

03-28-08 Have had a bit of sad family stress so I have been taking it easy and trying some visualization exercises. Can't hurt! Have a great weekend! ~ Lisa

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