Tex,
We don't have Metanx in Sweden, but I can make an order on iherb.
Is this a similar product?
http://www.iherb.com/Thorne-Research-Me ... &sr=2&ic=8
/Jonas
I need you advice on medications
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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Joefnh
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Jonas this does sound neurological in nature so sticking with a neurologist may be a good bet for now. The MR or MRI scan is very sensitive for picking up AS but may not detect the earliest manifestations of it. With AS what is happening is inflammation in your bones that result in pain. On a MRI scan this will show up as white areas as this is where the inflammation has caused the bone to swell up with more water content.
Here is my MRI scan for AS, this shows my pelvic bone and you can see the white areas that are swollen. In AS of the spine you would see whiteish areas at the corners of the vertebrae
It seems that having the other markers for inflammation (sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein) checked out would help rule out AS along with the MRI scan results.
In cases of neuropathy it can be hard to test for but a neurologist would be the specialist that deals with that condition. Tex points out an excellent treatment for neuropathy as that vitamin combination is used in prescription form at the higher doses, many with neuropathy find that helps quite a bit.
Lyme disease is an interesting thought as it can present in many areas of the body resulting in pain or numbness or just fatigue. Gabes I am surprised the Aussie medical system does not recognize Lyme, its a well documented issue, the pathogens are quite visible under a microscope and respond to antibiotics.
Jonas have you had any unusual rashes and / or have you noted any weakness or problems with coordination?
Joe
Here is my MRI scan for AS, this shows my pelvic bone and you can see the white areas that are swollen. In AS of the spine you would see whiteish areas at the corners of the vertebrae
It seems that having the other markers for inflammation (sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein) checked out would help rule out AS along with the MRI scan results.
In cases of neuropathy it can be hard to test for but a neurologist would be the specialist that deals with that condition. Tex points out an excellent treatment for neuropathy as that vitamin combination is used in prescription form at the higher doses, many with neuropathy find that helps quite a bit.
Lyme disease is an interesting thought as it can present in many areas of the body resulting in pain or numbness or just fatigue. Gabes I am surprised the Aussie medical system does not recognize Lyme, its a well documented issue, the pathogens are quite visible under a microscope and respond to antibiotics.
Jonas have you had any unusual rashes and / or have you noted any weakness or problems with coordination?
Joe
Joe
Yes, that product contains equivalent active ingredients, in smaller quantities. Thorne Research now offers an upgraded product that contains higher amounts of those ingredients (plus some other ingredients.Jonas wrote:Is this a similar product?
http://www.iherb.com/Thorne-Research-Me ... &sr=2&ic=8
http://www.thorne.com/products/cardiova ... ~sf789.jsp
Note that the ingredient lists for the Thorne products show the amounts for 3 capsules (rather than 1), so in order to match the dosage levels of Metanx, it would be necessary to take 2 capsules of Thorne Research's Methyl-Guard Plus to approximately match the dosage in 1 Metanx capsule.
I have no idea whether or not your neurologist would be familiar with these products, but I would assume that he or she should be, since Metanx is prescribed not only for peripheral neuropathy, but also for endothelial dysfunction and hyperhomocysteinemia. My previous primary care doctor took Metanx in order to preserve his memory and improve his congnizance (as a deterrent to the effects of ageing).
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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tigereye92
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Just a few thoughts... ESR (sed rate) test is an extremely nonspecific test and many doctors skip it now entirely and order the CRP instead. That being said.... I also have Ankylosing spondylitis but my CRP is still usually normal or just on the low side of elevated. HLA B27 is an antigen test that can support a diagnosis of spondyloarthopathies such as AS or Psoratic artheritis.
And..... Hi Joe the Other person who has AS too!!!!! :) I was looking at your MRI.... I had one several years ago that said "moderate sponhyloarthropatic marrow changes" but no one thought anything of it b/c they were concentrating on the herniated disc. My rheum explained that the arthritis of the spine is what caused the herniation?
And..... Hi Joe the Other person who has AS too!!!!! :) I was looking at your MRI.... I had one several years ago that said "moderate sponhyloarthropatic marrow changes" but no one thought anything of it b/c they were concentrating on the herniated disc. My rheum explained that the arthritis of the spine is what caused the herniation?
What is the difference between Enteropathic Arthritis and AS, ot is it the same thing?
Tex,
Do you know why I'm losing weight when I don't have D and are eating both fat, protein and carb 5-6 times a day? (not small meals). Do I not absorb fat, do I have some kind of parasite/candida problem or what could be the explanation?
Tex,
Do you know why I'm losing weight when I don't have D and are eating both fat, protein and carb 5-6 times a day? (not small meals). Do I not absorb fat, do I have some kind of parasite/candida problem or what could be the explanation?
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Joefnh
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Jonas, Enteropathic arthritis is arthritis that shares a link to a gastrointestinal pathology, it is considered a condition that is related to AS. I had this discussion with my rheumatologist. I have Crohn's, MC(CC) in addition to the AS. My rheumatologist feels there is a relationship with these conditions in my case (I am HLBA27 positive)
Joe
Jonas,
EDIT: I see that Joe has posted while I was writing, but I'll leave my response unchanged, since it also contains some additional information.
Enteropathic arthritis is the type of chronic, inflammatory arthritis associated with an IBD. It typically affects the joints in limbs, but it can also affect the spine. This is the cause of the arthritis symptoms that most of us here experience along with MC
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis of the spine. It causes swelling between the vertebrae, and it can also affect the joints between the spine and pelvis. Apparently it also may be associated with an IBD, but I believe it can occur independently, as well (Joe, if I'm wrong about that, please correct me).
With or without D, MC is a result of inflammation of the intestines (enteritis), and enteritis interferes with digestion and causes malabsorption of nutrients. Does your stool show evidence of undigested or partially-digested food? I doubt that you have a parasite problem, because that would usually cause D.
If you have a candida overgrowth, you should have thrush (a white tongue surface), and a chronic itch in the anal area.
I have no idea whether or not you are absorbing fat. Does the water in the toilet bowl show evidence of an oily birefringence after a BM? The best way to check for fat malabsorption is the Fecal Fat test offered by EnteroLab.
Tex
EDIT: I see that Joe has posted while I was writing, but I'll leave my response unchanged, since it also contains some additional information.
Enteropathic arthritis is the type of chronic, inflammatory arthritis associated with an IBD. It typically affects the joints in limbs, but it can also affect the spine. This is the cause of the arthritis symptoms that most of us here experience along with MC
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis of the spine. It causes swelling between the vertebrae, and it can also affect the joints between the spine and pelvis. Apparently it also may be associated with an IBD, but I believe it can occur independently, as well (Joe, if I'm wrong about that, please correct me).
With or without D, MC is a result of inflammation of the intestines (enteritis), and enteritis interferes with digestion and causes malabsorption of nutrients. Does your stool show evidence of undigested or partially-digested food? I doubt that you have a parasite problem, because that would usually cause D.
If you have a candida overgrowth, you should have thrush (a white tongue surface), and a chronic itch in the anal area.
I have no idea whether or not you are absorbing fat. Does the water in the toilet bowl show evidence of an oily birefringence after a BM? The best way to check for fat malabsorption is the Fecal Fat test offered by EnteroLab.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Joefnh
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- Location: Southern New Hampshire
Sorry about that Tex, I didn't mean to post on top of your note. I think I'm bored, the hospital is the worst place to rest, especially when the nurse wakes you up to take your sleeping pill....Not kidding thats what happened just a bit ago.
One note about AS is that it affects primarily the bony vertebrae and the related small bony structures such as facet joints, not so much the space in-between the vertebrae which I associate with the fibrous jelly like discs. Basically any of the bone or cartilaginous structures in the lower spine can be affected by AS. If AS is left unchecked the bones of the vertebrae swell and will slowly grow towards one another and eventually the vertebrae will fuse together overgrowing the disc with bone fusing that level of the spine together. Additionally attached ligaments, tendons and muscle fibers can go though a type of calcification where they attach to the affected areas of the spine.
Often is we see an elderly gentlemen all bent over with a curved spine, that is AS at its worse and most likely was not treated.
Tex I have always wondered what part vitamin D plays in the progression of AS, the question would be is there a way to stop the progression of AS without the use of either direct (constant local steroid injections) or indirect immune suppressants like imuran as a immune suppressant
One note about AS is that it affects primarily the bony vertebrae and the related small bony structures such as facet joints, not so much the space in-between the vertebrae which I associate with the fibrous jelly like discs. Basically any of the bone or cartilaginous structures in the lower spine can be affected by AS. If AS is left unchecked the bones of the vertebrae swell and will slowly grow towards one another and eventually the vertebrae will fuse together overgrowing the disc with bone fusing that level of the spine together. Additionally attached ligaments, tendons and muscle fibers can go though a type of calcification where they attach to the affected areas of the spine.
Often is we see an elderly gentlemen all bent over with a curved spine, that is AS at its worse and most likely was not treated.
Tex I have always wondered what part vitamin D plays in the progression of AS, the question would be is there a way to stop the progression of AS without the use of either direct (constant local steroid injections) or indirect immune suppressants like imuran as a immune suppressant
Joe
Joe,
That sounds like a typical hospital environment. I hope that you were able to get back to sleep after the nurse woke you to give you that sleeping pill.
It's always good to see a post from you, and there was certainly nothing wrong with your post. The only reason why I added that edit note is because I didn't want to step on your toes, but I was too lazy to rewrite my post.
While some studies conclude that low vitamin D is not associated with the development of AS, other studies do show an association. There are definitely data available that show that lower blood levels of vitamin D are indeed associated with increased levels of inflammation markers (including pain) and disease activity. And I would assume that the presence of increased inflammation, and higher disease activity levels would be associated with an increased risk of progression of the disease. You may have already seen these, but I'll post these links in case someone else might be interested.
Does vitamin D affect disease severity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis?
Here's another recent study that show an association between low vitamin D and AS:
Decreased Plasma Vitamin D Levels in Patients with Undifferentiated Spondyloarthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis
Tex
That sounds like a typical hospital environment. I hope that you were able to get back to sleep after the nurse woke you to give you that sleeping pill.
It's always good to see a post from you, and there was certainly nothing wrong with your post. The only reason why I added that edit note is because I didn't want to step on your toes, but I was too lazy to rewrite my post.
While some studies conclude that low vitamin D is not associated with the development of AS, other studies do show an association. There are definitely data available that show that lower blood levels of vitamin D are indeed associated with increased levels of inflammation markers (including pain) and disease activity. And I would assume that the presence of increased inflammation, and higher disease activity levels would be associated with an increased risk of progression of the disease. You may have already seen these, but I'll post these links in case someone else might be interested.
Does vitamin D affect disease severity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis?
Here's another recent study that show an association between low vitamin D and AS:
Decreased Plasma Vitamin D Levels in Patients with Undifferentiated Spondyloarthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Well my tongue is white as snow, I did compare it with my wife and there is a big difference. I usally have itch in the anal area, but not everyday. So I don't know about that one.If you have a candida overgrowth, you should have thrush (a white tongue surface), and a chronic itch in the anal area.
Are there any other signs?
Those are pretty strong indications that you have a Candida overgrowth. For most people who have a Candida overgrowth, if they try to cut sugar/carbs out of their diet, the Candida will manipulate their brain to make them intensely crave sugar/sweets/carbs in order to feed the Candida.Jonas wrote:Are there any other signs?
Here's a good article by a doctor with a lot of information on other symptoms:
Candida symptoms
Note that some people only have 2 or 3 of those symptoms, while others have many. Also, it appears that most people who test positive to the yeast test offered by EnteroLab (even though the test only detects antibodies to baker's yeast, not Candida albicans) seem to have a Candida overgrowth, based on our experience here on this board.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Joe,
I have talked to the rheumatologist about the blood tests, my CRP was 0.6, ESR (SR) was 5 (I think) and I was HLA-B27 negative. So it was not very likely that I had AS, psoriasis arthritis or anything similar based on the blood test, MR-scan and the examination he did.
Tex,
Today I read the book “the candida cure” by Ann Boroch. There was a test in the book that cleared you candida if you were under 40 points, possibly present under 90, probably present under 140, almost certainly present over 140 points. I scored 290 points.
Is there any known connection between candida and MC? Do you know if there can be neurological related issues with candida?
I have talked to the rheumatologist about the blood tests, my CRP was 0.6, ESR (SR) was 5 (I think) and I was HLA-B27 negative. So it was not very likely that I had AS, psoriasis arthritis or anything similar based on the blood test, MR-scan and the examination he did.
Tex,
Today I read the book “the candida cure” by Ann Boroch. There was a test in the book that cleared you candida if you were under 40 points, possibly present under 90, probably present under 140, almost certainly present over 140 points. I scored 290 points.
Is there any known connection between candida and MC? Do you know if there can be neurological related issues with candida?
Jonas,
Now you're making progress.
When the digestive system is no longer able to split all of the sugars in food, that sugar remains undigested, and it's fermented by bacteria and yeasts (typically causing gas and bloating). Candida albicans is always present in our digestive system, but it is normally well controlled by competition from well-established colonies of bacteria, and good digestion that does not leave any undigested sugar residues in the fecal stream. As the supply of undigested sugar increases, Candida thrives, and propagates rapidly, becoming well-established by sinking roots into the intestinal walls in the "tight junctions" that are no longer tight, because of a leaky gut. At least this is the way that I see the problem. IOW, in my opinion, anyone who has MC (or any other IBD) is at an elevated risk of developing a Candida overgrowth at any time. Some of us only have a minor problem, but for others, it can become more serious.
Tex
Now you're making progress.
I don't know that a connection has ever been confirmed by any "official" medical research project (in fact, I doubt that such a connection has even been considered, let alone, studied). But MC (and any other IBD) is always associated with a leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability), and because the disease causes digestion to be drastically compromised, this leads to significant changes in gut bacteria and other organisms that live in the gut. The inflammation that causes MC also disrupts the production of enzymes that are required to split sugars and digest carbohydrates, in the small intestine.Jonas wrote:Is there any known connection between candida and MC?
When the digestive system is no longer able to split all of the sugars in food, that sugar remains undigested, and it's fermented by bacteria and yeasts (typically causing gas and bloating). Candida albicans is always present in our digestive system, but it is normally well controlled by competition from well-established colonies of bacteria, and good digestion that does not leave any undigested sugar residues in the fecal stream. As the supply of undigested sugar increases, Candida thrives, and propagates rapidly, becoming well-established by sinking roots into the intestinal walls in the "tight junctions" that are no longer tight, because of a leaky gut. At least this is the way that I see the problem. IOW, in my opinion, anyone who has MC (or any other IBD) is at an elevated risk of developing a Candida overgrowth at any time. Some of us only have a minor problem, but for others, it can become more serious.
Sure. The first category of symptoms listed in the reference that I cited are neurological symptoms:Jonas wrote:Do you know if there can be neurological related issues with candida?
Note that the list includes paresthesia (numbness). Though the list doesn't specifically list nerve problems that result in pain, if a Candida overgrowth can cause numbness, then surely it can cause other sensory perception problems as well. I hope this helps.Mental/emotional/nervous system:
Headaches and migraine headaches
Depression
Sleep problems — difficulty falling asleep, or waking up in the middle of the night with a mind that won’t calm down (typically between 1 and 3 am)
Irritability and confusion
Poor memory
Anxiety attacks, panic attacks
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Heart beating too fast or irregularly
Sexual problems — impotence or lack of desire, or excessive sexuality
Attention deficit, hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD)
Dizziness
Numbness
Feeling of floating or not quite being in your body
Indecisiveness, difficulty organizing and cleaning messy areas
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.