Possible Cause of MS

mbozard · Post by **mbozard** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 10:59 am

I participated in the poll on cause and "don't know" is where I came out. Since reading "Microscopic Colitis" and other books I have become aware of the Autoimmune factor. I'm pretty sure I fall into that category because I was diagnosed in 1985 with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. In reflecting on what could have started it all, I thought about the fact that I gave birth in 1983 to my first son and was given RhoGam during the pregnancy. Then I wondered about whether RhoGam could have triggered the autoimmune issues.

I found this doing some research on the web, "The concern over RhoGAM is based on the fact that in its earlier form it contained thimerosal. Between1968 (when RhoGAM was first licensed) and April of 2001, RhoGAM contained the thimerosal preservative. Thimerosal contains ethylmercury and because methylmercury (another mercury based composition) has been found to cause severe health problems, ethylmercury is also being scrutinized. Both compositions are known to be neurotoxins. To date, no conclusive evidence has been found linking ethylmercury to neurodevelopmental disorders, but the FDA has treated thimerosal with caution."

The intestinal issues started up in 1990 but no medical professional (and I've seen plenty) ever linked them to autoimmunity.

So, anyone out there have a point of view on whether RhoGam could have triggered all this misery?

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:20 am

I'm guessing you have a celiac gene (many of us do), which also predisposes us to all types of autoimmunity, but especially Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and others. It's possible the Rhogam injection activated that gene. It's also more possible your pregnancy or circumstances around your delivery and post-partum period triggered those genes. Many autoimmune diseases first present in the post-partum period because it follows a period of immune suppression followed by a period of high immune activation from the prolactin hormones in the post-partum/breastfeeding period. Fluctuations in estrogen may also play a role. My autoimmune disease presented one month post-partum. Did you take antibiotics during or after pregnancy? Did you have a natural birth or c-section? Did you breastfeed? Did you have a boy or a girl? There is a theory of autoimmunity related to having boys - microchimerism - where some of baby's DNA enters mom's bloodstream and circulates or lands in certain organs. Some think it elicits an immune response, others think it may protect the mom. If you and baby had opposing blood types, that may be an even greater factor.

If circumstances around pregnancy activated your gluten-sensitivity genes, it could have taken a few years for overt digestive symptoms to develop.

Here's a link to AI disease associated with celiac and celiac genetics:

http://www.cureceliacdisease.org/archiv ... ac-disease

My other long-time theory also involves Epstein Barr Virus (I had mono as a teen, but most of us are infected at some point)

Here's a link to a possible explanation: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14596882

Then there's the popular leaky gut/candida overgrowth theory which basically says too many antibiotics and our diet of high-carb processed foods and sugar have caused most if us to have candida ablicans (yeast) overgrowth which pokes holes in our intestines leading to leaky gut and food antigens entering the bloodstream, which causes our immune system to react to those foods.

I think it's a combination of all these factors.

mbozard · Post by **mbozard** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:31 am

Wow, you are well-versed in this topic. I feel like such a novice but hopefully, I'm learning. I spent too many years so busy working and raising a family and just blindly following Doctor's orders...Now, I'm changing that!

Anyway, to answer your questions:

Did you take antibiotics during or after pregnancy? Not during and not right after but did have pneumonia in 1988 necessitating strong antibiotics.

Did you have a natural birth or c-section? Natural birth

Did you breastfeed? Yes, breastfed both boys.

Did you have a boy or a girl? Boys, in 1983 & 1986.

It was 1985 when the thyroid issue arose and 1990 when the intestinal issues started.

Thanks for all the insight.

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:38 am

BTW, a subgroup of us here are taking Low Dose Naltrexone for MC and related autoimmune issues. I can't say it's a miracle drug for MC for everyone, although it does seem to lessen the severity of food sensitivities, but it is a miracle for autoimmune diseases. It got my DM into remission within 12 weeks while also rapidly tapering prednisone. Others experience great pain relief from it. We all notice greater energy and improved mood. The reason I mention it is that LDN is particularly effective at treating Hashimoto's. So much so, that people have to decrease their thyroid hormones within days and weeks of starting LDN.

We have a private group on Facebook that you can join (let me know if you want to be invited) and there is an open group on Facebook called "Got Endorphins." LDN would probably give you a nice shortcut to wellness while you simultaneously address your food intolerances.

If only I knew about LDN when I started this journey!!

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:46 am

While you're at it, you may want to order 23&Me genetic testing for $100 (best value in healthcare!!). It's a mail-away saliva sample and you get an incredibly comprehensive report about your genome and ancestry where you can search for the celiac genes (otherwise Enterolab has a cheek swab test for $150) among others. You can take the raw data and run it through 2 websites, geneticgenie.com and promethease.com, and find out more than you ever wanted to know about what you are genetically predisposed too. Fiding our your methylation gene mutations is a big reason people do this. Most people with AI diseases have mutations that prevent us from efficiently detoxing. You'd be doing a favor for your kids too, by finding out know what your family may be at risk for. For example, having a MTHFR mutation means you need to take methylated forms of B vitamins and avoid foods fortified with folic acid. Good to know!

I found out I have the worst HLA haplotype that predisposes to many autoimmune diseases. I have some 25 other autoimmune genes as well. Doesn't mean they are all triggered now, but it's good to know that all this diet and health work are hopefully contributing to keeping those genes inactive.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:21 pm

For anyone with multiple AI issues, I concur with Zizzle 's post above about the 23andme testing, and subsequent report outputs.

As you read through posts/discussions, thyroid, mast cells and methylation issues will be mentioned, it may seem really full on at first... As you get your head around things, these issues are very common for those with multiple AI issues.

A bit like how the mrt blood test fine tunes foods to be minimised, and those to be avoided.
The reports from the 23andme data, fine tunes the supplement protocol to follow to maximise cell health.

For now I would focus on getting your major triggers out of your eating plan, get some healing underway, then embrace the 23andme stage of insight...

mbozard · Post by **mbozard** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 7:22 am

Thanks. Sounds like a logical approach. I really appreciate the seasoned advice from everyone. Hopefully, I will get to a point where I know enough to contribute to help others but for now, just feel really grateful to have support.