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Undiagnosed circle of hell.
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Have you ever been on anti-virals or investigated a viral link to your issues?, there's a private clinic linked to the Mater that is treating Lyme patients but also other viruses in relation to CFS.
I don't have lyme disease. No, it's not a viral infection. And even treating a viral infection in ME/CFS won't resolve the problem in full. Robert Naviaux gave a great interview about why this is the case. I'll try find the link for you.0 -
jenny smith wrote: »What i said was i do not necessarily believe it. There have been loads of claims over the years on people being on the verge of a cure. The amount of people in any of these studies is so small it does not mean much. I will believe it when i see them cure people
That's how the scientific method works. A hypothesis is suggested and either validated or refuted. Nobody up until this point has put forward credible hypothesis for the underlying cause of CFS/ME. There have been studies which have highlighted individual issues, like imbalanced gut flora, reduction in brain matter, AMPK issues, etc.. But none have really looked at the disease in a broad scope.
That's precisely why the OMF's study is different. They are looking at absolutely everything. The list is extensive.
The have a great team, with some of the best minds in various fields working together.
They haven't put forward a claim that they have a cure. They have simply stated that based on their findings - with a much better understanding of the mechanics of CFS/ME - They will be able to develop treatment.
I share your skepticism for claims about CFS/ME cures. But having ready the study in great detail, I have confidence that if anyone finds a cure for this disease - it will be them.0 -
Edgarfrndly wrote: »That's how the scientific method works. A hypothesis is suggested and either validated or refuted. Nobody up until this point has put forward credible hypothesis for the underlying cause of CFS/ME. There have been studies which have highlighted individual issues, like imbalanced gut flora, reduction in brain matter, AMPK issues, etc.. But none have really looked at the disease in a broad scope.
That's precisely why the OMF's study is different. They are looking at absolutely everything. The list is extensive.
The have a great team, with some of the best minds in various fields working together.
They haven't put forward a claim that they have a cure. They have simply stated that based on their findings - with a much better understanding of the mechanics of CFS/ME - They will be able to develop treatment.
I share your skepticism for claims about CFS/ME cures. But having ready the study in great detail, I have confidence that if anyone finds a cure for this disease - it will be them.0 -
jenny smith wrote: »
There was a study done by Dr. Maureen Hanson on mtDNA with relation to CFS patients. Her conclusions were:Analysis of mitochondrial genomes in ME/CFS cases indicates that individuals of a certain haplogroup or carrying specific SNPs are more likely to exhibit certain neurological, inflammatory, and/or gastrointestinal symptoms. No increase in susceptibility to ME/CFS of individuals carrying particular mitochondrial genomes or SNPs was observed.
So genetic mutations may exacerbate symptoms, but did not have any meaningful difference on the susceptibility of getting CFS.
It may or may not be the case that specific mutations increase susceptibility of getting CFS, but as of yet - there is no evidence to indicate it.
Have you read Naviaux's paper in full yet?0 -
Edgarfrndly wrote: »There was a study done by Dr. Maureen Hanson on mtDNA with relation to CFS patients. Her conclusions were:
So genetic mutations may exacerbate symptoms, but did not have any meaningful difference on the susceptibility of getting CFS.
It may or may not be the case that specific mutations increase susceptibility of getting CFS, but as of yet - there is no evidence to indicate it.
Have you read Naviaux's paper in full yet?
"British researchers are close to developing, for the first time, a blood test and potential drug treatments for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), following groundbreaking work on its genetic origins."
That was 8 years ago. What happened to the potential drug treatments?0 -
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jenny smith wrote: »point i was making is Kerr was the man who was talking cures then http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/3336526/ME-Invisible-disease-is-now-easier-to-read.html
"British researchers are close to developing, for the first time, a blood test and potential drug treatments for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), following groundbreaking work on its genetic origins."
That was 8 years ago. What happened to the potential drug treatments?
I think it's important to read the conclusions of the paper in question first. It's titled "Use of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to distinguish gene expression subtypes of CFS/ME" if you want to read it yourself. It's available on Sci-Hub.This study provides evidence that human SNPs located within CFS/ME associated genes are associated with particular genomic subtypes of CFS/ME. Further work is required to develop this into a clinically useful subtype-specific diagnostic test.
So what they are saying is, people with CFS/ME with certain symptoms are likely to have specific SNPs. There is no claim here of a diagnostic test or treatment, but rather - that further testing would need to be performed to validate the findings and to create a diagnostic test. Which it has not been done.
I think the difference between this and the latest paper by Robert Naviaux is that Naviaux's metabolomics findings has been validated in a second independent study. It is a lot closer to a claim of being able to develop a diagnostic test than Dr. Kerr's original study - who btw, I've not heard about in some time.
Look - it's definitely ok to have a healthy amount of skepticism about any studies on CFS/ME. I completely understand it as someone who has had this disease for over a decade. It is fine to be skeptical of claims of treatment or a cure.
But it's also important to stay hopeful - not to the point of deluding yourself. But not to the point where we completely disregard every credible scientific paper on the illness.0 -
Edgarfrndly wrote: »There was a study done by Dr. Maureen Hanson on mtDNA with relation to CFS patients. Her conclusions were:
So genetic mutations may exacerbate symptoms, but did not have any meaningful difference on the susceptibility of getting CFS.
It may or may not be the case that specific mutations increase susceptibility of getting CFS, but as of yet - there is no evidence to indicate it.
Have you read Naviaux's paper in full yet?
Some people seem to be just poor detoxers, possibly related to the cytochrome P450 enzymes. I could never tolerate a freshly painted room and would get violent headaches if I was exposed even before I got sick.0 -
Some people seem to be just poor detoxers, possibly related to the cytochrome P450 enzymes. I could never tolerate a freshly painted room and would get violent headaches if I was exposed even before I got sick.
I'm the exact same. Paint fumes makes me extremely ill for days. I haven't painted my room in years because of it. It's pretty common in CFS - multiple chemical sensitivity is the name for it I believe.0 -
Where's the best and cheapest place to buy the Andy Cutler protocol?0
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Where's the best and cheapest place to buy the Andy Cutler protocol?
I have the book here somewhere. To be honest - you don't really need it. There's not much to it.
You take DMSA and ALA every 3 hours for 3 days, and then take a 4 day rest period. Take a good multivitamin like oxylent to replenish each day.
Start off with a low dose like 12.5mg, and gradually taper it up every 6 - 8 rounds. Just join one of the groups on facebook.
Personally, I had no results with the protocol over 80 rounds or so. But I have seen some people who have had good results.0 -
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Edgarfrndly wrote: »I have the book here somewhere. To be honest - you don't really need it. There's not much to it.
You take DMSA and ALA every 3 hours for 3 days, and then take a 4 day rest period. Take a good multivitamin like oxylent to replenish each day.
Start off with a low dose like 12.5mg, and gradually taper it up every 6 - 8 rounds. Just join one of the groups on facebook.
Personally, I had no results with the protocol over 80 rounds or so. But I have seen some people who have had good results.
Thanks but I meant the chelators and supplements rather than the book - I have the protocol http://www.maybeitsmercury.com/how-exactly-to-chelate-using-the-andy-cutler-protocol.html0 -
Thanks but I meant the chelators and supplements rather than the book - I have the protocol http://www.maybeitsmercury.com/how-exactly-to-chelate-using-the-andy-cutler-protocol.html
I ordered mine in the past from a place called living supplements. Most people order from there. They are the cheapest.0 -
Edgarfrndly wrote: »I'm the exact same. Paint fumes makes me extremely ill for days. I haven't painted my room in years because of it. It's pretty common in CFS - multiple chemical sensitivity is the name for it I believe.
Yep. My old enemy! Fabric conditioners.. DW40 ... paint.. every chemical there is.0 -
Edgarfrndly wrote: »I have the book here somewhere. To be honest - you don't really need it. There's not much to it.
You take DMSA and ALA every 3 hours for 3 days, and then take a 4 day rest period. Take a good multivitamin like oxylent to replenish each day.
Start off with a low dose like 12.5mg, and gradually taper it up every 6 - 8 rounds. Just join one of the groups on facebook.
Personally, I had no results with the protocol over 80 rounds or so. But I have seen some people who have had good results.
Have you considered that maybe the exposure to mercury compromised your immune system enough to allow an opportunistic virus to get in? The mercury itself may have had an effect but the fatigue could actually be caused by a virus. If they get into the vagus nerve they can cause a lot of problems. There's a private clinic across from the Mater now dealing with viral issues.0 -
Have you considered that maybe the exposure to mercury compromised your immune system enough to allow an opportunistic virus to get in? The mercury itself may have had an effect but the fatigue could actually be caused by a virus. If they get into the vagus nerve they can cause a lot of problems. There's a private clinic across from the Mater now dealing with viral issues.
Hi Seanachai. An endocrinologist said similar about a virus suppressing the immune system recently. What's the name of the clinic you mentioned (PM me if necessary)
Thank you0 -
Thanks but I meant the chelators and supplements rather than the book - I have the protocol http://www.maybeitsmercury.com/how-exactly-to-chelate-using-the-andy-cutler-protocol.html
I would goon the FB page, Andy Cutler Think Tank I think it's called, it's moderated by people who have used his protocol with great success. Of course there are those who it hasn't worked for. All Mercury has to be removed from the teeth, I know of some people tried using chelators while still having a dozen or so fillings. :eek:
Shawn Bean on FB, a functional med doc in America has a lot of good stuff on Mercury, Mold, Lyme Disease etc, the thing with Lyme is its very hard to test if it's burrowed into the body, repeated tests can be needed to see if its there. Other poster said that opportunistic viruses can enter the body once Mercury has done its dirty work, this is Cutler's stance on a lot of issues-sort out the Mercury and the body can fight off the Lyme/Mold etc.
I wouldn't give up on the Cutler Protocol just yet.0 -
Hi Seanachai. An endocrinologist said similar about a virus suppressing the immune system recently. What's the name of the clinic you mentioned (PM me if necessary)
Thank you
I have used enzymes in the past to try and address viruses, I used a product called 'Virastop', it is now sold under the new name 'Enzyme defense'. I had a pretty bad herx reaction which indicated to me that viral issues were a part of my condition. I've tried the new product in the last few days and I also had a reaction, with an improvement in energy levels and digestion. I'm saving to get a loan and I'm basically going to get tested to the hilt and try out different protocols on myself and visit one of the functional medicine doctors that we have here now (thank you athletes & body builders :cool:).
I hate the public health service with a passion (not the staff), even when I do get to see a consultant I can almost predict the outcome, right down to the phrases that they all use to dismiss complaints. I have all my results on record and if the functional medicine results show a problem where the others gave me the all-clear I will post them up here to show that there are probably thousands of people with chronic illness that are being dismissed by the public health system because of either ignorance or poor quality diagnostics.0 -
Hi Seanachai. An endocrinologist said similar about a virus suppressing the immune system recently. What's the name of the clinic you mentioned (PM me if necessary)
Thank you
Anybody have any good/bad experiences with this particular clinic? Looking for a possible diagnosis on very CFS like symptoms that have been on and off for a year now. PM greatly appreciated if it's not the done thing to post here...0 -
Old thread.
Any old posters still active?
How did the DMSA work out?0 -
Hi All, I stumbled across this thread but had to post...
Please be aware the standard Lyme test done via GP's isn't the most reliable. If you arent tested within a particular time-frame of being infected it can come back as a 'false negative' or if you are already chronically ill, it can also come back 'false negative' (the antibodies are not produced by the body as its so immune suppressed). Please refer to TickTalk Ireland (the go-to resource on everything Lyme related) which explains this further. A family member got severely ill and we got these 'false negatives' but we kept digging and ruled nothing out. Unfortunately alot of chronic Lyme disease diagnosis's can be missed and mislabelled as Fibro/MS etc. It really is a hot topic of debate as to how inaccurate these tests are.
With regards to our Lyme journey, we of course pursued the medical route but we also went to a herbalist and tried biomagnetic therapy. Found magnetic therapy quite beneficial for the extreme nerve pain. Given how ill they were we had to pursue other options. Thankfully huge improvements over the past two/three years.0 -
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every_other wrote: »Hi All, I stumbled across this thread but had to post...
Please be aware the standard Lyme test done via GP's isn't the most reliable. If you arent tested within a particular time-frame of being infected it can come back as a 'false negative' or if you are already chronically ill, it can also come back 'false negative' (the antibodies are not produced by the body as its so immune suppressed). Please refer to TickTalk Ireland (the go-to resource on everything Lyme related) which explains this further. A family member got severely ill and we got these 'false negatives' but we kept digging and ruled nothing out. Unfortunately alot of chronic Lyme disease diagnosis's can be missed and mislabelled as Fibro/MS etc. It really is a hot topic of debate as to how inaccurate these tests are.
With regards to our Lyme journey, we of course pursued the medical route but we also went to a herbalist and tried biomagnetic therapy. Found magnetic therapy quite beneficial for the extreme nerve pain. Given how ill they were we had to pursue other options. Thankfully huge improvements over the past two/three years.
Is the information from medical doctors?
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Grady Uninterested Statistics wrote: »TickTalk Ireland is only one viewpoint and i question if it is the go-to resource on everything Lyme related. The site says Tick Talk Ireland is composed of a small group of passionate volunteers wanting to provide accurate information about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Disease
Is the information from medical doctors?
Yes TickTalk is mostly patients helping patients. As I understand Lyme testing is very contentious, not just here, but in the UK and the States. Attended the National Lyme conference just to learn more (Ticktalk run this as far as I know). There was various medical professionals and doctors from a variety of backgrounds and they discussed the standard test and how it can give a false negative. As far as I know or think Marc McSharry and Lynn Boylan have been actively lobbying change to the testing here in Ireland. Again this is all just learning and exploration from what Ive picked up over the past few years. Not a medical professional myself but I have learned Lyme is a very complex disease.0 -
every_other wrote: »Yes TickTalk is mostly patients helping patients. As I understand Lyme testing is very contentious, not just here, but in the UK and the States. Attended the National Lyme conference just to learn more (Ticktalk run this as far as I know). There was various medical professionals and doctors from a variety of backgrounds and they discussed the standard test and how it can give a false negative. As far as I know or think Marc McSharry and Lynn Boylan have been actively lobbying change to the testing here in Ireland. Again this is all just learning and exploration from what Ive picked up over the past few years. Not a medical professional myself but I have learned Lyme is a very complex disease.
Who are the various medical doctors who spoke of a false negative? What istheir background and do they profit from private practice like the CfS experts0 -
Grady Uninterested Statistics wrote: »Are Marc McSharry and Lynn Boylan doctors? I know medical doctors who say the tests for Lyme is trustworthy. If National Lyme conference is run by tick talk it is just their view just like some people make claims about ME which are just an opinion of non medical people
Who are the various medical doctors who spoke of a false negative? What istheir background and do they profit from private practice like the CfS experts
Whoops sorry the two people I mentioned are politicians! I guess look up the lyme conference website and see the speakers They are all online and detail their backgrounds but it was interesting to hear their viewpoint too. And yes absolutely I do agree with you, who is benefiting and if its private, a hugely important factor.0 -
Hi guys - dlofnep here again.
I don't update this thread anymore - but my health is not great. My memory is also faltering over the past few years. I'm on a waiting list to see a neurologist. It's been so many years since I started this thread that I can't remember every thing I've updated people on.
A quick summary - In 2005 I developed M.E.
In 2013 I was bit by a dog, which added some new symptoms that I did not have before like muscle twitching and strong depersonalisation (google it). My memory also started to get worse and worse, forgetting people's names, forgetting the pin for my phone, simple things like that.
I ended up getting tested for bartonella as I know it's transmittable via a dog bite, but also added lyme and a few other tests alongside it around 2016 or 2017. I tested negative for bartonella, but surprisingly tested positive for lyme. I sought treated and spent 18 months on antibiotics. My neurological symptoms prevailed unfortunately. The twitching lessened but didn't completely go away.
One unexpected result for the antibiotics was that I could now tolerate gluten again. One of my first symptoms when I first got ill was my muscles would feel like they were on fire anytime I ingested gluten. And every few months I'd try gluten to see if I could ingest it, but my muscles would feel like they were on fire again.
After the antibiotics I had no reaction to gluten. My muscles felt fine. I ended up gorging on food that I hadn't eaten in a decade for about 6 months afterwards and putting on about 3 stone! Working on getting it off now.
Sorry if this all sounds like incoherent ramblings, I'm trying to piece it all together as best I can.
But overall my health has been the worst it has ever been. I'm only 36, but I feel like I've the mind of a 90 year old. My fatigue still remains and my libido is non-existent. My libido also started to quickly diminish after the dog bite. I'm not sure if they are both linked or not. My testosterone levels were fine with my doctor. But I almost feel asexual at this stage, because I don't think about sex or dream about it. It's a weird feeling. A sense of nothingness.
In terms of M.E - Mostly, I've just been keeping a look at the Open Medicine Foundation's research to try find hope for the future. I was 22 or 23 when I got ill. I finished college with a degree, hopeful I'd find a cure and make a life for myself.
In a few months I'll be 37, living at home with my parents with no job. It's amazing how quickly life passes you by. If I ever get a cure, I'll probably be well into my 40's and my best years will have been behind me. The OMF are making some progress, but their biggest problem is lack of funding and that is heartbreaking to see. The idea that millions of people around the world are chronically ill and could have a cure if only the funding was made available for it. M.E research is chronically underfunded in comparison to pretty much every other long-term disease.
I also sought help for my mental help over the past 3 or 4 years, because mentally I was in a dark place. The impact of years of chronic illness took its toll on me and I tried to end my life, saved through intervention by the gardaí. I guess it's important to be open and frank about our mental health. I see a psychologist every 3 weeks or so and she's lovely to talk to but can only do so much.
Some days are better than others. I try and compare myself to the worst patients with M.E who can't even get out of bed or shower themselves without help. Physically, I am independent. I can shower and do light exercise, but if I push myself I get punished for it with days of bad fatigue. It's mostly the cognitive issues that trouble me. The fatigue and other stuff, I can grind out until a cure is found. But in comparison to a normal person, I just feel horrible and have felt horrible every day for the past 15 years.
Please do not take your health for granted. If I could have 1 year of guaranteed health versus the next 30 or 40 years of illness, I'd take that one good year every time. I hope everyone is doing well.0 -
Edgarfrndly wrote: »Hi guys - dlofnep here again.
I don't update this thread anymore - but my health is not great. My memory is also faltering over the past few years. I'm on a waiting list to see a neurologist. It's been so many years since I started this thread that I can't remember every thing I've updated people on.
A quick summary - In 2005 I developed M.E.
In 2013 I was bit by a dog, which added some new symptoms that I did not have before like muscle twitching and strong depersonalisation (google it). My memory also started to get worse and worse, forgetting people's names, forgetting the pin for my phone, simple things like that.
I ended up getting tested for bartonella as I know it's transmittable via a dog bite, but also added lyme and a few other tests alongside it around 2016 or 2017. I tested negative for bartonella, but surprisingly tested positive for lyme. I sought treated and spent 18 months on antibiotics. My neurological symptoms prevailed unfortunately. The twitching lessened but didn't completely go away.
One unexpected result for the antibiotics was that I could now tolerate gluten again. One of my first symptoms when I first got ill was my muscles would feel like they were on fire anytime I ingested gluten. And every few months I'd try gluten to see if I could ingest it, but my muscles would feel like they were on fire again.
After the antibiotics I had no reaction to gluten. My muscles felt fine. I ended up gorging on food that I hadn't eaten in a decade for about 6 months afterwards and putting on about 3 stone! Working on getting it off now.
Sorry if this all sounds like incoherent ramblings, I'm trying to piece it all together as best I can.
But overall my health has been the worst it has ever been. I'm only 36, but I feel like I've the mind of a 90 year old. My fatigue still remains and my libido is non-existent. My libido also started to quickly diminish after the dog bite. I'm not sure if they are both linked or not. My testosterone levels were fine with my doctor. But I almost feel asexual at this stage, because I don't think about sex or dream about it. It's a weird feeling. A sense of nothingness.
In terms of M.E - Mostly, I've just been keeping a look at the Open Medicine Foundation's research to try find hope for the future. I was 22 or 23 when I got ill. I finished college with a degree, hopeful I'd find a cure and make a life for myself.
In a few months I'll be 37, living at home with my parents with no job. It's amazing how quickly life passes you by. If I ever get a cure, I'll probably be well into my 40's and my best years will have been behind me. The OMF are making some progress, but their biggest problem is lack of funding and that is heartbreaking to see. The idea that millions of people around the world are chronically ill and could have a cure if only the funding was made available for it. M.E research is chronically underfunded in comparison to pretty much every other long-term disease.
I also sought help for my mental help over the past 3 or 4 years, because mentally I was in a dark place. The impact of years of chronic illness took its toll on me and I tried to end my life, saved through intervention by the gardaí. I guess it's important to be open and frank about our mental health. I see a psychologist every 3 weeks or so and she's lovely to talk to but can only do so much.
Some days are better than others. I try and compare myself to the worst patients with M.E who can't even get out of bed or shower themselves without help. Physically, I am independent. I can shower and do light exercise, but if I push myself I get punished for it with days of bad fatigue. It's mostly the cognitive issues that trouble me. The fatigue and other stuff, I can grind out until a cure is found. But in comparison to a normal person, I just feel horrible and have felt horrible every day for the past 15 years.
Please do not take your health for granted. If I could have 1 year of guaranteed health versus the next 30 or 40 years of illness, I'd take that one good year every time. I hope everyone is doing well.
Do you really think funding is the only thing stopping a cure? Seems to me no one has a clue just pet theories. There was one doctor who said years ago he was two years from a cure, the gene expression guy, i do not recall his name0 -
Grady Uninterested Statistics wrote: »Sorry to hear you were in such a dark place. I am a bit sceptical about ME research. People who did not care about ME till their own got sick now expect everyone to back them. I also think there is a lot of propaganda around ME. If one does not agree with so called researchers one is banned from certain groups. The expert medics are only available to the rich
Do you really think funding is the only thing stopping a cure? Seems to me no one has a clue just pet theories. There was one doctor who said years ago he was two years from a cure, the gene expression guy, i do not recall his name
Yes, their funding is going towards better understanding the disease and ultimately finding treatment and a cure. Not sure if I understand or agree with your cynicism. Their work is freely available to see.0 -
Edgarfrndly wrote: »Yes, their funding is going towards better understanding the disease and ultimately finding treatment and a cure. Not sure if I understand or agree with your cynicism. Their work is freely available to see.
It is also shown in Oslers Web how when they thought they had a bloodtest they were arguing over who owned it0 -
Grady Uninterested Statistics wrote: »it is also available to see how some medical people get interested only when one of theirs get sick. and how doctors who are experts are only available to the rich. Incline was a prime example of the latter.
It is also shown in Oslers Web how when they thought they had a bloodtest they were arguing over who owned it
There's no real experts in M.E as far as treatment goes as there is no treatment. So money at present isn't really an issue for patients. But it is a huge issue for researchers.0 -
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Edgarfrndly wrote: »There's no real experts in M.E as far as treatment goes as there is no treatment. So money at present isn't really an issue for patients. But it is a huge issue for researchers.0
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