Re: MS and Xolair

[Guest guest]

I'm so sorry about your hubby's very tough situation. I'm hoping the

pulmo put him on home oxygen with a sat of 88%. That low an O2 sat

certainly could be causing or worsening his confusion. I'm pretty

cynical about many aspects of medical care in the US, but I seriously

doubt that money-making aspect of MS treatment would be influencing

the pulmo's opinion about Xolair.

Without MS, he would certainly seem to be a good candidate for

Xolair, although not quite for the usual reasons. Perhaps your

hubby's neurologist could weigh in with his opinion about trying

Xolair given his overall condition. Allergies and asthma are immune

disorders, although not technically autoimmune like MS is.

Theoretically, it's hard to imagine how Xolair could impact MS but

unfortunately not enough is known yet about what Xolair might do to

the immune system itself even in the absence of MS.

I'd still check in with neuro and perhaps even more importantly, also

with a dedicated immunologist. By dedicated I mean that allergists

are board certified in allergy and immunology but rarely are very

experienced in immunology outside the field of allergy. In contrast,

there are immunologists whose actual training and experience is in

the broader and more detailed aspects of the overall immune system.

They actually call themselves immunologists rather than allergists,

even though their board certification carries the same name. They are

virtually all based in major medical centers associated with medical

schools, only rarely out in the general community in except in very

large cities. I think it would be worth seeking a consultation with a

medical school affiliated immunologist, even if it means some travel,

to get a more meaningful opinion about whether Xolair might be

expected to impact MS.

Wishing your hubby hope and relief -

Fran

--- In , SD Designer <instdesgn1@...>

wrote:

>

> My hubby has MS but also has constant (apparently) allergic

symptoms (pretty much same as mine but not quite as severe)

allergies. They're poorlly managed with Advair and nasal sprays.

He's also bipolar so steroids and many other meds are out of the

question. I suggested to his pulmo about xolair and was promptly

rebuked as the pulmo didn't know what it would do to the MS. I've

heard that MS treatments exacerbate allergies which most people

consider unimportant but his oxygen saturation was at 88 and he's

constantly coughing and has a lot of mucous. Perhaps a tiny bit of

his confusion is due to lack of oxygen - I don't know and don't seem

to be getting very far. I guess there's too much money in MS

treatments and they don't want to consider any other issues. I

wonder if anyone w/MS has used Xolair? Where there's one autoimmune

disorder, often there's another.

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