Guest guest Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 Hi Beth, Yes, the numbness is horrible...I wake up to it daily. Sorry you're dealing w/ it too! A good place to test your hormones through saliva is http://www.salivatest.com/ P from this forum used it with success. I just tested mine this morning and should have a detailed report next week. I tested by blood through my doc and most everything came back normal. My doc said that when a woman has these horrific symptoms but blood work is normal, it can be a sign of toxicity. She said one can still have normal hormone blood tests because the hormones are circulating in the blood at the proper levels. The problem is that the hormones are not able to fit in the receptor sites and do their job due to toxins blocking the receptors. So she's having me test by saliva. Good idea to eliminate dairy and wheat. Both are mucous forming and affect the brain in terrible ways for some. It's hard though! I miss my cereal w/ milk and toast!!! -PH > >> > > > Hi Beth,> > > > Here's an article that mentions face numbness. I'm not saying you have> > MS. I know for myself I have a lot of MS-like symptoms, including> > numbness, brain fog and visual disturbances...am hoping that balancing> > my hormones will resolve these annoying sytmpoms! - PH> > > > http://www.holisticprimarycare.net/app/3_111.jsp> > <http://www.holisticprimarycare.net/app/3_111.jsp>> > > > > > > > [Home] > > <http://www.holisticprimarycare.net/app/index.jsp;jsessionid=2AA8E1C3638\> > A0A8740E96E8AD72D11A0> > > <http://www.holisticprimarycare.net/app/about.jsp;jsessionid=2AA8E1C3638\> > A0A8740E96E8AD72D11A0> [Articles] > > <http://www.holisticprimarycare.net/app/articleMain.jsp;jsessionid=2AA8E\> > 1C3638A0A8740E96E8AD72D11A0> [Contact Us] > > <http://www.holisticprimarycare.net/app/contact.jsp;jsessionid=2AA8E1C36\> > 38A0A8740E96E8AD72D11A0> [Media Kit] > > <http://www.holisticprimarycare.net/app/mediakit.jsp;jsessionid=2AA8E1C3\> > 638A0A8740E96E8AD72D11A0> [CME] > > <http://www.holisticprimarycare.net/app/cmeup.jsp;jsessionid=2AA8E1C3638\> > A0A8740E96E8AD72D11A0>> > > > Hormone Therapies Improve Symptoms and Delay Progression of MS> > By August West> > Contributing Writer> > PHOENIX, AZ—Just a few years ago, Simpson was bed-ridden, in> > constant pain, and unable to manage even basic daily tasks. Multiple> > sclerosis had all but claimed the life of this once vibrant biotech> > executive.> > Today, at 54 years old, she's completely symptom free, highly active,> > and dedicating her considerable energies to helping others with MS,> > especially women.> > What enabled her to bounce back from a disease most physicians deemed> > untreatable? Comprehensive hormone balancing therapies aimed at> > re-calibrating the endocrine system, normalizing glucose/insulin> > metabolism, and reducing inflammation. Speaking at the annual meeting of> > the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Ms. Simpson told> > her story and outlined the hormone-based strategies she discovered> > through her own diligent research.> > "This is not a cure. It's a set of treatments that can resolve> > symptoms," explained Ms. Simpson. "If I stop treatment the symptoms come> > roaring back. So this is not a definitive therapy. But it is very> > effective for reducing symptoms." It is also a testament to what a> > motivated, science-minded patient can do for herself when conventional> > medicine has little to offer.> > If it strikes you as far-fetched that MS—the quintessential> > neurodegenerative disease—is related to hormone dysregulation,> > consider the epidemiology. MS has a 4-fold higher prevalence among women> > versus men. The mean age of onset in women is around 32 years, just at> > the time that thyroid and sex hormones begin to decline. Further,> > symptoms tend to abate during pregnancy, when there's a big hormone> > surge, and then rebound post-partum.> > Symptoms also stabilize and progress very slowly from the mid 30s, to> > the early 50s, at which point there's an accelerated progression right> > around menopause. "The disease moves to the 'secondary progressive'> > phase in the same general time frame as hormone levels decline," said> > Ms. Simpson. Roughly 50% of all cases become progressive within 10 to 15> > years of diagnosis, with an additional 40% progressing within 25 years> > of onset.> > Further, many MS symptoms are also symptoms of hormone deficiency:> > numbness and tingling; chronic fatigue; bladder/bowel problems; balance> > loss; decreased coordination; vision abnormalities; cognitive> > impairment; sleep problems; reflux; emotional problems; mood swings;> > depression; sexual dysfunction; muscle stiffness; cramps; and neuralgia.> > "All of this points to a hormonal connection," she suggested. Various> > Doctors, Various Diagnoses> > Ms. Simpson's personal saga began in her early 30s, with debilitating> > hand numbness. Various physicians came up with various diagnoses: carpal> > tunnel syndrome; degenerative arthritis; "the effects of aging."> > After the birth of her second child she developed severe low back pain,> > disruptions of balance, and difficulty walking. The neuromuscular> > problems were accompanied by stomach cramps and visual disturbances,> > which were seldom considered by the specialists, none of whom could> > provide effective therapies.> > The crisis came in her early 40s, when the right side of her face grew> > numb, and she nearly choked on a piece of steak. At this point, a> > neurologist told Ms. Simpson she had MS. The diagnosis was confirmed by> > MRI, which showed multiple brain and spinal cord lesions.> > Ms. Simpson began thinking holistically. "My father had just died from> > progressive supranuclear palsy, another slow neurological disease. So I> > started thinking about family history and environmental toxins." Heavy> > metal testing showed very high mercury and cadmium, which Ms. Simpson> > attributes to having grown up in Manila, where heavy metal exposure is> > widespread. Chelation and replacement of amalgam fillings helped a bit,> > but not significantly. Thinking Holistically> > Applying a scientific acumen she'd honed in the biotech world, she> > studied everything she could find about the epidemiology and> > pathogenesis of MS. That's when the hormone connection jump out at her.> > "I decided to get my hormones tested." Initially, her primary care> > doctor thought the idea was crazy, but given what little conventional> > medicine has to offer for MS, he was open-minded enough to take a look.> > "It turned out I had very, very low estrogen, progesterone,> > testosterone, and thyroid hormones." Many other aspects of her endocrine> > profile were out of balance. In researching her family history, she> > found out that her mother had been taking thyroid hormone since she was> > in her mid-40s; her grandmother and sister were all hypothyroid, too.> > A trial of estrogen and thyroid hormone replacement led to "a huge> > symptom improvement," and this opened a pathway to recovery, one she's> > followed ever since. In the interest of helping others with MS, Ms.> > Simpson published her story, and her therapeutic protocols in, The MS> > Solution: How I Solved the Puzzle of My Multiple Sclerosis (Los Olivos> > Publishing, 2008). Inflammation & Demyelination> > How do hormones affect nerve function? Why does hormone replacement> > attenuate MS? The answers aren't entirely clear, but Ms. Simpson> > stressed that, "The neurological system does not exist independent of> > the rest of the body."> > Histologically, MS is defined by gradual myelin degeneration, leading to> > scar tissue and plaque formation. This ultimately impairs nerve impulse> > propagation. Myelin deterioration is driven in part by genetic and> > environmental factors, but the process is fueled by inflammation. She> > hypothesized that the decline of thyroid and sex hormones with age> > predisposes people to chronic, systemic inflammation, which speeds> > demyelination. "Inflammation begets inflammation."> > Widespread inflammation is fostered by high glycemic diets, excess> > insulin production, abdominal adiposity, high arachidonic acid levels,> > and elevated cortisol, all of which are common among women with MS.> > Ms. Simpson described four core goals of MS management: normalization of> > insulin and glucose metabolism; normalization of cortisol levels,> > elimination of infections; and restoration of optimal hormone levels.> > There are many different therapeutic tools that can be brought into play> > in a given case, but hormone modulation is key, she said. Estrogen & > > Testosterone> > With estrogen, "it's very important for women to have enough and for men> > to not have too much," she said. Several studies of estriol in women> > with MS showed marked resolution of symptoms as the hormone increases> > (Zych-Twardowska E, Wajgt A. Med Sci Monitor. 2001; 7(5): 1005–12.> > Soldan SS, et al. J Immunol. 2003; 171(11): 6267–6274. Sicotte NL,> > et al. Ann Neurol. 2002; 52(4): 421–428). Animal studies show> > exogenous estriol can even reverse CNS lesions analogous to those in> > humans with MS (Polanczyk M. American Journal of Pathology. 2003; 63:> > 1599–1605).> > Men with MS typically have very high estrogen levels, often greater than> > 30 ng/ml, and very low testosterone, a very pro-inflammatory situation.> > Chronic estrogen elevation in men increases sex hormone binding> > globulin, which binds testosterone, creating a vicious cycle of hormonal> > imbalance.> > Elevated estrogen "tricks" the hypothalamus, which stops telling the> > pituitary to stimulate testosterone production. Estrogen also attaches> > to testosterone receptors, effectively blocking testosterone's action.> > Low testosterone is also common among MS women, and it correlates with> > more inflammation and increased CNS lesions (Tomassini V. J Neurol,> > Neurosurg & Psych. 2005; 76: 272–275). Overly high levels of> > testosterone can also be problematic. "You don't want too much or too> > little," said Ms. Simpson.> > One of the challenges is that the "normal" range in standard lab assays> > is very wide, typically from 230–1,200 ng/ml. "A level of 260 is> > read as 'normal' though it's not enough testosterone to keep a bird> > going," Ms. Simpson said. "Don't just look at total testosterone, look> > at free T levels. That's how you get a sense of the androgenic effect.> > Dihydrotestosterone is the active metabolite. You need to look at that."> > Progesterone Is Protective> > In both women and men, progesterone is neuroprotective. There's a wealth> > of recent data to suggest it preserves and restores myelin integrity,> > and may actually regenerate nerves even after lesions have developed, by> > promoting myelin formation and increasing neuronal survival (Schumacher> > M, et al. Endocrine Reviews. 2007; 28(4): 387–439. Ghoumari AM, et> > al. J Neurochem. 2003; 86: 848–859).> > Ms. Simpson said MS in women tends to break out when ovulation slows> > down, in part because loss of ovulation means loss of the> > progesterone-rich luteal phase. Men have lower baseline progesterone> > levels, but still need this hormone. "I encourage you to measure> > progesterone in both men and women with MS." Thyro-centricity> > Many MS patients are hypothyroid, and the "soft" symptoms accompanying> > MS such as visual abnormalities and bladder dysfunction are also common> > in non-MS hypothyroid patients. It is interesting that MRI studies have> > shown more brain lesions in hypothyroid versus euthyroid MS patients.> > "I'm very thyrocentric," said Ms. Simpson, pointing to a study showing> > that mean T3 levels were markedly lower in MS patients versus matched> > non-MS individuals. Interestingly, thyroid disorders are roughly three> > times more common in women versus men with MS (Zych-Twardowska E, Wajgt> > A. Med Sci Monitor. 2001; 7(5): 1005–1012).> > Hypothyroidism slows liver function, which in turn slows clearance of> > estrogen and estrogen levels build up. That may not be a problem for MS> > women, but it can be detrimental to MS men.> > Good thyroid function is essential for neural health. Many common> > complaints like "sciatica" and low back pain are strongly associated> > with low thyroid, and usually improve with thyroid therapy. If a patient> > does not respond to T3, check reverse T3; if that is high, it can block> > responsiveness to the exogenous T3.> > "If the problem is 'upstream' in the sense that it is between the> > pituitary and the thyroid, it won't show up as a T4 or TSH abnormality,"> > Ms. Simpson explained. "You really need to look at levels of free T3,> > the active metabolite. Low T3 is very common among MS women."> > Ridged nails and loss of eyebrows are common and very suggestive signs> > of functional hypothyroidism. "These people will show nice normal T4 and> > TSH levels, but if you look at free T3, it will be very, very low."> > Thyroid dysfunction can be caused by many of the same things that cause> > pituitary-hypothalamic dysfunction, including chronic stress, toxin> > exposures and physical trauma. "My symptoms started within a year of a> > severe whiplash injury," Ms. Simpson said.> > Hypothyroidism often precedes adrenal fatigue and vice versa, because> > the endocrine glands are interrelated. "If you are trying thyroid> > treatment and you get either no response or a hyper-response, it is> > usually due to adrenal dysfunction. The exogenous thyroid hormone is> > trying to increase metabolism, which puts pressure on the adrenals. But> > if the adrenals are burnt out, they cannot step up properly." In this> > situation, it is very important to get the patient on an adrenal support> > program with vitamins, minerals, adrenal glandular formulas and low dose> > cortisol. "MS patients are almost always going to need low dose> > cortisol."> > There are many aspects and nuances of hormonal therapy for MS, and> > almost by definition, treatment must be individualized. When done right,> > it can make a world of difference in restoring MS patients to more or> > less normal life. "I have a lot of energy and I'm in much better shape> > than most of my girlfriends," said Ms. Simpson, who now works a solid> > 12–14 hours per day.> > This approach requires considerable patient effort, and it is not cheap.> > Hormone testing may be covered by insurance, but the bioidentical> > hormone treatments and other ancillary supplements can cost patients> > over $300 per month. Still, that's not bad given that conventional> > immunomodulatory drugs cost roughly $1,500 per month, have many side> > effects, and little disease-modifying benefit.> > > > Ms. Simpson, along with Dr. Barney Van Valin, established the Hormone> > Research Center, a clinic in Solvang, CA (tel. 805-693-8700)> > specializing in hormone-based treatment of MS and other> > neurodegenerative diseases. She is currently a co-investigator on a> > study of the impact of bioidentical estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4 )> > in women with MS.> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 Also, have you ever tried Motrin, etc, for the numbness? This is the weird thing about mine that tells me it isn't MS, I can take a very hot shower or brisk walk, and it alleviates the tingling. Weird huh? > > > Hi Beth, > > Yes, the numbness is horrible...I wake up to it daily. Sorry you're > dealing w/ it too! > > A good place to test your hormones through saliva is > http://www.salivatest.com/ <http://www.salivatest.com/> P from > this forum used it with success. I just tested mine this morning and > should have a detailed report next week. I tested by blood through my > doc and most everything came back normal. My doc said that when a woman > has these horrific symptoms but blood work is normal, it can be a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 That was the same with me in the past,too. Have a Happy and Healthy Day, Kopera M.H.© Copyright 2007 www.sCorner.com . All rights reserved | Privacy Policy WARNING: None of the above statements have been evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration or the American Medical Association. The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before using any herbal products. From: Beth <bethlakey@...> Sent: Friday, July 3, 2009 12:52:19 PMSubject: PH: Hormones and MS Also, have you ever tried Motrin, etc, for the numbness? This is the weird thing about mine that tells me it isn't MS, I can take a very hot shower or brisk walk, and it alleviates the tingling. Weird huh? > > > Hi Beth, > > Yes, the numbness is horrible...I wake up to it daily. Sorry you're > dealing w/ it too! > > A good place to test your hormones through saliva is > http://www.salivatest.com/ <http://www.salivate st.com/> P from > this forum used it with success. I just tested mine this morning and > should have a detailed report next week. I tested by blood through my > doc and most everything came back normal. My doc said that when a woman > has these horrific symptoms but blood work is normal, it can be a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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