Aids HIV FAQ

CD – Autoimmune Disease?

Question:

My doc has warned that certain supplements designed to strengthen the immune system contradict the utility of medications such as Imuran, 6MP and even prednisone which all suppress the immune system. I am on a variety of supplements and vitamins that do not enhance the immune system, however, and have found these to be helpful. If you are interested in supplements, find a doctor that can monitor reactions with your meds and blood for levels that are most effective FOR YOU. CD and UC are individualized diseases and no two people seem to react to the same combination of diet, supplements, meds and vitamins. All the best, Flipper

Response:

William, Can you give me more information regarding these supplements ? Their name, how much did you take exactly, when, … Many Thanks, Karl – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi Linda, If I may add my 2 cents, I’d have to say that the immune >response is a malfunction which stems from several factors.  1) The body >is polluted with toxins, cell wastes(a result of chronic inflammation), >preservatives, pesticides, pollution, and the chemicals we expose >ourselves to in our daily lives. 2) Almost everyone is lacking vital >"trace minerals" in their diets. This was determined over 60 years ago! >Your on the right track Linda. Myself and several others on this NG have >had fantastic results with supplements. >In only 5 months of using "72 colloidal trace" minerals, and 1 – 1000mg >Vitamin C 4 x daily, I was pronounced to be in remission, "with no sign >of disease", by my GI doctor. 10 years of meds and surgeries didn’t even >come close to this. I’ve been off all the immnuo-meds for a year now and >I feel great. (I still take immodium to control the D.) >I would say I’m CURED, but this seems to be a bad word in this group so >I’ll say I’m in a sustained med-free remission. I eat whatever I like >and I’ve never felt better. >Why does this work? I don’t know he specifics and I’m not about to >question something that has worked this well! >I’ve come to this understanding: Give your body what it requires to >function properly, and it will have the means to correct itself. >There’s no medicine in the world which can take the place of the raw >materials your body requires. With out these, the body will begin to >fail. There’s no miracles here. It’s input to output. Like any other >machine. >Feel well. I do now! >William >Former CDer >Class of 89′ >Graduate in 99

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Response:

5-ASA is purely anti-inflammatory.  There are commonalities between the mechanisms of immunosuppression and anti-inflammatory but really they are not the same thing. Roz – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Sue is correct, Prednisone suppresses the immune system, and other > body > functions. > It’s 5ASA which suppress the immune response. 5ASA inhibits the > chemical > messengers which damaged tissue sends out to the the body’s immune > system. > Prednisone affects the body the same way the adrenal gland does in > crisis situation. The fight or flight, life or death survival system > which gives mammals super strength in times of need. In this > heightened > state, the body greatly reduces functions not essential to the > immediate > crisis. Functions like healing, digestion, and production of > antibodies > are secondary to survival. The highest dose of prednisone is much less > than the adrenal gland would produce in a crisis. Instead of shutting > off these functions, the prednisone reduces these functions to a > certain > degree. When not in a crisis situation, the adrenal gland produces > small > amounts of adrenalin which is what regulates the other glands, organs, > and systems in our bodies.  gland, When we take prednisone, the > thyroid > recognizes a higher level and tells the adrenal gland to stop > producing > adrenalin in an attempt to regulate. This is why we taper off steroids > gradually. It allows time for the adrenal gland to wake up and start > producing adrenalin again. > It’s unnatural for the body to be in this state for prolonged periods > of > time. That’s why there’s so many side effects from steroids. It’s > recommended that duration of use not exceed 3 months. (Yeah right. I > took them almost 2 years straight and more than 4 years total) >  This is a crude explanation but I hope it helps to understand what > go’s > on when you’re on the `roids’ > Feel well. > William

Response:

Roz,   "Med free and still taking immodium every day?    That’s right. You see it’s like this, They took about half of my sigmoid colon out in 95′. The sigmoid is responsible for removing most of the liquid from the stool. I also lost the terminal  ileum and the IC valve in 95′. In 99′, thy took another stricture from the end of the small bowel. This leaves one with the inability to form stools on their own, but you probably know that. You’re not the first one to criticize my success, and I’m sure there will be others who don’t understand too. Get well soon William

Response:

Prednisone suppresses parts of the immune system too. Check out the package insert. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Prednisone does not suppress the immune system. It suppresses the inflamatory response. >Larry >– >Larry Finch >::(whew!)

Response:

I urge everyone who’s read the current threads on possible causes of IBD to read CCFA’s article on the latest theories at the link below, it’s great! http://www.ccfa.org/weekly/previous/wkly1210.htm

Response:

Hey, if taking immodium is all you do, I would consider that med-free. I wish I was that lucky.  Keep will, William. Trish – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Roz, >   "Med free and still taking immodium every day?    That’s right. You > see it’s like this, They took about half of my sigmoid colon out in 95′. > The sigmoid is responsible for removing most of the liquid from the > stool. I also lost the terminal  ileum and the IC valve in 95′. In 99′, > thy took another stricture from the end of the small bowel. This leaves > one with the inability to form stools on their own, but you probably > know that. You’re not the first one to criticize my success, and I’m > sure there will be others who don’t understand too. > Get well soon > William

Response:

Sue, Thanks for that link. A great article! Larry > I urge everyone who’s read the current threads on possible > causes of IBD to read CCFA’s article on the latest theories > at the link below, it’s great! > http://www.ccfa.org/weekly/previous/wkly1210.htm

– Larry Finch ::(whew!) N 40

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