Hi Everyone,
I suppose I've been here a little while and I thought I should backtrack and let you know a little bit about me.
I don't have MS, but my wife does
. I'd gladly swap legs with her if I thought it would help, I want so much for her to be rid of this illness. She is mostly upbeat about it, but I'm sure you know there are down times too. I'm an obsessive compulsive accountant and I've never done well with grey areas. There is a stereotype about accountants being all 1's or 0's, I'm kinda like that. But, I've actually got a sense of humor, something not ordinarily associated with accountants. When I started working as an accountant (I don't tell short stories btw - I like details
) I did a lot of tax research on IRS issues. I actually enjoyed reading all the rules and court cases in an effort to get to a supportable answer. I didn't know years ago, how important that skill would be.
So I don't do tax research anymore. I am consumed with multiple sclerosis research. If you don't know, the Journal of Immunology has a
really great search site. Some times I find more there than I do at
Google Scholar. I have spent hours upon hours reading about cytokines, Th-1&2, IFN's, macrophages and antigen presentation. I don't take the word of the neurologist as the final say and I've now learned that the neurologist is limited in scope, just as I was not all knowledgeable about tax law.
The funny difference is that I was capable to telling my clients that I didn't know, but I would research it and get back to them. I've never heard of such a neurologist. Anyway, I'm trying to say I'm out to beat this MS thing and I've been in a relentless search for ways to help Kim for years.
Kim's been on Avonex, Copaxone, Novantrone and IVIG. She still takes Provigil. She's been dealing with MS for more than 15 years and used to have regular exacerbations every year or two. In 2005 she was reclassified from RRMS to SPMS. Then in the fall of 2006 she started Novantrone. While she did well on Novantrone for the first couple infusions, Her doctor stopped the therapy after the 5th infusion, saying "It's not working the way it's supposed to".
So that's when I hit the books real hard and found combined antibiotic protocol. It's not for everyone, doesn't help everyone, but for those it does help, the results are impressive. After 18 months of a carefully designed program of antibiotic use (prescribed and monitored by a neurologist), I'm finally ready to say that it is clearly making a big difference in Kim and I think others need to know about it. I don't know what will happen tomorrow. But I think the ongoing story of Kim's recovery from MS is worth the time to know about.
I know most think that taking antibiotics for MS is the dumbest thing anyone has ever suggested.
I thought so too. The obsessive compulsive accountant in me had spent years reading and learning about cytokines expressed by immune system cells. I have very extensive posts explaining autoimmune theory in everyday language that I could bring here one day if anyone is interested. But, this guy didn't dismiss the infection argument, rather set out to disprove it once and for all with peer reviewed medical journal articles. Problem was, I found that there was a compelling logic to bacterial infection's association with MS. I can share that too.
So after 18 months Kim:
1) Can walk way better and faster. You might have seen the post were I discuss her 25-foot walks that are on YouTube.
2) Has no brain-fog.
3) No longer needs pee pads.
4) Has recovered sexual function. (I always struggle with how to word this)
5) Can participate in an exercise class.
I read on message boards about folks who have lost some of these parts of daily life and I read further the support many of us provide. I value what happens on message boards, I hope that my message might find just one other person whose MS would be responsive to combined antibiotic protocol. Kim got near needing to think about a catheter she did not want. We might own a Hoveround scooter, but we never got a catheter and now she doesn't hardly need pee pads. Kim is not cured, but she has maintained a consistent ongoing level of improvement in her recovery from MS. Isn't that worth thinking about?
Peace and Blessings, Ken