[Nicknerd]

I'm so annoyed...I just wrote this long shpeal, and it was all deleted! Argh-okay...here we go again! lol

Alright, so last year, and even the year before, I was under a lot of stress-lots of negative emotions due to negative situations. I would experience my slurred and nasal speech often during arguments. I've thought about it, and there's a possibility that this could have been happening because I was talking for 'too long' or longer than usual. I noticed that before my speech problems became apparent to others, they were already slightly apparent to me, at least on a subconscious level. I can't really explain this other than to say that I detected there was something wrong with my speech even before it could be heard to myself, I just felt very aware of my muscles when articulating and such. I actually even had a dream a couple of years ago that my speech was severely mushy and incomprehensible. It was really vivid, and I told my boyfriend about it the next morning. Suffice it to say, when my speech did become bad, and I remembered the dream and reminded my bf about it, we were both really disturbed and didn't know what to make of it. I'm sure that my body 'knew' something was up before my mind did...I know it sounds crazy, but that really did happen.

I strongly believe that stress makes my symptoms worse, though, as I'm sure you guys experience too. Everyone around me notices this as well. If I'm discussing something upsetting, my speech goes down the tube. I was really upset once, and tried to walk away, and I felt like I was in quicksand' my legs seemed like they weighed 1000 lbs.

I just wonder what happens during negative emotions that seems to turn on the immune system. I sorta understand why this might happen in a biological sense. The body must think that it's sick when we feel negative emotions, and must turn on the immune system to deal with possible antigens (today's 'new' stress is yesterday's 'old' infections?), but I wonder through what mechanism this is happening. I know that antidepressants can affect the immune system, possibly through numbing anxiety? The drug naltrexone increases production of endorphins which is supposed to positively affect the immune system, not through suppresion, but by actually reving it up in a 'good' way where it can fight infection (they use it for CFS and MS patients, who they suspect might have infections as a cause) and add to that possibly turn off autoimmunity.

So I just wonder what happens during stress which leads to the immune system being activated.

Another sorta contradictory thing that I've read is that stress causes people to be more prone to infection, so then wouldn't this imply that it weakens the immune system? Not sure if this was a long-term effect (which would make more sense), or a very short term effect.

What do you guys all think about this?

[Maxwell'sMom]

Here is a site I think you'll like. I've been under an enormous amount of stress as well, and I know I don't sleep well, I'm tossing and turning , using muscles more, and using fatigued muscles. It's amazing what stress does to me. It really does a number on me.
Love Lizzie

http://www.stressaffect.com/how-does...ne-system.html

[Nicknerd]

Thanks for that link, Lizzie! It was really helpful!

[alice md]

Originally Posted by Nicknerd

I'm so annoyed...I just wrote this long shpeal, and it was all deleted! Argh-okay...here we go again! lol

Alright, so last year, and even the year before, I was under a lot of stress-lots of negative emotions due to negative situations. I would experience my slurred and nasal speech often during arguments. I've thought about it, and there's a possibility that this could have been happening because I was talking for 'too long' or longer than usual. I noticed that before my speech problems became apparent to others, they were already slightly apparent to me, at least on a subconscious level. I can't really explain this other than to say that I detected there was something wrong with my speech even before it could be heard to myself, I just felt very aware of my muscles when articulating and such. I actually even had a dream a couple of years ago that my speech was severely mushy and incomprehensible. It was really vivid, and I told my boyfriend about it the next morning. Suffice it to say, when my speech did become bad, and I remembered the dream and reminded my bf about it, we were both really disturbed and didn't know what to make of it. I'm sure that my body 'knew' something was up before my mind did...I know it sounds crazy, but that really did happen.

I strongly believe that stress makes my symptoms worse, though, as I'm sure you guys experience too. Everyone around me notices this as well. If I'm discussing something upsetting, my speech goes down the tube. I was really upset once, and tried to walk away, and I felt like I was in quicksand' my legs seemed like they weighed 1000 lbs.

I just wonder what happens during negative emotions that seems to turn on the immune system. I sorta understand why this might happen in a biological sense. The body must think that it's sick when we feel negative emotions, and must turn on the immune system to deal with possible antigens (today's 'new' stress is yesterday's 'old' infections?), but I wonder through what mechanism this is happening. I know that antidepressants can affect the immune system, possibly through numbing anxiety? The drug naltrexone increases production of endorphins which is supposed to positively affect the immune system, not through suppresion, but by actually reving it up in a 'good' way where it can fight infection (they use it for CFS and MS patients, who they suspect might have infections as a cause) and add to that possibly turn off autoimmunity.

So I just wonder what happens during stress which leads to the immune system being activated.

Another sorta contradictory thing that I've read is that stress causes people to be more prone to infection, so then wouldn't this imply that it weakens the immune system? Not sure if this was a long-term effect (which would make more sense), or a very short term effect.

What do you guys all think about this?

Nicky,

we are very complicated biological systems. and every function is regulated and inter-related to many others.
stress, the level of various electrolytes and metabolites, different pharmocological agents etc. have an effect on a myriad of systems in our body. the immune system, the muscles themselves, our brain and the way we interpert what is happening to us etc.
some people have a higher level of awareness to their body's function and others have a lower level of such awareness.

congenital myasthenia has nothing to do with the immune system and yet patients suffering from this disease, may have symptoms that are very similar to yours.

the fact that you are aware of your weakness before it is apparent is not at all surprising. when the weakness is relatively mild you can experience it, but easily overcome it, by putting a little extra effort. I don't know if you have weakness of your arms, but if you do think about it- aren't there times in which you can easily lift a cup, other times in which you can still lift it, but it feels more "heavy" (even though it is the exact same cup, and its "objective"weight has not changed), and still other times when lifiting this same cup is totally impossible?

for someone that is looking at you, or even for you, the extra effort it takes to lift the cup, may not be apparent.

so don't stress yourself too much about stress. as I personally think that too much stress is put on the importance of stress in our lives.

alice

[AnnieB3]

Nicky, This is a tough subject because stress means different things to different people. And the body is so complex, like Alice said.

There are two issues here. One is "how" stress affects your immune system. The other is what can you do to reduce stress. I can't do a damn thing about the how - or why - stress affects me. I can only do something about how I handle the stress I have.

What has helped me a lot is to get more coping skills. I was already pretty good at handling "regular" stress but sought out a psychologist to help more.

Have you ever had anyone say to you "so" or "get over it" or "that's not so bad?" They perceive it something isn't bad or stressful but it IS for you. Perception is such a strong thing (and one step away from prejudice). Is it how we see things that makes us stressed or the actual thing. I think it can be both. Losing your job is sublimely stressful but some people just see it as an opportunity to get a better one. I think they're in denial (about bills, food, etc.).

I think "stress" is often good for us. Kind of like how getting sick as a child is good for the immune system. It's not fun to be sick but then you get some resistance to it in the future. When you pamper the body too much, that's not good either. Like anti-bacterial soaps implicated in creating "super" bugs like MRSA.

Does someone who sees bacteria, for example, as a HUGE enemy make their immune system worse? While someone who doesn't give it another thought might be better off? Is it all about perception? The more centered I become (ha, that's actually funny), the better I am at coping with stress coming at me. A few laughs don't hurt either.

I suppose some people would say that anger is a negative emotion. I disagree. You need balance in life. And sometimes we are feeling negative. Should we ignore those feelings? I personally don't think so. Our emotions "tell" us things we should listen to!!!

Going on a job interview or having a first date can cause stress. Is that "good" stress?

Having said that, however, PTSD is a different kind of stress that needs serious care. I am learning that it can change without my permission, like giving me sudden attacks of anger. A lovely new symptom. Traumas can create a unique kind of stress that I believe is highly destructive and often can't be "controlled" until a person gets specific care.

Oops, droning on again. Anyway, whatever works for you to reduce stress is the important thing. Or reduce bad stress and keep the good?

Annie

[dog lover]

Nicky,
I like you don't understand the role that stress plays in MG but I KNOW it has a huge impact. I too have been under tremendous stress for the last couple of years. My first symptom of MG was about 10 months ago and it was only weakness in my arms that came and went. I actually blew this off as stress or not sleeping well. In June when I ended up with ptosis I had literally had an emotional breakdown. My son still refers to it as the day I had my nervous breakdown. I think all the stress I had been dealing with came to a head and when I finally exploded the MG came full force. I know that this week has been incredibly stressful for me again and I can definitely tell my MG is flaring up. I am shaky and dizzy again and feel completely fatigued. The ptosis is usually my first sign that I need to step back and deal with my stress. I have worked soooo hard on my coping skills but there are some things in life that just can't be controlled!!! I have wondered before if remission can happen when we are still stressed or does it usually come after people accept the disease and try to eliminate their stress. Good post Nicky. These are things I have pondered too.
Kendra