A couple more comments...

The Chiral Balance site, gives the data on the fertility aspects of the product. If you visit some of the PCOS forums, the members really discuss this alot. I was impressed that it was just about equal in effectiveness to metformin (which is used for PCOS and insulin resistance too) but without side effects.
The only down side to it is cost... this has come down from $89 a month to $59 since I started. So that might be a factor for you. (but for me my copay is now $65 for brand names--so it is less than and RX drug for me). I have no side effects at all, and the chin hair was responding within a month at 2 x 600mg caps a day.

If you use alcohol along that hair line occasionally to remove the oil, it won't plug up the hair shafts so much and that might help. The oily skin is really hard on pores.

If you are slow to heal, I'd investigate some zinc supplements too.
This is a list of the nutrients that Steroids can mess up:
http://www.chiro.org/nutrition/ABSTR...steroids.shtml

Zinc is really important because the reduced immune effects make infection more likely. I find OptiZinc the easiest to tolerate (some others can be really hard on the stomach)
and has the best absorption--and one a day is plenty for most people. Zinc is depleted by other drugs too, like ACE inhibitors, and some antiseizure drugs (Depakote).

Thanks, Mrs. D.

I get a bit nervous when it comes to zinc. I was taking a supplement before, and then I came across a woman who developed a copper deficiency from zinc toxicity (but that was due to using polygrip). Do you think that it's safe to take on a regular basis? I figure it must be okay now since the prednisone is preventing absorption so I'm at a low risk of toxicity sorta, but I'm still a bit apprehensive.

Thanks!
Nicky

The otc vitamins are not high dose. It is true when you go very high, on zinc the copper ratio will change. There is a condition called Pyroluria, which requires really high dosing of zinc and B6 (since these are complexed in the blood by kryptopyrroles that are left over from a genetic error in heme metabolism in the liver). Those patients should be monitored by a doctor when doing that treatment over time.

This is the one I use. It has a small amount of copper in it, to balance the zinc:
http://www.iherb.com/Source-Naturals...lets/1361?at=0
This is a quality product and not expensive at all.
If it really bothers you...you can try one every other day. But zinc is really critical for preventing infections and protecting the skin.

I take lisinopril for my blood pressure, and it depletes zinc.
I take the OptiZinc at night, because some studies show zinc is better absorbed then. (why, I don't know, but it is reported in some papers). This is not a high dose. The treatment for bed sores in bedridden patients is 220mg 3 times a day for comparison. I believe the PolyGrip thing is inflated. I saw one report from U of Mich stating that the zinc found in the small number of patients might be due to a genetic error in handling the mineral. Much like hemochromatosis is for iron.

Nicky,

Thanks for bringing up the subject. I am not taking Prednisone, but I have similar symptoms and have had them on and off for a long time. Is this related to MG somehow?

I have had an occasional minor rash and/or pimples...on my head, my chin or behind my ears is the usual place, but recently (since MG started) I have started to get a few bumps occasionally on my upper arms and legs and my face. I also have had two long dark hairs on my chin since I was 13. I have been to the doctor about this skin problem in the past and had lots of tests done with no results other than the assumption that these symptoms are related to allergies.

I did learn from my old doctor (this was about 7 years ago) that these skin problems might be due to having an abundance of yeast in my body, but not enough for the doctors to call a yeast infection. I don't remember too many details other than she recommended a change in my diet that included eating less sugar, this reduces the yeast in your body. It is worth looking into.

Now I am curious if there is something elso going on here. I have noticed that since I got MG these skin problems take longer to heal and that it happens more frequently. I guess it is time to go to the doctor again. It seems like with MG there is always another problem to deal with. I am tired of it.

I poured myself a glass of water and remembered one more thing.

Of course!

When I don't drink enough water is when I get skin problems and now that I take Mestinon I need lots of water, so much I feel like I can't keep up with it. Drinking extra water helps and even knowing this I still can't seem to drink as much as I need. Water tastes so yucky with the chlorine and who knows what else is in there. Time to get a new water filter.

Now if I could only get all my water from a natural spring I would love to drink water. I love spring water!

There is probably another cause for the skin problems we have, but definitely adding extra water to your diet helps.

Hey Desert,

Wow...It sounds like we have the same thing! I have them mainly behind my ears, around the hairline and on the chin. I also have 'hives' (very tiny tiny little itchy pimples on my upper arms and thighs). I've had these since I was very young.

It's funny that you mention yeast; I think that you may be right. As soon as I started taking prednisone, seems like my blood glucose skyrocketed. I had never previously been diagnosed with diabetes, but my doc. had given me a monitor to keep tabs on it in March as I was always thirsty and urinating like 15 -times a day, drinking like 10-large bottles of water. I also had problems with yeast infections often at various times in my teens and 20s. I know that yeast loves sugar, so perhaps this is the reason? I know that for some reason or another, MG and diabetes seem to be partners in crime (prednisone or not).

Thanks for the advise...I do drink tons of water and will continue to do so!

Edit: Wanted to add that my wounds heal very slowly as well. I started to notice this in May or so. I thought that it was possibly from plasmaexchanges, but my hemoglobin was practically normal at that time. I know that diabetes causes slow-wound healing. The soles of my feet having been burning a lot too lately, and I found out that I have denervation in my arms. Not quite sure what the denervation is from. It's scary. Oddly, I'm actually hoping it's from neuropathy of some sort as that seems like the lesser of the evils when it comes to what causes denervation. :S

ttys!
Nicky

I did a simple search and found a connection between chronic yeast infections and immune disorders such as MG. I wish I had followed through with my doctors suggestion years ago and change my diet completely.

Here is an example of what I have found (so many web sites on this subject!):
http://www.womentowomen.com/digestio...h/candida.aspx

I am going to slowly change my diet to avoid some of these foods that feed the yeast, maybe it will help.

Is it possible that a chronic yeast infection can cause MG?

DesertFlower, my allergist, Dr. William G. Crook, was one of THE pioneers in the Candida Albicans movement -- wrote SEVERAL popular books. I've been undergoing treatment off and on since the 70's. I still take Nystatin when I feel like I have a problem -- AND go back on a strict diet for a time. There "might" be a connection -- but, if there IS, I really should NOT have gotten MG -- UNLESS I already HAD MG in the 70's -- and we didn't know it -- and it was somehow under control until I started going through menopause.

Here is a link to my doc's site -- he is now dead (2002), but his family keeps things running. http://www.yeastconnection.com/

I have the same itchy bumps all over my scalp and a really bad patch on the back of my neck on the right side.

I read the side affects of prednisone (60 mg/day) and yup, acne is there. This really looks and feels like acne to me (If I remember rightly from my teen years!). I go to my PCP next week, so I'll have him check it!

Good luck and let us know if you find anything that works on it!

Well, I think I may have found something that sorta works since they've kinda dried up a bit...

I just wanted to add a little something else...My hair is so dry! Omg, it's like I was electricuted! I know that prednisone causes this, so this is a bit of a conundrum in light of the scalp acne/pimples...

I decided not to wash my hair as often, at least with shampoo, to alleviate the dryness. So I'm only washing with Head and Shoulders twice to three times a week. I'm using a leave-in conditioner for the ends of my hair only, and add a touch to the roots on the days that I use shampoo, and massage my scalp gently. I decided to only brush my hair if it's adequately 'lubricated' (with either leave-in or regular conditioner). I'm noticing that my hair is falling out in almost-clumps (I think because of the dryness and maybe the pimples too). So it's sorta a balancing act. The scalp has to be clean to dry up the pimples and prevent infection which can result in increased dryness, but the rest of the hair needs to be moist to prevent breakage and falling out...It's possible, but a little time-consuming! lol