Can Alan go into the steamroom while he is undergoing IVIG???

Tomorrow Dr. Goldfarb is supposed to call up Alan and schedule his first home infusion. So before this happens he wants to go the gym and do his stuff.

So can he use the steamroom? Or do all the little antibodies end up on the steam room floor after all????

Mel

--but to my knowledge, the amount of antibody that could be sweated out under steam room conditions is negligible.

Antibodies are specific protein chains--one of the reasons autoantibodies are sometimes referred to as "rogue proteins". They are rather large chain molecules and would not easily pass from serum/plasma through to the cutaneous levels--unless they had already, for some reason, been broken down into component amino acids, in which case they would have already lost their effectiveness as immune agents, anyway.

Think of it this way--if it were possible to sweat out large quantities of antibodies under hot/humid conditions, those people with autoimmune conditions would be flocking to steam rooms and the tropics to reduce their antibody titers, but there's never been any evidence I know of that increased temperatures/humidities reduce autoimmune symptoms. In fact, it IS well known that for many conditions of nerve, heat/humidity actually makes symptoms worse--heat is the enemy of nerve conduction (it tends to increase the electrochemical resistance of the nerve cell membrane and makes it harder for the ionic exchanges to occur). Well-insulated (myelinated) nerves can overcome this, but those with myelin damage . . .cooling vests are very popular among multiple sclerosis patients.

So, if he can otherwise tolerate the steam room, I don't see any reason Alan's visits there would make his IVIg less effective.

Thanks Glenn:

Now when I go and tell him what you guys on the boards said, I can feel comfortable enough to say: 'Go forth and sweat".

I didn't know that heat is the enemy of people with PN.

I will tell him to be careful. I honestly don't know how much time he has already spent in the saunas and steam room. Basically, I know he lifts weights, (he can't go on treadmills because of his foot ulcers).

I'll tell him that it might make his PN worse. We wouldn't want that to happen, now do we????

Thanks much!!!!

Melody

I cant spend any time under an electric blanket without a tremendous increase in pain. I have'nt tried a sauna or dry room since I have PN.

Now isn't that odd, I just read a post somewhere on these boards, where a guy who has PN has an electric blanket (because his feet are always cold), and some time before he retires for the night, he turns the blanket on (low, bu it's on!!!). Then he is able to sleep.

I gather that PN affects people in total variables.

Still learning all about PN. Probably will until someone finds a cure.

melody

of a person REALLYsweating BULLETS? They don't. They can't.
No where have I read of anyone sweating blood either.

Immune Globulins have a 'life span', just as red and white blood cells do.
Immune globulines are a blood component, and have life spans like that of blood cells. The good IG's do in any individual's system varies from person to person. One can require it every week, bi-weekly, monthly up to once a year.

As I understand it, all blood and blood products[parts] such as IVIG, leave your body through your renal system. Your docs will take blood tests to see if the ivig has changed certain numbers [as it should] and also to see if adding it has placed an undue strain on that renal system. The strain, should there be any, is because the IG's infused - are a foreign entity put into your system, and a lot have been added, meaning extra stress and strain for your body. Should there be too much stress, as shown by the blood tests, a risk assessment will be made and decisions about whether to continue will also be made. The symptoms of renal system failure are few, and should they appear it is usually too late. Therefore the blood tests are essential in determining whether IVIG is useful for a particular person or not.

I hope that this clears up some confusion. - j

I am copying and pasting Dahlek's posting. About blood test and checking the renal thing.

Dr. Goldfarb supposed to call us today. I will (most politely) bring up the blood tests (I do hope she plans to do some). I mean, what are the odds, that a person who studied under Dr. Lantov is not going to know about blood work after IVIG infusions, right???

I also just asked Alan "how many times have you gone in the steam room since you started your gym thing?" and he said "more times than I can count". I then asked him "so heat doesn't have any affect on your PN?" and he goes: "are you kidding, in fact, it has the opposite, it makes me feel good".

So go and explain this!!!!!!!

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Update:: Dr. Goldfarb's office called and scheduled him for an appointment on April 12. Her assistant Zoya informed me that the doctor is still setting up the home infusion thing.

Don't know how long it takes to get these things approved but once it is, then we shall be off and running!!!

Don't ya luv when I say "we are doing this, and "we are doing that".
It's like we're TEAM NEUROPATHY!!!!

Melody