This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

LC,
I didn't want to mess up the liver thread with this.
When pre-diagnosis and after, my upper stomach would burn/itch inside. I set a chiropractor appt for my gait, and went to the GP for my stomach. I thought I had pancreatic cancer. The GP chuckled at me and told me I was much too young for that. I don't have good news, though, he said. Anything you tell me is fine I said, as long as I don't have pancreatic cancer. He told me I may as well skip the chiro appt... he told me prob MS. Occasionally now, but not nearly as much, I still have the burning itch in my upper stomach. If it is insulin, would it appear when I eat badly or what?
Does this tie in with the liver issue? How?
Can you explain again how insulin production/ overproduction would cause or contribute to MS?
I ate little to no carbs for years. Would this have contributed to or would it have delayed MS symptoms?
Thanks for your time. Sorry so many questions.
Terry

Terry--I will try to answer your questions. Please remember that I am not a scientist; since I have not found one all-inclusive source, I have gathered my understanding of insulin from many sources. I encourage you to read all you can on the subject. One source described insulin as "the master hormone" and it is slowly becoming recognized as important in many functions, not only the Blood Sugar Control System.

Normally, the hormone insulin is produced in the beta cells of the pancreas in response to glucose in the bloodstream (measured in the portal vein). In fact, the pancreas over-compensates for the amount of glucose (carbohydrates convert readily to glucose). Not only the amount of glucose in the bloodstream, but, I have read that distention of the stomach or even a sweet taste in the mouth can trigger production of insulin.

Insulin works as a key in a lock, connecting with receptors on the cells, and allows the glucose to enter the cells where it is used as energy or stored as fat. (Vitamin C also enters the cells by the same mechanism of this hormone.)

Insulin is like " lye in the pipes of your house"—damaging to the interior of the blood vessels--some scientists attribute heart disease damage to this process, too. (Insulin can also permeate the blood-brain barrier.) It is my belief that excess insulin damages the blood vessels (blood vessels are found at the center of every CNS lesion), then the macrophages of the immune system arrive to clean up the damage, and the MS cascade starts.

To your specific questions:
1. Eating a diet rich in carbs, starch and sugar, will trigger more insulin production.
2. The Insulin-Degrading Enzyme that breaks down insulin and ends its life is primarily made in the liver, I believe. Liver problems might mean your body is not making enough IDE to clear the unused insulin.
3. See above paragraphs about damage to blood vessels.
4. I, also, have eaten virtually no carbs for years now, but my pancreas seems to malfunction and continues to churn out insulin. If your pancreas is responsive to the low-carb diet and normalizes insulin production, you could delay symptoms or even stop the process, in my opinion (and then the body could heal, IMO). If your pancreas is not responsive, excess insulin floats around without glucose to tie it up and just keeps causing damage.

By the way, I have read that "itching" and "gurgling" in the area of the pancreas can indicate something is going on in the pancreas. If it concerns you, don't let a doctor brush it off. You know your body best.

No gurgling. Definitely itching!
Thanks LC. I have tried to put the pieces of this together. I appreciate you doing it for me. I'm pretty bad at details, so sometimes it just has to be spelled out for me.
I think the GP just thought the stomach thing was related to the MS in that it was another "nerve" symptom.
I itch/ burn inside my stomach just where the bottom of my bra sits. (sorry men). Since I am older, that is more upper stomach area than chest area (REALLY sorry, men -hee hee). Sometimes I have to lift the bra away and rub my stomach to get relief. The bra pressure seems to make it worse when it is irritated.
When it started, I definitely thought it was the pancreas.
Since the low carb thought is so different than the normal MS diet thinking, I have been very afraid to go this route again.
So do you eat whole grains, beans, any fruit, all veggies? Do you eat red meat? I think I saw you worry over blueberries once, so the fruit is probably a no.
Curious about your diet, LC, if you don't mind sharing.
Terry

Terry--To youir questions:

I don't mind sharing; but it will make for dull reading, I fear.

I eat NO bread, NO potatoes, NO rice, NO sugar, NO flour. I loved ice cream as a kid; probably ate it every day--that's gone. I ate doughnuts every other day in college--that's when the food service offered them--gone! NO whole grains, beans, or blueberries (the season is over anyway)

I do eat red meat (I am not concerned about saturated fat.); for example, tonight's dinner is grilled steak and green salad. We eat fish twice a week--it was salmon last night. Lots of veggies (I especially like broccoli and cauliflower.). Chicken salad is a favorite. I have an egg every morning for breakfast; cheese for breakfast and lunch; and lots of nuts every day. I don't drink milk, coffee, soft drinks, or juices--just water.

It's not exciting, but there it is. I follow the Atkins diet rather than the Swank diet.

Not dull reading for me at all. That was exactly what I wanted to know.
Thank you, LC.

Terry