This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hi. Its MrsGeorge - I've not been on here for about a year and my old login isn't working. Just been doing my usual living in denial.

Anyways I have been dodging any drugs since my son was born in June 2011 due to breast feeding. I am now having a nasty relapse following the birth of my daughter 7 weeks ago and am considering steroids but I really do not want to stop breast feeding. I have 2 questions...
1- I heard somewhere that steroids only increase the speed that things improve but not the degree of improvement. Is this true as if it is I would rather just take the time and avoid steroids.
2 - has anybody breast fed on steroids? The best info I can see says that in doses over 80mg a day then you need to wait at least 8 hours after taking it.... Neither of my children go anything like that long without feeding!

For those who remember me... Baby girl is called Tabitha (Tabby) and is beautiful. I had her naturally after havingn a section with my son because I didn't trust my body due to MS. Really thrilled

This is her


And with her big brother

Welcome back, MrsGeorge; I've missed you. And CONGRATULATIONS! Tabitha is beautiful! And your son is so handsome and looks to be a wonderful big brother! Thank you for posting the pictures.

I cannot answer your questions from personal experience. My focus is still on excess insulin in the bloodstream as a key player in MS symptoms, and since corticosteroids raise blood sugar levels (and consequently the insulin level), I do not think they are good idea. Ignorantly, I have used them in the past, but they did not improve the issue at that time and definitely have not changed the course of this disease for me.

These days my focus has expanded to include wheat/gluten. Gluten initiates a response of zonulin production; zonulin widens the tight junctions between the cells lining the intestines, thereby allowing normally excluded proteins (The digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas enter the small intestine; the pancreatic hormones, of which insulin is one, enter the mesenteric blood vessels, specifically the portal vein. I think wheat gluten simply raises blood glucose and the insulin response.) to enter the bloodstream in a great amount.

Again, congratulations.

welcome back mrs!! what a little beauty you have there

I can't help with questions re steroids or breast feeding from personal experience.. you know what I would say: replenish replenish replenish all those nutrients transferred into building to that brand new little human being of yours!

consider aiming for optimal nutrient intakes for you (higher than the average healthy mum due to ms) PLUS the little one. you can help it along by avoiding 'antinutrients' as much as possible.

hope you feel better soon!!

Thanks ladies. It's good to hear from you. I confess that I am utterly ignorant on these things (and pretty much all things) after years of burying my head in the sand. I will read the nutrients link jimmy legs. Thanks x

MouseW wrote:Anyways I have been dodging any drugs since my son was born in June 2011 due to breast feeding. I am now having a nasty relapse following the birth of my daughter 7 weeks ago and am considering steroids but I really do not want to stop breast feeding.

Mrs. George,

Here's what the prescribing label for Solumederol from Pfizer says about breastfeeding:

Nursing Mothers
Systemically administered corticosteroids appear in human milk and could suppress growth, interfere with endogenous corticosteroid production, or cause other untoward effects. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from corticosteroids, a decision should be made whether to continue nursing, or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.[/b]

Although it has not yet been tested in pwMS, Prof Colleen Hayes recently published a study comparing a single high dose of the bioactive form of vitamin D followed by moderate, daily doses of over the counter vitamin D3 and found that in her mice, it was far superior in all respects.

This treatment stopped EAE in 100% of her mice.

It kept 100% of them in remission.

And, the mice recovered full function in their paralyzed tails and legs.

Mice are not humans and EAE isn't MS, but there are many reasons for thinking this may work at least for some people with MS in lieu of steroids and following clinical trials in humans, as an alternative to DMDs.

This works by supporting the immune system which is controlled by regulatory hormone vitamin D rather than suppressing it as steroids and DMDs do.

Plus, I can almost guarantee you that a single dose of calcitriol and a year's supply of vitamin D will be less expensive than a course of IV steroids and a tiny fraction of the prices being charged for DMDs.

You will have to talk your doctor into writing a prescription for calcitriol.

Happy to send you copies of the relevant papers for your doctor to consider if you PM me with an email address.

If you have a very liberal neuro, you might be able to convince him or her to try this, but otherwise, I would be inclined to talk to my GP.

The main risk with high dose calcitriol which has been used in the treatment of patients with kidney disease for more than 30 years is hypercalcemia.

But this is a single dose which is cleared from the body within 6-8 hours so there really is minimal risk.

If it works as it did in EAE mice, it should have more effect and quicker and longer lasting results than steroids.

Here's a good reference for nursing mothers...

Thomas Hale is the author of Medications and Mothers' Milk.
http://www.ibreastfeeding.com/catalog/p ... _info.html

This book is also available from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Medications-Mothe ... homas+hale