I eliminated my post
fiber and stool softeners
Most likely Gary's fiber/stool softeners are making things worse. Many Americans do take fiber, but the wrong kind, bran. Bran is bark and is not meant to be digested in large quantities. Also abnormal, are stool softeners. This approach aims to try to deal with symptoms instead of the underlying cause, which is intestinal dysbiosis. Generally when people try to get symptomatic relief, their underlying condition worsens.
The gut must be dealt with appropriately, and aggressively. See my weblink for more information, and I'd be happy to talk with you or Gary further.
-Dave
craptactular
food stuff
- TwistedHelix
- Family Elder
- Posts: 599
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2005 3:00 pm
- Location: Northamptonshire, England.
First, my dad died when I was six months old leaving my mum to bring up three children on a pittance. When I was 14 she was diagnosed with MS, (this was around 1975, so that the diagnosis took years to confirm), and the struggle for her must have been intolerable. She married a man who also had MS, and from my observation I would guess that they both had PPMS because they both continued on a long, steady, unbroken decline. I was diagnosed with MS when I was 25 and have gone the same way so that now, with my 46th birthday tomorrow, I am virtually paralysed from the neck down with just some limited movement in my left-arm, (I'm writing this using a speech recognition software). My mum and step dad died within the last two years, and now my brother and niece have been diagnosed with Huntington's disease so I have a 50 per cent chance of going down with that, too .
Because I have no opportunities to leave my house, I tend to picture the other correspondents on this site as being in the same boat as me, that is: having been unable to move for years; being put to bed at night mentally screaming that I do not want to wake up in the morning; furious with the world when I find out that I have indeed woken up. Because I have such a preconception, it can come as a bit of a shock to me to be reading and agreeing with a post which states how terrible this disease is, and then discover that the poster is still able to work, walk, socialise and maintain at least some sort of life -- I'd happily kill to be able to do that, even in a limited way... and yes, I'd sing to the full moon if it was proven, objectively, to work.
But my real point is this: ever since mum became ill all those years ago, there has been a never-ending torrent of ideas, discoveries, breakthroughs and promising drugs which have all fallen by the wayside. But much, much worse has been the endless stream of "miracle cures" and snake-oil doctors who have found "the" answer. Well before the internet was even a glimmer in an electron's eye there were high profile reports that vegetarianism was the cure, raw food, micro nutrients, vitamin supplements, B12 injections, amino acids... the list is endless and some of the ideas are still around today. Does anyone remember the Cari Loder fiasco? It was a media frenzy because her discovery had worked wonders and completely reversed her MS. The regime consisted of tricyclic anti-depressants, B 12 injections, and Diet Coke. I was immediately suspicious because an awful lot of people with MS were taking all three substances and if it were so effective surely would have been stumbled upon long before. I strongly suspected she was experiencing euphoria because of the anti-depressants, and a coincidental remission -- the last I heard was that she had a relapse, and the story faded into obscurity, but not before many thousands of people had had their hopes raised unrealistically high and then cruelly dashed, including my mum and step dad.
I live in a country where cynicism is high and religious belief very low -- Britain -- beatms has posted on this site before and been criticised for doing so, (not by me), he has been asked not to post any more or for the administrators to block his posts, largely because he appears to have some kind of agenda and some of his posts come dangerously close to advertising or proselytising.
Cynicism is not the opposite of an open mind, instead it is an open mind with the Spam filter firmly switched to "on". I do not dismiss any well-founded ideas: indeed I have posted a couple of theories myself on how leaky gut might be implicated in MS; I find the beautifully researched posts on the involvement of insulin absolutely compelling, and the theories about intestinal worms very convincing. The alarm bells start to ring when the title of a thread keeps changing, the author has been banned from other ms forums, and the link contained in the first post takes you to different destinations, as happened with this one, (though, to be fair, that could simply have been a technical problem).
Yes, I AM tired, and depressed, and suicidal, and sceptical. In 32 years not one drug, not one diet, one regimen, one supplement has helped me or the ones I have loved. My cynicism leads me to think that those of you who have felt better by trying one thing or another, (as I have), may possibly have addressed a subsidiary issue. If you get rid of a low-grade infection, or eliminate a food to which you are intolerant, you will undoubtedly feel stronger, better, fitter and it may appear that your MS symptoms are reduced. It is a leap of faith, however, to think that you have directly affected this disease, (although of course, feeling better in any way is entirely a good thing) .
I'm going to stop now, because I think I could go on forever. If anyone has read this far, thank you very much for taking the time. I didn't mean to get anyone down or demolish anyone's hope -- in fact, you may be surprised to learn that I am entirely optimistic for those of you who are in the early, more benign stages of MS -- thanks to the amazing diligence of Bromley, Dignan, and all the other contributors, we are more fully aware than ever of all the work that is going on behind the scenes in the name of science, and on our behalf.
I shan't contribute to this site again, as I don't feel welcome. Anyway, every time I find an interesting article or piece of research, someone has usually been quicker off the mark than I am!
Love and good luck to all of you.
Dom.
TwistedHelix
Please stay with the forum. The person that came on too strong does not have MS and has no clue what it is like to live with this disease for decades.
You are correct about beatms and I also have followed his banishment from many forums.
As far as "miracle cures", most of us have seen them all and have stopped being so gullible about any helping us. It is important for those of us with long periods of experience with MS to keep posting and help out the newbies as best that we can.
If you do not post, a lot of knowledge will be lost to the rest of us.
gwa
hey everyone relax!
i'm sad that nothing has worked for you because in my case the actions i've taken seem to be helping quite a bit. but i'm in the early days.
anyway like i said, beat comes across strong but when you just read the published peer-reviewed research that he talks about... no startling revelations as you noted re: leaky gut, no crazy stuff. i doubt diet coke therapy made it into a journal, did it?
The fact that you have tried it all to no avail--and God, I am so sorry for that!--should not take away the hope of others who have NOT tried it all yet! Agree--we newcomers are the "idiot hopers". But we all have to travel this road the best that we can!
Last---please come back. We are all needed to help each other take this incredibly cruel journey!
Great, keep it upTwistedHelix wrote:Hmm.... seem to have ruffled a few feathers there

However objective those of us who can walk, work, socialise etc are there's still a great big fat chunk of denial there too. The prospect of me being where you are scares me sh*tless. Me and others do need the reality check from time to time. keep it up!TwistedHelix wrote:... I tend to picture the other correspondents on this site as being in the same boat as me, that is: having been unable to move for years; being put to bed at night mentally screaming that I do not want to wake up in the morning; furious with the world when I find out that I have indeed woken up.
We had a discussion here a while back about the idea of a "false hope syndrome" induced by adverts promising a "ten year younger look" or a "two dress size slimmer figure". I suggested and still maintain that this idea is doubly applicable to us. (I got a lot of stick too btw about promoting the word syndrome. I kept posting, I hope you keep it up!)TwistedHelix wrote:But my real point is this: ever since mum became ill all those years ago, there has been a never-ending torrent of ideas, discoveries, breakthroughs and promising drugs which have all fallen by the wayside. But much, much worse has been the endless stream of "miracle cures" and snake-oil doctors who have found "the" answer.
I dont think there's any race! Anyway with your "MS and Bar" you've the experience and voice necessary to add a comment to anything posted. Keep it up!TwistedHelix wrote:Anyway, every time I find an interesting article or piece of research, someone has usually been quicker off the mark than I am!
That would be a pity I enjoy your contributions, keep them up !TwistedHelix wrote:I shan't contribute to this site again, ...
I am what I am
Natural Fiber Supplementation
One fiber I have used that I do think has been helpful is called Super Seed....It is not bran. It uses sprouted grains, especially high quantities of flax seed.
I think this contributes to healthier rising stools that may represent improved fecal clearance and cleansing.
As far as natural stool softeners go, people have had great success with Flax Seed Oil with lignans.
In general, flax seed and it's products promote healthy bowels. I know one woman that if she misses a day of her flax seed oil, she gets the nerve pain in her face, but with the oil she is symptom free.
Both of these things deal with underlying issues, and are very wholesome products....Probably a lot healthier than bran and stool softening syrup
Dave
Gary has tried the flax seed capsules before, but we didn't watch for this type of "help". I'll get him back on them and watch. He took the Fiber Choice tablets. Before you said anything, we did notice that it allowed his stool to bulk up. With bad intestins, that is not good. It caused things to get way too big.

Why leave we are all frustrated with MS. No I'm not in a wheel chair and no I don't have MS directly but yet I'm on this damn ride as John has MS. If we don't uncover every stone and look at it from every possible angle we short change ourselves. What works for one for awhile might not work for someone else at all. You have every right to be bitter and frightened. Don't run from the people who do understand that sometimes you are having a terrible day and all looks pretty bleak. We have all had those days. You'll likely understand that more than most. You can't demolish Hope it lives in ones heart.TwistedHelix wrote:
I'm going to stop now, because I think I could go on forever. If anyone has read this far, thank you very much for taking the time. I didn't mean to get anyone down or demolish anyone's hope -- in fact, you may be surprised to learn that I am entirely optimistic for those of you who are in the early, more benign stages of MS -- thanks to the amazing diligence of Bromley, Dignan, and all the other contributors, we are more fully aware than ever of all the work that is going on behind the scenes in the name of science, and on our behalf.
I shan't contribute to this site again, as I don't feel welcome. Anyway, every time I find an interesting article or piece of research, someone has usually been quicker off the mark than I am!
Love and good luck to all of you.
Dom.
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