Currently going through stem cell transplant

[binder]

Hello everyone, I am currently in the middle of my stem cell transplant for MS in Ottowa Canada. I currently have a hickman line attached and have been through the first cemo sessions along with the Neupagen shots for my collection. I am currently waiting for my final cemo and the reinsertion of my stem cells which will start in July. My strenghth is almost at my baseline again and I will try to respond whenever I am out of the hospital. I am looking forward to getting my stem cells back and having this disease progress no further. I would love to hear any positive stories of remylination as this my ultimate goal, any suggestions on diet, supplements ect would have to be supported by my doctors but they have no special restrictions and are very supportive. It is nice talking to everyone again, see you soon.

[gwa]

The best of luck to you and I hope the therapy is successful.

Please keep us posted.

gwa

[bromley]

Binder,

I was only thinking about you the other day. The Canadian MS Society website has an ask the expert question and Dr Freedman answered a question about the bone marrow transplantation project. He said that for the 11 who have been through it - none have shown any sign of the MS recurring (measured by MRI and clinical). And some were seeing improvements.

My neuro at the Institute of Neurology iin London knows Dr Fredman and rates him highly. He thinks this is an extreme treatments but I said to him that MS was an extreme disease - especially for those in the progressive phase (SP or PP). And the treatments are getting safer.

Let us know how you get on and I wish you all the best. Hopefully from this project they will learn more about the mechanisms of this disease.

Ian

[Arron]

Binder,

Sending you all our best wishes for a successful and uneventful treatment. You are a pioneer and I hope you receive your just rewards.

[2gentle]

Binder,

I wish you all the best! I have a friend who is thinking of doing the same thing, so I will be very interested in how you do.

Be well,

Gentle

[Shayk]

Binder

You are very courageous to be undergoing this treatment and I too wish you the very best with it.

You inquired about remyelination. I’ve read about three things pre-clinical research indicates may help support remyelination: thyroid hormone, progesterone and Vitamin B 12.

Here are some abstracts indicating thyroid hormone might be a possibility for people with MS. Actually this first one is just the abstract title, but it seems to say a lot:Thyroid Hormone Musters Remyelination in MS Model

The next one says a bit more: Thyroid Hormone Administration Enhances Remyelination in Chronic Demyelinating Inflammatory Disease

In this study, we show that thyroid hormone enhances and accelerates remyelination in an experimental model of chronic demyelination…

Thyroid hormone, when administered during the acute phase of the disease, increases expression of platelet-derived growth factor alpha receptor, restores normal levels of myelin basic protein mRNA and protein, and allows an early and morphologically competent reassembly of myelin sheaths. Moreover, thyroid hormone exerts a neuroprotective effect with respect to axonal pathology.

Thyroid Hormone and Remyelination in Adult CNS

We also reviewed personal data on the possibility of promoting myelination in chronic experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), a widely used experimental model of MS, by recruiting progenitors and channeling them into oligodendroglial lineage through the administration of thyroid hormone.

Now, on to progesterone. Progesterone treatment of spinal cord injury: Effects on receptors, neurotrophins and myelination

progesterone (PROG) has demonstrated neuroprotective and promyelinating effects in lesions of the peripheral and central nervous systems, including the spinal cord.

Furthermore, PROG-induced BDNF might regulate, in a paracrine or autocrine fashion, the function of neurons and glial cells and prevent the generation of damage.

And, here’s another one on progesterone. Local Synthesis and Dual Actions of Progesterone in the Nervous System: Neuroprotection and Myelination

actions of locally synthesized PROG are likely to play an important role in the viability of neurons and in the formation of myelin sheaths.

PROG also promotes myelination in the brain,

Now, I don’t know your gender, but I’m fond of saying “progesterone, it’s not just for women”. This article, Progesterone in the Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury, emphasizes its applicability to males and females (vis a vis neuroprotection); highlights some basics about progesterone’s mechanisms of action, including enhanced remyelination in young and aged rats with degenerative disorders; and, emphasizes the importance of natural (not synthetic) progesterone. It’s a fairly short article (pdf) and pretty easy to read.

Now, for Vitamin B 12, there’s this abstract: Vitamin B 12 Demyelination, Remyelination and Repair in MS

low or decreased levels of vitamin B12 have been demonstrated in MS patients. Moreover, recent studies suggest that vitamin B12, in addition to its known role as a co-factor in myelin formation, has important immunomodulatory and neurotrophic effects.

They are at least some things you might want to consider discussing with your doctors, especially since they seem open to ideas. Again, wishing you the best and hopeful this all works out really well for you.

Do take care

Sharon