Auto-immune diseases

Hi, I have been on minocin for 17 months some improvements now I want to trey
the following treatment please comment, advise or narrate your experience if
you have tried this treatment.
Thanks
Anti-amoebic Treatment of Rheumatoid Disease
We have found that the majority of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis respond
well to treatment by using Metronidazole and Allopurinol. The Allopurinol,
according to Dr. Wyburn-Mason interferes with the enzyme systems of the
amoebae and this is the reason for its effectiveness. The Metronidazole
itself or its metabolites seem to actually kill the amoebae and are primarily
responsible for causing the Herxheimer reaction if given in the proper
dosage. I usually routinely begin treatment of my Rheumatoid Arthritis
patients by giving 3 primary medications.
1. One cc of Depot Medrol is given on the day the patient comes to my office.
This is a cortisone-like medication that prevents a severe Herxheimer
reaction. As more amoebae are killed at first, the "flu-like" symptoms can be
quite severe and the Depot Medrol lasts about 7-10 days. Because of this,
many patients notice fairly severe flu-symptoms the second and third week of
treatment after the Depot Medrol has worn off. I don't like to use
cortisone-like medications for any condition normally, but I find it very
appropriate in this treatment.
2. Secondly, I give a prescription for Allopurinol or ZyloprimO, 300 mg.
tablets. The patient takes 1 tablet 3 times daily for 1 week then stops this
medication.
3. I also give a prescription for Metronidazole, 250 mg. tablets, to be taken
in divided doses, two days in a row each week for 6 weeks. For a patient who
weighs around 200 pounds, I recommend 2000 mg. daily or 2 tablets with meals
and 2 at bedtime two at bedtime two days in a row, each week for six weeks.
For a 150 pound patient, I give 1,500 mg. daily or 2 tablets with each meal
and none at bedtime. For a person who weighs over 225 pounds, I prescribe 3
tablets with each meal or 2,360 mg. daily. I have the patient begin both
medications the next day after the Depot Medrol injection.
In addition to the above medications, I prescribe a special diet and various
supplements that I will mention later. Also, I check each involved joint to
determine if any of the nerves are inflamed and inject the affected nerves
when appropriate. I will also go into detail tomorrow concerning the
techniques and theory involved with intraneural injections. I have the
patient make an appointment to return for evaluation in 6 or 7 weeks.
When the patient returns for the second or follow-up visit, I usually see one
of three things that have happened:
1. The patient has no more arthritic pains and the involved joints are not
inflamed anymore even though the patient may have had no Herxheimer reaction,
or a moderate or a severe reaction. I do not give any further medication to
these patients but advise continuing the diet along with continuing the
supplements for another 2-3 months.
2. Some patients returning may be no better at all and have had no Herxheimer
reaction at all. With these patients, I re-evaluate the previous diagnosis
and if the original diagnosis was wrong, I change the treatment accordingly.
With this situation, one of two things has happened: The diagnosis is wrong
and the patient doesn't have Rheumatoid Arthritis or the patient's particular
amoebae are not sensitive or responsive to the medication given and with
these patients I will usually change to another anti-amoebic medication.
3. The third thing I may see on the second return visit is a patient who has
had a mild, moderate or severe Herxheimer reaction and usually is somewhat to
greatly improved but still has arthritic pains and symptoms and some evidence
of inflammation in the involved joints. Should they seem to be reacting to
medication, I may prescribe an additional 4 weeks of Metronidazole. If they
have had only a mild Herxheimer reaction, I may change the medication to a
different anti-amoebic drug. It really depends on the particular patient
response.
Another thing I have seen on a few patients after a few weeks or months, is
that they may be in total remission initially and then the arthritis symptoms
gradually begin to recur again. If this happens, I have to conclude that
either the patient's original amoebae turned to the cyst stage where the
medication couldn't kill them or maybe the original amoebae found some place
to hide in the body tissues that had a very poor blood supply and the
medication couldn't get to the amoebae. If these patients responded well to
the Metronidazole, I may give them another 4 to 6 weeks treatment and have
them take the Metronidazole the first 2 days of each month thereafter, or I
may change to another anti-amoebic drug, depending on the patient.
For the past two years, I have strongly suspected that in some patients, the
amoebae may hide in body tissues or areas where there is poor blood supply
such as in cartilage or fascial (connective tissue covering the muscles)
tissues or even inside the colon where there is an abundance of E. coli germs
that is a favorite food of the amoebae. I've even given some patients high
colonics and enemas to try to clean out the entire colon, but so far the
results are not spectacular, but I am still working on this aspect. I am
becoming more convinced each day that amoebae do hide in the fascial or
connective tissues which have a very poor blood supply.
Dr. Seldon Nelson of Lansing, Michigan, and myself are working on this aspect
and Dr. Nelson is an Osteopathic Physician and has developed various
techniques of stretch and counter-stretch actions which increase the blood
supply of these tissues, and we are seeing some very good results in some
patients who have been unresponsive to the regular anti-amoebic treatment.
Dr. Nelson has been visiting my clinic 3-4 days each month, and we are
developing and improving these techniques that he originally discovered and
perfected and he has done a magnificent job in his research. We hope to
develop techniques to improve the healing as well as the functioning of the
deformed joints of patients with even long-standing arthritis. One exciting
breakthrough is that some patients with multiple sclerosis are getting better
and improving, but let me emphasize to any physician here that he should
never treat a patient with multiple sclerosis with the anti-amoebic protocol
as the patient can be made worse. I hope to discuss this a little further
tomorrow when I talk to you about the intraneural injections.
Other Anti-Amoebic Medications
One of the major problems that we are faced with today is the scarcity of
medications or effective drugs that are able to kill the different strains of
the limax amoebae. We do have some moderately effective drugs available in
America, but those drugs that are known to be the most effective for killing
the amoebae are not available in the U.S. The following slide lists the drugs
that are known to be anti-amoebic, and they are listed according to what we
believe to be the most potent anti-amoebic listed first, and the least potent
listed last. Those that are available in the U.S. will have a double star or
asterisk typed after the generic name.
Anti-Amoebic Medications
Listed in order of potency and United States availability denoted by **:
Generic Name Chemical Name Brand Name
Clotrimazole Imidazole Myceliex,
Lotrimin
Tinidazole Nitroimidazole Fasigyn
Nimorazole Nitroimidazole Emtryl, Naxogin
Ornidazole Nitroimidazole Tiberal
Metronidazole** Nitroimidazole Flagyl
Furazolidone** Nitrofuran Furoxone
Rifampicin** Rifamycin B Rimactane
Allopurinol** Pyrimidine Zyloprim
Diiodohydroxyquinon** Oxyquinoline Yodoxin
Copper ions** Inorganic Copper Copper Sulfate
Dehydrocholic Acid** Bile Salts Decholin
Cimetidine** Tagamet
PABA** Potaba
Of the medications avaible in the United States, I have received the best
results in treating patients with a combination of Metronidazole and
Allopurinol. I seem to get fair results with Yodoxin, Furoxone and Rimactane.
The copper works very well in some patients, but there are some problems
encountered with absorption and delivery of the copper ions to the actual
site of infestations of the amoebae. Dr. Seldon Nelson and myself are
presently working on various techniques of administration of several drugs to
improve this as well as methods to increase blood circulation to affected
areas which should deliver better concentrations of the copper and other
medications to the infected tissues. The Rheumatoid Disease Foundation is
presently supporting double-blind studies by Bowman Gray School of Medicine
on Clotrimazole and hopefully these studies will make available to our
physicians this drug which we believe is the most potent anti-amoebic.
Supportive Measures in Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
To achieve the best results in treating any chronic degenerative disease it
is important to remember that simply giving a drug to kill a disease causing
germ is not enough. In the first place, these patients have been ill for many
months to

Well,
Kathryn had a very rough visit this time around. Her first day was
fine....visiting, yack fest etc. But Friday she went into crisis during an
allergy test and they couldn't get her stable in the docs office. After 3 hours
of trying to reverse the reaction Kathryn agreed to go to the hospital. Now I
know why she doesn't want to go.
She was in the emergency with her sister-in-law and the room was clean and
vented from outside so she was doing very well. Her sister-in-law came here to
sleep after they swore they would to call us if they were going to move her.
You see, she can't go into the general wards due to the chemical sensitivities
she had. This is even more exaggerated when she is in crisis.
So we slept all night and woke up to find they had her in ICU and no one had
called us. Some idiot intern on a change of shift walked into her room with
cologne on and put her right back into crisis. Her throat was closing and her
lungs were in trouble so she ended up in ICU.
We raced down and found her stable, thank God but still very stressed and having
trouble breathing. Her vitals were good and they came to us and told us they
had to move her because she was not sick enough to take up a bed in ICU. They
wanted to put her in a ward with other patients and visitors.
I'll let Kathryn explain this part. I could write a few pages on the scene.
I became very angry and demanded that she stay in ICU or be moved to a private
room of which Sylvie and I would stand guard to avoid any other mistake being
made with regard to the staff and their inability to understand extreme chemical
sensitivities. They still wouldn't listen and insisted she had to be moved.
After more arguing and a call from our Dr. to theirs..... things took a dramatic
turn.
The nurse (from hell) became sweet as pie. The staff became helpful and the
doctor agreed to prepare a private room for her that we would stand guard over.
I guess they finally realized the liability of Kathryn going into crisis in a
room that I swore would put her back in the ICU.
They then came to us and said, we are preparing a room for her. I had to stand
in front of them and say...."you cannot clean the room, you know that don't
you?" They all looked at each other like idiots and had to call upstairs to
find a room that was not recently cleaned and use only water." Hello......is
anyone home??
Needless to say....she is on her way home with Phil today, thank goodness. She
will update you when she is able. It took from Friday to Sunday morning to get
her even remotely close to getting in a car to Montreal.
Oh.....Kathryn asked to read her chart (which made them very nervous) and
Kathryn tells me that in it the nurse (from hell) wrote a sentence about me. I
am proud to say describes me as follows......
"rude and aggressive."
I felt like telling her she hasn't seen anything yet!!
Anyway, she will take some time to be able to write to you all so send notes but
don't expect a reply for a while.
You should all take a moment to think about what you have. The hell I saw
Kathryn go through made me go directly home and take a long slow look around at
what I have. As I go through life and cross paths with people that influence
my life I marvel at the gift of having been allowed to meet and get to know such
an amazing woman and family. Kathryn is my little blessing.
Now....on a lighter note.....to Kathryn. Next time we get together we will
spending it shopping not at the hospital. I wonder if Phil knows about the
little fall collection she picked up the day before her crisis?? Girls gotta do
what girls gotta do.
Donna
Ottawa, Canada
Scleroderma, Jan.95, AP Oct.97
(My Story) www3.sympatico.ca/mousepotatoes

I'm new to this list...just subscribed today.
I've been taking the ARAVA since February.
It's very expensive and I've been wondering if
it's effective for anyone else. I've been able
to drop my prednisone down from 40 to 5. And
I'm also taking metholtrexate, celebrex, folic
acid.
I think that the metholtrexate works better than
the ARAVA...but, I'm scared to stop taking the ARAVA.
My RA started in September, 1998 and I don't have
flares...I just have had one big flare that has
never stopped.
The medications have certainly helped, Thank God,
so I'm not sure that ARAVA works for me but I
don't want to stop taking it and then be in
worse pain. It could be that it is a combination
of the ARAVA and the metholtrexate...
Anyone else taking ARAVA?
Anybody

Hello Ethel...
Re. jaw pain...did you experience any popping and grinding? And, I've got this
soft, gooshy kind of....something! It is very hard to explain. And ear aches.
Hurts my ear something awful.
Be well, Joey

Hi Folks,
Could someone remind me why I bought grape seed extract today? I just
know I wanted to try it a month or so ago when we were talking about it,
but today is the first time I've ever seen it. So now I have it,
starting taking it tonight, but haven't a clue why. Did it have
something to do with me being AS and trying to go after a different
critter than a mycoplasma. The bottle just lets me know its an
antioxidant, which I need bocoodles of anyhow.
Obviously not with it, but still trying... (LOL)
Jan K

A while ago I posted that one of my patients was tested at
Dr Coker-Vann's lab and found to be positive for Mycoplasma Pneumoniae
despite being on Minocycline for a couple of years.
Subsequent to this she had her right hip replaced. I took the
opportunity to have a synovial biopsy done and had the tissue tested in
a lab down the hall way from me where they are doing Mycoplasma research
in inflammatory bowel disease using an ultrasensitive PCR test. She
tested positive again. ( 40% of their patients with Crohn's or
Ulcerative colitis are testing positive ).
Because of this, I persuaded them to see if we could detect M.
pneumoniae in her blood - something they had not tried before. The
result came back last week - and she is strongly positive.
We are now going to fractionate her blood to see where the infection is
- presumably in her white cells.
This test is not available in New Zealand in any other laboratory, and
they will do it for me on a named patient basis. It should save sending
bloods overseas at considerable expense to the patients. Hopefully they
will be able to expand the test to cover other Mycoplasma species.
Anyway, one of the points is that patients who fail to respond to
antibiotic therapy with Minocycline/Doxycycline/Clindamycin may well
have tetracycline resistant organisms and these tests need to be done.
-------
Regards, Dr Graham Chiu
Prospective Internet Observational Study in Arthritis
Home Page http://www.compkarori.com/arthritis/
Contribute at http://www.compkarori.com/arthritis/contrib.htm
Data Entry at http://www.compkarori.com/cgi-local/piosa.cgi

Hi group...
I came across this website - has some interesting info about RF tests (among
other things) - from procedure to factors that may affect test results. And,
it's easy to read:
www.thriveonline.com
Type in Rheumatoid Factor and it will take you right to the info.
Be well, Joey

Just goes to show you that these nasty little diseases spare no one. Maybe Tim
would like to join the group?

Hi group, I've been off line for over a year. I am completely off the
MTX and just on ap therapy. So far I am holding my own. I have had
some flares, but have used pred in short bursts to help. A question for
the group, Have any of you had hypothyroid diagnosed and if so, have you
found a corelation between it and flares? I am beginning to suspect for
me that there is. I have a book I'm reading called "The Thyroid
Solution" by Dr. Rida Arem, Baylor U. I am enjoying reading your
thoughts and comments. Everyone have a good weekend. Maxine or
huffnpuf.

Hi everyone: this info is for all of you who are taking prednisone long-term.
Because of my RA, and because Dr. Franco prescribed it, I have been on
prednisone for six years. I developed severe back pain two years ago, and was
supposed to have surgery last month on my lower back. Doctor cancelled at
last minute because I was still on prednisone. He said prednisone raises
chances of infection after surgery and it's too risky. Yesterday I saw a
neurosurgeon, he said my back X-rays show that my spine is "not stable". He
said the prednisone undoubtedly caused this, because it makes the bones soft
and porous. He said I need to be off the prednisone several months before
surgery would be advisable, in order to give the bones a chance to improve.
He said it is messy and dangerous to operate on "soft" bones. I am currently
trying to wean myself off the prednisone, now down to 4 mg. But I am in
terrible constant pain from the low back. If I had realized the drug could
damage my spine this badly, I would have gotten off it long ago. Every time
I've had a flareup I upped my dose of prednisone, so have been on a yo-yo of
dosages. Just a warning to the rest of you, BE CAREFUL! I don't blame Dr.
Franco for letting me stay on it this long, but I do wish he had tried harder
to get me off. Shirley Hillard

Hi folks,
The attached picture will give some idea of what pigmentation can look like,
for those of you interested. It is actually 2 pics together of different
sides of my right leg. For now, I am still taking mino. Also, I still do
wear shorts (it's way too hot in Florida not to) and if people want to stare,
let 'em! The pigmentation, which looks like bruises, seems to have confined
itself to my legs.
I hope everyone is doing well,
Kim in Orlando
DM 91, CREST 95, Lupus 97; AP Aug 97
ps. I've just realized I've been on the AP for 2 years now. When I started
I remember hearing that it could take 1-2 years to really show improvement
and I would think that seemed so far away, but now it doesn't seem like that
long at all.

Hi group,
Just got back from my internist. My boss has put me on am impossible
schedule at work even after I told him that I didn't physically think I
could handle it ( too much stres and I have been doing so much better I
don't want a Backslide do to overdoing it) . He obvioulsy didn't care
because I still have the schedule. Anyway I have been so worked up about it
that I have gotten a stress ulcer and the internist took me immediatly off
the Lodine I was taking and put me on celebrex.
I told her that to work I thought you needed to take it twice a day at 200
mg and she said that they have found that if it is taken right before you
go to bed it doubles in strength and one 200 would be like taking 400 and
be sure to take it with a little food.
That was news to me!
She is so excited about the mycoplasma theory that we talked for about 40
minutes and she had an office full of patients. She wants all info that she
can get.
If anyone has had positive experiences with the AP will you please Email
me ( 0r the group) so I can get it to her? There are so few docs in this
area that will listen and she will be a good one to get the word out ( she
is a real go getter!) She was VERY interested in the success with
scelroderma and RA. I think personal EMails are wonderful testimonials.
She is brilliant and it was amazing how all of my blood work results that
Dr. Franco has done is tying in with what she said she would expect the
results to be in an infectious disease. She explained each bloodtest
category and my results and just was amazed and the sense all of it was
making.
She told me that this info had made her day!
Leslie
Leslie

Here are Dr. Weil's suggestions (taken from his newsletter).
Linda
Many of you have heard that I've reduced my recommended dosage of vitamin C
from 2,000 to 6,000 mg divided into three doses a day to only 200 to 500 mg
divided into two doses. I made the change after I examined two recent
studies that show lower levels of ascorbic acid more than saturate the
body's tissues, and thus are enough to protect against cancer, heart disease
and other chronic illnesses.
A review of clinical trials published in the April 21st issue of the Journal
of the American Medical Association concluded that 200 mg a day is the
maximum human cells can absorb, making anything above that level a waste.
The second study came from the Linus Pauling Institute (Pauling himself took
18,000 mg of C per day), published in the June issue of the American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition. It identified a similar dose, 120 to 200 mg, as the
optimal amount for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer,
cataracts and other chronic conditions. I wouldn't worry if you've been
taking the higher dosages I've recommended in the past as vitamin C is water
soluble and anything not used by the body quickly passes out. In fact, I
still recommend higher dosages to those not getting at least five servings
of fruits and vegetables as part of their daily diet.
The rest of my antioxidant cocktail remains as follows:
Vitamin E: 400 to 800 IUs a day. People under 40 should take 400 IUs a day;
people over 40, 800 IUs. Since vitamin E is fat soluble, it must be taken
with food to be absorbed. Also, choose natural vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol
with mixed tocopherols) instead of the synthetic form (dl-alpha-tocopherol).
I take vitamin E at lunch or dinner.
Selenium: 200 micrograms a day. Selenium is a trace mineral with antioxidant
and anticancer properties. Selenium and vitamin E facilitate each other's
absorption, so take them together. Vitamin C may interfere with the
absorption of inorganic forms of selenium (sodium selenite), so take the
yeast-bound form instead. Doses above 400 micrograms a day may not be
healthy.
Mixed carotenes: 25,000 IUs a day. I recommend a natural form, which is
easily found in health food stores. Read the label to make sure it gives you
lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes that helps prevent prostate cancer,
and lutein, which protects against cataracts and macular degeneration. I
take mine at breakfast.

Kay,
I did not know your Email address so I will have to write you through the
group. I read the info about Meredith and found it interesting that she has
the lesions in the frontal lobes as I was told the same thing when I had an
MRI . This was about the time that the first symptoms appeared of what was
to follow. Every doc I saw ( three rheumos) suspected I had lyme disease
but the tests always came out negative. Was diagnosed RA.
I had many of the neuro problems that are associated with Lyme and the
doxi has cleared all of them up.
If you get a chance send me your E mail address as I would like to
compare some notes with you. Thank you.
Leslie

I've had many off-line conversations with people from the list about
food allergies/sensitivities. It seems that a lot of us suffer from
these sensitivities. But what got me wondering was a comment from
someone about the fact that her sensitivities showed up along with the
RA. Me too. And mine are still around even though I don't have a leaky
gut -- at least, not anymore. Then I was reading Jan's message to Mark
about the infection model versus the auto-immune model, and I couldn't
help thinking that it does seem like our bodies are in hyper-autoimmune
mode, developing sensitivities to just about anything we put into them.
Don't get me wrong, I totally subscribe to the infection theory. I
think Dr. Brown was right. Each day they are discovering "bacteria"
behind more and more diseases. But I know that when I was on Minocin, I
could suddenly eat anything without a reaction. I figured it was the
immuno-suppressant quality of Minocin (doesn't it tone down T-cells?) so
I wasn't on antigen overload.
I guess I have two questions:
1. Why would a mycoplasma infection make you sensitive to foods? Does
the mycoplasma infect the intestines of some people, as well as the
joints, lungs, and heart, and cause problems there? Can you get food
sensitivities even if you don't have a leaky gut?
2. Do those of you taking Doxy and who have food sensitivities notice
that you can now eat foods without getting any reaction? (Doxy doesn't
suppress the immune system, does it?)
One Confused, Deb

Hi All
I got my labs back yesterday and they were quite abit worse---RATS!!! I
have been feeling pretty good and had expected them to improve. My RF
was 301, I'm not sure exactly how that compares to my first one because
it was 1:20, but the first one was just barely positive and this is alot
more. My ANA was 1:80 up from 1:40, they didn't do my sed rate so the
dr did it in his office and I don't know what it is yet probably should
have called today and asked. I do know labs can go up while you feel
better, but it's still scarey when they do. Besides those being up I
have the beginnings of a yeast problem and my "droppings" didn't show
any acidophilis so maybe my brand isn't working. The dr said to wait
more than 2 hours after the minocin to take it. Both my stool test and
blood test showed too much yeast so I ordered a case of oliveleaf from
East Park today.I really like Dr Correl and recommend him to anyone in
the Spokane, WA area. He's about 90 minutes from me. He has used
hydrogen peroxide IV's on RA patients with good results he recommends 10
treatments once a week to start to see how it works. Each treatment
costs $55 and isn't covered by insurance. If my yeast problem gets bad
it will be something to try. It's suppose to help the RA and kill off
the yeast. One problem is they are done in his office so it would be a
long drive every week, wish a home nurse could do them.
Dr Correl also talked me into estrogen again he did a urine test that
showed I was breaking down bone faster than I should. He prescribed a
liquid estrogen 4-10 drops twice aday he gave me a sheet to tell by my
reaction how much I want to take--that's pretty cool. He also gave me a
form of prescription progesterone it's a lozenger again I can adjust the
dose. Oh LizG you were right I don't need extra testoterone. In a
month he wants me to see their hormone person about how I'm doing. Next
week I was suppose to get an appt with their dietition, but I don't want
to run in every week. I thought I'd try the diet for awhile. He
recommends the book Protein Power and that diet, I'm trying it, but
missing fruit.
Anyone know how bad a RF of 301 is?
Julie

From Bryan410@... (Harry)
Hi group:
Recent postings show some members are trying the new drug ARAVA
(Leflunomide). Looking at the price of the product, Hoechst should guarantee
a complete cure for RA. One on-line pharmacy wants $133.66 for 3 tablets of
100mg strength. Yes, that's correct, three (3).
However, if the patient can get by on the 10mg or 20mg strength, the price
drops to a piddling $827.21 for 100 tablets.
Like virtually all of our members, I would quickly pay the price if I was in
the middle of a "monster flare" as Mark H. once put it. Just the same,
current price levels are plain out-and-out gouging.
My question to those members now trying the product, "Is it working?"

I just wanted to let everyone know how I am doing. I'm 15/16 weeks
pregnant. I'm still taking the Biaxin and feel pretty good. I
sometimes forget to take the antibiotic because I don't hurt anymore.
Only lingering pain is some tingling in my neck and my lower back
(where I feel the urinary tract infection is).
I've come a long way. I'm still worried about the baby. The first
ultra sound looked fine. I'll have another one next month.
Oh, I read the posts everyday. I usually don't respond often.
Everyone is always in my thoughts and prayers.
Rebecca

Thank you to everyone who responded to this survey. We have 22 reports.
It seems that of the people who responded, a lot feel there is definite
improvement, and that's encouraging to hear.
So that I don't cause problems with long files at anyone's server (I know
this has been a problem in the past) , I'll send 2 e-mails, 11 reports in
each.
Linda
From: genem@...
Brenda
Type of disease and length of time since diagnosis: seropositive RA 9 years
Length of time on AP: 24 months
Antibiotic(s) being used: minocycline 100mg b.i.d MWF clindamycin IM (6
month series) then 1200mg oral weekly
Supplements: acidophilus, multivitamin, calcium, garlic, betacarotene, vit
C and E
Following Dr. Mercola's diet?: no
Overall rating of improvement on a scale of 0-5 (0 being no improvement yet,
5 being remission):
--Specific areas of IMPROVEMENTsince starting the AP...
4--morning stiffness (0-5):
4--daytime pain levels (0-5):
4--night-time pain levels (0-5):
4--energy level (0-5):
4--ability to accomplish activities of daily
living (0-5)
4--overall feeling of wellness (0-5):
3--bloodwork (0-5):
4--swelling (0-5):
4--number of active joints (0-5):
Other comments:
The AP is working for me.
Leslie M. Carroll:
diagnosed September/98, however, I had periodic short-term episodes of
isolated joint swelling and pain for approximately 20 to 25 years prior to
that.
last month, subsequent to changing my nsaid from Naproxen to Relafen, as
well as going on disability from work, allowing me to rest more and not
overuse any individual joints. I am wondering if having a more effective
nsaid for me is perhaps helping the AP to finally work for me. Whatever it
is, I'm doing much better lately and I'm just going to stick with what I'm
doing. The one unfortunate finding is that I have a rheumatic node that's
developed under the nail on my little toe on my left foot, as well as a
fused joint on the same toe. It's causing a great deal of pain, as well as
disfiguring the nail so I'm scheduled for surgery in early September to have
it fixed, I hope.
mimianne:
neurologically better and less fatigue
From: Emily Rizun <emily.rizun@...
Type of disease & length of time since diagnosis: Scleroderma (crest or
diffuse diagnosed by 2 different rheumys in Nov/95) Raynauds, Hiatal
Hernia and IBS.
Lenth of time on AP: Since Nov/98
Antibiotics being used: Minocin and Clindamycin IV
Supplements: Acidophilus, Multi-vitamin, Vitamin C and E, Olive Leaf,
Slippery Elm, Digest Enzymes, Folic Acid, Flax Seed Oil and Milk
Thistle.
Following Dr. Mercolas diet? Most of it.
Overall rating of improvement on a scale of 0-5: 4
Specific areas of IMPROVEMENT since starting AP:
morning stiffness: 4
daytime pain levels: 4
night-time pain levels: 5
energy level: 4.5
ability of accomplish activities
of daily living: 4
bloodwork: 0
swelling: 5
number of active joints: 5
arjay:
RA diagnosed 11/98
will get my bloodwork and his comments then.
Joey (Josephine) Sala
type disease: RA
diagnosed: 1994
AP: October 6, 1998
antibiotics: Clin; IM - 300mg every two weeks
Doxy; 100 mg 3x week
supplements: Vit C; Vit E; flaxseed oil; garlic; multi-vit;
magnesium lactate; Immuplex (immune system
booster); acidophilus; 1500mg enteroc aspirin;
glucosamine sulfate
Dr's diet: I try; I do try to avoid sugar, bad fats, aspartine,
etc
improvement rating - specific areas:
night-time pain levels - 2
blood work - 1
comments: I am still experiencing a herx (approx 6 months), I
think. About 2 1/2 months into AP I noticed a lot
of improvement, in all areas. About 2 1/2 months
later, I knew I was taking 2 giant steps backwards.
New blood work showed increase in all numbers.
Approx 9 months into AP I felt I had reached a
plateau - that perhaps I had not gotten any worse
in some time. New blood work showed decrease
in all numbers!
Am not sure if I am indeed experiencing a herx or
if my long-unused muscles are screaming in pro-
test! I know it doesn't take much to make things
hurt.
am very close to remission. I have one pointer finger 1st joint that has
developed into osteo since starting AP. I need prolo on my left
metatarsals..there is a lot of damage but I can still walk.
HOLMES, MARK T.
acidopholus,saw palmetto,slippery elm, olive leaf extract; Celebrex (200mg
2x/day);glucosamine sulfate 1500mg
Then into flare for next 4-5 months. Now coming out - back to walking again,
feeling better. But stiffness in hands lingers throughout the day and
shoulders though better still can have display severe pain if I try to reach
behind my back. Knees better - feet better. TMJ can be a bit problematic in
early morning. Often have stiff and somewhat sore lower back, especially in
the morning which I don't understand as I have read that RA wouldn't affect
one's lower back.
Kay (for Meredith):
Type of disease and length of time since diagnosis:
lyme disease, june 9, 1999
Length of time on AP:
since june 9
Antibiotic(s) being used:
2000 mg. oral amoxicillin, 500, 500, 1000
added with or switched to tetracycline oct. 3, 1999
Supplements:
MSM 1000mg. X 2
multi includes; c, e, selenium, all b, chromium picolinate, maganese, zinc
L-carnatine 500mg. X 1
CoQ10 60 mg. X 2
flaxseed oil 3000mg. (capsules) X 2
calcium magnesium liquid, 1 T. X 1
Following Dr. Mercola's diet?:
not sure?
no wheat, dairy, preservatives, food dyes, cane sugar (very little rice
syrup or honey), no vinegar, msg, aspartame
Overall rating of improvement on a scale of 0-5 (0 being no improvement yet,
5 being remission):
--Specific areas of IMPROVEMENTsince starting the AP...
herxing --morning stiffness (0-5):
herxing almost constantly, almost always worse! --daytime pain levels
(0-5):
herxing --night-time pain levels (0-5):
her good days are better than before,
--energy level (0-5):
3 to 4 --ability to accomplish activities of daily
3 to 4 living (0-5)
2 to 3 --overall feeling of wellness (0-5):
0 --bloodwork (0-5):
N/A --swelling (0-5):
herxing, new joints all the time --number of
active joints (0-5):
Other comments:
meredith is 10 years old. she has been infected at least 5 years. last year
her grandmother died and the stress drove her illness to the ultimate.
she has multiple lesions throughout her brain (2 MRIs), predominately in the
frontal lobes.
abnormal visual evoked potential. (she has started reading again, after a
year, and says the words are not "blurred together" now! (YES!))
high levels of 2-ketoglutarate in urine (no recent test)
severe cognative decline (3)
confusion (4)
psychosis (3) (except herxes)
joint pain and more! (worse)
she is on psychiatric meds too;
risperdal, lithium, tegretol, nuerontin, klonopin
she takes diflucan for systemic yeast and acidolphilous
last but not least! armour thyroid (free t4 and t3 worse)
From: "Dave Brantl" <dbrantl@...
months, then leveled off. switched to mino for the last 8 months which
appears to have been a big mistake...have been going backwords ever since.
added the clindy 1 month ago and last week i started taking doxy with my
evening dose. 8 months ago i was down to 3 mg of pred per day, now back up
to 10 and feeling like i need more. my fatigue levels are awful...want to
sleep all the time....feel like getting back to doxy will help me get back
over the hump. may ask dr about iv treatments for a boost.

Ethel, I told you awhile back that my Dr. wanted to do the DMSO IVs when I got
back from vacation.,
Well I am back and Wednesday is the D Day. I know I have to stop MSM 5 days
prior to the IV, I stopped this 2 weeks ago, as I could not see it doing
anything after 2 mos.
Is there any thing else I should be looking for or aware of or shouldn't do?
Thank You
SKip

For those of you using Celebrex for your anti-inflammatory, I have a question.
My doctor has given me some Celebrex samples to try, in the hopes that it will
bring down my trouble joints and we can get me off the prednisone I have been
recently taking. I took a dose yesterday and today, and both times, an hour or
so after taking it I got sooooo tired, a real RA tired of the just-shoot-me
kind. Has anyone else had this happen while taking it? If so, do you feel it is
significant of anything? Liz G

Hi Mark,
I dont think this is so far fetched.....Dr. Franco has me on three fish
oil pills 3 times per day. Total of 9. I've always heard that was good for
RA. Glad you're doing so well, and I agree....I wouldn't do anything to rock
the boat right now either. Better days are coming for us:)))
Carol**
start increasing my consumption of fish oil capsules and it was about that
very same time that I started getting relief. I know - that sounds weird,
but I had read in one of Dr. Sear's books on the Zone Diet (part of his diet
consists of taking Omega 3 oils, thus the fish oil) that with RA, it would
be benificial to take 3 per meal rather than 2, so I started doing so. And
shortly thereafter I started feeling much better. While in Atlanta, I
missed taking them for about a day and a half and the last night before
leaving Atlanta, I started to ache again at night and woke up stiffer than I
had been waking up. So I immediately went back to taking 3 per meal, and
last night no aches late at night and I woke up feeling good with lots of
energy. Coincidence? Maybe - but then again, maybe it was something my
body was needing? Again who's to say? I will have to experiment going off
of the fish oil again to see if it makes a difference, but not today, cause
I feel too good!
your whole attitude and outlook on life. I didn't realize how tired and
rather gloomy I was till I came out of this, then suddenly it was like
someone switched a light on. I will say this - sure makes one want to stay
out of the flare stage!
I think I will hold off and see if this good period continues for a while.
If I go south , then I can always start it then. In the meantime, I started
taking milk thistle as I read that w/ long term dosages of antibiotics, that
it was helpful to take something like milk thistle to protect your liver. I
figured I would give it a try for a month and see how that works. I will
try and check and see where I read that - possibly in one of Dr. Murray's
books (he's a naturopath and from reading his books, I would guess a pretty
good one)

For those sheltered few of you who are not fully aware of the Darwin
Awards; these awards are given annually (and posthumously) to those
individuals who did the most for the human gene pool by removing
themselves from it.
GRAVITY KILLS
after he tried to
hooks on each end)
police said. Fairfax
worker, taped a bunch
one foot, anchored
Park, then jumped... and
police spokesman, said
his car was found nearby "The length
was greater than the distance
Carmichael said. Police say the
trauma." An autopsy is scheduled
LAUNCHED ON THE FOURTH OF JULY
enjoying the upcoming Fourth of
test fire some fireworks.
launch pad and seating
thousand gallon fuel
fumes were ignited,
launched several hundred feet into the air and were found
yards from their respective seats.
DON'T ASK GOD TO PROVE HIMSELF, HE JUST MIGHT
buddies were fishing on Caddo Lake in Texas when a
the lake. Most of the other boats immediately
but not our friend the lawyer. On the rear of
with his buddies, this individual stood up,
(crucifixion style) and shouted: "HERE I AM
Needless to say, God delivered. The other two
survived the lightning strike with minor
he and a friend were playing catch with a rattlesnake. You can
what happened from here. The friend (a future Darwin Awards
was hospitalized.
THEY SAY THOSE THINGS WILL KILL YOU
unlucky fellow, but he qualifies
gentleman from Korea who was killed
less. He was doing the usual "walking
into a tree and managed to somehow break his
the next time you decide to drive and dial
GIMME A LIGHT
warehouse noticed
building,
power, etc.
from the gas
found they
frustration, none
the vision of one of the technicians
retrieving an object that resembled a
lighter-like object, the gas in the
of it up to three miles
but the lighter was
technician that was
thought of as
RUNNER UP
difficult
Safari
Mr. Demuth went overboard to show them one of America's many
He demonstrated the effectiveness of "Crazy Glue"...
Apparently, Mr. Demuth wanted to demonstrate just how good the
rhino. The rhino, a resident of the zoo for the past thirteen years,
was not initially startled as it has been part of the petting exhibit
since its arrival as a baby. However, once it became aware of its
being involuntarily stuck to Mr. Demuth, it began to panic and ran
around the petting area wildly making Mr. Demuth an unintended
passenger.
had been very
depressants to
prank," said
fences were
animals
duck
and zoo caretakers' to remove
animal had to be captured
process the laxatives began to
repeatedly showered with over 30 gallons of
tricky. We had to calm her down, while at the
faces from being pelted with rhino dung. I guess
Mr. Demuth was into it up to his neck. Once she
had three people with shovels working to keep
for Mr. Demuth. We were able to tranquilize her and
remove his hands from her rear," said Douglass. "I
be playing with Crazy Glue for a while."
while obviously amused, also were impressed
adhesive. "I'm going to buy some for my
can't take it to the zoo," commented
troupe.

Hi
Has anyone tried peroxide IV's? When I saw Dr Correl he mentioned
them. He says he's had good luck with other RA patients. Insurance
doesn't cover it, it's $55/treatment and he recommends 10 treatments one
a week. I have been feeling pretty good, but my labs were worse, but I
know that can happen. The real bad thing is I have yeast not real bad,
but bad enough. He hasn't suggested stopping the minocin, but did say
the IV's can be done with or without the AP. I just wanted to know if
anyone has tried it and what Dr Chui thinks.
Thanks,
Julie

I thought you guys would like this email I got from someone else with
autoimmune disease and would like to check out her urls.
Sarah

--
Clark Signs:
http://members.xoom.com/sclark/
AP Support Group:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6412/
Lots of arthritis and health links:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6412/supportlinks.htm

I saw my rheumatologist, Dr. A, yesterday, and took some blood tests so I can
start on the new drug Arava(tm) - made from leflunomide, that is suppose to
be better and with less side effects (diarrhea, high liver enzymes, hair
loss!!!, or rash most common) than Methotrexate. Does anyone have any more
info on it? I am also changing over to Doxycycline after 1 1/2 years on
Minocin, because after an initial better period, I plateaued, then went
downhill. I trust my intuition when it comes to my body, and everything about
the AP makes 100% sense to me, so don't think I am abandoning it. Someday in
the future (soon I hope) we'll view diseases such as RA, Lupus, Lymes,
probably even Gulf War syndrome the same way we now look back on the Plague,
leprosy, and stomach ulcers. The cure, when isolated, wiped them out.
Today however, I run a busy printing business and do most of the graphic
design myself. This disease is causing me so much grief I must try something
fast to ensure that the past 20 years of effort building this business
doesn't go down the drain. So far I have been very lucky with supportive
staff and understanding customers. I spent an unusually long winter waiting
for the warm California sun to take away some of the misery, but there has
been no remission, so I am going to appease Dr. A and try some of his
"bad-ass" medicine, at least for a while. I tried placquinal for the last 2.5
months and we both agreed it didn't do squat. I also take (besides herbs and
vitamins) Celebrex for anti-inflam, Trazadone for sleeping, Prozac for
mood/pain management, and Dextrostat for focus. I have fought each of these
medicines, because my mother became a pharmaceutical drug addict (Dr.s
thought every bodily function could be enhanced by a pill in those days) and
my brother became addicted to heroine brought on by the highs from the
herion-based painkillers used to manage his FM (if one pill's good, two must
be better). However, after so much pain in the last 6 months I am ready to
try anything. Dr. won't prescribe pain killers because he thinks I'm a Type A
personality and will just pop a pill and keep on going instead of resting.
Pretty accurate. Plus he knows I don't like taking pills, and am concerned
about side effects, but as he said...life is full of risks with zero
guarantees. So I'm going gamblin' but would appreciate any advice or comments
you might have on the rules or the stakes!
Thanks, and sorry this was so long.
Deborah
RA 3 years, AP 1.5 years

I had heard that some countries don't even allow plastic to be used. I'm not
sure though I thought the end of the article was quite interesting. If you
don't read it all at least scroll down to the bottom. Diane

Does anyone kmow how Burlyne is doing?
Linda

Hi Group.............does anyone have information on Lyme disease - specifically
the duration of antibiotic therapy. A friend is currently doing antibiotics and
we are curious because her doctor said 3 weeks is sufficient. Does this sound
correct? You know how it goes - sometimes we have to educate the doctors, and
any information she can take to him would be helpful.
Thanx, Joey

Mado:
This is just to ditto your comments about the grandkids. I have two precious,
of course!!
granddaughters, Jessica and Jennifer and they are two and almost six years old.
They
love me, as you said, just like I am. They are great medicine for me. They
understand
when I can't stand as long, etc. Just the other day we were riding around the
mall in the
parking area when Jessica said, Nana, you can't walk that far to the theater,
maybe they
would let you go in one of those back doors, where sometimes we go out of
those-------
Wow, one of these days I will be able to say, lets go right in the front door
all the way through
the mall!! Greetings and blessing to you of you.
Martha

Hi group,
Perhaps some of you with AS might like to answer this query?
Thanks, Chris.

-FOR THOSE WHO TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY--
1. Save the whales. Collect the whole set
2. A day without sunshine is like, night
3. On the other hand, you have different fingers.
4. I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.
5. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
6. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
7. I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
8. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be
misquoted, then used against you.
9. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.
10. Honk if you love peace and quiet.
11. Remember half the people you know are below average.
12. Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?
13. Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.
14. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
15. He who laughs last thinks slowest.
16. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
17. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
18. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the
cheese.
19. I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.
20. I intend to live forever - so far so good.
21. Borrow money from a pessimist - they don't expect it back.
22. If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?
23. My mind is like a steel trap - rusty and illegal in 37 states.
24. Quantum mechanics: The dreams stuff is made of.
25. The only substitute for good manners is fast reflexes.
26. Support bacteria - they're the only culture some people have.
27. When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane and
going the wrong way.
28. If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
29. A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
30. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
31. For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism.
32. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks
33. Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.
34. No one is listening until you make a mistake.
35. Success always occurs in private and failure in full view.
36. The colder the x-ray table the more of your body is required on it.
37. The hardness of butter is directly proportional to the softness of
the bread.
38. The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the ability to
reach it.
39. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is
research.
40. To succeed in politics, it is often necessary to rise above your
principles.
41. Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.
42. You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.
43. Two wrongs are only the beginning.
44. The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.
45. The sooner you fall behind the more time you'll have to catch up.
46. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
47. Change is inevitable except from vending machines.
48. Get a new car for your spouse - it'll be a great trade!
49. Plan to be spontaneous - tomorrow.
50. Always try to be modest and be proud of it!
51. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
52. How many of you believe in telekinesis? Raise my hand...
53. Love may be blind but marriage is a real eye-opener.
54. If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving isn't for you.

I just called and got my new lab results. My new RF is 412 which is down
from 481 on April 26th. My new sed rate is 37; it was 99 on the previous
test last November. I had started out in June of last year with a RF of 349
and changed my diet and sent it down to 237. Then around the time I had
surgery on my knee (10-14-98) it jumped up to 499. I started AP 11-04-98.
I quit taking NSAIDS around three weeks ago and feel a bit stiffer then when
I was on them. I am in a lot less pain then I was this Spring, and even
that was a lot of improvement from last summer.
A couple weeks ago I decided to quit taking Tylenol 3 (codeine) as well as
vicodin. It seemed nice to have that available when I was in pain but when
I balance it out, I am doing better without them. What I mean by that is a
balancing in quality of life. The opiates drag down my moods even if I only
use one or two a day and I am more active without them. I just feel a lot
more "perky". I've got a stash in case I get into an acute pain from my
cartilage deficient right knee but I feel happier not taking them.
I believe the AP is working for me.
Denise

Response from Kari Rominski
Type of disease and length of time since diagnosis: RA -- diagnosis 10/98;
(symptoms 10/95)
Length of time on AP: 12/98
Antibiotic(s) being used: Minocin, 100 mg 2x/day
Supplements: Daypro, Probiotic, Borage Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Vitamin C,
Multivitamin
Following Dr. Mercola's diet?: No, (but I eat little to no sugar)
Overall rating of improvement on a scale of 0-5 (0 being no improvement yet,
5 being remission):
--Specific areas of IMPROVEMENTsince starting the AP...
--morning stiffness (0-5): 4
--daytime pain levels (0-5): 4
--night-time pain levels (0-5): 4
--energy level (0-5): 4.5
--ability to accomplish activities of daily
living (0-5): 4.5
--overall feeling of wellness (0-5): 4.5
--bloodwork (0-5): no recent blood work
--swelling (0-5): 3.5
--number of active joints (0-5): 3.5
Other comments: The RA is not gone, but after almost eight months on
Minocin, it has become more of a nuisance than a handicap. My life is
almost back to normal.

Hello everyone,
Yesterday and today, I had my IV's that were long overdo. It makes such a
difference when you reach such a level and then you miss out on it for
awhile, you body cries out for it.
Tommorrow, I will be off to Ottawa to have a different IV and some allergy
testing on Friday. We shall see if we can desensitize this body of mine to
Cipro which is the second antibiotic my doctor wants me to be on.The last
time I took this drug, my lungs reacted right away to it and I was told to
try a second dose by my pharmacist to make sure it was the antibiotic since
I have a multitude of allergies. The second didn't go well either. Sooooooo,
I am positive that I will react to this drug. We shall try some very very
small doses and work from there. I shall let you know.
I am looking forward to my friend Mado, which we will meet for the first
time at my doc's office. It is always sooo nice to meet people from the
list.
PS: Geoff, keep those fingers crossed!
Hugs, Kathryn

to the Group
I would like to thank everyone for your support I'm sure I'll be fine. I
know you've all been down that rocky road"ouch just saying rocky hurt" or
most of you anyway. It's nice to have that life line to grab onto and not
be judged or feel you are in someones way. This group has been a blessing
and I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks that. So on a lighter note I
bought myself this super cane. The handle formed fit to your hand the only
problem is it's for the right hand tough if I need it for the left hand. I
have to say it feels really comfortable and my hand dosn't get cramped.
Thanks again gang.
Bonnie

Ive gotton an oral yeast infection and doctor advises I stop the AP till
I get it cleared. He thinks its not systemic so gave me the lozenges you
dissolve in your mouth and said to spray it with apple cider vinegar
too. Im doing the yougurt and stuff too and I guess this is the end of
my recent sweets binge. Remember I have always surmised apples kept me
from getting yeast? For a while now I havent been eating very many
apples and I get one. Have had it some time as I went to a different doc
for it when mine was on vacation last month, and he missed it, just
thought it was some virus. It has shown almost no white stuff at all so
I didnt think it was yeast either until it just wouldnt go away. Doc
said yes its yeast, he sees a lot of it in his aids patients. He tells
me that sorta thing so ofton that I wonder if he tells them "yes I see
this in my AP patients"
Anyway I am worried about stopping the antibiotics for a while. Seems
like I already feel worse altho could be the bit of a weather change we
are having. Actually all the time with the yeast, except for really sore
tongue, I have felt real good. So what do you all think. Should I stop
the doxy for a week or so or go ahead with it and stuff myself with
yogurt?
Sarah
--
Clark Signs:
http://members.xoom.com/sclark/
AP Support Group:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6412/
Lots of arthritis and health links:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/6412/supportlinks.htm

Before I found the AP, I read a lot of books by herbalists on the subject of
RA. A lot of people think that strengthening the immune system means
boosting it or revving it up, the herbalist approach is that your immune
system needs balancing and strengthening. That is to say, that the immune
system needs to be brought back into normal functioning status, raising the
levels of things that are supressed, lowering the things that are out of
control. It really helps me to understand the role of immune strengthening
in the AP to think of it this way. Some of the RA drugs traditionally used
may supress part of the immune function, bringing the responses back into
better balance, others may have a more overall supressing action. For those
that are using them in conjunction, it would be the aim to stengthen the
immune system to bring back to normal levels the other immune functions so
that your body can mount an attack on the microbes. Think Strengthen, and
Balance, not boost, and it makes more sense that way! Liz G

I found your group last January and then for some reason I lost you.
Fortunately, about three days ago I found you again. I have a quick
question, What is MSM?

Try this url:
http://www.TheToyZone.com/scripts/exchange.fwx?happy
or this link:
http://www.//x-press.net/poohbear/index.html
This one wouldn't work for me, but supposedly you can buy
the parts for $2 plus shipping. Here's the email address
that goes with the above site: mailto:mcdonald@...
The McD's I stopped by this morning said they had legs last
night, but were out this morning. Dang.
Vern

Thought you might like to see this virus alert.
Paula

Hi Gang
I read a lot about celebrex and felt that of all the nsaids , it seemed to
be the safest. But who really knows, it's a realatevaly new drug and so we
all know that it may be a long time before we know the true effects of it.
I have been taking celebrex for four months, the pain of the RA is less. I
don't seem to ache as much and when I'm in a hurx it dosen't seem to work
although I'm afraid that if I wasn't taking it I would not be able to
move.I have fewer [I want to die days!] By what I can gather most everyone
is taking some type of anti -inflamitory along with the AP and frankly I
didn't want to go that root but if I hadn't I don't think I would be here
today. Never in my whole life have I experienced such depression and pain
as I have in this last 9 months. It seems never ending and I pray every
night first thanking God for getting me through the day and next to take
away this useless felling I have. I have never depended on anyone since I
left home. Now I have to ask my kids to help with the house work [they
don't live at home]. I have to depend on my husband to cover me in the
middle of the night. I feel like a 100 year old woman and even then their
more agile than I am. If you haven't noticed I am feeling sorry for myself.
I am so tired of feeling like this. I want to be able to go back to work
and I'm so afraid that by the time that happens I'll be to old. Anyway its
nice to air a little and I know there are people a lot worse off than I am
and God bless them more than ever. Isn't it amazing how when we were well
and we saw a person hobbling around and thinking poor soul. Now when I see
that I'm identifying with them, I can feel their pain and it makes me feel
phisically sick. Well I should go, have a good evening.
Bonnie

Hello,
I saw the email in regard to M. hominis. Am I correct the the
fact that I responded so well to minocycline and did not to
erythromycin, that odds are I might be fighting M. hominis? Does doxy
work against, anybody know?
TIA
Denise
NC

Hi,
I never liked the skin of tomatoes. My mother plunged them in
boilin water for 30 seconds or so. The skin splits and they are easy
peel. They still taste delicious.
Denise
NC

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/seniors/9908/03/celebrex.viagra.ap/index.html
Mark

Hi all,
Well I just got my results from my blood work since starting zithro last
April and they were pretty bad. Hopefully this is a stir-up as they are way
higher than they have ever been.
Before doxi APril 99 ( before zithro July 99
and on doxi for 6 months)
RF 33 66 93
WBC 10 15 10.8
SED 3 23 56
creact .04 20 82
I am very concerned about this. If anyone has any thoughts please let me
hear from you.
Did anyone else have a tremendous increase in numbers when going on zithro?
I pray I am not getting worse as before the antibioitics I had wonderful
lab readings and far less pain.
It seems my numbers get worse as the bank account dwindles! Now I know why
I had cement knees with numbers like this.
But I got great energy!!!!!!
Thanks guys... you are a blessing.
Leslie

Here, imho, is some dimwitted research.

Anita:
If you read the rheumatic.org diet recommendation, the biggest thing is sugar...
the statement is that the protocol won't work if you don't cut it majorly
back....
I found that when I dropped my sugar (and I was addicted to chocolate, cookies
and bakery goods), I no longer had flares....
I also like to garden, love salads...and am growing tomatoes...
I LOVE tomatoes... and they are 'coming in' like crazy from my
garden...
i've been having at least a couple a day for the last few days and my feet are
now hurting longer in the morning....
i'm going to have to stop eating them -- at least to the level i have been...
so paying attention to specific changes in food and body is necessary...
a real pain...
but necessary when you have these sensitivities...

type disease: RA
diagnosed: 1998
AP: 1/1999
antibiotics: Doxy; 200 mg 7x week
supplements: multi vitamins (includes B)
Dr's diet: I avoid bad fats, aspartine, cut back on sugar....
improvement rating - specific areas:
pain levels now minimal - 'stiffness' in my feet in the morning
i have occassional flares - the last two were 24 hours long
i haven't had one that lasted 3+ days in 2 months....
comments: last blood tests show I'm high in potassium (?), urea nitrogen
(BUN),
bun/creatinine ration and MCH -
*** does anyone know what those mean?? If I should be concerned??? ******
my SED rate was 5 and RH factor 44.
i still have fatigue - maybe because i'm not taking all the 'extra's'
you folks talk
about... I'm one of these who believes if I don't have to take it,
don't..... I may
start MSM or Brewers Yeast if this doesn't lift .... (could also have
alot to do with
the heat in Atlanta and that I'm not getting any exercise / have a
very stressful job)

Dear group members, I have a 20 year old friend who has been diagnosed with
Tendonitis has been put on Ibuprofen IV initially, and orally to continue. My
personal opinion is that Tendonitis is on the continuum of the rheumatic
disease and could be nipped in the bud by minocin Please give advice
thanks,
DOUBLLE-A

Does anyone out there know about fixing electric lift chairs. I bought one
second hand six months ago and I've just loved it. I thought there was
something wrong with the switch when it started hanging up the other day but
I was wrong. Just a little bit ago I adjust the position of the chair and,
POOF, it crackled and a flame shot out. It scared the devil out of me and
you would have laughed to see me clawing my way out of that chair! A few
months ago I couldn't have done it because it was in the reclining position.
Well, I got out of the chair and now it is on its side where I could verify
nothing was burning. My daughter is going to come over later tonight and
help me get the foot rest off the thing. I don't think I could afford to
replace the motor but just thought I'd ask and see if any of you have had
any experience with these chairs. Gee, I'm gonna miss it.....
Denise J

Hi gang, just a quick note to say we are back from vacation and re subscribed
to the list. We had a nice visit with Joey Sala and her mom. Great people.
Visit was to ;short but we did meet them for lunch. My granddaughters just
loved Joey's mom.
We also had a nice phone conversation with Geoff. It was not possible for us to
get together, but that just leaves one more thing we can do on the next trip out
there.
We seen some of the great wonders of this country and also met a lot of nice
people.
Thanks for adding to our vacation memories, Geoff and Joey & Mom. It was great.
Best to all,
Denny & SKip
Michigan

Hello,
Thought some would like to see this.
Kathryn
There are several vaccines in the works for Rheumatoid Arthritis,

Hello Gang,
I wanted to share with you my new recliner chairs we got for our
home.It is by "Berkline" It is called the "12 point massage chair". It
reclines like a normal chair but it has a remote control for different
massage patterns. There is a special going on that you will also get to
chose from a pair of slippers or neck pillow that plug into the remote
and massage you also.It is like HEAVEN!!!!. I wanted one for myself but
when my hubby sat in it, we ended up getting two. I lured him a little
by saying "just picture watching the Jacksonville Jaguars games in one
of these babies " CASE CLOSED!!!
They are one sale in my part of the country for $649.00 each not
a bad deal.
Check it out, Yoly!!

I have wondered about the association with the lower back and RA too,
since I had it really bad there before I started the AP (Fortunately for me,
this was one of the first areas to respond to the antibiotics favorably!) It
was so bad I could not sit up in the morning without pulling up on the side
of the bed, and rolling onto the floor on my knees. Then came the fun part,
trying to get the foot up under the knee and the knee to straighten
up..quite a slapstick show! Now it only leads to numb hands and feet if I
sit or stand too long.
I have asked doctors about this, and they answered to the effect that while
the principal destructive effects of RA are primarily in the synovia of
certain joints, it can also cause some degree of inflammation anywhere there
is connective tissue in the body. This agrees with what Dr. Brown said about
RA being a disease of collagen, and also with what my poor back, shoulders
and achilles tendons say only too loudly some days. I think the idea as far
as the back goes is: inflammation in tissues of and around the spine-----
pressure on the nerve roots where they exit the spine-----
pain, and numb, tingling or cold extremities.
I also noticed that the muscle spasms in my lower back and elsewhere
seemed to improve in direct relation to the severe sleep disturbance which
has always been a part of the disease for me until the AP. I wonder if a lot
of it wasn't caused by the lack of stage 4 sleep, as in fibromyalgia. The
only muscle spasms I have now are in the vicinity of the RA affected
joints, when I move them past where they want to go. Anyone else have
similar experiences? Liz G

Rheumatoid arthritis, Diagnosed 1/98, symptoms since childhood.
AP since 2/98
Antibiotics: tetracycline initially, now on doxycycline 100mg daily
Other meds: Prednisone, currently on 8mg. daily, tapering down to 5 mg. after a
recent burst, also take HRT.
Supplements: Brewer's yeast 9tablets/day, Vit C 1g/day, 2 caps cod liver oil
daily, 6g salmon oil daily, 400 iu mixed toc. vit. E, 2 caps Primadopholous
daily, 1 tsp slippery elm powder daily, 3 caps ginger daily, 1 g calcium with
vit D&K added daily.(Have used other supplements previously, olive leaf,
licorice root, wild yam, bromelain, tumeric, minerals, et al.--this is all my
body and budget can stand right now! )
Diet: I follow the diet with the exception that I have not quit dairy products
or entirely eliminated whole wheat products. Previous elimination diets did not
show a problem with either of these for me.
Overall rating: 3
morning stiffness 4
bloodwork 3
swelling 2
overall feeling of wellness 4
number of active joints 2
Coments: Overall, I have had great improvement in the area of fatigue and
disturbed sleep especially. Fewer joints are active, however unhappily the ones
that are are much more swollen than before. The pain is greatly decreased
however, so I am hoping this means less destruction is going on than was a year
ago. Overall, I am able to do much more and enjoy life better, and do some
part-time work again after years on disability. There have been times during the
last 1 1/2 years that I would have given myself all 4's and 5's, and I live for
these times to come again! Cheers to the memory of Dr. Brown, and thanks to all
those who have carried on this work! Liz G

'' Survival kit''

Joey (Josephine) Sala
type disease: RA
diagnosed: 1994
AP: October 6, 1998
antibiotics: Clin; IM - 300mg every two weeks
Doxy; 100 mg 3x week
supplements: Vit C; Vit E; flaxseed oil; garlic; multi-vit;
magnesium lactate; Immuplex (immune system
booster); acidophilus; 1500mg enteroc aspirin;
glucosamine sulfate
Dr's diet: I try; I do try to avoid sugar, bad fats, aspartine,
etc
improvement rating - specific areas:
night-time pain levels - 2
blood work - 1
comments: I am still experiencing a herx (approx 6 months), I
think. About 2 1/2 months into AP I noticed a lot
of improvement, in all areas. About 2 1/2 months
later, I knew I was taking 2 giant steps backwards.
New blood work showed increase in all numbers.
Approx 9 months into AP I felt I had reached a
plateau - that perhaps I had not gotten any worse
in some time. New blood work showed decrease
in all numbers!
Am not sure if I am indeed experiencing a herx or
if my long-unused muscles are screaming in pro-
test! I know it doesn't take much to make things
hurt.

Hello Eveyone - The last time I saw my rheumy here in
Denver (he's following me here because Dr. Franco put me on
Mtx and I need blood work done every 2 weeks - he doesn't go
along with the AP - but he's curious) we had a short
discussion on AP. He asked me a question I was unable to
answer. He said: "I don't understand why antibiotics would
take so long to act. When a patient has a sore throat or
other illness caused my mycoplasma we give a strong dose of
antibiotics over a short period of time and it's gone."
Can anyone give me a good response or point me to the right
chapter/page in The Road Back so that I can talk
intelligently to him about this?
Thanks!
Lea

Type of disease & length of time since diagnosis: Scleroderma (crest or
diffuse diagnosed by 2 different rheumys in Nov/95) Raynauds, Hiatal
Hernia and IBS.
Lenth of time on AP: Since Nov/98
Antibiotics being used: Minocin and Clindamycin IV
Supplements: Acidophilus, Multi-vitamin, Vitamin C and E, Olive Leaf,
Slippery Elm, Digest Enzymes, Folic Acid, Flax Seed Oil and Milk
Thistle.
Following Dr. Mercolas diet? Most of it.
Overall rating of improvement on a scale of 0-5: 4
Specific areas of IMPROVEMENT since starting AP:
morning stiffness: 4
daytime pain levels: 4
night-time pain levels: 5
energy level: 4.5
ability of accomplish activities
of daily living: 4
bloodwork: 0
swelling: 5
number of active joints: 5
Emily

Recently on Inside Edition there was an article about several new scams
to
abduct women.
In one, a man comes up to a woman in a Mall or Shopping Center and
asks if she likes Pizza. When she says she does, he offers her $100.00
to
shoot a commercial for Pizza, but they need to go outside where the
lighting
is better. When the woman goes out of the mall she is abducted and
assaulted.
Another ploy is a very nicely dressed man asks a woman if she would
be in a Public Service announcement to discourage drug use. The man
explains
that they don't want professional actors or celebrities they want the
average
mother to do this. Once she leaves the mall she is a victim.
The third ploy, and the most successful, a very frantic man comes
running in and asks a woman to please help him, his baby is not
breathing.
She runs out of the mall following him and also becomes a
victim. These have been happening in well lit parking areas, in
daylight as
well as night time, all over the country. The abductor usually uses a
van to
abduct the woman.
'Inside Edition' set up a test in a Mall and 10 out of 15 women went out
of
the Mall on the Pizza and the PSA scam. And all of them went out of the
Mall
on baby scam.
Please pass this along to your friends and family as now that it has
been
shown on nationwide TV there are bound to be copy cats of this.
The third one, I think, is the scariest. You might resist pizza or
becoming a commercial celebrity...but who would be able to resist a
frantic
father asking for help for his child? I'm sure that one would get me.
I was going to send this to the ladies only, but guys, if you love
your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it
on to
them, as well.
Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the
world
we live in has a lot of crazies in it...better safe than sorry........
A woman was shopping at the Tuttle Mall in Columbus. She came out to
her car and saw she had a flat. She got her jack, spare out of the
trunk.
A man in a business suit came up and started to help her. When the tire
had
been replaced, he asked for a ride to his car on the opposite side of
the
Mall. Feeling uncomfortable about doing this, she stalled for a while,
but he
kept pressing her. She finally asked why he was on this side of the Mall
if
his car was on the other. He claimed he had been talking to friends.
Still
uncomfortable, she told him that she had just remembered something she
had
forgotten to pick up at the mall and she left him and went back inside
the
mall. She reported the incident to the mall security and they went out
to her
car. The man was nowhere in sight. Opening her trunk, she discovered a
brief
case the man had set inside her trunk while helping her with the tire.
Inside were rope and a butcher knife. And, when she took the tire to
be fixed, the mechanic informed her that there was nothing wrong with
her
tire, that it was flat because the air had been let out of it.
PLEASE BE SAFE AND NOT SORRY! JUST A WARNING TO ALWAYS BE ALERT AND USE
YOUR
HEAD!!!

Will be out of the area for 2 weeks; please "unsubscribe"
Thanks!

FLUOROQUINOLONE-INDUCED TENDINOPATHY: WHAT DO WE KNOW?
Risk factors for this rare condition are age, renal failure, corticosteroid
use, and previous tendinopathy from fluoroquinolones.
South Med J 92(6):622-625, 1999
http://id.medscape.com/5861.rhtml
<a href="http://id.medscape.com/5861.rhtml"

Brenda
Type of disease and length of time since diagnosis: seropositive RA 9 years
Length of time on AP: 24 months
Antibiotic(s) being used: minocycline 100mg b.i.d MWF clindamycin IM (6
month series) then 1200mg oral weekly
Supplements: acidophilus, multivitamin, calcium, garlic, betacarotene, vit
C and E
Following Dr. Mercola's diet?: no
Overall rating of improvement on a scale of 0-5 (0 being no improvement yet,
5 being remission):
--Specific areas of IMPROVEMENTsince starting the AP...
4--morning stiffness (0-5):
4--daytime pain levels (0-5):
4--night-time pain levels (0-5):
4--energy level (0-5):
4--ability to accomplish activities of daily
living (0-5)
4--overall feeling of wellness (0-5):
3--bloodwork (0-5):
4--swelling (0-5):
4--number of active joints (0-5):
Other comments:
The AP is working for me.

(Some of you may have received an incomplete e-mail on this topic; my
computer crashed while sending this post and it didn't come through
correctly. Here is the original e-mail.)
From time to time, some of us post improvements we have noted on the AP. I
was thinking that it might be a good idea for us to give an update so that
we can get a sense of where we as a group are on the "Road Back". If you're
interested, please respond to the questions below sometime this week. I'll
put the responses I receive by August 5 together in one e-mail which I will
post on August 6.
Linda
(RA 21+ yr. AP 20 mo.)
Type of disease and length of time since diagnosis:
Length of time on AP:
Antibiotic(s) being used:
Supplements:
Following Dr. Mercola's diet?:
Overall rating of improvement on a scale of 0-5 (0 being no improvement yet,
5 being remission):
--Specific areas of IMPROVEMENTsince starting the AP...
--morning stiffness (0-5):
--daytime pain levels (0-5):
--night-time pain levels (0-5):
--energy level (0-5):
--ability to accomplish activities of daily
living (0-5)
--overall feeling of wellness (0-5):
--bloodwork (0-5):
--swelling (0-5):
--number of active joints (0-5):
Other comments:

From time to time, some of us post improvements we have noted on the AP. I
was thinking that it might be a good idea for us to give an update so that
we can get a sense of where we as a group are on the "Road Back". If you're
interested, please respond to the questions below sometime this week. I'll
put the responses I receive by August 5 together in one e-mail which I will
post on August 6.
Linda
(RA 21+ yr. AP 20 mo.)
Type of disease and length of time since diagnosis:
Length of time on AP:
Antibiotic(s) being used:
Supplements:
Following Dr. Mercola's diet?:
Overall rating of improvement on a scale of 0-5 (0 being no improvement yet,
5 being remission):
--Specific areas of IMPROVEMENTsince starting the AP...
--morning stiffness (0-5):
--daytime pain levels (0-5):
--night-time pain levels (0-5):
--energy level (0-5):
--ability to accomplish activities of daily
living (0-5)
--overall feeling of wellness (0-5):
--bloodwork (0-5):
--swelling (0-5):
--number of active joints (0-5):
Other comments:

Hello all,
Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I was just wondering
if anyone out there has had root canal teeth removed?
My dentist wants to do something with a root filled molar because
it keeps getting infected every few months. My dentist doesn't
even bother to give me antibiotics anymore, because the infection
comes and goes so often. She talked about having a specialist
"clean out" the infection in the root, but after all the negative
things I have read about root canals, I'd rather have her pull it
out.
Funny, I had gone a couple of weeks without any joint pain, which
happens quite a bit, I shouldn't complain. But then a few days
ago I started to get achy again and my left hip flared pretty bad
today. Then I realized my tooth had started to ache again during
the same time. Perhaps it's causing alot of my flares. Who knows.
Although my dentist doesn't believe in using mercury amalgam, I
don't believe she knows much about the bacterial-chronic disease
link.
I've read that it is important to take antibiotics for a period
of time before removal of an infected/root filled tooth. Does it
have to be a specific antibiotic? Should they be continued for a
period of time after removal? Perhaps dentists prescribe them
after tooth extraction anyway.
I read on the rheumatic site that they usually recommend removing
some of the bone too, as it may be infected with bacteria also.
Ouch! Now I'm worried that I will have my tooth extracted and it
won't make a difference because the bone may be infected also.
*sigh*
I've never had a tooth pulled before, so needless to say, I'm
pretty freaked out about having it done! But mostly, I just want
to make sure all the proper steps are taken to ensure that the
bacteria trapped in my tooth don't infect my body further.
Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. :)
Thanks,
Kyla

Hello everyone,
Well, I can't believe I made it well all through my vacation and I come back
home and hubby, the kids and I went to play miniature golf. We make it to
the 16th hole and what happens? I get hit on the head with a golf ball,
which physically made me hit the ground.Being so lucky as I am, it hit my
worst spot on my head which is where I have trigeminal neuralgia and this
did lead to a crisis in no time. Thank God I have narcotics with me all the
time. I didn't sleep at all last night and my head is a bit better today but
still quite sore. I have this nice bump on my head.
Then I still missed my IV's this week and with a very high humidity here, my
spine is feeling it.
I wish I could move out to kelownw right now, it was like paradise...
Hugs, Kathryn

Hi Everyone,
Just want to thank all who have responded to my guestions
regarding MSM. This is my third day and I been having more
pain than usual. I'm going to keep on for about month and see
what happens.
Thanks again,
Pat

Dear friends,
I thought it was time to check in with my doctor since my last visit was
in October. I just have been doing so well that I felt no need to go in.
To recap. I started symptoms in February 1998 and was diagnosed in April
with RA since my body was kind enough to produce an elevated RA factor.
Although it was "only" 25 it helped to get a diagnosis quickly. I started
AP in May of 98. (Minocycline (Lederle)100mg MWF) Had some herx to start
out. Mainly fatigue, brain fog and depression. I started to get better
after a couple of months. I didn't notice at first, but when I looked back
at how I had been, I realized there was improvement. This continued to get
better. I basically can say that there is 80% improvement. I get some
flares, but they last days or some only hours. No swelling or redness in
any joints. They get sore at times, but nothing major. I have more energy
and my brain is out of the fog most of the time. I'm very pleased and so is
my doctor. He is "just" a GP so I get no flak from him about perhaps
needing poisons. He still is not convinced about the infectious theory, but
he humors me. Actually I think he partly humors me and partly thinks that
whatever I'm doing seems to work for me. That is good enough for me. He
wrote me another script for another year. I asked him to make it 200mg MWF.
I'm not totally sure yet I want to up the dose. I'm in a little flare right
now and have company coming soon. I'll wait until everything is settling
down, then I might bump up 50mgs at a time and see what happens.
I'm taking lots of vitamin supplements, 10 bil. units acidophilus daily,
olive leaf as needed (I muscle test). I also started to take 12.5mg of DHEA
in February because I was low in testosterone. I also started Prozac last
winter and am in the process of decreasing and if all goes well going off
of it.
I try to drink lots of water and my diet is pretty good. I'm a vegetarian
and eat very little dairy products. (I do succumb to chocolate ).
My doctor said I might want to try Sam-e. He said from what he read he
believes it could be helpful in RA, although most of the focus of this
supplement has been on its anti-depressant quality. He said it was a
substance that normally occurs in the body, but some people are deficient
in it. He said it was important that the product be fresh. The down side is
that it is expensive. ($40 - 60 per month) (cough, cough, my comment).
Costco carries it. Vitamin Shoppe probably does, too.
Does someone on this list have experience or information on SAM-e?
I'll keep you posted when my labs come in.
Take care,
Ute

The first time I got my prescription for doxycycline filled the pharmacy gave me
100mg capsules of doxycycline hyclate. I got a refill from a different pharmacy
yesterday, and this time they gave me 100mg tablets just labeled doxycycline
(this is the way my doc wrote it both times--as doxycycline 100mg.) Does anyone
know if there is a difference in the two forms as far as the AP goes or also in
consideration to its anti-collagenase properties? Is one preferred over the
other? Thanks in advance. Liz G

In a message dated 7/29/99 4:20:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
joeysala@... writes:
<< What a coincidence - we're talking about eyes and today I started getting
Yeah, what a coincidence. I went to the Opthamologist for a routine check
and now have to see a Cornea Specialist because of a Keratosis on my cornea.
Caused by UV rays, I guess.
What a shock, I'm in shock. To do my laps I got some UV protective Goggles
and will make sure from now on I don't swim in mid day. He said it was from
the reflection of the water. Wonder if it's symptomatic of RA because I sure
spend less time in the pool than most folks and many have been in the South
for years. Me, only 2 years. Someone mentioned Collagen. I'll have to ask
the Doc.
Is that all we do, us sicken ones, is go to the Drs.???? Guess our repreive
is when we cross over the Jordan, by and by.
Cya, Anita

this is a very informative site about antibiotic resistance research.
http://www.healthsci.tufts.edu/apua/roarhome.htm
kay
begin 666 Reservoirs of Antibiotic Resistance Network.url
M6T1%1D%53%1=#0I"05-%55),/6AT=' Z+R]W=W<N:&5A;'1H<V-I+G1U9G1S
M+F5D=2]A<'5A+W)O87)H;VUE+FAT;0T*#0I;26YT97)N9713:&]R=&-U=%T-
M"E523#UH='1P.B\O=W=W+FAE86QT:'-C:2YT=69T<RYE9'4O87!U82]R;V%R
G:&]M92YH=&T-"DUO9&EF:65D/4,P-$4U-S@U,$%$0D)%,#$X10T*
`
end

I would like to hear from anyone with SD and Epilepsy.
Thanks
Andrea K.

Hi group,
DOes anyone know if it is possible to take TOO much acidophillus? For
about a month I have been having stomach cramps off and on during the day
and some bowel pain. I forgot my acidophillus whe I went to CA and had to
buy an inexpensive brand . The stomach cramps and pain disappeared. I had
thought I was having problems with my colon and the antibiotics but since
then I think it may be " overdoseage" of the acidophillus.
I bought some more of the "good stuff" and have started retaking it and
sure enough the cramps and " other miseries" are back.
ANy info would be appreciated because I don't know what to do...keep with
the good stuff and cut back from 6 a day or go with the cheap brand.
Has anyone else had this problem?
Thanks!
LEslie

Hi,
I take ra spes and arthro 7. My Tues. order for MSM came in today.
I, too, am unsure if I should take all of these together. I take
aspirin and vitamin E 800mg so I wonder about the bleeding issue and the
herbs in spes mixing with the herbs in the MSM. Arthro 7 has curcumin
and bromelain; in addition to collagen, vit C, lipase and I've been
taking those two for several weeks.
I've been thinking of faxing Gero Vita in Marina del Rey.
Denise
NC

i can't figure out what to take that would best help repair my joints
now that the minocin and enbrel are working. i just got an ad for
Arthro-7 (with msm and cmo) but was considering taking the RA Specs from
the Argus Co. (mostly with botanicals) before i saw this ad. too many
choices! any help i would greatly appreciate as i am not so sure of this
msm stuff. thanks very much, Margie

Thank ya'll so much for sending support to me about my dad. I am trying to
write a eulogy and wanted to use that post one of you sent about "The Dash"
about its whats important in life that happens between birth-death. Could
someone forward thatpost to me? This is so hard?
Blessings,
Carol*

<A HREF="http://www.healthyideas.com/index.html"
-- Home Page</A
http://www.healthyideas.com/index.html

cut and paste from sci.med diseases lyme:
last post, I can forward you my info on our very postive experiences with
Mild Silver Protein-the stable form of colloidal silver. I'm out walking 3
miles ever other day now and biking 6 on the alternate days. Best Wishes,
Melody +++++++++++++++++++++++
Mild Silver Protein on-line resources.
The Revive/Invive and they refer to, appears to be identical to the Allergy
Research Group's mild silver protein product "Ag-Cidal".
Be Healthy site-widest group of links to info. You DO NOT have to sign in to
access info.
colloidal Your Be Healthy Site lyme specific
http://www.xpressnet.com/bhealthy/index.html
Link to a company in Canada which sells it (Shipping too expensive for US),
but links good to other resources They overlap the links of the "Your Be
Healthy " site
colloidla sivler home Advantage Pharmaceuticals Silver Protein and LyI
http://www.escape.ca/~revive/