Interesting article: inflammation and auto immune

www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/magazine/the-boy-with-a-thorn-in-his-joints.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Focuses on a case story of a little boy with arthritis, but has a lot of interesting information about auto immune diseases, inflammation and gut connections.
Erica

Interesting. I have been gluten free for a few weeks now. I also avoid most carbs and dairy. Still can't let go of the sugar, but I'm working on it. I eat nuts most evenings as a snack. We'll see!

What a great article. It is written from experience and with a sound, objective voice.

Everything she wrote about regarding the issue of inflammation is something that I have researched and realized first hand in the last two years.

I am due for a update on the Natural Treatments board and interestingly enough, it is not that upbeat. I had been stable for over a year and things went wrong in Dec. with a colonoscopy. I had my platelets checked the Friday before at 111, a little low but just fine for a long time ITPer. I went in for my colonoscopy the following Wed. (Dec. 12th) and everything was normal with my bloods. I know because they stuck me three times with an IV and kept missing an artery due to the dehydration of the day. This dehydration of course comes after voiding yourself for two straight days.

After the procedure I went home and almost immediately went to bed. I had severe chills and sweats that night and within 12 hours my platelets tanked. From over 100k to <10k in 12 hours. I have never experienced anything like it. The full deal, petechiae, blood blisters in my mouth and on my tongue in 12 hours!

I know now that the colonoscopy and the process of voiding my gut caused several problems. It eliminated my gut flora (ie. good bacteria) which I nurture with probiotics. It dehydrated me severely. I also had a polyp (fortunately benign) removed and so all these things likely contributed to a sudden inflammation in my gut.

I won't get into the rest of the details here, but suffice to say that I am very disappointed to be in this spot again. It was a relief today for me to read that article as it reminded me of why I likely had this ITP relapse and also what I have to do to get things back on track.

The more we understand and are aware of our ITP, the better we are able to manage it. I know that it won't go away completely anytime soon, all we can do is live with it the best we can.

Thank you so much for posting that great find.

cheers,

john

Here is an interesting follow up to the article I posted at the start of this thread: www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2013/02/curing_chemophobia_don_t_buy_the_alternative_medicine_in_the_boy_with_a.html
Erica

That was a good one. Reminded me to keep my skepticism right where it is.