New theory for MS progression/ treatment

The Venous Theory

As has been hitting the net recently, there is a newish theory of MS progression, if not causation, based on insufficient blood flow in the brain due to iron deposition there not being flushed out.

I admit it's intriguing, but one of the things I'm not getting out of the info yet is why the iron is there, and where it came from. I'm particularly intrigued as a long-time vegetarian, who clearly does not overload on iron like many Americans who eat red meat, etc. I'm glad the studies will continue, and if the treatment of improving the blood flow works for some people, I'm happy! Right now, I think it's one nice part of an horrendously complex issue-- why iron, for example? If more northerners get it, who maybe eat less red meat around the world, why that? Why not mercury from commercial fishing? Do people have insufficient blood flow in other parts of their body too? Is the heart involved? I have "mild mitral insufficiency"-- is that part of it?

GAH! These are times I wish I'd gone to medical school rather than do the "easy" PhD. (Caveat-- PhDs are for people with mental issues who like pain. Honest-- at least the real ones you don't buy off the internet.)

Will follow to see how this goes along!

It's definitely not lupus...

...and not the flu, either. Arg. So far I have managed to miss the flu, I think, but lately my left ear has been hurting and my left (and only left!) tonsil is swollen and sore. It's like the ultimate headcold, since I can't get the nasal congestion to leave my head. The nice nurse at my school took a look, and yep, the left eardrum is slightly bulged, so I am wondering if I have a lovely ear infection coming. I hate this stuff.

At the school as a whole, while flumania is down, allergies are running rampant. I don't think I have allergies, but the fine silica sanddust is EVERYWHERE here. I see why bedouins tend to cover their faces.

MS wise, all is mostly stable, though I do wonder if the weird shocklike headaches I've had lately are MS related or just tension issues. I wish massage was indicated for MS!

Hope all are well!

Real life MS cell news!

Anyway, the link above is about a realtime observation of T-cells leaving blood vessels, which is really freaking cool. Between that and new observations that abnormal blood flow may have a hand in MS, it's been an exciting couple of weeks around here.

Of course, one does wonder if there's any money around for research... AZ is seemingly going to be the next California in terms of being fiscally broke (morally is a whole other thing..)

let's see how long we last here now.

Feh.

In short, a deadly dullish kind of week or so. I think the MS is starting to screw with my swallowing, which is always fun. On the up side, I am ok per my last MS doc visit-- but on the other hand, for the first time I actually saw hand tremor during my neuro exam. And that has frankly been disturbing to me!

Again on the plus side, my EDSS score is still only 1 instead of 2, since I had no real fatigue. But tremor? MAN, that made me feel old! But as usual, could be worse. Could be raining!

feh