Clinically Isolated Syndrome

[KimC4]

Hi,
Can anyone help with the following please:

1/ What vitamins/minerals can you take to help support the immune system.

2/ Apart from vitamins/minerals how can you protect against Viruses, a couple of viruses and raised body temperature lasting 3-4 weeks over the winter each exacerbated the ongoing symptoms I have (leg numbness/dragging, burning pain in limbs) and prevented me going into work.  Avoiding people is impossible, apart from wearing a mask what is the answer?

3/ Is there anything at all that you can take or do to prevent Clinicaly Isolated Syndrome from developing into MS?

Many thanks

[KimC4]

Thanks so much for all your comments, I agree with Vit D Quix, thats the only Vit deficiency my Neuro suggested checking.

I also have Asthma (for 20 years) and work in a health care setting, most winters even before this diagnosis I have managed to pick up a virus or 2, some years I am fine though and sail through.

Kim

[Guitar_grrrl]

I can vouch for Quix!  I haven't had the flu in over 10 years, and over the last year, rhinoviruses (colds) last me about 6 - 8 hours!  Once I'm over these mini-viruses, though, my MS symptoms flair!

[Quixotic1]

First, I want to caution all from thinking that the immune system is weakened in MS.  It is not.  If anything, people with MS get "fewer" colds as noted by many researchers down through the last few decades.  Our immune systems are certainly out of whack, but they do not need to be boosted.

Several MS sites discourage people with MS from taking supplements that boost the immune system like high doses of Vitamin C, echineacia, and others that promise immune-raising properties.

There is at least one exception.  This is Vitamin D.  There are strong links between Vitamin D deficiency and the development of MS.  Even Vit D deficiency in infancy or childhood is linked to a higher prediliction for the disease.  There is research ongoing to see if very-high dose Vit D will have any effect once the disease has appeared - either as CIS or Definite MS.  One recently released study showed a slow down in relapse rate with a daily dose of Vitamin D of 14,000IU daily along with supplemental calcium.  All of those people were monitored for signs of Vit D toxicity - which can be very serious.  None developed it despite that daily dose for more than a year.

However, the current state of Vitamin D research (real science, not theory) states that the highest dose that these researchers can say is safe for the regular person to use without monitoring is 10,000 IU daily (my source - The Linus Pauling Institute for Micronutrient Research at Oregon State University of Health Science OHSU).  We do know that some of our members have been place on higher doses by their physicians.  this would be something.

Other supplements have not been shown to have an effect by scientific studies.

If members are Vitamin B12 deficient - levels below 230 (or at risk, levels below 500) Some are recommending supplementing with regular Vit B12 (cyanocobalmin) at 1000 mcg.  There is a lot of talk about needing the more expensive and "bioavailable" form - methylcobalmin.  But, interestingly, repeated recent studies have shown that even pernicious anemia responds to high enough oral doses of the regular Vit B12.  Yes, I was skeptical of this, but I looked up the studies (several since the late 1990's) and plain old cyanocobalmin works just fine.

What has truly been shown to help with delaying the conversion is one of the MS meds.  Period.  They have studied the choesterol-lowering "statin" meds with conflicting success.  Other small studies have indicated a benefit from antibiotics.  But, all of those remain unproven and have potential serious side effects.

I take:
Vit D 8,000 IU daily
Calcium 1000mg
Vit B12 1000 mcg daily
multivit
Fish oil
Co-Q10

Then because of Alzheimer's in my family:

extra folate 400mcg
Alpha Lipoic Acid plus acetyl-l-carnitine

Fever is not a part of MS.  3 to 4 weeks of levated temp is NOT normal and the cause should be found.  I agree it makes me want to look hard for Lyme disease is a person that appears to have MS or CIS.  Other diseases that cause fever and look like MS include Sarcoidosis, Lupus, HIV, paraneoplastic syndromes and other autoimmune diseases.

Quix

[ErinZoe23]

lol HEY  Thought You were in the LYME COMMUNITY  MY BAD!!! lol  So just ignore the type in MS forum! Sorry!  C ya around

[ErinZoe23]

Hey im diagnosed with MS but am doubting it  .... However i take vitamin D and Calcium  you gotta take the calcium with the vitamin D or it will just pass right through your system and not get absorbed. I stopped taking it cause i havent figured out how much calcium i should take..... With vitamin D some doc say take recommended doasage and some say take more( nones actually really did prove how much vitamin D one can take or one needs to take)   I take 1000iu but wasnt taking the calcium so now im getting the D and Calcium mixed together pill so i can still take 900 - 1000 iu's and have the calcium already there so it gets absorbed

Thats all i take really  to preven it ummm i dont think you can  but you can somewhat prevent relapses attacks and flares by really getting to know your body. MS does not do good in the heat for some people. Stress triggered my first attack and over working , over workin out, not sleepin right, not eating that great ect ect ....i dont know if you typed this in the MS forum but they will have alot more suggestions for you

Ive had all your symptoms plus more  except the fever. MS dont give you a fever  Lyme does and im thinking your thinking lyme cause you in this forum?  Um thats all i know sorry! Hope you are doing well and get better tho! Take Care , Erin