Blood Brain barrier

[Flossie]

Dahlek,

I am hoping you can help me. Has your research suggested anything about using supplements that pass through the blood brain barrier? I am specifically thinking of ginkgo but there are lots of others.

Because I worry about my peripheral disease sneaking into my CNS myelin I assiduously stay away from pills with any ingredients that pride themselves on passing through the blood brain barrier. Am I being ridiculous?

I have learned to co-exist with my CIDP. But I worry tremendously about getting an even worse disease like MS. I have first cousins on both sides of the family with MS.

Thanks for your help,
Flossie

[dahlek]

I'm not recalling where tho....about 3 months ago.. Can't recall the wheres/hows tho... I don't deal with safety issues of blood-brain barrier penetrating meds...I've enuf problems keeping my basic script meds from causing damage...ALL that fine print makes a person confused...on purpose I believe!

I'm finding that a careful BALANCE of supplements and watching the total #'s of RDA's is the hardest part to balance when you have to take more than 2 supps. Each seems to 'throw' in something extra you don't need or in combos get too much of....in my case it was VitB-6 from 3 sources. Toxic levels!

Getting a worse disease such as MS? Are we all having a picnic? Both are auto-immune, yes; both are demeyelinating conditions, yes. But what I've gotten is that there are many many more in the way differences. The genetiic or chemistry triggers and results occur differently, I believe and I don't recall ever reading of one person who has BOTH conditions. MS affecting the brain nerves, CIDP affecting all peripherals. Small favor, I guess? On our plus side, research into MS, Aids and other auto-i conditions can ultimately benefit US. Our numbers are too small or not properly diagnosed tho. I'll seek and be willing to explore anything having a potential benefit! A good question tho..

That doesn't mean that CIDP is a static condition...by no means. No neuro condition I know of is truly static. How, where, and what points we are in our progressions, treatments and recoveries [status quo-to me, is a good thing] have heaps of variables.

Usually, with CIDP and many neuropathies the tendency is to develop another type of neuropathy....again, my reading seems to indicate that one can have a combo of 2 of the three n's. I have not encountered any documentation or case histories where patients have all 3 n's - yet.

I'm trying to answer your questions, but, I'm not at the same time. Wish there was more info available about this all. Research, treatment and medical priorities are soo vast. The size of the whole auto-immune field is huge and varied. We are just a bit of it all.

I suppose I am just grateful I got a diagnosis and proper treatment. I try hard tho to keep the attitude on the good side of the fence, I don't talk about half full or empty cups- 'cause I've got the CUP!

Hoping you have that CUP as well! - Super good things your way today! - j

[blossom4th]

Although it has been quite awhile since the posts were made about the blood-brain barrier;I thought I'd just post what I'd come across in my research.First off,I'll give you the link so that you can look at it for yourselves. http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic467.htm

The article does point to the possibility of having CIDP along with CNS demyelination.I thought that was interesting as my symptoms started out like MS....with the vision problems first;followed by some gait and cognitive problems.Though I complained of sensory problems in my feet,I was told after an EMG in 2001,there was no evidence of neuropathy.I had a remission of a year and half,and since then,my symptoms have progressed at a fairly average speed.I think my neuro is finally catching on to what's going on with me! :rolleyes: