Allergies
Multiple sclerosis is thought to be caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the nervous system (specifically, the myelin sheath surrounding the nerves). Allergies are also an immune response, so they seem as if they could be related.
I had an allergy test done many years ago which uncovered allergies I never knew I had. I had eaten the things I was allergic to all my life, and never had a reaction. But, when they poked the needle in my back, my body reacted. Today, I try to stay away from those things. For the seasonal allergies, I take an antihistamine every day. I figure I want to avoid my immune system getting fired up. I have no idea if having an allergic reaction translates into additional MS symptoms, but I'm curious.
So.....does anyone else have experience with allergies resulting in noticeable MS symptoms? If so, feel free to post a comment anonymously.
Comments
Whoppee! Finally someone has talked about this. I've had seasonal allergies for the last five years and they always aggravated my old symptoms (I'm currently in remission). I kept thinking I was having flares until I compared notes with friends who suffered from hay fever. I also found that my flares were seasonal - spring & fall - when friends with allergies would start to complain, my symptoms flared. I, too, take an antihistamine daily, all year, and it's made a huge difference. Rosalind
Posted by: Rosalind | April 19, 2007 03:47 PM
I have Crohn's disease, which is also an autoimmune disease, and I have also noticed that my symptoms get worse during allergy seasons. Every summer when my allergies are at their worst, I seem to flare up. This summer I am making it a routine to take an antihistamine in case that will help. I am interested to know if any research has been done which studies the relationship between allergies and autoimmune diseases.
Posted by: Sandra | May 21, 2007 04:45 PM
I don't know about specific research related to allergies and autoimmune diseases....I'm sure there is some out there, just haven't seen any yet. Since allergies are a reaction by the immune system to foreign objects and autoimmune diseases are a reaction to the body's own tissue, it makes sense that the two could be related.
Incidentally, Crohn's Disease and multiple sclerosis are thought to be related as well. I've read research showing that the two diseases actually run in the same families. Also, Tysabri was approved for both diseases. I don't know the details of how that drug is effective, but I will try to find out. I'll be following all of this research closely as any relationship between the two conditions could provide clues.
Posted by: J | May 22, 2007 04:25 AM