Author: Jen

HYDRATION

| Jen
Photograph of a Glass of Water by StockSnap from Pixabay

Hydration is the ingestion of water, in the amounts needed, to replenish the water in the body. Water in the body affects almost everything, from skin health and body weight to neurological and gastrointestinal functioning.

Proper hydration can also help prevent the development of chronic disease.

HOW I USE HYDRATION

As a woman with Multiple Sclerosis (MS),I use Hydration to help manage my MS. When I discovered that inflammation causes MS relapses, with relapses being the worsening of current or creation of new MS symptoms, I incorporated Hydration into my beneficial diet to do the following:

  • Maintain my health and help prevent the development of chronic disease, which is a major source of inflammation.

And managing inflammation helps manage my MS.

I ingest roughly a gallon of water per day to maintain my health.

I also suffer from bladder dysfunction which makes me susceptible to urinary tract infections (utis), another source of inflammation. Keeping hydrated helps minimize the occurrence of utis.

When I turned 50 yrs old, and entered menopause, I developed dry eyes. And I discovered that keeping hydrated helps manage my dry eyes, as well.

CAUTION

Ingesting large amounts of anything can be harmful, even water, so I always consume in moderation.

-Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy

REFERENCES

Allen, M. D., Springer, D. A., Burg, M. B., Boehm, M., & Dmitrieva, N. I. (2019). Suboptimal hydration remodels metabolism, promotes degenerative diseases, and shortens life. JCI insight, 4(17), e130949.

Farrell, D. J., & Bower, L. (2003). Fatal water intoxication. Journal of clinical pathology, 56(10), 803–804.

Liska, D., Mah, E., Brisbois, T., Barrios, P. L., Baker, L. B., & Spriet, L. L. (2019). Narrative Review of Hydration and Selected Health Outcomes in the General Population. Nutrients, 11(1), 70.

Perrier, E. T., Armstrong, L. E., Bottin, J. H., Clark, W. F., Dolci, A., Guelinckx, I., Iroz, A., Kavouras, S. A., Lang, F., Lieberman, H. R., Melander, O., Morin, C., Seksek, I., Stookey, J. D., Tack, I., Vanhaecke, T., Vecchio, M., & Péronnet, F. (2021). Hydration for health hypothesis: a narrative review of supporting evidence. European journal of nutrition, 60(3), 1167–1180.

Popkin, B. M., D’Anci, K. E., & Rosenberg, I. H. (2010). Water, hydration, and health. Nutrition reviews, 68(8), 439–458.

Science Direct: Hydration

Not in Kansas Anymore (www.notinksanymore.com) is a site/blog authored and managed by Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy (pwrchr-dorothy). This site/blog is intended to provide educational and research information, and to share the author’s journey.

The author of this site/blog is not a medical physician and this site/blog does not provide medical advice. This site/blog contains information that should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. If you choose to apply or implement any information posted at this site/blog, you do so at your own risk.

STELLAR TRANSPORT: A REVIEW

| Jen
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Stellar Transport is a non-emergency medical transportation service based in Melbourne, Florida. I had the opportunity to use Stellar Transport on November 19, 2025, and the experience prompted me to write this review.

A paraplegic and power chair user since 2011, I am a seasoned passenger when it comes to wheelchair-accessible transportation (ie. vans, buses, and trains). This was not my first rodeo. After moving to Brevard County in 2018, I made use of a non-profit that provided free rides to people with disabilities for medical appointments. I was lucky, because there weren’t a lot of options. Local wheelchair-accessible cabs are, unfortunately, unreliable and services, like Stellar, are pricey. This last year the non-profit lost their funding to provide rides and with a new doctor appointment on the horizon, I decided to give Stellar a try.

The driver arrived on time in a wheelchair-accessible van, equipped with a ramp at the rear. The driver was courteous and professional, though he did not offer his name. I had to ask him for it. The inside of the van was cluttered with gear and equipment, including a loose oxygen tank lying on the floor. The driver had to remove a transport chair to create room for me and after I rolled into the van, he crammed the transport chair behind me. I was so distracted by the clutter wedged around me, and thoughts of my pending appointment, that I failed to notice that the driver had not properly anchored my power chair.

He asked if i was seat belted into my chair. I said I was. He then closed the back door and got into the driver’s seat. After pulling up the address of my appointment on this tablet, the driver headed out. Halfway to our destination, the driver suddenly slammed on the gas and made a hard right. The force was great enough to actually tip my 350 lb. power chair to the left and I was slammed hard into it’s armrest. I cried out as pain enveloped my left knee and hip. The driver quicky pulled to a stop by the side of the road and looked back at me. The chair had already tilted back, righting itself, and I was gasping in pain.

I cried out that I was stuck. I had been thrown over the armrest, unable to right myself. The driver got out and opened the left side door to help me straighten up. Once sitting properly in my chair again, the pain in my hip and knee started to subside. The loose oxygen tank on the floor, however, was now wedged under my chair’s right foot plate. The driver kept asking what happened and I told him that my chair had tilted over. He looked at me like he didn’t believe me. Never once did he apologize. The driver then directed me out of the van, so he could properly anchor the chair. We then continued on to my appointment.

Our arrival at the office plaza was uneventful and after escorting me to the doctor’s office, the driver left. As I sat in the waiting room, I started to shake, then I cried. From what I could tell, I had no serious injuries. I was battered and shaken. During my appointment, I chose not to ask the doctor to check me over. I just didn’t want to deal with it. I tried to pretend the accident hadn’t happened. After my appointment, I called Stellar to tell them I was ready for my return trip. Another driver arrived promptly with a much larger van. He was also courteous and professional, and also didn’t offer his name. I still asked for it.

The vehicle had a lift. The driver had no problem operating the lift and getting me in the vehicle. Unfortunately, this vehicle too was cluttered with random equipment. Stuff was everywhere. I barely had room to turn, without catching an odd item under my wheels. At least three loose oxygen tanks were lying on the floor. Any one of these loose pieces of equipment could become a deadly projectile in an accident. This type of clutter is not safe. The driver properly anchored my chair, put a shoulder strap seat belt on me, and then we headed out. The drive home was uneventful and so was disembarking, as it should be.

After returning home, almost half an hour passed before I was finally able to share with my husband what had happened to me. I then called Stellar to lodge a complaint. I received an apology, a full refund, and was assured their drivers would undergo additional safety training. Later that night, as I was getting undressed, I found a small abrasion along the left side of my waist. It was from my power chair’s seat belt. It actually made the abrasion through my clothing. That’s how much force I was subjected to. I may be a rough-and-tumble Jersey Girl, but this accident really shook me. Needless to say, I won’t be using Stellar again.

I’ll be taking the bus from now on.

-Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy

More Reviews Here.

Not in Kansas Anymore (www.notinksanymore.com) is a site/blog authored and managed by Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy (pwrchr-dorothy). This site/blog is intended to provide educational and research information, and to share the author’s journey.

THE WHELDON CAP

| Jen
Micrograph of Chlamydia pneumoniae in epithelial cell in acute bronchitis by Eutensist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. 1 – infected epitheliocyte, 2 – uninfected epitheliocytes, 3 – chlamydial inclusion bodies in cell, 4 – cell nuclei.

The Wheldon CAP is a combined antibiotic protocol (CAP) designed to kill Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn), a very infectious bacteria thought by some medical professionals to be the cause behind many autoimmune disorders, like Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

The research into Cpn being a causative agent for MS originated with Doctors Stratton and Sriram at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. They determined that to eradicate Cpn, a combined antibiotic protocol is required. Unfortunately, the first CAPs created by Stratton and Sriram were not easily tolerated by patients. In late 2003, Dr. David Wheldon joined the fight against Cpn while researching treatments for his wife Sarah, who had secondary progressive MS. Proclaiming he was successful in stopping her progression and reversing most of her neurological issues, he presented to the world the Wheldon CAP.

The Wheldon CAP focused on the elimination of Cpn, with the strategic use of three antibiotics. The combination was purported to eliminate the risk of developing antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Unfortunately, when the Cpn die they release toxins which make patients experience flu-like symptoms called ‘die off’. Patients were advised to do the CAP continuously, until there was no more die off. And due to the bacteria’s tenacious nature, it was assumed it would take years to completely rid a patient of Cpn. The antibiotics also kill off the good bacteria in the gut (ie. Probiotics), which negatively affects the immune system.

The Wheldon CAP was never approved by the AMA for the treatment of MS or any other autoimmune disorder. People who tried the Wheldon CAP, did so on their own, at their own risk, most without a doctor’s supervision. The only help and support was found at an online support group dedicated to the Wheldon CAP.

MY EXPERIENCE

Discovering the Wheldon CAP in 2011, I reviewed the research, joined the support group, and committed to the CAP. I did the CAP for several years. Even though I never experienced anything that confirmed that Cpn is the cause behind MS, I do believe the CAP helped me manage my MS. Before I learned about the CAP, I discovered that inflammation causes MS relapses, with relapses being the worsening of current or creation of new MS symptoms. The CAP’s antibiotics protected me from infections, and since infections are inflammation triggers, the antibiotics protected me from MS relapses too.

Unfortunately, the Wheldon CAP also took its toll on me, from the cost of the antibiotics, and recommended supplements, to the debilitating die-off. The continuous antibiotics also made my Candidiasis, another inflammation trigger, much harder to manage. I took a lot of flak from my doctors when they found out I was taking continuous antibiotics. And yet, I never became patient zero for an antibiotic-resistant ‘super bug’, because of the combined antibiotics. I don’t regret doing the Wheldon CAP. I learned a lot, but I’d never advise anyone to do it now. I have found much easier ways to manage MS, by simply managing inflammation.

Being a part of the online support group meant a lot to me. At the time, it was one of the few sources of support I could count on. It was a rebel movement that spanned the globe and I’m proud to have been a part of it. I ended up leaving the group when my life became increasingly chaotic and I just couldn’t juggle it all. I regret that. With Dr. Wheldon’s passing in 2021 and the online support group no longer around, I think it’s time to put the Wheldon CAP to bed.

-Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy

References

Buljevac, D., Verkooyen, R. P., Jacobs, B. C., Hop, W., van der Zwaan, L. A., van Doorn, P. A., & Hintzen, R. Q. (2003). Chlamydia pneumoniae and the risk for exacerbation in multiple sclerosis patients. Annals of Neurology, 54(6), 828-31.

Grayston, J. T. (2000). Background and Current Knowledge of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Atherosclerosis. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 181(3), S402–S410.

Munger, K. L., Peeling, R. W., Hernán, M. A., Chasan-Taber, L., Olek, M. J., Hankinson, S. E., Hunter, D., & Ascherio, A. (2003). Infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae and risk of multiple sclerosis. Epidemiology, 14(2), 141-147.

Sriram, S., Mitchell, W., & Stratton, C. W. (1998). Multiple Sclerosis Associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae Infection of the CNS. Neurology, 50(2), 571-572.

Sriram, S., Stratton, C. W., Yao, S., Tharp, A., Ding, L., Bannan, J. D., & Mitchell, W. M. (1999). Chlamydia pneumoniae infection of the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis. Annals of Neurology, 46(1), 6-14.

Sriram, S.,  Ljunggren-Rose, A., Yao, S. Y., & Whetsell, W. O. (2005). Detection of Chlamydial Bodies and Antigens in the Central Nervous System of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 192(7), 1219–1228.

Stratton C. W. (2016) . A Review of Multiple Sclerosis as an Infectious Syndrome. Journal of  Neurology & Neurophysiology, 7.

Yamaguchi, H., Friedman, H., Yamamoto, M., Yasuda, K., & Yamamoto, Y. (2003). Chlamydia pneumoniae resists antibiotics in lymphocytes. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 47(6), 1972–1975.

Not in Kansas Anymore (www.notinksanymore.com) is a site/blog authored and managed by Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy (pwrchr-dorothy). This site/blog is intended to provide educational and research information, and to share the author’s journey.

The author of this site/blog is not a medical physician and this site/blog does not provide medical advice. This site/blog contains information that should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. If you choose to apply or implement any information posted at this site/blog, you do so at your own risk.

THE SOUP SOLUTION

| Jen
Photograph of a Bowl of Soup by Mich Wich from Pixabay

I love a warm, comforting bowl of soup. Unfortunately, most canned and boxed soups contain ingredients that don’t exactly agree with me (ie. food sensitivities). The same with soups from most restaurants. Of course, the cost of buying healthier soups that contain less problematic ingredients can be prohibitive. And let’s not forget the cost of eating out and take out. The obvious solution, of course, is to simply make my own soup. Being a woman who knows how to cook, making my own soup should be easy, but as a woman with disabilities, my ability to physically cook is limited. Therefore, to create my own soup at home, I had to problem solve.

After much trial and error, I finally found success working at a smaller scale and relying on helpful cooking shortcuts, like my restorative broth mixes. I discovered that 4-cup, handled bowls work best for me. They are easier to manage, physically, than a large soup pot and can be easily put in the microwave. To eliminate the need for the cleaning and cutting of fresh ingredients, I experimented with dried, powdered, frozen, and even canned/jarred ingredients. By the end, I managed to develop several tasty recipes for single serving soups.

I also love Thai Curries and managed to create single serving versions of them as well. Even though Thai curries are technically not soups, I tend to treat them like soups and therefore have grouped those recipes in with my single serving soups.

SINGLE SERVING SOUPS

These soups also contain anti-inflammatory foods. Those anti-inflammatory foods being Carrots, Tomatoes, Artichoke Hearts, Pumpkin, Peanuts, and the ingredients in the Broth Mixes.

As a woman with Multiple Sclerosis (MS),I use these soups to help manage my MS. When I discovered that inflammation causes MS relapses, with relapses being the worsening of current or creation of new MS symptoms, I incorporated these soups into my beneficial diet to help manage inflammation. And managing inflammation helps manage my MS.

I share these recipes, in the hopes of helping others. Enjoy.

-Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy

Not in Kansas Anymore (www.notinksanymore.com) is a site/blog authored and managed by Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy (pwrchr-dorothy). This site/blog is intended to provide educational and research information, and to share the author’s journey.

The author of this site/blog is not a medical physician and this site/blog does not provide medical advice. This site/blog contains information that should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. If you choose to apply or implement any information posted at this site/blog, you do so at your own risk.

LOW DOSE NALTREXONE

| Jen
Image created using Photograph by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is derived from Naltrexone, a drug used to treat opioid addicts. In the 1980s, a doctor from New York, Dr. Bihari, discovered that at a low dose the drug has an interesting effect on the immune system. Taken between 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., LDN causes an increase in endorphin production, which helps strengthen and normalize the immune system.

Strengthening and normalizing the immune system has a couple benefits. Besides making it easier to fight off infection and disease, it also lessens the occurrence of chronic inflammation, which is linked to autoimmune disorders like Multiple Sclerosis. Today LDN has been found to benefit many conditions.

HOW I USE LDN

As a woman with Multiple Sclerosis (MS),I use LDN to help manage my MS. When I discovered that inflammation causes MS relapses, with relapses being the worsening of current or creation of new MS symptoms, I incorporated LDN into my life to do the following:

  • Manage chronic inflammation.
  • Fight/prevent infections, which are major sources of inflammation.

And managing inflammation helps manage my MS.

In 2010, I incorporated LDN into my daily routine and I’m so glad I did. It helped me manage my chronic inflammation and significantly lessen my MS symptoms, especially the fatigue I experienced. I’ve been taking it ever since.

In early 2024, I lost my LDN provider. I went a couple months without LDN and the resulting fatigue was crippling. Luckily, I found a new provider and started taking it again. The fatigue went away and I was able to function again.

After several months with my new provider, I was asked if I would be interested in trying a higher dose. I decided to try it and after a couple months started experiencing increased mental clarity and a slow, but steady, weight loss.

RESOURCES

I rely on the LDN Research Trust and LDN Science for information on LDN and the latest research. They also maintain lists of doctors who prescribe LDN.

CAUTION

Since LDN does not get along well with some medications and medical conditions, I’m careful to check for contraindications.

-Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy

REFERENCES

Bihari, B. (2013). Bernard Bihari, MD: Low-dose Naltrexone for Normalizing Immune System Function. Alternative Therapies, 19(2), 56-65.

Kulak-Bejda, A., Bejda, G., & Waszkiewicz, N. (2020). Safety and efficacy of naltrexone for weight loss in adult patients – a systematic review. Archives of medical science : AMS, 17(4), 940–953.

Ludwig, M. D., Turel, A. P., Zagon, I. S., & McLaughlin, P. J. (2016). Long-term Treatment with Low Dose Naltrexone Maintains Stable Health in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal – Experimental, Translational and Clinical, 2, 1-11. doi: 10.1177/2055217316672242.

Parkitny, L. & Younger, J. (2017). Reduced Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines after Eight Weeks of Low-Dose Naltrexone for Fibromyalgia. Biomedicines, 5(2). doi: 10.3390/biomedicines5020016.

Toljan, K., and Vrooman, B. (2018). Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN)—Review of Therapeutic Utilization. Medical Sciences, 6(4), E82. doi: 10.3390/medsci6040082.

Younger, J., Parkitny, L., & McLain, D. (2014). The Use of Low-dose Naltrexone (LDN) as a Novel Anti-inflammatory Treatment for Chronic Pain. Clinical Rheumatology, 33(4), 451–459. doi: 10.1007/s10067-014-2517-2.

Not in Kansas Anymore (www.notinksanymore.com) is a site/blog authored and managed by Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy (pwrchr-dorothy). This site/blog is intended to provide educational and research information, and to share the author’s journey.

The author of this site/blog is not a medical physician and this site/blog does not provide medical advice. This site/blog contains information that should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. If you choose to apply or implement any information posted at this site/blog, you do so at your own risk.

BENEFICIAL DIET

| Jen

As a woman with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), I’ve tried many things to manage my MS. Making changes to my diet, however, has produced the most profound and positive results.

Photograph of Anti-Inflammatory Foods by Devon Breen from Pixabay

And Yes, I said DIET. Many of us have a negative reaction to the word DIET. We envision something bland and boring that causes nothing but stress. Well, my diet contains seriously tasty food. There’s no stress when it comes to my diet. I love it.

And when I refer to “food”, I use the same definition as the FDA meaning that “food” includes food, the ingredients used to make food, beverages, and dietary supplements.

I first realized that diet could have an impact on my MS, when my symptoms calmed down after eating some Buffalo Wings. I did some research and discovered that the Chile Peppers in the wing sauce are extremely anti-inflammatory. Since discovering that inflammation causes MS relapses, with relapses being the worsening of current or creation of new MS symptoms, it made sense that these foods, that counter inflammation, would help stop MS relapses.

Of course, finding a diet that counters inflammation, and actually works for me, was not something that just came together overnight. It took years of trial and error, as I tried different foods and weighed costs versus benefits….etc. In the end, the diet that works best for me relies on the following:

  • ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS
  • EXTRA SPECIAL FOODS
  • DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
  • HYDRATION

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS

Anti-inflammatory foods are foods that have anti-inflammatory properties. These properties come from various natural compounds in the food, such as vitamins, carotenoids, polyphenols, amino acids, and probiotics. The most anti-inflammatory foods are leafy greens, brightly-colored vegetables, seafood, olive oil, nuts, and spices. There are inflammatory foods too. They are mostly meats, fats, starches and sugars.

INFLAMMATION FREE DIET PLAN

While researching anti-inflammatory foods, I found a book by Monica Reinagel, titled “The Inflammation Free Diet Plan”. This book has an Inflammation Rating System that assigns a number value to food items, indicating how inflammatory or anti-inflammatory they are. It taught me how to identify the most anti-inflammatory foods available, and how to manage inflammation by consuming more anti-inflammatory foods than inflammatory ones.

I also learned that I don’t have to restrict myself to a bland, boring diet in order to manage inflammation. You see, I discovered that I can enjoy a medium-sized ribeye (inflammatory), as long as I also have a side of spinach (anti-inflammatory), and a salad with ginger dressing (anti-inflammatory). No bland, boring diet here. The book is a little out-of-date, but I still consider it a helpful resource. There are some really great recipes in it too.

EXTRA SPECIAL FOODS

While researching anti-inflammatory foods, I also discovered foods that are not only anti-inflammatory, but have other useful medicinal properties. Incorporating these extra special foods into my beneficial diet has helped me successfully manage some of my medical issues, such as injury, infection, poor gut health, bladder damage, nerve damage, and tissue loss. Managing my medical issues, helps manage the inflammation my medical issues could trigger. Some of these foods also help me manage MS flares.

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

Dietary supplements have also been very helpful for me because they provide the bioactive compounds I need in a convenient concentrated form. They’ve helped me maintain my health and, once again, manage some of my medical issues.

HYDRATION

Hydration is the ingestion of water, in the amounts needed, to replenish the water in the body. Water in the body affects almost everything, from skin health and body weight to neurological and gastrointestinal functioning. Proper hydration can also help prevent the development of chronic disease. I ingest roughly a gallon of water per day to maintain my health.

Currently, the bulk of my diet contains the following whole foods and dietary supplements:

WHOLE FOODS

WHOLE FOODS

SUPPLEMENTS

Of course, these foods aren’t the only foods I eat. They’re just the ones I have benefitted from the most and therefore consume the most. Many of these foods are prime ingredients in my recipes.

WHAT I CAN’T EAT

Yep, there are some things I can’t eat, specifically inflammatory foods. These foods not only trigger inflammation, which can cause MS relapses, but some of them can also promote Candidiasis outbreaks and elevate my blood sugar, which I need to avoid due my Diabetes.

CAUTION

Due to the ever possible occurrence of product contamination, I always double check my sources and check ingredient lists before trying a new item.

Allergic reactions can happen to anyone, so I do my research and keep my eyes open to any potentially dangerous reactions, especially drug interactions, when I try anything new.

Ingesting large amounts of anything can be harmful, so I always consume in moderation.

I hope sharing my beneficial diet, will be helpful to others.

-Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy

REFERENCES

Reinagel, M. (2007). The Inflammation Free Diet Plan. McGraw Hill.

Not in Kansas Anymore (www.notinksanymore.com) is a site/blog authored and managed by Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy (pwrchr-dorothy). This site/blog is intended to provide educational and research information, and to share the author’s journey.

The author of this site/blog is not a medical physician and this site/blog does not provide medical advice. This site/blog contains information that should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. If you choose to apply or implement any information posted at this site/blog, you do so at your own risk.

INFLAMMATION CAUSES MS RELAPSES

| Jen

In 2006, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). A couple months later, my life was turned upside down.

Photograph by Alexa from Pixabay

Despite how difficult those years were, I experienced things that helped me discover the connection between inflammation and MS relapses. And that discovery changed everything. Overtime, it helped me figure out how to manage my MS and eventually stop it’s progression.

First, a little background information…

  • MS is a progressive, disabling disorder with symptoms ranging from fatigue and vertigo to pain and physical paralysis.
  • An autoimmune disorder, MS is the result of the body’s immune system mistakenly attacking and damaging the nerves in the body’s central nervous system.
  • The immune system attacks the nerves with inflammation, the same response that the immune system uses to attack threats to the body, such as infection and disease.
  • These attacks on the nerves are referred to as relapses and can result in a worsening of current or creation of new MS symptoms.
  • We don’t know what causes MS and there is no cure.

Looking back at my statement, about me discovering that inflammation causes MS relapses, it may seem a little confusing because the background information states that we already know that inflammation attacks the nerves of MS patients, causing MS relapses. Therefore, hasn’t this already been discovered?

Yeah but, it’s a bit more complicated than that. In the human body there are two nervous systems, the central and peripheral nervous system, and each one has its own inflammation.

  • The central nervous system (CNS) is comprised of the brain, optics nerves, and spinal cord.
  • The peripheral nervous system (PNS) involves the rest of the body, outside the CNS.
  • Neuroinflammation is the inflammation that operates within the CNS.
  • Peripheral inflammation is the inflammation that operates within the PNS.
  • In the case of MS, it’s neuroinflammation in the CNS that is mistakenly attacking the nerves in the CNS.

Ok…still with me?

What I discovered is that peripheral inflammation in the PNS can cause MS relapses, by activating neuroinflammation in the CNS, which then mistakenly attacks the nerves in the CNS.

Now, the brain is protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a network of tightly locked blood vessels that keep pathogens and toxins away from the brain. Neuroinflammation is on one side of the BBB and peripheral inflammation on the other, so it’s hard to imagine one being able to activate the other……but they can.

It turns out, peripheral inflammation can activate neuroinflammation across the BBB, in one of two ways:

  • Chronic peripheral inflammation can activate neuroinflammation by sending signals through the vagus nerve, this is known as the inflammatory reflex.
  • The BBB can also become disrupted by chronic peripheral inflammation, letting the inflammatory compounds produced by the peripheral inflammation to physically cross into the CNS, activating the neuroinflammation.

And what is chronic inflammation? I knew you’d ask.

  • Thought to be the result of an unbalanced immune system, chronic inflammation occurs when the immune system malfunctions mistakenly flooding the body with inflammatory compounds that can cause damage to whatever healthy tissue it encounters.
  • Chronic inflammation is considered a key feature of MS and other autoimmune disorders.

So, people with inflammatory disorders, like MS, can have an episode of peripheral inflammation, prompted by something like an infected cut on the hand, that can turn into an episode of chronic peripheral inflammation, that then triggers an episode of neuroinflammation, that then attacks the nerves in the CNS, causing an MS relapse.

Yeah, it’s a lot.

When my life was turned upside down, I developed medical issues I had never had before. This was due to the MS treatments I was prescribed. Being immunosuppressants, they weakened and damaged my immune system, which caused the development of my new medical issues.

The first new medical issue was Sinusitis (ie. inflammation of the sinuses), caused by my new hypersensitivity to particulate matter in the air (ie. pollen, dust, smoke, chemicals…etc.). At the time, I was also dealing with foot drop, my first MS symptom. Within minutes of my sinuses becoming inflamed, my foot drop would worsen. I’d use an anti-inflammatory nasal spray to calm down the sinus inflammation and within minutes my foot drop would improve. With episodes occurring many times a day, I made the connection that inflammation causes MS relapses.

It wasn’t long before I acquired the next medical issue and then the next….etc. Each new issue showed the same connection between inflammation and MS relapses. Overtime, I found solutions to help prevent, as well as, manage these inflammation triggers and in turn effectively manage my MS, to the point of stopping its progression.

Now, I discovered that Inflammation causes MS relapses around 2007. Nobody believed me, except my allergist. Unfortunately, I also couldn’t find any research at the time to support a connection between peripheral and neuroinflammation. But I knew that there had to be one. I finally found the research supporting the connection in 2023, when I started working on this blog.

If I hadn’t discovered that inflammation causes MS relapses when I did, and acted to protect myself, I would have ended up in a long term care facility before I turned 30 yrs old

I share this information, in the hopes of helping others.

-Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy

References

Bettcher, B. M., Tansey, M. G., Dorothée, G. et al. (2021). Peripheral and central immune system crosstalk in Alzheimer disease — a research prospectus. Nature Reviews Neurology, 17, 689–701.

Daneman, R, & Prat, A. (2015). The blood-brain barrier. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 7(1), PMID: 25561720; PMCID: PMC4292164.

Haase, S., & Linker, R.A. (2021). Inflammation in multiple sclerosis. Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders, 14, PMID: 33948118; PMCID: PMC8053832.

Harvard Health (2018). Understanding Inflammation: A Harvard Medical School Guide.

Huang, X., Hussain, B., & Chang, J. (2021). Peripheral inflammation and blood-brain barrier disruption: effects and mechanisms. CNS neuroscience & therapeutics, 27(1), 36–47.

Kempuraj, D., Thangavel, R., Selvakumar, G. P., Zaheer, S., Ahmed, M. E., Raikwar, S P., Zahoor, H., Saeed, D., Natteru, P. A., Iyer, S., & Zaheer, A. (2017). Brain and Peripheral Atypical Inflammatory Mediators Potentiate Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 11(216), PMID: 28790893; PMCID: PMC5522882.

Murta, V. and Ferrari, C. C. (2013). Influence of Peripheral Inflammation on the Progression of Multiple Sclerosis: Evidence from the Clinic and Experimental Animal Models. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 53:6-13. 

Pahwa R, Goyal A, Jialal I. Chronic Inflammation. [Updated 2023 Aug 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan.

Sun, Y., Koyama, Y., & Shimada, S. (2022). Inflammation From Peripheral Organs to the Brain: How Does Systemic Inflammation Cause Neuroinflammation? Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 14, 903455.

Not in Kansas Anymore (www.notinksanymore.com) is a site/blog authored and managed by Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy (pwrchr-dorothy). This site/blog is intended to provide educational and research information, and to share the author’s journey.

The author of this site/blog is not a medical physician and this site/blog does not provide medical advice. This site/blog contains information that should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider. If you choose to apply or implement any information posted at this site/blog, you do so at your own risk.

THE BROTH MIX FIX

| Jen
Photograph of Broths and Ingredients by Bluebird Provisions from Pixabay

I had an epiphany one day as I was preparing a bowl of ramen. I looked at the little seasoning packet and thought, “What if I made a broth mix, loaded with anti-inflammatory ingredients, that could replace this packet?”

First, a dry ingredient broth mix would be more accessible, being a woman with disabilities. It would be easier to make and easier to physically handle, than a liquid broth. A dry ingredient broth mix would also be shelf-stable. I could also control the quality and strength of the ingredients (vegetable powders and spices) I put in the broth mix, while avoiding unhealthy chemicals and fillers. Loading the broth mix with anti-inflammatory ingredients would help combat inflammation. Make it tasty too and such a broth mix would be amazing.

It took quite a bit of experimenting and testing, but I did it. I created several very tasty broth mixes. that contain some of my favorite anti-inflammatory foods. The resulting broths give me such a pick-me-up (ie. make me feel better), I refer to them as Restorative Broth Mixes. It wasn’t long before I realized that these broth mixes could be used to make more than just broth. They can be used as cooking shortcuts to make soups, sauces, dips, and salad dressings, as well as, used to season rice, vegetables, and proteins like fish, shrimp, chicken, and pork. They can even be made vegan.

RESTORATIVE BROTH MIXES

As a woman with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), I use these broth mixes to help manage my MS. When I discovered that inflammation causes MS relapses, with relapses being the worsening of current or creation of new MS symptoms, I incorporated these broth mixes into my beneficial diet to help manage inflammation. And managing inflammation helps manage my MS.

I share these recipes, in the hopes of helping others.

-Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy

Not in Kansas Anymore (www.notinksanymore.com) is a site/blog authored and managed by Jen, aka. Power Chair Dorothy (pwrchr-dorothy). This site/blog is intended to provide educational and research information, and to share the author’s journey.

The author of this site/blog is not a medical physician and this site/blog does not provide medical advice. This site/blog contains information that should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. If you choose to apply or implement any information posted at this site/blog, you do so at your own risk.