So brief update, I skipped my Rituximab treatment scheduled in Q1 2018. There were a few reasons but it amounted to not being able to leave the country for several months.
After about 7 months of not using Rituximab a few of my B cell markers had recovered and I decided to try something new before resuming Rituximab, which while it helped did not have a lasting effect. There was a risk here in that my immune system had not fully recovered and I would be further immunocompromised.
In May I tried the anti-IL-6 biologic tocilizumab (Actemra). My goal was purely investigative. I had measured PBMC cytokines before with NeuroScience's cytokine panel and IL-6 came out high, at the level of a Rheumatoid Arthritis patient. Sometimes my joints flare based on environmental factors like cigarette smoke, food allergies, but I do not have RA or other RA related markers besides high ANA:
http://prntscr.com/klxvfb
http://prntscr.com/klxxk6
I benefit from herbs with "potent" anti-IL-6 properties, like Andrographis (R). Would I benefit from an antibody with a clean targeted effect? The answer is yes. My food sensitivities, headaches were reduced but not to the extent they were with Rituximab. I used the subQ version, 162mg every 2 weeks for 1 month. I discontinued use after one month as I was not interested in the side effects that can come with prolonged use and immunosuppression.
I'm currently using IVIG, HBOT and IV nutrition therapy. This all helps but nowhere near as much as the combination of Rituximab and IVIG.
My next plan is to try UC-MSC (stem cells) and/or FMT. I will have to travel outside the USA to do this and am vetting clinics now.
I am excited about HSCT. This is a therapy currently in clinical use for severe cases of MS and other life threatening diseases. It has shown efficacy in curing autoimmune diseases. The procedure involves using chemotherapy and radiotherapy to kill off your immune system and then reseeding it with previously harvested or donated blood marrow stem cells, which would rebuild your immune system. Your immune system is essentially reset. You need to get all your vaccines again.
HSCT can totally cure autoimmune problems but the adverse effects are not for the faint of heart. Besides increasing risk of cancer, new autoimmunity, and sterilization, it can result in death.
Researchers are working on safer versions of the therapy based on antibodies rather than chemotherapy and radiotherapy:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160810180655.htm
This has shown efficacy in mouse models. If it translates to humans it could revolutionize treatment of autoimmunity.
After about 7 months of not using Rituximab a few of my B cell markers had recovered and I decided to try something new before resuming Rituximab, which while it helped did not have a lasting effect. There was a risk here in that my immune system had not fully recovered and I would be further immunocompromised.
In May I tried the anti-IL-6 biologic tocilizumab (Actemra). My goal was purely investigative. I had measured PBMC cytokines before with NeuroScience's cytokine panel and IL-6 came out high, at the level of a Rheumatoid Arthritis patient. Sometimes my joints flare based on environmental factors like cigarette smoke, food allergies, but I do not have RA or other RA related markers besides high ANA:
http://prntscr.com/klxvfb
http://prntscr.com/klxxk6
I benefit from herbs with "potent" anti-IL-6 properties, like Andrographis (R). Would I benefit from an antibody with a clean targeted effect? The answer is yes. My food sensitivities, headaches were reduced but not to the extent they were with Rituximab. I used the subQ version, 162mg every 2 weeks for 1 month. I discontinued use after one month as I was not interested in the side effects that can come with prolonged use and immunosuppression.
I'm currently using IVIG, HBOT and IV nutrition therapy. This all helps but nowhere near as much as the combination of Rituximab and IVIG.
My next plan is to try UC-MSC (stem cells) and/or FMT. I will have to travel outside the USA to do this and am vetting clinics now.
I am excited about HSCT. This is a therapy currently in clinical use for severe cases of MS and other life threatening diseases. It has shown efficacy in curing autoimmune diseases. The procedure involves using chemotherapy and radiotherapy to kill off your immune system and then reseeding it with previously harvested or donated blood marrow stem cells, which would rebuild your immune system. Your immune system is essentially reset. You need to get all your vaccines again.
HSCT can totally cure autoimmune problems but the adverse effects are not for the faint of heart. Besides increasing risk of cancer, new autoimmunity, and sterilization, it can result in death.
Researchers are working on safer versions of the therapy based on antibodies rather than chemotherapy and radiotherapy:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160810180655.htm
This has shown efficacy in mouse models. If it translates to humans it could revolutionize treatment of autoimmunity.
