Th2 Immune System Question
Hoping Marco is still out there. I am just reading this and was about to start HGH for CFS/ME. I
have been thru identical series of events. Are you saying that HGH is safe and a good option for our "over active immune" systems...?? I didn't understand how "helping" our Immune System with HGH would not be a dangerous situation.... If we are 'over active", and we "boost" our Immune System, is that not counterproductive and/or harmful???
Hoping Marco is still out there. I am just reading this and was about to start HGH for CFS/ME. I
have been thru identical series of events. Are you saying that HGH is safe and a good option for our "over active immune" systems...?? I didn't understand how "helping" our Immune System with HGH would not be a dangerous situation.... If we are 'over active", and we "boost" our Immune System, is that not counterproductive and/or harmful???
I appreciate that, as set out, this is all very simplistic, but I feel that it represents a much more satisfactory paradigm than the current search for the 'magic bullet' and discussion of sub-sets and heterogeneity. All those with ME/CFS have an immune dysfunction. They only differ on the trigger and duration of illness. The Broderick et al paper, which states that the difference between the structure of cytokine expression in the CFS/ME group compared to the control group is ten times the magnitude of the variability within the groups certainly suggests that there may be a unique pattern of immune dysregulation.
What role for XMRV?
XMRV may turn out to be a causal factor in many cases of ME/CFS, may be another opportunistic infection or it may either be THE virus (and detection just needs to be improved) or THE factor which predisposes us to develop ME/CFS when presented with another triggering event. Certainly an explanation is needed as to why some people develop TH2 dominance and others don't when faced with vaccinations, viruses or other triggering events.
As for CBT/GET and the Gupta Programme and similar. Perhaps they have some benefit for those diagnosed as CFS but who are either no viral load and not TH2 dominant (i.e. they don't have ME:CFS) or those with no viral load but who are TH2 dominant (non viral onset) but at an early stage of illness and have neither acquired opportunistic infections nor HGH depletion. Both 'therapies' might help rebalance the immune system to some extent (or in the case of GET might exacerbate the problem) but neither will treat active virus infections.
CASE STUDY
Well what about me?
Although circumstances might suggest contact with an enterovirus, I have never been tested for viruses and have no evidence of any present or past viral infection.
Onset was sudden (full health to poor health) but not all of the symptoms were there at the start. My state of health has undergone three distinct step changes downwards over the course of coming up to 25 years.
I had developed GI problems and anxiety/depression and then collapsed while training. Since then I haven't been able to tolerate any aerobic exercise.
I then developed dizziness on standing, extreme sensitivity to cold, a wide range of food and chemical intolerances, joint and muscle pains, headaches etc but fatigue as such was not a major issue and I was able to even combine full time working and part time study so no cognitive issues.
Prior to the onset of illness though I was probably overactive physically, undernourished and under some personal and academic stress.
To fit it into my suggested schema; I was probably pushed to a TH2 dominant immune response but with no or a low viral load. TH2 dominance would explain the IBS, new intolerances and possible joint and muscle pains. PEM etc I don't know possibly de Meirleir's channelopathy.
Next step change I suddenly developed a whole raft of new symptoms in addition to those existing. These included rapid unexplained weight gain (abdominally for the first time) loss of strength and muscle tone, rapid greying of hair and apparent ageing, insomnia, anxiety, exacerbated fatigue, profuse sweating, dry skin etc. Strangely enough I have never again experienced real depression since this date. All very suggestive of exhausted HGH. Again circumstances might suggest another enterovirus effect (or vaccine?) as both step changes followed shortly after holidays abroad.
Finally, after seven years I had to leave work (for the afternoon I thought) and never went back. To the existing symptoms I added extreme fatigue (needing to sleep during the day) and severe cognitive problems. For the first number of months I couldn't walk, think, read or drive and still can't when I have a frequent bad spell.
I can't identify any specific triggers for the last step change. Perhaps this last stage was viral or perhaps I carried on too long with no relief? Perhaps the last stage was me developing full blown ME and not just part of it?
Any thoughts/criticisms would be much appreciated.