Hygge and Multiple Sclerosis

 

I have been having quite a few more test and items that I can not get my mind around to blog on, or even state, knowing outcomes, because of lack of research done. I am being a test subject in some newly made tests also for MS.

One article, I read the synopsis of, is what came first, the chicken or the egg?  My specialist have found this and other articles interesting, and let me know. These findings of course concern the stage of Multiple Sclerosis I am in. Blogs started to write, even some cool pictures, but its not just posting, until I get my whole mind around these changes. All my specialized Doctors are onboard, watching, waiting, and giving their thoughts.

My October 2021 labs are the best I have seen in quite some time. Still need to go over them with Doctors, but there are all just numbers for me.

my older Sister told me about Hygge.

The Danish concept of hygge, or hyggelig (adj.), refers to finding comfort, pleasure, and warmth in simple, soothing things such as a cozy atmosphere or the feeling of friendship. The Scandinavian term encompasses a feeling of coziness, contentment, and well-being found through cherishing the little things.

                         One of the Hummingbirds baby's first trip to feeder and flowers on his own.

Bug life

One of Wils quilts he made

WebMD shows this great article about MS

Unusual feelings with MS and Good foods to eat

But back to Hygge. Think Wil and I have been practicing this , along with others, for quite some time. Take a moment to look this up, and let me know. Have you read the book, is your lifestyle less hectic? Do you take the time for You?

Joey

EPO and Kidneys with Multiple Sclerosis

 

More Multiple Sclerosis items happening.  I have a Rare Condition which is making to many Red Blood Cells. MS, rare H63D Gene?, other genes involved.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a peptide hormone that is produced naturally by the human body. EPO is released from the kidneys and acts on the bone marrow to stimulate red blood cell production.

An increase in red blood cells improves the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry to the body’s muscles.

Currently, October 2021 my EPO is working overtime.  My Red Blood Count is high. The Bones are being over stimulated, of where the red blood cells are being made.

A cause for concern, as this is one of the causes of Thick Blood. Not supposed to happen.

The Red blood cells are to large for what needs to utilize them properly.  I hope the following will help others understand that multiple sclerosis range in the blood also.

what-is-secondary-polycythemia

Secondary polycythemia, also known as secondary erythrocytosis or secondary erythrocythemia, is a rare condition in which your body produces an excess amount of red blood cells.

This overproduction of red blood cells thickens your blood. This thickened blood can’t pass through your small blood vessels like capillaries easily.

Secondary polycythemia is caused by some other condition in your body, usually the excess production of the hormone erythropoietin, or EPO. However, secondary polycythemia can be genetic like primary polycythemia but is not caused by a mutation in your bone marrow cells.

Red Blood Cell Formation part one

This talks about the EPO from the kidneys while making blood.

Iron deficient

Iron deficient hormones and fatigue

Thanks for reading 

joey

Feel free to email me with questions, or leave a note

Thick Blood came back MS progression

 I guess this should be another post on how my MS is progressing.

I came back with my labs showing Thick Blood again, June 2021. This hasn't happened since my last phlebotomy, in  2018-2019, and then I stayed iron deficient and low ferritin for two plus years. Kinda anemic. But concern from my Endocrinologist got me emailing every Doctor. 

 There was no iron or ferritin left to do any phlebotomy.  My Hematocrit and hemoglobin was high.  This means large blood cells carrying oxygen to organs.  I obtain blood test every three months, so doctors can catch items. My next one now being end of November 2021.

I still stay quite overly fatiged, have spouts of double vision. I walk with a cane, my legs, thighs full of Botox, along with the back of neck and right shoulder muscle. Botox last for 52 days, but USA government decided it can only be injected every 90 days. I am on some twenty plus medicines for MS.  My travel bag of medicine is larger than my pack of clothes.

The Thick blood, This was a major concern.  I am on testosterone therapy, which is always thrown as the culprit, but had been decreased from 2.0 to 0.4 since before the phlebotomies. The cancer Dr saying this was the culprit, but endocrinologist saying it was not. I confirmed this with her in 2016, by stopping testosterone therapy cold turkey (would not recommend this to anybody). This was done so she could do a MRI of pitulary gland. 

My Hematocrit and hemoglobin kept rising, I had to show her, so testosterone was not a reason to raise it, as I had stopped testosterone, and restarted at 0.5ml injection.

In 2018 Iwas then sent to the Cancer Center, Where they found Jak2 negative, but further DNA, showed two copies of the H63D gene. Less than 5% will overload with iron.  I went thru 17 phlebotomy, or vein punctures, once a week from Sept 2018 to Jan 2019 to lower Iron I had.

Tryglicerdimia  Hypertriglyceridemia-Cause-and-Symptoms.aspx. was also present. A drug fenofibrate was used. This drug spiked my creatine (kidney function) it came back to a normal for me once stopping this drug.  I am one of 5% allergic to this.  So now on Vascepa.

This lowered my iron overload, and no maintenance phlebotomy were needed since being low.  which they found weird, but monitored me.  left me anemic, or iron deficient and ferritin staying low.

Before the test 2021 test, I did another experiment. I had tried eating a lb of liver, but no change in my iron in June 2021.   During my next three month test, I stopped turmeric curcumin for a month, and ate extra red meat, perhaps 1/4 lb of liver and onions.

My next blood test came back, September 2021.  ferritin in range, but Iron High. I restarted curcumin and turmeric.   That is a secret to stopping iron overload.

But my hemoglobin and Hematocrit was high.

Still thick blood. Not enough items for a phlebotomy, However I was referred to the Plumagology lab when I got the results of thick blood.

The first phlebotomist test done was a breathing while inside a phone booth looking contraption, into tubes, like blowing out birthday candles, holding your breath, and then repeating this with a inhaler medicine. The tech mentioned muscular problems. He showed me the graph which showed the diminished volume I was at. Just opposite of copd.

You tube technical video of what test they are doing.

I get a 8000 ft simulated altitude test  in November 2021.  These videos explain more. Some may be technical, but just the understanding of pictures he draws are worth watching.  All these have to deal with MS.  I think I am part of a study group, with PPMS, that they are looking at breathing, chest walls, which are muscles.

Breathing part one

Breathing part two

Respitory at high altitudes

A more precise blog will be written once going thru the above test, and how they are related to multiple sclerosis.

In some other pre written blogs, I explain the blood cancer, and then a video o  blood to understand how it is made. A specific video will show where the  H63D mutated gene is at.  More blogs, not in any order to show high and low blood pressure.

Enough info for now

Thanks for reading.

Joey

Blood understanding with Bradycardia and Tachycardia

 Since I have primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis,  many additional understanding is needed on my rare H63D gene, and how it effects blood, blood flow, and the heart. The Heart is a Muscle that can be effected by Multiple Sclerosis. So are Chest Muscles, and Lung Muscles.

https://www.webmd.com/heart/picture-of-the-heart

But first two videos I found from you tube, explaining this. You must understand how blood is made,  This relates to many people with or without multiple sclerosis. 

I have a fast heart beat at rest. 115-135 beats per minute. Tachycardia. The heart dr said its like I am running a marathon, while sitting down, because of my MS.  He could slow it down, but it is compensating for other MS items going on.  My Heart is going good, Echo and EKG are excellent.

You do not need to understand the technical language, just the concept. These are not in any special order.

These may be technical but explains some.

Hematology | Erythropoiesis: Red Blood Cell Formation: Part 1

Hematology | Erythropoiesis: Lifespan & Destruction: Part 2

Arrhythmias | Types, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Treatment

Rate and Rhythm | Sinus Bradycardia and Sinus Tachycardia

Cardiovascular | Fundamentals of Blood Pressure

I think that's enough knowledge to watch for the day from him. Don't get to involved in the terms, unless you are a student or techie watching, its more of the learning curve.

Will post more in another blog.

JoeY

Secondary polycythema or secondary erythrocytosis with ms

Secondary polycythemia, also known as secondary erythrocytosis or secondary erythrocythemia, is a rare condition in which your body produces an excess amount of red blood cells.

This overproduction of red blood cells thickens your blood. This thickened blood can’t pass through your small blood vessels like capillaries easily. This increases your risk of having a stroke

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-secondary-polycythemia

This is my newest diagnosis, that is added to the Chronic Kidney Disease and Hereditary Hemochromatosis with the two H63D genes, on top of primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

The Kidney Role is to control the EPO or erythropoiesis

Red blood cells are made by the bone marrow. To get the marrow to make red blood cells, the kidneys make a hormone called erythropoietin, or EPO. When the kidneys are damaged, they may not make enough EPO. Without enough EPO, the bone marrow does not make enough red blood cells, and you have anemia.

Red blood cell productionEdit

Erythropoietin is an essential hormone for red blood cell production. Without it, definitive erythropoiesis does not take place. Under hypoxic conditions, the kidney will produce and secrete erythropoietin to increase the production of red blood cells by targeting CFU-E, proerythroblast and basophilic erythroblast subsets in the differentiation. Erythropoietin has its primary effect on red blood cell progenitors and precursors (which are found in the bone marrow in humans) by promoting their survival through protecting these cells from apoptosis, or cell death.

Erythropoietin is the primary erythropoietic factor that cooperates with various other growth factors (e.g., IL-3, IL-6, glucocorticoids, and SCF) involved in the development of erythroid lineage from multipotent progenitors. The burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) cells start erythropoietin receptor expression and are sensitive to erythropoietin. Subsequent stage, the colony-forming unit-erythroid (CFU-E), expresses maximal erythropoietin receptor density and is completely dependent on erythropoietin for further differentiation. Precursors of red cells, the proerythroblasts and basophilic erythroblasts also express erythropoietin receptor and are therefore affected by it.

The Kidney specialized Dr told me this EPO pathway was working good, and with me off all Nsaids, diclofenac, that being off, was helping the Chronic Kidney Disease, and I would see him in person in three months.

Gene location

I have the H63D Gene with H63D Gene, both mutated, causing iron overload. 17 phlebotomy were done last quarter of 2018. Then Nothing. I should of bounced back, and needed phlebotomy every three months. But no iron, or ferritin made.

H63D gene from

Instead, the bone marrow, that makes the red blood cells, shown from other blogs, makes lots of hemoglobin and Hematocrit, causing the blood to be thick again. Solution is a phlebotomy, but not in reality, as no iron or ferritin, and would make me Anemic.

Speaking of which, I had been low in iron, or iron deficient, along with ferritin level of 7, I had been complaining about my shortness of breath for two years, since the phlebotomy. This seemed to be getting worse.

I remember telling my partner, 20 minutes of moving twigs, was all I could do. We had started a fire outside during burning season, when we realized our helpers were not coming back. Tree limbs from the falling of many trees had to slowly be added to the pile. It took a lot of work just doing simple tasks. I finally collapsed on the ground and watched the fire being what I thought was out of breath.

My heart would race, my blood pressure increase, and a air pathway seemingly odd at catching breath.  This was told to many doctors over the two years

I think I will leave this blog here, as a whole blog has to be about the Diagnosis they have now found. A few more specialized Drs, more Test done, but nerd time to absorb all this new info

Thanks for reading, leave me comments below

JoeY

Multiple Sclerosis and Pulminary Labs?

Pulmonary Laboratory Testing

Multiple Sclerosis has many turns, and relates to many areas of the body.

This is the " phone booth test"

Yes I became hot, sweaty and out of breath, fatigued, and tired. This cause can be MS, playing into everything. It can also be where my ferritin of 7 and iron of 29 is at. On the low side. 

 The test has you blow into a tube at regular breaths. This is recorded on the technicians computer. He has you repeat the test several times. Another breath test shows how your lungs expand, then hold and pretend your blowing a birthday candle out. Only so many times could I do this, so thought of a campfire, trying to get this going with one big breath.  Then comes a test where you exhale inwards and the machine valves close to check chest pressure of the lungs.  You are then given a inhaler to open the ports in you lungs that accept more oxygen, and test repeated.

The door gets closed on a few tests. The inhaler had no effect on me. Elasticity, spascity, was talked about. My low ferritin and iron were mentioned. Hypoxia also.  He showed me graphs of where I was, or was supposed to be at.

Chronic Hypoxia was mentioned by my Cancer Dr, as well as the H63D gene playing a role, Multiple Sclerosis doing its part. I looked that up, and Yes, Rare, but controls the muscles of the rib cage. Think of having a continuous MS Hug.

My weight has not changed, but my girth would increase 8" for some reason. Simethicone was used to assist,  but many theories given to my cancer Dr. My height has decreased another inch.

My Ferritin is 7, iron 29. I have large Red blood cells, to many hemoglobin and Hematocrit,  to Cary enough oxygen to my system.

This puts me out of breath when doing anything.  I figure if they gave me a type of iron or ferritin, this would fix problem, but there is much more to it. 

A phlebotomy, would take out to much iron and ferritin.  If a infusion, that would raise hemoglobin and Hematocrit.  I have thrown alot of theories I read about or find articles on to my specialist.

I need to get into some technical videos I found. This shows how red blood cells are made. Now Remember I have two H63D Genes that create havoc.

https://www.healthline.com/health/rbc-count

I need to start the explanation in a way everyone can understand, so this video starts with the formation of red blood cells.  Try just to understand concept, not all TBE technical Nathan unless you are a scientist.

A great video that explains the Red Blood Cells

Any comments, will explain in some future videos.

JoeY

Ever changing multiple sclerosis

 

Dixie, Armani, Wil and I hiking thru the woods to get to our tree house, as snow to deep to drive. Pulling sled full of supplies.

       Ever changing multiple sclerosis

If you have been reading my blogs over the years, you will notice that everything is additive on top of my Multiple Sclerosis. Primary progressive multiple sclerosis still remains as my primary Diagnosis. I see my Primary Neurologist about every six months, which is coming up next  month.

Our last visit with my neurologist, my botox had worn off, and other Doctors had taken me off All Nasaids. Ibuprofen off list, Diclofenac Sodium 75 mg twice a day removed. My Walking speed, or straightforward was off. Without botox, my lower extremities are rigid due to muscles being over stimulated  by my MS, cramping up. I did not pass her exam, even with my eyes. Ocrevus was talked about, as a infusion medicine.

I had just received a Diagnosis, that nobody wants to hear. This was caused by my 17  phlebotomy I had done two years before. A medication, Fenofibrate, I am one of the lucky 3% that are allergic to. It is used in Hypertrycglimeria. I was switched to Vascepa,  It is a Super Charged Fish oil, containing something like 32Fish pills into one. That was another diagnosis, but not the one that was concerning.  IBelieve I need to keep that quiet for now, so not to concern my audience.  Most of the Time spent with neurologis was t talking about this over.  

I was given a new GP. She is wonderful for asking questions, and following me so far. I think I was just to complicated for a student GP.

My Endocrinologist was the next involved a few times. This got me a new specialist to add to my list, I will talk about in a future blog, as telemedicine with them in a few weeks. My Endocrinologist is as proactive as I am trying to be, when blood tests come back abnormal, and nobody is screaming about them.

So, if you are jumping into my blog at this point, you will know that the summer of 2018 I had THICK BLOOD. My Endocrinologist caught this and sent me to the cancer center, after taking me off testosterone therapy for six months, to verify pituitary gland, located inside the brain, that a MRI was checking out good. Yes, I knew the word Cancer, she was looking for. This however, checked out excellent. But testosterone was still needed injected. (Testosterone therapy) for yet a different diagnosis added, confirmed.

The Cancer Center, Dr R, did some DNA, to rule out polythcemia, Jak2 mutation. He looked further, and found two H63D genes causing me to iron overload, thus causing THICK BLOOD. 17 phlebotomy came next over a three month period.

This left me iron deficient, and ferritin deficient. None came back, going on the third year now. I did notice more fatigue, cold fingers, never had that before. I became out of breath for doing anything simple after this. Also sweating, soaking t-shirts for simple items.  I still help walk our dogs daily, and have a elliptical, to keep get moving on rainy days.  Moving a piece of firewood became troublesome. I let all my Drs know.

My blood test, I do every three months at the u c davis University Hospital. Quite a trip to take our 28 year old car to from our remote living.  This last test, being fully hydrated, and doing a few extra test added on, figured would be somewhat like everything else.

Again, my Endocrinologist was telemedicine, as was my next visit. She was livid, that no other Dr was doing anything.   THICK BLOOD was once again in my system. My Hematocrit and hemoglobin was way to high. But this could not be, as she lowered my testosterone again, so its like a pink rock weekly. 

My O2 was talked about, as the Drs involved did not know I had done a sleep study. They had to search for that one. Figured box. Low o2, means sleep apnea, which us just a cpap mask. I'm not really interested in, as just sounds weird.  My O2 readings were low during the day, recorded with my oxygen meter you stick your finger into. Hospital verified accuracy. 

I have a great Heart Dr, who has followed me for ten years. Dogs, heart scans, wearing a heart meter. He said my heart was the best thing going for me. Tachriarda was another diagnosis added, as my resting heart beat is 115-137.  He said " its like you are running a marathon, even when you are sitting still due to the Multiple Sclerosis ".   Every Dr questions my fast heart rate, some bringing in EKG machine.  My heart Dr does echo scans, with everything looking good, even thru first Thick blood episode. I am due for another scan coming up..

This Las scenario, I emailed all my Drs, and specialist, as was in loss of THICK BLOOD.The Drs started talking to each other. My main one from the Cancer center replied, after sending links on Thick blood with the following.

"You have secondary polycythemia - that means that you have increased hemoglobin and hematocrit due to your body trying to compensate for a number of other factors. This is not driven by a primary bone marrow issue. IF (and this is a big IF) the H63D homozygous mutation is contributing, it is doing so in a minor way. I can say this because your iron stores have taken years to recover despite taking in dietary iron - and HFE gene mutations act to increase oral iron absorption. In fact, your hematocrit has risen despite low iron stores. 

While it would be convenient to pin this on a single diagnosis/process, I think it's more complicated in your case and may well be due to several smaller factors, each pushing you to a higher hematocrit. In this case: 

- testosterone administration

- chronic hypoxia (this is USUALLY nocturnal, but may be during the day)

- H63D to some smaller extent. 

The risks of blood clotting/symptoms in secondary polycythemia are poorly studied but do not appear to be high - thus any intervention is likely to be more risky than beneficial (with, perhaps, use of a baby aspirin). Do not forget, you felt terrible when I made you anemic and it took a long time to recover. 

In summary, I'm not overly concerned about your "thick blood," so much as understanding what drives it (such as chronic hypoxia). 

This can be further discussed at your next follow up. "

I will leave the conversation here. Feel free to comment with your thoughts

JoeY