<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

I posted a message asking if their was any relation between MS and CD. Turns out a lot of people think so.  I got a lot of interesting emails. Thanks to all who responded.  Below is a summary of  the different emails I received.
Heidi

-MS IS HELPED BY THE WHEAT/GLUTEN FREE DIET BUT.......MANY DR'S WON'T  
SAY SO BECAUSE THEY PUSH DRUGS A DR HIMSELF  ORDERED THIS FOR HIMSELF  
WHEN HE WAS NEARLY BEDFAST AND IT CURED HIM GOT HIM OUT OF BED AND BACK  
PRACTICING MEDS
LILY

-Before diagnosis neurologists I saw thought I might have MS

-Hi - I was very sick with CD and going to a lot of doctors, not knowing 
what was wrong with me.  I was misdiagnosed with MS by 3 different 
neurologists before I got the positive test for CD (this was a strong 
positive tissue transglutaminase).  I was on very high doses of steroids 
for my supposed MS attack at the time of my biopsy.  The biopsy was 
negative because the steroids had masked the signs of inflammation.  
Afterwards, my family was tested, and my mother, sister, daughter and 
niece are all antibody-positive, and biopsy-proven, and they all had 
different symptoms, and none had ever gotten a correct diagnosis before.  
Neurologists throw the term MS around a lot.  They classify it as 
possible, probable and definite.  When you think about it, they can never 
be wrong with this system.
My "MS" was not typical.  There were white lesions in the brain on the 
MRI, but not the ring-like lesions.  I had one large lesion in the 
posterior column of the spinal cord, which is where the sensory nerves are.
I have improved greatly, but only on a GF, dairy-free, no-processed foods 
diet, which is tough, but worth it for me.  There is a lot of 
contamination in the standard GF diet, and I have to avoid all of it.  I 
don't understand what it is about dairy that is a problem, but my 
impression is that a dairy sensitivity is common in neurological 
problems.  When you go off these foods, it may take 2 weeks to see 
definite improvement, and 3 months to get maximum improvement, because the 
nervous system heals slowly.
I have really been through it with this, and I'd like to help anyone who 
is in the same position.  If you have any more questions, you can email me 
at [log in to unmask]

-I am not a doctor, but I do understand MS and Celiac because I have them 
both. In retrospect, ???? came first! I had MS symptoms definite in 1984, 
and celiac symptoms/DH since 1980....MS diagnosis 1990, Celiac/DH diagnosis 
1992. They are definately linked, both autoimmune. ????  the GF diet helped 
my MS tremendously, especially in the beginning. ????
don't know how, but I hope that helps you a bit.
Sincerely,
- 
Of course they are both autoimmune diseases.  My friend's sister has MS and I had told her that some people get relief from a GF diet and she tried it and it seemed to help.  I think the other connection is that you can get brian lesions from celiac disease similar to MS.  I think it would be smart of your friend to get tested for celiac before she begins a GF diet or any treatment for MS.
I'm sure you'll hear more specific information from others who have both or were mis-diagnosed with MS before finding out about the celiac.  Celiac disease can have a wide range of symptoms many of which are neurological and most doctors are only familiar with the digestive symptoms.
Laurie

-There are articles on MS and gluten in The Gluten File. Look at the 4th post. http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2132 
You will also see other neruological diseases mentioned on this informational thread of the Gluten Sensitivity/Celiac Disease forum of Braintalk.
We have a few people who post on this forum who have MS and improvement on a GF diet.
Have you had vitamin D level and B12 level checked? Both of these can be low in MS. In fact I had a friend who was diagnosed with MS and turned out what she really had was pernicious anemia and low in B12.
Anne

-This site should answer a lot of questions:
http://www.direct-ms.org/index.html



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