In 1961 at the age of 33 I suffered my first attack of M.S.
Hemiataxia leading to hospitalisation, cerbral angiograms and resolving in
4 weeks without any treatment. One year later I suffered right homonomous
hemianopia leading to angiograms of the remaining cerebral arteries and
pneumo-encephalogram(not pleasant) and resolving in 4 weeks. After another
year optic neuritis also resolving quickly.
I treated the second attack with A.C.T.H., the third with cortizone.
At this time I decided to leave General Practice and train in Psychiatry.
I read in the BMJ a letter by a Melbourne Doctor called Shatin who gave a
very well reasoned argument that MS was (sometimes) due to Gluten
sensitivity. It made sense to me and was an alternative to sitting and
waiting for my wheel chair. Also it did not forbid tobacco or alcohol. I
then entered a 20 year remission with a few trivial and transient symptons
only recognised in retrospect.
My next relapse was in 1981, weakness of one leg, then in 1985 a
Bell's Palsy and since then slow deterioration of balance and a stable
'neurological bladder'.
Now at 77 I work one day per week and am pretty fit for my age. I
survived meningococcal meningitis this year and had my first ever MRI scan
which confirmed the diagnosis of longstanding MS.
Naturally I have read the journals for the last 60 years. Gluten has
been debunked in relation to MS but in the BMJ VOLUME 318 26th June 1999
page 1710 is a paper relating neurological manifestations of Gluten
sensitivity.
I am very glad that expensive medications were not available when I
went on the gluten free diet.
Rapid Response:
M.S.and Gluten
In 1961 at the age of 33 I suffered my first attack of M.S.
Hemiataxia leading to hospitalisation, cerbral angiograms and resolving in
4 weeks without any treatment. One year later I suffered right homonomous
hemianopia leading to angiograms of the remaining cerebral arteries and
pneumo-encephalogram(not pleasant) and resolving in 4 weeks. After another
year optic neuritis also resolving quickly.
I treated the second attack with A.C.T.H., the third with cortizone.
At this time I decided to leave General Practice and train in Psychiatry.
I read in the BMJ a letter by a Melbourne Doctor called Shatin who gave a
very well reasoned argument that MS was (sometimes) due to Gluten
sensitivity. It made sense to me and was an alternative to sitting and
waiting for my wheel chair. Also it did not forbid tobacco or alcohol. I
then entered a 20 year remission with a few trivial and transient symptons
only recognised in retrospect.
My next relapse was in 1981, weakness of one leg, then in 1985 a
Bell's Palsy and since then slow deterioration of balance and a stable
'neurological bladder'.
Now at 77 I work one day per week and am pretty fit for my age. I
survived meningococcal meningitis this year and had my first ever MRI scan
which confirmed the diagnosis of longstanding MS.
Naturally I have read the journals for the last 60 years. Gluten has
been debunked in relation to MS but in the BMJ VOLUME 318 26th June 1999
page 1710 is a paper relating neurological manifestations of Gluten
sensitivity.
I am very glad that expensive medications were not available when I
went on the gluten free diet.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests