Summary-line: 27-Dec n, wilcox@cis.ohio-state. #Immune-system mailing list: The very first message Return-Path: Date: Thu, 27 Dec 90 23:50:41 pst From: cnorman (Cynthia Norman) To: cnorman, wilcox@cis.ohio-state.edu, luna@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu, ames!chinet.chi.il.us!chaz@ucsd.edu, anasaz!john@asuvax.eas.asu.edu, dwyer@nosc.mil, jgautier@ads.com, b-davis@cai.utah.edu, richter@triton.unm.edu, hxkpy@slacvm.slac.stanford.edu, botteron@bu-it.bu.edu, rollo@xylogics.com, proud@ihlpy.att.com, bill@picard.att.com, jsparkes@bnr.ca, island!green@uunet.uu.net, ann@snow-white.merit-tech.com, iex!neptune.iex.com!bert@uunet.uu.net Subject: Immune-system mailing list: The very first message Reply-To: cnorman@ucsd.edu *** EOOH *** Return-Path: Date: Thu, 27 Dec 90 23:50:41 pst From: cnorman (Cynthia Norman) To: cnorman, wilcox@cis.ohio-state.edu, luna@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu, ames!chinet.chi.il.us!chaz@ucsd.edu, anasaz!john@asuvax.eas.asu.edu, dwyer@nosc.mil, jgautier@ads.com, b-davis@cai.utah.edu, richter@triton.unm.edu, hxkpy@slacvm.slac.stanford.edu, botteron@bu-it.bu.edu, rollo@xylogics.com, proud@ihlpy.att.com, bill@picard.att.com, jsparkes@bnr.ca, island!green@uunet.uu.net, ann@snow-white.merit-tech.com, iex!neptune.iex.com!bert@uunet.uu.net Subject: Immune-system mailing list: The very first message Reply-To: cnorman@ucsd.edu This is a test of the mailing list thus far and a note to let you all know I haven't forgotten. I've been waiting for people to get back from vacations and breaks. The list contains 18 members so far (including me). I expect many more will see the invitation after New Years or in January/February for those who are students (I'll re-post then). So. . . I hope people will share their experiences (and advice). I'll start with mine. Most of my problems started in adulthood, although I think I have been hypoglycemic all my life. I have been dyslexic all my life but it's been getting worse. Slowly, over the course of a couple of years, I developed allergies (to dairy and yeast) and lots of weird symptoms. The dairy allergy seems to be un-related to anything else and no treatment (except avoidance) has helped. The symptoms are classic gastro-intestional with mucus production in my nose, throat, and lungs. The strange thing is I react to ANY amount of dairy--casin in soy cheese, smelling parmasion cheese, whey, etc--no matter what type or how small (it happens even when I don't know I have eaten dairy until after the fact) BUT it takes 1-2 days for any symptoms to manifest. Can anybody explain this? My yeast allergy (etc) fits classic symptoms of Candida and I was on Nystatin for quite a while. It was very helpful and I want to get back on it as soon as I find a brand (not liquid or powder) that doesn't use lactose as a binder (being allergic to your allergy medication, what a trip!)--any leads? I am also allergic to cigarette smoke (a disability in and of itself even without the other problems) which makes my social life a pain in the neck. I have discovered that my yeast and cigarette allergies and my hypoglycemia are inter-related. Exposure to one will make me more sensitive to the others. Anyone else have this problem? Given the presence of "cerebal" symptoms (learning disabilities of various kinds, some mimicing neurological damage; panic attacks), I'm trying to find out if my neurotransmitter controls and other brain activities are connected to everything else. Any ideas? >From what I know about CFS and similar things, the immune problems happen after the body has been set off by some trauma, classically over-exposure to chemical substances. Pre-disposition is present in some (all?) such person (like diabetes??). We now know the immune system is linked to emotional state and other psychological factors. Can extreme stress trigger the immune system like chemicals do? I have been looking in vain for an article (last year or two? not in last 6 months) in a medical journal (New England J of Med?) discussing the above. I have searched computer databases but must not be getting the right keywords. Has anyone heard of it? I know I have covered a lot of ground and left a lot of blank spots. I did this on purpose--feel free to respond to any or all of it. Or start your own discussion. Or sit back and listen. To post articles while we are still in the trial stage, send the message to me with a clear first line that says the equivelent of "post this to the entire mailing list." Without that line, I will assume it is a personal message for me. Use the subject line you want to have it posted with. I will send your message to everyone with no editing (except to remove the "post me" line). I usually read mail daily, but give me a couple days anyway (this is my break, right?). Cyndi