cytokines, immune and depression (interesting link)

I stumbled across this 1997 article while goggling cytokine testing.

Didnt see lyme mentioned, but immune issues are.

www.cytokines-and-depression.com/

So here we are 20 years later and the immune system in detail is only a little better understood. But even back then they noticed chronic brain diseases (Alzheimers' ect) had immune deficiency issues.

My ND ordered a test for the MSH, melanocyte stimulating hormone that the Hypothalamus produces. Test came back not detectable = my hypothalamas isnt producing MSH...

SO, Ive been researching this JUST TODAY, and come to discover that the 'cytokine firestorm'(result of chronic infections), results in basically rendering the hypothalamas incapable of producing MSH. NO MSH, means no messages sent to the parts of the brain that control sleep, sex hormones, pain receptors, sertonin production, and even collagen production!!!!

So, it answers my question, "Whats the ultimate root cause of my insomnia, depression, zero libido, premature aging of skin, and my heightened sensitivity to pain"?

Have you had your MSH tested, and/or read about this?

mcspike-

MSH, never seen that here before. Was that a "normal' lab test, or one of those special labs that conventional medicine chooses to ignore. Melatonine is a hormone.

I bet your body responds well to melatonine suppliment for sleep?

Also : Those symptoms are also ALL symptoms of low thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland commonly takes a hit in many people with these infections. All hormone levels are touchy.

mcspike - this is intriguing.

Please let us know what your ND says about it...is the solution to tame the cytokine storm...and then the hypothalamus will kick in again and start producing the MSH?

How high...is high?

So, Omega 3's ?

Fantastic info thank you guys!

mcspike said...
My ND ordered a test for the MSH, melanocyte stimulating hormone that the Hypothalamus produces. Test came back not detectable = my hypothalamas isnt producing MSH...

SO, Ive been researching this JUST TODAY, and come to discover that the 'cytokine firestorm'(result of chronic infections), results in basically rendering the hypothalamas incapable of producing MSH. NO MSH, means no messages sent to the parts of the brain that control sleep, sex hormones, pain receptors, sertonin production, and even collagen production!!!!

So, it answers my question, "Whats the ultimate root cause of my insomnia, depression, zero libido, premature aging of skin, and my heightened sensitivity to pain"?

Have you had your MSH tested, and/or read about this?

Mcspike, thank you for posting this info. Answers a handful of my questions as well, and I will be passing this along to my daughter in a moment.

No, I have never had my melanocyte stimulating hormone tested. I'm curious too, if this is a standardly available test, or a special one that needs to either be ordered, or sent to a specialty lab?

I dont think my cells were taking up my old T4 med years ago, different synthetic T4 brands made no difference. Just a guess since my symptoms did not change until I used natural pig thyroid. Even on synthetic T4 with synthetic (cytomel) T3 I did not feel well. All of this was before treating lyme.

We need a good test that shows whats used vs available. Can lead a horse to water, cant make him drink.

Huddie- "Goes high when it's supposed to go low, and vice versa" - ahh, thats what I had. This can take a......l o n g.... time to fix. Which is why I try staying away from stressful jobs. I still can overreact to sudden stress- was not like that eons ago, so its not the way I was "built".

Specific supplements helped , but did not fix. However, I dont get nightly power surges anymore after one year of abx. So killing critters help my energy cycle at night. Still get too tired from work though- so not completely "fixed".

Yes I get burned out on reading this stuff too. I dont read books, I research on the internet LOL. Once the snow is deep and cold, I'll resume.

I used to have the exaggerated startle reflex...not so much anymore.


But, I still get the 'shivers' when something piques my nervous system.

- an exciting movie (action-packed one)
- a song I really like - which happens a lot because I play my ITunes whenever I'm alone ...so when hubby's at work...it's blaring....and I'm shivering...lol.

I guess I should be avoiding things that make me 'shiver'...but without my music, I wouldn't be distracted from my pain...and other lyme issues. So, it's a catch 22.

Huddie- I posted it someware on another thread. Think it was on the holy basil thread from yesterday, sissy's thread?

I took holy basil before bed and after waking in AM (my high cortisol times).

When I was low in afternoon (per saliva test and symptoms) I took taurine (short lived amino, calm energy)), experimented with ashwagonda (was too strong at first), and the different ginsings (there are four with different energy levels). But my 3PM thyroid if I could make it that far helped too.

I still nap at home after work, but can drive home safer than all the texters out there. I used to power nap in my car after work at various locations, then drive home.

It takes bad news to get my adrenals "riled" - like 2nd in command boss having a tissy fit (he's an idiot LOL), or something breaking in the house or car at the most inconvenient time ect. That did not affect me years ago. I used to be so calm, it would piss people off who were expecting to aggravate me. I would have "fun" with them LOL.

Post Edited (astroman) : 11/6/2016 7:51:10 PM (GMT-7)

Astroman,

Thank you. I'm saving this thread. I do take lots of aminos. LOL on the boss - yes that can do it. I iwll reread later when at my computer.

DB, really interesting. Love that about JK. I couldn't tolerate it but I take Stephania (Buhner, via Trav, suggest as a substitute) and I love it. Do you think it does the same balancing? I don't seem to have the lyme insomnia so many have. I mean I wake up at least once a night but always been that way.

I learn new things on here several times a day.

Huddie said...
Girlie,

I play music ALL the time too and on good days I dance. Music is so healing. It really lifts up the soul. I have never got shivers. Does it feel like you are cold or just an odd sensation and then it vanishes? Has anyone dared to count the numerous symptoms of lyme?

The new dance that is sweeping the nation: The Girlie Shiver

It happens when i'm warm...but seems to happen more often when I'm cold.

It's not the regular shivering from being cold though....as it's internal...nothing showing on the outside...have you ever had those shivers up your spine?
That's what I get - but not just up my spine...but the back of my head, and my legs...

It must be infection related because some days they're barely there...and other days...they're really bad.