Comments for Donna's Blog http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog Donna Jackson Nakazawa, author and speaker Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:24:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 Comment on Understanding the Anti-Autoimmune Diet by Lori http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=27#comment-136 Lori Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:42:19 +0000 http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=27#comment-136 Last June I was hospitalized and treated for a pulmonary embolism. The doctors figured out I have anitphospholipid antibody syndrome APS. I was put on blood thinners and told I will be on them forever - given a half sheet printout from the internet about APS and sent home. Since then I have asked questions but the doctors don't have any answers. I started looking in to raw and vegetarian diets. We have since gone vegan and 50% raw. We have eliminated all processed foods, dairy, meat, sugar, white flour and eggs. We have added organic fruits & veggies, nuts and grains to our diet. My doctor won't tell me if this will do anything for us, but says as long as it doesn't hurt anything, then go for it. We have given our children choices and not forced our diet on them. They have made these choices themselves and eat what we eat. We work extra hard to make sure our children are getting enough protein, fiber etc into their daily diet. My 11 year old son who used to suffer from migraines does not get them anymore. My teenage daughters skin has cleared up. My husband who was diagnosed with diabetes last May is not on insulin and doing really well. My question for anyone is - what do you know about herbal remedies and APS? I have always tried boosting my families immune system in order to stay healthy with various herbs. But if my immune system is already attacking my healthy blood cells, wouldn't that be bad? Also, if I am supposed to stay away from Vitamin K - (since my body is over actively clotting my blood) but also eat warming foods, will that even things out? Any information or websites would be greatly appreciated. Donnas book The Autoimmune Epidemic is an excellent book and is a must read for everyone. Thank you! Last June I was hospitalized and treated for a pulmonary embolism. The doctors figured out I have anitphospholipid antibody syndrome APS. I was put on blood thinners and told I will be on them forever - given a half sheet printout from the internet about APS and sent home. Since then I have asked questions but the doctors don’t have any answers.

I started looking in to raw and vegetarian diets. We have since gone vegan and 50% raw. We have eliminated all processed foods, dairy, meat, sugar, white flour and eggs. We have added organic fruits & veggies, nuts and grains to our diet. My doctor won’t tell me if this will do anything for us, but says as long as it doesn’t hurt anything, then go for it. We have given our children choices and not forced our diet on them. They have made these choices themselves and eat what we eat. We work extra hard to make sure our children are getting enough protein, fiber etc into their daily diet. My 11 year old son who used to suffer from migraines does not get them anymore. My teenage daughters skin has cleared up. My husband who was diagnosed with diabetes last May is not on insulin and doing really well.
My question for anyone is - what do you know about herbal remedies and APS? I have always tried boosting my families immune system in order to stay healthy with various herbs. But if my immune system is already attacking my healthy blood cells, wouldn’t that be bad? Also, if I am supposed to stay away from Vitamin K - (since my body is over actively clotting my blood) but also eat warming foods, will that even things out? Any information or websites would be greatly appreciated.
Donnas book The Autoimmune Epidemic is an excellent book and is a must read for everyone.
Thank you!

]]> Comment on Understanding the Anti-Autoimmune Diet by admin http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=27#comment-135 admin Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:57:10 +0000 http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=27#comment-135 I think that more and more doctors are aware of the role that diet plays in autoimmune disease but many of them don't have the background -- given that medical school barely touches on nutrition -- to give in-depth advice. And the average doctor's visit is very short, rarely allowing for a heart to heart about day to day dietary choices and habits and possible connections to flares. (See my blog posting on What Patients Want.) However, a growing group of physicians are focusing on what is called "food as medicine." And a whole new area of medicine called "functional medicine," which is based on finding the underlying cause for disease, is gaining momentum. (http://www.functionalmedicine.org/about/whatis.asp) But the bottom line is this: patients often have to work with both a specialist in their disease and a nutritionist or functional medicine specialist -- someone who is experienced with autoimmune disease. Sometimes it is a mater of building your own unique team. Many people have success with elimination diets (as many who've commented above have noted) and learning all they can about diet and their own personal reactions to food by trial and error. I think it's safest (especially given the nature of Crohn's) to work with a nutritionist or specialist as you try to figure out the best diet for your daughter. Dr. Mullin is still at Hopkins! I hope you are able to see him or another specialist who, hopefully, can help your daughter toward recovery. All the best to you! Donna I think that more and more doctors are aware of the role that diet plays in autoimmune disease but many of them don’t have the background — given that medical school barely touches on nutrition — to give in-depth advice. And the average doctor’s visit is very short, rarely allowing for a heart to heart about day to day dietary choices and habits and possible connections to flares. (See my blog posting on What Patients Want.) However, a growing group of physicians are focusing on what is called “food as medicine.” And a whole new area of medicine called “functional medicine,” which is based on finding the underlying cause for disease, is gaining momentum. (http://www.functionalmedicine.org/about/whatis.asp)
But the bottom line is this: patients often have to work with both a specialist in their disease and a nutritionist or functional medicine specialist — someone who is experienced with autoimmune disease. Sometimes it is a mater of building your own unique team. Many people have success with elimination diets (as many who’ve commented above have noted) and learning all they can about diet and their own personal reactions to food by trial and error. I think it’s safest (especially given the nature of Crohn’s) to work with a nutritionist or specialist as you try to figure out the best diet for your daughter. Dr. Mullin is still at Hopkins! I hope you are able to see him or another specialist who, hopefully, can help your daughter toward recovery.
All the best to you!
Donna

]]> Comment on Understanding the Anti-Autoimmune Diet by Patty http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=27#comment-134 Patty Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:41:11 +0000 http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=27#comment-134 I am currently a 54 year women who was recently diagnosed with MS. Doctors quickly prescribed Betaferon injections. However, my heartache stems from my daughter's disease! She is a lovely young women (20-years old) who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 10. She has tried most everything, SCD diet, etc., along with conventional medicines. She had an almost fatal reaction to Remicade, and most recently, with Humiera. I would like to contact Dr. Mullin who you mention in the your book. Does he still practice out of John Hopkins Hospital? Even the best doctors do no address how diet or environmental toxics can cause Crohn's disease, and want to prescribe dangerous drugs instead of working with her to determine what is causing the disease. Crohn's has stolen 10 years of her life, and is damaging now her precious optimism and vitality. Thank you! Patty I am currently a 54 year women who was recently diagnosed with MS. Doctors quickly prescribed Betaferon injections. However, my heartache stems from my daughter’s disease! She is a lovely young women (20-years old) who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 10. She has tried most everything, SCD diet, etc., along with conventional medicines. She had an almost fatal reaction to Remicade, and most recently, with Humiera. I would like to contact Dr. Mullin who you mention in the your book. Does he still practice out of John Hopkins Hospital? Even the best doctors do no address how diet or environmental toxics can cause Crohn’s disease, and want to prescribe dangerous drugs instead of working with her to determine what is causing the disease. Crohn’s has stolen 10 years of her life, and is damaging now her precious optimism and vitality.
Thank you! Patty

]]> Comment on Understanding the Anti-Autoimmune Diet by priscilla muir http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=27#comment-133 priscilla muir Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:36:35 +0000 http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=27#comment-133 Hello I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease Stilles. I would like to know what kind of diet I should be on. The type of foods to avoid. Hello I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease Stilles. I would like to know what kind of diet I should be on. The type of foods to avoid.

]]> Comment on Can We Prove a Link Between Environmental Toxins and Autoimmune Disease? by Terry Gregory http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=20#comment-130 Terry Gregory Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:36:24 +0000 http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=20#comment-130 Donna, I enjoyed reading your book, "The Autoimmune Epidemic." It's real eye-opener! A year ago, I was diagnosed with 2 autoimmune diseases simultaneously (they're related systemically) -- IgAN (a form of Glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the kidney filtering units), and Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) Vasculitis (in my case, the major symptom was a major skin rash). After a year of treatment, my kidney function is normal again and remains stable. I read in your book about flame-retardant chemicals and their association with autoimmune diseases. Shortly before my symptoms and diagnosis last year, I bought a new sofa months before, and immediately after sitting in it, and still to this day to a lesser extent, my eyes water when I lay down and get near the sofa fabric. Do you have any info regarding any research, law suits, or other claims associating furniture fabrics, fabric treatment chemicals, or core cushion materials, etc., with autoimmune diseases? Any valid basis whatsoever? I wonder if there's a connection in my case. Thanks, Terry Donna,

I enjoyed reading your book, “The Autoimmune Epidemic.” It’s real eye-opener! A year ago, I was diagnosed with 2 autoimmune diseases simultaneously (they’re related systemically) — IgAN (a form of Glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the kidney filtering units), and Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) Vasculitis (in my case, the major symptom was a major skin rash). After a year of treatment, my kidney function is normal again and remains stable.

I read in your book about flame-retardant chemicals and their association with autoimmune diseases. Shortly before my symptoms and diagnosis last year, I bought a new sofa months before, and immediately after sitting in it, and still to this day to a lesser extent, my eyes water when I lay down and get near the sofa fabric. Do you have any info regarding any research, law suits, or other claims associating furniture fabrics, fabric treatment chemicals, or core cushion materials, etc., with autoimmune diseases? Any valid basis whatsoever? I wonder if there’s a connection in my case.

Thanks,
Terry

]]> Comment on Letters From the Autoimmune Epidemic by relieve cold cores http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=21#comment-129 relieve cold cores Sun, 15 Mar 2009 06:05:38 +0000 http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=21#comment-129 This advice is really going to help, thanks. This advice is really going to help, thanks.

]]> Comment on Workers at Risk by Lindsey Murphy http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=16#comment-128 Lindsey Murphy Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:05:03 +0000 http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=16#comment-128 You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog. You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog.

]]> Comment on Becoming Part of the Solution by Vernon http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=19#comment-127 Vernon Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:39:15 +0000 http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=19#comment-127 Kerry, I too suffer from some form of inflammation currently. Im trying to improve my diet and think positively and involve myself in exercise. Sometimes i feel down too. Do you want to exchange email for words of encouragement? I live in Asia and my email is ver_tay@yahoo.com.sg Vern Singapore Kerry,

I too suffer from some form of inflammation currently. Im trying to improve my diet and think positively and involve myself in exercise. Sometimes i feel down too. Do you want to exchange email for words of encouragement? I live in Asia and my email is ver_tay@yahoo.com.sg

Vern
Singapore

]]> Comment on Can We Prove a Link Between Environmental Toxins and Autoimmune Disease? by Pat http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=20#comment-126 Pat Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:27:40 +0000 http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=20#comment-126 I just finished the book and stumbled upon the website mentioned on the book jacket. It is essential reading for all of us but I have yet to figure out how to inspire interest. The general public is totally clueless and believes that the government would not allow unsafe products to be sold. Anyone who follows the news knows nothing is further from the truth. I doubt this is going to be a simple puzzle to solve since each of us has our very own assortment of chemicals in our bodies. Nobody really knows how these multiple chemicals act when combined. Other chemicals actually prevent the liver from doing its job of metabolizing out the toxins we meet. If your liver is not working you change everything that is known or written about toxicology. Whatever is going on, it needs immediate action. It may be a complex puzzle but we need to start to unravel the mystery of autoimmunity. The cost of the research must be weighed against the staggering cost of these illnesses. I just finished the book and stumbled upon the website mentioned on the book jacket. It is essential reading for all of us but I have yet to figure out how to inspire interest. The general public is totally clueless and believes that the government would not allow unsafe products to be sold. Anyone who follows the news knows nothing is further from the truth.
I doubt this is going to be a simple puzzle to solve since each of us has our very own assortment of chemicals in our bodies. Nobody really knows how these multiple chemicals act when combined. Other chemicals actually prevent the liver from doing its job of metabolizing out the toxins we meet. If your liver is not working you change everything that is known or written about toxicology.
Whatever is going on, it needs immediate action. It may be a complex puzzle but we need to start to unravel the mystery of autoimmunity. The cost of the research must be weighed against the staggering cost of these illnesses.

]]> Comment on What do Patients Want from Their Doctors? by Andria http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=28#comment-125 Andria Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:03:03 +0000 http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=28#comment-125 Real news, hank you! Real news, hank you!

]]> Comment on Becoming Part of the Solution by Kerry Hughes http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=19#comment-124 Kerry Hughes Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:10:41 +0000 http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=19#comment-124 Dear Donna, Your thoughtful reply to my last e-mail meant the world to me. I am certain I am one of a million people that has a story to tell, and a frustration with a feeling of an inability to help. Each day I am dealing with a consciousness regarding my illness that I can not escape from. There is nothing spontaneous about my life any longer, and everything I do is handled with great planning and thought. However, to keep my sanity I have decided to look at managing my health as "my job," as I no longer can work the full time job that I loved so much. I am writing to you to beg the question, "How do you believe that I can help?" Is there something that I can do with you, for you, related to your work to keep opening the crack of the minds of the medical communities about how important it is to take a closer look at this epidemic. This has been one of the hardest winters for me so far in Buffalo, and the first time that my husband and I have truly considered uprooting our family and leaving the home and friends we love, to possibly find a place to live that may provide me with a better quality of life. In my spells of wellness I want to find a purposeful way to make a difference. I am always ready to be a part of the process. Please keep me in your thoughts, and hopefully one day I will be fortunate enough to speak with you and learn more. With gratitude, Kerry Hughes Buffalo, New York Dear Donna,
Your thoughtful reply to my last e-mail meant the world to me. I am certain I am one of a million people that has a story to tell, and a frustration with a feeling of an inability to help. Each day I am dealing with a consciousness regarding my illness that I can not escape from. There is nothing spontaneous about my life any longer, and everything I do is handled with great planning and thought. However, to keep my sanity I have decided to look at managing my health as “my job,” as I no longer can work the full time job that I loved so much. I am writing to you to beg the question, “How do you believe that I can help?” Is there something that I can do with you, for you, related to your work to keep opening the crack of the minds of the medical communities about how important it is to take a closer look at this epidemic. This has been one of the hardest winters for me so far in Buffalo, and the first time that my husband and I have truly considered uprooting our family and leaving the home and friends we love, to possibly find a place to live that may provide me with a better quality of life. In my spells of wellness I want to find a purposeful way to make a difference. I am always ready to be a part of the process. Please keep me in your thoughts, and hopefully one day I will be fortunate enough to speak with you and learn more.
With gratitude,
Kerry Hughes
Buffalo, New York

]]> Comment on Can We Prove a Link Between Environmental Toxins and Autoimmune Disease? by tha MS-fighta =D http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=20#comment-123 tha MS-fighta =D Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:45:49 +0000 http://www.donnajacksonnakazawa.com/blog/?p=20#comment-123 I have heard that exposure to common environmental toxins (i.e. chemicals) can lead to autoimmune disease. I have no idea why I came down with MS, but I know that I have no family history of the disease. Thought not of as a genetic or inherited disease, more and more research is showing that original idea NOT to be a true one, among the scientific community, regarding what causes Multiple Sclerosis. Waking up one sunny day and realizing that something is terribly, TERRIBLY wrong with your body, well it's the worst feeling in the word, because these autoimmune diseases tend to pop up out of nowhere, and everything regarding the cause of these types of diseases, well it is still a bit sketchy. Hopefully our scientific minds of our society can come up with a cure for the cause, as well as the progression of these types of diseases. Thanks for writing this blog. Best wishes!!! -d =P I have heard that exposure to common environmental toxins (i.e. chemicals) can lead to autoimmune disease.

I have no idea why I came down with MS, but I know that I have no family history of the disease. Thought not of as a genetic or inherited disease, more and more research is showing that original idea NOT to be a true one, among the scientific community, regarding what causes Multiple Sclerosis.

Waking up one sunny day and realizing that something is terribly, TERRIBLY wrong with your body, well it’s the worst feeling in the word, because these autoimmune diseases tend to pop up out of nowhere, and everything regarding the cause of these types of diseases, well it is still a bit sketchy.

Hopefully our scientific minds of our society can come up with a cure for the cause, as well as the progression of these types of diseases.

Thanks for writing this blog. Best wishes!!!

-d =P

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