transverse myelitis

Jackie McIlyar (mcilyar(AT)earthlink.net)
Thu, 09 Jan 1997 17:52:59 -0800

Hi Everyone:
After being part of this forum for a short time and experiencing my
family members suffering from tm, I have a theory I'd like to run by
you.
I keep all information that is sent my way on disc so that I can compare
notes and I have found so many similarities. (By the way, thanks all for
sending the info. keep it coming!). Stress has been mentioned too many
times to discount it and I know that it applies to each of my family
members suffering from tm and lupus. In my family, stress wreaks havoc
in many ways i.e. depression, panic attacks, lupus, tm, migraines,
tremors, sleep disorders. Quite an array huh? Well, I believe that
stress attacks each of us in different ways depending on our genetic
makeup. That's why each of us don't suffer from the same stress-related
illnesses. Anyone with the gene for migraines will suffer migraines when
that gene is stimulated. How is it stimulated? Mainly by stress. There
are other stimulants too, don't get me wrong. But stress is pretty high
up on the list. So reading through all the material and observing my
family, I believe that they suffered high levels of stress over a period
of time that eventually lowered the immune system allowing infection to
move in and do it's dirty work. Anyone with tm or lupus, has the gene
for it and received the necessary stimulant to put the illness into
action. Once tm or lupus is diagnosed, stress seems to worsen the
condition at high levels. Let me know what you think. JMcIlyar