Autoimmune Deficiency and the Second Genome

[Richard_yeayea]

The BBC’s programme “The Second Genome” (second episode today at 11:00am) describes how the contents of our gut bacteria can dramatically affect our health. Does anyone know of the results of any research that could say improve my wife’s chronic PMR?

[Richard_yeayea]

I am answering my own question. Look here for how to take part in the research. britishgut.org Another thread in Health Unlocked has more information.

[Soraya_PMR]

Thanks for this. Caught part of the programme last week while driving....meant to go and listen to the entire thing.... but of course I forgot.

From my own research (what makes me feel better): cut out inflammatory simple sugars (biscuits, cake) cut out red meat. Increase oily fish. Lots on the www about anti inflammatory food, but not clear which are scientifically researched! Tomatoes for example seem to fall into both camps. Fresh, nonpreserved with chemicals, fermented seems the common sense way, but I guess it’s trial and error for each individual.

[SheffieldJane]

I have nothing useful to add but I am also getting excited about this area of research. It makes such sense to me. I must catch the programme. How long has your wife had PMR?

[Richard_yeayea in reply to SheffieldJane]

GCA 2010, PMR flare up after hip op. 2015. Not been able to sleep due to the pain is the worse bit. The second hip needs doing but because of 13mg of steroids a day, not advised due to risks.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Richard_yeayea]

My insomnia was fixed by eventually taking 10 mgs of Amitriptylin one hour before bedtime. I didn’t expect it to work but it did. My body felt more comfortable and that helped a lot.

[Pongo13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I still love (and it's probably you!) the person posting this way back - I too found blissful sleep following amitriptylin. Bless you whoever it was!

[SheffieldJane in reply to Pongo13]

Well I did find blissful sleep so I’ll take the love and back at you.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Richard_yeayea]

Interview a few more surgeons. That isn't a particulalry high dose of pred and there are quite a few surgeons who will operate at that level if it is required. There are some who will insist on the patient getting off pred - but there is absolutely no need for that at all. There are patients who cannot sop their pred and have to undergo operations.

[piglette]

It does seem that improving our gut flora does help our general well being. I have become a bit fanatical about diet and gut since getting PMR and have read several books on the gut eg GUT. It seems the important thing is to eat as wide a variety of foods as possible, avoid processed foods and someone said you should eat at least 50 different fruit and veg a week. I am not sure that I could get to grips with that idea.

[HeronNS in reply to piglette]

I've posted elsewhere so forgive me if you've already heard this. I basically cut out grain, especially wheat, and most carbs with empty calories, because my blood sugar went too high when I started pred. I found after a long winter I was starting to crave leafy greens. This has continued. If I don't have my leafy greens every day I feel something is missing. I speculate that my gut microbiome has altered, and I'm now feeding microbes which like their veggies, and the ones that prefer useless carbs are much diminished!

[piglette in reply to HeronNS]

It seems that gut bacteria like fibre and it is much better eating fruit and veg whole rather than having a smoothie which can be a bit of a shock to them as it arrives too fast. I did read that the gut bacteria likes alcohol or perhaps that is wishful thinking!

[HeronNS in reply to piglette]

I suspect it's wishful thinking. Some gut microbes will like alcohol, and make you want to drink.... Others will be damaged by it. Like everything else, moderation!