Data, Autoimmunity Questions

[Scotty9193]

I'm currently a premedical student and I was interested in the possibility of doing some basic research on POIS and maybe presenting it in the future (a few years down the road). In order to understand POIS I really want to look at possible mechanisms of action. In order to do that, I need to gather data on a few things:

Do you have any food allergies? (If you 'think' you may don't list them)

If so, what are some of the symptoms you experience if you ingest these foods?

Of these foods, which do you actively avoid?

What are your acute POIS symptoms?

How long do they last?

Are you undergoing any treatments (herbal, medical, abstinence, etc.)?

Are they effective?

Have you previously undergone therapy? If so, how effective were they, why did you discontinue use?

Do you have any of the following conditions: IBS, Celiacs Disease, Graves Disease, Chronic Fatigue unrelated to POIS, mental illness, any  
autoimmune conditions (including known environmental allergies)? Please be sure to label which of these are self diagnosed and have been diagnosed by a physician?

If you know, do you commonly experience low blood sugar after a bout of POIS? Dizziness? What happens to your appetite after a during an episode?

Have you been diagnosed with any major illnesses, both acute and chronic? (Pneumonia, Asthma, Diabetes, etc.)

Any other information you'd like to include

Thanks I'm looking forward to your responses!

[Daveman]

Hi Scotty9193,

We have  just developed a "surveys system" which could be very good for collecting this type of information.

This forum and the Naked Scientists POIS forum probably have the answers to your questions already, but it's always been a problem getting them all in one place.... part of the goal of this (second) forum, with greater threading capacity was precisely to do that.

I will send you a personal message, and we can begin developing an in depth survey or surveys. We recently opened this surveys system here www.poiscenter.com/surveys (since you are new, I will have to add you to our database) and the first survey has several of the questions you mention. This first survey doesn't approach remedies/treatments, it's meant more to establish a base POIS profile (or profiles). Later we will start adding treatment information.

So thanks for your interest, hopefully we can help each other out.

[Vincent M]

I don't have any food allergies. I don't believe that psychological therapy can reduce POIS symptoms so I have never bothered. The only other illness I have is social anxiety disorder and it is doctor diagnosed. I don't think I experience low blood pressure in POIS, but I've never checked. I don't experience dizziness. My appetite during POIS increases and I have a difficult time avoiding unhealthy foods.

All of my other data can be found in the link in my signature below. This includes all of my POIS symptoms and current effective treatments.

[B_Daniel]

Food Allergies:  Lactose
Foods that I Avoid:  I avoid dairy food.  Also, most processed food upsets my stomach a little too.  I guess it’s just sensitive.  So I try to stick to whole foods.
Symptoms: Brain fog, anxiety, fatigue, stiff fingers, digestion
How long do they last? It used to last 3-5 days.  Now I pretty much always have about 50% symptoms.
Treatments?  Ritalin and NSAIDs are the only 2 that have worked 50-75%.  I’ve tried 100 other things that haven’t worked
I saw a psychiatrist for 12-15 months and tried many diff anti depressants.  None helped.
I have no other known conditions.
Any other information:  I suspect there’s an inflammatory component to POIS given my partial relief from NSAIDs.  Also, my stiff fingers and digestion issues could possibly be related to the inflammation.