Hello!
I am new to the form and the APOE4 website. I recently found out I was E4/E4 and shed a lot of tears over that. I am so grateful to have found a place to give me hope. I just finished reading Dr. Bredesen's book and will be implementing many of his strategies.
I have two questions and would be grateful for any insights.
1) over the last two years, I have had multiple bouts of scleritis (inflammation of the sclera of the eye). The frequency has been increasing. It will occur in either eye, but currently only one at a time. I am having a flare now and I just had one last month. The current one is pretty bad. Internet searches show that scleritis is often associated with auto-immune problems. Accordingly, I asked my doctor to run autoimmune test and C-reactive protein, etc. All of that bloodwork came back normal. I am thinking this might be a leaky gut thing and maybe autoimmune but not bad enough to show up yet? I do generally try to steer clear of gluten (it has broken me out in hives in the past), but as we all know, that's very difficult. I'm not 100%. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm trying to figure out what my body is telling me. Anyone have suggests for how to figure this out?
2) I would like to do the additional bloodwork Dr. Bredesen mentions in his book. Will a doctor just do it if asked? does that alert the insurance company that something is up? Is there any way just to do it on my own? (If there is already a thread on this, please let me know.) Any idea on cost or who to contact?
Thank you all so much!
Jennifer
Anyone have issues with scleritis? Plus Newbie Introduction
Re: Anyone have issues with scleritis? Plus Newbie Introduction
Hello Jennifer! I do not have answers to your questions but wanted to welcome you to the community. There is such a diverse depth of knowledge among members so keep posting questions as they come to you. Regarding "blood work" you can search for previous discussions by clicking on the 3 little dots to the right of your name and do a search to bring up the topic.
If you haven't found it already, please visit the Primer (viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1418) as it's an excellent resource for science, prevention and lifestyle modification. It was written by Dr. Stavia, a member of this community.
Good for you to have found Dr. Bredesen's book. I'm sorry for your tears and yes, what a great source of hope for those of us with the e4/4 genetics.
If you haven't found it already, please visit the Primer (viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1418) as it's an excellent resource for science, prevention and lifestyle modification. It was written by Dr. Stavia, a member of this community.
Good for you to have found Dr. Bredesen's book. I'm sorry for your tears and yes, what a great source of hope for those of us with the e4/4 genetics.
APOe4/4
Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach
National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach
Certificate for Reversing Cognitive Decline for Coaches (FMCA)
Certified Fermentationist
Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach
National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach
Certificate for Reversing Cognitive Decline for Coaches (FMCA)
Certified Fermentationist
Re: Anyone have issues with scleritis? Plus Newbie Introduction
Hi Jennifer, and welcome. Sorry this has been hard for you, but it will get better over time as you see how much you can do to tackle this head on.
Don't know anything about your first question, but here's a post I made about working with your doctor to get labs done (if they are not Bredesen trained).
Hopefully someone here will know more about your other question.
Don't know anything about your first question, but here's a post I made about working with your doctor to get labs done (if they are not Bredesen trained).
Hopefully someone here will know more about your other question.
Re: Anyone have issues with scleritis? Plus Newbie Introduction
Welcome Jennifer, as someone with a litany of ocular problems other than scleritis, I can somewhat relate. Scleritis is more painful than my hemorrhages, chronic dry eye and a few rare diseases debated between the eye clinics (always good to have a second opinion should you have unanswered questions). Like you, these seem to point to an autoimmune etiology, but the full autoantibody work-up was negative multiple times. One of my eye diseases (PEX) has been reported to alleviate with lowering homocysteine (Hcy), which is an AD goal anyway. Interestingly enough, the disease seems to be in remission with this Hcy intervention. Still it's hard to know since these autoimmune eye diseases seem to cycle with flares. So based on my experience, whatever good for AD prevention might be linked with improved eye health. I do take supplements like fish oil and a little lutein, zinc and zeaxanthin.
Re: Anyone have issues with scleritis? Plus Newbie Introduction
Welcome Jennifer.
Dr Gundry is a cardiovascular surgeon, who now works with ApoE4 carriers to optimize health with lifestyle changes. He apparently also sees a lot of autoimmune patients that have improved with his nutrition plan. His most recent book is "The Plant Paradox". Two of our super smart members consult witih Dr Gundry and have posted a huge amount of information on his approach, as well as their journey. There is a search function in the upper right hand corner of the website under the 3 vertical dots. You will be flooded with entries!
Dr Gundry is a cardiovascular surgeon, who now works with ApoE4 carriers to optimize health with lifestyle changes. He apparently also sees a lot of autoimmune patients that have improved with his nutrition plan. His most recent book is "The Plant Paradox". Two of our super smart members consult witih Dr Gundry and have posted a huge amount of information on his approach, as well as their journey. There is a search function in the upper right hand corner of the website under the 3 vertical dots. You will be flooded with entries!
Slacker
E4/E4
E4/E4
Re: Anyone have issues with scleritis? Plus Newbie Introduction
Welcome, Jennifer! I'm a sister 4/4 and promise the knowledge gets easier with time.
I recently heard that Dr. Gundry is no longer taking new patients. Can anyone confirm?Dr Gundry is a cardiovascular surgeon, who now works with ApoE4 carriers to optimize health with lifestyle changes. He apparently also sees a lot of autoimmune patients that have improved with his nutrition plan. His most recent book is "The Plant Paradox". Two of our super smart members consult witih Dr Gundry and have posted a huge amount of information on his approach, as well as their journey. There is a search function in the upper right hand corner of the website under the 3 vertical dots. You will be flooded with entries!
Re: Anyone have issues with scleritis? Plus Newbie Introduction
Thank you all for your kind words. I am planning on getting the Plant Paradox and reading that as well. Katie S, I appreciate your insight on the eye issues. The majority of what I find relates scleritis to rheumatoid arthritis, which then relates back to B vitamins (as does Hcy) so that is definitely a place I will start. Thank you again!
Re: Anyone have issues with scleritis? Plus Newbie Introduction
My eye issues have interfered with making our annual meet ups, as I flare in the summer with photophobia, etc...somehow the lower glucose and hcy finally is stabilizing my eyes. I hope you have a better year ahead.
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Re: Anyone have issues with scleritis? Plus Newbie Introduction
Hi Jennifer, I am new here too and saw your post about scleritis--not because I have it, but because my rheumatologist, who I see for ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis (mild, but there nonetheless), is ALWAYS asking me about my eyes. Seems it's a big symptom for rheumies, even those who don't have RA.
60 years old, ApoE 3/3, mother and grandmother have/had late-onset dementia, eager to save brain and optimize health.
Thank you all for sharing your knowledge!
Thank you all for sharing your knowledge!
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Re: Anyone have issues with scleritis? Plus Newbie Introduction
Hi there, so I've been diagnosed with anterior scleritis since the past 3 years and i didn't know how serious it was until now. it keeps recurring on and off without a reason. Did many many tests, none that were conclusive of the cause. As of now, i see an ophthalmologist and a rheumatologist to test me. so far I've been on predforte 1% drops along with some pain killers and now I've been started on Steroid tablets for a little more than a month tapering the tablets and the drops. The condition gets better once I'm on meds but it keeps recurring. The immunologist says i definitely have immunological scleritis and he suggests that i start on Folitray (immunosuppressant) and also to take Folivite to make up for the lost folic acid. I'm a bit hesitant to get on that. Please let me know if you have gone through anything of this sort. Looking for as many opinions as possible. REALLY SCARED.