To Debbie, Candy, Barney, Bernie, Frank, anyone interested - <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Sorry to take so long to respond, but increased pain over the last month has limited the amount of time Im able to work on the computer. Debbie, no need to apologize for disagreeing with me. My intention was not to imply that a weakened immune system was the CAUSE of everyones TM, but rather that the drugs used to treat it tend to lead to weakened immunity. i.e.: use of STERIOIDS & anti-biotic use > overgrowth of candida (a natural fungus that isnt harmful - unless it gets out of control) > a weakened immune system and who among us has not had his/her share of steroids (and often anti-biotics, too, for UTIs, etc.)? Im simply sharing general information here, not trying to say that this does or should apply to everyone. I think weve all already agreed that we all have DIFFERENT SYSTEMS and also DIFFERENT ways in which TM has affected us. MY PURPOSE WAS SIMPLY TO SHARE INFORMATION THAT I THOUGHT PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER. If it doesnt fit anyones individual case, Im not offended. Im not trying to say what others should do, only to share things that people might want to consider when making conclusions / judgments for themselves. For anyone whos interested: Candida overgrowth > Leaky Gut Syndrome > Auto-immune disease DISCLAIMER: I am not trying to say whether or not this applies to anyone else, but for myself, this offers a very possible cause for MY TM, since I know I previously had an overgrowth of candida fungus: Such candida, when it gets out of control, can take on a form that can penetrate the gut wall, thus allowing minutely small particles of undigested food to escape through the gut wall and get into the blood stream. >From that point, all that would have had to happen is for the blood to be circulating through my spinal cord when it was attacked by my immune system, the particle of undigested food being identified as a foreign body which it was. (If it had ended up in another area / organ of the body, it could have caused a different type of disease. Such a scenario is thought by many to be a source of auto-immune disease.) Hope this is helpful to someone. If not, youre welcome to ignore it. Sally
