I agree that we did nothing to "get" this. I recently saw a nurse practioner who asked how I got it, and did I get it from a vaccine! I literally laughed when she said that & said you don't "get" it that way. Anyways, yes, I am a person that drinks a fruit & veggie smoothie everyday. My mom is one of those that thinks there are vitamins to cure everything, and I disagree. With that said, the reason I drink my smoothies is because they are a better calorie alternative to other foods and better nutritionally. I have either celiac or gluten intolerance and have suffered with many GI issues over the last 15 years. Since I eat so much more healthy, it has made a huge difference, but ONLY in my GI issues.

I believe everyone has to make their own choices on what works for them, both with diet and supplements. I don't believe for a minute that being GF or taking supplements is going to be the miracle cure for MG or my fibromyalgia, or anything else wrong with me. But eating the way that I do works, FOR ME. I have lots of allergies, lots of things that irritate my GI tract, plus i don't want to put on weight that I lost several years ago. so I try to make the most of the food I do eat and make sure I am getting the best possible nutrition out of every calorie.

Russcooky -

I really feel bad every time I read one of your posts. There's nothing you did to give your partner MG. And there's nothing you could have done to prevent his death. I realize - and understand - your wanting to unravel the mystery behind it all but I suspect that even after amny years of trying, it isn't going to happen.

On my way into work this morning, I came upon a deer lying in a ditch with its head up, looking around. It had just been hit and appeared to have broken legs and maybe internal injuries. It didn't appear to be suffering too badly and wasn't struggling. After a minute, it just layed its head down to die peacefully. I went to the police barracks a mile away to inform them so they could do what they had to to put the poor creature out of its misery.

As with the deer, when a loved one is in a non-survivable car wreck, we are faced with a sudden and unexpected death. We do dissect the events of the milliseconds before and during impact, because that's the human thing to do.

With an illness - and resulting death - from an insidious disease like MG, we tend to spend a lot more time - all of us - dissecting all the little nuances of our conditions and ascribing causality. Maybe that's what humans do. Maybe we need to do that. For me, I needed to end all that discovery process very early on or I'd have gone nuts. Life is for living.

Curt

I have nothing to add other than I am happy you wrote this as I need to see things like this -- I've done a lot of thinking about what could have caused my MG and wonder if it was anti-bacterial soap I used as a kid or early childhood stress or working in a former factory loaded with heavy metals or...

So I will try to relax and, like Curt's deer, enjoy this life even though I am broken by the side of the road! ~Joe

There is a place in Virginia Beach where people meet who are all "good," healthy, and have never had anything bad happen to them. How is that possible? Well if you get sick or have something bad happen to you, then you were obviously "not good" and you get kicked out. I imagine the only reason there is anyone left is because a lot of "bad things" don't get reported and there are people who live in fear that they will. If this is what we are in for, then I am with Mark Twain "Heaven for climate, hell for society." Actually, I think we see a lot of good come out of "bad things that happen to us" and that is a good enough reason not to pay any attention to those who would throw us out. :-) b.

Hey B-
I live one block from virginia beach. What is this place you are talking about? Never heard of it. Unless you mean the Edgar Casey Center. They are not like this though and give a really great massage! There have been goofy rumors about the place though so I wonder if that may be what your speaking of. Id so let me assure you, the place is full of misfits and people with a varity of issues:)

Jeannie

Not the Edgar Casey Center, one of the local churches, sad to say. b.

I agree none of us caused mg. I also agree with what Ross had to say. The mercury is a good example of why we need to avoid certain foods( especially some fish) I also think there are many autoimmune diseases that science has proven to be affected by diet. Diabetes is a good example of this, along with celiacs and crohns disease Diabetes can be controled with a proper diet, but for many, it's easier not to take any responsiblitiy, eat junk and take insulin. This ends up hurting us all, by increasing healthcare costs.My neuro explained it this way. For whatever reason, our immune systems have gone haywire and are overactive. The drugs we take lower it, but also leave us with less defense against illness. What we want to do is regulate our immune systemt, not to be over active or under active. She feels ( as do I) that a healty diet, proper rest, excercise and vitamins when neededcan help do this. I have been making a smoothy, once or twice a day, with almond , soy or coconut milk, and throw in kale,flax seeds frozen fruit, cucumbers,and whatever is hanging around. I live a busy life, and don't always take the time to eat right. It takes 2 minutes to make and I drink it on the way to work. I usually have one in the pm too. I don't consider myself a hippie, just open minded. And now, thanks to B, I make a wonderul healthy sour dough with whole wheat, rye, oatmeal, and flaxseed. I make loaves of bread and make a great crust for my veggie pizza. Will try more recipes from her for sour dough waffles and muffins and whatever she sends my way!

Good for you. I need to follow this example. I think I get overwhelmed and just get apathetic. I have no doubt that all those things will help us with our healthproblems. I just get exausted when I think of changing the whole way I have always lived, cooked, shopped, grown, ect. I think that moderation for me is the way I have to do it. But I sure as heck can do better than what I do now. One thing is true about taking care of yoursself and that is, you haave to have some energy to do it. It's just getting started and having the energy to learn. Learning is work, I just get lazy. Thanks for all the information and all the different points of view. I agree with something from everyone of them. Better go buy me a Ninja, got my mom one for Christmas, she loves it.

Thirteen, I agree it is very overwhelming in the beginning. i took baby steps. i started cooking a large batch of steele cut oarmeal in a crock pot overnight. You can add apples, or whatever. In the morning( on a weekend when I am not rushed) I freeze in those tupperware individual hamburger patty makers. When frozen, i pop out and put in a freezer bag. Then, when i get up, i toss in micro and add whatever, nuts, blueberries, etc. For smoothies, I buy bags of cut up , no sugar fruit from trader joes. They have all kinds, papaya, mango, strawberries, bluberries, cantelope, etc. I freeze slices of banana. You can buy presliced carrots, broccoli, celery, etc. I also pre chop kale, swiss chard and freeze. I'm going to try frozen from the market, just never thought of it before.Cucumber apples(peeled, if not organic),slices of fresh ginger.. experiment Just throw it all in blender with almond, coconut, soy milk. ground flax seed (omega 3) and ice if wanted. I drink this on the way to work. B's bread really overwhelmed me. I was actually getting stressed over screwing it up. Kneading the dough is part of my excersise and stress release that. She helper with all the little tips and problems. I'm glad i stuck with it, but you do need to have time and energy for that. or, in B's case, a hubby that loves to make it.

I am very happy to read ALL your replies. It is a very interesting topic. Thank you. Just one more comment; one example in my mind was on of the first recorded MG patients; he was a Native Chief in 16th century in North America. How many berries too much did he eat?