LDN Video Interviews and Presentations

Kathy - France: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (LDN, low dose naltrexone) from LDN Research Trust on Vimeo.

Linda Elsegood: Today. We have Kathy joining us. Kathy has multiple sclerosis. She's originally from England and now lives in France. Thank you for joining me, Cathy.

Could you tell us how old you were when you first started to experience your MS symptoms? And what did you notice at that time?

Kathy: Well something, I just have a strange sensation down my right-hand side. I'm not completely numb, but just strange, um, tingling almost. And my local doctor, his thought that I had possibly had a mild stroke. So that's why I was taking the hospital immediately. And when they found out it wasn't a stroke, they, um, then went ahead and tested for MS and said that I seemed to have a mild form of MS.

Linda Elsegood: What would you say? Your condition was like before you found LDN.

Kathy: Uh, well, all I had up to that point, as I say, was this, this numbness down the right-hand side, which came and went a little bit, was always there in the extremities, not debilitating, purely sensory didn't really cause me any problems as they only, because I thought it was a stroke that it became a bit of a medical emergency. Um, The doctors here were keen that I started, uh, sorry. My MRI scan did show that I had, uh, one active lesion and the doctors who were keen that I started the DMDs, which I was very keen not to start. Um, and basically stayed off of that. We didn't even entertain the idea until a year later or last March. I had optic neuritis in my left eye, um, which didn't. Totally take away my vision, but a sort of less it blockchain. And then, of course, the doctors started again with, uh, the DMDs, which I'm afraid I have no faith in whatsoever. Um, and I've been reading already about LDN. I'd explored it. Very very, very thoroughly kind of seemed a bit too good to be true.

But I spoke to my local GP here who said his advice was, do not pay the DMDs, but if I wanted to try this, it certainly wouldn't do me any harm. And he was all for it. Although he hadn't heard of it in France for MS at all. There's no information here. It's all. Unfortunately, what was your, your, your, um, Uh, an information sheet is the only information I can get in French.

There's nothing else. It's all. So, um, he was very out for it  and that was that.

Linda Elsegood: And how have you, how long have you been taking LDN?

Kathy: I started last June. Um, I am denied for a while, and it spoke to my family about it because obviously it was a big decision as to did that go down the, um, advisory roots at the property or did I try something? Off-label and all my family were very supportive.

Bearing in mind. I did have mild MS. And apart from the optic neuritis, it hasn't caused me any problems. So I started last year and which is actually only a month after my mother died. It was a very stressful time. And I have been absolutely fine ever since. In fact, I felt better than myself from something years.

Linda Elsegood: Wow. And when you say you felt better than you have for years, could you explain what you mean by that? How you felt. 

Kathy: I started to get, I suppose, fatigue which I put down to being probably premenopausal. Um, but just fatigue. don't know, just not feeling a hundred per cent. 

Um, but I just have energy. I'm enthusiastic. I can take on tasks and finish them without, you know, feeling exhausted halfway through or mentally feeling like I can't do it. I just, I feel good. Basically. I feel 100% almost all of the time, which is probably better than I felt before I was diagnosed.,

Linda Elsegood: you've probably had MS longer than when you were diagnosed,  you know,  that's amazing. Isn't it? How fantastic is that? Oh,

Kathy: absolutely. And I have total faith in the job, and I mean, as far as the neurologists are concerned, that could be the thing. And I said I don't care. To be honest, I don't care what it is. That's making me feel okay. Is if it stops the relapses. Brilliant, um, or, you know, keeps them at Bay for as long as possible. If it makes me feel better or even improves the symptoms where they're all a bonus. Um, really, I'm just trying to do something positive to stop the disease from progressing. But so far, I've been a year without any relapses.

And as I say, feeling great and loving life and living life, not being dragged down by drugs that make me feel horrible.

Linda Elsegood: Wonderful. Well, thank you very much for sharing your inspirational story with us, and we will see what we can do with LDN in France. 

Kathy: Oh, is there anything I can help with? I have, I am rapidly translating bits as badly as I can with range, but I do have a friend who has translated quite a lot from my local neurologist, and I'll be happy to send that information over.

And she, she translated some comprehensive stuff from one of the earlier books. Um, but anything I can do to help, I'm certainly educating the doctors here as best I can.

Linda Elsegood: thank you very much.

 

Any questions or comments you may have, please Contact Us.  I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for joining us today. We really appreciated your company. Until next time, stay safe and keep well.

Kathryn - Wales: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (LDN, low dose naltrexone) from LDN Research Trust on Vimeo.

Kathryn is from Wales, UK and has Multiple Sclerosis (MS), where she was diagnosed at the age of 18, now it is 40 years later.

Symptoms included lots of dizziness, spasms and generally feeling under the weather. At first Kathryn thought it was menopause, but symptoms deteriorated, including her ability to walk.

After her Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis, Kathryn has now been on the Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) medication for nearly two years. With no side effects, LDN has helped Kathryn significantly, she has stopped falling over and now can do more things.

Kathryn advises people to try LDN; saying it has been checked by pharmacists with it being fine. She says it has made her life so much easier

Please watch the video to listen to the whole interview.

Any questions or comments you may have, please contact us.

Kathleen - US: Adhesive Arachnoiditis, 2019 (LDN, low dose naltrexone) from LDN Research Trust on Vimeo.

Linda Elsegood: Today. I'm joined by Kathleen from the United States. Thanks for joining us today, Kathleen. 

Kathleen: Thank you for having me. 

Linda Elsegood: So could you tell us what condition you use LDN for and what that condition actually is? 

Kathleen: I use LDN for Adhesive Arachnoiditis, which is a chronic inflammation of the spinal cord, which is incurable, not reversible and could actually be progressive. And so it is an inflammation that doesn't turn off. 

Linda Elsegood: Okay. I mean, is it an inflammation that causes really bad pain in your back? 

Kathleen: It doesn't cause pain in my back, it does cause really bad pain from my hips to my toes. And that is a pain in the form of neuropathy and the electrical stimulus that can cause sharp bolts of pain. But most of the time, that kind of electric pain. 

Linda Elsegood: So is it really painful if you sit still in the same position for a long time? 

Kathleen: It's painful if I sit still for a long time, if I stand for a long time or if I walk for a long time. 

Linda Elsegood: Hmm. That's interesting. Yes. 

Kathleen: And so, you know, the pain is there and actually caused quite a deterioration in my functional status and I did not find much relief with the narcotics that were offered to me to try and I didn't like the side effects of narcotics. I wanted to maintain as much independence as possible with driving. I wanted cognitive clarity and I wanted more relief from the neuropathy itself. And I was fortunate to have a friend who was a pain doctor, and she said that she had about 80 plus patients on LDN. And so I travelled up to see her three hours North of me, and she introduced me to the concept. And I started it in August of 2016, and I will say that within three days time, I was experiencing significant relief from the neuropathy. 

Linda Elsegood: Wow. And what about the electric pains that you are having, I'm thinking, I mean, I used to have electric shock feelings down my arms. Was it that kind of a thing? And you said bolts of pain. 

Kathleen: Yes, prior to taking the LDN, I was experiencing, especially in my left leg, there was a sense as if my leg was dead or non-existent. And at the same time, I would have bolts of pain,  electric in nature, that would shoot all the way down to my big toe.

And after beginning the LDN, I actually stopped having those bolts of pain. And because I felt like I got my leg back on the LDN, it actually improved my gait so I could walk with a better balance. I was able to stop using my walking poles, which I used most of the time prior to that. And for balance, cause I was falling a lot and once I got on the LDN, I, I actually had better balance. I stopped falling.  

Linda Elsegood: So you had this friend who you went to see now when you first started, what dose did you start on and did you start on liquid or capsules? 

Kathleen: They were capsules. They were compounded by a local pharmacy, old-time pharmacist, who was nearing retirement. So he had been a pharmacist for probably 50 years. And he said, out of the 80 patients that he had coming in for the prescriptions about 75 of them continued to keep coming back in for refills, meaning that it was a very positive experience for them. And he said, I don't know why it works, but sometimes you have to think outside the box.

Linda Elsegood: So what strengths was it? You started on. 

Kathleen: Oh, I'm sorry. I started at 1.5 milligrams, and I took that for, I think up to three weeks, and then she bumped me up to three milligrams again. It was a compounded capsule, and I took that for three to four weeks, and then I got bumped up to 4.5 milligrams and I did fairly well on that, and she said it would be appropriate for you to go up to 6mg if you would like to choose that and if you experience headaches with the LDN, give it a day to three days to see if the headaches abate and, for me, I didn't really have any negative effects from the LDN and 6 milligrams seems to be my sweet spot. So that's what I've been taking for about two years now. 

Linda Elsegood: Okay. So if you were to look at your quality of life on a score of one to 10 before you started, ten being the best, what would it have been?

Kathleen: Oh, boy. I would say the quality of life prior to LDN was maybe at a four, because the pain was significant, my functional status was very poor, I had to, of course, retire from my employment and it cut down on being out and about and socializing. Pain is very fatiguing and it also kind of flattens out your creativity, you know, et cetera.

Cause I am also an artist as well as a marriage and family therapist and end of life care, and so 4 would probably be pretty fair. Once I started on the LDN and I got relief from the pain and I started walking better and I had more energy - I wasn't using my walking poles. I got to resume my volunteer work, which I enjoy quite a bit.

I got to return to my pottery studio which is a great joy for me. And I was able to socialize more often, more comfortably, and plus my functional status at home improved to the point where I went back to gardening, which I love. And, you know, helping out with the projects that we had ongoing in our home life.

Linda Elsegood: Wow. But what number would you put it on today? Your quality of life? Ten being the best. 

Kathleen: I would say eight. That's how much I have improved with the LDN. 

Linda Elsegood: And what are your pain levels like now would you say? With, I mean, obviously sleeping, I would imagine had been a problem, and you're standing and sitting and so on. Are you able to do that for longer periods of time before the pain appears or doesn't the pain appear now? 

Kathleen: The pain is, you know, I still have some neuropathy.  I also take Gabapentin and Baclofen for muscle spasticity. I think the greatest assist that I've gotten is through the LDN. And I got just a little bit of a sidetrack question. So could you please ask that again? 

Linda Elsegood: the pain that you had, I mean, does it cause you any issues with sleeping, you know, staying in the same place for too long at night or sitting or standing for too long? 

Kathleen: Actually my sleep is improved quite a bit and I'm able to stand longer and sit longer.

As I said before, my stamina has improved. And with the neuropathic pain, I still have symptoms. They're much more tolerable. I also, because I can engage in more meaningful activity outside the home, of course, that's a great distractor. So it makes pain take a secondary part of my attention.

And I also practice meditation or mindfulness, which is another significant assist for me in managing, you know, the pain or discomfort. 

Linda Elsegood: And do you take any supplements to help reduce the inflammation? 

Kathleen: I actually take diclofenac, which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory. And that helps me with my arthritic pain, which is one of the issues that I had way back in the beginning, I had adult-onset scoliosis at age 50, so I was fused from T8 to S1. And as a result, I also had to have a hip replacement in 2010 about six months later. And so the diclofenac helps reduce the arthritic pain, the gabapentin and the Baclofen also assist. But that is basically all I'm taking.  

Linda Elsegood: Well, thank you so much, Kathleen, for sharing your story with us today I'm sure that's going to help other people with a similar condition. 

Kathleen: Yes, I, I really appreciate you having me on as an interviewee. The adhesive Arachnoiditis, it seems to be a condition that affects many and I don't think it's as well known by the medical community as it should be. And in fact, I had troubles with the doctor who knew I had it. And the only reason that I found out was procuring my medical records and reading it and then having to bring it up to him. And so I would encourage any doctors who have an awareness of this, please talk with your patients because I think improving communication about this condition, and also bringing LDN out as an option, is going to be one of the most effective ways for people to regain as much functional status as they can with this condition.

So thank you so much for allowing me to be on your show. 

Linda Elsegood: You're welcome. And before we go, is there a group that people could join? Do you know anywhere? 

Kathleen: For arachnoiditis? There is a group, there is a group on Facebook, and it's actually a UK based group for arachnoiditis. There are a number of them and the group from the UK is the one that I seem to have the most commonality with.  And so you learn quite a bit about how to function with the disease, how to rise above it. You know, with your attitude and your perception of it so that you can have the optimal life experience. But this group has the ability to, you know, people give each other support and they give each other encouragement, and they also, you know, cheer each other on.  But they also honour the challenge that we all go through with this condition. And, you know, having that kind of community makes it feel less lonely because it can be a very isolating experience. 

Linda Elsegood: Having someone to talk to who understands, who's walked in your shoes really does help doesn’t it? 

Kathleen: It really does. And you know arachnoiditis because it can be progressive. There are people who certainly end up in wheelchairs. Sometimes it's wheelchairs, and sometimes it's bed-bound. And so it can be a progressive condition, which is quite frightening. And this group has been my primary source of inspiration and support and encouragement, and I would applaud all of them for their courage and their resiliency in dealing with the condition that's quite challenging.

Linda Elsegood: Well, we've run out of time, so thank you Kathleen, and long may your success remain, and I might get to see you in Wisconsin. 

Kathleen: All right. Thank you so much, Linda, and I look forward to future encounters with you. Take care. Bye-bye.

Linda Elsegood: This show is sponsored by our members who made donations. We'd like to give them a very big thank you. We have to cover the monthly costs of the radio station, software, bandwidth, phone lines, and phone calls to be able to continue with the radio show, and thank you for listening.

Any questions or comments you may have, please email me at Linda@ldnrt.org I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for joining us today. We really appreciated your company. Until next time, stay safe and keep well.

Katherine - Spain: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (LDN, low dose naltrexone) from LDN Research Trust on Vimeo.

Katherine from Spain shares her Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) story on the LDN Radio Show with Linda Elsegood.

Katherine was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2000 but had been experiencing issues with her vision for many months prior. Following her diagnosis, however, her symptoms worsened, leading to episodes that would occur once every six weeks leaving her unable to see and move.

The steroid treatment she was being prescribed at the time only served to worsen her health, which her husband noticed. He began searching for alternative treatments which is when they found Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN).

Upon starting LDN, Katherine begin to feel better within a matter of days having also experienced an usual side effect of vivid dreams. Her bladder issues had stopped and she felt almost 100% again.

This is a summary of Katherine’s interview. Please listen to the rest of Katherine’s story by clicking on the video above.

Kate - US: Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Feb 2013 (LDN, low dose naltrexone) from LDN Research Trust on Vimeo.

Kate from the United States was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2004 at the age of 54. She experienced severe back pain, enough to put her in a wheelchair. After wrongfully diagnosing Kate with a trapped nerve in the neck, and operations cancelled, they found a lesion.

After searching the internet for medication that wasn’t Copaxone, she found Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). Kate was prescribed it by her specialist neurologist and has been taking the medication for eleven months; noticing improvements in her fatigue and saying she feels stronger. It has allowed Kate to return to work after many years off. Initially, once upping the dosage to 4.5mm, she felt stiffer, so consequently lowered it down to 3.5mm.

Kate urges people that are debating trying LDN, to “give it a shot” and talks about the fact the medication is affordable.

This is a summary to listen to the entire interview by click the video link.

Kat - US: Fibromyalgia, Interstitial Cystitis, RA, Pain (LDN, low dose naltrexone) from LDN Research Trust on Vimeo.

Kat from the United States shares her story of how low dose naltrexone (LDN) has helped her with fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions, including interstitial cystitis, arthritis, and a displaced SI joint.

Kat first developed fibromyalgia, arthritis, and interstitial cystitis in the years following an automobile accident in February of 2004. Her symptoms include extreme fatigue, constant headaches, different odd pains that would come at random, as well as bladder and gastrointestinal problems. She learned about Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) while searching for treatments for her fibromyalgia. She brought the information packet about LDN to her doctors, who prescribed it for her as it seemed like it was unlikely to do any harm, and it could help her condition.

When she began taking LDN, any side effects were very very slight compared to the reactions she had to other medications her doctors had prescribed. She had a little stomach disturbance and some strange dreams, but those side effects were very short-lived. 

LDN has given Kat decent sleep, a lot more energy now that she’s off narcotics, and she has a clearer mind. Her pain is very much reduced and much more manageable than before. She knows that the LDN provides significant relief because about a month ago, she forgot to put the LDN in her pill organizer, and within three days without LDN, she felt terrible. And not only is the LDN helping with her various pains, but she’s also been sick much less often.

Kat started at 1.5 mg per night, and gradually increased her dosage to 4.5 mg each night. However, she has found that her best dosage is 4.5 mg morning and evening. Kat notes that while she felt a difference on LDN fairly quickly, some people take longer, even months to feel better, so it’s best to be patient when you start taking Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN).

This has been a summary of Kat’s interview. For the whole story, please listen to our recording at the link provided above.

Karen - England: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (LDN, low dose naltrexone) from LDN Research Trust on Vimeo.

Karen from England takes LDN for multiple sclerosis (MS), where she was diagnosed in  November 2006. She had difficulty walking and falling over, as well as bladder problems. Karen first started using steroids at the beginning, but then went on straight to Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) medication; where she hast had many problems since!

She rated her quality of life a 7 when the pain and problems began, but now rates it an 8/10.

Karen heard about LDN online, unfortunately her Neurologist would not prescribe Karen with the LDN medication, which she has now successfully been taking for 18 months. 

Karen had no side effects on the LDN medication, but now realises she dreams a lot.

Karen advises people to go for LDN, she feels as though it does no one any harm, and does the world of good! She has even called it a “Wonder Drug!”

To view the whole story, please follow the link.

Any questions or comments you may have, please contact us. 

Karalyn - New Zealand: Myasthenia Gravis (LDN, low dose naltrexone) from LDN Research Trust on Vimeo.

Karalyn from New Zealand shares her Myasthenia Gravis and Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) story. 

Karalyn started getting symptoms of weakness in her legs to begin with and she suffered from unexplained fatigue, her doctors treated her for Fibromyalgia initially but the medication made her worse. Karalyn saw a few neurologists while trying to get a real diagnosis but they still weren’t sure what was going on - this went on for years. Her eyelids were drooping and her speech became slurred. 

Eventually, she got a diagnosis of probable Myasthenia Gravis. Karalyn researched herself, listened to other people’s experiences and eventually found Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). 

Karalyn took her first dose of 1 mg and woke up the next morning feeling virtually normal again. She increased her dose as directed and says that her progress was absolutely amazing and she had no side effects at all from LDN other than a couple of nights of vivid dreams and disturbed sleep but that passed quickly. 

Karalyn got her life back after taking Low Dose Naltrexone and is very grateful that she found it. 

 

Linda Elsegood: I'd like to welcome Kaija from Germany. And Kaia has multiple sclerosis. Would you like to tell us your story, Kaia?

Kaija: Oh, hello? Hello. Uh, but I had my first symptoms here in Germany, and it was just after I left school. Um, and, and the sort of, you know, stuff handy for stuff in your life.

Um, and, uh, that's how. Turned out

Linda Elsegood: what symptoms. Did you have at that time?

Kaija: Um, I had, uh, my very first symptoms, uh, was, uh, a numb area around my backside. It's really difficult to explain. Isn't it? Um, yeah. And then, um, I went to doctors, and they couldn't find anything. At first. And, uh, then, uh, I had the move to England, and of course, it was, um, quite an exciting time and, uh, you know, really unsettled and, uh, Uh, I then had, uh, many more symptoms and there weren't kind of symptoms like in the book. I could walk very well. My, uh, my sense of balance when, uh, the, um, couldn't really walk stairs very well. Um, what else? Anything I had just about everything. In the book, it was very easy. And I went to a doctor, and he'd known MS.

You had patients before. And he said, well, that looks very much like he was honest about us, which I'm very happy about. 

Linda Elsegood: so how old were you at that time?

Kaija: 21

Linda Elsegood: And how that affects you emotionally?

Kaija: I was devastated, you know, I was just about to start a new life.

I just finished school, you know, uh, and you know, I was going to embark on a new life. Now with my partner at the time. Yeah.

Linda Elsegood: So where did you go from there? I mean, you were diagnosed, and you had all these awful symptoms.

Kaija: I stayed at home for a while. I didn't do much, but after about a year, I decided to go to college.

Right. Uh, and, um, uh, And I had this idea. I wanted to study fashion and fashion design, and I went to college and right.

Linda Elsegood: So were you given any medication at that time? Uh,

Kaija: I can't remember? I think so.

Linda Elsegood: Did your MS . Progressed from there or did it, was it relapsing and remitting?

Kaija: um. For a while. Yeah, it was sort of the first year, uh, it happened quite often and, uh, and then the photos tape it down, you know, and it went into, uh, sort of secondary progressive offers out, you know?

Linda Elsegood: So what were you suffering with? You said everything in the book. I mean,

Kaija: I can, I can read out because I broke down a few notes. Okay. Uh, my, my business was affected my balance, my coordination. I felt numbness in some parts of the body. Um, my speech was affected, which was very handy as I, uh, sometimes in language, school talk. And, uh, it's was a bit difficult time, uh, anyway, uh, my walking, um, that's about mainly what was, yeah.

Linda Elsegood: Yeah. What about your bowel and bladder were they, okay.

Kaija: Um, my bladder is in fact, uh, I, if it was at that time as well.

Linda Elsegood: What about fatigue?

Kaija: Yes.

Linda Elsegood: Okay. So life was quite difficult. I take it for you.

Kaija: Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And they end up the first year. But after that, uh, it's sort of, yeah. You know, as you know, you know, kind of seems to disappear and you keep on hoping that it does.

And uh, you know? Yeah.

Linda Elsegood: So when did it start to come back again?

Kaija: Uh, late run-up after about five years.

Linda Elsegood: Right. And then what Happened?

Kaija: Um, Hmm, hang on. Let me think. Uh, I've gone back to Germany. I started work. Yes. I was at work for a few years, and everything seemed to be fine then. And, uh, then I, uh, I felt weaker, you know, my fatigue set in and of course, uh, I worked full time. Which was a, it hard for that. Um, later on I started taking time off.

Yeah. I spent my holidays to be ill, but you know, I never really went away or anything out of work sort of four days a week or something.

Linda Elsegood:  what were your symptoms like before you found LDN that they all come back game?

Kaija: Um, well when, um, Hmm, the LDN was a lot later, you know, I found out about 2004. Which was, uh, quite a long time after I fought for the, you must, you know, I started in 1980, so 24 years later.

Um, so I actually write about it, uh, in, in your magazine, right? Uh, uh, and, uh, And in fact, it was, my husband was and said, well, why don't you have a go and try? I said, well, you know, I don't keep trying and hoping that things go back to normal or anything, you know, sort of, uh, I lived life, Metro factually sort of thing, you know, you know, try to, um, Within the boundaries of this illness.

Linda Elsegood:  what were you like at that point?

Kaija: Oh yeah. That's what you want to know. Yeah. Sorry. I'm sorry. Um, well mainly affected by the fatigue. Um, my walking wasn't very good. Yeah. Which isn't very much now. Because I don't walk at all. I use a wheelchair. yeah, and the, the coordination, you know, the hands, I've always been very good with my hands and artistic and everything. And the fact that anymore.

Linda Elsegood: Yeah. Upsetting then, isn't it. When something, you know? Yeah. It's on him anymore. so your husband tried to get you to take LDN. What happens? How did you manage to obtain it?

Kaija: It's really good. Mmm. Um, I feel stronger. Sorry.

Linda Elsegood: Sorry. How did you manage to get the prescription?

Kaija: Um, I've got a friend doctor. No, my husband's got a friend who's a doctor. Right. Who agreed to prescribe it for me.

Linda Elsegood: Was it easy to obtain the LDN in Germany?

Kaija: Yes. Yeah. Right. You know, we have heroin addicts here as well, so, you know, they pay cause don't, they.

Well, they take it in

Linda Elsegood:  So, um, what were your symptoms? Did you have any initial side effects when you started taking

Kaija: Netherlands? It's wonderful. And in fact, I, uh, I picked off my MF friend. We live quite far away, but, uh, uh, I, I, I told her about this, and she's tried it, and she's feeling much better as well.

So because we're both sorts of a 30 year, um, experience, uh, I miss people. So, um, it's really great.

Linda Elsegood: So what did you find it did for you?

Kaija: Um, Well, I feel stronger and, uh, feel well, you know, when your sense of balance is better, and when it wasn't, you feel more grounded, you know, um, Even though I can't walk. I think, but if I, if I say help, I can say top without holding on.

Right. You know, that sort of thing, that, that wasn't like that all the time. So it helps, uh, it's improving my bladder control, physical things, dental, well being, uh, wrote down. Basically, the nation. My handwriting is legible now. Oh,

sorry.

Linda Elsegood: So your handwriting is better.

Kaija: yeah, it's, it's metrical now it doesn't even look that bad. 

Linda Elsegood: So would you be able to draw again

Kaija: now? Yes, I do. Do you? Yeah. Well,

Linda Elsegood: fantastic.

Linda Elsegood: So that must be quite a lift for you.

So you, um, will be continued taking indefinitely?

Kaija: definitely. Yeah. And I've, I think I've taken it four or five years now. Seven years.

Linda Elsegood: Seven years. Well, that's good.

Linda Elsegood: So what would you say to other people in Germany who would

Kaija: have a go

Linda Elsegood: and how easy and how easy do you think it would be for them in Germany to obtain a prescription?

Kaija: Well, if you have a front of Patrick doctor, uh, it works, but you know how you can get it. Uh, if even any other doctor can prescribe it for you. So you could ask your friendly dentist to prescribe it for you. Okay.

Any a doctor can, can, you know, and in fact, uh, some I, um, I joined some, um, Uh, the cold and internet type.

Yes, you're in Germany. Uh, and some, some somebody says, why don't you try your dentist? You know, my dentist is my friend, and I asked him, and he did, you know, so I thought that's a good idea. I have to try. Yeah. So I tried, and I got a prescription, so it's no problem.

Good. Well,

Linda Elsegood: is there anything else you'd like to add?

Kaija: Mmm, no. I can only for commend to have a go. Is it, is it really, if it's my a friend who tried  it she calls it a wonder drug.

Linda Elsegood: maybe you could ask your friend if she'd like to share her story with us.

Kaija: I thought I could ask her,

Linda Elsegood: does she speak English?

Kaija: Um, I think so.

Linda Elsegood: Okay. Well,

Kaija: I'm not sure whether she feels, uh, she feels she can do it well enough, but I can let her know.

Linda Elsegood: Okay. Well, thank you very much for sharing your story with us.

Kaija: Thanks very much for letting me, Ferris.

Linda Elsegood: Thank you. Okay. And Kaija, before you go, um, if anybody in Germany wants to talk to somebody in Germany, who's taking LDN. Would you be willing to do that?

Kaija: Oh, yes. Yes.

Linda Elsegood: Okay. That would be

Kaija: great. Yeah.

Linda Elsegood: Thank you very much.

Any questions or comments you may have, please contact us. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for joining us today. We really appreciated your company. Until next time, stay safe and keep well.

Justin - Scotland: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (LDN, low dose naltrexone) from LDN Research Trust on Vimeo.

Linda Elsegood: Justin, from Scotland who uses LDN for multiple sclerosis.

Justin: Thanks. No problem.

Linda Elsegood: Could you tell us your MS. Story when you first got sick?

Justin:  It is the way I first got sick. It was probably noticed about when I was 30 but 15 years ago, but now they can hide it maybe ten years before that. And that was five. I was falling every day.

I was dropping things. I couldn't talk, I couldn't walk the answer myself. I couldn't walk no a hundred yards. I couldn’t walk a hundred yards without having to take her a rest. Basically, my life was not very good.

Linda Elsegood: you had to rate your quality of life at that time on a score of one to 10, 10 being best, what would it have been?

Justin: That was not a good place mentally and physically. So I would say it was as low as one. Really.

Linda Elsegood: What would a typical day have been like for you at that time?

Justin: Typical day would be waking up, open my eyes. Dreading the day, just not looking forward to getting up too, because I leave to talk to people. I know I relate to confess, but I couldn't, I couldn't do it so I can add shied away.

I had aware when we inside myself and I just, wasn't looking for me to get up just get up forcing myself to get our show on a wash and a shave some days then haven't. But. Most days, but it wasn't very good. And

Linda Elsegood: how did you hear about LDN? 

Justin: about an LDN in 2010. I got the result. I can't remember this neurologist named miss Southern general.

And she said there was no SPMS and it was on a slide, and it would probably be 18 months to two years and maybe be in a chair. So she recommended that I should go and. Reclaim my benefits because I was getting worse and it was while I was reclaiming my benefits, it was a total chance. The ghetto there was had to rate the forum for me because I couldn't even write, I couldn't even hold a pen.

And then she asked me what I was on and I said nothing. I say I want me to inject myself with Avonex twice a week to try and slow down the relapses. And she just. Last mission CDW. They're not trying to LDN. This is what the heck. No, I held her up, and she said, that's what I'm on. So it took me to go and to go and reclaim, to find out about that, which was fantastic.

And since then changed my life.

Linda Elsegood: Totally. Wow. was it easy getting a prescription?

Justin: Not from my own GP. I just met the one GP that knew me for 35 years would not write me a prescription for it. And in other GPS on the practice, all I'd done was I just went to our practice. We had a new that the people gotta get an LDN from.

So all I've done is made them an appointment to see the doctor at a specific doctor. And then. I think it was in 10 minutes, they took my blood pressure and looked me up a prescription.

Linda Elsegood: Wonderful. When you first started, did you notice any side effects?

Justin: Not one only one side effect of hiding. I tell people is complacency thinking that I'm not, not well it's what can not, well, I don't think I've got MS.

She honestly, that is just, it's been, I don't run about the house. Things like that, that you, you, you know, you shouldn't be doing, you shouldn't be able to do button by doing them again. So

Linda Elsegood: what's the typical day for you? Like now?

Justin: It's a typical day. I'm up at half-past five. I'm up. I walk every single day, every single day.

If I've not got my grandson, I'm working in a national park, my volunteer park ranger. National park. Which is a fine task, the best thing that's ever happened to me? And it's all. Thanks to LDN.

Linda Elsegood: You were telling me before we started that you wouldn't have been able to even hold your grandson, let alone look after him.

Justin: No, no, I wouldn't. I couldn't. I couldn't. My balance was don't have it. 65%. I was fallen asleep every tongue, every time I couldn't walk and look up at the same time. I had to, you know, I wasn't a very good place, but holding my son is just if anybody's got grandkids, they all know how to see. It was

Linda Elsegood: definitely well, that's amazing. What would you say to other people who are thinking of trying LDM it may be a little bit.

Justin: Okay. Can you give it a go? If you don't give it a go, you'll never know and sort of shake off. I've recommended a SABIC. That's probably about 20, you know, people run the boat, I have come to me, and I've never told anybody to buy, rate this and get online.

You can get up and go. I've told anybody to go through a doctor, find a doctor, that'll write you a prescription. And if it doesn't work for you, you're only going to lose 18 pounds, 50 nothing else, no side effects. Well, I personalized my, just my story. I have no side effects. Yeah. Tell everybody, go for it.

Nothing to lose and so much to gain.

Linda Elsegood: So did, what did I ask you? What your quality of life is like now on the score of one to 10

Justin:  it's beyond 10. It's wow. That's exactly. Yes. It's my life, as I'm using right now. Well really

Linda Elsegood: long. May it continue and thank you very much for sharing your amazing inspirational story with us, and being a ranger up in Scotland must be really wow. We'll have to get you to take some photographs.

Justin: Yeah. If you go onto my Facebook page, you'll see some pictures that I've put on already, and every day I'm up, I'm going to try and put some more on it.

Linda Elsegood: Oh, okay. Thank you very much, Justin.

Justin: No problem. Thank you very much.

Linda Elsegood: I'd like to introduce Justin's mother Elizabeth, um, who wants to share her experience that she's observed Justin taking LDN for multiple sclerosis. Thank you for joining me, Elizabeth. Welcome.

Linda Elsegood: Could you tell us what you noticed when Justin started to take LDN?

Elizabeth: I noticed that he, it could stand outright and could walk. So, so to stick, it could speak besides letting his words and the main, he was just almost back to normal.

Linda Elsegood: Wow. That's amazing. He was telling me that he helps look after his grandson.

Elizabeth: Yes. He looks after his grandson two days a week for about five or six hours.

Linda Elsegood: Well, that's amazing. Isn't it? Could you explain what Justin was like before he started out at the end,

Elizabeth: before he started LDN and had no sense of balance,  it was bumping into roles, and his legs were terrible.

Could hardly hold a pen. He couldn't write his name. Um, my husband and I were looking to get him off a wheelchair. It couldn't go out. So they had a staff, they took with them everywhere, and they had to walk near places like with railings or roles to hold onto and crossing the road was a nightmare for him because he couldn't keep his balance to Tommy's head.

Both ways to check. It was just, and not Justin. And since LDN, we've got Justin back,

Linda Elsegood: that's amazing. And it's very difficult for a parent to watch your child, regardless of what age you are, um, to actually be helpless, isn't it, you know, and I can understand from my parent's point of view when they saw me.

Uh, in a similar position to Justin, it's not easy. Is it from a parent's point of view?

Elizabeth: Devastating, especially since he, he fell and work one morning and buying cheese heads and put them in the brain and we thought we were going to lose him and luckily we didn't.

Linda Elsegood: yes. So, how would you like to sum up your views of LDM

Elizabeth: Amazing.

Linda Elsegood: Well, thank you very much for sharing that with us. It is with this. I really do appreciate it.

Any questions or comments you may have, please Contact Us.  I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for joining us today. We really appreciated your company. Until next time, stay safe and keep well.