Perhaps this is a bit premature to respond to the forum, but I have been ingesting the "protocol" for ten days. I've also been on Plaquenil for three and a half weeks, so I'm not sure which improvements are related to either. I have a feeling that most of it is related to Plaquenil.
My fatigue is greatly reduced. I am not 100% what I used to be, but I'm sure much better than five months ago. I actually drove from Vermont to New York City today which is a five-hour drive, including stops for lunch and dog walking. At no time was I ever in brain fog or "swirl" as I used to call it. In fact, for the past several months, my bridge partners ( hence my user name Lindabridge), wondered what was wrong with me. For those who are duplicate bridge players, you know that when you are the dummy, you are not expected or permitted to speak, but as my partners said, "you shouldn't be in a coma." That's what was happening to me every afternoon right after lunch.
Anyway, my peripheral neuropathy in my fingers has disappeared. I'm not sure whether this is due to Plaquenil or the protocol, or to Vitamin D, or Vitamin B12. My rheumy ordered a slew of blood tests, and I was low in Vitamin D. I knew this years ago, and sort of got lazy about taking it the past few months because of all the other meds I was taking. I also read that if you are taking acid-reducing meds, they can interfere with your body's ability to metabolize Vitamin B12 and/or D, and this can cause peripheral neuropathy. So, I am making sure that I don't miss my daily doses of either of them.
My burning and stinging dry eyes are not flaring all day as they used to. For a few hours during the day, I actually feel nothing in my eyes! I am still using Restates and occasional OTC drops. It's so tiring to have to attend to your body all day long. I'm sure many of you understand exactly what I'm saying.
Now, for Chris's protocol: I modified it a bit by increasing the amount of L-Glutamine because it may be the most important amino acid in the healing of the leaky gut. Otherwise, I take it once a day as a morning drink with juice. I have not noticed any adverse side effects. The worse that can be said is that NOTHING is happening as a result of the protocol. But, since I have these enormous containers of white powders in my kitchen, prompting my husband to think that I am either a drug addict or a witch, I will continue with this effort to battle Sjogrens as best as I can. Chris said it took months for the protocol to kick in.
I still have swollen submandibular glands, and intermittent inflammation in my knees on a rainy day. Dry days are the best for me.
My ophthalmologist said my corneas look good, and I can feel comfortable taking Plaquenil as long as I am monitored regularly. I do that anyway. I will continue using both the traditional and alternative medicine and will update you as time goes by.
