Why is my symptoms more intense
after exposure to Light & / or Vitamin D ?

People with significant Th1 inflammatory illnesses are often sun and bright light sensitive. Sun and bright light affects their disease symptoms, even if they haven't been aware of this before. ...

There is no typical length of time between excess sun exposure and a symptom flare. Some will feel the effects within an hour or two while others may not experience an increase in symptoms for a day or longer.

Symptoms in response to sun light exposure are not due to an increase in antibiotic potency or an increase in immunopathology. They are caused by a rapid increase in 1,25-D and the hormonal shift this causes.

Light falling on the eyes may cause neurological symptoms such as fatigue, iriitability, aggressiveness, lack of concentration, brain fog, photosensitivity, transient loss of memory, mood swings, confusion, anxiety, anger, neurosis and even psychotic symptoms.

Immunopathology or the reaction from killing bacteria, causes a rise in 1,25D (which is an add on to the light effect)

Hypersensitivities to sunlight usually occur only during the first 1-2 years of recovery and primarily in folks with extensive Th1 inflammation. We do not currently believe that exposure to sunlight, even though it raises the level of 1,25-D (and may raise the level of 25-D), causes a significant retardation of the bacterial killing or inhibits overall long-term healing, as long as the patient’s level of 25-D is maintained below 12ng/ml.

Photosensitivity symptoms can occur within minutes and up to 3 days after exposure. Those pursuing the MP who expose themselves to the outdoors or to natural and fluorescent light indoors will soon know if they can tolerate light, and to what degree, based on their symptoms. Therefore, it is important that folks learn to differentiate between immunopathology symptoms and their photosensitivity symptoms because reducing light exposure may be necessary for some to control photosensitivity symptoms.

... every time I went out in the sun or had anything with high D I would go hyperthyroid (with the full range of those symptoms), and when it settled down and converted again, would go hypothyroid (with about half of those).

"The short-term consequences of Th1s not wearing adequate eye protection will be an increase in neurological symptoms caused by stimulation of the amygdalla in the brain. These neurological symptoms include fatigue, iriitability, aggressiveness, lack of concentration, brain fog, photosensitivity, transient loss of memory, mood swings, confusion, anxiety, anger, neurosis and even psychosis."

Benicar 40mg x 4hrly x time (as explained above) can lower the 1,25D to relieve immunopathology and light symptoms.

There is an excellent low cost alternative (to expensive Zeise lenses) made by
NoIR (no InfrRed) Medical Technologies. Their nonprescription sunglasses are very inexpensive, have a patented coating to protect from infrared rays and are designed to be worn with or without prescription glasses, depending on the size you buy.

Their most basic style, called fit-overs, is in the middle below but they also have a style called Spectrashield which are a little less bulky, slightly more attractive, much more durable and come in both fitovers and non-fitovers.

Sunglasses from NoIR are available in a variety of filters for different opthalmic conditions. You will need the types that attenuate infrared rays as well as visible and UV light. The NoIR representatives are very familiar with the needs of Marshall Protocol patients and can assist you over the phone in selecting the correct style and lenses.

1-800-521-9746 and told the sales rep that I need them for the MP.
She asked what state I was in, then gave me a BIG discount, Low Vision price is what she called it.

The lenses from the "Amber" range are required because they block blue light, attenuate visible light the best and block more energy.

Be sure to mention that you saw their website and you will get a 10% discount. Please be advised that NoIR is experiencing "growing pains", some of the more popular lenses/sizes/style are on back order and it may take a few weeks to get your sunglasses. So be sure to order them as soon as possible.

Benicar, Where do I get it?

MP Site Thread:
THE MARSHALL PROTOCOL > ABOUT THE MARSHALL PROTOCOL > ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MP (Required Reading) > BENICAR: Where to purchase Benicar for self-pay members.

In different Countries, Olmesartan medoxomil (brand name Benicar) is available in the varied names of Benicar, Votum, Olmetec, Olmesartan..

Label for Benicar/Ol, 11 page description
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2003/03Feb_PI/Benicar_PI.pdf

There is nothing that can substitute for Benicar.
It is unique in its ability to deal with immune disease. You might print out our paper at JOIMR, at this link:
http://www.joimr.org/phorum/read.php?f=2&i=53&t=53

The RIGHT kind of BENICAR
There are two types of Benicar and it is CRITICAL that you have the right kind, which is just plain Benicar:
40 mg tabs have C-15 written on them
20 mg tabs have C-14 written on them

There is also a form of Benicar which includes Hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), a diuretic.
You do NOT want this kind.

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) is too hard on the kidneys and liver, and these are organs were people with Th1 disease may have undetected problems. You can read the precautions about HCT on the internet drug index.

minimum 4 tablets per day for a month is 120 tablets per month with extras for sun exposure or herxing = maybe 140 tablets per month

BENICAR: Where to purchase Benicar for self-pay members, Canada link
http://www.internationalpharmacy.com
(special note to Canadians: special rx not needed as Benicar is not on schedule F)

This pharmacy sells generics just over their cost!!!
http://www.marshallprotocol.com/forum11/5016.html

Obtaining Benicar in CANADA
Both time release and regular Benicar available. see FAQ re recommendation to order some of each.
=========

La Pharmacie Obonsoins
Mr. Yetvart Paylan
8897 Boul. Lajeunesse
Montréal, Québec
H2M 1R8 CANADA
tel: 514-382-5921
fax: 514-382-5415
tollfree: 1-877-282-5921
E-mail: yetvart@hyperidrosis.com
Website: http://www.hyperidrose.com/index_en.htm
Fax prescription form, call and confirm receipt and provide credit card detail, mail original prescription form.

=========

The Glebe Pharmasave Apothecary Pharmacy
778 Bank Street Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 3V6
Tel: (613) 234-8587
Fax: (613) 236-0393
Toll Free 1-800-461-4697
Fax Toll Free 1-877-504-5995
http://www.glebe-apothecary.com/
They will also compound your MP antibiotics into the dosages you need, if your doc writes it on the script.

Helping Patients Web site, http://www.helpingpatients.org.
Many prescription drug companies are willing to assist people who lack prescription drug coverage, can't afford to pay for medication out-of-pocket, or have exhausted their insurance's annual allowance. However, the programs have strict qualification standards and can be located without charge on the Helping Patients Web site.

If, however, you do not feel well enough to track down the details to qualify for each of these medications yourself, you may want to consider using the following program which has received excellent reviews in major/reputable press:
http://www.freemedicineprogram.com/.
They charge a nominal fee of $10 per medication to prepare the paperwork to provide to your doctor to submit to the pharmaceutical company.

2007-04-29 How do I get Benicar? -- Reply
Ruth Goold, Member in Phase 2
Joined: Thu Oct 19th, 2006
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia Canada

Benicar is called olmesartan in Canada and available only from pharmacies in Ontario and Quebec. Fortunately, it is legal for pharmacies in Qebec to fill precriptions from anywhere in Canada. You will need to order your olmesartan from Yetvart at his Montreal pharmacy.

It is a good idea to get a six-month prescription (rx) from your doctor.
You will need to fax Yetvart the rx, your credit card number and mailing address. You can request him to fill the first month's supply ($125 plus ~$15 shipping Xpress Post). Then you mail him the original rx and request that he fill each month's supply by email (i.e. send him an email each month). I have received three months of shipments now with no problem - they come very quickly (within the week) but I waited to start the MP for a month so that I always have a month's supply in hand even as I am ordering my next batch. Perhaps that is overdoing the caution a bit (I had other reasons to delay starting), but I would suggest keeping at least two weeks supply on hand.

If your doctor does not specify, Yetvart will fill the prescription with the timed-release (TR) form of olmesartan which seems to work fine. However, you may want to have your doctor request some non-TR pills as well, in case you need extra olmesartan to deal with adverse responses to light and immunopathology.

2007-04-30 Can Telmisartan be used for Benicar? -- Reply
Ruth Goold, Member in Phase 2
Joined: Thu Oct 19th, 2006
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia Canada

Yes, it would be nice if the olmesartan was covered by BC medical.
According to the MP no other ARB (including telmisartan - micardis) is effective.
Here is the info that Trevor put on the MP site:
Benicar (olmesartan) belongs to a class of medication called Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs for short).

Benicar is the only ARB recommended for use on the Marshall Protocol.

Other medications in this class include:
Diovan (Valsartan)
Avapro (Irbesartan)
Micardis (Telmisartan)
Cozaar (Losartan)
Atacand (Candesartan)
Teveten (Eprosartan)

"I was never able to get Atacand to work.
There are other ARBs available which will work marginally better (Diovan/Avapro), but none of them are anywhere near as good as Benicar.

I wrote a paper explaining some of the reasons why,
http://www.joimr.org/phorum/read.php?f=2&i=53&t=53
but the most likely reason is even more complex than the science in this paper.

The only ARB which works well enough to induce remission is Benicar.
The reasons for this are complex, beyond the comprehension of the average physician."

Minocycline is the generic name for an antibiotic in the tetracycline family.

Minocin, Akamin, Alti-Minocycline, Apo-Minocycline, Dynacin, Minomycin, Novo-minocycline and PMS-Mincocycline are all trade/brand names of the same medication.

It is fine to use the generic form, minocycline, which is also the cheapest.

It is also okay to use a brand name form of minocycline. For those with sensitive tummies, the brand name Minocin is said to provide a better rate of absorption from the GI tract when taken with food. You may also take generic minocycline with food to decrease stomach upset. Taking the generic form on an empty stomach will speed the absorption.

Either way, if you are consistent with the product and taking it with or without food, you will achieve the same slow ramping and killing of bacteria at different serum levels of minocycline.

How do I divide the minocycline when the capsules only come in 50mg?
CAUTION: Please be sure to be measuring the dose carefully, shaking the FULL contents of the capsule right out to divide accurately..

2007-04-29 Reply
Ruth Goold, Member in Phase 2
Joined: Thu Oct 19th, 2006
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia Canada

The capsule form of minocycline is fine - I wouldn't go to too much trouble looking for tablets. You can have a compunding pharmacy divide the capsules for you but this expensive and the drug is cheap. I just threw away the extra 25 mg resulting from dividng the 50 mg capsules in half to start with, but now have obtained some empty capsules from another drug store (the first store was worried about me dividing my own pills).

Vitamin-D testing
MDS Burnaby Reference Laboratory
3680 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 4V8
Main Switchboard 604-431-5005
Within B.C. call no charge 1-800-663-9422
Kevin

I assume that you are talking about the freezing of the 1,25 D sample for transport? If you are using an MDS Metro Lab, the test is run in the Victoria regional lab for all of BC. MDS beleives that the samples are stable for 24 hours and so does not freeze samples from Vancouver Island and the lower Mainland (just ships them over to Victoria on ice and freezes them on arrival). However, from all other locations, they are supposed to freeze the samples for transport because they may not arrive soon enough.

... Actually, a relative of mine just had the Parksville lab agree to freeze his sample before shipping although I never did in Nanaimo. Kevin arranged for me to have my sample done just before the courier pick-up of samples from my lab and then it was driven to Victoria on ice and frozen on arrival. You seem to be managing things well but I do have on small bit of advice. When talking to the lab about how to handle your sample, never (ever!) say that you (or worse yet, an American research group) want this or that that done. Always say that your doctor wants it done!!