Comment by mush_room | Hacker News Reader

Comment by mush_room | Hacker News Reader

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It's funny because pretty much the only thing the doctor told me when I got diagnosed was not to smoke.

About the fungal stuff, I'm reminded the common saying (around MS circles at least), that "everybody's MS is different". I'm not sure who much I agree with that, given that we now have solid evidence of a link with EB virus, but it might be that along the chain of factors some people have "fungal infection", others "parasites" (as I've recently heard), etc.

Could you say how long it's been since he moved and where? Several people here are talking about the important of sunlight, and I know that to be true for me, I always feel much better with sun - not vitamin D - sun and sunlight, and I'm seriously thinking about the possibility of a move, even though I have no clue how I would practically achieve it atm.

I've removed my mention of a study saying smoking helped, more recent research contradicts it.

He moved at least twenty years ago, to a sunny but more northern west coast city and has remained here since. (I wasn't being as clear as I thought. I've now edited my post, thanks!)

It's reasonable to suppose that some environmental factors might be involved, but vary. After all, Epstein-Barr is at best a necessary condition for MS, it's very far from sufficient. Logically it can't be the whole story or nearly everyone would have MS.

The coast is useful because the sun is kinder, more filtered. Even if UVB turns out to be necessary, which I don't know of course, it's nice not to worry too much about the time of day you're out. It might be worth noting that a century ago when sun therapy was in vogue, they recommended the three hours after sunrise, only. But they also put resorts in mountains, esp in Europe, to get a longer season of effective full spectrum light.

> Logically it can't be the whole story or nearly everyone would have MS.

Sure, but I think some people are just more susceptible to certain things. I think it would more likely that everyone with <insert right genetic lottery> who gets EB will more than likely develop MS.

A majority of people that smoke tobacco will not develop lung cancer, but a majority of people that have lung cancer smoked tobacco.

Moving to somewhere sunnier is certainly something you can do, and gives you a sense of control. I believe it so much that I am doing the same.

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