Dearest:  My guest tonight, Stephen Edelson, M.D. has practiced medicine for more than
20 years. As an autoimmune specialist and Founder of the Edelson Center for Environmental 
and Preventative Medicine in Atlanta, he has successfully treated thousands of patients 
using innovative and effective alternative therapies.

Dr. Edelson lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Edelson is co-author with Deborah 
Mitchell of, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Autoimmune Disorders:
The Revolutionary Drug-free Treatments for Thyroid Disease, Lupus, MS, IBD,
Chronic Fatigue, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Other Diseases." 

Welcome to Power Surge, Dr. Edelson. 


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  Thank you very much for inviting me to tell the story of the 
problems we're having with the incidence of autoimmune disease. 


Dearest:  Dr. Edelson, Power Surge is a community for women in menopause. What with
so many menopause symptoms being similar to those of many autoimmune diseases, does
it concern you that many doctors might overlook something else going on in a midlife 
patient, such as chronic fatigue or thyroid problems, and simply dismiss every symptom
as menopause-related? 


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  Well, that's something that happens all the time. It happens 
especially in the typical HMO environment where doctors are limited in the amount
of time that doctors can spend with patients.  I think that the problems are that
we've cut down on the amount of time that the doctors can spend with patients.  

Basically, a woman with multiple complaints who wants to figure out what is going on
must see someone who can spend more time with her and not someone who can only spend
10 minutes.  Thus, I suggest that anyone with a variety of complaints who also happens
to be in the midlife period find someone who can spend a lot of time with her. I never 
have a problem separating out the symptoms of menopause with autoimmune disease. 


GGc0ok:  Is it possible that allergies, or the change of seasons can trigger Fibromyalgia 
flare ups? 


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  It's definitely related to the myofacial pain of fibromyalgia.
That can come from environmental triggers like grasses and other allergies.  Anyone
with fibromyalgia needs to be evaluated to see what the triggers are.  You need to 
identify the triggers such as food or allergies to stop the process. 


HSpec:  What are the symptoms of IBS and are there specific diagnostic tests to determine 
if a person has IBS? Thanks.


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  That's an excellent question since IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) 
is a disease that doctors often use as a wastebasket to put in all complaints that may
be related.  Doctors don't always look for the reason for the combinations of symptoms.  
We must figure out why they have IBS. It usually relates to one of the following: 
digestion 
bacterial overgrowth syndrome 
malabsorption 
Intestinal candidiasis  
food allergy 
or colonic dysbiosis
 
All of those listed are the functional reasons for people to be put into this 
"wastebasket." 


Dearest:  How would you go about treating someone with the complaints other doctors 
identify as IBS? 


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  If you identify the actual cause then you can treat it better. 
First, I have to identify what's abnormal about the GI information using stool tests
for overgrowth, tests for digestion for foods, tests for absorption.  These tests
will tell me how to treat what's wrong. 


Roses28:  I have multiple chemical sensitivities, allergies, asthma and depression.
I am also menopausal (surgical). Could there be a connection to the autoimmune
diagnosis I have? If so, what can I do have? 


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  You have to know what the problem is before you can treat it.  
First of all, I don't think you've mentioned anything I'd call autoimmune, yet you
may have an autoimmune disease.  You do have an autoimmune disregulation and that 
needs to be looked at.  You need to find an autoimmune specialist, someone who works
with the molecular basis of chronic disease.  A family doctor or allergist can't really 
help.  You can get on my website at www.edelsoncenter.com or you can get the book for 
more information about what type of doctor to look for.


LeslieAnanda:  My husband has had RA for 15 years. Do you see a cure for RA in the near 
future? 


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  I have many RA (rheumatoid arthritis) patients.  Everyone that I 
have studied has specific characteristics, all due to the environment, all immune disease.  
They are toxic overload, chemical, something that damaged the immune system.  
To heal the body, you have to identify the roots of the injury. There are several tests 
that can be done. You can get off drugs and stop the damage.  I don't see a cure in the 
future, but I see ways to control RA.  This is for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) only not 
osteoarthritis (OA). 


Dearest:  We're a highly "medicated" society. Can certain medication cause or exacerbate 
autoimmune issues? 


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  Yes. Many drugs can cause a temporary autoimmunity. 


Marty:  What support group would you recommend to learn more about chronic fatigue 
syndrome?


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  Go to www.google.com to find more about support groups.  There's 
more information about chronic fatigue syndrome on my website, too. 


JeanC40:  I seem to have symptoms of hypothyroidism but my TSH is 1.3 yet I'm gaining 
weight, hair falling out, brittle nails, and such fatigue but the doctor still says no 
and now he even questions if I am postmenopausal after no period in two years. I'm 
confused. 


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  I think you need to look at your mitochondrial function.  There are 
various studies that can be done, but it requires a medical detective to do that kind of 
work.  You need to find someone who does what I do, an autoimmune specialist.  If you 
look in my book or on my website, you can find out more about what I do, so that you
can find a doctor like me in your area.


Carol:  I was diagnosed with Crohn's 20 years ago. I also have psoriasis, osteoarthritis, 
fibromyalgia, asthma, and I take the minimum dose of thyroid. Last year I ended up in the 
hospital in severe pain with my legs swelled up from the hips down. The doctor, after 
tapping the fluid from my legs said it was related to Crohn's. I've been on prednisone 
for a year and have had 2 Remicade infusions which seemed to help. I, too, fight 
depression all my life and was once hospitalized for it. I am 64 and post menopausal.
Any suggestions? 


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  That's such a complicated issue.  You would never get this figured 
out without coming to see me in Atlanta. It's going to be very difficult to sift through.  
It's very hard to think about this over the web.  To get an idea about what I do, check 
the book or the website.  Make a list and call doctors around where you are, to see if 
some can help, but you'll need a specialist. 


Dearest: What is Lupoid hepatitis? 


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  Lupoid hepatitis is a chronic active hepatitis that causes liver 
damage. It's an autoimmune disease.


Loon:  I had I131 uptake treatments done on my thyroid years ago, did that do any damage 
to my thyroid? Prior to one operation they had to cancel because they said it was not 
functioning, but haven't had a problem lately. Taking no medications either.


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  It depends on whether or not the function on your thyroid now
is healthy.  You'd have to evaluate your thyroid today to see if any of the function
was knocked out with the radiation material. 


Slim:  What are the symptoms of Fibromalyia?


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  Some of the symptoms are widespread pain and tenderness for more 
than three months in various muscle and connective tissues from the back of the skull to 
the back of the arms.  This pain is described as burning, aching, gnawing, and shooting; 
it comes and goes and changes location.  There has to be point tenderness in several 
areas. Also irritability, depression, abnormal sleep patterns and fatigue.  The important 
this is, it's a symptom, not a cause.  Something has damaged the body.  If you only deal 
with the pain, you can never get rid of the disease process. 


LeslieAnanda:  I developed arthritis (RA?) in my hands and feet within 2 months after
a total hysterectomy. I also have all the symptoms of hormone imbalance; trying to get
it tweaked. What would cause arthritis symptoms to surface after surgery?


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  Surgery is a stressor to the body and it can stress the immune 
system.  If you were developing something like RA subclinicaly, this stressor could
make things worse.  Your immune system could already have been damaged. 


Dearest:  Can constant stress affect on our autoimmune system?


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  Yes, of course. It leads to the production of free radicals
which causes more damage to the autoimmune system. 


Dearest:  I was astonished to read that 40 million Americans suffer from autoimmune 
disorders. Can this be due to societal issues, such as the toxins in the air, in the 
products we use, in the food we eat, in the drugs we take? 


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  All of the above is correct. 


Dearest:  And what would you recommend to those of us who want to maintain healthy immune 
systems? 


Dr. Stephen Edelson:  You have to understand what's going on in your body all the time.  
Your diet must be nutritionally sound. Ask yourself if all your systems are working 
properly?  All the characteristics of your body must be working correctly. You really 
have to know what's going on in your body. 


Dearest:  Dr. Edelson, thanks for a wonderfully informative chat about autoimmune 
disorders and natural ways of treating them. Seeing as how 40 million Americans suffer 
from autoimmune disorders, it's a very important subject. I strongly recommend everyone 
read Dr. Edelson's book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Autoimmune Disorders."


Dr. Stephen Edelson: Thanks so much. I enjoyed being here tonight.



Disclaimer:  Every guest in Power Surge is a highly respected professional whose
opinions are his/her own. An appearance in Power Surge does not constitute an 
endorsement of a guest's views.

None of these transcripts may be reprinted or reproduced without 
the express permission of Power Surge™ and the respective guest.

Read other transcripts by returning to the Library.


Dearest
aka Alice Stamm
Power Surge
Founder, Facilitator, Host


Copyright©1994-2009 by Power Surge.  All Rights Reserved.