Research - causes of spasms in general

Estrogen dominance (too little progesterone in relation to estrogen)

Excess intake of unsaturated fatty acids (all oils that are liquid at room temp except extra virgin olive oil)

Aspartame (nutrasweet) and Excitatory Amino Acids, and glutamates (MSG) as well as minerals chelated with aspartate or glutamate. (Much more about this at end of post.)

Fluoride toxicity - Fluoride poisons at least 100 enzymes and can cause seizures. The effects are not dose-related in sensitive individuals and can occur at levels below that in fluoridated water supplies.

Blood sugar problems - "Glucose deficiency may be a universal cause of seizures." Can be caused by sugar intolerance, hypothyroidism, or the ups and downs of diabetes/hypoglycemia. (Remedy - stabilize your blood sugar.)

Nutritional Deficiencies - B vitamins, especially folic acid and B6, and the minerals magnesium, calcium, manganese, and zinc.

Misalignment of the first 3 cervical vertebrae, C1, C2 and C3 (upper neck).

More about nutrasweet and MSG:
Aspartame (nutrasweet) and Excitatory Amino Acids, and glutamates (MSG) as well as minerals chelated with aspartate or glutamate can freely enter the brain and cause toxic effects, including seizures in susceptible people. These amino acids must be balanced with inhibitory amino acids such as alanine, glycine, taurine, and GABA. Aspartic and glutamic acids have similar chemical structures and show comparable toxicity in animal studies. "Research has shown that excess glutamate and aspartate can flood the excitatory receptors on the external survace of nerve cells and excite them to death."

Factors that make you more susceptible to spasms from aspartate and glutamate include:
Exaggerated low blood sugar caused by drinking diet drinks;
Depletion of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine in aspartame-induced insominia;
Excess caffeine and sodium found in some diet drinks;
Excess fluid intake resulting from the intense thirst induced by aspartame;
Excess phenylalanine which handicaps the nutritional flow of other amino acids to the brain and can lead to a lowered seizure threshold in certain individuals.

More nuggets: "Natural progesterone (10% in vitamin E oil) can stop a seizure regardless of its cause." (Could this explain why pregnancy improves the voice, since progesterone levels are high?)

Hope this helps someone.
Micki

I know that any of us with any type of dystonia would just flock to the local witch doctor with the bone in his/her nose if we thought they had something that would alleviate these dystonic symptoms. I worry many times that many take whatever is recommended by someone without fully (and I do mean fully) doing research on it. Anything that is taken either by an injection or orally, be it a prescription drug or a natural something, does have an effect of some sort or another on our bodies.

I also think it's important that we realize that spasm(s) of the muscle(s) is a different thing entirely from a seizure. On a muscle spasm, the muscle tightens. When one has a seizure, the muscle contracts. A contraction of the muscle is a reduction of the muscle, especially of muscle fibers. Two different things entirely. With SD or with any type of dystonia, we have muscle spasms.

Anne

I don't advise anyone to follow any advice that doesn't make sense for your body. Personally I would rather be informed and then be able to make up my own mind. The alternative is to not be informed and let someone else decide what is best for me, or, by default, not do anything for me.

Each person's body is different. I usually experience immediate feedback from something that I try, either good or bad. My worst experiences have been from taking drugs prescribed by a doctor. Two examples from several: I took 3 pills of Depo-Provera (synthetic progesterone - not natural progesterone as recommended by Dr. Lita Lee) several years ago which gave me a bladder infection and vomiting. Likewise last year I took 3 pills of Evista (an estrogen) and all my muscles stiffened to the point that I could barely get out of bed for 3 weeks. I also went to an allergist and was prescribed 150 mg a day of Phenylpropanolamine. It drove my blood pressure up and I completely lost my voice. That drug has now been recalled because it causes strokes, etc.

If I decide to take something from the health food store, I'm going to find out all I can about it before I do, then watch for a reaction very closely and go slowly.

When my voice gets worse, it is preceded by my mood getting worse, not the other way around. My voice is best when I feel good, am optimistic, and have lots of energy. Therefore I am going to do everything I can to improve my health in general, through common-sense methods.

When I post something, I give the information and the source. Since I read a lot, I come up with a lot of tidbits. It's up to you to decide if it makes sense for you. Each body, diet, hormonal balance, emotional disposition and lifestyle is different.

Your last paragraph is particularly apt. Sure hope we see you in Arizona. It's very important that articulate SD'ers meet ~ and *HEAR* ~ each other in person. It provides the most powerful personal education we can all have about our neurological vocal disorder. You're a smart lady so I hope to meet you there.

Sounds positive but I'm sure you know that Tucson is 120 miles South of Scottsdale (done that I-10 route many times, as I will once again during this trip late on Saturday evening).

Also, hope you and your sister know that "a friend flies free" at the NSDA Symposiums. I wouldn't want to see you trying to make the Welcome Party (in Scottsdale at about 7pm-ish on Friday) and then commuting 120 miles South back to Tucson and trying to make the Symposium (back again in Scottsdale) by 8am. A bit of a long commute.

As long as you get there.

--Lynne