Hi All. There is a new study being conducted on possible environmental causes of Antisynthetase syndrome, with myositis. I am awaiting final approval to be part of the study. It is out of Bethesda Maryland USA, but they said I can be accepted from Canada. Here is the link if anyone else may be interested in being part of this study. I figure it might help others later that get this disease. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/clinical/join/bethesda/participants/studies/erftas/index.cfm Good Luck and God Bless all

Thank you. I will check it out:)

Weiner66, Thanks so much for the information. I'm always willing to try something new.

This is a great study for anyone who qualifies to get into. The main thing is you have to have been diagnosed in the last year. Unfortunately I contacted them a few months after a year of my diagnosis, so instead they put me in a similar study for people with any type of Myositis. These studies are not only helping all of us with research on this disease, but you'll see some of the world's leading experts on the disease which can help you in your individual treatment. The doctors and researchers are all very kind and very helpful. I urge anyone who can to contact them.

I looked at it and I'm going to get involved ay way I can!

Hi All. I have officially been accepted as part of this new study. Due to some new test results, I am currently waiting to find out if I will be going to Bethesda to do some testing, or if it will be done here in Calgary. I just found out I have hyperparathyroidism, and must have surgery to fix it, as well as they found two growths on my esophagus, and now must undergo cancer testing for them. An MRI is planned for the next couple of weeks. I think it is great that we may be able to get others from here as part of the study. Any information can only help us all. Keep up the good fight and God Bless. wayne

Wayne, Good luck to you in your fight. I will be praying for you especially hard. Tbear73

Wayne, Sorry about the recent test results. Will you be having the parathyroid surgery soon? Hope it goes smoothly. Please keep us informed on your other pending tests. I submitted info for the study despite it having been longer than a year since my diagnosis and that I have AS without myositis. I knew they wouldn't accept me but I wanted them to know there were others out there with variant themes on AS. Kelly

Hi All. Just an update. I do not have cancer.....yaaaaaahhhhhh.... I do have 2 parathyroids that are acting up, so will be having them removed sometime soon. They would like to get the meds down a little more if possible. Can't wait too long though, cause I don't want to risk getting Osteoperosis either...lol I will be seeing my doctor today for my checkup. Will find out if I can go to Bethesda for the study, or if it will have to be done from here. Truly, my wife and I could use a little break. Keep up the good fight, and God Bless. Wayne

Hi All. Just an update. I do not have cancer.....yaaaaaahhhhhh.... I do have 2 parathyroids that are acting up, so will be having them removed sometime soon. They would like to get the meds down a little more if possible. Can't wait too long though, cause I don't want to risk getting Osteoperosis either...lol I will be seeing my doctor today for my checkup. Will find out if I can go to Bethesda for the study, or if it will have to be done from here. Truly, my wife and I could use a little break. Keep up the good fight, and God Bless. Wayne

Oh Wayne that's wonderful news! And yes, wouldn't it be great to get a break for a long while? I'd say we've all been through enough already!

THAT IS THE BEST NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!! KEPT UP THE GOOD FIGHT WE NEED YOU!! ONETOUCH

I heard of this study earlier at the TMA site. They have you gather the dust from your home for it to be analyzed. I wonder if they are checking for something in dust mites as the mites have proteins in their droppings which people are sensitive to. I have often wondered if antisynthetase syndrome is a severe allergic reaction to them or some illness that they might carry (similar to lime disease and ticks). I read an article once where they said that myositis may develop most where the exposure occurs. Lungs or muscle in Jo-1 but antisynthetase is on the enzymes that synthesize proteins. Very interesting anyway. If you are new to anti-synthetase syndrome then you may also want to see my article which covers symptoms, natural treatments, and support groups. Tips for living with Myositis - JO1 Antibodies - Antisynthetase syndrome I also live with Jo-1 antibodies - Antisynthetase syndrome. Lorelei aka Ladymermaid

Funny enough my bloods that were done through a naturopath indicate that I had a high level of dust mites.

Hopefully through their studies they can perhaps find out if there is any relationship/correlation between ASS and MS as their symptoms are very similar.

Wow I'm fascinated by this. 2-3 years ago Our roof tiles were replaced and my wife and I experienced a crazy time where we thought mites were crawling on us. It went on longer for me than her, like months! It was insane. No mites or evidence of mites was ever found. We thought we were going mad. I saw all types of specialists, naturopaths, you name it. Thank God a GP recommended I take a low dose of Dothiep because research indicates it stops pain signals to the brain, and it worked and I still take them incase it returns.