Amino Acid Therapy-Feeling Great!

[Kimberly M]

Hi Friends,

I have not posted in a very long time but feel that I need to share my wonderful news in hopes that it will help someone else. I would be happy to answer any questions about this treatment that anyone may have. I have been seeing a doctor for a little over two years now and have had great success treating my MC. I've shared in the past that I had a candida overgrowth in my gut and doctor helped to treat that. After getting yeast under control I was able to back off of Entocort which I had been on for 18 months. Worked great for me but knew it was terrible for my health long term. Doctor determined through testing that I was a good candidate for Amino Acid Therapy. Amino Acid Therapy is a series of injections usually every 3 weeks for 12-24 months. Each injection consists of a water based suspension of Amino Acids and B vitamins.

The rationale for this therapy is as follows:
Researchers have long been aware of the role that immunology plays in allergy, autoimmune diseases and aging. Awareness of immunology's role in other diseases and conditions not previously been recognized as immunologically-based is more recently understood. Many events can adversely affect the body's neuropeptides (that act like a key) in the receptor (the lock) on the cell wall. These events include enviromental exposures, drug therapies, toxins, bacteria, viruses, genetic predispositions, and likely several factors that are yet unknown. The ensuing "cellular misunderstandings" result in symptoms or diseases. Amino Acids act by blocking abnormal cellular responses triggered by altered neuropeptides. Using the lock and key analogy, specially sequenced amino acids can be thought of as chewing gum in the keyhole, in effect blocking specific problematic neuropeptides from triggering abnormal cell activity.

After being off Entocort for six weeks I began the Amino Acid injections. I felt better almost immediately. My stomach calmed down, diarrhea subsided and my body felt normal. I had 2 injections two weeks apart and then went to 1 injection every three weeks for about a year then every four weeks for another six months. There are only minor side effects with Amino Acids of which I had none. After 18 months of treatment doctor decided to stop injections for 8-10 weeks to see how much healing had occurred......boy was I nervous!! I had felt soo good for so long that I was very nervous to stop therapy. I am very happy to say that I have been off of the Amino Acids for 12 weeks now and feel fantastic. The only thing I am doing is continuing the probiotics and prebiotics that I have had good luck with. Doctor believes I am in "remission" so to speak and much healing has taken place. I am still gluten free but other than that eat healthy with no special restrictions.

I know that my MC could flair at any time but am enjoying every minute of feeling normal again! I love my doctor and feel blessed to have found someone who listens and has therapy's that go beyond mainstream drugs. My doctor is one of only 25 or so in the United States that offers Amino Acid Therapy. From what I understand it doesn't work for everyone but he has had great success with many people. It is VERY expensive but this year we were able to pay for the therapy with our Health Hub Payflex account through my husbands employer. Insurance does not cover it.

Well, that's my news.......sorry for the long post but felt it may help some.

Kim

[JLH]

THANKS. Seeing my GI tomorrow. Will read and research this.

How expensive? How do I find doctors who use the treatment?

[Kimberly M]

Joan, My doctor is in Indianapolis. Injections are about $300 each......a chunk of change for treatment but so worth it to feel normal again:) Good luck with the research as I have never been able to find much info online about this particular therapy.

Here is one article that I found online, this doctor is in Florida:

http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/ ... -disorders

I have another article from the Times that I was not able to find the link to will try and post it later today.

Kim

[gluten]

Hi Kim, That is great news. I have been looking into amino acids for a while and always make sure that the protein supplements I take have a good amino acid profile. I did have a amino acid profile test and all the they were all in the normal range. Did you have the amino acid test? By giving a injection it bypasses the G.I tract. Jon

[JLH]

Thanks very much Kim.

[Kimberly M]

Jon,

Doctor did lots of testing, blood and stool. Unfortunately I did not understand all of the testing so can't comment on the results. The injections went into the muscle.

Kim

[wmonique2]

Kim,

Is your doctor a GI doc or a naturopath? What kind of docs practice this therapy?

Thanks for the good post.

Monique

[gluten]

Hi Kim, I thought they gave your in injections into the vein. That is interesting that the injections were into the muscle. Did you notice any reaction at the muscle site? Which muscles were treated? I have MC and muscle issues. Jon

[Gabes-Apg]

I can agree with the value and importance of amino acids for healing.

My home made stock/bone broth has about 60% of the amino acids we need to consume.
having injections is just an accelerated process per say.

making bone broth and using it every day in your cooking is a very affordable treatment option.

if you google 'bone broth amino acids' there are bucket loads of articles and information.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-9890/10- ... ecipe.html

[coryhub]

Kimberly,
Thanks for sharing your results with Amino Acids. I hope good health continues.
Gabes,
Your article about bone broth amino acids was educational and I like the recipe, thx!

[ObsessedMrFixit]

Hello.

I, for one, am very interested to learn more details about this amino acid protocol. Seems you had some tests done, and get some injections of aminos with B vitamins. Is it only your doctor who does it? Or is this, perhaps, a protocol my own doctor (N.D.) could follow as well?

I'm interested because it's very clear to me that amino acids play a very important role in my main symptom -- fissures. I could go into detail if anyone is interested, but, suffice it to say, I have what I believe is overwhelming evidence that my body goes haywire with the wrong amino acid balance, and does great on the right balance. Obviously, whatever bodily function/system is responsible for maintaining the right balance of amino acids isn't working in my body. So, if there is some testing, along with amino acid therapy, that will allow me to get in the ballpark of maintaining the right balance, maybe I stand a chance to lead a slightly more normal life?

thanks in advance.
-marcus

[Kimberly M]

Monique, My doctor is a regular MD but practices more holistic treatment methods. He will use certain drugs if needed but prefers more natural ways.

Jon, the Amino Acid injections were given in the butt cheek They were pretty uncomfortable as they are a thick liquid that have to be injected slowly, took a full minute. I was a little sore for an hour or so but it really wasn't a big deal or anything that lasted.

Marcus, Your doctor probably doesn't use this treatment protocol......not sure though so you should check. I do know that there are only a handful of doctors in the US that use this particular treatment. I did have a lot of testing done. Stool tests and blood work. Some of the bloodwork was sent to Spain I believe where my doctor works with some doctors there. I did have a pretty bad case of candida in my digestive track so spent months treating that before I could start the Amino Acid treatment. Also had to be completely off of Entocort for several months before treatment could begin. It was all quite a process but am so excited to be feeling normal again!! Good luck to you! Living with this disease is so disruptive and discouraging at times! Keep searching, you will find the answers and the right doctor for you.

[ObsessedMrFixit]

Kimberly,

Thanks for the reply. I was actually hoping to get more details on the testing that was done. Or could/should I call your doctor to get those details? I'm wondering exactly what tests were done, how the results are interpreted, and how the results tie-in to treatment/dosage, etc. Perhaps your doctor has a paper published on the topic?

[gluten]

Hi Kim, I was researching amino acids and found the information very interesting. I had a amino acid blood test years ago but it is only a instant snapshot of the amino acids. The best test is a 24 hr urine test. Did you have the 24hr urine test? Jon

[CathyMe.]

This therapy intrigued me as well so I did some research and found out that Dr. Stein has done some research and found the abstract for the 1 patient that it worked with Crohn's disease...hopefully this works. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › Journal List › C ... v.3; 2010 you might have to cut and paste.