Need help with Enterolab results please!

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Sun Oct 13, 2013 7:47 pm

Hi Diane. I just heard on the news that there is a flu vaccine now that does not contain egg. You might want to ask about it where you get your shot.
Histamines is a tough one because , as Tex said, it's a threshold thing. I can eat avocado and be OK, but I try not to eat left over meats and I also try not to eat too many histamine foods at the same time. If I do ( like a salad with vinegar, avocado, and tomato), I take a HISTAME when I eat it and do fine.

But of course, we have to remember that I am further along in my recovery and can tolerate a lot more then others. Last night, my husband and i went to a nice steak house for our anniversary. We shared a bottle of white wine and it turned out that they put browned butter on my steak. I debated sending it back, but have been wanting to test a little butter anyway, so I ate it. I was fine this morning... even norman. yay! So now I know that if I accidentally have butter, it won't do me in. Good to know.

Leah

Artluver22 · Post by **Artluver22** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 2:23 pm

Hi Tex and Leah,

Thank you both for your advice! I will try to find out if egg-free flu shots are available near me. If I can't find one, I think I will stick with Tex's advice, pass on the shot and take my chances on getting the flu. That story of Mary Beth's is horrible... I don't want to go down THAT path!

Leah, you had mentioned in one of your posts that you take an Allegra every morning and it helps you with D. I have been doing that for a few days and it seems to be working. You said that if you eat too many things that have histamine, you take a Histame. Do you take that in addition to the Allegra in the a.m. and also take a Benedryl at night? Do they all interfere with each other?

Diane[/quote]

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:34 pm

Hi Diane. Yes, I take an Allegra every morning without fail. The Histame is not an antihistamine. It helps the body to rid itself of histamines ( instead of blocking them), so there is no adverse mixing going on. The Benadryl, I play by ear. If I had a low histamine day ( and it's not Spring), I will forgo the Benadrl at night. Right now, I probably take one about 4 times a week on average ( at night). If I have really gone off the histamine wagon ( like drinking wine), I will take two. This has been working really well for me. I have been pretty normal, going once in the morning.

Remember though, that I have been at this ( diet thing) for almost two years now and have healed significantly, so don't expect miracles right away. I didn't even address the histamine issue until about 4 months ago, when I was at the point of only going once in the morning, but "things" were still loose and I was looking for the last piece of the puzzle.I was so close ( to norman) at that point that when I took my first antihistamine, I was norman the next morning! And the next morning, and the next. There was my answer. I can't say whether it's the answer for you, but it's working like a charm for me :)

Leah

Artluver22 · Post by **Artluver22** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:20 pm

Leah,

Thanks for your help and congratulations on having so much success! I'm very happy for you!! I probably have a very long road ahead of me, so I will be patient!

Diane

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Oct 14, 2013 9:14 pm

Hi Diane,
Just wanted to say I seem to be joining you in the extreme diet journey. I just started the Autoimmune Paleo Protocol this weekend for my autoimmune rash and its already helping! I've also finally eliminated all my yellow MRT foods (pork, shrimp, lamb, apples, bananas, avocado, onions, etc, etc, etc.). It's depressing, but the simplicity of the diet makes it easier overall. There are tons of resources and recipes for AIP on Facebook and online, and its good to see so many others on the same journey.

Artluver22 · Post by **Artluver22** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:11 am

Hi Zizzle,

I haven't even heard of the Autoimmune Paleo Protocol, so I will have to do some reading up on that and check out Facebook as well! Thank you! My brain is on overload trying to learn all of this. I was so excited to have all the tests done and SO looking forward to getting the results so I could really start getting my life back. Now that I do have all the results, I'm trying to wrap my head around what I actually have to do about it! I'm excited to have all the information though.

I just got the MRT results back late yesterday and the news wasn't as bad as I thought. There were some things that contradicted the EnteroLab results, so I will do as Tex advised and go by the EnteroLab results first. One thing that I thought was pretty amazing: BIG no-no on Cranberry. I have been taking loads of cranberry capsules daily for 6 weeks trying to rid myself of the UTI that won't go away! With all the things I have learned from EnteroLab and MRT in just the last few days, plus the mast cell deal, it's no wonder I have been so sick!! Now... on the road to recovery!! I will definitely pull out my Paleo books and read them now that I know what I can and can't eat! I guess I should update my profile now and add my food intolerances.

Diane

carolm · Post by **carolm** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:45 pm

HI Diane,
For UTIs many members here, myself included, have used D-Mannose which can be bought at a health food store. I know Zizzle and others swear by it. I haven't been prone to UTIs but did have a time I felt like one was coming so I gave it a try. Nothing developed and the symptoms I was having dissolved.

I work as a school psych in 2 elementary schools and consult all over our special ed cooperative, which covers 4 school districts. We are always strongly urged to get flu shots and I have. Elementary schools alone are germ factories. The first year that I was recovering from my LC I passed on the flu shot because I felt my immune system didn't need any more insults and fortunately, I did fine without it. Last year I had procrastinated but was doing so much better with my LC that I decided at Christmas break to get the flu shot (and if I reacted or felt awful I was home to recover). Again, I had no problems with the shot nor did I get the flu. I can't eat eggs either, but I didn't have any weird reactions.

My GI doc did tell me to definitely avoid the intranasal vaccination because it does have the live virus in it. When I was sick and recovering I tended to err on the side of caution too, like Tex said. That always worked from me.

It's a good question-- you were smart to ask it.

take care,
Carol

Jeanemcl · Post by **Jeanemcl** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 3:15 am

I too am around children as a Speech Pathologist and sometimes fill in at Nsg homes. I have always felt that I should get a flu shot and not be a spreader of germs if possible. So, Inwill get one again this year although I am a little hesitant now because I am just starting on the mend with Endocort after trying a month on my own ignoring that I was getting worse and not understanding about diet until I found this site. My question now is....I have started taking vit D and am concerned about calcium and vitamins. I am sure I have enough protein because of the meat I eat now, but I am a horrible pill swallower and so I have been taking the gummy vitamins although not regularly - they say gluten, egg, soy free so I guess they are ok. I am new reading all these labels. I always tried to get my calcium through cheese, yogurt etc. Looks to me like my only good source now is broccoli . Suggestions anyone? I do have some concerns about steroid usage and osteoporosis as I had issues with that a few yrs ago. Started walking more and took meds and last bone density was better. What a juggling act this is!!!!Suggestions?

Post by **tex** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 9:51 am

Jean,

I feel that we typically get adequate amounts of calcium from our food, but in order to utilize it efficiently we need to make sure that we have plenty of vitamin D and magnesium available.

It's worth noting that the countries that have the highest per-capita consumption of milk, also have the highest rates of osteoporosis. The problem is obviously not due to calcium deficiency, because not only is there usually plenty of natural calcium in food, but many, many processed foods contain calcium supplements these days.

Interestingly, the residents of those same countries also show high rates of vitamin D deficiency, and magnesium deficiency, 2 items that are required by the body for generating new bone tissue. IMO, that explains why osteoporosis is still such a common problem in this country. Doctors (and the government, food manufacturers, and health "experts" in general) promote calcium for bone health, but precious few address the real problem, namely inadequate vitamin D and magnesium.

Tex

Artluver22 · Post by **Artluver22** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 10:23 am

Hi Carol,

Thanks for the suggestion on D-Mannose. I actually did a search about a week ago online and found that it was very effective for UTIs, so I bought some at the Vitamin Shoppe. I have been taking it, but somewhat irregularly. Now that you commented on it, I will be diligent in taking it. I'm SO afraid to put anything in my mouth these days for fear of a reaction to it. I have literally cut out all of my vitamins and supplements. Now that I am feeling better, I will start adding the vitamins back one at a time, even though none of them contain my allergens. I really need to start taking my calcium again because of my osteoporosis. I also had to discontinue the Vit. D3 I was taking because it contains soy. I found a D3 online (I think it was someone's suggestion on this board actually) from Bio-Tech. I should have it in a few days. I always show low Vit. D on blood tests, even with 2000 mg a day plus 50,000 once a month. I will have to find a substitute for the 50,000 ones since I see that they contain soy.

Also, regarding the flu shot, I think I am just going to skip it this year and take my chances. There are too many things going on in my body now, and I don't want to add fuel to the fire and add yet one more questionable component. Hopefully next year I can try it. I have had them all my life with no reaction whatsoever.

Diane

carolm · Post by **carolm** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 12:42 pm

Diane, I've taken Vitafusion D3 gummies and did fine. Also, I found D3 in pill form at GNC that was free of the big 4, but of course GNC is a little pricey. And I've ordered it too before, so I don't think you'll have trouble finding vitamins without the big 4 but it pays to be vigilant. I went with VitaFusion gummies for my multivitamin because I dealt with nausea virtually every morning for over a year and the gummy vitamins did not irritate my stomach the way pills did at that time. You'll find good advice from many others on this board. Like you I was (and to some degree still am) nervous about taking anything new.

Jeanemcl, I love, love, love our SLPs. They are the best and brightest team members, just so sharp regarding children's needs, understanding brain function and the impact of various disabilities and willing to share that knowledge with the team. I'm glad you shared that this is your profession. Such a great field. When teens talk to me about fields they can go into where they can help people I steer them toward Speech language pathology and occupational therapy. These are two important fields that will continue to be greatly needed as our population grows and ages.

Carol

Artluver22 · Post by **Artluver22** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 12:58 pm

Carol,
I like the Vitafusion gummies too! I haven't seen the D3 but I use the multivites and CoQ10. The multivites aren't very potent, but they don't give me the nausea that pills do, just like you. I also have their calcium but I switched over to a formula that my Nurse Practitioner has that has more stuff in it.
Diane

Jeanemcl · Post by **Jeanemcl** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 3:39 am

Carol,
Thanks for the Vitafusion gummie tip. Somehow my pill tolerance got stunted at the candy level so these will be welcomed.

Thanks for the compliment about SLP's. I have been bleesed with this profession for over 40 years and have worked in all kinds of settings. Going back to schools 10 years ago was a great move.... My daughter is an OT married to a PT. I have 5 nieces 2 PTs, 1 OT, 1 SLP and an optometrist.....funny how this stuff runs in families!! My sons traveled in different directions - one a musician and one still finding his way through the maze of what he wants to do. The one exploring life is my biggest help on lifestyle diet changes. He tells me to come to Boulder as many of his friends are gluten free and soy free. We discussed the Paleo diet and he has made big changes in his eating habits over the past few years. He is a label reader and goes by the motto "if I can't pronounce it, I am not putting it in my body."

Cut back to 2 Endocort yesterday. Had to go to 3 last week as 2 weren't cutting it. I want to get off this stuff as soon as possible. I am stable with the nausea now and the morning sickness has lifted - pain gone also!! That is a blessing. I am so grateful for this site and the suggestions.

carolm · Post by **carolm** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 3:53 pm

Jeane, if you find that the nausea lingers, try acupuncture. I did and in less than two weeks it was gone and has never returned. It was a gigantic help.

Your family is certainly ambitious and smart in their career choices. If your son stay Paleo maybe he'll avoid that autoimmune stuff we are all dealing with.

take care,
Carol