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As I consider myself in remission from mc, I still have the IBD issues.....gas/bloating & fatigue. I am going to have the Enterolab testing done again to see if, maybe, I can add another food to the very small list of what I can safely eat.
I had an abdominal scan to check for gall stones etc which came back negative.
The only other thought I had was SIBO, but it is difficult to treat, and I am grain free, processed food free as well as all the top allergens already. I have been trying probiotics, and am currently on Prescript Assist, but after 6 weeks the problem is better, but still remains.
My thoughts are...should I try the Cleveland Clinic Functional Medicine Clinic to get to the root of my issues, or since I have methylation issues from my 23 & Me testing, should I try this group?
It probably wouldn't hurt to get the breath test for SIBO. I know gas and bloating are common symptoms of SIBO. If that is the problem, it'll need to be treated for you to get relief. From what I've read, it's nearly impossible to knock down the bacterial overgrowth by diet alone. Just my two cents -- hope you can get some relief soon!
Are you still taking an antihistamine? As you are aware, they can cause gas/bloating. Regarding fatigue, assuming that your iron level is OK, has your DHEA level been tested lately? Are you using magnesium? I would recommend testing for magnesium, but as you know, doctors don't have much luck testing for it, because they don't have a practical test available for testing magnesium levels.
I had low energy and poor endurance for years. Now that I've been taking more magnesium during the past few months (thanks to an acute deficiency last spring triggered by an antibiotic reaction that forced me to pay attention), my energy and endurance have been steadily improving.
It is claimed that the majority of Americans lose 80-90% of their optimal DHEA between ages 30 and 80. According to Dr. Norman Shealy, every known illness is associated with a magnesium deficiency and low levels of DHEA. If DHEA is low, magnesium is low. So maybe a DHEA test is the best way to determine the presence of a magnesium deficiency. You probably noticed my posts pointing out that UC cases that were unresponsive to conventional treatments have been successfully treated with a DHEA supplement.
You definitely have the right idea — when known methods don't quite resolve the problem, it's time to weigh the possibilities of using unconventional methods.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Linda
based on my journey of the past 5 years or so, with the current health system as it is, getting to the root cause of issues is not easy (nor cheap!!) also, getting to the root cause of my issues took multiple practitioners, It would be very rare to find one that is knowledgeable in the cross section of issues like we have.
in the past fortnight I have got the results back of some hair mineral analysis. It doesnt tell the full story, but in conjunction with blood test results, and methylation results, the hair mineral anaylsis does answer some more questions as to what is contributing to issues/causing symptoms/hindering progress.
Like the methylation stuff, I have been doing quite a bit of the research/interpretation, in conjunction with the awesome nutritionist I found.
I am not sure I could afford to pay a practitioner to spend this much time on it...
and like many other aspects of my journey thus far, my results are 'unusual' 'complex' dont fit the majority of outcomes....
what i have found is with many functional pracitioners they tend to focus on key areas, mostly gut, mostly thyroid, mostly hormones, mostly autism, they are aware of linkage between the systems, but not fully able to interpret the full relationship linkage and figure out is the chicken or the egg type thing...
The other aspect to this is that it is early days regarding all this stuff, and there is limited research/data. Most of the functional practitioners are reliant on previous patient situations/experience.
All of this is what makes it tricky for a MC'er embracing this stuff. MC is not the same as other IBD's. how do we fix the issues, without making the MC worse?
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Tex, I do not take antihistamines. My magnesium level on a Nutraeval test was borderline, and I have been using Ancient Minerals for 6 months, twice a day. What type of oral supplement doesn't cause loose stools? Maybe I should try that?
I will read up on Dr. Shealy's research with DHEA. I appreciate the suggestion, & will let you know.
Gabes, I hear ya! It's been a tough road, and it's frustrating to have to explain everything to each doctor that I see.....I just want to keep moving forward, even if it's just in tiny baby steps, and feel I've plateaued lately......
Kristen....I haven't done the test for SIBO because the solution contain lactate (or something like it) and I didn't want a reaction, and I have read that the test isn't very reliable...of course that depends on if you're talking to a medical doctor or a wholistic one.....it gets confusing...... But, I appreciate your thoughts.
Linda :)
LC Oct. 2012
MTHFR gene mutation and many more....
Linda
I have found the hair mineral analysis very timely, it gives indicators on what minerals are low, more importantly it provides info on the ratio of the key minerals... Ie, magnesium has to be in the right ratio with things like potassium, calcium etc for the body to be operating properly... I don't have the right ratios...
The other key info it provides is toxins, heavy metals. These results were the part that explained the most about my symptoms, metabolism etc. the hair analysis results with all my current blood work, and the methylation results, we have changed the supp protocol.
I have done the SIBO test (it was negative). There is lots of talk and info about sibo on the john Herron facebook group, gut health protocol. Also lots of talk about candida, hpylori and biofilm bacteria etc.
Of all the tests that are available, the hair analysis provides pretty good bang for your buck info.
You don't need a long term relationship with practitioner, get test done, get report and recommendations, then go off for 6 months and try and correct imbalances. 1-2 apts. and you have the info for the next 6-12 months of baby steps... The mineral ratios etc affect metabolism, adrenals, thyroid etc...
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Linda wrote:What type of oral supplement doesn't cause loose stools? Maybe I should try that?
Chelated magnesium (magnesium glycinate) is the safest. But be sure that you get unbuffered chelated magnesium, because if it's "buffered", it's buffered with cheap magnesium oxide (at least that's what Vitacost uses), and magnesium oxide can cause D, plus some people are allergic to it (it makes me itch).
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Is Calcium elemental or Magnesium elemental Citrate ok to use? Or is it one of those that can be taken in small doses, but anymore than that it turns things to D?
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Magnesium citrate is OK in small to moderate doses. In larger doses magnesium citrate is a laxative. I take 200 mg of magnesium citrate and 400 mg of magnesium glycinate (unbuffered) each day.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I had posted an article here some time ago (and can't find it now) that said that magnesium glycinate is one of the few magnesium preps that is not contaminated with cadmium. Cadmium is a very toxic metal that has no role in the body.
Are you having any luck with the cholestyramine and/or FODMAPS?
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
I talked to my GI about cholestyramine, and she said if I had a flare, she would consider it. So, I haven't gone that route, but it's good to know that it is available, if needed.
How are you doing with it? Did you ever figure out where the flare came from?
I'm floored by the fact that when my step son was home last week (and he has many issues) I started having loose stools (stress) again along with more than usual bloating/gas etc. it's hard for me to understand the huge role that stress places on us physically....but, I'm proof that it happens. I also was trying pecans, so I'm not sure if it wasn't a bit of both......
And, when it happens, I get fatigue that is almost crippling. It's like my arms and legs are in cement. It's just crazy!
I have been on the FODMAPS for a year now, with some relief, but no permanent resolve of the bloating and gas.
How are you doing with the cholestyramine? Did you ever figure out where the flare came from in the first place?
Linda :)
LC Oct. 2012
MTHFR gene mutation and many more....
