Enterolab results and I'm kind of in shock

Discussions can be posted here about stool testing for food sensitivities, as offered by Enterolab.

Moderators: Rosie, JFR, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh

User avatar
bubba
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:06 am

Enterolab results and I'm kind of in shock

Post by bubba »

I received my results from Enterolab, and now see that while I've been on my healing diet, I've actually been eating foods that cause an immune reaction: chicken and rice. I have been strictly gluten free for 17 years, but had been eating oats up until about 4 months ago, when I suspected a problem with them, so no surprise that is in the 3+ category.

Quantitative Microscopic Fecal Fat Score 1432 Units (Normal Range is less than 300 Units)

HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 1* Pending

HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 2* Pending

Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ

Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA 204 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-casein (cow’s milk) IgA 43 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-ovalbumin (chicken egg) IgA 67 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-soy IgA 39 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods 28 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Food to which there was no significant immunological reactivity: Cashew

Food to which there was some immunological reactivity (1+): Corn, Chicken, Beef, Pork, White Potato

Food to which there was moderate immunological reactivity (2+):Rice, Tuna, Walnut, Almond

Food to which there was significant and/or the most immunological reactivity (3+) Oat

Within each class of foods to which you displayed multiple reactions, the hierarchy of those reactions detected were as follows:

Grains:
Grain toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Oat
Grain toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Rice
Grain toward which you displayed the least immunologic reactivity: Corn

Meats:
Meat toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Tuna
Meat toward which you were next most immunologically reactive: Chicken
Meat toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Beef
Meat toward which you displayed the least immunologic reactivity: Pork

Nuts:
Nut toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Walnut
Nut toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Almond

Nightshades:
You displayed immunologic reactivity to white potato, the member of the nightshade family usually consumed most often and in greatest quantities. While this does not necessarily mean you would react to all other nightshade foods (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant), it is possible. In the realm of elimination diets for immunologic disorders, nightshades are usually eliminated as the entire food class (i.e., all four previously mentioned foods in this class). This is especially important to the clinical setting of arthritis.

Pancreatic Elastase Stool Test

Pancreatic Elastase Stool Test (Fecal Elastase) Pending (Normal Range is greater than 400 µg/g feces)
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35068
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Hi Cathy,

Those results suggest many years of reacting. The high fecal fat score suggests continuing reactions against gluten. Oats might be responsible for some of that, but your high anti-gliadin score indicates that your diet still contains some gluten. And that is what has caused all the other food sensitivities. I note that the antibody levels for most of those foods are also relatively high, indicating that those reactions have probably been going on for several years, at least. I would try to track down the food or foods that are sneaking the gluten into your diet and eliminate it/them.

As long as there is any gluten in our diet, trying to resolve other food reactions is not likely too provide much benefit. It could be anything, but in cases such as this, the problem food (or drink) is usually something that we eat or drink every day, so we trust it, and we would never even suspect that it might be a problem.

Best of luck as you track it down.

Tex
:cowboy:

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.
User avatar
bubba
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:06 am

Post by bubba »

Hi Tex,

I was afraid of that! The high anti-gliadin score indicating gluten still in the diet! Ugh! I don't know what it could possibly be. I never eat out. When we travel, we cook our own meals ahead of time and pack them along. Never eat processed foods. We cook all of our own meals and read labels. Our meals are made with real foods, no canned or bottled sauces, no pre-packaged foods ever. Fresh meats, rice (no more for a while), vegetables and fruits. No more dairy or eggs since May, but when I was eating those, it was fresh, all dishes made by myself. No packaged foods at all for years and years. Probably at least 10-15 years. I suppose it's possible that the oat based bread that I was eating was contaminated with gluten. That bread was the only food I was eating that wasn't prepared by me. I cut that out of my diet in April.
Like I said, I'm baffled and really frustrated and confused. Feeling a bit knocked down that despite all of these efforts, here I am. I'll get over my pity party by the end of the day, but I am feeling lost as to what to do!
Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate and value your responses and info. I know I need to really look further to try to track something down. I'll get there somehow!!
User avatar
bubba
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:06 am

Post by bubba »

Hi Tex,

Also, currently checking ingredients in all creams, soaps and shampoos. I have a call in to the pharmacy about the cream base ingredients in the bio-est cream I use daily. Do you think my score could be that high from an ingredient in a cream that I use rather than something I eat?
brandy
King Penguin
King Penguin
Posts: 2909
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:54 am
Location: Florida

Post by brandy »

I would suspect the oat bread in the non GF certified kitchen.

Oats in general are sketchy.

I ate oatmeal for breakfast for probably 30 years straight. Last 10 years I had joint pain in fingers/and wrists
several hours after breakfast. Joint pain went away after I eliminated oatmeal.
User avatar
bubba
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:06 am

Post by bubba »

Hi Brandy!

Yes, I became suspicious of that oat bread back in April. I am reactive to oats, and possibly a gluten cross contamination in that bread too. I wonder if I would still test this high in the Anti-Gliadin having removed that from my diet back in April?
Thank you for your input!!
Cathy
brandy
King Penguin
King Penguin
Posts: 2909
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:54 am
Location: Florida

Post by brandy »

Hi Cathy,

You are eons above our average poster here in terms of food knowledge. Since you've been GF for over 17 years
I'd take a look at the following:

1. Prescription drugs or hormones. Some of these can prevent remission. Tex is good with this stuff.
2. OTC supplements (oral). Eliminate until you get into remission. Consider vitamin patch if you feel the need.
3. Take a look at the lotions/shampoo, lip balm etc. (You already mentioned this.)
4. Eliminate raw foods/veggies. If you eat veggies cook them to mush. Minimize fiber foods.
5. Eliminate baked/gluten free products for now. You can have them down the road. Eat rice, potato,
sweet potato instead.
6. Read our success story section.
7. Work on stress management.
8. Eat foods from mother nature. Eliminate foods that have an ingredient list.
9. Try the few food regimen.

Since you are already GF I'm curious what you think caused your MC?
User avatar
bubba
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:06 am

Post by bubba »

Thanks Brandy!!
1.The only prescription I am on is the Bi-Est hormone cream. I have a call in to the pharmacy to find out about the base cream ingredients. I've been researching online and it seems that gluten is not an ingredient in the base, but it is compounded individually in my pharmacy so I have called to be certain.

2. I eliminated vitamin supplements that I was taking back in April but have added a elemental supplement powder that I purchase from a company in Canada. All ingredients are listed. No gluten ingredients. I used this 17 years ago when I was going through the gluten elimination and healing from that. I feel like I need to use this as I'm sure I'm not getting the nutrients I need and I'm a bit worried about that.

3. Oh boy! I found wheat protein in a shampoo and conditioner I had been using, but ran out of. So, I haven't used it for a few weeks. So, there's one source! Could I be testing so high in the anti-gliadin from just one source like this?

4. I will only eat cooked veggies. Again, so that I have something to eat. And veggies are important to me.

5. I thought I should eliminate rice for now given my score of 2+? I have not been eating sweet potatoes, but I think I will add that so that I have something to eat.

I'm not eating any baked/gluten free products currently, but had been eating the bread that I mentioned previously. I cut that out in April.

6. Currently reading success story section! Thank you!!

7. Stress management - Ugh! I definitely need to work on this! Especially feeling stressed currently! :(

8. I have eliminated foods that have an ingredient list. There were very few that I ate, but eliminated them with this current flare.

As far as what I think caused my MC: I'm wondering if I had it all along, way back 17 years ago when I was having problems due to gluten. Perhaps if I had biopsies way back then, it would have shown MC? Maybe I put it into remission for all these years, and possibly this is a bad flare up? Also - I had been using Collagen Peptide powder everyday and I was beginning to think that was irritating my intestines. I was putting the blame on that powder, but now I'm seeing there is much more to it!
Thanks again!!!
Cathy
brandy
King Penguin
King Penguin
Posts: 2909
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:54 am
Location: Florida

Post by brandy »

Hi Cathy,

1. I'm currently on cream based hormones. I think they are safer. I'd look at other things first. If you are still
struggling 6-9 months from now I'd take another look at the hormones.

2. Go with this for awhile if you think it helps. If not, eliminate it for several weeks and see if you get improvement.
When we are having WD patch (nor oral) supplements are safest. If we are having WD oral efficacy of oral
supplements are sketchy, i.e. are they just running through us.

3. I'm not sure.

5. You are probably ok with a little rice but not 5x per day. Also, consider overcooked beets, (or canned) rutabagas
turnips etc

Yes to your hypothesis. It makes sense to me. You could have had MC, got on GF diet and responded.

I subscribe to the tipping point theory of inflammation in causing most, not all, MC flares. It took me years to understand this concept. Gabes posted on many many posts that getting inflammation under control is key.

My theory is that heightened inflammation (from processed foods, gluten, gluten contamination etc) +
heightened stress + inflammation from some prescription meds etc causes flares and that we
can handle a little bit of this inflammation for awhile but in our gut it gets higher and higher until
boom, we are in an active MC flare.

My reflares since original diagnosis have all been caused by heightened stress plus eating junky...i.e.
too many GF chips for too long.

I'd take a look at anything that you have been doing for awhile that may have caused a tipping point and
MC to kick in.

Also since you've resolved what was a MC flare 17 years ago (or similar to an MC flare) you know what
it takes to heal. Give yourself a lot of positive self talk. "I've healed before from this, I can do it again."
etc. Repeat that or something similar as your mantra.

Again, I think you are well on the way to healing as you get the gluten connection and the processed
foods connection and how key diet is.
User avatar
bubba
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:06 am

Post by bubba »

Yes, thanks again Brandy!!
I got worried when I started reading the archives about hormone replacement therapy. When I hit menopause, it was like hitting a brick wall and the HRT cream helps me with this so much that I sure hope I don't need to discontinue it. I will do as you suggest and stay along the path I'm currently on and hope this resolves this flare. If not, I'll look to the HRT cream.
Thank you so much for all of your tips and insight!
Cathy
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35068
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Besides what Brandy suggested, here's something else to consider: If you do any baking, GF flours are a common source of cross-contamination. A dietitian conducted a test of the ingredients in GF flours on store shelves a number of years ago and discovered that certain ones had a worrisome cross-contamination rate. Apparently, most cross-contamination occurs during the milling process when the same production line is used for processing different grains. Having some experience with this, I can tell you that stone mills are very difficult (if not impossible) to thoroughly clean). Basically, the operator has to flush out the prior grain/flour with new grain/flour. There are too many nooks and crannies to ever do a complete job, so they just switch to the new grain and throw way the production for a while until they feel that it is pure. At least this is how they used to do it. Just how pure it actually is depends on how long it is purged, the moisture content (higher moisture increases adhesion), and various other issues. And some GF flours are susceptible to cross-contamination during grain production or storage/handling. For various reasons GF flours should be considered to be a cross-contamination risk unless every batch is thoroughly tested and certified GF.

Tex
:cowboy:

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.
User avatar
bubba
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:06 am

Post by bubba »

Thanks Tex!
I'll certainly keep that in mind. I haven't done any baking lately, and when I did a while back, I used almond flour. Still could be a source of cross-contamination, so I'll be aware of that.
As always, appreciative of the feedback and suggestions!
Cathy
User avatar
Ingrid
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 95
Joined: Fri May 17, 2019 3:31 pm

Post by Ingrid »

Hello! I am in a flare! Wattery D JUST once and then constipation. I can see white dots in the poo. Stomach and abdominal pain and lot of noises. I am desperate because I am unable to gain Weight I am think Inam losing rapidly again all the weight that I had gained while on Entocort despite GF, lactose free, grain free, except for corn. I am losing hair. I am from mex and no access ti Enterolab, what can I do!? I really want to get well.
Ingrid
brandy
King Penguin
King Penguin
Posts: 2909
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:54 am
Location: Florida

Post by brandy »

Cathy,

I have been on bioidentical creams for 7 years. They have not stopped me from going in remission. I would not
worry about them at this point. I think you can get to remission with some minor tweaks to your regimen.

Ingrid--start Gabes stage 1 diet.
https://perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22328

Also--recommend Tex book at top right corner. I don't think we have a Spanish version but it is pretty easy English.

Welcome!
User avatar
Ingrid
Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin
Posts: 95
Joined: Fri May 17, 2019 3:31 pm

Post by Ingrid »

Thank you brandy!
Ingrid
Post Reply

Return to “Discussions About Enterolab Testing”