2nd Enterolab tests?

[Jeannie54]

Hello everyone! While I am doing much better than the last time I was here, I still have not reached remission after almost 4 years. I'm thinking I need to do Enterolab tests again. At the time I did them, I had been taking 9 mg Budesonide for well over a year. Dr Fine told me at the time that would not affect the results, but I have read here many times that Tex said that would definitely skew the results. So, my question is, I have been taking 3 mg Budesonide every other day for the past 2 years. Will that small amount skew the results as well? I don't want to waste another $400.
Many thanks once again to all of you, most especially Tex and Gabes for all of the knowledge that you share. You give us back our lives!

Jeannie

[tex]

These are uncharted waters, but I have a hunch that if you've never's completely stopped using budesonide, it will affect the test sensitivity. I believe if I were in your shoes, I would simply try an elimination diet. In other words, if you're not totally avoiding gluten, casein, soy, and chicken eggs, then I would begin avoiding all of them, to see if it helps. Without any previous test results to go by, I can only guess.

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

although foods are large part of trigging inflammation - there are lots of other things that can cause inflammation or cause issues


1. are you taking Vit d3 and magnesium?
2. are you taking any other medications / have other health issues?
3. have you removed main triggers from bathroom, makeup and hair products?
4. are you sharing kitchen at home or work with others that are having gluten, dairy, soy?
5. have allergies been an issue during the 4 years?
6. what drinks are having each day?
7. Any mold, excess pollution, chemical exposure at home or work?

[Jeannie54]

Thank you both so much, Tex and Gabes. I have avoided gluten, soy, eggs, dairy and all foods that I showed sensitivity to on the Enterolab test results. Gabes, my home is not gluten free, but we don't have wheat flour in the house and I have my own utensils and my husband and son do their own cooking and do their own dishes. I have looked at all the things that you mentioned, Gabes, and I do have some sinus issues, but I take no meds. Occasional tylenol for pain, that's it. I take vitamin D Supreme and use Ancient Minerals magnesium spray. I've tried taking Sandoz Cholestyramine (gave me bad gas pains) and Methyl-Guard Plus (diarrhea). I will have very good days, and some weeks that I even have normal stools. Then things go south. Some times I know why, if I've tried a new food, but most of the time I don't know why. There is stress in my life, but I do my best to deal with that in healthy ways.

I suspect that I may be getting into gluten when I spend time with grandkids, although I am very careful, even use disposable gloves. I also suspect that I could still be eating something that I am sensitive to. So I will try an elimination diet as Tex suggested.

Many thanks again to both of you!

Jeannie

[tex]

Jeannie,

I have to agree with Gabes. Stress, especially can be a major problem, and when our immune system is already hyped up, sometimes it doesn't take all that much stress to trip the trigger. We all seem to have a different threshold.

Are you eating any high histamine foods, such as ripe bananas, fish, chicken, or fermented foods? Some of us are histamine sensitive (and it can cause diarrhea), but most of us who have histamine issues tend to itch when we're having a reaction, or or we havewatery eyes, or sneezing.

Often, in situations such as this, the problem is some item that we've been eating (or drinking) all our lives, and we've simply given it a free pass without even considering it as a threat. And for many of us, cross-contamination, or mislabeled products, are constant risks. And some of us are just more sensitive than others.

Does using one budesonide capsule per day, or every other day, bring remission? What about two capsules per day? In other words, would helping your dose of budesonide slightly, help? A few of us end up having to take a maintenance dose of budesonide in situations such as this, and most of us are able to get away with small doses without having significant side effects.

Tex

[Jeannie54]

Tex-
I do eat chicken, but none of the other foods that you mentioned. I don't itch or sneeze after eating it though. I have been eating a lot of avocados lately and I think they are high histamine! I will stop right away. I drink about a cup and a half of black coffee in the morning and I use organic whole beans that I grind myself (Gabes' suggestion), and the only other drink I have is water. I don't think we have excessive pollution - I live in northeast Ohio - and I don't think I come in contact with any chemicals as I'm retired. And when I was working, it was in an office at a college.

I could try taking one Budesonide per day instead of every other day and see if that makes a difference. And I will continue the elimination diet as well. Also will continue looking at just everything I come in contact with. Not to mention manage stress - I know that's a huge trigger for me. Maybe my gut is just super sensitive and doesn't take much to cause reaction.

Another thing I thought of is magnesium spray. I use 16 sprays total, but I don't do them all at once, I spray them throughout the day. That equals about 250 mg of elemental magnesium. Some days though, If I'm not going to be home, I'll spray all at once. Could that cause diarrhea?

Thank you again for taking the time to talk to me, Tex. I drive myself crazy at times trying to figure this out! I keep thinking I'm in remission but then I'm not! I am so thankful that I found you and this group.

Jeannie

[tex]

if you're not having any histamine related symptoms, then there's probably no point in avoiding avocados. That said, except for gluten, avoiding most foods should show an improvement within two or three days, if they're a problem food. Avocados contain a lot of fat, but I have no idea whether too much plant-based fat is as likely to cause diarrhea as too much animal-based fat.

Re: spraying magnesium, I don't believe it's a common problem, but some people can react to excessive magnesium sprays.

Did you have fewer symptoms back when you were taking a budesonide capsule every day?

Incidentally, fresh chicken is low histamine. Chicken stored at refrigerator temperatures gains histamine every day. Since I have histamine problems, I can eat fresh chicken, but if I store chicken or chicken soup in the refrigerator, for three days, it will cause me to have bloating and diarrhea.

Tex

[Jeannie54]

Tex-
I don't really remember if I had fewer issues when taking one Budesonide every day. I do know that when I completely stop taking it, diarrhea returns within a week or so. I have been concerned about changing the dose too often because I don't want it to lose effectiveness.
Regarding avocados, I remember that Gabes said some foods are ok until you reach a certain threshold, and then they cause reactions. Maybe avocados are ok once in a while, but not every day for me. Just a thought.
Thank you for the info on chicken and histamines. I grill a lot of it and then freeze into portions, so it doesn't sit in my fridge at all. But I will remember that about chicken soup!
I will do my best to space magnesium sprays throughout the day just in case! Probably will absorb it better that way anyways.
I hope you have a wonderful day, Tex!

Jeannie

[Jeannie54]

Hi all! I'm working on the elimination diet, eliminated white potatoes first, and things improved greatly on the third day, but today is the fourth day and things went south again. Diarrhea, gas, the whole thing. Also, I've not eaten avocado, so that was not it either.
In the meantime, I took Tex's and Gabes' advice and looked again at everything that I touch or eat.

I never thought about corn being an ingredient in cosmetics or shampoo, or soap, but it is! I only checked for gluten and soy. My Enterolab test showed moderate immunological reactivity (2+) to corn and oats. So I researched skin care ingredients derived from corn and guess what! In my shampoo and conditioner is citric acid (corn) and in my blush is Zea Mays (corn)! Glycerin can also contain corn derivatives as well as soy. And glycerin is in so many products. Tex, do you think that using products with corn all this time could cause me to continually react?

One more question -- I found a website called Skinsafe, through the Mayo Clinic. You can search products and they tell you if the product contains gluten, soy, etc., all the major allergens. Does anyone know if this site is trustworthy?

Thank you so much,
Jeannie

[tex]

Jeannie,

I had to avoid corn and all its derivatives while I was recovering, but after a few years passed, I was able to tolerate corn just fine, again. It's a long shot but it certainly might be worth avoiding corn for at least a few days or so, to see if there's any improvement.

I've never heard of that website, but if the Mayo Clinic commanded it, I would think that it would be safe.

Tex

[Jeannie54]

Thank you, Tex!
Jeannie