Writings on SIBO, Sugar Malabsorption and Leaky Gut

[mle_ii]

Hi Mike,

You've been busy, to say the least.

In your second post, you had the line:

mucosa.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/quer ... stractPlus . . . . . .

I have modified the code for the system, so that it recognizes "long" URLs, and automatically shortens them, (without losing the navigation links), in order to eliminate the need for horizontal scrolling, (horizontal scrolling takes most of the fun out of readig a topic with a long URL). The way it was written, the "mucosa." in front of the "http" in that line, prevented the system from shortening the URL, and also prevented it from turning it into a link. Instead, the system just intrpreted it as one long word, thus the reason that horizontal scrolling was necessary to read this topic.

I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of editing that line, by ending the paragraph, (hitting the "Enter" key), after the ".", and before the http, so that the system can now properly identify and handle the URL, and horizontal scrolling is no longer necessary, and so that the left edge of the URL lines up with the rest of them.

If this isn't the way that the line is supposed to read, please let me know, and I will change it, since I certainly didn't intend to change something that shouldn't be changed.

Tex

Thanks Tex! I hate those long links, I need to remember how to shorten them to begin with as I don't think that all of it is required to get to the articles.

[cludwig]

Hi Polly,

I got this test through an IBS treatment center from a different ND who happens to have celiac disease. Anyway, the stool test indicated an overgrowth of two bad bacteria...citrobacter freundii and proteus mirabilis. Then they test each for their susceptibilities. Both were susceptable to the caprylic acid and uva ursi as well as cipro. I asked the ND the same question you bring up, sort of...mine was won't this stuff kill the good guys as well as the bad. His response was probably...he said I should take a probiotic at the same time to achieve a good balance of the good bacteria.

I bought a bottle but haven't tried it yet. It's caprylate complex from pharmax and it contains 45 mg calcium caprylate and 20 mg magnesium caprylate. When I looked it up online it mentions not to use when you have colitis, but when I questioned this they said it would be okay.....still made me nervous...so I haven't tried it. I'm sure I will risk it sometime.

Love, Cristi

[cludwig]

Hi Mike,

We were typing at the same time. I did have a stomach acid test...nasty little test. Swallowed a receiver ( large pill size) on a string and they had me swallow baking soda water and measured the time until the stomach acid level returned to normal. I was there over two hours holding this string as the stomach is trying to pull it down to the small intestine. YUK. Anyway the person administering the test gave me the acid pills...which hurt my stomach...very burny feeling. I was already having D so I don't know if it affected that.

Well, when I met up with the doctor a week later he said my acid production wasn't perfect but that it wasn't actually that bad. He said I shouldn't be having any problems digesting my food. He said he sees a lot of people whose acid production takes hours to recover from the baking soda water. So I haven't taken them since.

Love. Cristi

[cludwig]

Hi Mike,

I forgot ....he said if I wanted to get my acid production even better but couldn't take the acid pills to take apple cider vinegar....which still hurt my stomach or ...my regular naturopath suggested this...to take bitters before a meal as this will get your own natural stomach acids flowing. Unfortunately most of the over the counter bitters contain alcohol...so I assumed we couldn't take that. The ND said to cook kale or any bitter green in alittle water til mushy..then put it on your tongue...you don't even need to swallow...just tasting the bitter taste will stimulate the stomach to start producing acid.

Love,

Cristi

[tex]

Hi Cristi,

Unless you're taking meds that are adversly affected by alcohol, there's no reason why you can't ingest alcohol. If it's the old claim that alcohol is not GF, that is bothering you, that idea was always incorrect, but it was perpetuated for decades by celiac groups who didn't understand chemistry, or the distillation process.

In reality, as far as gluten is concerned, it doesn't matter what type of grain is used to make alcohol, as the distillation process totally eliminates any chance of gluten transfer into the finished product. The main types of alcohol that you have to be careful with are blended whiskeys, (which may be blended with malt-containing beverages), wine coolers that contain malt, and certain other blended beverages. Beer, of course, is not gluten free. Here's a list of GF alcoholic beverages:

http://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=271

Love,
Tex

[cludwig]

Hi Tex,

I didn't know that. Well it would be easier to buy the bitters rather than make them. Thanks.

Love,
Cristi

[mle_ii]

I thought alcohol was out for MC.

Found something here:
http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/in ... D=332&UID=

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may play a pathophysiological role in microscopic colitis; if possible, NSAIDs and other agents that might exacerbate diarrhea (eg, dairy products, excess caffeine or alcohol) should be discontinued.

[tex]

That's a somewhat comprensive article about MC, (although it completely misses the most effective treatment for most of us - diet), but it's strictly an old school approach. The author sites the work that Dr. Fine did to support the bismuth treatment, but completely fails to mention Dr. Fine's work in demonstrating a connection with sensitivity to gluten, and certain other proteins.

I suspect the caveat about those three items, (dairy, caffeine, or alcohol), is mentioned in that article simply because of general diarrhea considerations, not because they are specifically a problem with MC. Dairy, of course, is listed because of the high probability of the presence of lactose intolerance, with any form of enteritis, and caffeine and/or alcohol can cause diarrhea in any individual, if ingested in excess amounts. (Notice that it said excess cafeine or alcohol). I doubt if the author was even aware that MC is often linked with casein intolerance, since he seemed to be totally oblivious of the role that diet plays with the disease.

Note also, that the article stated:

Thus, when an agent is found that controls the diarrhea, the drug may be discontinued after 6 to 8 weeks.

That hasn't been our experience here. For most of us on meds, a maintenance dose is mandatory. Very, very few can drop the meds completely in 6 to 8 weeks, and remain in remission, and most of the ones who are able to, drop them after years of use, not just 6 to 8 weeks.

I don't recall seeing any articles that presented a convincing argument that alcohol in moderation is a problem with MC, (anymore than moderate amounts are a problem for the general population). That doesn't mean that there aren't any - it just means that I haven't come across them, if they exist.

Tex

[Matthew]

My experience is that moderate amounts of alcohol are a plus. The key word here being moderate. Even in my worst moments a small libation was very relaxing. Of course it is a big mistake to use alcohol as the only way to relax even in if ones digestive tract is healthy. My priorities for relaxation would be exercise, stretching/yoga, meditation or a good book but a glass of dry red or white wine with a good friend and a good meal on occasion has never disrupted anything for me. I have never found that the small amount in vanilla or bitters to be even the slightest problem. Drinking on a regular basis can be one of the factors in leaky gut syndrome and for anyone with major D problems I would think it might be advisable to stay away from it in that it can be dehydrating. For the same reason if you have unresolved problems moderating your moderaton might be even better.

As Wayne has pointed out un-distilled liquor like beer is pretty much out. Be careful of hard cider. I have never found one that did not contain citric acid. If you recognize sulfites as a problem wine may be out of the picture although if you look hard enough their are places that sell natural wines without them .

I am not recommending anyone start drinking. We are all different so if you do decide to have a small libation pay as much attention to what is in it just the way you would pay attention to anything else you eat.

Hope this helps

Matthew

[Polly]

Morning!

I'll just weigh in here to agree with Matthew. I find that I tolerate dry red wine very well. The drier the better. I have a yeast intolerance, and I have read that dry wines are the way to go. Apparently once all of the sugars in the grapes are used up by the yeast, they die and disintegrate.

Plus the evidence is increasingly in favor of the positive impact of alcohol on heart disease. This isn't emphasized too much by the medical world because of the fear that those who are addicted to alcohol will use it as an excuse to overindulge. And of course, there are dangers with drinking and driving. But some studies are showing that up to a drink a day may be good for the heart. Cheers!

Love,

Polly