Enterolab testing

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Memory
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Enterolab testing

Post by Memory »

I have been reading about so many ppl here have been tested at the enterolab in Texas for food intolerances...I was just wondering if anyone that has been tested has ever recieved results that were negative for gf, sf, etc...intolerences ?

I am a skeptic when it comes to internet services and/or info especially when they cost money ( always makes me wonder if it is a internet scam )...and if maybe the service provider feels like in order to 'give you your moneys worth' they have to find some wrong ( know what I mean ) ?? I am such a pessimist... :oops:

I sure hope I dont offend anyone here with this question as I am sure that food intolerances are reality for many people...this question is ask with complete sincerity and with no offense meant to anyone...I sure hope it isnt a stupid question to ask. I am just curious if anyone has ever tested negative ?? :rose:

Memory :smile:
ant
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Post by ant »

Dear Memory

Here are the results from people on PP board....

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10089

You will see that there are a few negative scores. Most are positive. But, since those being tested here have MC, I am not surprised by so many positives.

All best, Ant
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Memory
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Post by Memory »

Thanks Ant, I appreciate you posting that link :smile:

Wow...it seems as if most MC issuses are related to food intolerance...I suppose it is rare to find someone with MC that doesnt have some intolerances to certain things ( soy, dairy, gluten ) ? I wonder why Dr's arent more educated about this and why they dont pass on this info to their patients :sad: ??

I am a terrible 'label reader' because I dont recognize some of the words they use for gluten etc...( I have been reading how there can be 'hidden ingredients' just by the wording of ingredients on products ).

I will have to try to find a good gluten free diet ( one that I can understand...lol ) and start with that, and then if need be try eliminating soy, dairy, etc...to see if my symptoms improve.

Thanks again, Memory
ant
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Post by ant »

memory wrote
I wonder why Dr's arent more educated about this and why they dont pass on this info to their patients Sad ??
That is THE question to ask. Some docs and medical researchers are pioneering and up to speed on this. But, it seems, the industry in general still turns its back on the mounting evidence that food intolerance is linked to MC (and many other chronic conditions). Let's hope the truth will one day be allowed into the open by the worthies who guard the gates as to what information is 'credible and acceptable' .

All best, Ant
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tex
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Post by tex »

Memory wrote: I wonder why Dr's arent more educated about this and why they dont pass on this info to their patients :sad: ??
This is mostly because, in medical school, they are trained to treat disease by prescribing medications - they are not trained to even consider treating disease by diet control.

Regarding the Enterolab test results, I'm pretty sure that in almost every case, anyone with MC who nests negative to gluten sensitivity, developed the disease because of a sensitivity to a medication that they were taking, (such as an NSAID, PPI, SSRI, etc.). In many of those cases, discontinuing the use of the medication will bring remission. For the rest of us, though, unfortunately, when our disease was triggered, genes that predispose to gluten and other food sensitivities, were also triggered.

Tex
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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.
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Post by Kimberly M »

I too wondered about the credibility of Enterolab only because I am new to all this and know there are many internet scams. Not really sure how to get a definitive answer to this question. I too mean no ill intentions when posting this comment. It's sad these days that you can't just trust those who are probably legitimate and trying to help.

Kim :cat:

My 5 year old begged me to post the kitty as she sat watching me type this :lol:
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Memory
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Post by Memory »

ant wrote:memory wrote
I wonder why Dr's arent more educated about this and why they dont pass on this info to their patients Sad ??
That is THE question to ask. Some docs and medical researchers are pioneering and up to speed on this. But, it seems, the industry in general still turns its back on the mounting evidence that food intolerance is linked to MC (and many other chronic conditions). Let's hope the truth will one day be allowed into the open by the worthies who guard the gates as to what information is 'credible and acceptable' .

All best, Ant
Yep, but who to ask ?? I know my GI Dr is going to say "we tested you in '08 Memory and you were negative" ... :roll: ( so WHO to ask is the issue :idea:
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Post by Memory »

I totally agree with you Tex, it seems to me that no matter what you see a DR for these days they are real quick to whip out that RX pad and write 'ya a handful of prescriptions, most of which have horrid side effects that can be experienced... ( and when 'ya read some of the possible side effects it will scare 'ya to death )... :sad: ....guess I am going to have to do that entrolab testing at some point to get answers but I have to still get over some of the reservations I have about been tested by an internet site.... :oops:
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

In Australia there are some GP's that are wholistic and for conditions like this will embrace and accept diet as the main managment tool, the problem is they are so few and so popular you have to wait 6 months to get to see them!


Post university the only ongoing training a doctor or specialist receives (sorry i should say is 'required' to do to maintain their creditentials) is training sessions that are run by drug companies. so the condition or symptoms they are being trained on directly relate to a drug treatment.

there are some doctors who go over and above this and will look at non drug treatment for conditions symptoms.

if you have read some of the previous posts, quite a few of us have found that success with MC Management is 'self management' do research, be informed, if the doctor suggests a medication research it and make sure it is what you want to do.
under the heading of self management is the combination of

Medication - taking the medication(s) that suit you (budget, lifestyle, with minimal reactions)

Diet - whether you do the enterolab testing or take the slow way of elimination diet again it comes down to budget, and lifestyle

Other treatments - yoga, acupuncture, advice of a naturopath everyone has different thoughts and feelings and again it comes down to what you can afford and what you find works for you.

After many years of medical issues (and being lead down the wrong path by medical professionals) I am now quite assertive when it comes to dealing with my doctors. My GP has realised that i do research, and I am confident in the techniques i am using to manage the MC day to day, and i will seek medical assistance should it be required, and I am being proactive and working with my GP to have the appropriate tests to monitor things like Vit B and Vit D bone density etc

please note i am not scoffing or disregarding what the doctor or specailist recomends, more so i am asking them to give me reasons or a basis for their recommendation. it is then up to me to accept it or not.

Please note: I have not taken any steriods and i have not done the enterolab testing. i have reasonable control on my MC, 9 months post diagnosis
yes i have minor flares in this time , generally these are connected to physical exhaustion from excerting too much adrenalin (work stress etc)
Gabes Ryan

"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
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tex
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Post by tex »

Regarding the questions about Enterolab: I hear you - the internet is indeed full of scams, and the shady record of many such labs, in the past, is the main reason why most GI doctors are slow to embrace the technology used by Enterolab, (they've been stung before, and such memories tend to linger forever).

Enterolab was founded by Dr. Kenneth Fine, roughly 10 years ago. Dr. Fine has MC himself, which is the reason why he started researching the disease, in the first place. He is the person who discovered the link between diet and MC, and he is the creator of the "Pepto-Bismol" treatment, (he developed it over 10 years ago, but many GI docs are just now beginning to recognize it as a possible treatment for MC).

Enterolab is a fully accredited lab, and since it is located in Dallas, Texas, you can check his professional reputation online, at the Texas Board of Medical Examiners. The last time I looked, he had zero negative entries on his record. His tests are patented, all over the world, and no other labs are licensed to use his technology, so that's why you don't see anyone else offering stool tests for food intoleraces, that actually work - he holds all the patents.

The downfall of most labs is their poor repeatability record, because individual technicians judge the results differently, so they report different results. Only one individual does all the testing at Enterolab, and he holds a PhD, so their tests are absolutely repeatable, reliable, and accurate. For example, Dr. Fine's stool tests can detect gluten sensitivity several years before the disease becomes severe enough to raise the antibody level in the blood to a level where the classic celiac blood tests can detect the disease. IOW, the stool tests are several orders of magnitude more sensitive than the blood tests.

If you will read some of the celiac discussion boards, you will discover that Enterolab has accumulated thousands upon thousands of satisfied customers over the years that they have been in business. There is no way that they could have done that if they were not totally legitimate. I'm not suggesting that there are absolutely no unhappy customers out there, but I haven't come across a single one, so far, and I've scanned a heck of a lot of internet discussion boards related to this topic.

IMO, they're the only game in town, if you want to test for food sensitivities. There are other labs offering so-called food sensitivity tests, but none of them come close to the standard of accuracy and reliability maintained by Enterolab.

And no, I'm not on their payroll, nor am I affiliated with them in any way, other than the fact that I am a very satisfied customer. Just for the record, I have only ordered 3 food sensitivity tests from them, (egg, yeast, and soy). All three results were negative, and sure enough, I do not react to those foods. At the time that I ordered the tests, though, I wasn't sure, so this saved me a lot of misery and aggravation, since I didn't have to wonder if I was sensitive to them, and I didn't have to worry about keeping them out of my diet.

Yep, Enterolab gets an unequivocal :thumbsup: from me.

Tex
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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.
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Post by Kimberly M »

Thanks Tex......that info about Enterolab helps alot!

Kim :sun:
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Post by Memory »

Tex,
So glad you weighed in on this thread with such an in depth post ( because all your posts seem to make sense to me, and you have given me thru my research on the boards alot of insight... I have in the short time I have been here gained alot of knowledge from you and many others )...I admit when I joined I was totally confused and frustrated with this whole MC issue, and thought I was at deaths door...lol !!
I highly repsect your opinion ( due to your post and replies on so many different topics, all of which are in detail, and I can tell when reading them they were diligently and carefully researched ). Thanks Tex for replying...I do feel better about entrolab now, and am seriously considering investing the money ( even tho very expensive for me at this time...wonder if they take American Express...lol ) to either confirm or not...it I test postive to any intolerances so be it, I will then KNOW what to deal with, and if I test negative it will be take the 'trial and error' ( guess work ) out of the equation...plus the peace of mind of knowing either away is worth so much.

Thanks again...I feel so much better...Memory
:bigbighug:
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tex
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Post by tex »

Memory wrote:I admit when I joined I was totally confused and frustrated with this whole MC issue, and thought I was at deaths door...lol !!
Most of us were the same way at one time or another. When I first "went through the clinic", (had all the tests), and the doctors found nothing wrong with me, I resigned myself to spend the rest of my life in misery, and I wondered how many more years I would be able to survive, before my heart, or something else, gave up, due to all the stress, dehydration, malnutrition, etc., and a feeling of just plain hopelessness.

Incidentally, Enterolab had an open house celebration, to unveil their new, larger lab facilities, roughly a year ago, as I recall. Many members of this board were invited, but I don't know offhand if anyone from here attended.

Thanks, I appreciate the kind words, but I'm just another student of microscopic colitis, like everyone else here - we all learn from each other.

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.
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