First I'd like to share my good news. All you newbies I hope will be encouraged by this! I believe Tex has commented that healing the gut can take anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. After 2 1/2 years it appears that I have made extremely good progress. While it did not fit into my budget at all, the Enterolab testing was one of the best investments I've ever made. I'm only sorry that the expanded tests were unavailable in Feb of 2010, but working very hard at being GF, DF, SF has made a remarkable difference in my life, from up with D 20 to 30 times a night, to approaching norman, extremely gratifying. A few bumps along the way, usually caused by stress, but wow. A thousand thanks to everyone on this wonderful support group who, well, supported me all along the way.
Now for bad news. My eye doctor yesterday saw significant changes from 2 years ago, where she saw an insignificant drusen, and made a note on my chart but didn't mention it. Yesterday there were many more, a marker for Macular Degeneration. She said I do not have it at this point, but definitely am at risk, so will be on yearly checkup. She said there are really no treatments for MD, but research has shown that heavy supplementation with nutrients like A, C, E, fish oil, zinc, copper, zexanthin & lutein have been shown to help in 25% of people. She mentioned that there are a lot of products out there, so I told her about my allergies, and also my support group. She was very happy that I might be able to get help. So my initial research is showing a lot of products with soy and wheat, like the Bausch & Lomb products. It looked like Dr. Whittaker's Vision Essentials might be ok.
Has anyone had this problem or any experience with any of this. Thanks, Beverly
The old "good news, bad news" ploy
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Hi Beverly,
Congrats on managing the MC, and sorry about the eye setback. I vaguely recall reading about coconut oil for MD, so I googled it. It is definitely recommended in place of other processed oils. This article talks about other alternative therapies:
http://naturalnews.com/news/032785_macu ... _cure.html
Congrats on managing the MC, and sorry about the eye setback. I vaguely recall reading about coconut oil for MD, so I googled it. It is definitely recommended in place of other processed oils. This article talks about other alternative therapies:
http://naturalnews.com/news/032785_macu ... _cure.html
Hi Beverly,
I'm sorry to hear about the drusen, but it's great that you've made so much progress with your MC. I hope your health continues to improve.
If it's any consolation, I was first diagnosed with drusen 30 years ago, and it was already quite prominent at the time. I've taken lutein ever since then. After hearing my original prognosis, I expected a fairly noticeable decline over the years, but so far that hasn't happened. My vision certainly hasn't improved since then, but I've been pleasantly surprised to find that it doesn't seem to have deteriorated any more than most people my age. I only need to wear glasses to read when the light is dim — otherwise I'm fine, and don't need glasses.
Thanks for the update. We always enjoy reading success stories.
Tex
I'm sorry to hear about the drusen, but it's great that you've made so much progress with your MC. I hope your health continues to improve.
If it's any consolation, I was first diagnosed with drusen 30 years ago, and it was already quite prominent at the time. I've taken lutein ever since then. After hearing my original prognosis, I expected a fairly noticeable decline over the years, but so far that hasn't happened. My vision certainly hasn't improved since then, but I've been pleasantly surprised to find that it doesn't seem to have deteriorated any more than most people my age. I only need to wear glasses to read when the light is dim — otherwise I'm fine, and don't need glasses.
Thanks for the update. We always enjoy reading success stories.
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.
Hi Brenda,
I usually take 20 mg each morning, except that I skip taking it on two days each week (Thursdays and Sundays). I skip those days because Shirley's opthalmologist recommended it to her. When I asked my own opthalmologist about the proper dosage, he just shrugged and said there haven't been any studies done. Sometimes I buy the 40 mg version, but I've never seen any information that indicates that one is better than the other, or what the optimum dose might be.
Tex
I usually take 20 mg each morning, except that I skip taking it on two days each week (Thursdays and Sundays). I skip those days because Shirley's opthalmologist recommended it to her. When I asked my own opthalmologist about the proper dosage, he just shrugged and said there haven't been any studies done. Sometimes I buy the 40 mg version, but I've never seen any information that indicates that one is better than the other, or what the optimum dose might be.
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.
thanks so much for the responses. There is a lot of info on the internet, sifting through it takes time. My eye Dr. mentioned the study currently going on re the use of supplements for Macular Degeneration, supposed to be released in 2013. This adds zeaxanthin and lutein to the older study, and reduces the amount of zinc, eliminates vitamin A which was very high (25,000 IU) and adds Omega 3, couldn't find how much. So Tex, your use of lutein so successfully for so many years is quite interesting. I printed out a chart from the iherb site that shows the amount of lutein and zeaxanthin in fruits & veggies, and I'm sure it would be a big help, but wow would you have to eat a lot of kale to get much benefit! I won't suggest that you take a section of your corn field and plant kale.
I've been very interested in coconut oil anyway, and this information gives me that extra shove I needed to get some, Zizzle! Thanks.
Something else interesting that happened recently, my former PCP refused to order a vitamin D test for me, said I (and Dave) didn't need it. We both have a new PCP now, he was glad to order it for me, the $109 wasn't covered by Medicare, but I really wanted to know. Good thing I pushed, I am "insufficient" at 25, and I was taking 2000 mg. Dr. suggested upping it to 4000, which I have. Medicare will pay for follow up tests if you are deficient I think. Dave doesn't have results yet, but the way our dermatologist cautions us about sun exposure, won't be surprised if he is deficient also.
Beverly
I've been very interested in coconut oil anyway, and this information gives me that extra shove I needed to get some, Zizzle! Thanks.
Something else interesting that happened recently, my former PCP refused to order a vitamin D test for me, said I (and Dave) didn't need it. We both have a new PCP now, he was glad to order it for me, the $109 wasn't covered by Medicare, but I really wanted to know. Good thing I pushed, I am "insufficient" at 25, and I was taking 2000 mg. Dr. suggested upping it to 4000, which I have. Medicare will pay for follow up tests if you are deficient I think. Dave doesn't have results yet, but the way our dermatologist cautions us about sun exposure, won't be surprised if he is deficient also.
Beverly
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I do a home test for vitamin d. I suppose I could ask my doctor for the test but sometimes I prefer to do things on my own even if it means paying for it myself. A home test kit is $67 I believe.
http://www.grassrootshealth.net/
Jean
http://www.grassrootshealth.net/
Jean