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Blood panel and tests for root cause of sudden schizophrenia
Hi B, please recommend what blood panels to get along with any other tests ( mri,ct) to get to the root cause of my brothers symptoms.
Other symptoms he mentioned or I observed before in past year before his episode:
- White scaly spots on head with flaking
- Stomach issues
- Extreme fatigue
- hot flashes
- Kept getting sick
- Muscle twitching in hand
- Extremely dry ashy hands
- His hands get hot to the touch at night
Additional new symptoms now:
- Catatonic episodes with a few seconds of normal conversation
- keeps rubbing left ear
- Random smiling
- Random nodding of head
- Will pull head to right side and get stuck there for few seconds
He, in the past week suddenly showed signs of schizohrenia, although had a depressive episode for a few months prior. Otherwise was a normal fun loving 28 year old male.
I read the article recommended about possible autoimmune attacking the brain. Also he doesn’t have insurance but can get it no problem. Wondering if it’s better to do out of pocket or through insurance. Also if anyone recommends their favorite insurance companies, please do.
*random note: they just found out their house has mold from a leak in roof
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12 Replies
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Hey @Annie Sye,
Mold exposure can cause a variety of symptoms including neurological symptoms(if you like to learn more, watch this video). Traditional labpanels unfortunately aren’t helpful when it comes to mold exposure. There are things I could recommend you though.
Don’t try to remove mold yourself… please! Removing mold needs to be done by an expert and an expert only!
Until that time, make sure you reduce exposure by ventilating the room. Open the windows as often as you can.
If your brother experiences fewer symptoms when he is on vacation, this could indicate something he is exposed to in his normal environment (like mold) is contributing to his symptoms, however…
… in the case of mold, spores could have been seeded in his body. In this case, when he is on vacation, symptoms might not get less because mold can colonize your body (for example in the gut).
Testing for mold can be done by different types of tests. The OAT (Organic Acid Test) for example is such a test. The MycoTox test is a different test which tests for toxins produced by mold. Both tests have their pros and cons which are discussed here.
Other forms of toxicity might also contribute to neurological problems. Amalgam fillings for example contain mercury, which could cause neurological symptoms. If your brother has them, removing them would be advised. You’ll need to find a dentist who is specialized in removing mercury fillings.
Exposure to lead has also been connected to Schizophrenia (see this study for information about lead exposure). If he lives in an old house with old water pipes, depending on where you live in the world, these pipes could contain lead. Old paint can contain lead as well. Although most new paints don’t contain lead anymore, in some countries adding lead to paint is still not forbidden. If your brother likes to paint, you could recommend him to switch paint brands as well.
If you’ve got some old labs from your brother and if he doesn’t mind, you can post them on the forum as well. We might be able to take a look and provide you with some additional advice as well. Looking through the lens of functional medicine to these labs might provide you with new insights.
Since you know your brother is exposed to mold you might find the course in the B Better library interesting. You can find the complete course here.
I hope this helps
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@Daniel Schepers Thank you so much Daniel. Where does one order those two labs from for mold exposure?
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Hi @Annie Sye thanks for sharing a brief history of your brother’s symptoms. Mentioning mold is not random at all! Mold exposure is not to be taken lightly, and may be a major source of your brother’s psychotic/neurological symptoms, as mold and mycotoxins are lipophilic (meaning they get absorbed in fat), therefore they have an affinity for the brain.
When did your brother’s symptoms begin? As Daniel mentioned, did his symptoms improve if he left the house for an extended period of time? The white scaly spots on his head is a big clue of possible fungal infection, which is also linked to schizophrenia.
If mold was found in the house, has any action been taken to remediate the problem? Please share more about this.
Have you done any conventional blood testing or functional testing you can share with us? A heavy metal test would also be a good idea. Both hair and urine heavy metal tests are available HERE.
You asked about MycoTox urine testing. You can find more info about that test HERE, and the links to order are below the video if you live in the US. And HERE’s the video on OAT urine testing. The links to order are also below the video.
Your profile shows you’re in California. But if you live outside the US, you can email us and we’ll give you access to order these functional tests (support@bbettermembership.com).
In addition, if he was my brother, I would absolutely want to get a SPECT scan of his brain to know exactly what’s at play in his unique case. If you are in fact living in California, I would highly recommend making an appointment at the Amen Clinic to get a thorough assessment and proper diagnosis. That’s really the starting point, otherwise it can be a wild goose chase. Once you know what’s a play, it becomes much easier to put together a plan of action, and zoom in on other tests to get done.
Take a look at their page on schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders: https://www.amenclinics.com/conditions/schizophrenia-and-schizoaffective-disorders/
You’ll notice that they mention leaky gut, infections, environmental toxicities, poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, stress, food sensitivities, poor sleep, too much or too little exercise, etc as contributing factors to autoimmune disease. We have plenty of resources to help you address these diet and lifestyle factors.
What I would recommend is starting with the low hanging fruit that doesn’t cost anything, but can have a big impact.
For example, removing gluten and dairy 100% from his diet for at least 4-6 months, if he’s not already avoiding these already. Gluten increases zonulin which increases the permeability of the gut lining (aka leaky gut). Leaky gut is the first of three 3 main factors in ALL autoimmune diseases. Food sensitivity testing is also available.
Watch THIS video on autoimmune disease. Although this video was focusing on thyroid autoimmunity in our Thyroid Balance course, it is still relevant for all types. We also have this handout written by Dr. Mark Hyman if you prefer to read.
Since autoimmunity is a dysfunction of the immune system, it’s also wise to check your brother’s vitamin D, A, zinc and copper levels (as RBC zinc and copper, not serum) and optimize these if they are suboptimal or deficient (you can share your results here and we’ll guide you).
I’ll leave it here for now, and wait to hear back from you on my questions above. Please take the time to watch/read the links I’ve shared, and let me know if you need any clarification.
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@Bernadette Abraham Hi B, thank you so much for the information. I’ll answer all of your questions below following the order in which you asked them.
1) personally it seems his symptoms have gotten worse with time. Although I noticed a slight lack of affect he showed as a child. He smiled and laughed and played like a normal child, but in most of his pictures he would not be smiling ( not sure if this is relevant but wanted to mention it). Also, he has lived with my parents in this family home since birth. It’s a very old home, built in 1977.
– my husband is a primary care physician and recently mentioned to me after his episode that he has noticed in the 4 years of knowing my brother some random Muscle twitches spasms. He also told me he noticed he’d smile to himself before too, and zone out into space, and that symptoms have just gotten worse with time.
– hard to say if symptoms improved on vacation, I think we didn’t fully realize anything was wrong up until now.
2) they are slowly tearing down and rebuilding the house. There has been no construction for the past few months as they wait for permits. Only 20% of the house has been redone so far. The roof had leaks that no one noticed for a while. My guess is that mold has spread throughout the home. They have an air doctor running 24/7.
3) no blood tests or check ups of any kind have been done for years. I will order the tests you mentioned asap and set up a day for the brain scan. In his current state he doesn’t warm up to any suggestions for health and wellness, so it will be done under the guise of routine work needed for travel. In the past he’s preferred natural remedies. He actually has a tooth that had gone gone bad and turned completely black, he started oil pulling and said it felt fine, but not sure if that’s true.
Yes, I suggested removing gluten and dairy to my parents a few days ago. They said, the issue with eliminating certain foods is that he’s not in a clear head space and not behaving like himself. So when anyone suggests health and wellness changes, which he would have definitely listened to before, he just isn’t open to them now. We’re trying to figure out how to help him clear his head enough to where he’s able to understand what’s happening. But we don’t know how to clear his head enough to make the changes. I would ask for supplement recommendations to help clear his head but I guess that doesn’t seem to make sense since we don’t know what’s going on. Or is there something that might help ?
I think that answers everything you mentioned. I will now go and watch all the recommend videos. Please let me know if my answers have lead to any more questions on your end. If I have any other questions I will reach out as they come up.
Again thank you so much Bernadette and Daniel, and your entire team. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and guidance.
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@Bernadette Abraham A quick question! The tests mentioned, for hair and urine heavy metal, mycotox, and OAT, does insurance ever cover those or are the tests only used by naturopathic doctors? Same question for the spect brain scan. If there is an insurance company that is known to cover these tests please do let me know so i can tell my parents to go with that insurance company. If everything needs to be out of pocket thats definitely ok too. They’d rather do everything sooner rather than later and get tests done. Thanks.
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@Annie Sye thanks for the additional information. Regarding point #2 – I’m assuming your parents are using a general contractor to rebuild the house while everyone is still living at home? If so, I would strongly recommend they find an alternative house to move into temporarily while finishing the renovations if possible. I know this is hard to hear and may sound extreme, but you absolutely should not be around when mold is exposed as it will travel everywhere if the areas are not properly sealed off and contained. Proper mold remediators will know this and notify families to vacate while they’re remediating, and they’ll come in wearing hazmat suits to protect themselves as well. Is that what’s happening at your parents house at the moment?
You can reach out to Donna Lalwani at Amen Clinic if you need a contact (dlalwani@amenclinic.com). She’s the East coast client outreach manager but she’s very helpful if you need assistance. You can mention my name or B Better, as I’ve personally been there with my son, and have recommended Amen clinics to many clients as well. If you want to see what the process looks like – you can watch my son’s visit HERE.
If your mom can help your brother remove dairy and gluten as a minimum from his diet by removing them from the house, and bringing in alternatives, this in itself may help lift brain fog and inflammation. It did for my son within 2 months of removing them. He mentioned being able to think clearer when I asked him if he feels any difference. I can help offer substitutes if there are certain foods he really loves which contain dairy and gluten to make that transition an easier one.
Regarding your question about insurance companies. The majority do not cover functional tests, however there are a few that do but come with a higher premium which may or may not be worth it. When we first moved to Dubai, we had Cigna International as expats and it covered absolutely everything under the sun. It was fantastic. Bupa international is another one my private clients use and they seem to be able to get reimbursed for functional tests and holistic services. Worth checking with both insurance companies on their different policies and coverage.
Let me know if you have any other questions. And please let me know about the renovations.
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@Bernadette Abraham thank you so much for the additional information. I had reached out to the west coast clinic earlier today and they gave me a quote of almost $8000 for mold ecposure/schizohrenia , she also said the functional tests i mentioned to her were not included in that quote but were needed. If I have my parents get the four tests mentioned by you done first, along with the blood work you mentioned is that a good place to start to give us an idea at least? If something is neccesary they will do it immediately, but if its not, and a cost could be cut, they wanted to do that.
Also, Was there a test to check for autoimmune? And what is the best test for thyroid? I wanted to upload all information here first and perhaps do the spect scan after we see where we stand and if it’s absolutely necessary. If we can see improvement in his condition with your recommendations after seeing his results, maybe a scan won’t be needed. But again, if needed they will absolutely get it done.
I mentioned the information you shared about mold in the home and my parents will be moving out of their house while they renovate now. The construction crew that came a few months ago did not wear any hazmat suits.
My husband who I mentioned is a physician, noted possible seizures yesterday. He zones out and his eyes go blank and he can’t hear what we say to him. This lasts 5-10 seconds.
I’m trying to find a way to recreate the chic fil a spicy grilled sandwich. That seems to be his comfort food right now. He only gets it with sauce meat and bun.
My parents were wondering if there is anything he can take for sleep. He’s been
Taking benadryl in juice. Then suddenly stopped. He gets worse if he doesn’t sleep. During his episode he barely slept an hour for 4 days. He still can’t sleep without benadryl but now wont take it.
Also, is there a mold inspection company you recommend? San Diego area.
Thank you Bernadette. Bless you and your team. Appreciate your guidance and information more than I can express with words.
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@Annie Sye
If you don’t want to get the brain scan done at this point, then yes, getting the MycoTox, OAT, HTMA/heavy metal tests would provide insights about current toxicity levels and his detoxification ability as a baseline measure. It will not tell us where the source is coming from unfortunately, but can give us clues to help remove potential sources.
We already know mold is present, so if the urine MycoTox test comes back negative but it shows probable on the OAT, that tells us his elimination pathways are blocked and he can’t excrete mycotoxins in urine. But if HTMA metals are high for instance, we can look at diet, lifestyle and environmental sources to try and figure out where he’s being exposed and remove those potential sources. These tests do provide more information that just this, but I wanted to highlight that they do not help identify the sources.
Some people prefer to skip testing altogether and spend their money on taking action. If you already know mold is at play, the results won’t change the course of action, which is to avoid the exposure, support digestion, mitochondrial and antioxidant function and open up his elimination pathways to help his body get rid of toxins (regardless of what they are!). And we have resources to help with that inside the Mold & Mycotoxin Illness course.
But some people have the budget to test, want a baseline measure for re-evaluations, and confirmation they’re on the right track. There’s no right or wrong choice.
If your brother doesn’t mind needles, getting some basic blood chemistry can be helpful too.
Here’s a suggested list (if also getting the OAT) if he’s never had any done:
CBC with differentials
CMP (liver, kidney & electrolytes)
hs-CRP
Iron panel
Blood sugar panel (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c)
Full thyroid panel
Vitamin D
You can find the expanded list of these panels including thyroid as requested, on the last page HERE. For autoimmunity, you can also request the ANA marker – which is just a general marker that indicates whether there is some autoimmune activation going on. You can learn more about that marker HERE.
Your husband may be able to request these markers as a physician, or you can pay out of pocket through a 3rd party lab. Check THIS VIDEO for resources in the US from our Understanding Basic Blood Chemistry course. And here’s a video on best practices to prep for a successful blood draw. As a general rule of thumb and to help remove variables, testing in a 12-hour fasting state, first thing in the morning is generally recommended. Only water is allowed. Don’t be rushed or stressed when going for blood draw as it will impact some values.
I’m happy to hear that your parents will be moving out of the house while renovations are underway. Avoidance is THE most critical step in detoxification. Very happy about that! Please see if you notice signs of improvement after your brother is out of that environment for some time.
Regarding mold inspector/remediators, please watch THIS VIDEO from the Mold & Mycotoxin Illness course for resources on where to find a qualified professional. You can also watch THIS VIDEO for a recommendation on mold consultants who work virtually if none are available locally.
Regarding sleep support, there are so many possible root cause reasons (watch this) that can affect sleep that I created an entire step-by-step Sleep Optimization Program HERE. We always want to start by addressing the basics first like sleep hygiene (read this handout for a short overview). And when those don’t seem to help, I share some rapid relief solutions depending on the circumstances. But the goal of the program is to help identify the root cause and address them, so that sleep support is no longer needed.
In your brother’s case, I would assume (best educated guess) there’s an issue with neurotransmitter balance, so if he’s not on antidepressant/SSRI/SNRI medications, something like 5-HTP, GABA, taurine, and melatonin (separate or a combo of all) might be helpful. I discuss these in more detail inside the program, along with brand recommendations and direct links.
Regarding the Chic-fil-a spicy grilled sandwich, how is your brother’s diet in general? Does he eat a lot of fast food? Or does he eat mostly home cooked food? If you can share a little bit more about his diet, we can provide better guidance. In fact, can you please create a new post about his diet? We can then start a new thread discussing diet and nutrition specifically.
I know I’m throwing a lot of info at you, but please make the time to go through all of these resources I’m sharing. Understanding the why will really help you get others on board if there’s any resistance, and 2) be able to help your brother with more confidence.
I’m deeply touched and impressed by your proactive approach to your brother’s care. We’re here to support you for as long as you need us! ❤️
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@Bernadette Abraham thank you ❤️ he’s an incredibly kind and loving human being and this is the very least I can do for all he’s done for me.
Thank you also for the attached links. The one regarding sleeping aids, schizophrenics have some issues with gaba, serotonin and dopamine and im not aure what else, like you mentioned a possible issue with neurotransmitters. So I was wondering, are there sleep aids that don’t effect those? I’m worried it will throw the already imbalanced neurotransmitters and cause another manic episode. Is there something for relaxation perhaps? I’m just not sure what sleeping aids someone like him could safely use. A pcp doctor friend here suggested Xanax but I’m not even sure if that’s safe, and it’s also highly addictive from what I read online.
Also in his current state he’s not willing to go anywhere to get blood drawn or get any scans. He thinks he’s ok. We can possibly get him to give us hair and urine for the other at home tests, but not drawing blood.
Yes, I will start a new thread for his nutririon now.
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@Annie Sye there are many herbs and compounds that can help calm the body before sleep but many of them potentiate the action of those neurotransmitters which you can find listed on the last page of our Adaptogens: Adrenal Rescue handout HERE.
I did some further research on herbs/compounds that could be helpful in those with schizophrenia-like symptoms and as usual, went down a rabbit hole. So allow me to share some interesting research that I came across which you can discuss with your husband:
FOR SLEEP:
First about Xanax use. According to this study, the use of benzodiazepine (especially without antipsychotic meds) is associated with increased mortality risk. It also cautions physicians from prescribing benzodiazepines to schizophrenic patients. It is addictive, and given the high risks, your concerns are spot on.
L-theanine may be a calming compound to consider to help him relax, which has been researched in schizophrenia as a positive adjunct to antipsychotic drug use HERE. It’s naturally found in green tea (hence why green tea isn’t as stimulating despite having caffeine). L-theanine is available as a supplement.
Another sleep aid that has some positive research in those with schizophrenia is melatonin! You can read THIS study (mice) and THIS one (humans) which shows a pro-neurogenic effect. Melatonin is mostly known as our “sleep” hormone, but it’s also a major antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. High doses are successfully being used in those undergoing cancer treatments as well. So something to consider and discuss with his physician.
FOR COGNITION:
You initially asked about something to help with cognitive function. I came across a few interesting studies of things you can consider as well:
Huperzine A is something I usually recommend to my mold afflicted clients, so it was interesting to see it studied in those with schizophrenia HERE. In fact, I’ve had a client once tell me that she feels her brain suddenly “wakes up” upon taking it.
Berberine is another anti-inflammatory compound (which is also antimicrobial) that was studied to have positive effects on cognition HERE. I did come across many studies looking at the Gut-Brain axis, so given berberine’s antimicrobial nature, I’m sure there’s more than one mechanism of action at play in its positive effects on the brain. Berberine can safely be taken for up to a year without negatively affecting the gut microbiome as well. My only worry is that with any antimicrobial, if the body’s elimination pathways aren’t fully open, they might experience a Herx reaction. So it’s a matter of doing things in the right order. For example, if there’s constipation, address that first before doing any kind of cleanse or “killing”.
As discussed previously, removing gluten (and dairy if possible) is an easy way to help reduce inflammation. THIS systematic review discusses several studies which all show improvement by removing gluten from their diets. Definitely worth trying it!!
Finally, THIS STUDY discusses the relationship between inflammation and schizophrenia from various causes such as infections/parasites, toxins/mold, elevated blood sugar, etc. Therefore, anything that can help reduce inflammation should be part of his protocol, including an anti-inflammatory diet that excludes dairy, gluten, and grains for starters. Dr. Amen’s wife, Tana Amen has a great cookbook HERE if your mom needs recipe inspiration. I believe her book is available on Amazon as well.
I also saw several studies on the potential benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids (high in EPA and DHA), as well as optimal vitamin D levels. All foundational health pillars I share about here in B Better. In fact, when I was learning about mold illness, my mentor Dr. Jill Crista always repeats the phrase “the solution to pollution is dilution”. Since mold is lipophilic, drowning the effects out with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is key. Usually anywhere from 3-5g per day for several months!
And a final note about blood testing. If he’s ok with needles but just doesn’t want to leave the house, have you considered looking for a mobile phlebotomist to come to the house under the guise of “just a general check-up”? If you and your mom also get blood drawn (can check your vitamin D for example), would he be more open to it?
Hope the above helps you make more informed choices for your brother.
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@Bernadette Abraham thank you so very much for all of the information you shared. He’s unfortunately become incredibly uncooperative as far as diet. He will just drive and get himself food we’ve suggested him not to eat. With this possible condition people are not very trusting of others, in his case he has a false sense of “he knows better”
He is willing to take “vitamins and supplements” for now.
– Was thinking of starting with l-theanine and for now only found the pure brand that was accessible same day on amazon. Was there another brand you liked for this? In the studies a dose of around 200 MG was used so i guess we’ll go for 200.
– We also wanted to start melatonin but weren’t sure of what brand or the amount. I didn’t see that information In the melatonin study.
-for huperzine a I also needed a good brand, and I didn’t see dosage for this one either in the study.
– again unfortunately he’s not listening to us at all as far as diet, but he does take orange juice in the morning with vitamins ( cymbiotika vitamin c and magnesium, jarow zinc copper), and Nordic naturals fish oil.
– the mobile phlebotomist idea is wonderful but he unfortunately, is not willing. The best that can be done are the at home testing kits that require hair and urine (do they need hair from the root? And how much hair is needed per test?) , we will tell him it’s a complimentary and fun health check of some kind, perhaps “a fun free test set given to my husband to pass along”. He’s always been, not very warm to the idea of of anything medical related, as have I, but he’s even more suspicious of it now.
– I wish so badly that he’d remove gluten and dairy from his diet. He’s always been very sensible and would have immediately stopped if he was thinking clearly. But nothing can be done
They noticed his sleep and behavior worsen the days he eats chic fil a, but not Arab kefta and rice from a restaurant.
My parents also wanted to thank you and your team for the guidance and information you’ve given. We’ve all been feeling so incredibly sad and lost, we atleast feel a little less lost with the help of a platform like b better.
Hoping we find something in the at home tests to shed light on his situation.
For diet not much can be done, it depends on his moods. My mother makes him food at home and it goes untouched 90% of the time. All we can do is push anti inflammatory supplements for now. Also have high hopes for the l theanine. Fingers crossed.
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@Annie Sye as a B Better member, you get access to Fullscript – a practitioner-grade supplement dispensary and 20% discount on their full range. You never know what you’re getting on Amazon. You can create your Fullscript account HERE.
You can then easily browse through the catalogue and filter your search using specific ingredient names, the forms you need it in, specific brands, etc, to find the best one for your needs. It’s really helpful in finding better quality supplements than what you usually find in health stores and 3rd party online stores.
Once you created the account, here are some links/options for l-theanine for example. There are many more as well:
By Pure Encapsulations
By Integrative Therapeutics
By NOW (as a powder for example)
The general dosages for l-theanine range from 200-400mg per day.
For melatonin, the general dosage recommendations range from 0.5mg to 3mg. It’s always best to start low for a few days, and then increase dosage slowly over time to see what works best for the individual. For those with very high oxidative stress levels, doses as high as 20mg per day have been studied, and is safe (ex. in cancer patients).
Adding in magnesium glycinate into the mix can be helpful at calming the body as well. Again anywhere from 200-800mg (to bowel tolerance).
For hair testing, they need to get hair as close as possible to the root. And it must be the natural hair color – no dyes.
I think your strategy of helping him first sleep better is a good one. Please keep us posted on how he does with the melatonin and l-theanine.
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