[bernadette]

 no worries – happy to help. I edited my comment to include the link again for you. Get well soon!

[bernadette]

 I like to use silver hydrosol drops in the ear. Mullein garlic oil is also effective.

[bernadette]

I shared an option/link in my first message above. Here it is again. And if you type in “l-tryptophan” ingredient, and then B6 as another ingredient, it will compile a list of options containing both ingredients so you can compare products and prices as well.

[bernadette]

if sleep is also disrupted, then it likely is the tryptophan pathway being affected and supplementing with tryptophan and its cofactor B6 in the P5P form should hopefully help.

And yes, the Fullscript dispensary is in the US so no issues there. You’ll need to create an account using the B Better dispensary link to access the full catalog. The details and links to Fullscript are in the Discounts & Resources section of your library dashboard.

[bernadette]

I3C is supportive for Phase 1 detox. If her estrogen levels are not high, than taking Indole-3 carbinol can decrease her levels and risk creating a different issue.

If her phase 2 detox needs support, the following are better at supporting the COMT pathway: SAM-e, magnesium, B6, B12, folate, betaine (cofactors).

There can also be genetic SNPs that affect the COMT pathway. Dr. Ben Lynch’s book Dirty Genes has a whole section on it with practical tips and solution. Here’s the definition for COMT from his book:

“COMT affects metabolism of dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, affecting your mood, energy level, ability to calm down, ability to sleep, and ability to focus; it also affects estrogen metabolism, which governs your body’s estrogen levels and hormonal balance, affecting your experience of the menstrual cycle and menopause, and increasing your vulnerability to female cancers.”

If this resonates with you, I’d investigate this further.

Hope this helps.

[bernadette]

 hopefully it hasn’t progressed to that, but do keep us posted. Please continue watching the gut health masterclass, as I explain the dynamics that create the perfect storm of autoimmunity – which almost always begin in the gut.

[bernadette]

 unfortunately, I’m fully booked. You can add your name to my waiting list here if you’re still interested.

[bernadette]

 here are some easy food/clean brand options:

-3 Tbsp hemp seeds ~ 10g protein
-2 pasture-raised eggs ~12g protein
-Plant based protein: Nuzest and Ora’s So Lean and So Clean*
-Animal based protein: Puori*

*these are available in SwellScore and B Better members receive a free membership for the first year, which gives you free access PLUS additional member-only discounts.

If you haven’t yet taken advantage of that, you can follow these steps in “Discounts & Resources” to setup an account.

Hope this helps.

[bernadette]

 it’s possible that your body’s tryptophan (an amino acid protein) is being used up to make substances that support immune function, especially a viral load to support macrophage activity so less is available to make serotonin.

I’ve seen incidences of higher levels of Quinolinic acid and Kynurenic acid (alternative pathways for serotonin metabolism) on OAT tests when the body is fighting an infection. Low serotonin can lead to anxiety. It can also disrupt sleep – has this also been the case for you?

Both of these pathways pull tryptophan away from its ability to make enough serotonin. And again, the body does this as a protective response to help support the immune system.

Increasing your animal protein intake (if it’s been low) and/or supporting digestion (stomach acid), or supplementing with tryptophan with B6 its cofactor might help. You can search for it in the B Better Fullscript dispensary. Here’s one possible option.

For rapid relief, you can also try the ice water face dunk to stimulate the vagus nerve and parasympathetic process or some of these other tips shared in this post.

There could also be other reasons like impaired COMT pathway/metabolism that is needed to break down adrenaline (which gives the strong feeling of a panic attack) but if it is only a post-covid symptom, I would assume the tryptophan pathway is likely being affected.

Here is a simple drawing showing the 2 different pathways tryptophan can take: [Image]
Hope this makes sense. Please keep us updated.

[bernadette]

 fibroids don’t usually increase in size for no reason, so addressing the root cause will help prevent any future growth, and fortunately you’re asymptomatic.

From the symptom dictionary fact sheet on fibroids, you can see that there are many possible root causes. Which ones from this list have you explored?

-Relative estrogen surplus (i.e. estrogen dominance). Have you tested your estradiol and progesterone levels during day 19-21 of your cycle?

-Elevated insulin leading to androgen dominance, low progesterone & estrogen dominance. Have you tested your blood sugar levels, and more specifically fasting insulin? How about testosterone, DHEA and cortisol?

-Poor liver detox ability and hormone excretion (i.e. liver congestion, chronic constipation, caffeine consumption). Do you have a minimum once daily, well formed type 3-4 bowel movement on the Bristol stool chart? Do you live a fairly “low tox” lifestyle to your knowledge? Do you consume alcohol or a lot of caffeine? 
 
-Thyroid hypofunction. Has a full thyroid panel been tested? TSH, Total T4, Total T3, Free T4, Free T3, anti-TPO, anti-TG, reverse T3?

-Gut dysbiosis. Do you have any GI symptoms like gas and bloating that would indicate some dysbiosis or overgrowths?
 
-Iodine insufficiency or deficiency. Do you get breast tenderness or swelling? Do you have symptoms of low thyroid function? Constipation, low energy, hair loss, brittle nails, dry skin, heavy periods/PMS, intolerance to cold, can’t lose weight, etc.? 

-Insufficient liver detox nutrients: magnesium, B vitamins, amino acid proteins. Do you eat animal proteins? Have you ever been on hormonal birth control? Do you get headaches, muscle spams, crave chocolate, or other symptoms of low magnesium?

If you can help answer these questions, I can continue guiding you to address the root cause, and hopefully not need invasive surgery.

[bernadette]

 glad you’re getting some answers. Yes, we’ll wait to hear from you.

[bernadette]

 – can you help me better understand your doctor’s reasoning please. Other than the size increase and new development of fibroids, what is the doctor’s reasoning for the surgery? Are you very symptomatic?

If you’re not already aware, estrogen dominance can lead to fibroids. Have you tried addressing the possible root cases? Have you seen this “Fibroids” symptom sheet in the Symptom Dictionary yet to see the possible root causes?

Also, have you watched Dr. Carrie Jones’ presentation on estrogen dominance in the “All Call Recordings”? She touched on fibroids as well.

Please let me know.

[bernadette]

 smart strategy decreasing the size! When do you think you’ll feel ready to cut it down to 2 x 12 oz per day? We can help you stay accountable. Do you need help finding a substitute? Lemon water is a great choice. So can sparkling water and lemon since often times, it’s the fizz that people miss most. 

So proud of you!

[bernadette]

Hi  before I suggest a few good brands, may I know your intended purpose/goal with consuming a protein powder, and whether or not you have any known food sensitivities or dietary preferences. Protein powders today can be derived from animal sources, plants & even insects.  

[bernadette]

 ok, please keep me posted when you’ve run the full panel together with the antibodies.