bernadette
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don’t apologize – I’m happy to be able to guide you. I just replied to another member about SIBO here. SIBO is a symptom caused by other factors; it’s not a root cause. Something in your environment/lifestyle/eating hygiene/diet allowed that dynamic to happen, so I would focus on eradicating the H Pylori overgrowth first, eliminate ALL dairy (not just lactose), and support digestion (“GPS” – gallbladder, pancreas & stomach, which I cover thoroughly inside the Gut Health Masterclass).
Hope that helps remove the overwhelm and gives you a better direction of what to focus on first.
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glad she’s better. Yes, in addition to having anti-histamine properties stinging nettle leaf (unless there’s a sensitivity) can also help with HPA axis regulation (stress) plus provide additional minerals. It must be taken regularly however to have effect, and again, it’s considered “rapid relief” and not root cause resolution.
Working on gut health will help you both. Where are you in the Gut Health Masterclass – have you had the time to start watching it yet?
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there could be an indirect link to your high TSH. TSH is a brain hormone so if it’s high, it’s telling us that your brain is sensing that there’s a need for more T4 thyroid hormone. Hence why your doctor is suggesting thyroxine (which is synthetic T4).
The nutrients needed to make T4 thyroid hormone are iodine & tyrosine (T4 stands for 1 molecule of tyrosine (an amino acid protein) and 4 molecules of iodine). So given that you have an H Pylori overgrowth, and you are learning in the course that stomach acid is needed to break down our proteins, there could be a lack of tyrosine (either from a lack in the diet, and/or malabsorption due to H Pylori).
So this is where I would start. Are you eating enough animal protein? If not, consider adding more in. If you are, clearing the H Pylori overgrowth and supporting stomach acid once you do that, will help with protein digestion and absorption.
Iodine – are you consuming seafood & sea vegetables? If not, I would introduce organic kelp granules (if there are no allergies to seafood/seaweed) which can be used like salt.
I usually recommend my clients take a therapeutic dose of kelp (like 1/2 tsp per day sprinkled over food) for a good 30 days, and then use it liberally like salt to continue getting in iodine through food form.
Regarding your daughter, yes it wouldn’t hurt to test for H Pylori as well to know what’s going on for sure.
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I’m not a doctor so I can’t diagnose what she may have, however from your explanation of her symptoms, my best guess would be a histamine/allergic type of reaction. I would also suggest taking her to a doctor to get a proper diagnosis so you can know what you’re dealing with and be more targeted with your approach.
In the meantime, I would make a stinging nettle leaf and onion peel infusion which is rich in quercetin and anti-histamine action. Here’s a quick tutorial video. Honey or maple syrup can be added to help with compliance and improve the bitter taste that kids don’t usually like. It needs to be taken for a while (minimum 2 weeks) to really notice an improvement (if it’s histamine related).
Also, if you’re ready to begin an elimination challenge, I would focus on dairy first and foremost. Butter, milk, cream, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc. Please see the dairy elimination handout in the resources>tools & guidelines of your library.
Hope this helps. Please keep me posted.
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Glad you got that checked out! The low ferritin makes sense given the positive H Pylori test results. Remember, we need strong stomach acid to absorb iron, and an H Pylori overgrowth will cause a a more alkaline environment, which compromises nutrient absorption and overall digestive signaling to the pancreas and gallbladder.
Unfortunately, antibiotics have a high rate of recurrence (and not to mention, can wreak havoc on the gut lining and disrupt the microbiome balance, by allowing yeast/fungal and antibiotic resistant bacterial species an opportunity to grow aggressively, given suppressed competition from antibiotics).
I have helped many clients eradicate an H Pylori overgrowth using herbal protocols for 30-60 days. Have you watched that section yet in the Gut Health Masterclass? I share my go-to remedies which include broccoli sprouts, mastic gum, Matula tea, and when all else fails, the silver hydrosol protocol.
Unfortunately, these tests done at the doctor’s office do not provide us with a quantitative value – only a positive or negative result. So it’s hard to know how entrenched the overgrowth is, and what type of remedy to use and at what dosages and what duration. That’s why I like the H Pylori test by Diagnostic Solutions. It actually provides a value so that when we re-test, we can see the progress made (or not) with whatever therapy being used, and also what dosage and duration.
In general, my clients have eradiated h pylori overgrowths in 30-60 days. It’s very important to bring in stomach acid support after about 30 days as well, to prevent re-infection, as it’s very contagious.
For prevention, I usually ask family members to drink Matula tea as well. It’s an expensive 30-day course tea, but it’s very effective and comes with a money back guarantee if the H Pylori is not negative after the 30-day course. (note – they want to see a before and after GI Map or similar functional stool test. They will either return your money or send you another kit to do another 30 days)
If you haven’t yet watched the Gut Health Masterclass, I highly recommend starting there. You can also skip to the module on H Pylori.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
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Yes, I was also referring to oral probiotics. Hope that clears things up.
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Hello Ivona, if you consume fermented foods and beverages, then there’s no need. I always look at supplements, including probiotics, as something “in addition” to a supportive, nutrient-dense diet.
If you haven’t seen them yet, I share several fermented food & beverage recipes inside Discounts & Resources in your library. Hope that helps.
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it’s always best to make sure selenium levels are sufficient before adding in iodine. So I would actually recommend selenium intake before iodine (at least a month).
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please email support@bernadetteabraham.com with the client/patient’s name, email address, phone number, shipping/billing address (if different) and we’ll send you a requisition so you can order the H Pylori or full GI Map (let us know your preference). The kit will get shipped and collected from you.
As for testing the full thyroid panel, you can make an appointment with Dr. Liliana Skorski at HealthBay Polyclinic (Al Wasl road). If insurance won’t cover or if you prefer to pay out of pocket and not bother with a doctor’s visit, we can also arrange for a lab to come to your house. Let us know in the email what you prefer.
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Hi Lina, lots of changes coming your way. A move is incredibly stressful on the whole family, so please be gentle with yourself and your family and give yourself the time you need to make these changes.
If you haven’t yet watched the Gut Health Masterclass, I explain how healing can only happen when we’re in a parasympathetic state. So I wouldn’t attempt making dietary changes until you’re all settled since your bodies will be in a flight or fight sympathetic dominant state for a while.
Once you feel like you’re in a routine, then I would focus on gut healing therapies (I discuss this in detail in the course). When there are more than 10 high food sensitivities (let alone 100!), this usually indicates the likelihood of “leaky gut”, so I would focus on removing the big 5 offenders as to not overwhelm yourself and your daughter; gluten/oats, dairy, corn, yeast, nuts, and grains. And with kids, removing 1 at a time while finding a substitute for it, is usually an easier and more sustainable approach then making all of these changes at once (but of course, each child is different and you know what’s best for your child).
Although dairy was not listed as one of their sensitivities, I have found that dairy is most often implicated in enlarged adenoids. So this would actually be the first elimination challenge I would do with my children, and it’s also the easiest for most since there are many plant-based options available.
In essence, this is an AIP type of diet (autoimmune protocol) which is very restrictive but can be helpful while applying gut healing therapies for a few months to help calm the immune system and bring down inflammation. It’s basically my VPF principle that I share in the Beginner’s Health Roadmap, which includes vegetables, proteins & healthy fats. For carbs, focus on non-grain sources like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and starchy root vegetables (I have a handout in the resources).
My go-to gut healing product is called GI Revive powder. It’s sweet, peach flavored and well tolerated by most when mixed in a smoothie. For non-dairy sensitive children, colostrum is another option.
If you google “easy AIP recipes”, you’ll get a ton of blogs with sample recipes you can download to help give you ideas of meals that you can make that will cater to their dietary restrictions. If you need more help with dietary support, let me know and I’ll share more resources. I have plenty but don’t want to overwhelm you.
In the meantime, I would recommend watching my Beginner’s Health Roadmap and Gut Health Masterclass (if you haven’t already) and prepare yourself for the changes you’re about to make so you can feel more in control and less overwhelmed.
And I’m here to guide you through it and answer any questions you may have.
Hope this helps give you a clearer direction.
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haha – I forgot I added this question as an example for my tutorial video. Ok, glad to answer.
Digestive enzymes offer pancreatic support by supplying the body with additional enzymes to help break down our food. These can be plant based or animal based supplements. I discuss digestive enzymes in more detail in Gut Health Masterclass as well; it’s really like the cereal isle in terms of choices of digestive enzymes available. Some support better digestion of fats, others better digestion of legumes and starchy carbs, others for dairy and gluten. It really all depends on the individual’s needs.
Digestive bitters on the other hand help support overall digestive secretions by signaling to the brain that food is on the way. It helps stimulate stomach acid production, digestive enzyme secretion and bile flow, so it’s more broad in terms of its digestive support.
Hope that helps. Let me know if you still have additional questions.
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sounds good – I’m here to support when you need it.
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Bingo – glad to see you’re on the right track. Let me know if you need help getting access to a functional stool test or H Pylori only stool test. I was hoping to have the web shop setup by now, but the lab is still working on things. I want you all to be able to access and order your own functional tests. It’s in the works… for now, let me know if I can assist.
And when you order the thyroid panel, make sure it’s complete:
TSH, Total T4, Total T3, Free T4, Free T3, reverse T3, anti-TPO, anti-TG -
Hi Jenna – irregular periods are normal in the first year or two once a young woman starts her cycle as it can take some time for the communication between the ovaries and the brain to mature.
These are the signs of hormonal imbalances to watch out for if her period doesn’t regulate in a year or two:
• Periods that last longer than a week
• Cycles longer than 45 days or shorter than 21 days (however, irregular periods are expected during the first few years once a young woman starts her cycle)
• Bleeding that is so heavy, it requires a pad or tampon change every couple of hours
• Severe cramping
• Unexplained weight gain
• Hair growth on the chin or abdomen
• Hair loss (on the head)
• Extreme fatigue
• Acne
• Extreme mood swingsThese symptoms can be signs of estrogen excess, endometriosis, thyroid dysfunction, cortisol imbalance, and PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome).
In the meantime, you can support her the same way we support ourselves as adults; seed cycling, a nutrient-dense diet with cruciferous veggies to help with hormone detox, 1-3 daily bowel movements (type 3-4), and sleep hygiene (critical for hormone balance!).
Hope this helps!
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Hi Lana – I’m not sure if you’ve had time to watch the Gut Health Masterclass yet, but I teach a North to South approach when addressing digestive health & dysfunctions. So before jumping into probiotics, start North with the brain first.
So first make sure she’s actually seated, eating slowing, mindfully (not in front of TV or iPad, etc) and chewing her food well. Very important and very powerful. Also, no liquids with meals (or minimum 1 cup of water).
If eating hygiene is proper, then consider supporting her with digestive bitters (I like Quicksilver’s Dr. Shade’s Bitters No. 9) or bitter greens with meals, which can signal the brain to release digestive juices.
I would also do a food elimination challenge followed by a reintroduction, as food sensitivities can also contribute to gas. Dairy and gluten are often the culprits so I would start there.
In terms of probiotics, I always recommend a food-first approach unless there’s histamine intolerance (allergies, itchy skin, watery eyes/nose, etc). Start slow and increase the amount over time. For kids, kefir is the easiest to introduce as it can be added in smoothies instead of regular milk. Coconut milk can be used instead if she’s dairy sensitive. I also share many other fermented food recipes in the resources section of your library.
If you still prefer a supplement, then I would go with a broad-spectrum probiotic like Klaire Labs Therbiotic Complete in the evenings for example.
If none of the above suggestions help, then it might be worth investing in a comprehensive stool test like the GI Map (I also discuss this in the Gut Health Masterclass) to get a better picture of what specific support she might need.
Gas can also be a sign of gut dysbiosis or overgrowths, so a cleanse might be warranted, but I always like to address all of the above first, as the body/immune system can “auto-correct” when given the right support from a North to South approach.
Hope this helps.
