bernadette
Forum Replies Created
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@Yasmin atassi there is a chance that it’s structural/muscular from what you’ve explained about breastfeeding.
Did you deliver naturally or by c-section? If you have any scars, seeing a myofascial release specialist can help.
Have you been to see an osteopath by any chance? They manipulate both the muscle and adjust bones as necessary, unlike physio which only focuses on muscles.
If you live in Dubai, I can make a few recommendations who to go see.
Regarding the points in your reply:
#3. which test are you referring to? Can you please share the results? As you know, “normal” does not always mean optimal from a functional lens.
#6. The words in bold are hyperlinked. Click that to see the symptoms.
#9. You can watch my VPF principle HERE on how to make balanced meals, along with examples of different proteins. I would then encourage you to watch THIS VIDEO for more examples.
Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
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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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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@bb.genesisengine.io).
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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@Yasmin atassi I have several questions please.
Did the shoulder pain occur randomly without cause, or did you injure it by any chance, or was it overused (e.g. doing overhead weighted exercises that can pinch the shoulder?).
Have you seen a doctor or physical therapist for an assessment? If so, what was there diagnosis?
In addition to structural issues, there can be several other different root cause reasons for joint pain, as listed in this handout in the Symptom Dictionary. To help you figure that out, I’ll need more information from you, so please also answer the following questions about each possible factor:
Gut dysbiosis (imbalance in the normal gut microbes and/or overgrowths). 3) Do you experience any GI symptoms like gas, bloating, loose stools, constipation, irritable bowel, belching, heartburn, indigestion, etc?
Persistent viral infection 4) Do you have recent or previous blood work – a CBC specifically that shows your red and white blood cells (RBC and WBC with differentials – neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils)? If so, please share it.
Food sensitivities, especially dairy, gluten & nightshade vegetables 5) Have you ever tried an elimination diet? If so, which foods did you eliminate and for how long?
Histamine overload due to low DAO enzyme synthesis (B6 is important for this). 6) Do you experience any other symptoms of histamine intolerance?
Low cortisol from chronic stress 7) Would you say chronic stress may be a factor in your case?
Toxicity (heavy metals, mold & mycotoxins, pesticides, etc) 8) Do you believe you’ve been exposed to toxins from the environment? For example, amalgam fillings in the mouth. High fish consumption. Exposure to lead paint, cigarette smoke, mold, non-organic diet. Read this handout and this handout for more common toxic exposures.
Insufficient protein intake and/or low stomach acid (poor digestion & absorption) 9) do you consume enough protein, and specifically animal protein sources? If so, consider doing the baking soda challenge test (as shown at the 3-minute mark HERE). Let us know your results.
Nutrient insufficiencies: B6, B12, vitamin C, omega-3, 6, 9, magnesium 10) Do you consume enough red and orange colored fruits/veggies daily or take vitamin C? Do you consume fish or take Omega supplements? Do you have these signs of magnesium insufficiency or supplement with magnesium?
I’ve numbered my questions to make it easier for you to reply to each one separately. I’ll wait to hear from you.
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Hi @Ivona nagorzanski – have you seen my Medicine Cabinet Must-Haves guide in Protocols? I share a link to my favorite substitute for antibiotic cream called Active Skin Repair along with my discount code. I purchase the gel and spray. Both come in handy depending on the injury.
It contains HOCL which is made by our white blood cells to promote healing. HOCL is also anti-microbial so it can easily replace antibiotic creams without the consequence of antibiotic resistance.
As for styes, you can take a look at Similasan’s line of homeopathic products for eyes and ears. They have this one for styes in case you ever need it.
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Hi @Naveed Aslam – have you seen their folate comparison table HERE to help you understand the differences between them? The main difference being that folinic acid is not methylated and better for those who are sensitive to methylated products.
In terms of what dosage to take, that’s something your practitioner should advise you on. If you’re not working with one, I suggest you chat with Seeking Health directly to better understand the benefits of each dosage and their best use instructions.
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Hi @Ivona nagorzanski yes, unfortunately, transplanted hair may also be susceptible to the effects of stress, illnesses, or nutritional deficiencies, and may fall out again in those types of situations. That’s why if hair transplantation is being considered, it’s essential to manage any underlying factors contributing to hair loss.
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@Sheetal Ramchandani tagging you in this post thread
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Hi @Yasmin atassi I can recommend Dr Lilya Chub at Hope Health & Healing. She’s not a pediatrician but she is integrative and does work with a lot of children on the spectrum.
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@Yasmin atassi I work with clients who are affected by mold and IQ Air has the ability to not only capture spores but also mycotoxins.
I’ve heard of Austin Air but haven’t looked it up to be able to make any recommendations.
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@Rhondine sorrell OMG you brought me to tears too! How beautiful for you to already see that your darkest struggles and pain will become your beautiful story to inspire others! You’re also so lucky to still have your grand-mother – God bless her!
When is your surgery date? I’ll make sure to create a post and ask for collective prayers from our community.
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@Lana Zambarakji I would first ask why. Why does this person have a bacterial and yeast overgrowth.
Antibiotics? Environment (i.e. heavy metals, mold exposure, contaminated food/water)? Poor eating hygiene? High stress? Compromised immunity (i.e. low vitamin A, D, zinc levels)? Diet high in sugar/refined carbs? Poor digestive function? Hormonal changes? Lack of beneficial bacteria and yeast / microbiome diversity?
If you can share a little more about this person’s health history and diet, we can guide you a bit better.
Killing bacteria and yeast is easy. Many great herbal options to do that. But if the source isn’t identified and addressed, there’s a chance of recurrence.
You can find “killing” solutions for bacteria HERE and for yeast HERE from the Gut Health Masterclass course.
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What’s your budget? I usually recommend the IQ Air but it’s very expensive. They have a distributor in Abu Dhabi (contact Hamid 050-319-7530).
You can also checkout Amazing Air which I suspect is the UK version of the Air Doctor.
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Hi @Yasmin atassi – you can check out these local resources:
Dubai Chickens
Download the app Rootz (see image below)
Hope that helps!
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@Rhondine sorrell wow – call me coocoo, but when things happen that fast, I believe it’s the universe guiding the way!!
I’m sure you’re feeling very scared having had so many surgeries, but I also believe in the power of our thoughts, and meditation/prayer. Don’t focus on the past which you cannot change. Focus on the positive outcome this will have on your immune system and toxicity level. Feel excited about this new chapter in your life that will hopefully bring with it renewed health.
Pray for a successful surgery. We’ll all be praying for you.
And now you’ve got 2 weeks to get ready for surgery and optimize immunity. Review the protocol I shared HERE, and get your post-surgery meals, food therapy options and/or supplements (for liver support and gut healing), and support system in place in the meantime.
You’ve got this! I’m really hopeful for you… ❤️
