[bernadette]

 when we worked together, I was just beginning to educate myself on mold illness, and now looking back, and hearing your current situation, I strongly suspect mold and compromised detoxification pathways are contributing factors.

I do recall you did a Mycotox test which baffled us both with zero levels being shown, but this can also be proof that your body is not letting it out in urine, and therefore not showing up on the test.

I have worked with 2 other clients with dysautonomia and both struggled with mold illness when we dug a little further, hence my strong impulse to blame mold.

Other toxins can also be at play like heavy metals, but in the end, the goal is to increase your ability to clear out these toxins from your body and strengthen immunity. And of course, avoidance of these toxins.

If mold is at play, avoidance is key. And this is where I would start. Have you ever conducted an ERMI test to check the level of mycotoxins at home? Unfortunately, we do not have a proper mold inspector in Dubai, and so I usually present my clients with a few different options. The ERMI test takes dust samples on a cloth that is mailed to the US for analysis. If levels come back elevated, then we bring in the mold remediator and available inspectors to find the source and remediate or move out if severe!

I know I’m not answering your question about the suggested medication, because this is simply symptom management and not addressing the cause.

What I have recommended to my clients with dysautonomia is  DNRS therapy (https://retrainingthebrain.com/).

I would also recommend doing virtual emotional release sessions with my Insta friend Dr. Gonzales. You may already be following him.

Both of these modalities help the body heal at a level not possible with diet, exercise, supplements, etc. They are a must in my opinion.

Let me know your thoughts, and let’s keep the conversation going…

[bernadette]

 given what seems to be poor absorption, a sublingual liquid form of B12 or lozenge might be better forms for him. Avoid the cyanocobalamin form. Aim for one that is either methyl-, adenosyl-, or hydroxycobalamin.

[bernadette]

 ok, that makes more sense now. Once he’s better and had time to recover, see if you can request those additional tests I mentioned above.

You can find the full panels in these videos below:
-blood sugar regulation
-liver function (ALT, AST, Alk Phos, GGT, Total & direct bilirubin, Albumin, Protein)
-thyroid function
-H Pylori (breath to start with. I prefer the functional PCR stool test by Diagnostic Solutions)

[bernadette]

 

As Daniel mentioned above, there can be many causes for encephalopathy and unfortunately, other than kidney function, they did not test:

-blood sugar regulation
-liver function
-thyroid function 
-H Pylori

…which would be nice to see given that these can be possible root causes.

What did strike me is his low levels of B12 and iron which points to low stomach acid. Is he vegan? Does he consume animal proteins? Was H Pylori ruled out?

And interestingly, despite his low levels of iron as seen by his red blood cell markers and %saturation, his ferritin is suboptimally high, which would make you think that his storage of iron is sufficient. But this usually happens when there’s an infection of some sort.

In his white blood cell count, there are 2 changes; 1 shows a possible low-grade simmering infection. Could be dysbiosis, an overgrowth, parasites, etc. The other test shows higher monocytes, which usually increases after the body was fighting something. Was he sick at any point during these 2 tests?

[bernadette]

 did you attach the reports?

[bernadette]

Hi – I know how alarming it can feel to notice chunks of hair falling out. Is she losing hair all over or in specific spots that are creating bald spots? Can you also better describe how much hair she is losing? Only when she showers/brushes or is she noticing hair shedding everywhere all the time?

Have you seen the “Hair Loss” handout in the Symptom Dictionary yet? In it I share potential root causes to help you rule out possibilities like:
•  Hypothyroidism
• Nutrient deficiencies such as iron, B12, biotin, zinc, essential fatty acids
• Hormone imbalances: insulin resistance, androgen dominance, post-partum hormonal shifts
• Stress (pushes hair follicles into a resting phase)
• Post-viral (depletes nutrients like folate/B9 needed for immune support)
• Infections of the skin or hair follicles
• Toxins: mold exposure, heavy metals
• Certain medications

I also share initial action steps & supplements to consider.

Has anyone tested thyroid function, specific nutrients like iron, zinc and B12, blood sugar status, sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, DHEA), stress (cortisol).

Was she sick or did she go through a strong period of stress before the hair started falling out?

Any medications or exposures to toxins you’re aware of?

Just some initial questions to start ruling out some possibilities.

[bernadette]

 anyway you like. You can put them in a bowl of water and let them thaw out that way, or put them in a strainer under running water (which wastes water) but sometimes it doesn’t take much to remove the ice.

[bernadette]

Hi  – what type of encephalopathy was he diagnosed with? There are many different types, and the cause of each can differ greatly, therefore the course of action will differ as well.

[bernadette]

Hi – I’m not a fan of the commercial produce washes. The main reason being that studies have shown that good old vinegar or baking soda can be even more effective than many of these commercial varieties. I don’t have the studies saved, but remember doing the research and coming across a few that came to that conclusion.

If you haven’t seen it already, here’s my Fruit & Veggie Wash recipe handout in the Resources section of the library.

Hope this helps!

[bernadette]

Hi  – I personally pack my immune boosting supplements when I travel just in case someone falls sick. I don’t use them preventatively, but only if someone begins to feel sick.
 
• IAG (arabinogalactans), vit D, A, zinc
• ADP (emulsified oregano) & propolis spray for sore throats
• Silver hydrosol for immune support, ENT infections
• Plus some homeopathic remedies like Oscillococcinum for flu, arnica, nux vomica for plane nausea. I also bring homeopathic magnesium salts 

You can find the majority in my guide here with explanations of how I use each one.

In terms of prevention, ensure their immune nutrients are optimal (vitamin D, A and zinc). For kids who can swallow capsules, cod liver oil is an excellent source of vitamin A, D and omega-3. If they’re eating meat regularly, they are probably getting in enough zinc through food.

Some people like to take vitamin C and echinacea preventatively. I personally haven’t had the need for my family. 

What I do like to take on the plane is Cistus Incanus tea. I buy the ones in tea bags and plop one in each of my kids’ water bottles on the plane so they stay hydrated while drinking this herb. Cistus Incanus has been shown to stop viral replication, so it’s a good preventative herb.

The best prevention however is to avoid what weakens the immune system; overindulging in sugar, desserts, alcohol, stress/lack of sleep, etc. All of which usually increase during the holidays. So just keep that in mind without worrying too much and missing out on the joy of being with family and being out of routine.

Safe travels!

[bernadette]

Hi – I’m glad to hear baby is doing good, but sorry that you’ve been struggling.

Have you seen this hypertension handout in the Symptom Dictionary? It shares possible root causes and some initial action steps and supplements to consider.

In order to reverse the high blood pressure, we must figure out what is causing it. The most common being chronic stress, insulin resistance, and/or sodium/potassium/magnesium imbalance.

Have any of these been measured to start ruling out the possibilities?

Did your doctor mention what could have triggered this for you?

What medication was prescribed?

[bernadette]

Hi – I could have sworn that I replied to you before. Did you get a chance to watch the video on autoimmune disease facts that I posted above?

If she needs to be convinced to remove gluten and dairy from her diet as a minimum, I would recommend a food sensitivity test. A lactose/glucose intolerance is different to an IgG immune reaction which can be a delayed response and not always evident with symptoms. Here is a handout you can share with your daughter about the various hidden symptoms of a food sensitivity. 99% of my clients will test positive for gluten/dairy sensitivities, especially those with an autoimmune condition, which is why it’s easiest to just eliminate it and save money. But it can be powerful for those who need convincing.

Even though sourdough bread has less gluten, with an autoimmune dynamic, especially one that resides in the gut, it really needs to be 100% removal for a period of at least 4-6 months while working on addressing the root causes and healing the gut lining.

I would also disagree about the interpretation of her thyroid results. Her TSH, although it is within the normal clinical range, is in fact suboptimally high, which means her brain is sensing a greater need for T4. Unfortunately, total T4 wasn’t measured, but her Free T4 is also a bit lower. I like to see free thyroid numbers in the upper half of the reference range, especially if clients are symptomatic.

Her free T3 is also suboptimally low. I encourage you to watch these 2 videos on what can create low T4 and low T3:
• Reasons for low T4
• Reasons for low T3

It would also be great to see her Reverse T3, which I know isn’t commonly measured, but does provide a better understanding of her thyroid function. Here’s what functional medicine considers to be a full thyroid panel. The good news is that her thyroid antibodies are low.

With a sluggish thyroid however, this will for sure compromise digestive function, immune function, energy, etc. So back to basics first; we have to ensure she’s brining on board all the nutrients that support thyroid health.

Here’s a video on foods for thyroid health, and another one on supplements to support thyroid health.

Both digestion & thyroid should be supported at the same time, because they can create a vicious cycle. You need good digestive function to absorb the nutrients needed for thyroid health (iron being one of them), and you need good thyroid function, to support digestion. So supporting both is a good strategy.

I also noticed that her Eosinophils are suboptimally elevated (4.6%). This can often indicate intestinal parasites and/or food & environmental allergies/sensitivities. Or asthma. Does she have asthma?

When in her cycle were these tests drawn? That will make a difference in the interpretation of her results.

Please make the time to watch all of the videos and handouts I’ve shared, and let me know your thoughts on the factors you feel might be at play with thyroid.

[bernadette]

Hi – I noticed that Daniel replied to you in depth about copper IUDs. And here is an excellent contraception guide by Dr. Jolene Brighten about the different types of contraception available with pros and cons discussed for each. Hope this helps.

[bernadette]

Excellent write-up
– thank you for sharing

[bernadette]

no – I wouldn’t recommend ingesting it