[bernadette]

eliminating grains (including oats and rice) temporarily will likely bring you relief. Replace those starches with root vegetables (see handout for list) – 1 cup per day given the strong dysbiosis and overgrowths. Focus on VPF first and foremost, choosing the lighter proteins for lunch and dinner (puree them) and supplementing breakfast with a smoothie/shake since you find it difficult to consume food.

I’ve recommended the Apex Energetics ClearVite-CHC (chocolate flavored) to clients who need amino acid support. Unfortunately, collagen is not a complete protein.

If you can tolerate eggs, it’s an excellent protein source. The less cooked the better, so soft boil is better than hardboiled. Rotate your protein sources.

Cook & steam your vegetables to help with the gut healing phase (fiber is quite harsh on the gut lining). As you get better, you can start to include more raw foods.

[bernadette]

Hello  – have you seen the “Food” pillar in the Beginner’s Health Roadmap? If you don’t have the time, I encourage you to start here with my VPF+C principle. This will help give you a framework to work with in terms of making balanced macro-nutrient meals.

Given the sensitivity of your gut and gastroparesis, I would not recommend consuming so many grains. In fact, removing grains altogether would probably give you some much needed relief.

For your proteins, given the H Pylori overgrowth and likelihood of hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid), it’s normal to feel unable to digest animal proteins. Instead, consider choosing lighter proteins like fish, seafood, bivalves (clams, oysters, mussels, scallops), and eggs (chicken, quail if available). Vegetarian proteins like organic tofu can also work. Rotate these within the VPF+C principle.

Whatever you make – try to puree them to remove the strain on the digestive system. Please feel free to use and upload your 3-day food journal once you begin to adopt this type of diet and we’ll be happy to provide more feedback.

[bernadette]

 – yes a urea breath test is reliable. If the overgrowth is in high numbers,  the Matula tea often needs more than 30 days and in combination with other therapies mentioned here. They do offer a guarantee but they request PCR based tests like the one by Diagnostic Solutions. If you show them the before and after, and it’s still positive, they will refund or ship a new 30-day kit.

But since H Pylori is still present, discontinuing Betaine HCL is a good idea as it can cause the bacteria to burrow even further.

My clients with H Pylori overgrowth usually do well with the combination of Broccoli sprouts & combo formula of Mastic Gum/zinc carnosine such as GastroMend HP and Jarrow broccoli sprouts.

[bernadette]

Thank you for sharing . I’m not going to ask how much you’ve paid for all of these functional tests!! We’re going to do our best to guide and support you the best we can.

With complex chronic cases, I always take a step back and approach it with the simple model of “minimize, maximize and prioritize”.

I’m going to summarize my findings from the tests and symptoms you’ve shared, and then try to guide you with a framework/strategy within this model for you to begin taking action with one of your practitioners.

-Weak gut immunity is allowing strong dysbiosis and overgrowths (H Pylori overgrowth, bacterial overgrowth (Hydrogen SIBO) and yeast overgrowth) which leads to nutrient malabsorption, histamine overload, & oxalate build-up.

-High stress state (I suspect mold toxicity despite MycoTox showing otherwise) and lack of micronutrients from malabsorption leads to mitochondrial dysfunction (every cell in our body has mitochondria to generate ATP – our energy currency in the body).

Just a note about the MycoTox test – if the body’s detox pathways are blocked, it will show a false negative since the body isn’t excreting mycotoxins in urine. Your OAT shows heavy yeast and possibility of mold.

Maximize, Minimize & Prioritize model:

1. Maximize:
• Gut healing for minimum of 90 days. I like GI Revive (opening up capsules helps with absorption).
• Liquid nutrition/powdered supplementation. I shared Liquid Hope above. You can also search on Frullscript for powdered meal replacement shakes and see if they’re available on Amrita. I filled out a practitioner application and will pass those details onto you once approved so you can have access to their site & products.
• Gut immunity for minimum of 90 days. Something like IAG powder and MegaIgG2000 (open up capsules) can help strengthen gut immunity, as well as liquid omega-3 supplements. I like Biotics Biomega-1000.
• Mitochondrial support once the above is well implemented and supported for at least 30 days. Fullscript has liquid options if you search for “mitochondria” that you can see if available on Amrita.
• Gentle detox support. Castor oil packs on the liver/gallbladder and overall stomach to stimulate gastric motility. The “I Love You” massage also helps stimulate motility manually. Dandelion root tea infusion (can be mixed with marshmallow root) and beet kvass. Infrared sauna sessions (3-5 days per week) followed by sole (saturated salt water) to replenish electrolytes. Consider liquid or powdered amino acids to support phase 2 detox.

2. Minimize:
• 100% removal of known food sensitivities from your test (dairy & gluten) and anything you know you can’t tolerate at this stage
• addressing H Pylori overgrowth first and foremost after 30 days of gut healing therapies. Matula tea is gentle as a starting point.

3. Prioritize:
• sleep and eating hygiene
• ensure environment is free from mold & mycotoxins. I usually recommend my clients get an ERMI test. Booking a consultation & test with PJ Harlow is the easiest (~$400 USD for test and consult).
• Seek out an ANF therapy practitioner in your area. When supplements and food are no longer tolerated, transdermal applications of these energetic “discs” can really help a person regain control.

There’s obviously more that needs to be done, and a “kill” phase is probably needed, but given how sensitive you are, the first phase really needs to be on helping you regain some strength in order to tolerate the next phases.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

[bernadette]

unfortunately Centrum use the cheapest form of micronutrients plus added nasties that should not be in a multivitamin supplement (in bold below). Here are the ingredients in the women’s multi:

Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Potassium Chloride, Dibasic Calcium Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C), Ferrous Fumarate, DL-alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit. E), Maltodextrin, Crospovidone. Contains <2% of: Beta-Carotene, BHT (to preserve freshness), Biotin, Blue 2 Lake, Calcium Pantothenate, Cholecalciferol (Vit. D3), Chromium Picolinate, Copper Sulfate, Corn Starch, Cyanocobalamin (Vit. B12), Folic Acid, Gelatin, Lecithin (soy), Magnesium Stearate, Manganese Sulfate, Modified Corn Starch, Niacinamide, Phytonadione (Vit. K), Polyethylene Glycol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Potassium Iodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vit. B6), Red 40 Lake, Riboflavin (Vit. B2), Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Ascorbate (to preserve freshness), Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenate, Talc, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vit. B1), Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherols (to preserve freshness), Vitamin A Acetate, Yellow 6 Lake, Zinc Oxide. Contains: Soy

Why they add artificial colors is beyond me!

Here is a handout in the resources on better supplement options (scroll to p.8-13 for better brands)

[bernadette]

– is it a ferrous sulfate form that you’re taking? It is the most common, but also a constipating form.

Here’s a short video in the larger Mineral Balance course providing other alternatives for correcting iron deficiency including food and supplements, both heme and non-heme plant based options.

[bernadette]

 Can you please upload your results here so that  can also chime in, and other members can benefit from this exchange as well. We’re all supportive here and no judgements…

But just a quick note based on what you’ve shared above. If you are too sensitive and cannot tolerate most supplements and medications, that’s an indication that you need a strong period of gut healing of at least 30 days before even attempting to support motility with bitter herbs. Anything at this stage would be adding fuel to a fire.

My very sensitive clients often have to start very slowly with food therapy alone in liquid form like marshmallow root infusion and slippery elm tea. And opening up gut healing supplement capsules and dumping contents into liquid helps too.

Here’s a tutorial how to make infusions. But instead of stinging nettle as shown in the video, they replace it with marshmallow root. Slippery elm is available in powder form which can be mixed into the infusion (drink it cold or hot).

Gut healing is definitely the place to start. Since eating solid foods is proving difficult as well, you might want to consider a nutrient dense liquid meal replacement such as Liquid Hope.

To be able to ship supplements using Fullscript, you’ll need to get a mail forwarding company like Boxit4Me (or similar for the UK). You might also want to check out Amrita Nutrition which carries many practitioner grade supplements in the UK.

Hope this helps.

[bernadette]

– yes, copper IUDs are known to cause heavier and more painful periods. And in some women, can lead to copper toxicity – even though the research on this is still inconclusive. I share more about copper IUDs in this short video in the Mineral Balance course in the copper section.

Copper IUDs leading to heavier periods can very well be a significant contributing factor for anemia (there could be others which you can revisit in the video here about iron), but only you can make that decision with your doctor since birth control is a very personal decision.

Here is an excellent article on non-hormonal birth control alternatives to explore and consider if you choose to remove the copper IUD.

Hope this is helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

[bernadette]

Hi  – where exactly is the pain? Does the pain increase with different types of foods (higher fat for example). When exactly does the pain worsen? Immediately after eating or after 20-30 minutes? More details about timing will help.

If it is stomach pain, I’m suspicious of H Pylori infection. Has she done a functional stool test to rule this out?

Pain in the rib area (upper GI) after eating can come from a few different causes. If the pain is somewhat immediate, it is likely associated with gastritis or even the beginnings of an ulcer, which is often caused by an overgrowth of H Pylori bacteria, which causes thinning of the protective mucosal lining in the stomach, and/or NSAID use which does the same. Chronic stress (through the sympathetic nervous system) also promotes reduction in gastric acid production, thinning of this lining, and suppression of the immune system in fighting overgrowths such as H Pylori.
The order of operations should be:
• Heal the gut lining. Watch this video.
• Identify if H Pylori overgrowth is present and address if needed
• Support stomach acid or take other actions to prevent recurrence

Right away, I would begin with mucilaginous herb support to help repair the stomach lining. These agents are generally taken on an empty stomach (at least 30 minutes before, or two hours after meals). Combination products may differ, so check the label. Some mucilaginous herbs you may consider are:
• Deglycyrrhizinated licorice extract (DGL)
• Mastic gum
• Zinc carnosine
• Marshmallow root extract
• Slippery elm bark
• Aloe vera

Mastic gum in particular has shown effectiveness at healing duodenal ulcers.
There are several combination products available such as:
• GI Relief from Thorne
• Gastromend-HP from Designs for Health
• Glutagenics from Metagenics

Taking the full dose 2-3 times per day for at least two weeks usually helps heal the mucosal lining. Duration of use will depend on what is actually going on, how much healing needs to take place, and what other supportive measures, such as dietary changes, are taken.
Keep in mind any other factors that may affect the mucosal lining. Primarily address stress. Elevations in cortisol suppress the immune system and sustained stress reduces the production of secretory IgA antibodies. This is the body’s front line immune force in preventing the entry of threatening substances through our protective mucosal linings (such as in the intestines). If IgA is reduced enough (or frequently enough), it is more likely that an overgrowth or dysbiosis or infection can occur. These microbial imbalances may also be the cause of enhanced intestinal permeability. Ultimately stress is a Huge mediator of immune function. Also keep in mind that NSAIDs can directly thin the mucosal lining and can also be a key root cause for intestinal permeability, gastritis and ulcers as well.
For rapid relief, avoiding spicy foods and acidic foods (vinegars, tomato sauce, citrus, etc.) may help with symptoms. And a focus on easy-to-digest foods while healing the gut lining will ease digestion and allow for better absorption and digestion of nutrients. Examples are protein smoothies, blended soups, mashed or pureed vegetables such as sweet potatoes, cauliflower and butternut squash. Adding in bone broth and collagen and removing gluten will also help to address any intestinal permeability.
With my clients, after fully healing the mucosal lining and addressing H Pylori (if any), HCL stomach acid support can be considered but it has to be done slowly, starting with just one pill in the middle of a full, protein-containing meal. If there is any pain at all, they stop the HCl and continue the mucilaginous herbs and gut healing for another week or more. Their body guides the duration/process.
If your mom’s pain is more delayed post-eating (~20+ minutes after a meal), it could possible be gas build-up due to:
• Low stomach acid or digestive enzyme insufficiency (and resulting gas build up in the stomach itself due to carbohydrate fermentation)
• A food sensitivity or intolerance (for example, dairy)
• An intestinal bacterial overgrowth

For gas and bloating, I recommend carminative herbs (e.g. ginger, peppermint, fennel) and/or digestive enzymes or digestive bitters. Combination carminative herb formulations you may consider are:
• Gas and Bloating from Gaia Herbs
• Gas Stop from Renew Life
• Peppermint Gels from NOW Foods

As a final consideration, please have a chat with your mom about how persistent the pain feels and its particular placement and incident timing.  If it seems more acute after higher-fat meals, keep in mind the gallbladder might be at play. In this case, the pain would be typically limited to the upper right-hand side of the body, perhaps radiating to the back/shoulder blade. Anything acute needs immediate medical attention.
Hope this helps give some direction and areas to explore. Please let me know.

[bernadette]

Hi  – I just wanted to follow-up. How are you doing? Did you end up doing a parasite cleanse? Please update me when you can.

[bernadette]

Hello  – please feel free to attach these in your first post “Multiple Digestive Issues” below my reply to you.

[bernadette]

Hello – I’m sorry you’ve been suffering for so long. Allow me to share some possible root causes, to hopefully begin to peel the layers of the onion and get you feeling better again. In terms of causes, gastroparesis is often multifactorial. Common drivers include:
• Nerve damage. Diabetes is considered to be one of the biggest risk factors because hyperglycemia causes nerve damage. The vagus nerve controls the muscles of the stomach and small intestine. If the vagus nerve is damaged, the muscles of the stomach and small intestine do not work as well and the movement of food through the digestive tract is slowed. Similarly, if nerves or pacemaker cells in the wall of the stomach are damaged or do not work normally, the stomach is slow to empty. In addition to diabetes, other things that affect nerve health such as chronic smoking or low vitamin B12 can also contribute. Ideally, I like to see serum B12 above 600.

There is an important connection here too where gastric emptying plays a major role in stimulating the release of incretin hormones which directly triggers first-phase insulin release.  In fact, gastric emptying accounts for about 35% of the variance in the glycemic response to oral glucose and/or carbohydrate-containing meals in clinical study. Gastroparesis can contribute to less incretin release and thus less insulin release which can contribute to hyperglycemia over time, driving the progression of insulin resistance, and potentially creating a vicious cycle.

->Have you ever tested your fasting glucose, fasting insulin and HbA1c?
• SIBO. Small intestinal bacteria overgrowth can slow motility along the entire GI tract due to high methane production from intestinal bacteria.

->Do you know what type of SIBO you have?
• Insufficient stomach acid.

->Have you confirmed the H. Pylori is negative currently. Are you taking anything to stimulate or support stomach acid?
• Mitochondrial dysfunction can cause cellular energy deficiency that causes lower motility. This is seen in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

->Have you done an Organic Acid urine test by any chance?
• Hypothyroidism can also slow motility due to cellular energy deficiency and present as gastroparesis as well as other forms of low motility (e.g. constipation).

->Have you test your thyroid levels? These include: TSH, Total T4, Total T3, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, anti-TPO, anti-TG
• Several medications are associated with gastroparesis, such as tricyclic antidepressants, anticholinergics, narcotics, lithium, nicotine, calcium channel blockers, dopamine agonists, and progesterone.

->Are you taking any of these?
• Other less common causes include gastric surgery, viral infections in the stomach, and autoimmune disorders such as scleroderma.

->Do any of these resonate with you?
If gastroparesis continues untreated, downstream consequences include malnutrition, dehydration, poorly controlled blood sugar, bacterial infections, and in rare cases, a bezoar (where undigested food accumulates in the stomach, forming a solid mass).
Here are some recommendations to start:
• Explore possible contributors to neuropathy (e.g. increased oxidative stress, insufficient Vitamin B12 or B6. The organic acid test would have all of these markers)
• Check RBC magnesium level (not serum) and replace to optimal levels (ideally, upper third of the reference range)
• Continue to focus on easy to digest nutrition – smoothies, soups, broths, veggie purees, and soft, well-cooked foods.
• Bitter herbs such as ginger in whole food or supplement form can stimulate gastric motility.
• Focus on ensuring optimal eating hygiene.  In particular, taking time to see and smell foods and stimulate the cephalic phase of digestion that will also support optimal grehlin release.  This resource may be helpful about grehlin.
• Consider if serotonin might be low, contributing to slow motility. Pure Encapsulation’s Motilpro (which combines B6, 5-HTP, and ginger) may be a consideration for this.
• An herbal remedy called Iberogast has been demonstrated in clinical study to be effective in improving motility

In addition, I would highly encourage you to make time to watch the Gut Health Masterclass. It is long and intense, but will help you understand the whole digestive process so much better, and how easily it can dysfunction.

If time is an issue for you, then start by watching the summary of how digestion works, and then the summary of how digestion dysfunctions.

And since your main struggle is with the upper GI, you can also watch how digestion works in the stomach, and how it dysfunctions (in the stomach & causes of hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid)).

And here are solutions for stomach acid support.

I will leave it here for now as to not overwhelm you. Please make time to watch these videos, answer my questions above about tests, and let’s keep the conversation going.

Hope this helps give you some direction.

[bernadette]

I literally just finished writing up the Constipation symptom handout for the Symptom Dictionary. It’s getting designed and will be sent out in the November Insider Email on Tuesday.

You can also watch these 2 videos on constipation: common causes and rapid relief solutions for constipation, both inside the larger Gut Health Masterclass course.

And here is a list of the common causes I listed in the upcoming handout for constipation:

-Dehydration
-Magnesium insufficiency or deficiency
-Insufficient intake of dietary fats
-Insufficient insoluble fiber
-Hypothyroidism
-Dysbiosis (imbalanced microorganisms or an overgrowth like SIBO/SIFO), parasites
-Food sensitivities
-Hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid)
-Chronic stress (sympathetic dominance) resulting in decreased peristalsis
-Retroflexed uterus (or other structural blockages)

Given your history of low fat diet and liver issues, I would suspect bile support is needed. Do you have any liver markers to share?

These would be: ALT, AST, GGT, Alk Phos or ALP, Total and direct bilirubin, Albumin, Total Protein.

The digestive bitters I suggested above would help in this case too with constipation. Please watch this short video for a deeper dive on liver/gallbladder solutions.

[bernadette]

 just to be on the safe side, I think it’s best that you see a doctor about that symptom with difficulty swallowing and rule out neurological deficits, obstructions of the esophagus or a motor disorder.

Usually, the assessment goes as follows:
Difficulty with solids only: can indicate an obstructive lesion
Difficulty with liquids and solids: can indicate a motor disorder
Difficulty initiating swallowing: can indicate a neurological deficit

If the above are ruled out by a doc, look to a parthyroid dysfunction and/or biliary stasis. The parathyroid glands are a pair of small glands, located in the throat near the thyroid.

If you feel there’s a lump in your throat, this could be associated with a potassium insufficiency and/or gallbladder dysfunction with biliary statis.

Please watch this video on the the major players of digestion to understand the role of the gallbladder in digestion. And here’s a video on solutions for supporting the liver/gallbladder if this is at play in your case.

Have you ever tested your liver markers? These are ALT, AST, GGT, Alk Phos or ALP, Total and Direct bilirubin, Albumin, Total protein. If so, please share your results so we can help guide you better.

[bernadette]

Hi  – it usually takes a minimum of 1 month to start noticing a difference with normal/moderate intake, but of course that all depends on the dosage and therapies being used.

I encourage you to watch this short video on how to correct an iodine deficiency using a combination of food therapy and supplements.

Hope this helps.