Gut health

So I think that this may be of some benefit to others, so going to post about it.

Starting on Jan 1 I changed my diet significantly. It dawned on me one day that my gut health is awful. I was developing IBS/constant diarrhea. I'd feel awful after eating. This increase in poor gut health also corresponded with me developing Autoimmune neuropathy. The two must be related I thought. So I set out to heal my gut lining.

I first did a 5 day fast. The results were so dramatic that I realized that I must be on the right track. I then have been completely paleo for the past 4 weeks. I also use Immune Tree bovine colostrum (immunoglubulins to reduce inlammation) and Standard Process Zypan to improve liver function and increase bile.

Since doing all this, my IBS is probably 80-90% better. My energy is through the roof. I used to have to work out basically daily or i'd feel down in the dumps energy wise. I worked out once/week the past 4 weeks and feel like I'm in better shape than I was a month ago. My anxiety and depression are way better. Muscle pain is gone.

The only symptom still left is this autoimmune nerve pain. I did not expect it to improve that quickly, however. Small Fiber Neuropathy is caused by your body creating antibodies against itself. Its pernicious and really hard to stop even with the most potent immunosuppresives. This is going to take years to overwrite. But the results with the rest of my symptoms (fatigue, anxiety, depression, muscle pain) were so dramatic that I think that everyone on this board can benefit.

I'd highly recommend a strict paleo or AIP diet trial for a month to see if it helps (if thats too restrictive, just cut out refined sugars, processed foods like bread, all grains, dairy). I'd highly recommend colostrum or the stuff SBI Protect (even better since no dairy) that RunningWild mentioned. These two alone should be enough to make a noticeable difference.

There has been mention of Autoimmune and or small fiber neuropathy this last few months.

1) My question- are people guessing or getting antibody testing for this? Ive never seen testing for this specifically, so i dont know.

ANA is just general. Most conventionally recognized autoimmune has organ specific tests.

Gut health is everything. Will be a lifelong quest for me. I highly recommend D-limonine for ANY gut issues. You feel better the same day.

As far as diet- remember for those tired of guessing there is the LEAP MRT food test that measures cytokine release to 170 individual foods. Cytokine is inflammatory immune response, not an allergy (different).

Post Edited (astroman) : 2/3/2020 10:06:07 AM (GMT-7)

I never had C4 done, just C4a which normalized after being sky hi. Never had hi-sed rate either. Still had tingling all over in the past. Hope it never comes back like that as im not sure what helped it in the past abx, diet..not sure. Immune/autoimmune is so confusing.

Kudos to your fasting, Id like to go more than two days but thats hard to do with a job.

I did the MRT test. It's useful but the only thing I'll say is that it doesn't cover mast cell reactions. It says it does cover histamines but in my experience many of the green foods are total mast cell triggers for me. Just an FYI.

Happy to hear of your progress though!

Running wild. So your labs were all normal huh? Did you get the avise panel back? I had it done and it’s a very cool test, runs a lot of other tests that a standard panel doesn’t look for. Mine was pretty clear I’m making lots of different antibodies

dcd - I will not know results of test until Feb. 13 at next appointment. Did you find it more reliable and more extensive than all the other tests for autoimmune? As mentioned, all mine come out normal except the C3 and C4. But the C4 is bottom normal (15) and the C3 is 62 (I think 83 is low normal). I just read yesterday that extreme loss of body fat can cause low C3. I have been accepted as a patient for a doctor in Dallas, TX who specializes in lipodystrophy, though mine seems to be lipoatrophy. Lipodystrophy causes fat to be re-distributed on body, such as loss in one area of body but a hump of fat in another area. That I do not have.

But there are definitely autoimmune signs such as vitiligo and joint/back pain, but that also could be Lyme related. Who knows? Did you find the Avise test helpful?

WBC usually low or barely normal. RBC usually low normal.

Lipoatrophy, like lipodystrophy, can be caused by chronic infection, as can lipoatrophy. Lipodystrophy has been related to HIV and some of the earlier medicines those who had/have it took. Also from the infection itself.

It can cause problems with liver, cause diabetes, create high lipid panel. I've been asked many, many times if I have had an HIV test. My answer is always "Yes, six. It's related to Lyme." Then the doctor ignores it. The guy in Houston is supposed to be the best in the country with this. I don't like seeing myself in the mirror or pictures because it reminds me how much fat I have lost. I don't know if it can cause kidney problems, but that has been a concern with me.