Brain fog……..

Since the beginning of my illness in June 2010, Brain Fog has been at the top of my symptoms. Day and night, I feel my brain just isn’t working well, its foggy, its difficult to think, its hard to concentrate and pay attention, to the point of exhausting my brain to the point that it feels dry or offline, then the next day I’m just exhausted!

By listening to this recent Radio show by Dr Datis Kharrazian on Underground Wellness is really enlightening, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/undergroundwellness/2013/10/02/why-isnt-my-brain-working-w-dr-datis-kharrazian.

http://www.drcaffery.blogspot.com.au/

Bacterial overgrowth

For the past 4 years I’ve been looking into Chronic Illness from an ‘insiders perspective’! Suffering from what has been stamped on my file Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) but a whole lot more than that would realistically be the diagnosis instead of this throw away term.

Over the past few months some interesting test results came back plus some interesting articles have been written in the diverse circles of medical research currently happening in the Chronic Illness circles.

Firstly I completed a Metametrix/Genova GI Effects stool sample showing a Streptomyces level in the 5th quintile, which is as close to stating HIGH as you can get. Also my infection markers and malabsorption markers were HIGH (not shown here):

Most interesting result, Bioscreenmedical.com. Showing a Streptococcus bacteria overgrowth.

The next test of interests was the nutripath.com.au Adrenal Saliva profile test:

So when you look at both tests together, it makes a lot of sense, as the bacterial infection via its Lipopolysaccharides blocks almost all critical functions in the body, as explained in this truly informative video:

Now for even more understanding of why my health has dropped to such a low point, Streptococcus is a Sulphate Reducing bacteria and also depletes the body of methyl stores, which go on to switch off even more of your bodies native abilities to detoxify, produce ATP, heal and oxygenate. This post explains very well the situation, http://www.aspirenaturalhealth.com/sulfur-and-sulphate-reducing-bacteria-another-piece-in-the-puzzle-post-149-by-dr-tim-gerstmar-3262012/

So with all of this information combined, it offers an excellent summary as to what is happening, the only problem is the treatment options are not very specific. Maybe Amoxcillin or Amplicillin or this or that. I’ve taken a tonne of antibiotics, antiparasitics and VSL3# but still my brain fog/pressure, low energy, low mood, food intolerance, back pain and stiffness continue.

One interesting thing out of all this, it was interesting to note that the FLOATERS I see continually infront of my eyes, look exactly the same as the Streptococcus bacteria. Guess I’ve got an inbuilt microscope and didn’t even know it.

MTHFR and the Stress-Gut Connection – Part 1

discovertroy:

Really interesting piece!

Originally posted on Beyond MTHFR:

This is a video series dedicated to answering two very important questions.  The first question is “How does our gut health influence the health of the rest of the body?“.  The second question is “Why do supplements, esp. methylation nutrients, make my symptoms WORSE?”  These are questions which come up again and again in the minds of both doctors and patients.   These are questions which hold the key to understanding the root cause of many methylation problems.  And these are questions I am going to unravel for you over the course of the next three videos!  In today’s first of three video posts, we are going to start the discussion by looking at stress…

Stress impacts our health in ways we are just now understanding.  And how the digestive system is impacted by stress is the focus of exciting new research that sheds light on many…

View original 1,458 more words

Online store

Recently I was reading through a number of posts on forums of people commenting on the number of supplements they have stashed away in draws that they have tried but were not able to tolerate. I know from my own experience that I also have a mountain of unused supplements due to a number of factors, not tolerable, not game to try it, mistake in ordering online, etc.

So it got me thinking and searching to see what options there were online to setup a web store for free to try and offload some of these items at a substantially reduced price to people out there in the wide world who actually do tolerate and want to purchase these supplements.

After searching and reading a number of reviews, I found a site called TicTale. A Swedish outfit who provide a free and paid for, eCommerce platform that is truly simple to use.

I’ve created a store discovertroy.tictale.com to see how this goes, hopefully I will be successful in selling a few bargains to the punters out there!

Truly is a very simple process to setup a store and list items for sale.

MRI’s and where to?

Recently I’ve been seeing a Chiropractor with experience in energy medicine also. He is a very nice guy and seems to be able to assist with some of the aches and pains associated with Chronic Illness. Over the past few months I’ve been getting ever increasing brain fog, head pressure, head aches and frontal lobe dumbness (is how I like to describe it). Too often I feel like my head is just dead and then the rest of my body follows with excessive fatigue and increased pain. I’m not exactly sure what started it but there have been a number of things over the past few months that could have contributed, Sanum suppositories for candida, way too much contact with people wearing perfumes or walking through shopping centres with perfumes wafting out, extra activities, stressful meetings and encounters requiring exposure to cigarette smoke.

So with all of that put out there, Chiro suggested an MRI of the head region to see what is going on. Off to the GP for a referral, book in, partake in said MRI (scary things that they are, especially when on your head! the noise is just so intense and unnerving!). Result of the MRI, left side Sinus Disease! What does that mean? Could it be that the candida that I’ve had impacting my health be coming from my sinuses as so many practitioners theorise contribute to these chronic illnesses and fatigue?

Looking forward to a follow up with the GP to see what specialists are on offer to look at this further.

Aerotoxic

On 60 minutes in Australia they had an interesting article about TCP poisoning onboard aircraft. http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8762931

The symptoms started in me after a flight to NZ, I felt so unwell there and horrid on my return!!! Symptoms are various and bad. Very similar to Lyme and parasites. So many on Lyme forums complain of being sick after travelling somewhere on aircraft, this makes me really think!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-513209/Toxic-airlines-Is-plane-trip-poisoning-you.html

Turns out PON1 SNP is a known genetic issue for being susceptible to TCP poisoning. PON1 appears via 23andme.com results when put through mthfrsupport.com reports!!!

http://www.va.gov/RAC-GWVI/docs/Minutes_and_Agendas/Minutes_Nov2009_Presentation05.pdf

Interesting forum, look at some of the claims:

http://www.businesstraveller.com/discussion/topic/Contaminated-Cabin-Air-Is-your-airline-poisoning-you-inflight

Check the main site out here:

http://www.aerotoxic.org

Legal angle:

http://www.brodkowitzlaw.com/toxic-fumes-on-airplanes.aspx

Just an update. 23andme.com and stuff

Still on the same merry-go-round. I’ve put many hours and a fortune into this and it would seem there are a billion different permutations as to whats going on here!

I recently had a 23andme.com genetic test performed and then put the results through geneticgenie and mthfrsupport.com reporting process, it quite neatly shows that all of my methylation and detox pathway gene’s are turned off by the bugs that have been through me or are still in me (not sure what to think but I feel they are still in me). Its nice to know this as it tells me not to try too much killing or detoxing as my body cannot handle the ramifications of these harsh actions currently. My accupuncturist/naturopath says that my immune system and nervous system are just ‘shot to pieces’ by the lifestyle stressors over 20 years, then serious infection of the gut hurts even further as that is where the majority of your immune and nervous system are housed. So now the tricky part, HOW THE HELL DO YOU TREAT THAT? I’d love to know.

Seems the general consensus in the wider CFS/ME, Chronic infection (lyme etc.) and digestive health circles is help the body heal by ways of minimising stress, repopulating the enteric microbial balance (microbiome) of the gut and focusing on the positives in life (even if you feel you are on deaths door (sounds much easier than they point out!!)). The autonomic nervous system is very sensitive to all it comes into contact with and the thought of it not being able to recover from an infection is almost on par with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, infection is still thought to exist in the body so weakens continually and then renders you susceptible to further infections over and over…….
Ok, I’ve rambled on enough…. but thats where I’m at, at the moment. LOVE YOURSELF!!!!!!!

Gut infections, great overview.

I’ve been unwell for over 3 years now and if anyone reading this is at the start of an unknown health crisis, then I hope this may speed up your path to receovery.

It seems more and more research is pointing to gut infection or inbalance being the root of many health issues these days. Testing for me has shwon some very bizarre gut flora and pathogens along the way but it has been found too late to allow easy treatment.

Here are a few recent articles I feel are very important to read completely:

– http://scdlifestyle.com/2013/04/6-gut-infection-case-studies-why-you-should-get-stool-testing-done-asap/

– http://theverge.com/2013/8/21/4595712/gut-feelings-the-future-of-psychiatry-may-be-inside-your-stomach

– http://www.mygutsy.com/is-h-pylori-the-cause-of-allergies-brain-fog-hypothyroid-autoimmune-disorders-adrenal-fatigue/

H Pylori is something that many Dr’s just dismiss as a non issue, its now looking to be even more of a disaster than first thought.

This test and video overview by Dr Dan Kalish is truly worth watching, he seems to know hiw stuff.

Abnormal gut bacteria? Fecal Transplant FMT

Well I think it is safe to say, the rectal infusion of antibiotics has not been a ‘silver bullet’ as I still feel very similar to how I felt prior to the procedure 2 weeks ago.

After visiting my gastroenterologist this week and him verifying that my condition is still yet to improve, he has now suggested I get a fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), to replenish the good bacteria in my colon and potentially small intestine to crowd out the bad bacteria’s that seem to have set up shop.

When I had a Metametrix test 2 years ago it showed severe dysbiosis and today my symptoms are now different.

I’ve taken so many courses of antibiotics over the past two years so its now assumed the bacteria’s are now resistant which FMT may be able to do something about.

Read more stories here:

http://www.probiotictherapy.com.au/

http://www.fecalmicrobiotatransplant.com

http://fecalmicrobiotatransplantation.com

Dientamoeba Fragilis treatment

For those playing at home, I had a colonic infusion of Furazolidone 1500 mg, Iodoquinol 6500 mg, Paromomycin 7500 mg, treatment this morning with my gastroenterologist for a persistent dientamoeba fragilis gut infection.

Now 10 days of 1500mg Paromomycin. Feeling tired and a bit crampy.

Hoping it works!