I got the results from my stool test and talked with my ND today. She was so very helpful, which is not always the case concerning MDs or NDs as we have found over the years!
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I have high enough levels of Candida (fungus) to be concerned about and she thinks they would have been higher if it hadn't been for some treatment I had awhile back, but had to stop as it made me unable to function (felt like I had the flu times 10)
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I also have "abundant" pathogen/bacterial overgrowth (no pathogens should have been detected.)Â
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My chymotrpsin levles are abnormally low. "Chymotrypsin is a marker enzyme for pancreatic exocrine output. A low Chymotrypsin value is suggestive of poor pancreatic output of all enzymes."
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My alpha anti-chumotrypsin levels were somewhat elevated which shows there is some inflammation going on in the lower intestine, but upper intestine seemed fine. Upper intestine is where water is mostly absorbed and lower is where mostly nutrients are absorbed.
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What was most concerning was my total intestinal SIgA levels. They should be at 400-880 mg/dL and mine were at less than 1. What this shows is this has been going on a long time. It also shows that my gut is in terrible shape (leaky) and my immune system and ability to absorb (state of the intestinal villi) nutrients is shot.Â
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Dr. Mercola says, "Most people, including many physicians, do not realize that 80 percent of your immune system is located in your digestive system, making a healthy gut a major focal point if you want to maintain optimal health. Remember, a robust immune system is your number one defense system against ALL disease"
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I *only* had chronic fatigue 10 years ago and now have fibro, vulva vestibulitis (sucks), MAJOR food allegies and struggle with depression/suicide.I believe I've had milk allergies for some time which can start this whole chain of events, but usually it is a combination of things. We actually are born with both good and bad bacteria in our guts (ratio and variety is dependent on a lot of factors as well) and something like antibiotics, prolonged stress, crappy food, or insufficient good pb or abundance of the bad to begin with (birth) or a combination for example can allow the bad guys to over grow. So, the pathogens i'm dealing with could be native rather than foreign invaders, but are probably a mix. Healing the gut should give me some foods back (heal food allergies) as pathogen overgrowth itself and their effect on the GI tract can lead to food allergies or exacerbate  them. If I could get only one of gluten grains, milk, or eggs back the I'd be happy. :)
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It takes a long time to heal the gut, but we'll be starting in greater earnest very soon with diet (key), meds, and nutritional supplements. I'll be taking Nystatin (antifungal) and penicilin (antibacterial) along with a strong probiotic. I will probably need the pb for life or when I get to better use some kind of fermented food that is pb rich daily. I'll also be taking milk thistle phytosome for liver support and digestive enzymes for digestive support (until my body starts doing what it should do on its own again). My cortisol (hormone that allows one to cope with stress and so much more) levels are trashed as well and healing the digestive tract should naturally bring this up when it needs to be during the day and down when it should be at night (currently they are reversed -did a cortisol test).
I'm so excited to be well and am feeling very hopeful! It will probably get worse before it gets better (the waste from the candida and bacteria produce alcohol like toxins and poison the muscles, brain, everything) and when you start killing them they really release these toxins. My dr. will be doing all she can to take it slow with me so as not to cause too much of a die off and is giving me other supportive stuff to help ease the process. HTH somesone!
Here's more if you want more info and below is an excerpt.
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http://www.yourmedicaldetective.com/drgrisanti/Mucosal%20Barrier.htm
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The immune system is stressed in three major ways. First is at the site of the intestinal mucosa. As toxins and food antigens brush up against the mucosa, the immune system mobilizes to neutralize the toxins. Normally, much of this work would have been done by beneficial bacteria, which have been destroyed by antibiotics. For toxins that make it to the mucosa, the body will tag them with a chemical secretory IgA (SIgA), which attracts macrophages and other white blood cells to consume the toxins. It is not long before this immune response is overwhelmed and depleted. This can be measured directly with a stool or saliva test for the intestinal SIgA level.
The second stressor happens in the liver and lymphatic system which, also overwhelmed, puts demands on the immune system.
The most important organ in the production of immune agents seems to be the adrenal gland, and a damaged mucosal barrier slowly diminishes adrenal function. In the early and middle stages, there is actually an adrenal excess, as measured by excess cortisol output. Eventually, cortisol levels drop, and one now has exhaustion
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