Healing the Gut -- March thread - Page 2

[Rachel J.]

Originally Posted by bluets

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q..._uids=16882802

CONCLUSIONS: The most important determinants of the gut microbiotic composition in infants were the mode of delivery, type of infant feeding, gestational age, infant hospitalization, and antibiotic use by the infant. Term infants who were born vaginally at home and were breastfed exclusively seemed to have the most "beneficial" gut microbiota (highest numbers of bifidobacteria and lowest numbers of C difficile and E coli).

Hmmm, poor ds2 has all the "negative" determinants, except for now being EBF. It's no wonder he has gut issues.

I know it's been asked about a zillion times and I'm sure that if I did a search I'd eventually find an answer, but could anyone tell me a dairy/soy/corn-free infant probiotic? I currently have three in my fridge that have given ds hives/welts around his mouth after taking them.: I'm thinking that can't be a good sign.

Any thoughts on l. reuteri's benefits for children and/or adults with gut issues? I'm guessing most have seen/heard about the research indicating that it decreased colic in infants?

[milkamama]

Originally Posted by Chinese Pistache

So, I think I spoke too soon about NAET. I've been watching dd carefully. I was especially interested in observing her today because last night is when I went whole hog on the corn and dairy and I wanted to see how that would affect her once it made its way to my milk. I was happily surprised when she woke up this morning with fairly clear skin. Now, a few hours and a few nursing sessions later, she's got eczema flare ups in all her creases AND diarrhea (which she hasn't had in a couple of months at least).

I think we'll go back to our original plan of attack. I liked the idea of trying NAET because it's not invasive and we have the money right now to afford it, but I'm concerned about continuing to expose her to her allergens in an effort to "test" them. Since her allergies (the big ones anyway) are IgE, I don't want to ruin our chances of outgrowing them by letting her eat them.

hi...i followed and posted for awhile some time ago...
just wanted to add in my 2 cents.
i tried naet for a long time with my ds2 (he has IgE reactions to wheat, soy, egg, rice, tree nuts, nuts and belly troubles with coconut, avacodo, onion...to name a few). although i love, love the dr. performing the naet (i still go for me once a week for craniosacral adjustments), she was more convinced than i regarding the 'elimination' of the allergens. i thought naet was THE end all be all for us. i saw huge improvements in the beginning and raved about how wonderful it is.

what i have learned from our experience is that naet typically ( i know a few folks who have tried it) works fully with older kids (ds1 who is 3.5 had three treatments for egg and is able to consume them, though i don't let him have them all the time and since naet can also consume dairy freely...with no belly trouble) and adults. i am not sure if ds2's system was just such a mess (and mine as well) or if he did clear for a while and then i went crazy and did not limit the 'cleared allergens'.

at the time, my thinking was, he is clear, now he can have say wheat whenever. once he was cleared i did give him large amounts of the cleared item and sure enough after a day or so (sometimes more), he would react again. what i think happens is they do clear, but then we try to consume the cleared allergen freely and maybe (as in my ds2's case) there are other gut issues going on and the cleared foods may stay cleared if say we only had them on a rotational basis. like i said this is just my 2 cents.

i do believe in naet, but i do think there are limitations.

i totally agree with your concern about exposing your dd to the allergens and honestly, at this time we have decided to go the same route. we steer completely away from all his allergens (and possible allergens)...and my ds2 now 26 months has fabulous looking skin, virtually no belly issues and grew 3.4 cm and gained 1 lb. in 3 mths (huge for him). but yeah like i said we have a very restricted diet...i am used to it now, but really miss eating out...having a break from cooking 3 meals a day, 7 days a week (sorry just a bit of self pity there).

i would love to eventually try naet again...if necessary. ds outgrew a dairy allergy what seemed like overnight. we strickly avoided dairy for a LONG time.
and now he can eat all dairy (hence the weight gain and growth) with no trouble. i pray, A LOT about him outgrowing everything and have continued my own gut healing (in hopes of having another baby and not having food issues...positive thoughts).

wow, this was way longer than i expected...hope this is helpful.
peace

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by Rachel J.

I know it's been asked about a zillion times and I'm sure that if I did a search I'd eventually find an answer, but could anyone tell me a dairy/soy/corn-free infant probiotic? I currently have three in my fridge that have given ds hives/welts around his mouth after taking them.: I'm thinking that can't be a good sign.

Any thoughts on l. reuteri's benefits for children and/or adults with gut issues? I'm guessing most have seen/heard about the research indicating that it decreased colic in infants?

www.customprobiotics.com--no fillers, so you shouldn't run into any allergens. If your DS is extremely sensitive to dairy you could call and see if they'll send you a sample as I belive all probiotics are originally cultured on dairy and then the hypo-allergenic ones are cultured again w/o dairy to remove traces.

I know a couple of people posted that they saw stool improvements (and possibly other improvements, can't remember) with their DC when they started them on l. reuteri.

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by mum2be

Wow it's March!! Crazy!

Well, I think I'm dealing with a major Candida issue too. Does Candida and leaky gut go hand in hand, or is one more likely to cause the other??

I did the "spit in the glass test" first thing in the morning (I'm waiting on my stool results from Great Smokies, but am anxious!!) and a huge gross cloud went to the bottom of the glass. Dh's was fine...lucky guy who gets to eat junk food and still be healthy!

Does making your own yogurt help with Candida? I read on the customprobiotics.com site that you can make it with almond milk. I think I'm goign to be ordering probiotics from him today.

Also, dd is REALLY wanting food. She throws tantrums when I don't let her "taste" everything (which I thought was impossible for a 5.5 month old...). We are supposed to be delaying solids, but how on Earth can I when all she wants to do is eat?? Didn't know if any of you mamas went through this...

I hope everyone is doing well

Any fermented/cultured food will probably help with candida. Is your DD okay with nuts? You could probably make yogurt with rice milk, although who knows how it would taste.

How's your DD coming with the milestones for starting solids (sits up unassisted, has teeth, pincher grasp)? Sometimes you just have to have more willpower than your DC...they are awfully persistent but there's going to be lots of things they want that they can't have (speaking from experience!).

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by mum2be

Why are there so many kids on here that have leaky gut/candida issues? Is it because WE have the issues and they have it as a result, or is there some other contributing factor.

If I have candida, will dd because I am nursing her?

I just want to clarify some things...

Thanks

Oh, and Bluets-Thanks for the info! I will add that strain when I order

IMO, if mom has leaky gut or candida babe probably has gut issues too, because they get whatever gut flora the mom has during their trip down the birth canal. But kids can have gut issues that don't come from mom due to vaxes, antibiotics, formula, etc.

I don't know that your DD will automatically have candida if you do. I would guess that she's more susceptible because her gut flora's probably messed up, but I haven't heard anything about candida being passed through BM. I don't even know if a baby can be colonized with candida during the trip through the birth canal...based on my experience with DD I'd say that it can, but I've never seen any research one way or the other.

[mum2be]

Originally Posted by caedmyn

Any fermented/cultured food will probably help with candida. Is your DD okay with nuts? You could probably make yogurt with rice milk, although who knows how it would taste.

How's your DD coming with the milestones for starting solids (sits up unassisted, has teeth, pincher grasp)? Sometimes you just have to have more willpower than your DC...they are awfully persistent but there's going to be lots of things they want that they can't have (speaking from experience!).

I looked on the customprobiotic website and the yogurt starter section says you can use almond milk as a starter I thought that was great, as my dairy on the IgE tests (I know they aren't super accurate) was very very high, and I hadn't consumed dairy in a long time...

I wonder how almond milk yogurt would taste....anyone try it?

Dd is sitting up for about 5 minutes unassisted (although maybe longer, but I typically have a boppy around her just in case), doesn't have any teeth and no sign (although she's been teething like crazy since 3 months), and I don't think she has a pincer grasp, but is very good at grabbing small objects
Is it bad if she just licks foods? Like she loved licking the salt off of my rice cracker, she liked licking my rice dream bar (just a teeny bit...this was her "first" food because she grabbed it out of my hand and shoved it in her mouth before I could get it) and she licked a bit of olive oil/sheep's cheese (the parmesan style) off of my spoon...just the tiniest amount. It's impossible for me to avoid eating in front of her because she needs my attention 100% of the times, and most of the time I need to be holding her too...I mean, she gets very distressed when I don't give her any and I already deal with a cranky baby, so I'd like to keep her happy But I know that delaying is better...but just little teeny licks? Is that okay?

Also, I posted this on the previous page, but if I have candida, will she too?

She's got all the good thigns going for her as far as gut flora (homebirth, natural, vaginal, breastfed, etc.) but what happens when the mother's gut flora is horrible? Does she still get the good stuff? what about candida? If I had it, wouldn't she have swallowed whatever was in my vagina during birth. (Is that a silly question?)

My dh is getting really upset about all this that is going on with me. He doesn't really understand it and seems to think that there is some cure out there where all I have to do is take a pill and I'll be better. He seems to think everything that we on this thread talk about is hocus pocus, because no doctors are telling us what to do. Does that make sense? I'm super tired and am not thinking clearly...

[paisleypoet]

I'm subbing to this one...my dd is 17 months old, has IgE allergies to wheat, oats, dairy, peanuts and eggs, also has eczema and digestion problems. I KNOW she has some leaky gut and yeast issues. This stuff is fascinating, how it's all connected. I'm learning a lot!
I was giving my dd a capsule of acidophilus in her bottle each morning, then I kind of quit for a few days to see if it was really doing anything. She started to get runny, stinky poop with undigested food, and then developed a yeast rash on her bottom that cleared up instantly with Nystatin ointment. So needless to say we are back on it!
She is also intolerant to tomato products and any citrus, they go right through her and cause a nasty rash on her bottom. She eats a lot of vegetables, beans and legumes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice, some soy products, fruit, gluten-free snacks, and some meat, although I am trying to cut back on that (I'm a vegetarian). She actually eats healthier than anyone else in the house, since she can't have any junk food!
I am still trying to figure out everything that she can or can't eat, and trying to connect it all with her eczema flare-ups and diarrhea. It's so confusing sometimes.

[Janelovesmax]

How would you know if your child has a leaky gut/yeast issues?

[earthmama369]

Jumping in with a possibly odd gut issue.

I'm suspect I've sustained some "gut" damage and am interested in finding ways to heal it. But it's not allergies or yeast or anything like that. It's as a result of panic disorder. Anyone have any thoughts, suggestions?

I started having panic attacks when I was 18. I went through several months of nearly non-stop attacks, all of which involved throwing up. (Some people feel like the're having a heart attack during a panic attack . . . some of us upchuck. Yay.) They gradually slowed to a few times a day, then a few times a week. 12 years later, I can count on two hands the number of severe panic attacks I've had in the last few years. But any time adrenalin hits my system, I feel it strongly in my gut and have an instant reaction -- diarrhea (sorry, TMI), nausea, etc.

Chicken or the egg -- I don't know if it hits me in the gut so hard because I already had an underlying weakness there or if it's just the nature of the beast. Either way, I can't have had so many intestinal problems without causing some damage. What would be some good ways to strengthen and heal my intestinal system?

[APCDmama]

subbing :

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by earthmama369

What would be some good ways to strengthen and heal my intestinal system?

Probiotics or homemade lacto-fermented foods or drinks (yogurt, pickles, sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha, etc), bone broths or glutamine supplements, cod liver oil, and a nutrient-rich diet.

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by Janelovesmax

How would you know if your child has a leaky gut/yeast issues?

If they have allergies, eczema, or digestive problems like constipation or diarrhea, they most likely have gut issues.

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by mum2be

Dd is sitting up for about 5 minutes unassisted (although maybe longer, but I typically have a boppy around her just in case), doesn't have any teeth and no sign (although she's been teething like crazy since 3 months), and I don't think she has a pincer grasp, but is very good at grabbing small objects
Is it bad if she just licks foods? Like she loved licking the salt off of my rice cracker, she liked licking my rice dream bar (just a teeny bit...this was her "first" food because she grabbed it out of my hand and shoved it in her mouth before I could get it) and she licked a bit of olive oil/sheep's cheese (the parmesan style) off of my spoon...just the tiniest amount. It's impossible for me to avoid eating in front of her because she needs my attention 100% of the times, and most of the time I need to be holding her too...I mean, she gets very distressed when I don't give her any and I already deal with a cranky baby, so I'd like to keep her happy But I know that delaying is better...but just little teeny licks? Is that okay?

Also, I posted this on the previous page, but if I have candida, will she too?

I answered your candida question earlier on this thread...

The problem with your DD getting food so early is that if her gut isn't ready for it, more gut problems can result. Is there any way you can limit her to tastes of food just for her (like "tastes" of a fruit or veggie, for instance, particularly a raw one that she isn't likely to get much of anyway)? That way if you do see a reaction at least you'll know what it's to. Or at least avoid giving her any tastes of rice if you can, because so many babies have issues with rice cereal as a first food.

[Chinese Pistache]

Originally Posted by milkamama

hi...i followed and posted for awhile some time ago...
just wanted to add in my 2 cents.
i tried naet for a long time with my ds2 (he has IgE reactions to wheat, soy, egg, rice, tree nuts, nuts and belly troubles with coconut, avacodo, onion...to name a few). although i love, love the dr. performing the naet (i still go for me once a week for craniosacral adjustments), she was more convinced than i regarding the 'elimination' of the allergens. i thought naet was THE end all be all for us. i saw huge improvements in the beginning and raved about how wonderful it is.

what i have learned from our experience is that naet typically ( i know a few folks who have tried it) works fully with older kids (ds1 who is 3.5 had three treatments for egg and is able to consume them, though i don't let him have them all the time and since naet can also consume dairy freely...with no belly trouble) and adults. i am not sure if ds2's system was just such a mess (and mine as well) or if he did clear for a while and then i went crazy and did not limit the 'cleared allergens'.

at the time, my thinking was, he is clear, now he can have say wheat whenever. once he was cleared i did give him large amounts of the cleared item and sure enough after a day or so (sometimes more), he would react again. what i think happens is they do clear, but then we try to consume the cleared allergen freely and maybe (as in my ds2's case) there are other gut issues going on and the cleared foods may stay cleared if say we only had them on a rotational basis. like i said this is just my 2 cents.

i do believe in naet, but i do think there are limitations.

i totally agree with your concern about exposing your dd to the allergens and honestly, at this time we have decided to go the same route. we steer completely away from all his allergens (and possible allergens)...and my ds2 now 26 months has fabulous looking skin, virtually no belly issues and grew 3.4 cm and gained 1 lb. in 3 mths (huge for him). but yeah like i said we have a very restricted diet...i am used to it now, but really miss eating out...having a break from cooking 3 meals a day, 7 days a week (sorry just a bit of self pity there).

i would love to eventually try naet again...if necessary. ds outgrew a dairy allergy what seemed like overnight. we strickly avoided dairy for a LONG time.
and now he can eat all dairy (hence the weight gain and growth) with no trouble. i pray, A LOT about him outgrowing everything and have continued my own gut healing (in hopes of having another baby and not having food issues...positive thoughts).

wow, this was way longer than i expected...hope this is helpful.
peace

Thank you for your experience. It IS helpful. I feel in my gut that avoiding her allergens strictly right now is the thing to do. I had my reservations about NAET, but now I can say I've tried it and I don't think it's our path right now. I feel strongly that we need gut healing and time to get to that "outgrown" allergy stage. I'm so glad to hear that your ds has outgrown his dairy allergy. I'm praying for that, too.

Interestingly, since consuming dairy after such a long time, I was amazed at how crappy it made me feel! I became congested almost immediately after eating cheese or something with milk in it. I've always dealt with this, but never thought it was "abnormal." I do miss the odd cheesy Italian dish and I do wish I could make my own cow's milk yogurt, but otherwise, I don't miss dairy. I would love for dd to outgrow corn, too (I also have minor issues with it) because I wouldn't have to be so vigilant about all the cross contamination and ubiquitous corn derivatives.

Thank you again for sharing your story.

[Chinese Pistache]

Originally Posted by mum2be

I looked on the customprobiotic website and the yogurt starter section says you can use almond milk as a starter I thought that was great, as my dairy on the IgE tests (I know they aren't super accurate) was very very high, and I hadn't consumed dairy in a long time...

I wonder how almond milk yogurt would taste....anyone try it?

Dd is sitting up for about 5 minutes unassisted (although maybe longer, but I typically have a boppy around her just in case), doesn't have any teeth and no sign (although she's been teething like crazy since 3 months), and I don't think she has a pincer grasp, but is very good at grabbing small objects
Is it bad if she just licks foods? Like she loved licking the salt off of my rice cracker, she liked licking my rice dream bar (just a teeny bit...this was her "first" food because she grabbed it out of my hand and shoved it in her mouth before I could get it) and she licked a bit of olive oil/sheep's cheese (the parmesan style) off of my spoon...just the tiniest amount. It's impossible for me to avoid eating in front of her because she needs my attention 100% of the times, and most of the time I need to be holding her too...I mean, she gets very distressed when I don't give her any and I already deal with a cranky baby, so I'd like to keep her happy But I know that delaying is better...but just little teeny licks? Is that okay?

Also, I posted this on the previous page, but if I have candida, will she too?

She's got all the good thigns going for her as far as gut flora (homebirth, natural, vaginal, breastfed, etc.) but what happens when the mother's gut flora is horrible? Does she still get the good stuff? what about candida? If I had it, wouldn't she have swallowed whatever was in my vagina during birth. (Is that a silly question?)

My dh is getting really upset about all this that is going on with me. He doesn't really understand it and seems to think that there is some cure out there where all I have to do is take a pill and I'll be better. He seems to think everything that we on this thread talk about is hocus pocus, because no doctors are telling us what to do. Does that make sense? I'm super tired and am not thinking clearly...

Personally, I would be really careful with nuts and nut milk. If you've got poor gut flora, your dd *may* be more susceptible to food allergies. Nuts are a dangerous allergy, so personally, I'd avoid them until my child was a lot older 2 or more. Since my dd already has diagnosed food allergies, we're waiting until she's 4 to introduce them.

And with the licks of food, I'd avoid them, too. My friend was just lamenting today her decision to let her ds eat solids at 4 mths. He seemed really ready and wanted to eat, but now he seems to have developed an allergy to his formula (he is adopted, so not bfed

It's a tough thing to deal with. I have my own regrets about allowing my dd to take antibiotics. I'm not telling you any of this to guilt you into making a decision one way or another, but I just don't want you to have regrets later on.

[Chinese Pistache]

Originally Posted by Rachel J.

Hmmm, poor ds2 has all the "negative" determinants, except for now being EBF. It's no wonder he has gut issues.

I know it's been asked about a zillion times and I'm sure that if I did a search I'd eventually find an answer, but could anyone tell me a dairy/soy/corn-free infant probiotic? I currently have three in my fridge that have given ds hives/welts around his mouth after taking them.: I'm thinking that can't be a good sign.

Any thoughts on l. reuteri's benefits for children and/or adults with gut issues? I'm guessing most have seen/heard about the research indicating that it decreased colic in infants?

I've had a hard time finding an infant's probiotic without all of those ingredients. We currently use UAS labs acidophilus with bifidus. With an infant, you really need bifidus. I'm checking on Natren dairy-free, but I don't know for sure that some of the inactive ingredients aren't derived from corn.

[formerluddite]

wow, spend the day at kindergarten and the park and things get busy around here!

Originally Posted by bluets

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q..._uids=16882802

RESULTS: ... Infants with older siblings had slightly higher numbers of bifidobacteria, compared with infants without siblings. ...

boy, i read this and promptly visualized dd1 sticking her (grubby little unwashed) fingers into dd2's (pristine) mouth! maybe kids do know best about some things? they're "supposed" to be the bearers of bacteria to their sibs?

thanks for all the great study sifting, bluets!

[paisleypoet]

What is NAET? Just curious.

[JaneS]

Re: panic attacks and depression "without sweets"

Previous posters mentioned these and I want to HIGHLY recommend The Mood Cure by Julia Ross. You will learn all about amino acids and how they effect your mood. Also how the body's craving for sweets is really a result of low serotonin. Both low protein in diet and inability to convert (properly digest) your proteins into amino acids make this a big factor for anyone who has gut damage. Provides detailed info on how to experiment with amino acids depending on your specific symptoms, but if you want to just go for the best, get an Amino Acid Bloodspot test from Metametrix to see which aminos you are low in.

[JaneS]

Challenge for This Week:

Can everyone who can test their early AM temps to see if they are low?

Thyroid blood tests in DS are completely normal. But not temps. Our nutritionist has been very dogged in having me research Wilson's Low Temperature Syndrome and I think she is right.

Both DS and I temp test low. Apparently the digestive enzymes are produced and are effective in a very low temp range. If your body is too cool it will greatly effect digestion in addition to thyroid hormones that regulate a great deal of processes in the body. Also, a lightbulb went on and I wonder if that also effects your gut flora... we know that yeasts grow at lower temps than bacteria. I wonder if low body temp effects your gut flora balance?

Also, I will be posting our Rotation Diet guidelines in the Cheat Sheet, I know a number of people asked for it. Sorry it took me so long! Make sure you subscribe to the thread to get notified of new changes.

What do you think?