Where do I begin..?

[sunshinestarr]

Hi everyone! I'm very new here, and I'm grateful to have found such a forum as this one. I'm just.. VERY overwhelmed. I'm really frustrated with my husbands continuing gut problems (we've been married for five years, but his guy has had problems for way before that), which I can't really tie down. I've been determined in the past to help him, and have fallen away, but I've got the determination again. I've got some books, right now I'm going off of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" (which I don't 100% agree with to tell you the truth) and Sally Fallon's "Nourishing Traditions."

Just looking through the more encyclopedic type books, he's got irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, depression, leaky gut syndrome (this one has actually been confirmed with a doctor a few years back), and maybe parasites and adrenal fatigue. He's under constant stress, even if there is "nothing" to stress about (there's always something..)

I'm hoping, praying, and praying some more that I can get to the bottom of this already. Yesterday, he literally spent the entire day in bed. The entire day! And this is not unusual. Something needs to change.

Thanks so much, I know there's tons of info here, and I'm going to start poking around.

Best,
Sss

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[Pat Robinson]

Welcome. Could you tell us a bit about his diet? Any physical symptoms? Ever done a food journal?

Basically, the gut is 70-80% of the immune system. It all starts with nutrient-dense foods, effective digestion (with adequate stomach acid), absorption of nutrients (in the gut with balanced microbials), and detoxification of the chemical byproducts of foods and environmental toxins by the liver, with adequate bio-available nutrients to support the detox pathways.

I would do whole food probiotics, cod liver oil, magnesium, vit. C, zinc, coconut oil, bone broths, green juices. Support the immune system.

Basically, you have to heal the gut to strengthen the immune system. Check out the "Healing the Gut-cheat sheet".
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=434071

Take a look at this thread discussing food *intolerances* avoidance vs not (re: detoxification discussion, ie detox pathways):
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=1044707&h...\
e+detox

Start here to learn about detox pathways:
http://heal-thyself.ning.com/forum/topics/detox-obstacle-course

And here are a few informal videos about detox pathways:
http://heal-thyself.ning.com/video/video

and here about evaluating digestion and stomach acid (beet "pink pee" test): http://heal-thyself.ning.com/forum/topics/the-beet-test

This thread about Healing the Gut with Food:
http://heal-thyself.ning.com/forum/topics/healing-leaky-gut-with-food

Nutrient Dense Foods: http://heal-thyself.ning.com/forum/topics/nutrient-dense-foods

Foods to Help Phase I and Phase II Detoxification:
http://heal-thyself.ning.com/forum/topics/nutrient-dense-foods?page...

Then here, the threads linked at the top will help you to understand more about identifying your family's detox pathways:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=1045391

check out www.eatingcultures.com to try and guess on some of your detox pathways, and figure out which nutrients will be important for you. And www.detoxpuzzle.com to identify some of your detox pathways, nutrient deficiencies/needs.

Much of the immune system support is rooted in hormonal imbalances due to inadequate sleep, due to obstructed neurophysiological chemical processes due to nutrient deficiencies.

This is a terrific diagram of chemical "Pathways to Happiness and Sleep" (Serotonin and Melatonin). http://www.understand-andcure-anxietyattacks-panicattacks-depressio...


And this one "Detox gone wrong":
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=1050596&h...\
rsing

Consider reading "Do this, do that and you'll feel better" thread. Might cross check her ND's recs with yours.
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?p=13266818#post...

A lot of issues lead back to mercury exposure from dental fillings in the mother. Which lead to gut imbalances and candida. Candida binds with mercury to "store" it safely.

Caution killing-off candida "yeast", if one *has, or had* mercury fillings in their teeth. Killing candida releases mercury into blood circulation to be redeposited in organs, brain and breastmilk. Taking Vit C, selenium, clay, (zeolite?) could help to bind the mercury for excretion.

Additionally, there is a "bucket effect". As the allergen exposure overflows the body's ability to detoxify the chemicals (histamine, pollens, food proteins, heavy metals, food chemical byproducts (salicylates, amines, oxylates, halides), non-food chemicals such as MSG, artificial colors, artificial preservatives, etc. imbalances in the gut develop. Foods which are mostly acid-forming, rather than alkaline-forming, cause ph disruptions in the blood, and the ph in the mouth and cells becomes too acidic. There are many natural and simple alternatives to improve gut health (and dental health). Nutrient dense foods are most effective, imo.

Here's an old post of mine about addressing environmental allergens.
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?p=13719101&...\
post13719101

Here is a link with more information about eliminating airborne allergens:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?p=12748820&...\
il#post12748820



A heated debate is the role of iodine in our diet related to hormonal balance and the deficiencies associated with nutrients. http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=1091794

This is my "Cliffs Notes" version for healthy guts.
http://heal-thyself.ning.com/forum/topics/help-for-my-husbands-heal...



HTH, Pat

[sunshinestarr]

Oy yoy yoy!

Thanks very much! This is so much information to digest!

His diet is... Hm.. It's hard to describe. He likes meat (we can only afford battery at this time). As a household, we get organic eggs for the kids and we (dh and I) eat battery. He'll basically eat anything; tonight dinner was baked white fish, rice made in bone broth and steamed cauliflower. But I've been trying to get strict lately (the past couple of days). He refuses to eat breakfast, or has coffee for breakfast, something that I have been trying to change for a long time. Lunch is problematic - he either eats out, at work (which, really, we can't afford anymore) or tries to take leftovers from home. Usually, he eats out.

In terms of physical symptoms, he's very, very gassy (both ends), aggressive, has bouts of intense pain in his gut.. Lots of loose stools, he's constantly tired. I'm sure there's more.

We've never done a food journal, I'll have to try that out. How do we do it?

Thanks again for all of the info. I'm going to go check out the links and things (although, I have to say that Healing the Gut Cheat Sheet thread scares me).

:)

[sunshinestarr]

Reading through some of these links, this one really seems to describe my husband. The symptoms fit, but I'm not really sure where to proceed from there, in terms of the bacteria (aside from all of the great info you've given already, I mean. I hope I'm being clear).

:)

[Pat Robinson]

Basically, that is just indicating a microbial imbalance in the gut. There are many detox pathways which could be blocked, creating toxin overload and the symptoms listed. It all goes back to digestion (stomach acid) and adequate nutrient bio-availablity to improve detox. We need to provide adequate beneficial microbials to repopulate and colonize the gut. This occurs easily and naturally when we consume whole raw foods and natural antimicrobial foods (spices and herbs).

To rebalance the gut varies person to person. Basically, the body does that naturally, when we provide optimal foods. The links www.eatingcultures.com help to try and guess on some of your detox pathways, and figure out which nutrients will be important for you (ie currently deficient). And www.detoxpuzzle.com to identify some of your detox pathways, nutrient deficiencies/needs.

That is the 'why is this happening' route. The short version 'what to do', is my "Cliffs Notes" version for healthy guts.
http://heal-thyself.ning.com/forum/topics/help-for-my-husbands-health?page=1&commentId=2814160%3AComment%3A3688&x=1#2814160Comment3688

One thing I've realized is that changing another person's diet is a no-win situation. It seems to create contention. I've found that just improving the food I offer, in a manner to which my family is accustomed, and modeling a healthier diet is easier, more satisfying, and more effective.

Include the following in your meals and you'll see huge benefits.
Water (or raw goat milk) kefir.
Bone broth.
Green juice.
Sauerkraut juice.

Mineral water.
Natural Calm. (magnesium supplement)
Grass-fed liver.
Local, pastured egg yolk.
Celtic sea salt.

CLO-fermented.
Coconut oil.

And Epsom salt baths, 2 cups in a tub of water, for 30 minutes, daily, or as often as possible.


Pat

[sunshinestarr]

This is incredible, thanks again!

[sunshinestarr]

Hiya again - what are Epsom salts? Can we just use sea salt?

Tx!

[Pat Robinson]

Epsom salts are not the same as sea salts. Sea salts are Sodium Chloride and random microminerals from the sea. Wonderful for ingesting with food, in place of "table salt".

Epsom salts are Magnesium Sulfate which absorbs through the skin and provides both magnesium and sulfate ions which are important to the liver detox pathways.

Nothing wrong with soaking in sea salts, just won't provide the nutritive benefits of magnesium sulfate.

Pat

[sunshinestarr]

This is really exciting because it's only been a few days of doing some of these things and dh is already saying that he's feeling a bit better. He says his stomach is "soothed." I'm trying to keep a log of exactly what we've been doing and how he feels.

Another question about Epsom salts - how much salt to the water do I use? We just moved into a new apartment with no bath (ugh) so I was thinking that he could do foot baths. I've asked on a local list and found out where I can get it.. It's sold here in small, very expensive packages (ugh again!), so if we really just use a tiny bit in a foot bath, will there be any benefit?

Thanks again!

[Pat Robinson]

Yes, there will be benefit to the foot soaks!! They say 2 cups to a tub so, maybe 1/4 cup?

You can make a cream which stays on and absorbs through the skin. Basically, dissolve the Epsom salts in the smallest amount of water --- a tablespoon of hot water. Then add that small amount of dissolved salts to a water based cream. Blend them together briskly and as it cools it may separate some. The salts are "sandy" a bit. You could apply it at night. Don't wash it off, just let it absorb in. It will leave a white dust from the salts on clothes and sheets. But, you can cover MUCH more body surface area with the cream.


HTH, Pat

[gilamama]

sss epsom salts are also much cheaper than sea salts. any drugstore has them called bath salts "melach ambatia" -gila

[sunshinestarr]

Thanks Gila!! Fancy seeing you here! I finally get to see your baby! :-)

I love the cream idea. I really want to try that one out!

[gilamama]

sss which few things did your dh do that made him feel better. my dh takes enzymes b4 meals which used to help more than they do now b/c he just continues to abuse his bod.