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Leaky Gut Syndrome or Parasite?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/28/2010 7:34 PM (GMT -8)
After years of not having any relief from my UC and not wanting to go on prednisone, I decided to explore alternative options with a healthcare provider who specializes in accupuncture and chinese herbal medicine. She wants me to take an allergen test to see if I have "leaky gut syndrome" aka intestinal permeability, as well as a stool test to see if I might have any parasites. Is anyone else familiar with the leaky gut diagnosis? Has anyone else ever undergone these types of tests or non-traditional therapies?
Posted 12/28/2010 9:47 PM (GMT -8)
what meds did you initially try exactly? and for how long?

Where in the colon is your UC...throughout or limited?

Many get or should get stool testing for any invaders be it bacterial/viral/fungal/parasites.

Leaky gut syndrome wouldn't cause UC I don't think, nor would parasites. Maybe possible that UC could cause leaky gut syndrome...the mucosal layer is already compromised. Accupuncture wouldn't cure your UC, but maybe indirectly certain maladies may be helped.

welcome to the forum...I hope you'll answer my initial queries.


q
Posted 12/28/2010 10:00 PM (GMT -8)
I don't think you can say leaky gut can't cause UC, because many of us have developed UC after a run of antibiotics. However, by this point stopping the leaky gut syndrome would probably not be enough to stop UC totally as there may already be damage to the DNA in your epithelial cells. I'm doubtful it would be parasites. Just remember to consider the costs with these tests and how much they could help you in the long run.
Posted 12/28/2010 10:33 PM (GMT -8)
 

   It is a hard decision ,  I personally think this disease is all about the balance of the bacteria of the colon. My daughter suffered for six years on many medications that ONLY treated the symptoms of UC. She became well after a shot for pneumonia ( an antibiotic shot of Rocephin, a WIDE sprectrum antibiotic)  She has been well for 4 years off of all medications for UC.   She has had six colonoscopies and many stool samples to check for bacteria or parasites. NOTHING ever showed up on her testing........ Which for sure tells me that you CANNOT rely on the tests that doctors  do, to pick up every bacteria or parasite that can enter the body and cause damage to it.  Trust me ....I took many stool samples to that hospital over the six years she was very ill.

  I do not agree with the steps that are taken to  treat this disease. I find it very sad to know that so many are suffering every day of there life , because they are trusting their doctors and the medicines that are used to treat this disease. I think if you find relieve from UC with the typical treatment, you are blessed. But if you don't and you have to continue to take stronger meds to "control" UC , I think there is an underlining infection in the body, ( maybe parasite, or bacteria overgrowth ) that needs to be controlled

 greygirl,

 if you have had years of not having relief from this disease, I understand you wanting to find an alternative treatment. Have you had a colonoscopy? What part of you colon is inflammed?

  https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1689855  This is the story about how my litttle girl suffered under the best doctors of OHIO.  Now they tell me , "They do what works, they control the inflammation"

 

Post Edited (haileys letter) : 12/28/2010 11:38:05 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/29/2010 7:55 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks for everyone's prompt replies. I was diagnosed in 2002 and had a stool sample taken then that came back negative. Over the years I have tried Rowasa, Canasa suppository, hydrocortisone enemas, and lialda. The mesalamine medicines Lialda and Rowasa always worked the best, but over the past two years they have seemed to stop working. Lialda now does nothing. I take a generic form of rowasa nightly which helps keep my cramping, bleeding and mucus to a minimum. However, I still have an avg. of 9 BMs a day. I work in a professional setting and this can be quite embarrassing when I have to run out of a meeting or walk by the same person's desk 6 times a day to go to the restroom.

My current GI sums up my condition saying that "well they dont' really know what causes it, so you should take the enema and if you think it's not working we can put you on prednisone." And she's one of the top recommended in my city!

I've learned to avoid caffeine completely, ranch or creamy sauces, fried and fast foods and alcohol. Can't say I don't have my moments of weakness, but I'm pretty good.

I personally believe that the balance of good & bad bacteria, your emotional and overall well being and what you put into your body can affect UC, this leaky gut sydnrome and the treatment with herbs is just new and makes me a little cautious.
Posted 12/29/2010 8:17 AM (GMT -8)

haileys letter said...
It is a hard decision , I personally think this disease is all about the balance of the bacteria of the colon. My daughter suffered for six years on many medications that ONLY treated the symptoms of UC. She became well after a shot for pneumonia ( an antibiotic shot of Rocephin, a WIDE sprectrum antibiotic) She has been well for 4 years off of all medications for UC. She has had six colonoscopies and many stool samples to check for bacteria or parasites. NOTHING ever showed up on her testing........ Which for sure tells me that you CANNOT rely on the tests that doctors do, to pick up every bacteria or parasite that can enter the body and cause damage to it. Trust me ....I took many stool samples to that hospital over the six years she was very ill.



I do not agree with the steps that are taken to treat this disease. I find it very sad to know that so many are suffering every day of there life , because they are trusting their doctors and the medicines that are used to treat this disease. I think if you find relieve from UC with the typical treatment, you are blessed. But if you don't and you have to continue to take stronger meds to "control" UC , I think there is an underlining infection in the body, ( maybe parasite, or bacteria overgrowth ) that needs to be controlled



greygirl,

if you have had years of not having relief from this disease, I understand you wanting to find an alternative treatment. Have you had a colonoscopy? What part of you colon is inflammed?



https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1689855 This is the story about how my litttle girl suffered under the best doctors of OHIO. Now they tell me , "They do what works, they control the inflammation"

My GI wants me to get the flu and phen shot but I never have in the past and was very admin on never getting it unless I absoluty needed it. Now you have me thinking ....
Posted 12/29/2010 6:47 PM (GMT -8)
I think the only thing you have left is to try a natural doctor or try a few of them, the cause of UC isn't being addressed and treating the symptoms no longer is working.
My sister had all kinds of auto-immune issues, and she went as far as Mayo Clinic etc, nobody had an answer other than immune suppression and steriods, which seem to cause more problems then resolved.
She finally tried this local natural doctor who told her she had a problem in her bone marrow and also her adrenal glands. He gave her some tinctures to take, and so far so good, she has a ton of energy and feels much better after about 4 weeks of treatments. I am going to give the guy a try myself, since traditional meds don't seem to help me any more either.
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