Thanks for the suggestions on detoxing to help with my gut. I've started taking herbs for detoxing, and I'm having LOTS of symptoms. My gut burns like crazy, my back pain and spasms are much more severe, my tinnitus is louder, my eye went blurry again, and I'm getting horrible vertigo.
Is this normal? Is this good? I've been on anbibiotics for three years and haven't done this detoxing yet. I think I'm long overdue. My gut is swollen like a watermelon! I guess I'm checking in for reassurance that this could be a herx reaction to detoxing.
Any thoughts?
Many thanks,
Joanie
No, Joanie, I don't think this is normal. I don't think this is good. I don't think this is a herx.
I think you need a good doctor. And stop whatever you are doing and take a breather until you find some help.
Hope you get help soon. Best wishes.
The detox I started is RenewLife brand. I'm taking the dietary supplement that has one pill (lots of herbs) "to support normal cleansing functions of the blood, liver, lungs, lymphatic system, kidneys, and skin." I take the second pill at night that helps "support normal cleansing fuctions of the colon." Also, I'm taking their fiber capsules that have probiotics with the fiber. I still take my acidophilus with every meal.
The one good thing is that I'm having bowel movements again since starting these. I was in a state of chronic constipation, abdominal swelling, and abdominal pain before. Now I'm not constipated but my gut sure burns plus lots more symptoms.
I'm having trouble getting a good doc. I have a LLMD who shrugs his shoulders every time I bring up stomach problems. I've seen GI docs in the past who say take metamucil and acidophilus and that's all you can do. I did that but it stopped working for me. I can't get my primary care doc (not LLMD) to even answer my calls to be referred to a GI doc. I've had stomach problems (different ones) before, and he just told me in the first call I made that it's IBS and take Librax. Not good.
I do believe I must have lots of toxins in me most likely causing leaky gut. I'm trying to clear that by doing some cleansing. I'm trying to start slowly before moving up to parasite/yeast cleansing. I took the parasite/yeast cleansing for two days, and I felt like I had the worst flu ever. I ached all over, my skin broke out, I was hot and then chilled, and exhausted. I thought it was probably doing something good but that I just needed to start more slowly.
So, that's my situation. Any ideas are much appreciated.
Joanie
I'm doing a 14-day body cleansing program now along with antifungal herbs and lots of acidophilus. Here's what's happening:
-increased constipation (finally had a bowel movement today after 3 days)
-fatigue
-lots of gas
-burning stomach
-muscle and joint pain (especially neck and shoulders)
-burning skin
-mood swings
-puffy eyes
-sinus discharge
-increased asthma
I think yeast is a menace that we all underestimate. Basically I get flu-like symptoms whenever I start to treat yeast. I'm not saying it's the only problem, but I think it's important to detox inbetween abx.
We can't expect to shove all this crap in our body and have it run smoothly by magic. The body will rebel and sooner or later the toxins catch up, and can make you feel worse than the disease itself.
Here's what I'm currently taking:
1. Enzymatic Therapy 3-part cleanse (fiber formula, milk thistle, & whole body cleanse formula.
2. L-glutamine
3. garlic, pau d arco tea, olive leaf extract, oil of oregano
4. Candex
5. Jarro-dophilus (enteric coated)
6. Yeast Fighters by Twinlab (the most powerful anti-yeast herbal blend in my opinion. Prepare for die-off with this).
Remember low-carb is very important.
I don't take all of this everyday. I rotate a lot of the herbs. In addition, I use a rife machine for yeast which works well, and I use hyperbaric oxygen several times a week. The hyperbaric oxygen is the only thing making the die-off tolerable.
This detox program has really helped me. My lymph glands in my neck are much less swollen and I feel way less anxiety than I used to.
I think I read somewhere that Pantothenic Acid (I think it's vitamin B5) really helps with yeast die-off because it neutralizes the acetylaldehyde that yeast gives off when it dies.
It's been 3 weeks since my last abx and I'm amazed that I haven't relapsed yet. I guess yeast was major culprit all along.
-greg
With regards to keeping Yeasty Fungus and stomach pain at bay, here's what is currently working for me:
1. Acidophilis every meal. I rotate Jarrowdophilis EPS (a mix of many probiotics) and Pharmanex ProBio (a patented strain of lactobacillis fermentans that has good gut staying power and the ability to crowd out the yeasts.)
2. Yeast Fighters by TwinLab. I second Kaos' opinion that it's the best thing out there. It includes garlic, a probiotic, and more.
3. I alternate Liver Health and Pharmanex Detox Forumula during herxes or when I feel toxic. Both contain Milk Thistle. Detox Formula also includes some proprietary mix of detoxifiers.
4. For stomach pain, I treat the symptoms with two tablets simultaneously. DGL Licorice tablets encourage GI tract mucus production, coating your stomach. It lessens the pain instantly, but the relief doesn't last that long. Aloe Vera gel-in-a-tablet lessens the pain in about 15-20 minutes, and it also helps aleviate constipation.
Hope this helps!
Kris
It sounds like the detox you are on may be too extreme, or you may be having a bad reaction to one or more of the ingredients. It doesn't sound good.
Anything that cause that kind of burning pain in your gut is not good for detoxification. Inflammation in the gut causes all kinds of stuff to be absorbed into the bloodstream that couldn't usually get there.
Gut spasms can cause back pain by pulling on ribs and the spine. I have LOTS of experience with this. My gut becomes inflamed by exposure to inhaled chemicals, and I've had lots of trouble keeping my back stable because of it.
Sounds to me like a slower, gentler detox might be better for you. With maybe some gut healing first. Yeasts and other bad guys latch right on to a damaged gut, so irritating it more is NOT in your best interest.
So sorry it took me so long to get back to you all and say thank you. I've been meaning to, but I've been awfully sick these days.
I really appreciate all of your help. I think I'm on the right track now, but I'm just struggling to figure out how to do this is a slow manner that my body tolerates.
I went out and bought quite a few of the products you all recommended. I've added to my probiotics based on your suggestions. I'm following a strict diet. I had tests done on my gut and my score on the test for leaky gut showed I'm in big trouble. I scored an "8" which is really low. Luckily, I didn't have an allergic reaction to wheat, etc.
It has taken me quite a while to "recover" from my initial de-tox trials. I seem to react very strongly to the slightest herbs. I took an antiparasite formula (1/2 of one dose when the recommendation is 3 doses) and I've got tons of worms! Sorry to gross you out, but I'm sure if many of you are doing de-toxes, this is familiar! The good news is that my gut finally deflated, I can breath more easily, and I fit into a few of my shorts now. So I'm full of parasites and yeast, and I have a highly permeable gut lining. Where to start? Everything I take makes me dizzy and in the worst brain fog ever.
It seems like a Catch-22? I need a stronger gut lining to tolerate the abrasiveness of the herbs to kill parasites and yeast, yet it's the parasites and yeast that are destroying my gut lining. I'm told if I strengthen the mucous on my gut lining (a good thing), it will just feed the bacteria (a bad thing). Yet, if I kill the bad guys (a good thing), it's too much for me to handle with such a weak gut lining (a bad thing). (It really burns). Hmm...
I'm trying to start slowly and just a little at a time. Yikes! I wish I had started this process a long time ago.
Thank you all so much for all of the advice and ideas. I GREATLY appreciate it. Although I feel awful, I do believe I'm on the right path.
Many thanks,
Joanie
I went to a naturopath doc and I highly recomend doing that. It sounds like you are trying to clean everything out at the same time. That might not be the best idea. When I went to the ND we did it in stages first we started on cleansing the liver than the yeast, parasites, etc. etc. I was de-wormed, de-metal, etc. etc.
Good Luck & Stay STrong
You might also consider the benefits of a far infrared sauna http://www.miracleheatsaunas.com/saunastest.htm
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http://www.miracleheatsaunas.com
One question: How do you go about finding a naturopath in your community? I can't get any word-of-mouth referrals. Nothing in the Yellow Pages. I'm unsure how to find a good one. Any thoughts?
Cave76, if you're reading this, I know you are in my area. Please e-mail me if you have anyone to recommend. Many, many thanks.
I'll also post under seeking a doctor category too.
Many thanks,
Joanie
Peace,
robi