7 ms·

What's the issues you've been facing, and why do you think it's a gut-brain issue?

yosito 4y ago
Constipation, headaches, stress, bloating, anxiety, depression, fatigue, weight loss, hair loss, rashes. I don't know what the cause was, but the gut-brain theory fits all of my experience and treatments aimed at improving my gut bacteria helped the most, and there has definitely been a strong connection between how my gut is feeling and how my mind is feeling.
- valarauko 4y ago
  If you're experiencing an improvement, great. It seems reasonable that your gut issues (if nothing else) could be improved by addressing the gut biome. Since you've had some luck with traditional medicines, I can share my $0.02 about the traditional system I'm somewhat familiar with. In traditional Indian folk medicine, the focus for practically everything seems to revolve around improving gut health. It's a common belief that tongue health is a reflection of gut health, so for example a coated tongue suggests a sluggish digestive system, and the physician will seek to address that before anything else. A lot of treatments also include required dietary changes (like avoiding certain vegetables).
  - TedDoesntTalk 4y ago
    > like avoiding certain vegetables I've never heard of this. Western medicine says "all the vegetables, all the time". What are some of the vegetables people told to avoid? Genuinely curious.
    - wxnx 4y ago
      Even in Western medicine (at the research stage, at least), that is not necessarily true in patients suffering from certain conditions. There is some evidence (in the sense of evidence-based medicine) that a low-FODMAP (fermentable *saccharides) diet reduces symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. [1] As far as vegetables go, according to one site high-FODMAP vegetables include alliums and artichokes. [2] It is worth noting that the authors of the linked review paper caution that it is unknown whether a low-FODMAP diet may have long-term adverse effects. [1] doi:10.2147/CEG.S86798 [2] https://www.monashfodmap.com/about-fodmap-and-ibs/high-and-low-fodmap-foods/ https://www.monashfodmap.com/about-fodmap-and-ibs/high-and-l...
    - kzrdude 4y ago
      Autoimmune Protocol diets commonly favour leafy greens a lot while telling you to avoid too starchy veg and everything in the potato-tomato family ("nightshades"). Very abbreviated it would be "eat green veg, fish and meat."
      - treeman79 4y ago
        I did this when I was in constant horrific agony. Full body burning pain. Serious painkillers Just to not want to die. Tried 100% only Chicken green veggies and sweet potatoes. A Month later I was out kayaking twice a week. No need for painkillers.
        kzrdude 4y ago
        What a pain, sorry to hear that and great that it worked.
    - valarauko 4y ago
      I have to plead ignorance on the specifics, since it's not something I've consulted myself, so unsure if it's a universal suggestion or whether each person gets tailor made recommendations - though I think it's the latter (based on conversations with people who did consult a traditional physician). Collectively, I've heard recommendations against tomatoes, eggplants, certain pulses common in the Indian diet, some leafy vegetables, okra, colocasia (leaves and tubers), and milk. At least in some cases, the dietary restrictions were supposed to last at least while they took the traditional medications.
    - treeman79 4y ago
      Nightshades can increase inflammation. Tomatoes and Potatoes for example.
      - yosito 4y ago
        On the other hand, tomatoes can also be anti-inflammatory. It really depends on the situation.
- hanniabu 4y ago
  Have you ever done a hydrogen methane breath test? Curious if it could be SIBO-C.
  - sgarman 4y ago
    This is a bit of a vent so apologies in advance but as someone who has been though the same thing OP has I have heard this suggestion from literally everyone. Even if you do the test and it's test results are accurate it's not 100% clear what to do with that information - it's mostly the same stuff OP would have or did already try.
    - dinosaurdynasty 4y ago
      It's common to take a 2 week course of something like Xifaxan (an antibiotic that works in the small intestine) after a positive SIBO test, which is not something you can do without a doctor/gastroenterologist prescribing it for you. -- someone who tested positive for a hydrogen/methane breath test and just finished a 2 week course of Xifaxan
      - yosito 4y ago
        There are ways to get Xifaxan / Rifaximin without a prescription. Plenty of sites where you can buy it online. I got it from my functional medicine doctor who said let's skip the breath test and just try it, because it has very low risk and few side effects.
- d23 4y ago
  Can I ask for a recommendation for the professional you worked with?
  - yosito 4y ago
    I would recommend googling "functional medicine doctors" in your area.
- code_duck 4y ago
  I assume you were tested for Celiac disease? Many doctors don't do the testing correctly, though - mainly that someone has to be eating gluten for weeks prior to the blood tests to avoid high risk of a false negative.

Constipation, headaches, stress, bloating, anxiety, depression, fatigue, weight loss, hair loss, rashes. I don't know what the cause was, but the gut-brain theory fits all of my experience and treatments aimed at improving my gut bacteria helped the most, and there has definitely been a strong connection between how my gut is feeling and how my mind is feeling.

valarauko 4y ago
If you're experiencing an improvement, great. It seems reasonable that your gut issues (if nothing else) could be improved by addressing the gut biome. Since you've had some luck with traditional medicines, I can share my $0.02 about the traditional system I'm somewhat familiar with. In traditional Indian folk medicine, the focus for practically everything seems to revolve around improving gut health. It's a common belief that tongue health is a reflection of gut health, so for example a coated tongue suggests a sluggish digestive system, and the physician will seek to address that before anything else. A lot of treatments also include required dietary changes (like avoiding certain vegetables).
- TedDoesntTalk 4y ago
  > like avoiding certain vegetables I've never heard of this. Western medicine says "all the vegetables, all the time". What are some of the vegetables people told to avoid? Genuinely curious.
  - wxnx 4y ago
    Even in Western medicine (at the research stage, at least), that is not necessarily true in patients suffering from certain conditions. There is some evidence (in the sense of evidence-based medicine) that a low-FODMAP (fermentable *saccharides) diet reduces symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. [1] As far as vegetables go, according to one site high-FODMAP vegetables include alliums and artichokes. [2] It is worth noting that the authors of the linked review paper caution that it is unknown whether a low-FODMAP diet may have long-term adverse effects. [1] doi:10.2147/CEG.S86798 [2] https://www.monashfodmap.com/about-fodmap-and-ibs/high-and-low-fodmap-foods/ https://www.monashfodmap.com/about-fodmap-and-ibs/high-and-l...
  - kzrdude 4y ago
    Autoimmune Protocol diets commonly favour leafy greens a lot while telling you to avoid too starchy veg and everything in the potato-tomato family ("nightshades"). Very abbreviated it would be "eat green veg, fish and meat."
    - treeman79 4y ago
      I did this when I was in constant horrific agony. Full body burning pain. Serious painkillers Just to not want to die. Tried 100% only Chicken green veggies and sweet potatoes. A Month later I was out kayaking twice a week. No need for painkillers.
      - kzrdude 4y ago
        What a pain, sorry to hear that and great that it worked.
  - valarauko 4y ago
    I have to plead ignorance on the specifics, since it's not something I've consulted myself, so unsure if it's a universal suggestion or whether each person gets tailor made recommendations - though I think it's the latter (based on conversations with people who did consult a traditional physician). Collectively, I've heard recommendations against tomatoes, eggplants, certain pulses common in the Indian diet, some leafy vegetables, okra, colocasia (leaves and tubers), and milk. At least in some cases, the dietary restrictions were supposed to last at least while they took the traditional medications.
  - treeman79 4y ago
    Nightshades can increase inflammation. Tomatoes and Potatoes for example.
    - yosito 4y ago
      On the other hand, tomatoes can also be anti-inflammatory. It really depends on the situation.
hanniabu 4y ago
Have you ever done a hydrogen methane breath test? Curious if it could be SIBO-C.
- sgarman 4y ago
  This is a bit of a vent so apologies in advance but as someone who has been though the same thing OP has I have heard this suggestion from literally everyone. Even if you do the test and it's test results are accurate it's not 100% clear what to do with that information - it's mostly the same stuff OP would have or did already try.
  - dinosaurdynasty 4y ago
    It's common to take a 2 week course of something like Xifaxan (an antibiotic that works in the small intestine) after a positive SIBO test, which is not something you can do without a doctor/gastroenterologist prescribing it for you. -- someone who tested positive for a hydrogen/methane breath test and just finished a 2 week course of Xifaxan
    - yosito 4y ago
      There are ways to get Xifaxan / Rifaximin without a prescription. Plenty of sites where you can buy it online. I got it from my functional medicine doctor who said let's skip the breath test and just try it, because it has very low risk and few side effects.
d23 4y ago
Can I ask for a recommendation for the professional you worked with?
- yosito 4y ago
  I would recommend googling "functional medicine doctors" in your area.
code_duck 4y ago
I assume you were tested for Celiac disease? Many doctors don't do the testing correctly, though - mainly that someone has to be eating gluten for weeks prior to the blood tests to avoid high risk of a false negative.