Hi @yasminatassi – the fact that she’s still playful, without fever or vomiting, is a very good sign.

Since her stool is watery though, you’ll want to make sure that she doesn’t get dehydrated. So first prioritize hydration with plenty of fluids (water, diluted coconut water).

If she doesn’t have an appetite, consider giving her easy to digest foods instead like smoothies, cooked carrots, boiled potato, and plain foods like rice, mashed banana and fresh apple sauce. These will help firm up her stool. Also notice if the kefir is helping or worsening the situation since dairy might aggravate the situation.

In terms of probiotics, something with the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus plantarum and S. Boulardii (or a combo of these) strains can help alleviate diarrhea. You can learn more in this lesson from the Gut Health Masterclass. For example Culturelle Kids has L. Rhamnosus GG and is available on Amazon.ae and arrives same day with Prime. Florastor Kids has S. Boulardii. I suggest you call local pharmacies and ask if they have probiotics with these strains if you prefer in-store.

A stool test isn’t really necessary at this point unless diarrhea persists beyond a couple of days or if she develops fever/vomiting or show signs of regression in her daily activities.

However, if you notice that something remains “off” after the diarrhea passes, then it might be worth exploring functional stool tests such as Tiny Health (although I’ve never used them) or the GI Map for microbiome mapping.

Hope her gut feels better soon.

@iryna_klevetenko – is there a particular area of focus so I can help you narrow it down a little? For example, marriage, trauma release, etc.

@Kkol we have this Symptom Dictionary handout on Rosacea that can act as a good starting point in terms of root cause factors, and lifestyle/dietary changes and supplements to consider.

Hi @naslam1603 – sorry to hear about your mom. I’m assuming they’ve already finished the procedure? Were they able to remove the stone that was blocking the bile duct?

Please keep us posted on how she’s doing. Wishing her an effective recovery.

Hi @R-S – thanks for sharing your food log.

Question, is there a reason why you’re having the coconut oil + honey also in the mornings and afternoons? My suggestion was to have that before bed to help prevent a hypoglycemic reaction at night before rising. Just curious to know why you’re also taking it during the daytime.

If I compare your food journal from Sep 1-3 to this recent one, there are some new foods that you’ve introduced that could be culprits:

1. Eggs (on 4th and 5th). This wasn’t there Sep 1-3. Eggs are a common gut irritant/food sensitivity in alot of people, especially when “leaky gut” is already suspected.

2. Coconut milk + rice puff cereal on the 5th. Does your coconut milk have gums, oils, additives or stabilizers? Or is it pure coconut milk from a can? Rice puff cereal is obviously processed, even though it’s gluten-free, so that could be hard to tolerate if the gut lining is already sensitive.

3. Kale chips (on 4th and 5th). Kale (raw/dried forms) is high in insoluble fiber (the type that causes faster transit). The extra fiber can be irritating to an already inflamed gut, and that type of fiber can lead to faster transit (which can explain the greenish stool if the timing matches).

4. Potato (on 6th). Nightshades can sometimes aggravate some people.

5. Grapes (4th to 6th). This new fruit is very high in sugar which can quickly ferment in the gut. Depending on how many you had, this could also be a culprit for digestive discomfort.

Here’s how you can experiment to figure out which ones are causing you issues:

• Remove the newer foods (eggs, kale, coconut milk, rice puffs, grapes, potato) while keeping to the “safe base” of chicken, zucchini, carrots, cucumber, rice, slippery elm for for a few days.
• Once you’re back to steady-state, re-introduce one at a time after 3+ days to see if any symptoms return. Have a small portion earlier in the day and track symptoms (bowel changes, abdominal pain, anxiety, palpitations).

Here’s a reintroduction order you can try from what is likely “lowest risk” to “highest risk”:

1. Grapes – small amount only (3-4 pieces)

2. Potato (boiled, plain)

3. Egg (boiled, half first day) – very common sensitivity so observe carefully

4. Kale chips – lots of insoluble fiber

5. Coconut milk only – especially if your coconut milk has “other ingredients”

6. Rice puff cereal – test only if really desired to keep in your diet since it’s processed

Now in terms of rapid relief for anxiety/palpitations and the heightened nervous system state that some of these foods are likely causing, I’d suggest a few helpful hacks:

• Dunking face (up cheeks at least) in ice water in a bowl
• Box breathing – 4 breaths in, hold for 4, 4 breaths out. Can also do 8-8-8 or 4-4-8. Whatever works best for you.
• Humming/gargling/singing out loud
• Going outside and grounding in nature or walking by the beach

All of these help activate the parasympathetic system, which can help the body relax and “unfreeze” from that flight/flight state. I suspect the constipation is a result of the sympathetic dominance, so that should hopefully also get relieved once your body shifts to a more relaxed nervous system state.

And in terms of relieving the abdominal discomfort and cramps, did you try the Iberogast or digestive bitters or antispasmodic teas?

@iryna_klevetenko – here is another option. Dr. Katerine Lemay has been recommended in another group that I’m in. I don’t know her personally though, but worth investigating.

https://tmtcdubai.com/about-us/dubai-psychologists-team/dr-katerine-lemay-ph-d-c-psych/

They offer family mediation services as well.

@iryna_klevetenko – I believe I may have already shared this contact with you before, but I know the owner of Thrive Wellbeing Centre. They have a team of psychologists with diverse specializations that can help.

Please let me know if this is the type of clinic you’re looking for.

@Kkol you book on their websites:

https://integrativemgi.com/appointments/

https://drlindseyberkson.com/consult-re/

@Kkol fire those doctors and find her one who understands hormones! If she’s open to a virtual consultation, I highly highly recommend Dr. Felice Gersh and Dr. Lindsey Berkson – both were guest experts and I’ve linked their sessions with details on how to connect with them.

@Kkol – appreciate your loyalty and we value our founding members so much!

I guess we should make our “feedback” link more obvious. 🙂 It’s in the global footer of all of our pages.

Here’s the direct link if you’d like to provide constructive criticism or positive reviews : https://bbettermembership.com/feedback/

@Bahareh – the menopause transitions kit. It measures FSH to determine your stage of menopause transition, LH to see if you ovulate, E3G to measure estrogen, and PdG to measure progesterone. The kit comes with 20 wands each so you can pretty much test your whole cycle after your period. Isn’t that so cool? I was so excited when I found out about this company. I’m exploring others too.

@Kkol haha, thanks – that means a lot! B Better has always been mission-led first with a strong vision of becoming the “Mindvalley of functional medicine”. We’re still in the building phase (not quite profitable yet!), but what matters is showing up consistently for our members. I know with time, more and more people will find their way here too. If you feel compelled, we’d appreciate you spreading the word to friends and family too! That would help us so much. 🙂

Ok, I’m glad sleep apnea has been ruled out. I’m assuming a sleep study was done? If so, that’s a big checkbox marked off… if not, please pursue.

And yes, like I mentioned in my previous reply, cutting out sugar and quitting smoking are positive choices on your part. They absolutely affect lipids.

As for target ranges:

• ApoB: Ideally <80 mg/dL if higher risk, <100 if moderate risk
• LDL-C: Often <100 mg/dL, or <70 mg/dL in higher risk cases. “Too low” is less of a concern since your body still makes the cholesterol it needs

• Lp(a): This one is mostly genetic. Like I mentioned before, niacin (flushing form, under supervision) has been shown to help, and PCSK9 inhibitors can lower it too if that’s what you’re leaning towards.

So your goal of bringing LDL and ApoB into range is a good strategy, and like you said, if Lp(a) comes down too then even better. Between your diet/lifestyle changes, the right supplements, and some medical interventions if needed, you’re on the right track.

@Kkol – first off, congratulations on cutting out sugar and IQOS. That’s the best gift you can give yourself. Insulin resistance resistance is definitely a root cause factor for elevated lipids. Sleep apnea can be an often missed one too – have you looked into that?

Regarding your questions:

• Berberine: is best taken just before meals (5–15 mins). It helps with blood sugar after eating by improving insulin sensitivity. Most tolerate it well, but because it can affect the gut microbiome, some people notice mild digestive changes at first. So starting with a lower dose (e.g. 500 mg once daily) and building up is sometimes easier.
• Niacin: yes, the flushing kind is what works for lipids. But you’re right, higher doses can stress the liver. That’s why it really needs to be done under supervision and with regular lab checks. It can be very effective but not one to DIY.
• Citrus bergamot, plant sterols, pantethine, tocotrienols, beta-sitosterol: all of these have some evidence for improving lipids, but they usually have a smaller effect compared to prescription meds. Nevertheless, they can still add extra support.
• Nattokinase: is more for clotting support than directly lowering LDL/ApoB
• Medications (Repatha, Inclisiran, Ezetimibe): these are very effective at lowering LDL and ApoB, and reducing risk quickly, especially for those with a family history of cardiovascular disease or who can’t tolerate statins. But they still don’t fix the “why” behind your numbers. They also come with their own set of side effects which is why it’s definitely something you want to discuss and explore further with your doctor.

Hi @healthyliving99 – thanks for answering my questions. There are a few things that stand out that could be contributing to your skin flares and I have a few more questions too:

• Since your period hasn’t returned yet, hormones are still suppressed from breastfeeding, which can affect skin hydration and barrier strength. This could be part of why your skin feels so dry and reactive.
• The fact that your drinking water is filtered but not your shower, this might be worth exploring. Check the EWG Tap Water Database to see how your tap water rates in your area. Simply add your zip code or state to see the score and list of contaminants: https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/ Chlorine and other chemicals in city water can be irritating your skin, especially if the skin barrier is already sensitive from hormonal shifts.
• Your long history of dandruff, especially that it’s worse in humidity or sweat, does point to a yeast/fungal component. And sugar cravings plus postpartum immune shifts can add to that too.
• Past mold exposure may have primed your system, even though you’re no longer in that environment.

To help narrow things down, I have a few more questions please:

1. Do you notice flares right after showering, or after eating certain foods like dairy, gluten, wine, or sugar?

2. When the redness comes, does it feel hot or get worse with stress or fermented foods (like kombucha, vinegar, sauerkraut, or eating leftovers)? Here’s a list of high histamine foods to help you see if there’s a connection to histamine.

3. Would you be open to doing some basic labs (full thyroid panel (TSH, Total T4, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, anti-TPO, anti-TG), vitamin D, iron/ferritin, RBC zinc, RBC B12, fasting glucose/insulin)? This can give us valuable insight into postpartum nutrient and hormone balance.

In the meantime, it might be worth getting a shower filter to see if it helps reduce skin irritation. Also would you consider keeping track of any food or environment links for the next couple of weeks? This can also help give us a clearer pattern.

And if you need help to soothe the area, colloidal oatmeal can be helpful if it’s red and itchy. Fresh aloe gel can help cool if it feels hot.

I’ll wait to hear from you on the above.

@Bahareh – since you’re going through perimenopause and cycles are becoming less predictable, testing on Day 19-21 also becomes less reliable. I haven’t yet posted about my journey with Mira, but I think it’s a game changing test for women going through perimenopause/menopause. Instead of testing progesterone on 1 day which can be a complete guess during this phase, Mira allows women to test their cycles daily so they can see patterns and associated symptoms. It’s a convenient at-home hormone test kit that’s also really affordable. Like I said – game changing!

I loved the concept so much that I reached out to get B Better members an exclusive discount not available publicly. You can find it here in Discounts.

Before Mira came along, women during perimenopause can track ovulation with LH strips (ovulation predictor kits) and/or basal body temperature, then add 5 to 7 days after ovulation to estimate the best time to test progesterone.

That’s another option.