[Bernadette]

 I like how you’re thinking! I had the same thought… think of anything that can tax the liver; 
• alcohol (ruled out)
• smoking (fortunately, he quit recently which will surely help)
• environmental toxins (mold, heavy metals, pesticides, etc – I didn’t suspect any of these but that doesn’t mean they’re ruled out. Was he living in a moldy dorm room when he studied at Uni perhaps?)
• drugs (he wasn’t on any medications according to health history)
• iron overload/hemochromatosis (but his ferritin was low – full iron panel could be rechecked)
• excess copper absorption (I did recommend to test this along with zinc and ceruloplasmin)
• viruses like hepatitis (focus would be on supporting immune health given his existing autoimmune thyroid dynamic)
• hypothyroid function in the liver could be the first stage of fatty liver disease and progression of insulin resistance (addressing the autoimmune thyroid dynamic should be a priority)
• non-alcoholic fatty liver (this is why I requested to test his blood sugar levels and lipid panel – his diet seemed rather high in simple carbs & his sleep pattern was highly stressful on his body.)
• pancreatitis (again, blood sugar can be at play. Worth investigating since his elastase was low on a previous functional stool test)
• nutrient deficiencies: vitamin A, B vitamins, selenium, zinc (I suggested checking these. If pursuing a DUTCH test, vitamins B12, B6, biotin and glutathione are checked as well)

Hope this helps!

[Bernadette]

 recordings are uploaded within 24 hours, so hopefully it will be up by the end of the day today

[Bernadette]

Hello  – yes, please do keep us all updated. I can’t wait to hear some positive news! I’m really curious to know if histamine is at play, as well as cortisol (head trauma related?) and I do believe despite his previous liver markers, that liver dysfunction is still part of the picture. Do let me know if you need help getting the DUTCH test and other functional tests I discussed. Other than the few additional blood markers I shared which should be covered by insurance, I wouldn’t waste more money on parasitology stool tests. 

I will announce when the recording is up if you’d like to re-listen to it again… so much was shared from not only myself, but the community as well. Thank you for allowing us to openly discuss your son’s case. I truly hope that him hearing the advice from someone other than his loving parents will help him recommit to the suggested changes. ❤️

[Bernadette]

I’m so happy to hear that ! This is what I was hoping to achieve with these case study calls. I want to give B Better members the opportunity for 1-1 support and also allow other members to recognize themselves and learn from others’ experiences. I agree, I cannot wait for the next one and encourage anyone who couldn’t make the call live to watch the recording. So many pearls and golden nuggets were shared…

[Bernadette]

fixed the link. Working now?

[Bernadette]

 Your hemoglobin is elevated again so there seems to be a pattern there. How is your level of hydration? Do you drink enough water and add electrolytes? Do you take diuretics? Drink a lot of caffeine? Exercise and sweat a lot? 

The suboptimally high sodium and chloride could also indicate a pattern of hyperadrenal function (stress), and again dehydration.

So again, stress, hydration status and possible hypochlorhydria seem to stand out for me based on what you’ve shared so far. Remember we need good strong stomach acid to absorb minerals like iron and make intrinsic factor to absorb B12, so if we’re trying to focus on basics first, this is where I would focus my attention.  It would be interested to try the baking soda challenge test (there’s a handout in the resources and in the Gut Health Masterclass course) and then perhaps testing H Pylori only with Diagnostic Solutions to see if the pain you’re experiencing may be a result of an overgrowth.

And remember, stress puts us into a sympathetic dominant state and will directly impact the level of stomach acid. So if this resonates with you, addressing stressors (mental/emotional but also physical like lack of sleep, exercising too intensely/too frequently, very low calorie diet, etc) should be a priority. 

And hydration – if this resonates with you, I share my tips for increasing hydration in the Beginner’s Health Roadmap “Hydration” pillar.

Do let me know what you plan on trying, and please keep us posted so we can continue to guide you better.

[Bernadette]

 I’m so happy you’re more confident and in control of your body. Yes, it can feel scary when weird things happen to us, but it’s really just our body’s way of talking to us (and sometimes it screams at us!).

I also knew my period was going to be a hard one this month, due to the 12-hour time zone difference and higher stress than usual. But that’s to be expected. Hormones are at the bottom of a linked chain… rattle the chain at the top, and the effects are felt more intensely at the bottom.

So congrats on keeping calm instead of fearing the worst, and taking action as soon as you got back!

I’m happy you’re feeling empowered. And you’re definitely in good company here!

[Bernadette]

Hi  – collagen is a protein, but it’s not a complete protein meaning it doesn’t contain an adequate proportion of all 9 essential amino acids. 

Our body needs 20 different amino acids to grow and function properly but only 9 of them are classified as “essential”.  “Essential” means we can’t make it, but we need it, so it must be supplied by our diet.

Animal products provide complete sources of protein and so do soybean and quinoa in the plant world.

However, bone broth and collagen protein, while not complete, are good additions since they are high in glycine – a non-essential amino acid lacking in today’s diet due to higher consumption of muscle meat vs. consumption of skin, connective tissues, ligaments, cartilage and bones.

Hope that helps clarify the issue.

[Bernadette]

Hi  – serum zinc is a reflection of what is in the blood which means that it is easily influenced by what someone ate or supplemented with the day or so prior to testing.

There is some debate however in terms of the accuracy between plasma and RBC zinc testing. I still have not come across sufficient studies that utilize large enough sample sizes to prove that plasma is superior to RBC testing, plus it isn’t as readily available, so until that time comes, RBC zinc is what I recommend.

Hope that helps.

[Bernadette]

 do you also have electrolyte markers and kidney markers to see if it’s dehydration? These are sodium, potassium, chloride, BUN, and creatinine. Would you also have a marker called methylmalonic acid or MMA? And what is the lab’s reference range for serum folate please?

Since MCV and homocysteine are both high, and your serum B12 seems to be optimal, I’m curious about your cellular status of B12. Do you have amalgam fillings in your mouth by any chance or have known exposures to heavy metals?

Pain on the left side could be stomach or spleen as you suspected, however since hematocrit is not high all on its own, the elevation is more likely to be due to dehydration. You mentioned that these are follow-up labs… do you have a similar pattern in previous labs?

[Bernadette]

Hello  – for starters, have you done any testing? Specifically, iron/ferritin, CBC and a full thyroid panel?

Feeling cold but sweating and having low blood pressure could possibly point to an adrenaline response. Low or high cortisol can affect thyroid function, and also lead to adrenaline surges as an emergency response leading to heart palpitations, and sweating. Do you exercise? What does that look like? Are you taking any medications?

Just some initial questions to get this conversation going.

[Bernadette]

Hi  – thank you for sharing these details. Indeed, I do see a lot of interconnections between your symptoms.

Let’s start with stress, pregnancy & autoimmunity. Pregnancy and delivery are stressful, and can be triggers for an autoimmune thyroid dynamic; it’s not uncommon (~ 5-10% of women can develop thyroid autoimmunity post-partum). Pregnancy is also a very high progesterone hormone state. The placenta keeps progesterone high as a way to protect the fetus from the immune system (i.e. progesterone helps the immune system “chill out”), which explains why your autoimmune dynamic disappears during pregnancy, but returns post-pregnancy.

You are correct with your assumption that hypothyroid function is at play given your symptoms of fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, etc., with a FT3 at the clinically low end. A rising TSH would also point to a need for more T4. From what you stated above, chronic stress (i.e. possibly low or high cortisol which can be measured – I like the DUTCH Adrenal), can be at play here, which will create this dynamic. Therefore, focusing on stress reduction measures is a priority. If you share more about what type of stress you’re undergoing, I can possibly provide better guidance with this.

But keep in mind that the thyroid is mainly the victim here. It is the immune system that needs to be optimized. What do you think are other triggers that are possibly taxing your immune system? Food sensitivities? Low immune nutrients vitamin D, vitamin A, zinc? Heavy metals? Mold? Hidden pathogens like parasites? Trauma?

In autoimmunity, I like to visualize the immune system as a wounded dog in a corner. It is weak and injured. If you try to approach the dog, it will be vicious and react aggressively. Therefore, a weakened immune system will not be able to do its job appropriately by keeping the microbiome balanced, which allows opportunistic species like yeast and fungus to overgrow. Therefore, prioritizing immune health is also key, as well as addressing “leaky gut”. The Gut Health Masterclass has plenty of practical tips on this. Make sure your vitamin D, A and zinc are optimal. Discuss immunoglobulin support (Microbiome Labs have something called MegaIgG2000) with your practitioner. Remove anything that is taxing the immune system; with thyroid related issues – gluten and dairy should be fully eliminated. There is a handout on dairy and gluten elimination to help you out. Introduce beneficial bacteria through slow introduction of fermented foods like sauerkraut and coconut kefir for example. I share these recipes in the resources as well.

Chronic stress can also contribute to higher blood sugar levels and insulin resistance so I would encourage you to watch the Blood Sugar Regulation course and consider testing these markers. Elevated blood sugar levels can also contribute to yeast/fungal infections and higher LDL levels.

Hypothyroidism and insulin resistance can both contribute to high cholesterol, and the combination of higher HDL with lower triglycerides can point to an autoimmune dynamic.

Low vitamin D, hypo or hyper-thyroidism, poor immune function, low endemic beneficial gut microbes, microbial overgrowths, poor digestion, poor eating hygiene, frequent snacking… these are just some of the possible causes of IBS symptoms that show up as alternating constipation and diarrhea. IBS is not a root cause but just another symptom as a result of all of the contributing factors I mentioned.

Also, support thyroid health nutritionally. Ensure you’re getting in the nutrients needed; introduce organic liver at least 1 x per week (full of B vitamins, zinc, vitamin A), include sea vegetables (handout just uploaded in resources) or kelp sprinkles over your food as an iodine source. Include sardines with bone and skin on as a source of selenium and 4-5 organic brazil nuts. Check your RBC magnesium and make sure it’s optimal (upper 2/3rds of the reference range).

So you can see, there are many, many connections. Stress is a big factor. Check your blood sugar status. Optimize immune health by focusing on gut health. Focus on a thyroid supportive diet.

Lots to consider and work on. Hopefully, I’ve given you some explanations and a better sense of direction.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Bernadette]

  Daniel provided you with some excellent feedback. Keep in mind the North to South approach when addressing dysfunctions. Tackling an H Pylori overgrowth is definitely a priority, however always ask why. Why did the overgrowth happen in the first place. What environment allowed that to happen? Reviewing the section on Hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) and H Pylori in the Gut Health Masterclass will help narrow it down for you.

In terms of rapid relief for the pain you’re experiencing under your right rib cage, in addition to d-limonene, castor oil packs applied topically over the liver/gallbladder area can help. I will create a handout on how to do this in case you’ve never tried it before. But basically, a person rubs 1 Tbsp of castor oil directly on the affected area (wear gloves, it’s sticky). Place a damp washcloth over top, and then a heating pad, and sit or lie down for 35-45 minutes or until the castor oil has been absorbed through the skin. Alternatively, it can be applied before getting into a sauna.

Let me know if that helps!

[Bernadette]

Hi  – if this operation was for you, I hope it went smoothly and you’re recovering well (besides the hiccups).

I’ve personally never come across this situation before with clients, but I did do some reading and have consulted with colleagues of mine and here are some suggestions you may want to try.

As always, understanding the root cause is always best because then  treatments and remedies can be more targeted and effective.

Typically it’s due to anesthetic drugs which irritate the vagus nerve which works the diaphragm and translates into hiccups post-op. It can however also be triggered by other factors:
• Certain emotional feelings, like fear or stress
• Smoking which causes too much air to be swallowed
• Alcohol
• Having a gassy tummy
• Some spicy foods which may irritate the diaphragm
• Eating too fast
• Fizzy drinks
• Hot beverages
• Sudden change in ambient temperature
• An abrupt change in temperature in your body, like eating something hot followed by a very cold beverage

(…so work on addressing any of the above if they apply)
Folk remedies to try:
• This one is weird, but it instantly worked for a colleague of mine… Take a wedge of lemon, sprinkle it with sugar and a few dashes of bitters. Bite and suck on it. These all involve stimulating the nasopharynx.
• Hold your breath for a few seconds or breathe into a paper bag. These all involve changing the breathing pattern.
• Also try the 360 breathing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8kLOxoA7Nk
• Stimulate the vagus nerve by either laughing out loud – watch a really funny comedy!, hum or sing loudly (which controls your breathing unconsciously)
• Pull the knees up to the chest or compress the chest by leaning forward. These all serve to counter-irritate the diaphragm.
• Magnesium glycinate – which helps relax spasms in the diaphragm
• A small piece of ginger, peeled and cleaned, can be chewed on slowly to ease your hiccups.
• Boil cardamom powder in water, then strain and drink when it cools down. It is believed to relax the diaphragm, thus stopping the hiccups. One teaspoon of cardamom powder needs 375ml of water.
• Acupuncture or hypnotherapy show some promise in relieving hiccups.

Hopefully one or more of these tips can help ease the hiccups. Please do report back, as I’d love to know which ones actually worked.

[Bernadette]

 without knowing much about your health history, lifestyle habits, diet, overall level of stress, your state of being prior to the test, and the time of blood draw, I can only make some assumptions and offer some potential areas to further explore based on these black and white, one-moment-in-time results:

From a functional perspective:
• There seems to be some suboptimal elevation in your liver markers ALT & GGT, which means there is something causing a higher turnover of these liver enzymes. What is possibly taxing the liver? Alcohol? Smoking? Environmental toxins/mycotoxins? Prescription and over-the-counter medications? Virus? You mention that you eat well and live a healthy lifestyle, but I would be curious to see a fasting insulin or c-peptide and fasting glucose level given the higher triglycerides. How is stress? Keep in mind, stress can be emotional, physical, and/or physiological (think hidden infections in the gut and mouth for example, bacterial overgrowths creating LPS bacterial by-products, etc) – stress will impact blood sugar regulation. If you have not taken that course yet, please do so.
• There is also some suboptimally lower levels of both thyroid hormones T4 and T3 but it would be interesting to see the full thyroid panel that includes the free T4 and free T3 levels, as well as the antibodies anti-TPO, anti-TG, and Reverse T3. Could it due to nutrient insufficiencies like zinc, vitamin A, selenium, iodine? What are your cortisol levels? And again, what’s your fasting blood sugar status?
• The suboptimally lower Total Protein, BUN and Globulin may indicate a need for HCL/digestive support, and liver support since the liver impacts protein production. I thoroughly discuss hypochlorhydria (low HCL) in the Gut Health Masterclass along with possible root causes for that. Other symptoms that can indicate liver dysfunction is pain between the shoulder blades, nausea, pain under the right rib cage, an upset stomach with greasy foods, easily intoxicated with alcohol, sensitive to chemicals, and hemorrhoids or varicose veins. Do any of these resonate with you from a symptom perspective?
• Another thought that came to mind when I saw a uric acid closer to the high end of the reference range is the possibility of oxidative stress, which again can be connected to liver dysfunction. Have you ever lived or worked in a water damaged building that may have mold? Again, what is blood sugar status? What is your zinc status (check RBC zinc)?

As you can see, interpretation from a functional lens brings up many more questions as it really is just 1 small piece of the puzzle. But hopefully I’ve given you some areas to explore and be able to better advocate for additional testing with your physician.