Last week we discussed how to test your gut health at home, for 0$. Now, if you’ve come to a crossroads, and feel like you need further testing, what do you do? Conventional medicine would have you go to a GI specialist, and more often than not they’d have you out the door in 7 minutes with a prescription for Prilosec, no matter what your symptoms were.
At least that’s what happened to me in the past.
I went to several GI docs, one I thought would be especially helpful (he was the “top doc” at the office). But when he listened to half my symptoms, then gave me a prescription for Prilosec, I was disappointed, to say the least! On top of that, when I asked him about testing to see if I ACTUALLY HAD LOW STOMACH ACID (which is what Prilosec is- a stomach acid blocker), he said he wouldn’t do it.
Needless to say, this is not an uncommon experience. Having very powerful GI meds just handed out like candy is unfortunately a common occurrence.
However, I digress.
Getting comprehensive gut testing done when things aren’t going as planned after being on a healing protocol for an extended period of time, is a great next step. As with most things, they do have their pros and cons, they won’t necessarily be a 100% answer to your questions, but they can be. And they can point you in a direction of further healing or further testing.
The GI Map test is a comprehensive stool test that will give you a fairly good overview of what is going on in your gut. It tests for many bacteria, parasites, worms, fungi and viruses. One of the nice things about the GI Map test are you do not have to stop taking any medications prior to testing. The GI Map test will test for bacterial pathogens like C.Diff, parasitic pathogens like Crypto or Giardia. It will also give you a breakdown of your gut flora and if there is an imbalance present. H.Pylori, Candida, parasites, viruses and antibiotic resistant genes are also tested for. It will also test your intestinal health and inflammation status.
You have to be working with a licensed practitioner to order this test, you can not order it yourself.
Genova Diagnostics is a lab that has several gut health tests available. They have the GI Effects Comprehensive Stool Panel and the Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis or CDSA. Both are helpful, but the GI Effects gives a little bit of a deeper dive into what’s going on. The GI Effects Panel gives you a nice chart that outlines each marker and how it is associated with common diagnoses. This is the main difference between the two tests. Both test for digestion and absorption markers, inflammation markers, gut flora and associated imbalances and parasites.
A big difference between Genova Diagnostics and the GI Map test is that Genova tests will tell you metabolic information, in other words, how well your body is processing and absorbing the food you’re eating. When I did the Genova GI Effects test in 2015, I found out that I wasn’t absorbing fats properly at all (a common occurrence). This led me to treat my GI issues differently.
You have to be working with a licensed practitioner to order this test, you can not order it yourself.
Another comprehensive stool test (again they have a few to choose from- I looked at the Comprehensive Stool Analysis with Parasitology x3), and this has an added bonus of giving a several page description of your results. This test looks at bacteria and imbalances and associated dysbiosis. Yeast, bacteria or parasites present, digestion and absorption and immune markers. One thing interesting about this particular test is that it seems to go a bit deeper into digestion/absorption and immune markers. In the digestion/absorption section, it looks for “muscle” and “vegetable” fibers, which would indicate food that isn’t being digested properly and therefore not absorbed properly. In the immune section, it looks for a few other immune markers, specifically “lactoferrin” and “lysozyme”, both are helpful in distinguishing between IBD and IBS.
You have to be working with a licensed practitioner to order this test, you can not order it yourself.
Overall, these tests are very similar. You will have to work with a practitioner to determine which is the correct test for you. If I were to test again (which I probably will in the near future) I’d like to choose the GI Map test. That gives me the most detailed account of what I would like to be looking for and the most comprehensive data. But that’s me. What you might need could be different!
Also, when I say practitioner, I usually mean a Functional Medicine Doctor, Naturopath, Osteopath, Chiropractor or something to that effect. Conventional GI doctors don’t *normally* run these tests, but sometimes they will. And, these tests are pricey and usually not covered by insurance. Most will run you anywhere from $350-$500, depending on the doctor. Sometimes you can get your insurance to reimburse you, but usually only for partial payment. HUGE downside, I know.
But, it can be a big time saver when you’re in need of the correct treatment path, which also means a big money saver as well. So sometimes you have to weigh the pros and cons.
Have you had one of these tests done? Do you want to? Let me know!
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It’s amazing what taking a few minutes to breathe and reassure yourself can do, ya know??
If you have MS and this gives you an immediate uncomfy feeling in your gut because you never advocate for yourself and your needs,
You need to come to my next Masterclass:
Managing Stress to Manage MS
We’ll be talking about:
* How Stress Works: Discover how your body’s stress response system operates and why it plays such a big role in your overall health.
* Stress and MS: Understand how stress impacts MS symptoms and why it can sometimes make symptom flares worse.
* Building Your Resilience: Get simple, effective strategies to boost your stress resilience and help ease MS symptoms for a healthier, more balanced life.
Happening February 10th at 6pm EST!
Comment NEEDS below and I’ll send you the link to register!
#multiplesclerosis #lissms #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms
It’s amazing what taking a few minutes to breathe and reassure yourself can do, ya know??
If you have MS and this gives you an immediate uncomfy feeling in your gut because you never advocate for yourself and your needs,
You need to come to my next Masterclass:
Managing Stress to Manage MS
We’ll be talking about:
* How Stress Works: Discover how your body’s stress response system operates and why it plays such a big role in your overall health.
* Stress and MS: Understand how stress impacts MS symptoms and why it can sometimes make symptom flares worse.
* Building Your Resilience: Get simple, effective strategies to boost your stress resilience and help ease MS symptoms for a healthier, more balanced life.
Happening February 10th at 6pm EST!
Comment NEEDS below and I’ll send you the link to register!
#multiplesclerosis #lissms #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms
This is hard!!
We feel like “we should be able to” still do the cleaning, chores, putting things away etc etc etc..
But in reality- our bodies need and crave rest and recovery first.
If we don’t give our bodies what they need voluntarily, they’ll find a way to make us.
Really struggle with this idea of listening to and caring for your body?
(I get it- it’s not a skill we’re taught)
I’m hosting a (free) masterclass on this and “managing stress” in January, comment CLASS and I’ll send you the link to sign up!!
#multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #stressmanagement #lissms #thisisms #becausems #seasonaldepression #anxiety
This is hard!!
We feel like “we should be able to” still do the cleaning, chores, putting things away etc etc etc..
But in reality- our bodies need and crave rest and recovery first.
If we don’t give our bodies what they need voluntarily, they’ll find a way to make us.
Really struggle with this idea of listening to and caring for your body?
(I get it- it’s not a skill we’re taught)
I’m hosting a (free) masterclass on this and “managing stress” in January, comment CLASS and I’ll send you the link to sign up!!
#multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #stressmanagement #lissms #thisisms #becausems #seasonaldepression #anxiety
Being aware and consciously working on nervous system regulation has SO MANY benefits..
✨Waking up with less anxiety
✨Feeling less all/nothing thinking
✨Being able to physically breathe better
✨Reduction of your MS/autoimmune disease symptoms
I could go on and on.
We aren’t gonna be able to fully manage MS symptoms until we acknowledge our very disregulated nervous system.
Embodied Resilience starts you on that path.
And- you’re in luck- it’s on sale till Monday night.
Comment STABLE and I’ll send you the link!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #thisisms #becausems
Being aware and consciously working on nervous system regulation has SO MANY benefits..
✨Waking up with less anxiety
✨Feeling less all/nothing thinking
✨Being able to physically breathe better
✨Reduction of your MS/autoimmune disease symptoms
I could go on and on.
We aren’t gonna be able to fully manage MS symptoms until we acknowledge our very disregulated nervous system.
Embodied Resilience starts you on that path.
And- you’re in luck- it’s on sale till Monday night.
Comment STABLE and I’ll send you the link!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #thisisms #becausems
I get it..
It seems like it would be good.
Because others around you are taken care of..
Because others around you feel good..
Because others around you are happy..
But what about you??
In reality, that’s just making it harder for you to help yourself heal and probs making your MS symptoms worse.
I’ve worked with so many people with MS and autoimmune disease… 1 thing (among many) that they all have in common is a habit of putting others before themselves, saying yes way too much and forgetting about what they want themselves.
Feel a little called out?
Then my course Embodied Resilience is for you.
This is a course all about managing + improving your stress tolerance- since stress is the number 1 trigger of symptom flares and relapses
And- it’s on sale for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems
I get it..
It seems like it would be good.
Because others around you are taken care of..
Because others around you feel good..
Because others around you are happy..
But what about you??
In reality, that’s just making it harder for you to help yourself heal and probs making your MS symptoms worse.
I’ve worked with so many people with MS and autoimmune disease… 1 thing (among many) that they all have in common is a habit of putting others before themselves, saying yes way too much and forgetting about what they want themselves.
Feel a little called out?
Then my course Embodied Resilience is for you.
This is a course all about managing + improving your stress tolerance- since stress is the number 1 trigger of symptom flares and relapses
And- it’s on sale for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems
✨How to do this✨
First! Like + save this post so you can come back to it for reference
Now, set a few alarms on your phone- ideally in the morning, afternoon and bedtime.
These will serve as your reminders.
Then, when the alarm goes off:
✨Pause, take a few deep breaths
✨Check in with your mind and body- how are you in this moment?
✨What are you thinking?
✨How are you feeling emotionally?
✨Is there a thought that needs to be challenged/reframed?
✨Are you being present in the moment?
✨How are you feeing in my body?
✨How are you breathing?
Some of these questions might not apply to your current situation and that’s fine
This is the first step to interrupting the very unhelpful patterns we often live in that can increase symptoms via heightened stress
This is one of the big things we work on in Holistically Healing MS, which will be on sale this weekend for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link when it’s ready!!
✨How to do this✨
First! Like + save this post so you can come back to it for reference
Now, set a few alarms on your phone- ideally in the morning, afternoon and bedtime.
These will serve as your reminders.
Then, when the alarm goes off:
✨Pause, take a few deep breaths
✨Check in with your mind and body- how are you in this moment?
✨What are you thinking?
✨How are you feeling emotionally?
✨Is there a thought that needs to be challenged/reframed?
✨Are you being present in the moment?
✨How are you feeing in my body?
✨How are you breathing?
Some of these questions might not apply to your current situation and that’s fine
This is the first step to interrupting the very unhelpful patterns we often live in that can increase symptoms via heightened stress
This is one of the big things we work on in Holistically Healing MS, which will be on sale this weekend for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link when it’s ready!!
✨Moving your body✨
Notice I didn’t say exercise, although yes that also helps.
Stress hormones can get stuck in our bodies, our cells, our muscle tissue for various reasons.
Making it super easy for us to carry stress around with us- which shows up often as:
Pain
Tension
Trouble breathing
Difficulty with balance
It’s no coincidence that these are often prominent MS symptoms too. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where effects of MS end and effects of stress begin.
Being able to offload accumulated stress is key to being able to improve MS symptoms.
My course Embodied Resilience shows you exactly how to do this, and it’s gonna be on sale for Black Friday.
Comment ME below and I’ll send you the sale link when it’s ready!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemhealing #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #thisisms #becausems
✨Moving your body✨
Notice I didn’t say exercise, although yes that also helps.
Stress hormones can get stuck in our bodies, our cells, our muscle tissue for various reasons.
Making it super easy for us to carry stress around with us- which shows up often as:
Pain
Tension
Trouble breathing
Difficulty with balance
It’s no coincidence that these are often prominent MS symptoms too. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where effects of MS end and effects of stress begin.
Being able to offload accumulated stress is key to being able to improve MS symptoms.
My course Embodied Resilience shows you exactly how to do this, and it’s gonna be on sale for Black Friday.
Comment ME below and I’ll send you the sale link when it’s ready!!
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemhealing #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #thisisms #becausems
I’ve seen myself and tons of clients through behavior change to help improve their MS + autoimmune disease symptoms.
There are SO MANY things that can help us.
But the one I’ve seen move the needle the most?
Working on your mindset and stress management tools.
We can change our diet
Change how we move
Change the products we’re using
Change the supplements we take..
But if we’re still in the high stress state that most of us are in.. all those will only go so far.
Stress is my biggest symptom trigger, and 99% of my clients feel the same.
My biggest course sale is coming Black Friday, included is my course Embodied Resilience, all about learning how to actually manage stress- so you’re not constantly battling MS flares too.
My email list is gonna get first dibs..
Comment LIST below and I’ll add you so you’re notified first!!
I’ve seen myself and tons of clients through behavior change to help improve their MS + autoimmune disease symptoms.
There are SO MANY things that can help us.
But the one I’ve seen move the needle the most?
Working on your mindset and stress management tools.
We can change our diet
Change how we move
Change the products we’re using
Change the supplements we take..
But if we’re still in the high stress state that most of us are in.. all those will only go so far.
Stress is my biggest symptom trigger, and 99% of my clients feel the same.
My biggest course sale is coming Black Friday, included is my course Embodied Resilience, all about learning how to actually manage stress- so you’re not constantly battling MS flares too.
My email list is gonna get first dibs..
Comment LIST below and I’ll add you so you’re notified first!!
Changing my diet changed the course of my life.
I want that for you too.
It feels hard, but doesn’t have to be.
PS- keep your eye out for Black Friday.. all my courses will be on sale, your healing journey awaits!
Changing my diet changed the course of my life.
I want that for you too.
It feels hard, but doesn’t have to be.
PS- keep your eye out for Black Friday.. all my courses will be on sale, your healing journey awaits!
And my period started to add to the joy 🙃🙃
We can do hard things y’all,
breathe in, breathe out,
all will be well.
#Electionstress #seasonaldepression #anxiety #multiplesclerosis
And my period started to add to the joy 🙃🙃
We can do hard things y’all,
breathe in, breathe out,
all will be well.
#Electionstress #seasonaldepression #anxiety #multiplesclerosis
Home stretch!!
Do what you need to do today to take care of yourself friends.
#Electionday #Govote #Vote
Home stretch!!
Do what you need to do today to take care of yourself friends.
#Electionday #Govote #Vote
Do you do any form of meal planning?
I think 90% of my clients have talked about already feeling the shift to Fall and Winter hardddd.
They are worried about seasonal depression coming back with a vengeance, feeling sad summer is gone and so many other things.
I know when so many feel the same way, you might too.
I know I feel this way too.
I’m working with them to put habits in place NOW that will support them through the winter months.
Here are 2 small shifts we talked about this week:
1. Get sunlight into your eyeballs as soon as you can in the morning.☀️☀️
Ideally this is outside, there will be many science bro’s out there telling you that anything else “doesn’t count” but I say that’s BS.
Yes, the sunlight will have a greater impact if you’re viewing outside, but even if you’re behind a window it will do something.
2. Move your body!! 💃🏃♀️
The change in seasons to colder weather makes it super easy to hibernate and move wayyy less than we were in the summer.
I know I’ve been guilty of that this week and it’s showing in my sleep.
But moving our bodies can be so helpful for regulating so many things in our bodies.
Ideally you’re moving in the morning, but again- any time of day will do.
These are 2 small shifts that can make it easier for your body to transition to, and live with the Winter months.
Let’s crowdsource… what else helps you in winter??
I know there are many other things that can!!
I think 90% of my clients have talked about already feeling the shift to Fall and Winter hardddd.
They are worried about seasonal depression coming back with a vengeance, feeling sad summer is gone and so many other things.
I know when so many feel the same way, you might too.
I know I feel this way too.
I’m working with them to put habits in place NOW that will support them through the winter months.
Here are 2 small shifts we talked about this week:
1. Get sunlight into your eyeballs as soon as you can in the morning.☀️☀️
Ideally this is outside, there will be many science bro’s out there telling you that anything else “doesn’t count” but I say that’s BS.
Yes, the sunlight will have a greater impact if you’re viewing outside, but even if you’re behind a window it will do something.
2. Move your body!! 💃🏃♀️
The change in seasons to colder weather makes it super easy to hibernate and move wayyy less than we were in the summer.
I know I’ve been guilty of that this week and it’s showing in my sleep.
But moving our bodies can be so helpful for regulating so many things in our bodies.
Ideally you’re moving in the morning, but again- any time of day will do.
These are 2 small shifts that can make it easier for your body to transition to, and live with the Winter months.
Let’s crowdsource… what else helps you in winter??
I know there are many other things that can!!
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