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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First, comment SLAP and I’ll send you my morning exercise that is great for waking you up and helping you feel better in your body.
Second.. The actually doing something day after day after day is the hardest part!
Most people think consistency means daily- but that’s not true! Don’t fall into that perfectionist trap.
Set an alarm on your phone a few times a day.
When the alarm goes off- don’t turn it off and ignore it- do the thing!
And you’re done!
How do you help yourself remember to be consistent?
#lissms #slapittomapit #multiplesclerosis #thisisms
First, comment SLAP and I’ll send you my morning exercise that is great for waking you up and helping you feel better in your body.
Second.. The actually doing something day after day after day is the hardest part!
Most people think consistency means daily- but that’s not true! Don’t fall into that perfectionist trap.
Set an alarm on your phone a few times a day.
When the alarm goes off- don’t turn it off and ignore it- do the thing!
And you’re done!
How do you help yourself remember to be consistent?
#lissms #slapittomapit #multiplesclerosis #thisisms
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in Multiple Sclerosis.
There are SO many tools that we can use to help improve our bodies functioning- which can in turn improve our MS symptoms.
The biggies that have helped me? 👇🏼
🥗Nutrition
🏋🏻♀️Movement
🧘🏻♀️Stress management
Want my most favorite, super short exercise that can help MS symptoms??
Comment: SLAP and I’ll send it to you!!
#lissms #SlapittoMapit #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in Multiple Sclerosis.
There are SO many tools that we can use to help improve our bodies functioning- which can in turn improve our MS symptoms.
The biggies that have helped me? 👇🏼
🥗Nutrition
🏋🏻♀️Movement
🧘🏻♀️Stress management
Want my most favorite, super short exercise that can help MS symptoms??
Comment: SLAP and I’ll send it to you!!
#lissms #SlapittoMapit #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems
Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!
Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes?
It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true?
Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge
Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!
Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes?
It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true?
Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge
Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!
Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes?
It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true?
Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #slapittomapit #betterbrain
Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!
Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes?
It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true?
Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #slapittomapit #betterbrain
It’s an easy exercise with a silly name, but it actually packs a punch and can really change how you feel.
Imagine measurably more energy and feeling more stable and balanced- and even improving a few MS symptoms here and there too?🤷🏻♀️
Your possibilities are endless!
Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short video about how to do it!
#lissms #slapittomapit multiplesclerosis #thisisms
It’s an easy exercise with a silly name, but it actually packs a punch and can really change how you feel.
Imagine measurably more energy and feeling more stable and balanced- and even improving a few MS symptoms here and there too?🤷🏻♀️
Your possibilities are endless!
Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short video about how to do it!
#lissms #slapittomapit multiplesclerosis #thisisms
Take a time out for a literal minute.
It’s amazing what happens when you take the time to care for your body and nervous system.
#LissMS #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation
Take a time out for a literal minute.
It’s amazing what happens when you take the time to care for your body and nervous system.
#LissMS #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation
First year flower garden needed a post. Already looking forward to next summer, maybe a little less yellow? Can’t wait for the zinnias to bloom!
😂🌼💛
What are you growing??
#lissms #cutflowergarden
First year flower garden needed a post. Already looking forward to next summer, maybe a little less yellow? Can’t wait for the zinnias to bloom!
😂🌼💛
What are you growing??
#lissms #cutflowergarden
Thankfully I haven’t heard any of these in a while.. maybe that means I’m getting my point across 🤷🏻♀️
But if you’re new here, I value holistic lifestyle medicine (snake oil 😂) but ALSO conventional medicine, I utilize it all after all.
Yes, what we do as an individual matters for our health.
But so does the health systems we as individuals operate in.
Tomorrow is my MS-aversary, 16 years of having this disease. my newly diagnosed 24 year old self would be pretty shocked that I’m 40 (like in general lol) and also not in a wheelchair.
Here’s to many more years defying what I initially thought to be true about MS.
Comin with me? Hope so.
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #lifewithms
Thankfully I haven’t heard any of these in a while.. maybe that means I’m getting my point across 🤷🏻♀️
But if you’re new here, I value holistic lifestyle medicine (snake oil 😂) but ALSO conventional medicine, I utilize it all after all.
Yes, what we do as an individual matters for our health.
But so does the health systems we as individuals operate in.
Tomorrow is my MS-aversary, 16 years of having this disease. my newly diagnosed 24 year old self would be pretty shocked that I’m 40 (like in general lol) and also not in a wheelchair.
Here’s to many more years defying what I initially thought to be true about MS.
Comin with me? Hope so.
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #lifewithms
I’ve tripped a few times in the last few weeks.. nothing crazy, but I noticed.
And I noticed my thoughts… is this a “THING”??
Oh the constant wonderings of an MSer…
is this a regular life occurrence?
Or is this a new symptom? 😂😂
When was the last time you had this thought process??
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosiswarrior
I’ve tripped a few times in the last few weeks.. nothing crazy, but I noticed.
And I noticed my thoughts… is this a “THING”??
Oh the constant wonderings of an MSer…
is this a regular life occurrence?
Or is this a new symptom? 😂😂
When was the last time you had this thought process??
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosiswarrior
When you’re living with MS, it’s not that you don’t want to feel better…
It’s just that life keeps interrupting the plan.
Stress, symptoms, fatigue — they throw you off track.
That’s where support, structure, and accountability change everything.
That’s exactly what my membership is for.
✔️ Evidence-based strategies for MS
✔️ Real community and support
✔️ Gentle consistency that actually works
Only the waitlist is getting access as a Founding Member.
Comment WAITLIST and I’ll send you the link to add your name
#lissms #MultipleSclerosis #MSwarrior #MSsupport #ChronicIllnessHealing #MScommunity #HolisticHealing #NervousSystemHealing
When you’re living with MS, it’s not that you don’t want to feel better…
It’s just that life keeps interrupting the plan.
Stress, symptoms, fatigue — they throw you off track.
That’s where support, structure, and accountability change everything.
That’s exactly what my membership is for.
✔️ Evidence-based strategies for MS
✔️ Real community and support
✔️ Gentle consistency that actually works
Only the waitlist is getting access as a Founding Member.
Comment WAITLIST and I’ll send you the link to add your name
#lissms #MultipleSclerosis #MSwarrior #MSsupport #ChronicIllnessHealing #MScommunity #HolisticHealing #NervousSystemHealing
But seriously.. this isn’t too far off 😂
Life handed me a lemon that was a MS diagnosis at 24.
Life handed me a lemon that was multiple relapses and MS progression by 30.
Then I snatched those lemons, made some healing lemonade, and feel night and day different than I did 10 years ago when my symptoms were at their worst.
I could do it, my clients are doing it, I know you can too.
That’s why I’m so passionate about doing what I do. I know it’s possible for you to feel better in your body and be able to do the things you want to do.
Like go for a walk or hike with your spouse, say yes to a spontaneous night out with friends or get up and down off the floor playing with your kids.
That’s why I want to invite you to the waitlist for what I have coming.
Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things.
Comment WAITLIST below and ill send you the link to join the list
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiswarrior #becausems #thisisms #communityheals #mscommunity
But seriously.. this isn’t too far off 😂
Life handed me a lemon that was a MS diagnosis at 24.
Life handed me a lemon that was multiple relapses and MS progression by 30.
Then I snatched those lemons, made some healing lemonade, and feel night and day different than I did 10 years ago when my symptoms were at their worst.
I could do it, my clients are doing it, I know you can too.
That’s why I’m so passionate about doing what I do. I know it’s possible for you to feel better in your body and be able to do the things you want to do.
Like go for a walk or hike with your spouse, say yes to a spontaneous night out with friends or get up and down off the floor playing with your kids.
That’s why I want to invite you to the waitlist for what I have coming.
Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things.
Comment WAITLIST below and ill send you the link to join the list
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiswarrior #becausems #thisisms #communityheals #mscommunity
I have a saying about dealing with MS (and any other autoimmune/chronic illnesses) that inevitably comes up in my work with clients:
“You don’t get it, until you get it”
Meaning, you don’t understand living life with MS (or any of the above), until you live in a body that has it.
Which is why living with MS can be so tough and lonely, because its hard to find people that truly understand what you mean when you say you’re exhausted, or brain foggy or “fine”.
This is also why I believe that having a community of others who get it is invaluable.
I’ve seen countless times over where someone new to one of my groups is able to feel fully seen and heard for the first time, and that is priceless for them and their healing.
They walk away feeling validated, understood and at home, which are hard to come by at the doctors office 😂🙄
You’re not too much
You’re not alone
You’re not lazy
You’re just talking to the wrong people.
If you wanna talk to the right people, I’m creating something for you..
Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things..
BUT- only the waitlist is going to hear about it. So- if you want to be notified and involved in creating whats coming, comment WAITLIST and you’re in
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiscommunity #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosissupport
I have a saying about dealing with MS (and any other autoimmune/chronic illnesses) that inevitably comes up in my work with clients:
“You don’t get it, until you get it”
Meaning, you don’t understand living life with MS (or any of the above), until you live in a body that has it.
Which is why living with MS can be so tough and lonely, because its hard to find people that truly understand what you mean when you say you’re exhausted, or brain foggy or “fine”.
This is also why I believe that having a community of others who get it is invaluable.
I’ve seen countless times over where someone new to one of my groups is able to feel fully seen and heard for the first time, and that is priceless for them and their healing.
They walk away feeling validated, understood and at home, which are hard to come by at the doctors office 😂🙄
You’re not too much
You’re not alone
You’re not lazy
You’re just talking to the wrong people.
If you wanna talk to the right people, I’m creating something for you..
Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things..
BUT- only the waitlist is going to hear about it. So- if you want to be notified and involved in creating whats coming, comment WAITLIST and you’re in
#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiscommunity #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosissupport
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