Re: Bloating / Gas (HealthNow)

[Guest guest]

Hi Beatrice and Christie:Just for the record...I was *really* happy with the Health Now Medical Facility in Sunnyvale, but if anyone is considering using them, here's what I found:Their hours of business are limited and rather unworkable if you live far away. I live in Oakland and work in San Francisco so getting there was a nightmare.Initially, their phone consultations were cheaper, $50, but recently they started charging the same for phone visits as their in-person visits. I think they now charge $90-$110 for both, but I don't recall off-hand. I guess too many people were opting for the phone service for one reason or another.They'll take PPO plans, but they also charge more for their services under PPO than if you just pay cash (what a rip off!). Example: office

visits cost, like, $325 under PPO, but if you pay cash, they're only $90-$110. *Hello*! I couldn't get my benefits changed to PPO, and after some number crunching, I realized, I'd actually be paying more for PPO than if I just stuck it out with cash.Given the plan they were using for me, I had to get a loan of $1,000 to cover the first 3 months of office visits, initial exam, follow-up treatments, office visits, medications, etc.They really pushed for me to come in person all the damn time! Maybe they wanted the money 'er something. It seemed odd, because, unless you need to check me out physically, or see how I look, physically, why would you need to see me in person for every single visit if all I'm doing is an elimination diet? That didn't make any sense.The treatments did seem to work, but given the cost and time off work to get down there - juggling day care hours and a 2.5 year old - in the end I decided to take a break and

try to focus on an elimination diet on my own and try using my managed health care (less cost and closer to home).* * * * * *I'm now thinking the same things that flour, in general, is a bit of a problem, definitely diary 100%, but now I'm looking into things like seeds/nuts, soy, alcohol, honey, sugar, bananas, grapes, coconut, beans, etc. Many of these I'm starting to see caused my stomach pain, gas, bloating, reactions similar to gluten.And, the Health Now Medical Facility said, by eliminating the foods that contribute to my gas, etc. I'm basically "Starving that Blasto bug out (to die). When you get gas, etc. that means it's feeding off what you're giving it and it's growing." Ewh! Ick. Disgustingly *gross*! OMG!The medications will kill it faster, and my way is just doing the same thing, but slower, I guess, and maybe not as guaranteed?After medication, then pro-biotics, and avoiding the offending foods, this

should keep the bug at bay, I was told, hopefully. But, my health problems do seem to be greater than just gas and bloating. There is a weight issue that won't go away, no matter what I do, and my body seems to hold onto "toxins". It seems their is s "filtering" process...maybe this is related to the weight issue, I don't know.All I do know, is that how little I'm eating (not starving, but okay), and the types of foods I'm eating combined with the exercise I'm doing, etc. I should be a size 10 with clear skin and not tired. Instead I'm a size 16 and look like I binge on every Twinkie in the bulk food isle 3-5 times a day! My dietitian seemed to agree with me, "Your diet is healthy, that's for sure."* * * * * * *I'm just so frustrated, I thought I'd post the questions to this group to see if there are any other answers in the mean time.I'm just so tired of dealing with this. I'm tired of my quality of life being crap

because I'm EATING! All my conversations with my boyfriend are around food, diet, and how I'm feeling that day...and what the latest trial-and-error is this week. It's lame.I was just hoping some else might have some other advice or medical insight I can take to my new GI because it seems it's 100% up to me to manage my own health care - and be my own advocate. I have to do all the leg work and research. I'm finding over the years that most of the doctors are a joke when it comes to food-related health problems.And I do agree about the fungal infection or "infection-related" health theory. But, obviously no one really knows what to do about it, and I doubt they'll let me live off that Blasto medication forever. Louise AudellFrom: Beatrice Garth <beagarth@...> Sent: Thu, August 5, 2010 12:02:37 AMSubject: Re: [ ] Bloating / Gas - "parasite" question

Hi Louise. I am pretty certain there are many here who have had similar experiences whether they are saying so or not. I certainly am going through similar things with candida overgrowth. Its a good heads up about the Health NOW Medical Center you went to. At least you know what it is you are dealing with--that is so very important. I may do so too if I don't clear the candida overgrowth out sufficiently with self care. I got messed up nearly a year ago from some too heavy antibiotics to treat an ear infection that after all was likely fungal not bacterial!Similar to you I am on a restricted diet, off grains and even fruit at this point not to mention sugar(s) or honey etc. as well as all milk and milk products. It sucks however there are creative ways to get

around it. Am

learning how to make pancakes and muffins using ground up sunflower seeds. Am betting one could use pumpkin seeds too -- which are anti parasitical. Just make sure you don't use artificial sweeteners since the "cure" is far far worse than having sugar. Try using stevia as a sweetener instead. Meanwhile have you considered taking anti inflammatory and detox herbs as well as anti-parasitical herbs to help your body deal with all this? The planned talk at Pam's upcoming celiac support group in Felton on Sat. Aug. 14th could be just the ticket to give you some very good ideas.BeaFrom: Harper <flatcat9aol (DOT) com>Subject: Re: [ ] Bloating / Gas - "parasite" question Date: Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 4:46 PM

Perhaps you mean Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO) or candida albicans overgrowth (known as yeast)?

A google search for these terms and will give you a lot of information.

H.

-----Original Message-----

From: Louise Audell <louise_gd (DOT) com>

Celiac Bay Area < >

Sent: Tue, Aug 3, 2010 4:23 pm

Subject: [ ] Bloating / Gas - parasite question

Hi:

Just wondering if anyone else with CD has this problem, and if so, what have you done to treat it and ride yourself of it.

Since having my daughter (within 3 years) and trying to remain gluten-free, I was told at one point, I had develop an overgrowth of some parasite in my small intestines. I didn't know it at the time, and it seemed like *everything* I was eating was making me boated, gain weight, and created a lot of gas (internal and external), and some stomach pains.

It seemed nothing I did could get ride of this problem, and it only got worse.

I was finally given something to kill the "parasite overgrowth" through Health Now Medical Center, it seemed to work...I could eat *everything* (including diary) and not get bloated. It was *heaven*. I felt

NORMAL!

But, I think it's since come back. Gezuz. What IS IT? What triggers it? How can I get ride of it forever?

I know all of my doctors will tell me I cannot be on that medication forever because it kills all bacteria in the gut (good and bad).

What to do?

If I cut out all foods that "feed" this parasite (or whatever it is), I'm down to super bland, neutral foods like brown rice and potatoes 24/7. *sigh*. I can't live like this.

Anyone else with CD have this problem?

Louise