RA - whether a leaky gut or an infection?

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with RA in 1996 and complied with the doctors until 2002, taking

Celebrex and methotrexate. After moving to DC, I went to Dr Gabe Mirkin and

started on minocycline, 100 MG 2 times a day. I felt better, especially after

going on the South Beach Diet - no carbs. And felt so good, felt cured, that in

2006 I asked Dr Mirkin if I could get off the antibiotic. I did, and that

decision, along with going on a cruise for 2 weeks where I ate anything I

desired, cost me dearly. I was put back on minocycline and then learned that I

had become allergic to it. I then went on placquenil, followed by other things.

Nothing worked. I was then referred to a rheumatologist and was again on

methotrexate. I never acquiesced to Embrel or Humira, etc.

The last four years I have spent a fortune on alternative doctors who feel that

this is a digestion issue...leaky gut. I did see one doctor and learned that I

am positive for parvovirus and cytomegalovirus. I did have an IGg test which was

very helpful in learning that I was sensitive to dairy and eggs. Eliminating

those really helped. Of course, this test is not covered by insurance. I have

also eliminated all wheat, nightshade vegetables, potatoes, very little beef and

pork, mainly following the paleo diet. Some ask...what do I eat? Chicken, fish,

turkey, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, okra, beets, artichokes,

onions,celery, raw nuts, and lots of salads.

I feel that I am peeling away layers and the answer to these autoimmune problems

are multifaceted. I was told that if I increased my fish oil and my vitamin D

levels, all would be well; but I still have pain and stiffness. I am taking

about 45 supplements a day. Everyone I see has a new idea. My latest doctor

wants me to take a lab test with Metagenics, costing about $1000. Has anyone

taken this test? Is anyone else being told that RA is a leaky gut issue?

Does anyone know of a doctor in Virginia who believes and follows the AP

protocol?

I've left off a number of tests that I have had, but I DO highly recommend the

food sensitivity test along with the allergy test. I took the E95 Basic Food

Panel with Meridian Valley Labs.

IF this is a leaky gut issue, then antibiotics only worsen the issue. My CRP is

24. And if this is an infection, then antibiotics seem to be the answer. I would

appreciate any thoughts or knowledge on anything that I have touched on in this

rant. Thank you.

Best of health to all,

[Guest guest]

I thank you for your story. I too suffer from R/A. I was diagnosed with RA,

vascular disease, had a stint implanted into my lower aorta, quit a 20 year

smoking habit and began this journey or recovery and discovery.

I have a very similar diet to yours because I have no other

choice. Otherwise, I too pay the price and today it's not worth it to me.

I'm gluten, soy and dairy free. I do egg whites occasionally. No nightshade

veggies. Only fish, chickenand buffalo on occasion. That has all helped

with my digestive and elimination issues tremendously. So today I add

radishes into my veggie program. My favorite food Guru told they have

properties that are not only naturally cleansing but also good for R/A

....really any auto immune diseases. I bought 2 bunches today and can't wait

to add them into my next Salmon salad.

I am eager to begin my first 1.5 mg tab of LDN tonight to slowly work up to

a therapeutic dose of 4.5mg. I hope to be able to come off the Enbrel.

Methotrexate and a myriad of other lesser expensive bandies only made me

ill. I have taken Orincia. It was like a miracle in my life. I had to

discontinue as my company changed our insurance and plans. It no longer was

on the plan. I was in so much pain again not sleeping at all and literally

falling apart. I HAVE to work and was unable to function in my life. I had

no life. One day at work I discovered that Enbrel has FREE assistance

program. I just sat at my desk and cried. They provide $6,000 every 6

months to cover all the medication and any co-pay's...etc. It is

wonderful. I was immediately approved and on week 3. I will continue this

until the LDN (and eventually minocycline....) is at a therapeutic dosage

and begin to taper off the Enbrel. That is the goal......to be free of all

the bandaids. I take things one day at a time today.

I met my AP doctor for the first time this week!! I live in Boynton Beach,

FL. His office is in West Palm Beach...close. Today I had 12 vials of

blood taken for a ton of testing including Lyme's necessary for a complete

and correct treatment plan which I'm sure will include minocycline within

the next month. Seems as though these autoimmune diseases breed and

manifest new issues and challenges to overcome. ?? I have tremendous

digestive issues, dangerously low sodium issues, painful numb feet, vascular

damage, epilepsy (and on and on.......ugh lol) and many other various

infections but not leaky gut.

I am thrilled and grateful to have learned of all this and this supportive

online community. I was not sure how to just jump in and begin sharing a

little so ........there you have it. LOL.

Lindsey

On Sat, Sep 4, 2010 at 12:36 PM, <shelleypainter@...> wrote:

>

>

> I was diagnosed with RA in 1996 and complied with the doctors until 2002,

> taking Celebrex and methotrexate. After moving to DC, I went to Dr Gabe

> Mirkin and started on minocycline, 100 MG 2 times a day. I felt better,

> especially after going on the South Beach Diet - no carbs. And felt so good,

> felt cured, that in 2006 I asked Dr Mirkin if I could get off the

> antibiotic. I did, and that decision, along with going on a cruise for 2

> weeks where I ate anything I desired, cost me dearly. I was put back on

> minocycline and then learned that I had become allergic to it. I then went

> on placquenil, followed by other things. Nothing worked. I was then referred

> to a rheumatologist and was again on methotrexate. I never acquiesced to

> Embrel or Humira, etc.

>

> The last four years I have spent a fortune on alternative doctors who feel

> that this is a digestion issue...leaky gut. I did see one doctor and learned

> that I am positive for parvovirus and cytomegalovirus. I did have an IGg

> test which was very helpful in learning that I was sensitive to dairy and

> eggs. Eliminating those really helped. Of course, this test is not covered

> by insurance. I have also eliminated all wheat, nightshade vegetables,

> potatoes, very little beef and pork, mainly following the paleo diet. Some

> ask...what do I eat? Chicken, fish, turkey, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel

> sprouts, okra, beets, artichokes, onions,celery, raw nuts, and lots of

> salads.

>

> I feel that I am peeling away layers and the answer to these autoimmune

> problems are multifaceted. I was told that if I increased my fish oil and my

> vitamin D levels, all would be well; but I still have pain and stiffness. I

> am taking about 45 supplements a day. Everyone I see has a new idea. My

> latest doctor wants me to take a lab test with Metagenics, costing about

> $1000. Has anyone taken this test? Is anyone else being told that RA is a

> leaky gut issue?

>

> Does anyone know of a doctor in Virginia who believes and follows the AP

> protocol?

>

> I've left off a number of tests that I have had, but I DO highly recommend

> the food sensitivity test along with the allergy test. I took the E95 Basic

> Food Panel with Meridian Valley Labs.

>

> IF this is a leaky gut issue, then antibiotics only worsen the issue. My

> CRP is 24. And if this is an infection, then antibiotics seem to be the

> answer. I would appreciate any thoughts or knowledge on anything that I have

> touched on in this rant. Thank you.

>

> Best of health to all,

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi , Have you been tested for Celiac disease?  I have had intermmitent

diarrhea for 4.5 yrs.out of the last 5 years since I started on antibiotics and

now finally, been diarrhea free for the past two months.  Can't say for sure if

this is over, but it is the first breather I have had for this in a very long 

time. Even gastroenterologists don't know what to do for digestive problems and

leaky gut.  Most of the time, they just treat the symptoms but in order to

cure, you need to know the cause and eliminate that.  I am a bit confused about

which comes first.  Does the leaky gut open the way for infection or does the

infection cause the leaky gut.  In my opinion, I think my diarrhea was caused

by the infection & the antibiotics.  So the choice was, for me, whether

to take the antibiotics and use antidiarrhea pills while I kill the

infection.  Or treat the leaky gut and hope that the infection goes away on

its' own or keep  going

 through all the tests.  I had the celiac test done and it was negative, so I

decided that this G.I. condition was being caused by an infection that needed

antibiotics, but since I was sensitive to antibiotics, I woud take the

antidiarrhea pills and the antibotics together  because, I knew that the

bacteria/virus in my body was causing all the other symptoms, too.  So, I

cleaned out my body (5 yrs. worth of antibiotics) and now I am in remission from

scleroderma and free from  diarrhea and /or leaky gut.  I never did bother to

find out what caused the diarrhea.  The diagnosis didn't matter, once I figured

out that the gastroenterologist didn't know either.  All he ever found out was

that my entire intestinal track was inflammed.  Well, I guess the antibiotics

finally took care of that. Glad I never complicated my condition by taking the

celebrex and methotrexate.  I think those tye of drugs cause more involvement

and are more difficult to

wean from.  Sure, they give temporary relief, but at what cost?   I, too was

diagnosed with CMV, but lucky to find a doc who gave me the antiviral drug,

Azyclovir.  It did the trick. i am also sensitive to dairy, and for a while

eliminated milk in all its' forms.  Then I discovered an OTC named Lactaid. 

they add that to milk.  But I hated the tast of it in milk, so I bought

the tablet form and then when I want to eat dairy, I take it just before and

now I am able to enjoy a glass of milk and ice cream whenever I feel like it and

don't have any more problems with boating and gas.  I can relate to your

frustration. I've been there!  What I did was concentrate on the cause of

everything and believed in the Infectious theory.  I cleaned myself out totally

and now I can tolerate most eveything and what I can't, I don't want to eat

anyway.  There is not much that I don't eat.  I also think that what helps me

is that I love homemade limeade

from the trees grown without pesticide in my yard.  I drink that daily and it

seems to help me digest all foods better.  I just moved here in March and

started to drink this lime drink and I have noticed a big difference,  I still

take the Mino at half dose three days a week and am totally now symptom free

from scleroderma and all its' manifestations.  I can't give you a reason why

except that I was infected, took antibiotics for a very long time and still do

and now am symptom & disease free.  I saved myself lots of money and don't

take any supplements except when I really need to eat that bowl of ice cream. 

I no longer need to use the antidiarrhea pills I used to buy at Walmart OTC. My

opinion is to take care of the infections first and the rest will follow. In

your testing, did they find the antibodies your body makes against the

invaders.  They can tell what you are infected with by doing that.  I had

that one done and I was infected

with Micopalsma Pneumonae. Also, they can take a sample of synovial fluid,

cutivate it in a dish and look at it under a microscope.  These groups of

bacteria are viral like in that they are very tiny and have no cell walls. 

They can penetrate the immune cells in your body and hide there for many 

years.  They replicate using your proteins. They are a parasite.  They cause

havoc in what ever space they decide to  make their residence.  They do this

by morphing into Lshapes.  They travel throughtout the body. That is why

arthritics can go to bed with pain in the left knee and wake up with pain in the

right knee.  Or wake up with some other symptom which may not even seem to be

related, but it is.  Till these buggers are cleaned out, there will be no peace

within.  Good luck, trying to figure it all out.  Even docs can't.  They are

hung up on calling these diseases autoimmune diseases.  They are not!  They

are diseases of infectious

origin.  Read Dr. Brown's and Henry Scammell's books.  They explain the

entire thing.  The FAQ sheet on the antibiotic protocol, that was printed on

this site about a week ago is also good at explaining it all.  If you missed

it, google it.  It is free and wonderful information.  The best to you  & stay

in touch,   Dolores           

From: <shelleypainter@...>

Subject: rheumatic RA - whether a leaky gut or an infection?

rheumatic

Date: Saturday, September 4, 2010, 12:36 PM

 

I was diagnosed with RA in 1996 and complied with the doctors until 2002, taking

Celebrex and methotrexate. After moving to DC, I went to Dr Gabe Mirkin and

started on minocycline, 100 MG 2 times a day. I felt better, especially after

going on the South Beach Diet - no carbs. And felt so good, felt cured, that in

2006 I asked Dr Mirkin if I could get off the antibiotic. I did, and that

decision, along with going on a cruise for 2 weeks where I ate anything I

desired, cost me dearly. I was put back on minocycline and then learned that I

had become allergic to it. I then went on placquenil, followed by other things.

Nothing worked. I was then referred to a rheumatologist and was again on

methotrexate. I never acquiesced to Embrel or Humira, etc.

The last four years I have spent a fortune on alternative doctors who feel that

this is a digestion issue...leaky gut. I did see one doctor and learned that I

am positive for parvovirus and cytomegalovirus. I did have an IGg test which was

very helpful in learning that I was sensitive to dairy and eggs. Eliminating

those really helped. Of course, this test is not covered by insurance. I have

also eliminated all wheat, nightshade vegetables, potatoes, very little beef and

pork, mainly following the paleo diet. Some ask...what do I eat? Chicken, fish,

turkey, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, okra, beets, artichokes,

onions,celery, raw nuts, and lots of salads.

I feel that I am peeling away layers and the answer to these autoimmune problems

are multifaceted. I was told that if I increased my fish oil and my vitamin D

levels, all would be well; but I still have pain and stiffness. I am taking

about 45 supplements a day. Everyone I see has a new idea. My latest doctor

wants me to take a lab test with Metagenics, costing about $1000. Has anyone

taken this test? Is anyone else being told that RA is a leaky gut issue?

Does anyone know of a doctor in Virginia who believes and follows the AP

protocol?

I've left off a number of tests that I have had, but I DO highly recommend the

food sensitivity test along with the allergy test. I took the E95 Basic Food

Panel with Meridian Valley Labs.

IF this is a leaky gut issue, then antibiotics only worsen the issue. My CRP is

24. And if this is an infection, then antibiotics seem to be the answer. I would

appreciate any thoughts or knowledge on anything that I have touched on in this

rant. Thank you.

Best of health to all,

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I go to Dr. Norman Levin in Aldie, VA. He is knowledgeable about RA,

Lyme's, etc. Will you tell me the name of the Dr. you are seeing that is

recommending the Metagenics testing? I've heard of Metagenics but that's

the extent of my knowledge. Regards, El

Ps your diet sounds like mine except I cheat; I've found dairy-free/vegan

chocolate and indulge regularly!

_____

From: rheumatic [mailto:rheumatic ] On Behalf

Of

Sent: Saturday, September 04, 2010 12:36 PM

rheumatic

Subject: rheumatic RA - whether a leaky gut or an infection?

I was diagnosed with RA in 1996 and complied with the doctors until 2002,

taking Celebrex and methotrexate. After moving to DC, I went to Dr Gabe

Mirkin and started on minocycline, 100 MG 2 times a day. I felt better,

especially after going on the South Beach Diet - no carbs. And felt so good,

felt cured, that in 2006 I asked Dr Mirkin if I could get off the

antibiotic. I did, and that decision, along with going on a cruise for 2

weeks where I ate anything I desired, cost me dearly. I was put back on

minocycline and then learned that I had become allergic to it. I then went

on placquenil, followed by other things. Nothing worked. I was then referred

to a rheumatologist and was again on methotrexate. I never acquiesced to

Embrel or Humira, etc.

The last four years I have spent a fortune on alternative doctors who feel

that this is a digestion issue...leaky gut. I did see one doctor and learned

that I am positive for parvovirus and cytomegalovirus. I did have an IGg

test which was very helpful in learning that I was sensitive to dairy and

eggs. Eliminating those really helped. Of course, this test is not covered

by insurance. I have also eliminated all wheat, nightshade vegetables,

potatoes, very little beef and pork, mainly following the paleo diet. Some

ask...what do I eat? Chicken, fish, turkey, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel

sprouts, okra, beets, artichokes, onions,celery, raw nuts, and lots of

salads.

I feel that I am peeling away layers and the answer to these autoimmune

problems are multifaceted. I was told that if I increased my fish oil and my

vitamin D levels, all would be well; but I still have pain and stiffness. I

am taking about 45 supplements a day. Everyone I see has a new idea. My

latest doctor wants me to take a lab test with Metagenics, costing about

$1000. Has anyone taken this test? Is anyone else being told that RA is a

leaky gut issue?

Does anyone know of a doctor in Virginia who believes and follows the AP

protocol?

I've left off a number of tests that I have had, but I DO highly recommend

the food sensitivity test along with the allergy test. I took the E95 Basic

Food Panel with Meridian Valley Labs.

IF this is a leaky gut issue, then antibiotics only worsen the issue. My CRP

is 24. And if this is an infection, then antibiotics seem to be the answer.

I would appreciate any thoughts or knowledge on anything that I have touched

on in this rant. Thank you.

Best of health to all,