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The start of my SIBO/Candida? journey
2024.05.15 03:04 caramel_raez The start of my SIBO/Candida? journey
Hey everyone, I’m mainly doing this for myself as a journal but whoever wants to join along is more than welcome to me. I’m hoping this becomes a success story and for my quality of life to stop being haunted. YOU DONT HAVE TO READ ALL OF THIS
I’m a 22 year old female in the US. I currently don’t have a job as I have been let go yesterday due to my unsuspecting symptoms and lack of communication. I can’t keep up with the regular 9-5 jobs and it’s turning into a pattern of me burning myself out. I don’t have anybody to rely on other than myself and I can’t get afford health insurance at the moment.
Current Symptoms: - Extreme Fatigue/Exhaustion - SouCurdling/Spicy tummy feeling? - Nausea/Contractions (especially after physical activity and eating or drinking) - Bloating/Gas/Gurgling -Rancid Smelling Poop - Acne - Regurgitating oil/grease - Recurrent yeast - Brain Fog/Confusion - Urinary Incontinence - Body Rashes/Allergic Reactions -Sugar Cravings - Migraines - Cotten Mouth/Dehydration - Malabsorption/Continual Hunger - Thinning Hair - Weight Loss - Weak Pelvic Floor? Tight/Tense Muscles? - Food in Stools (Not often) - Drunkness Feeling After Carbs? - Acid Reflux - Depression/Anxiety - Weak Immune System
Food Sensitivities that have developed: - Dairy -Gluten - Soy - Gastric foods/spices/drinks (including onion and garlic) - Processed Foods - Broths - Sugar (Fruit and All) - Starch - Acid (Fruits/Vinegars) - Medications (NSAIDS/Anti-Acids)
Tried treatments that I can remember: -Xifaxin (2 weeks) - Ortho Molecular Ortho Spore (2-3 months worked wonders but relapsed) -Dietitian: Low Fodmap Diet (3 months didn’t help) - Reuteri - B12, VitD, other vitamin supplements - Physical Therapy - Fluconazole - Boric Acid -Laxatives (basically all) - Collagen Peptides - Plant Based Protein Powder - Yoga
Most of Background: So I have been dealing with different illnesses that is a repeated pattern since I was possibly 12 years old. I would frequently have nasty migraines, stomach bugs, food poisoning, and respiratory infections out of the blue. It gotten to the point of my family always saying “there’s always something wrong with you”, “you’re just exaggerating”.
When it came to 2017, I started gaining rashes as allergic reactions. It couldn’t be classified as hives even though it looked the part because it would sting like a bitch instead of itching. It would run through out my body whenever I ate every so often and that was only on of the reactions as I had a second of my skin swelling as if it was a mosquito bite but worse and when the swelling went down, it would leave scars behind.
I went to an allergist and nothing popped up on the regular tests, but something popped up on the chemical patch test. The name of the chemical was called Balsam of Peru, it’s mainly a preservative that is in your common foods/beverages, cleaning products, and aerosols. I continued to have random allergic reactions here and there as it wasn’t feasible to follow a diet that strict in a household like mine.
Then came the end of 2019, I was having trouble with my stomach and would randomly gag from November til Jan 2020. I would literally start throwing up even if I had nothing in my stomach. I went to doctors but they kept thinking I was pregnant and would say my vitals were fine therefore there’s nothing wrong. One day mid Jan, I had throw up for the last time but there was something different..I couldn’t get up. I lost all strength in my legs and half of my strength in my arms. I went to the hospital and they did X-rays and scans just to say there was nothing wrong and it might be a virus that hit my nervous system. The next day they boot me out with nothing. I had to learn how to walk all over again like a baby until I gained my strength with only the help of my family which took about a month. Throughout that time I was still feeling sick and gagging/throwing up.
This is the point when my mom decides to get a referral to a GI and they look through my records from the hospital to find out I was backed up with waste up to my ribs. They did a horrifying flush on me and prescribed me linzess. It was getting me to poop more frequently but I still was feeling pretty sick often, it was manageable though.
I get to college, it was a shit show, I start to get more symptoms, like brain fog and fatigue. I thought it was all in my head at this point and tried my best in school but had low performance when I was used to easy A’s. I began to have yeast infections every so often. I start getting into vaping, smoking weed, and the occasional drinking. The vaping became chronic and whenever I would drink I would have alcohol poisoning like symptoms that were uncontrollable to the point where a couple of times I ended up in the hospital to get my stomach to stop contracting. I stopped all drinking and started becoming a religious smoker to deal with my symptoms, school, work, and every other stress in my life. All it did was make my health plummet even faster.
I finally got diagnosed with SIBO at the end of 2021 and thought “finally something!”, the GI thought to cure it was to give more laxatives to get my bowels to move more frequently. Instead it would turn me into a balloon that was about to burst but could not push anything out. The GI gave up anf I decided to move on. At this point I had to take a break from school because I was so tired whenever I woke up in the morning that I either slept completely through my alarms or I couldn’t physically get up out of bed. I constantly was having stomach issues. My yeast infections started coming at least 2x a month. I had so bad urinary incontinence that I had to wear diapers. I was dealing with so much stress with family, working, trying to make ends meet, trying different doctors that never helped and telling me different things. I was dealing with a psychologically abusive bf. Nobody believed how bad I felt everyday. How hard it was for me to eat, think, overall function like a human being. My bf seen it everyday but refused to acknowledge that when he says he understood that his actions would always say otherwise. It all mentally broke me and I crashed hard.
This brings me to practically the present. I cut contact with the EX bf and parents. I’m low contact with the rest of my family. I quit vaping for good, but the damage is already done. I am now on Wellbutrin and trying to pick up the pieces that are shattered. It’s been 6 months but my symptoms are worsening instead of getting better. I can’t hold down a 9-5 job, my stomach can’t and won’t tolerate anything. I starve myself most days, drink water and electrolyte drinks whenever my stomach take it.
Everyday I feel weak, exhausted, brain fog so bad that I can’t count to 5, stomach hurt. The last thing that made me question my entire existence, Saturday night I was starving so I made rice thinking it was the safest thing. The next morning I felt so drunk that I couldn’t function, I was so dehydrated and in so much pain I went to urgent care. The doctor looked at me as if I was on drugs, refused iv, and told me my symptoms were caused by trauma, it’s all in my head. She refused a work note as well. I felt a tad bit better after some electrolytes from home and went to sleep for work. I slept through my alarms and woke up 2.5 hrs late (total 14 hrs). I couldn’t move my body, text manager. She called after the shift explaining that she isn’t letting me go because of my illness, bc I failed to tell her about the day prior so she could plan accordingly. She wants me to focus on my health, it would’ve been kind if I wasn’t already drowning in debt and couldn’t even afford rent.
The reason why I wrote everything I could is because 1. I believe a lot of this is relevant to each other regarding SIBO and Candida in some way 2. It will help me for my future
If you made it this far CONGRATS 🎉🎊 🥳 And thank you for the support!
submitted by caramel_raez to Candida [link] [comments]
I’m a 22 year old female in the US. I currently don’t have a job as I have been let go yesterday due to my unsuspecting symptoms and lack of communication. I can’t keep up with the regular 9-5 jobs and it’s turning into a pattern of me burning myself out. I don’t have anybody to rely on other than myself and I can’t get afford health insurance at the moment.
Current Symptoms: - Extreme Fatigue/Exhaustion - SouCurdling/Spicy tummy feeling? - Nausea/Contractions (especially after physical activity and eating or drinking) - Bloating/Gas/Gurgling -Rancid Smelling Poop - Acne - Regurgitating oil/grease - Recurrent yeast - Brain Fog/Confusion - Urinary Incontinence - Body Rashes/Allergic Reactions -Sugar Cravings - Migraines - Cotten Mouth/Dehydration - Malabsorption/Continual Hunger - Thinning Hair - Weight Loss - Weak Pelvic Floor? Tight/Tense Muscles? - Food in Stools (Not often) - Drunkness Feeling After Carbs? - Acid Reflux - Depression/Anxiety - Weak Immune System
Food Sensitivities that have developed: - Dairy -Gluten - Soy - Gastric foods/spices/drinks (including onion and garlic) - Processed Foods - Broths - Sugar (Fruit and All) - Starch - Acid (Fruits/Vinegars) - Medications (NSAIDS/Anti-Acids)
Tried treatments that I can remember: -Xifaxin (2 weeks) - Ortho Molecular Ortho Spore (2-3 months worked wonders but relapsed) -Dietitian: Low Fodmap Diet (3 months didn’t help) - Reuteri - B12, VitD, other vitamin supplements - Physical Therapy - Fluconazole - Boric Acid -Laxatives (basically all) - Collagen Peptides - Plant Based Protein Powder - Yoga
Most of Background: So I have been dealing with different illnesses that is a repeated pattern since I was possibly 12 years old. I would frequently have nasty migraines, stomach bugs, food poisoning, and respiratory infections out of the blue. It gotten to the point of my family always saying “there’s always something wrong with you”, “you’re just exaggerating”.
When it came to 2017, I started gaining rashes as allergic reactions. It couldn’t be classified as hives even though it looked the part because it would sting like a bitch instead of itching. It would run through out my body whenever I ate every so often and that was only on of the reactions as I had a second of my skin swelling as if it was a mosquito bite but worse and when the swelling went down, it would leave scars behind.
I went to an allergist and nothing popped up on the regular tests, but something popped up on the chemical patch test. The name of the chemical was called Balsam of Peru, it’s mainly a preservative that is in your common foods/beverages, cleaning products, and aerosols. I continued to have random allergic reactions here and there as it wasn’t feasible to follow a diet that strict in a household like mine.
Then came the end of 2019, I was having trouble with my stomach and would randomly gag from November til Jan 2020. I would literally start throwing up even if I had nothing in my stomach. I went to doctors but they kept thinking I was pregnant and would say my vitals were fine therefore there’s nothing wrong. One day mid Jan, I had throw up for the last time but there was something different..I couldn’t get up. I lost all strength in my legs and half of my strength in my arms. I went to the hospital and they did X-rays and scans just to say there was nothing wrong and it might be a virus that hit my nervous system. The next day they boot me out with nothing. I had to learn how to walk all over again like a baby until I gained my strength with only the help of my family which took about a month. Throughout that time I was still feeling sick and gagging/throwing up.
This is the point when my mom decides to get a referral to a GI and they look through my records from the hospital to find out I was backed up with waste up to my ribs. They did a horrifying flush on me and prescribed me linzess. It was getting me to poop more frequently but I still was feeling pretty sick often, it was manageable though.
I get to college, it was a shit show, I start to get more symptoms, like brain fog and fatigue. I thought it was all in my head at this point and tried my best in school but had low performance when I was used to easy A’s. I began to have yeast infections every so often. I start getting into vaping, smoking weed, and the occasional drinking. The vaping became chronic and whenever I would drink I would have alcohol poisoning like symptoms that were uncontrollable to the point where a couple of times I ended up in the hospital to get my stomach to stop contracting. I stopped all drinking and started becoming a religious smoker to deal with my symptoms, school, work, and every other stress in my life. All it did was make my health plummet even faster.
I finally got diagnosed with SIBO at the end of 2021 and thought “finally something!”, the GI thought to cure it was to give more laxatives to get my bowels to move more frequently. Instead it would turn me into a balloon that was about to burst but could not push anything out. The GI gave up anf I decided to move on. At this point I had to take a break from school because I was so tired whenever I woke up in the morning that I either slept completely through my alarms or I couldn’t physically get up out of bed. I constantly was having stomach issues. My yeast infections started coming at least 2x a month. I had so bad urinary incontinence that I had to wear diapers. I was dealing with so much stress with family, working, trying to make ends meet, trying different doctors that never helped and telling me different things. I was dealing with a psychologically abusive bf. Nobody believed how bad I felt everyday. How hard it was for me to eat, think, overall function like a human being. My bf seen it everyday but refused to acknowledge that when he says he understood that his actions would always say otherwise. It all mentally broke me and I crashed hard.
This brings me to practically the present. I cut contact with the EX bf and parents. I’m low contact with the rest of my family. I quit vaping for good, but the damage is already done. I am now on Wellbutrin and trying to pick up the pieces that are shattered. It’s been 6 months but my symptoms are worsening instead of getting better. I can’t hold down a 9-5 job, my stomach can’t and won’t tolerate anything. I starve myself most days, drink water and electrolyte drinks whenever my stomach take it.
Everyday I feel weak, exhausted, brain fog so bad that I can’t count to 5, stomach hurt. The last thing that made me question my entire existence, Saturday night I was starving so I made rice thinking it was the safest thing. The next morning I felt so drunk that I couldn’t function, I was so dehydrated and in so much pain I went to urgent care. The doctor looked at me as if I was on drugs, refused iv, and told me my symptoms were caused by trauma, it’s all in my head. She refused a work note as well. I felt a tad bit better after some electrolytes from home and went to sleep for work. I slept through my alarms and woke up 2.5 hrs late (total 14 hrs). I couldn’t move my body, text manager. She called after the shift explaining that she isn’t letting me go because of my illness, bc I failed to tell her about the day prior so she could plan accordingly. She wants me to focus on my health, it would’ve been kind if I wasn’t already drowning in debt and couldn’t even afford rent.
The reason why I wrote everything I could is because 1. I believe a lot of this is relevant to each other regarding SIBO and Candida in some way 2. It will help me for my future
If you made it this far CONGRATS 🎉🎊 🥳 And thank you for the support!
2024.05.15 03:02 caramel_raez The start of my SIBO/Candida? journey
Hey everyone, I’m mainly doing this for myself as a journal but whoever wants to join along is more than welcome to me. I’m hoping this becomes a success story and for my quality of life to stop being haunted. YOU DONT HAVE TO READ ALL OF THIS
I’m a 22 year old female in the US. I currently don’t have a job as I have been let go yesterday due to my unsuspecting symptoms and lack of communication. I can’t keep up with the regular 9-5 jobs and it’s turning into a pattern of me burning myself out. I don’t have anybody to rely on other than myself and I can’t get afford health insurance at the moment.
Current Symptoms: - Extreme Fatigue/Exhaustion - SouCurdling/Spicy tummy feeling? - Nausea/Contractions (especially after physical activity and eating or drinking) - Bloating/Gas/Gurgling -Rancid Smelling Poop - Acne - Regurgitating oil/grease - Recurrent yeast - Brain Fog/Confusion - Urinary Incontinence - Body Rashes/Allergic Reactions -Sugar Cravings - Migraines - Cotten Mouth/Dehydration - Malabsorption/Continual Hunger - Thinning Hair - Weight Loss - Weak Pelvic Floor? Tight/Tense Muscles? - Food in Stools (Not often) - Drunkness Feeling After Carbs? - Acid Reflux - Depression/Anxiety - Weak Immune System
Food Sensitivities that have developed: - Dairy -Gluten - Soy - Gastric foods/spices/drinks (including onion and garlic) - Processed Foods - Broths - Sugar (Fruit and All) - Starch - Acid (Fruits/Vinegars) - Medications (NSAIDS/Anti-Acids)
Tried treatments that I can remember: -Xifaxin (2 weeks) - Ortho Molecular Ortho Spore (2-3 months worked wonders but relapsed) -Dietitian: Low Fodmap Diet (3 months didn’t help) - Reuteri - B12, VitD, other vitamin supplements - Physical Therapy - Fluconazole - Boric Acid -Laxatives (basically all) - Collagen Peptides - Plant Based Protein Powder - Yoga
Most of Background: So I have been dealing with different illnesses that is a repeated pattern since I was possibly 12 years old. I would frequently have nasty migraines, stomach bugs, food poisoning, and respiratory infections out of the blue. It gotten to the point of my family always saying “there’s always something wrong with you”, “you’re just exaggerating”.
When it came to 2017, I started gaining rashes as allergic reactions. It couldn’t be classified as hives even though it looked the part because it would sting like a bitch instead of itching. It would run through out my body whenever I ate every so often and that was only on of the reactions as I had a second of my skin swelling as if it was a mosquito bite but worse and when the swelling went down, it would leave scars behind.
I went to an allergist and nothing popped up on the regular tests, but something popped up on the chemical patch test. The name of the chemical was called Balsam of Peru, it’s mainly a preservative that is in your common foods/beverages, cleaning products, and aerosols. I continued to have random allergic reactions here and there as it wasn’t feasible to follow a diet that strict in a household like mine.
Then came the end of 2019, I was having trouble with my stomach and would randomly gag from November til Jan 2020. I would literally start throwing up even if I had nothing in my stomach. I went to doctors but they kept thinking I was pregnant and would say my vitals were fine therefore there’s nothing wrong. One day mid Jan, I had throw up for the last time but there was something different..I couldn’t get up. I lost all strength in my legs and half of my strength in my arms. I went to the hospital and they did X-rays and scans just to say there was nothing wrong and it might be a virus that hit my nervous system. The next day they boot me out with nothing. I had to learn how to walk all over again like a baby until I gained my strength with only the help of my family which took about a month. Throughout that time I was still feeling sick and gagging/throwing up.
This is the point when my mom decides to get a referral to a GI and they look through my records from the hospital to find out I was backed up with waste up to my ribs. They did a horrifying flush on me and prescribed me linzess. It was getting me to poop more frequently but I still was feeling pretty sick often, it was manageable though.
I get to college, it was a shit show, I start to get more symptoms, like brain fog and fatigue. I thought it was all in my head at this point and tried my best in school but had low performance when I was used to easy A’s. I began to have yeast infections every so often. I start getting into vaping, smoking weed, and the occasional drinking. The vaping became chronic and whenever I would drink I would have alcohol poisoning like symptoms that were uncontrollable to the point where a couple of times I ended up in the hospital to get my stomach to stop contracting. I stopped all drinking and started becoming a religious smoker to deal with my symptoms, school, work, and every other stress in my life. All it did was make my health plummet even faster.
I finally got diagnosed with SIBO at the end of 2021 and thought “finally something!”, the GI thought to cure it was to give more laxatives to get my bowels to move more frequently. Instead it would turn me into a balloon that was about to burst but could not push anything out. The GI gave up anf I decided to move on. At this point I had to take a break from school because I was so tired whenever I woke up in the morning that I either slept completely through my alarms or I couldn’t physically get up out of bed. I constantly was having stomach issues. My yeast infections started coming at least 2x a month. I had so bad urinary incontinence that I had to wear diapers. I was dealing with so much stress with family, working, trying to make ends meet, trying different doctors that never helped and telling me different things. I was dealing with a psychologically abusive bf. Nobody believed how bad I felt everyday. How hard it was for me to eat, think, overall function like a human being. My bf seen it everyday but refused to acknowledge that when he says he understood that his actions would always say otherwise. It all mentally broke me and I crashed hard.
This brings me to practically the present. I cut contact with the EX bf and parents. I’m low contact with the rest of my family. I quit vaping for good, but the damage is already done. I am now on Wellbutrin and trying to pick up the pieces that are shattered. It’s been 6 months but my symptoms are worsening instead of getting better. I can’t hold down a 9-5 job, my stomach can’t and won’t tolerate anything. I starve myself most days, drink water and electrolyte drinks whenever my stomach take it.
Everyday I feel weak, exhausted, brain fog so bad that I can’t count to 5, stomach hurt. The last thing that made me question my entire existence, Saturday night I was starving so I made rice thinking it was the safest thing. The next morning I felt so drunk that I couldn’t function, I was so dehydrated and in so much pain I went to urgent care. The doctor looked at me as if I was on drugs, refused iv, and told me my symptoms were caused by trauma, it’s all in my head. She refused a work note as well. I felt a tad bit better after some electrolytes from home and went to sleep for work. I slept through my alarms and woke up 2.5 hrs late (total 14 hrs). I couldn’t move my body, text manager. She called after the shift explaining that she isn’t letting me go because of my illness, bc I failed to tell her about the day prior so she could plan accordingly. She wants me to focus on my health, it would’ve been kind if I wasn’t already drowning in debt and couldn’t even afford rent.
The reason why I wrote everything I could is because 1. I believe a lot of this is relevant to each other regarding SIBO and Candida in some way 2. It will help me for my future
If you made it this far CONGRATS 🎉🎊 🥳 And thank you for the support!
submitted by caramel_raez to SIBO [link] [comments]
I’m a 22 year old female in the US. I currently don’t have a job as I have been let go yesterday due to my unsuspecting symptoms and lack of communication. I can’t keep up with the regular 9-5 jobs and it’s turning into a pattern of me burning myself out. I don’t have anybody to rely on other than myself and I can’t get afford health insurance at the moment.
Current Symptoms: - Extreme Fatigue/Exhaustion - SouCurdling/Spicy tummy feeling? - Nausea/Contractions (especially after physical activity and eating or drinking) - Bloating/Gas/Gurgling -Rancid Smelling Poop - Acne - Regurgitating oil/grease - Recurrent yeast - Brain Fog/Confusion - Urinary Incontinence - Body Rashes/Allergic Reactions -Sugar Cravings - Migraines - Cotten Mouth/Dehydration - Malabsorption/Continual Hunger - Thinning Hair - Weight Loss - Weak Pelvic Floor? Tight/Tense Muscles? - Food in Stools (Not often) - Drunkness Feeling After Carbs? - Acid Reflux - Depression/Anxiety - Weak Immune System
Food Sensitivities that have developed: - Dairy -Gluten - Soy - Gastric foods/spices/drinks (including onion and garlic) - Processed Foods - Broths - Sugar (Fruit and All) - Starch - Acid (Fruits/Vinegars) - Medications (NSAIDS/Anti-Acids)
Tried treatments that I can remember: -Xifaxin (2 weeks) - Ortho Molecular Ortho Spore (2-3 months worked wonders but relapsed) -Dietitian: Low Fodmap Diet (3 months didn’t help) - Reuteri - B12, VitD, other vitamin supplements - Physical Therapy - Fluconazole - Boric Acid -Laxatives (basically all) - Collagen Peptides - Plant Based Protein Powder - Yoga
Most of Background: So I have been dealing with different illnesses that is a repeated pattern since I was possibly 12 years old. I would frequently have nasty migraines, stomach bugs, food poisoning, and respiratory infections out of the blue. It gotten to the point of my family always saying “there’s always something wrong with you”, “you’re just exaggerating”.
When it came to 2017, I started gaining rashes as allergic reactions. It couldn’t be classified as hives even though it looked the part because it would sting like a bitch instead of itching. It would run through out my body whenever I ate every so often and that was only on of the reactions as I had a second of my skin swelling as if it was a mosquito bite but worse and when the swelling went down, it would leave scars behind.
I went to an allergist and nothing popped up on the regular tests, but something popped up on the chemical patch test. The name of the chemical was called Balsam of Peru, it’s mainly a preservative that is in your common foods/beverages, cleaning products, and aerosols. I continued to have random allergic reactions here and there as it wasn’t feasible to follow a diet that strict in a household like mine.
Then came the end of 2019, I was having trouble with my stomach and would randomly gag from November til Jan 2020. I would literally start throwing up even if I had nothing in my stomach. I went to doctors but they kept thinking I was pregnant and would say my vitals were fine therefore there’s nothing wrong. One day mid Jan, I had throw up for the last time but there was something different..I couldn’t get up. I lost all strength in my legs and half of my strength in my arms. I went to the hospital and they did X-rays and scans just to say there was nothing wrong and it might be a virus that hit my nervous system. The next day they boot me out with nothing. I had to learn how to walk all over again like a baby until I gained my strength with only the help of my family which took about a month. Throughout that time I was still feeling sick and gagging/throwing up.
This is the point when my mom decides to get a referral to a GI and they look through my records from the hospital to find out I was backed up with waste up to my ribs. They did a horrifying flush on me and prescribed me linzess. It was getting me to poop more frequently but I still was feeling pretty sick often, it was manageable though.
I get to college, it was a shit show, I start to get more symptoms, like brain fog and fatigue. I thought it was all in my head at this point and tried my best in school but had low performance when I was used to easy A’s. I began to have yeast infections every so often. I start getting into vaping, smoking weed, and the occasional drinking. The vaping became chronic and whenever I would drink I would have alcohol poisoning like symptoms that were uncontrollable to the point where a couple of times I ended up in the hospital to get my stomach to stop contracting. I stopped all drinking and started becoming a religious smoker to deal with my symptoms, school, work, and every other stress in my life. All it did was make my health plummet even faster.
I finally got diagnosed with SIBO at the end of 2021 and thought “finally something!”, the GI thought to cure it was to give more laxatives to get my bowels to move more frequently. Instead it would turn me into a balloon that was about to burst but could not push anything out. The GI gave up anf I decided to move on. At this point I had to take a break from school because I was so tired whenever I woke up in the morning that I either slept completely through my alarms or I couldn’t physically get up out of bed. I constantly was having stomach issues. My yeast infections started coming at least 2x a month. I had so bad urinary incontinence that I had to wear diapers. I was dealing with so much stress with family, working, trying to make ends meet, trying different doctors that never helped and telling me different things. I was dealing with a psychologically abusive bf. Nobody believed how bad I felt everyday. How hard it was for me to eat, think, overall function like a human being. My bf seen it everyday but refused to acknowledge that when he says he understood that his actions would always say otherwise. It all mentally broke me and I crashed hard.
This brings me to practically the present. I cut contact with the EX bf and parents. I’m low contact with the rest of my family. I quit vaping for good, but the damage is already done. I am now on Wellbutrin and trying to pick up the pieces that are shattered. It’s been 6 months but my symptoms are worsening instead of getting better. I can’t hold down a 9-5 job, my stomach can’t and won’t tolerate anything. I starve myself most days, drink water and electrolyte drinks whenever my stomach take it.
Everyday I feel weak, exhausted, brain fog so bad that I can’t count to 5, stomach hurt. The last thing that made me question my entire existence, Saturday night I was starving so I made rice thinking it was the safest thing. The next morning I felt so drunk that I couldn’t function, I was so dehydrated and in so much pain I went to urgent care. The doctor looked at me as if I was on drugs, refused iv, and told me my symptoms were caused by trauma, it’s all in my head. She refused a work note as well. I felt a tad bit better after some electrolytes from home and went to sleep for work. I slept through my alarms and woke up 2.5 hrs late (total 14 hrs). I couldn’t move my body, text manager. She called after the shift explaining that she isn’t letting me go because of my illness, bc I failed to tell her about the day prior so she could plan accordingly. She wants me to focus on my health, it would’ve been kind if I wasn’t already drowning in debt and couldn’t even afford rent.
The reason why I wrote everything I could is because 1. I believe a lot of this is relevant to each other regarding SIBO and Candida in some way 2. It will help me for my future
If you made it this far CONGRATS 🎉🎊 🥳 And thank you for the support!
2024.05.15 02:02 ANDRESEALSBRAND Understanding Men’s Skin Types: How It Works and What You Need to Know
 | Discover your skin type and unlock your skincare potential! submitted by ANDRESEALSBRAND to MensPersonalcare [link] [comments] Navigating the world of skincare can be a maze, especially with the variety of products and advice available. A crucial step in optimizing your skincare routine is understanding your skin type. Each type has its own characteristics and needs different care to stay healthy and look its best. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you identify and care for your skin type.
How It Works:
|
2024.05.14 21:08 North-Ad-9838 [acne] isotretinoin w/o birth control
Hi☺️ I've had acne for almost 2 years now, there's nothing remarkable/noticeable in my blood and I simply don't know why I got acne.
I've been to the derm a couple of times and I've tried every single topical treatment there is (glycolic acid, salicylic acid, zinc, niacinamide, azelaic acid, vitamin a, toners, skin refiners etc and I also got prescribed antibiotics but nothing seems to help.
I've spent a lot of money on those products and while the last antibiotic seemed to help at first, I had to stop taking it for a while and my acne came back.
My skin gets better, then worse, then better etc - my skin is now a lot better than it was 2 months ago but I know it's just a phase and it'll come back eventually (rn I have a lot of red marks on my face but no pimple or anything - two months ago my face looked horrible and hurt badly)
Two derms have recommended trying vitamin a (isotretinoin if I understood it correctly) since I've tried so many different products and none seemed to help
however: to take this I need to be on birth control (or something similar but birth control would probably be the best option) - the problem is that I don't want to go on bc. I know I won't be having sex during this treatment (I know) and my acne isn't hormonal so taking it just puts me at risk of getting other side effects like gaining weight etc. I could get it prescribed and just not take it because I know for a fact that I won't sleep with anyone and I know that if I do get pregnant, I wouldn't be able to keep the baby.
Since men can also take vitamin a, the bc is just for preventing pregnancies and has no interaction/correlation (?) with the isotretinoin - at least that's what I've read.
My question is: My acne is ok now although it's been bad in the past two years (I've been diagnosed with acne vulgaris). Right now I just have red spots (less than before but still visible imo) but I don't use any products right now, not even a moisturizer because I'm so scared that my skin will get worse.
However, if I don't take it, I don't know what could possibly help my skin ... I know that a lot of doctors just want to prescribe something and get it over but if two derms said that this seems like the only option, would you take the risk? I've heard that isotretinoin (I assume that's accutune in the US) also has a few side effects but I think I could live with those (I just hope I don't gain weight because that would be bad for me right now) Would you take it without birth control and just "lie" about taking it?
I'm fully aware what will happen if I get pregnant but I don't have a boyfriend and I know I won't just hook up with anyone (never did and never will) - they said that I'd have to take a pregnancy test every month just for safety measures (which I'm ok with since I won't have sex with anyone)
Would appreciate your advice because I really don't know what to do.. I've seen worse acne on reddit and in photos and my skin doesn't look awful rn but my skin has been worse and I know that nothing will change if I don't take the isotretinoin.. and I feel like my acne will be worse again..if I wait until it's bad again, a few months will pass and maybe I could've solved this problem a long time ago but I keep waiting and waiting as if something is going to change overnight
I hope this doesn't get deleted, I'm sorry for the long text. I'm from Europe if that matters
submitted by North-Ad-9838 to SkincareAddiction [link] [comments]
I've been to the derm a couple of times and I've tried every single topical treatment there is (glycolic acid, salicylic acid, zinc, niacinamide, azelaic acid, vitamin a, toners, skin refiners etc and I also got prescribed antibiotics but nothing seems to help.
I've spent a lot of money on those products and while the last antibiotic seemed to help at first, I had to stop taking it for a while and my acne came back.
My skin gets better, then worse, then better etc - my skin is now a lot better than it was 2 months ago but I know it's just a phase and it'll come back eventually (rn I have a lot of red marks on my face but no pimple or anything - two months ago my face looked horrible and hurt badly)
Two derms have recommended trying vitamin a (isotretinoin if I understood it correctly) since I've tried so many different products and none seemed to help
however: to take this I need to be on birth control (or something similar but birth control would probably be the best option) - the problem is that I don't want to go on bc. I know I won't be having sex during this treatment (I know) and my acne isn't hormonal so taking it just puts me at risk of getting other side effects like gaining weight etc. I could get it prescribed and just not take it because I know for a fact that I won't sleep with anyone and I know that if I do get pregnant, I wouldn't be able to keep the baby.
Since men can also take vitamin a, the bc is just for preventing pregnancies and has no interaction/correlation (?) with the isotretinoin - at least that's what I've read.
My question is: My acne is ok now although it's been bad in the past two years (I've been diagnosed with acne vulgaris). Right now I just have red spots (less than before but still visible imo) but I don't use any products right now, not even a moisturizer because I'm so scared that my skin will get worse.
However, if I don't take it, I don't know what could possibly help my skin ... I know that a lot of doctors just want to prescribe something and get it over but if two derms said that this seems like the only option, would you take the risk? I've heard that isotretinoin (I assume that's accutune in the US) also has a few side effects but I think I could live with those (I just hope I don't gain weight because that would be bad for me right now) Would you take it without birth control and just "lie" about taking it?
I'm fully aware what will happen if I get pregnant but I don't have a boyfriend and I know I won't just hook up with anyone (never did and never will) - they said that I'd have to take a pregnancy test every month just for safety measures (which I'm ok with since I won't have sex with anyone)
Would appreciate your advice because I really don't know what to do.. I've seen worse acne on reddit and in photos and my skin doesn't look awful rn but my skin has been worse and I know that nothing will change if I don't take the isotretinoin.. and I feel like my acne will be worse again..if I wait until it's bad again, a few months will pass and maybe I could've solved this problem a long time ago but I keep waiting and waiting as if something is going to change overnight
I hope this doesn't get deleted, I'm sorry for the long text. I'm from Europe if that matters
2024.05.14 18:45 girlstiptop Achieving Clear and Glowing Skin
 | Achieving Clear and Glowing Skin submitted by girlstiptop to u/girlstiptop [link] [comments] Achieving clear and glowing skin in one month requires a consistent skincare routine, healthy lifestyle habits, and targeted treatments. Here's a comprehensive guide and 1 month plan to help you achieve your goal: Week 1: Cleanse and Prep
|
2024.05.14 18:43 AdInteresting2401 Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) - Interview with Prof. Dr. Knut Brockow
Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is the subject of heated debate. How are mast cell activation syndromes defined? Which diseases are included? What is the diagnosis and treatment of mast cell activation syndrome? Prof. Dr. Knut Brockow, Clinic and Polyclinic for Dermatology and Allergology at the Biederstein, Technical University of Munich answers these questions in an interview with MeinAllergiePortal.
Mast cell activation syndrome: The most important facts!
-The prototype of mast cell activation syndrome is recurrent anaphylaxis
-Other forms of idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome are being sought; however, there are mainly symptom descriptions where the diagnosis cannot be made
-Clinical suspicion of MCAS is based on recurring allergy-like symptoms on the skin, nose, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and circulation
-The diagnosis of MCAS is made according to recognized international criteria based on three criteria
-MCAS is often suspected even when symptoms are inappropriate and the diagnosis is unclear; the suspicion is then not helpful for patients
-The same medications are used to treat MCAS as are used to treat allergies, in particular antihistamines and cromoglicic acid
Prof. Brockow, what kind of disease is MCAS?
Mast cell activation syndrome is not an established diagnosis, but rather a concept. Historically, this concept arose because an increasing number of patients came to the doctor's office with complaints that gave the impression of having been triggered by mast cells. These patients sometimes showed symptoms similar to those of allergic reactions, anaphylaxis or mastocytosis, but a clear diagnosis for these diseases could not be made. Nevertheless, it was suspected that there could at least be a connection with mast cell diseases. Unfortunately, the term MCAS created more uncertainty than understanding. This is because MCAS is now thrown around as a diagnosis for many patients with many symptoms and an unclear diagnosis. This is not helpful for patients and fuels short-term hope of diagnosis and cure, which cannot be fulfilled later.
Is MCAS an autoimmune disease?
No, in autoimmune diseases mast cells are not primarily involved and not as lead cells, but lymphocytes that attack the body's own structures, in some cases by forming antibodies.
Is there a connection between mast cell activation syndrome and autoimmune diseases?
No, there is no known connection between MCAS and autoimmune diseases. It has also been claimed by specific authors that other diseases, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are related to mast cell activation syndrome. However, there are no good arguments for this. Unfortunately, such claims are easy to make and difficult to refute.
What is the cause of mast cell activation syndrome?
Mast cell activation syndrome is actually more of a symptom description than a diagnosis in its own right. Mast cell activation syndrome is fully applicable to recurrent anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions in several organ systems such as the skin, respiratory tract, digestive tract and circulatory system), for example due to insect bites. All the criteria for mast cell activation syndrome are met here. Severe allergic reactions are the most common cause of MCAS. However, although the term MCAS is correct in this context, it does not provide any additional information, as patients with such events are better described as patients with a diagnosis of anaphylaxis or allergy, and the term MCAS is somewhat confusing.
Is mast cell activation syndrome genetic?
MCAS itself is not genetic, but patients with the genetic disease mastocytosis often suffer from anaphylaxis, particularly to insect venom, and therefore MCAS. In addition, it is currently being investigated whether people with genetically determined hereditary alpha-tryptasemia suffer more frequently from MCAS.
How did the term mast cell activation syndrome come about?
There were many patients without a clear diagnosis, some of whom predominantly showed the symptoms typical of mast cell diseases. Accordingly, the experts dealing with mast cell diseases saw the need to develop a concept that took into account the “undiagnosable” symptoms of the patients. In the course of this, the terms “mast cell activation” and “mast cell activation syndrome” were defined. In addition, an attempt was made to sort all mast cell diseases into a classification with regard to mast cell activation. However, the difficulty in classifying these complaints is that many of the complaints described by patients are subjective, relatively non-specific and can be both organic and psychosomatic.
How have you defined mast cell diseases and which diseases do they include?
Mast cell diseases are defined as recurring chronic symptoms that are compatible with mast cell activation.
Mast cell activation is classified on the basis of three criteria:
Recurrent typical clinical symptoms in at least two organ systems
An increase in mast cell mediators can be detected in the blood, most frequently by determining the serum tryptase level during an acute attack
Good response of symptoms to anti-mast cell mediator-directed therapy, especially H1 antihistamines
What types of mast cell disease are there?
The classification of mast cell diseases associated with mast cell activation syndromes defines three groups:
1. primary mast cell activation syndrome
Primary mast cell activation syndrome is explained by a clonal expansion of mutated overactive mast cells. It manifests as systemic or cutaneous mastocytosis. If these criteria are not completely fulfilled, but clonal mast cells have been detected, it is referred to as monoclonal mast cell activation syndrome.
2 Secondary mast cell activation syndrome
Secondary mast cell activation syndrome is present when clear triggers of mast cell activation are known. There are established terms for secondary mast cell activation syndrome that we are more familiar with, such as “anaphylaxis” to a known trigger. The classification in the second group of mast cell diseases is therefore merely a reclassification. Examples of mast cell activation are physical urticaria or cold urticaria. Allergies such as pollen allergies are also secondary mast cell activations, as hay fever also causes symptoms typical of mast cell diseases. In pollen allergies, mast cell mediators are found in the blood serum and drugs directed against mast cells have a good effect. If the symptoms recur in several organ systems, this is referred to as mast cell activation syndrome.
3. tertiary or idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome
Tertiary or idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome refers to mast cell diseases whose triggers are unknown. This group would include, for example, chronic spontaneous urticaria, which has additional symptoms in other organs. Here we know that mast cells are activated, but not by what. This group of idiopathic mast cell activation syndromes would also include patients with as yet undescribed clinical pictures who do not fulfill the diagnostic criteria of known mast cell diseases, e.g. allergy, anaphylaxis, but in whom the disease is triggered by mast cells. In these patients, however, the connection between the symptoms and the activities of the mast cells must be proven.
Does this mean that tertiary or idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion?
Idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome can be described as a diagnosis of exclusion insofar as the prerequisite for the diagnosis is that there is no other disease causing the symptoms. However, the symptoms described are often very, very unspecific and could also be caused by a variety of other diseases. However, there are the three criteria for mast cell activation syndrome already mentioned. If these are not all fulfilled, this diagnosis cannot be made.
How common is mast cell activation syndrome?
Anaphylaxis and severe recurrent allergies are not uncommon and represent the vast majority of appropriate cases for MCAS. In addition, mastocytosis patients often have multiple anaphylaxis and therefore also MCAS. However, our initial idea of finding a new disease, idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome, has not yet been confirmed. There are many patients with many symptoms for whom a clear organic diagnosis cannot yet be made. However, it is almost never possible to prove that a defect in the mast cells is primarily responsible for the symptoms. Many of these patients describe symptoms that could fit, and in some patients anti-allergic drugs also have a positive effect. But in only very few patients can an increase in mast cell mediators be detected during an acute attack. I now believe that somatic stress disorders could play a significant role in many of the patients examined.
Histamine intolerance is also a diagnosis of exclusion, is there a connection with mast cell activation syndrome?
Histamine intolerance can cause similar symptoms, but is not a mast cell disorder and has nothing to do with MCAS. When mast cells are activated, the messenger substance histamine is released, which in turn can cause symptoms. In histamine intolerance, the mast cell is not activated - it is not involved in any way. Rather, histamine intolerance describes patients with an increased sensitivity to histamine, which is supplied, for example, via the diet. This can lead to similar symptoms, but in contrast to mast cell activation syndrome, histamine intolerance has a clear trigger, histamine. As a result, the symptoms occur after eating histamine-rich foods, but disappear again if the patient follows a low-histamine diet. A test is also available to diagnose histamine intolerance.
So there are also patients with suspected mast cell activation syndrome who cannot be assigned to a classification group, even though they have corresponding symptoms?
There are many patients in whom no mast cell activation syndrome can be detected despite suspicion. They do not fit into one of the three groups. However, this also used to include monoclonal mast cell activation syndrome. These patients showed anaphylaxis and a KIT mutation, but not the full criteria for mastocytosis. In the meantime, a separate disease diagnosis has been created for these patients. The independent accepted disease of these patients therefore lies between mastocytosis and normal findings.
We thought that there might be other forms of idiopathic MCAS with clinical pictures that have not yet been described. However, this is not supported by the findings to date. There are patients who show symptoms but do not meet the necessary criteria for idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome. In these patients, the diagnosis remains unclear. In how many of these patients functional physical complaints play a role still needs to be investigated.
Are there risk factors that favor mast cell activation syndrome?
There are hardly any recognized studies on this. In a study conducted by Cem Akin in the USA, patients were examined who met the three criteria for idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome. They had the right symptoms, there was an increase in mediators and their symptoms improved with treatment. It was shown that many of these patients suffered from urticaria factitia, a scratch-induced urticaria, abdominal pain and flushing.
Recently, a genetic trait was discovered, hereditary alpha-tryptasemia with elevated basal serum tryptase levels. In patients with this trait and insect venom allergy, the severity of the allergic reaction appears to be increased. It is also discussed that the frequency of mast cell activation syndrome is increased in patients with this genetic trait. However, the published studies are not yet unanimous in this respect.
What symptoms can occur with MCAS?
The following symptoms could be signs of mast cell activation syndrome:
MCAS symptoms on the skin:
Appearance of sudden intense redness (flushing)
itching
wheal formation
Deep wheal formation (angioedema or Quincke's edema)
MCAS symptoms on the nose:
Nasal congestion
Nasal itching
MCAS symptoms in the airways:
Swelling of the upper airways
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
MCAS symptoms of the digestive tract:
Vomiting
abdominal pain
diarrhea
Systemic MCAS symptoms:
Syncope - where you suddenly lose consciousness, but only for a short time
Sudden drop in blood pressure
Allergic shock
These symptoms can occur together or individually. In principle, symptoms must occur in two or more organ systems for MCAS. These symptoms, together with the typical skin changes and anaphylaxis, are also typical of mastocytosis.
Are muscle pain and hair loss also symptoms of MCAS?
No, why would anyone think that these symptoms are primarily caused by a malfunction of mast cells? Mast cells are not important cells for muscle pain and hair loss.
How is MCAS diagnosed?
MCAS is a diagnosis of exclusion, i.e. there is no mast cell activation syndrome test. However, this does not mean that all other diseases must be ruled out before a diagnosis of MCAS can be made.
When testing directly for mast cell activation syndrome, three criteria would be examined, all of which must be met, not just two:
First, there must be a matching of symptoms to see if the above symptoms are leading, recurrent and occur in at least two organ systems.
Is there a substantial or complete improvement in the clinical symptoms when taking anti-allergic medication, antihistamines or cromoglicic acid? Then this criterion would apply.
The blood levels of tryptase in the serum can now be examined at two different points in time. This would check whether there is an increase in mast cell mediators or tryptase in the blood serum in a highly symptomatic phase or during a seizure compared to a time when there are no symptoms.
What does the tryptase level in the blood mean in the diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome?
If the mast cell mediator tryptase rises by 20 percent of the basal value, i.e. the initial value, + 2 ng/ml during such an episode, the diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome has been made without the need to rule out other diseases beforehand. However, taking blood samples to determine the tryptase levels is very time-consuming, because a blood sample should be taken in the normal state and then another blood sample should be taken during a seizure or a highly symptomatic episode. This means that the patient must see a doctor in good time for a blood test during the acute phase. If these tests are negative, mast cell activation syndrome cannot be confirmed.
Elevated tryptase levels also play a role in anaphylaxis, is there a connection with mast cell activation syndrome?
Anaphylaxis is an extremely strong mast cell activation, the “prototype” of mast cell activation, so to speak. The tryptase level rises, so that it is considered an indicator of anaphylaxis. Here too, the basal value is measured and compared with the value during an episode. The relevant factor is the resulting increase in the tryptase value. The therapy against mast cells is effective in this case. In this respect, anaphylaxis is the classic form of mast cell activation syndrome.
The tryptase value also plays a role in the diagnosis of mastocytosis, what are the correlations here?
Mastocytosis patients also have an elevated baseline tryptase level. This is therefore an indication of mastocytosis and an indication for a final diagnosis by means of a bone marrow biopsy. However, there is also a mastocytosis-independent correlation between tryptase and anaphylaxis. People who have a higher number of mast cells often develop more severe anaphylaxis than people with fewer mast cells. The tryptase basal value is therefore considered a kind of indicator for the total mast cells in the body. For example, insect venom anaphylactic patients with elevated basal mast cell tryptase levels in the blood are at increased risk of severe anaphylaxis.
What can be done against MCAS and which medications help?
The aim of treatment for mast cell activation syndrome is to slow down the effect of the overactivated mast cells and to calm the mast cells. In particular, the avoidance of allergic triggers is available for this purpose.
Histamine receptor blockers are tried as medication to block the effects of mast cell activation by histamine. Mast cell stabilizers or blockers of mast cell release, cromoglicic acid, can also calm the mast cells. Cromoglicic acid is also used in mastocytosis patients. It is important to know that the use of cromoglicic acid is not advisable if the attack has already run its course. On the other hand, many patients achieve a significant improvement in symptoms if cromoglicic acid is taken continuously as a preventive measure and in a sufficiently high dose. This has also been shown to be the case with antihistamines.
Another option would be leukotriene receptor antagonists and corticosteroids in the short term, but never over a longer period of time.
Unfortunately, many patients with previously unexplained complaints are given a suspected diagnosis of MCAS in the hope that this knowledge will lead to better treatment or perhaps a cure. However, apart from the drugs mentioned, which can also be used on a trial basis in cases of suspected MCAS, there are no other useful drugs available. In this respect, the suspicion of MCAS unfortunately does not offer patients any additional treatment options.
Are there foods that activate or deactivate mast cells?
No such foods are known in humans. Of course, it is possible to bombard mast cells in a test tube with high concentrations of food and measure whether the natural activation of mast cells is increased or reduced. However, such tests are generally not meaningful for humans when consumed.
Can naturopathy help with mast cell activation syndrome?
I don't know how it could help. Naturopathy is the attempt to achieve a positive effect through naturally occurring active substances. Is the avoidance of allergens in our natural environment already naturopathy?
Could certain vitamins, for example vitamin C, be beneficial for MCAS?
This is claimed by a few doctors without any convincing results. Vitamin C is also said to help against seasickness. After all, vitamin C, taken in normal amounts, is not harmful and is beneficial. Sometimes the conviction that a substance is good for you also helps. That's why the experiment doesn't bother me.
Is it possible to prevent mast cell activation syndrome?
Yes, by avoiding MCAS with a known trigger. This is the case with allergies. In the case of allergies and recurrent anaphylaxis as a form of MCAS, omalizumab, an antibody against immunoglobulin E, can also be used in individual patients.
Prof. Brockow, thank you very much for this interview!
https://www.mein-allergie-portal.com/mastozytose-mastzellaktivierungssyndrom-mcas/925-idiopathisches-mastzellenaktivierungssyndrom-ein-neues-krankheitsbild.html
submitted by AdInteresting2401 to MCAS_ [link] [comments]
Mast cell activation syndrome: The most important facts!
-The prototype of mast cell activation syndrome is recurrent anaphylaxis
-Other forms of idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome are being sought; however, there are mainly symptom descriptions where the diagnosis cannot be made
-Clinical suspicion of MCAS is based on recurring allergy-like symptoms on the skin, nose, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and circulation
-The diagnosis of MCAS is made according to recognized international criteria based on three criteria
-MCAS is often suspected even when symptoms are inappropriate and the diagnosis is unclear; the suspicion is then not helpful for patients
-The same medications are used to treat MCAS as are used to treat allergies, in particular antihistamines and cromoglicic acid
Prof. Brockow, what kind of disease is MCAS?
Mast cell activation syndrome is not an established diagnosis, but rather a concept. Historically, this concept arose because an increasing number of patients came to the doctor's office with complaints that gave the impression of having been triggered by mast cells. These patients sometimes showed symptoms similar to those of allergic reactions, anaphylaxis or mastocytosis, but a clear diagnosis for these diseases could not be made. Nevertheless, it was suspected that there could at least be a connection with mast cell diseases. Unfortunately, the term MCAS created more uncertainty than understanding. This is because MCAS is now thrown around as a diagnosis for many patients with many symptoms and an unclear diagnosis. This is not helpful for patients and fuels short-term hope of diagnosis and cure, which cannot be fulfilled later.
Is MCAS an autoimmune disease?
No, in autoimmune diseases mast cells are not primarily involved and not as lead cells, but lymphocytes that attack the body's own structures, in some cases by forming antibodies.
Is there a connection between mast cell activation syndrome and autoimmune diseases?
No, there is no known connection between MCAS and autoimmune diseases. It has also been claimed by specific authors that other diseases, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are related to mast cell activation syndrome. However, there are no good arguments for this. Unfortunately, such claims are easy to make and difficult to refute.
What is the cause of mast cell activation syndrome?
Mast cell activation syndrome is actually more of a symptom description than a diagnosis in its own right. Mast cell activation syndrome is fully applicable to recurrent anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions in several organ systems such as the skin, respiratory tract, digestive tract and circulatory system), for example due to insect bites. All the criteria for mast cell activation syndrome are met here. Severe allergic reactions are the most common cause of MCAS. However, although the term MCAS is correct in this context, it does not provide any additional information, as patients with such events are better described as patients with a diagnosis of anaphylaxis or allergy, and the term MCAS is somewhat confusing.
Is mast cell activation syndrome genetic?
MCAS itself is not genetic, but patients with the genetic disease mastocytosis often suffer from anaphylaxis, particularly to insect venom, and therefore MCAS. In addition, it is currently being investigated whether people with genetically determined hereditary alpha-tryptasemia suffer more frequently from MCAS.
How did the term mast cell activation syndrome come about?
There were many patients without a clear diagnosis, some of whom predominantly showed the symptoms typical of mast cell diseases. Accordingly, the experts dealing with mast cell diseases saw the need to develop a concept that took into account the “undiagnosable” symptoms of the patients. In the course of this, the terms “mast cell activation” and “mast cell activation syndrome” were defined. In addition, an attempt was made to sort all mast cell diseases into a classification with regard to mast cell activation. However, the difficulty in classifying these complaints is that many of the complaints described by patients are subjective, relatively non-specific and can be both organic and psychosomatic.
How have you defined mast cell diseases and which diseases do they include?
Mast cell diseases are defined as recurring chronic symptoms that are compatible with mast cell activation.
Mast cell activation is classified on the basis of three criteria:
Recurrent typical clinical symptoms in at least two organ systems
An increase in mast cell mediators can be detected in the blood, most frequently by determining the serum tryptase level during an acute attack
Good response of symptoms to anti-mast cell mediator-directed therapy, especially H1 antihistamines
What types of mast cell disease are there?
The classification of mast cell diseases associated with mast cell activation syndromes defines three groups:
1. primary mast cell activation syndrome
Primary mast cell activation syndrome is explained by a clonal expansion of mutated overactive mast cells. It manifests as systemic or cutaneous mastocytosis. If these criteria are not completely fulfilled, but clonal mast cells have been detected, it is referred to as monoclonal mast cell activation syndrome.
2 Secondary mast cell activation syndrome
Secondary mast cell activation syndrome is present when clear triggers of mast cell activation are known. There are established terms for secondary mast cell activation syndrome that we are more familiar with, such as “anaphylaxis” to a known trigger. The classification in the second group of mast cell diseases is therefore merely a reclassification. Examples of mast cell activation are physical urticaria or cold urticaria. Allergies such as pollen allergies are also secondary mast cell activations, as hay fever also causes symptoms typical of mast cell diseases. In pollen allergies, mast cell mediators are found in the blood serum and drugs directed against mast cells have a good effect. If the symptoms recur in several organ systems, this is referred to as mast cell activation syndrome.
3. tertiary or idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome
Tertiary or idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome refers to mast cell diseases whose triggers are unknown. This group would include, for example, chronic spontaneous urticaria, which has additional symptoms in other organs. Here we know that mast cells are activated, but not by what. This group of idiopathic mast cell activation syndromes would also include patients with as yet undescribed clinical pictures who do not fulfill the diagnostic criteria of known mast cell diseases, e.g. allergy, anaphylaxis, but in whom the disease is triggered by mast cells. In these patients, however, the connection between the symptoms and the activities of the mast cells must be proven.
Does this mean that tertiary or idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion?
Idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome can be described as a diagnosis of exclusion insofar as the prerequisite for the diagnosis is that there is no other disease causing the symptoms. However, the symptoms described are often very, very unspecific and could also be caused by a variety of other diseases. However, there are the three criteria for mast cell activation syndrome already mentioned. If these are not all fulfilled, this diagnosis cannot be made.
How common is mast cell activation syndrome?
Anaphylaxis and severe recurrent allergies are not uncommon and represent the vast majority of appropriate cases for MCAS. In addition, mastocytosis patients often have multiple anaphylaxis and therefore also MCAS. However, our initial idea of finding a new disease, idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome, has not yet been confirmed. There are many patients with many symptoms for whom a clear organic diagnosis cannot yet be made. However, it is almost never possible to prove that a defect in the mast cells is primarily responsible for the symptoms. Many of these patients describe symptoms that could fit, and in some patients anti-allergic drugs also have a positive effect. But in only very few patients can an increase in mast cell mediators be detected during an acute attack. I now believe that somatic stress disorders could play a significant role in many of the patients examined.
Histamine intolerance is also a diagnosis of exclusion, is there a connection with mast cell activation syndrome?
Histamine intolerance can cause similar symptoms, but is not a mast cell disorder and has nothing to do with MCAS. When mast cells are activated, the messenger substance histamine is released, which in turn can cause symptoms. In histamine intolerance, the mast cell is not activated - it is not involved in any way. Rather, histamine intolerance describes patients with an increased sensitivity to histamine, which is supplied, for example, via the diet. This can lead to similar symptoms, but in contrast to mast cell activation syndrome, histamine intolerance has a clear trigger, histamine. As a result, the symptoms occur after eating histamine-rich foods, but disappear again if the patient follows a low-histamine diet. A test is also available to diagnose histamine intolerance.
So there are also patients with suspected mast cell activation syndrome who cannot be assigned to a classification group, even though they have corresponding symptoms?
There are many patients in whom no mast cell activation syndrome can be detected despite suspicion. They do not fit into one of the three groups. However, this also used to include monoclonal mast cell activation syndrome. These patients showed anaphylaxis and a KIT mutation, but not the full criteria for mastocytosis. In the meantime, a separate disease diagnosis has been created for these patients. The independent accepted disease of these patients therefore lies between mastocytosis and normal findings.
We thought that there might be other forms of idiopathic MCAS with clinical pictures that have not yet been described. However, this is not supported by the findings to date. There are patients who show symptoms but do not meet the necessary criteria for idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome. In these patients, the diagnosis remains unclear. In how many of these patients functional physical complaints play a role still needs to be investigated.
Are there risk factors that favor mast cell activation syndrome?
There are hardly any recognized studies on this. In a study conducted by Cem Akin in the USA, patients were examined who met the three criteria for idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome. They had the right symptoms, there was an increase in mediators and their symptoms improved with treatment. It was shown that many of these patients suffered from urticaria factitia, a scratch-induced urticaria, abdominal pain and flushing.
Recently, a genetic trait was discovered, hereditary alpha-tryptasemia with elevated basal serum tryptase levels. In patients with this trait and insect venom allergy, the severity of the allergic reaction appears to be increased. It is also discussed that the frequency of mast cell activation syndrome is increased in patients with this genetic trait. However, the published studies are not yet unanimous in this respect.
What symptoms can occur with MCAS?
The following symptoms could be signs of mast cell activation syndrome:
MCAS symptoms on the skin:
Appearance of sudden intense redness (flushing)
itching
wheal formation
Deep wheal formation (angioedema or Quincke's edema)
MCAS symptoms on the nose:
Nasal congestion
Nasal itching
MCAS symptoms in the airways:
Swelling of the upper airways
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
MCAS symptoms of the digestive tract:
Vomiting
abdominal pain
diarrhea
Systemic MCAS symptoms:
Syncope - where you suddenly lose consciousness, but only for a short time
Sudden drop in blood pressure
Allergic shock
These symptoms can occur together or individually. In principle, symptoms must occur in two or more organ systems for MCAS. These symptoms, together with the typical skin changes and anaphylaxis, are also typical of mastocytosis.
Are muscle pain and hair loss also symptoms of MCAS?
No, why would anyone think that these symptoms are primarily caused by a malfunction of mast cells? Mast cells are not important cells for muscle pain and hair loss.
How is MCAS diagnosed?
MCAS is a diagnosis of exclusion, i.e. there is no mast cell activation syndrome test. However, this does not mean that all other diseases must be ruled out before a diagnosis of MCAS can be made.
When testing directly for mast cell activation syndrome, three criteria would be examined, all of which must be met, not just two:
First, there must be a matching of symptoms to see if the above symptoms are leading, recurrent and occur in at least two organ systems.
Is there a substantial or complete improvement in the clinical symptoms when taking anti-allergic medication, antihistamines or cromoglicic acid? Then this criterion would apply.
The blood levels of tryptase in the serum can now be examined at two different points in time. This would check whether there is an increase in mast cell mediators or tryptase in the blood serum in a highly symptomatic phase or during a seizure compared to a time when there are no symptoms.
What does the tryptase level in the blood mean in the diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome?
If the mast cell mediator tryptase rises by 20 percent of the basal value, i.e. the initial value, + 2 ng/ml during such an episode, the diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome has been made without the need to rule out other diseases beforehand. However, taking blood samples to determine the tryptase levels is very time-consuming, because a blood sample should be taken in the normal state and then another blood sample should be taken during a seizure or a highly symptomatic episode. This means that the patient must see a doctor in good time for a blood test during the acute phase. If these tests are negative, mast cell activation syndrome cannot be confirmed.
Elevated tryptase levels also play a role in anaphylaxis, is there a connection with mast cell activation syndrome?
Anaphylaxis is an extremely strong mast cell activation, the “prototype” of mast cell activation, so to speak. The tryptase level rises, so that it is considered an indicator of anaphylaxis. Here too, the basal value is measured and compared with the value during an episode. The relevant factor is the resulting increase in the tryptase value. The therapy against mast cells is effective in this case. In this respect, anaphylaxis is the classic form of mast cell activation syndrome.
The tryptase value also plays a role in the diagnosis of mastocytosis, what are the correlations here?
Mastocytosis patients also have an elevated baseline tryptase level. This is therefore an indication of mastocytosis and an indication for a final diagnosis by means of a bone marrow biopsy. However, there is also a mastocytosis-independent correlation between tryptase and anaphylaxis. People who have a higher number of mast cells often develop more severe anaphylaxis than people with fewer mast cells. The tryptase basal value is therefore considered a kind of indicator for the total mast cells in the body. For example, insect venom anaphylactic patients with elevated basal mast cell tryptase levels in the blood are at increased risk of severe anaphylaxis.
What can be done against MCAS and which medications help?
The aim of treatment for mast cell activation syndrome is to slow down the effect of the overactivated mast cells and to calm the mast cells. In particular, the avoidance of allergic triggers is available for this purpose.
Histamine receptor blockers are tried as medication to block the effects of mast cell activation by histamine. Mast cell stabilizers or blockers of mast cell release, cromoglicic acid, can also calm the mast cells. Cromoglicic acid is also used in mastocytosis patients. It is important to know that the use of cromoglicic acid is not advisable if the attack has already run its course. On the other hand, many patients achieve a significant improvement in symptoms if cromoglicic acid is taken continuously as a preventive measure and in a sufficiently high dose. This has also been shown to be the case with antihistamines.
Another option would be leukotriene receptor antagonists and corticosteroids in the short term, but never over a longer period of time.
Unfortunately, many patients with previously unexplained complaints are given a suspected diagnosis of MCAS in the hope that this knowledge will lead to better treatment or perhaps a cure. However, apart from the drugs mentioned, which can also be used on a trial basis in cases of suspected MCAS, there are no other useful drugs available. In this respect, the suspicion of MCAS unfortunately does not offer patients any additional treatment options.
Are there foods that activate or deactivate mast cells?
No such foods are known in humans. Of course, it is possible to bombard mast cells in a test tube with high concentrations of food and measure whether the natural activation of mast cells is increased or reduced. However, such tests are generally not meaningful for humans when consumed.
Can naturopathy help with mast cell activation syndrome?
I don't know how it could help. Naturopathy is the attempt to achieve a positive effect through naturally occurring active substances. Is the avoidance of allergens in our natural environment already naturopathy?
Could certain vitamins, for example vitamin C, be beneficial for MCAS?
This is claimed by a few doctors without any convincing results. Vitamin C is also said to help against seasickness. After all, vitamin C, taken in normal amounts, is not harmful and is beneficial. Sometimes the conviction that a substance is good for you also helps. That's why the experiment doesn't bother me.
Is it possible to prevent mast cell activation syndrome?
Yes, by avoiding MCAS with a known trigger. This is the case with allergies. In the case of allergies and recurrent anaphylaxis as a form of MCAS, omalizumab, an antibody against immunoglobulin E, can also be used in individual patients.
Prof. Brockow, thank you very much for this interview!
https://www.mein-allergie-portal.com/mastozytose-mastzellaktivierungssyndrom-mcas/925-idiopathisches-mastzellenaktivierungssyndrom-ein-neues-krankheitsbild.html
2024.05.14 17:10 gallivantgoose How I ruined my skin: Purging vs Irritation- trust your gut! Also be careful of telehealth!
So some of you may remember me from my post about the horrible “purging” from my Tret and clindamycin combo that I was prescribed. After less than 2 weeks, I had a horrible reaction that left my entire face red, bumpy, and filled with white heads. I went from smooth skin with maybe a couple of pimples and acne marks to severe acne.
Even though this is an ongoing issue, it’s still a long read! I’m so sorry in advance!
About two months ago, I quit spirono due to a bad reaction I had (I wrote an essay in my history if anyone is interested) and haven’t had too much of a problem with acne returning.
My skincare routine was originally spirono (before I quit it), azealic acid and retinol, but my dermatologist said they won’t renew my prescription unless I visit them. I didn’t want to spend the money to visit them because my dermatologist is really expensive ($170 per visit) with really limited availability and always just talks about accutane despite me saying I wasn’t interested, so I decided not to book with them and to instead just go with telehealth to get my prescription renewed. This was such a mistake!
When I talked with the nurse on GoodRx care, she suggested I go on doxycycline and spironolactone- which were both medications I wrote in the notes that I couldn’t go on. I explained again that I couldn’t go on it , so she gave me a list of prescriptions to “choose” from, which I thought was a little strange but I figured that it was normal since I never used telehealth for dermatologist before. I told her I would be willing to try an antibiotic and tretinoin. She prescribed me clindamycin and tretinoin, and told me to read the instructions on how and when to use them. Thinking back at it, it’s strange that she prescribed me such a higher dosage of both (1% clindamycin and 0.05% tretinoin) but I just “trusted the process.”
I explained my routine in the original post if anyone is interested, but it was fairly simple. After just a few days though, my entire face erupted in giant bumps (not cysts, but they looked very similar. They were red inflamed legions with no pus), pimples, and whiteheads. I posted some pictures of the before vs after if anyone is interested, but just know it got so much worse after that.
After visiting my original prescriber, the doctor supervising her (this was all on GoodRx care, so the chat was accessible to everyone) told me to immediately go to urgent care (she never saw pictures of my acne post-treatment, I only described what happened. This is because you can’t send additional pictures via good rx care). I called urgent care and they said they could help with the itching or any pain, but they can’t do much besides that. My face was itchy, constantly inflamed, and in so much pain. I went back to nurse that gave me the routine. The original prescriber told me that she was considering adding me on to an oral antibiotic to help and I agreed, only for her to never send the prescription to the pharmacy. I went back to the chat and asked about the prescription only for the PCA to respond that I needed to pay for another appointment if I wanted another prescription.
So I made another appointment and explained what happened, only for a new nurse to respond and tell me to see a doctor because my acne was too severe and that I already used the treatments that they had available. She said she was unwilling to prescribe anything else due to my reaction to their prescriptions.
At this point, I spent so much money on appointments and medications and I just felt very tired and frustrated. I made an appointment with a primary care physician and explained what happened. He said the reaction was likely due to the 1% clindamycin and to stop using it immediately. I also thought that might be the case because a few days before seeing him I patch tested clindamycin on my chest and noticed that my chest felt itchy the next day, and that I had some red marks on it.
I talked with him about how I believed that I was having a reaction and not normal acne, and after discussion we settled on a steroid course for 10 days and an antibiotic for 30 days. The steroid (a corticosteroid) treats the inflammation and the antibiotic will treat the bacterial aspect. This is all in addition to maintaining the tretinoin in my routine.
Thank you to everyone that gave me advice on that post! Especially to the person that told me to understand the difference between irritation and purging. My case was NOT purging. This was clear because I had acne in areas I’ve never broken out before. I’ve also had acne for years, so I knew the itchy redness was unusual. I kept trying to convince myself that I was overreacting, but after talking to you all, my friends, and that doctor, now I realize that I should be much more careful and observant with my health.
Also, be careful with telehealth, it’s hard to get the same quality of care as an actual doctor. I deeply regret trying to be cheap and fast with my skin. I’m now, quite literally, paying for it (financially and emotionally lol). Also, don’t stay stuck in an echo chamber! I love all the support I got from you all, but it’s important to realize that the answer isn’t always “just be patient and stick with it,” if you think something is up, then talk with a professional!
I just wanted to share this update in case it helps anyone. Again, thank you so so much for all the kindness I received from my last post!
submitted by gallivantgoose to tretinoin [link] [comments]
Even though this is an ongoing issue, it’s still a long read! I’m so sorry in advance!
About two months ago, I quit spirono due to a bad reaction I had (I wrote an essay in my history if anyone is interested) and haven’t had too much of a problem with acne returning.
My skincare routine was originally spirono (before I quit it), azealic acid and retinol, but my dermatologist said they won’t renew my prescription unless I visit them. I didn’t want to spend the money to visit them because my dermatologist is really expensive ($170 per visit) with really limited availability and always just talks about accutane despite me saying I wasn’t interested, so I decided not to book with them and to instead just go with telehealth to get my prescription renewed. This was such a mistake!
When I talked with the nurse on GoodRx care, she suggested I go on doxycycline and spironolactone- which were both medications I wrote in the notes that I couldn’t go on. I explained again that I couldn’t go on it , so she gave me a list of prescriptions to “choose” from, which I thought was a little strange but I figured that it was normal since I never used telehealth for dermatologist before. I told her I would be willing to try an antibiotic and tretinoin. She prescribed me clindamycin and tretinoin, and told me to read the instructions on how and when to use them. Thinking back at it, it’s strange that she prescribed me such a higher dosage of both (1% clindamycin and 0.05% tretinoin) but I just “trusted the process.”
I explained my routine in the original post if anyone is interested, but it was fairly simple. After just a few days though, my entire face erupted in giant bumps (not cysts, but they looked very similar. They were red inflamed legions with no pus), pimples, and whiteheads. I posted some pictures of the before vs after if anyone is interested, but just know it got so much worse after that.
After visiting my original prescriber, the doctor supervising her (this was all on GoodRx care, so the chat was accessible to everyone) told me to immediately go to urgent care (she never saw pictures of my acne post-treatment, I only described what happened. This is because you can’t send additional pictures via good rx care). I called urgent care and they said they could help with the itching or any pain, but they can’t do much besides that. My face was itchy, constantly inflamed, and in so much pain. I went back to nurse that gave me the routine. The original prescriber told me that she was considering adding me on to an oral antibiotic to help and I agreed, only for her to never send the prescription to the pharmacy. I went back to the chat and asked about the prescription only for the PCA to respond that I needed to pay for another appointment if I wanted another prescription.
So I made another appointment and explained what happened, only for a new nurse to respond and tell me to see a doctor because my acne was too severe and that I already used the treatments that they had available. She said she was unwilling to prescribe anything else due to my reaction to their prescriptions.
At this point, I spent so much money on appointments and medications and I just felt very tired and frustrated. I made an appointment with a primary care physician and explained what happened. He said the reaction was likely due to the 1% clindamycin and to stop using it immediately. I also thought that might be the case because a few days before seeing him I patch tested clindamycin on my chest and noticed that my chest felt itchy the next day, and that I had some red marks on it.
I talked with him about how I believed that I was having a reaction and not normal acne, and after discussion we settled on a steroid course for 10 days and an antibiotic for 30 days. The steroid (a corticosteroid) treats the inflammation and the antibiotic will treat the bacterial aspect. This is all in addition to maintaining the tretinoin in my routine.
Thank you to everyone that gave me advice on that post! Especially to the person that told me to understand the difference between irritation and purging. My case was NOT purging. This was clear because I had acne in areas I’ve never broken out before. I’ve also had acne for years, so I knew the itchy redness was unusual. I kept trying to convince myself that I was overreacting, but after talking to you all, my friends, and that doctor, now I realize that I should be much more careful and observant with my health.
Also, be careful with telehealth, it’s hard to get the same quality of care as an actual doctor. I deeply regret trying to be cheap and fast with my skin. I’m now, quite literally, paying for it (financially and emotionally lol). Also, don’t stay stuck in an echo chamber! I love all the support I got from you all, but it’s important to realize that the answer isn’t always “just be patient and stick with it,” if you think something is up, then talk with a professional!
I just wanted to share this update in case it helps anyone. Again, thank you so so much for all the kindness I received from my last post!
2024.05.14 13:18 woodss I tried 30 different supplements while healing my CFS/ME - Here's which ones worked
I've had two bad burnouts in the past 10 years, both lasted me years, both scattered my life all about the place. I've spent far too long in dark rooms and I've had to give up a lot of things I thought were key to my life. It's been rough.
During that time I've learned to improve my nutrition a bunch, (largely with help from a good specialist nutritionalist). I think, other than therapy, and redesigning my life, nutrition was the most important factor to my recovering my energies and health.
I've spent a fortune on remedies/supplements/trying stuff, but a lot of it seemed to do nothing, or make me poop myself. I'm sharing here in hope this'll help one of you.
Here's what I tried, and what worked for me (note, mileage will vary - we all start this pain journey from different nutritional states. I'm not a doctor, and I only pursued most of these under nutritionist supervision - don't take stuff without checking with a pro).
Definitely helped:
Somewhat helped:
Not sure these did anything for me:
Did you try anything not on this list? What worked for you? I'm interested to read about your experiences with different supplements and coming back out of the abyss.
Be well!
Edited to include a summary list of other users suggestions from the comments here, for your ease. These are ones I've not yet tried, but search the comments below if interested:
submitted by woodss to cfs [link] [comments]
During that time I've learned to improve my nutrition a bunch, (largely with help from a good specialist nutritionalist). I think, other than therapy, and redesigning my life, nutrition was the most important factor to my recovering my energies and health.
I've spent a fortune on remedies/supplements/trying stuff, but a lot of it seemed to do nothing, or make me poop myself. I'm sharing here in hope this'll help one of you.
Here's what I tried, and what worked for me (note, mileage will vary - we all start this pain journey from different nutritional states. I'm not a doctor, and I only pursued most of these under nutritionist supervision - don't take stuff without checking with a pro).
- Mitochondrial NRG
- Probiotics - Microbiome formula Mood by Garden of Life
- Rhodiola Rosea
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D / Vitamin D3 and K2 spray
- Omega 369
- B 12 - B12 sublingual
- B complex - Organic B complex by cytoplan or Vitamin B complex oral spray
- Inulin with FOS powder
- Noni Juice
- Magnesium glycinate
- L-theanine
- Ashwagandha
- Athletic greens / Daily Greens (AG1, and another brand I can't remember)
- 5-htp
- Ginseng
- Ground seeds (flaxseed or mixed)
- Protein powder (I used organic European pea protein)
- Phosphatidyl serine
- Phyto-ADR
- Motherwort
- Vitamin B2 (Ribose)
- Coenzyme Q10
- NADH
- Melatonin
- Iron
- DHEA
- Lysine
- Acetyl L-Carnitine
- Alpha-lipoic acid
Be well!
- Alpha gpc
- Shilajit
- Brahmi
- Citicoline (multiple users suggested)
- L Glutathione
- Resversatrol
- pqq
- Triphala
- tru niagen
- N-acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
- Turmeric/curcumin
- Bromelain
- High dose thiamine (B1)
- Ginkgo biloba
- Vinpocetine
- Oxaloacetate (benaGene)
- Electrolytes & ORS
- Agmatine sulfate
- LDN
- Methylene blue
2024.05.14 13:13 woodss I tried 30 different supplements while healing my CFS/ME - Here's which ones worked
I've had two bad burnouts in the past 10 years, both lasted me years, both scattered my life all about the place. I've spent far too long in dark rooms and I've had to give up a lot of things I thought were key to my life. It's been rough.
During that time I've learned to improve my nutrition a bunch, (largely with help from a good specialist nutritionalist). I think, other than therapy, and redesigning my life, nutrition was the most important factor to my recovering my energies and health.
I've spent a fortune on remedies/supplements/trying stuff, but a lot of it seemed to do nothing, or make me poop myself. I'm sharing here in hope this'll help one of you.
Here's what I tried, and what worked for me (note, mileage will vary - we all start this pain journey from different nutritional states. I'm not a doctor, and I only pursued most of these under nutritionist supervision - don't take stuff without checking with a pro).
Definitely helped:
Somewhat helped:
Not sure these did anything for me:
Did you try anything not on this list? What worked for you? I'm interested to read about your experiences with different supplements and coming back out of the abyss.
Be well!
submitted by woodss to fatiguesupplements [link] [comments]
During that time I've learned to improve my nutrition a bunch, (largely with help from a good specialist nutritionalist). I think, other than therapy, and redesigning my life, nutrition was the most important factor to my recovering my energies and health.
I've spent a fortune on remedies/supplements/trying stuff, but a lot of it seemed to do nothing, or make me poop myself. I'm sharing here in hope this'll help one of you.
Here's what I tried, and what worked for me (note, mileage will vary - we all start this pain journey from different nutritional states. I'm not a doctor, and I only pursued most of these under nutritionist supervision - don't take stuff without checking with a pro).
- Mitochondrial NRG
- Probiotics - Microbiome formula Mood by Garden of Life
- Rhodiola Rosea
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D / Vitamin D3 and K2 spray
- Omega 369
- B 12 - B12 sublingual
- B complex - Organic B complex by cytoplan or Vitamin B complex oral spray
- Inulin with FOS powder
- Noni Juice
- Magnesium glycinate
- L-theanine
- Ashwagandha
- Athletic greens / Daily Greens (AG1, and another brand I can't remember)
- 5-htp
- Ginseng
- Ground seeds (flaxseed or mixed)
- Protein powder (I used organic European pea protein)
- Phosphatidyl serine
- Phyto-ADR
- Motherwort
- Vitamin B2 (Ribose)
- Coenzyme Q10
- NADH
- Melatonin
- Iron
- DHEA
- Lysine
- Acetyl L-Carnitine
- Alpha-lipoic acid
Be well!
2024.05.14 11:19 Ok-Proof-6518 Nutrition for hair health
Nutrition plays an important role in keeping the hair healthy. These are some of the key nutrients important for hair health:
Proteins: Hair is composed mainly of proteins, so it is fundamental to include an adequate amount of proteins in your diet. The sources include lean meat, fish, birds, eggs, dairy products, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Iron: Iron deficiency causes hair fall. Include in your diet foods rich in iron such as red meats, birds, fish, lentils, beans, spinach and fortified cereals.
Omega-3 fatty acids: These fatty acids are essential for the health and hydration of hair. The sources include fatty fish (salmon, caballa, sardines), flax seeds, chia seeds, nuts and soybeans.
Vitamins A and C: These vitamins help produce sebum, which hydrates the scalp and keeps the hair healthy. Foods rich in vitamin A include potatoes, carrots, spinach and collard greens, while vitamin C is found in citrus, strawberries, black peppers and broccoli.
Vitamin E: This vitamin helps to improve blood circulation, promoting hair growth. Good sources include almonds, sunflower seeds, spinach, aguacate and olive oil.
Biotina (vitamin B7): Biotina is important for hair growth and the general health of the scalp. You can find it in foods like eggs, nuts, whole grains, bananas and cauliflower.
Zinc: Zinc deficiency can cause hair fall. Include in your diet foods rich in zinc such as oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, lentils and garbanzos.
Selenio: Selenium is an antioxidant that helps protect hair follicles from damage. The sources include Brazilian clouds, fish, cattle and eggs.
Silica: Silica is essential for the formation of collagen, which provides structure to the hair. Foods like avocado, bread, cucumbers and strawberries are good sources of silica.
Water: Keeping hydrated is fundamental to maintaining hair health. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep the scalp and hair hydrated.
In addition to including these nutrients in your diet, it is also important to maintain good general health by exercising regularly, controlling stress and avoiding pain from excessive heat and aggressive chemical treatments that can damage the hair.
alopecia,hairloss,hairfall,melasma,acne,prp-gfc,hair transplant
submitted by Ok-Proof-6518 to u/Ok-Proof-6518 [link] [comments]
Proteins: Hair is composed mainly of proteins, so it is fundamental to include an adequate amount of proteins in your diet. The sources include lean meat, fish, birds, eggs, dairy products, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Iron: Iron deficiency causes hair fall. Include in your diet foods rich in iron such as red meats, birds, fish, lentils, beans, spinach and fortified cereals.
Omega-3 fatty acids: These fatty acids are essential for the health and hydration of hair. The sources include fatty fish (salmon, caballa, sardines), flax seeds, chia seeds, nuts and soybeans.
Vitamins A and C: These vitamins help produce sebum, which hydrates the scalp and keeps the hair healthy. Foods rich in vitamin A include potatoes, carrots, spinach and collard greens, while vitamin C is found in citrus, strawberries, black peppers and broccoli.
Vitamin E: This vitamin helps to improve blood circulation, promoting hair growth. Good sources include almonds, sunflower seeds, spinach, aguacate and olive oil.
Biotina (vitamin B7): Biotina is important for hair growth and the general health of the scalp. You can find it in foods like eggs, nuts, whole grains, bananas and cauliflower.
Zinc: Zinc deficiency can cause hair fall. Include in your diet foods rich in zinc such as oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, lentils and garbanzos.
Selenio: Selenium is an antioxidant that helps protect hair follicles from damage. The sources include Brazilian clouds, fish, cattle and eggs.
Silica: Silica is essential for the formation of collagen, which provides structure to the hair. Foods like avocado, bread, cucumbers and strawberries are good sources of silica.
Water: Keeping hydrated is fundamental to maintaining hair health. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep the scalp and hair hydrated.
In addition to including these nutrients in your diet, it is also important to maintain good general health by exercising regularly, controlling stress and avoiding pain from excessive heat and aggressive chemical treatments that can damage the hair.
alopecia,hairloss,hairfall,melasma,acne,prp-gfc,hair transplant
2024.05.14 02:44 Status-Noise-7843 Acne
I haven’t really seen many products for acne treatment mostly just cleansing, toner, exfoliation, and creams etc. I have body acne(back and chest), I’ve made sure to always wash myself after washing my hair, to use a clean towel on acne, to wash daily but it’s just not going away. I’m wondering could I just put a salicylic acid right on my acne and would it help? If not does anyone have any recommendations for a spot treatment for dry sensitive skin? Or any products that would help with body and face acne.
submitted by Status-Noise-7843 to KoreanBeauty [link] [comments]
2024.05.14 01:33 JiraiK [Product Question] Best drugstore moisturizer for Benzaclin + Tretinoin usage?
Hello, I don't make posts very often so I hope I'm doing this right. I wasn't sure whether to tag this as "product question" or "acne" so if this feels more suited for the latter category, please let me know.
I've been struggling with severe acne for a couple of years now. Last week I saw my family doctor, who prescribed me Benzaclin to use in the morning and Retin-A (tretinoin) gel to use in the evening. I've read that salicylic acid should not be used with tretinoin, so I stopped using my previous moisturizer (Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer) to switch to one that I had previously used before and thought I might be able to use with both treatments, aka Garnier Skin Naturals Hyaluronic Aloe Jelly. I had previously never experienced problems with this moisturizer, however, upon applying it I immediately experienced an intense burning sensation. My mom pointed out that my skin was now very red and looked rather puffy, and my skin definitely does feel quite irritating. It's very frustrating because I just want something that WORKS!!!!
I've been using the Benzaclin a bit longer than the Retin-A due to the fact that our pharmacy had a bit of trouble with ordering in the original retinoid treatment that I was supposed to use (I don't remember the name, I apologize). I've only used the Retin-A two or three times so far, I'm thinking of only using it 2-3 times a week to start before going into it every other night and then eventually nightly. I'm not entirely sure what my skintype is, aside from being very acne prone (obviously) and a bit oily along my nose. Might be combination? I'm not entirely sure.
While my parents said that they are willing to pay more for a product that has good reviews and is going to help me in my current condition, ideally I would prefer to keep it under $20 CAD due to the fact that we are struggling and I am still in the process of trying to find a job (been searching for months now with no luck) whilst also trying to apply to college/university.
Any and all help is appreciated. Thank you!
submitted by JiraiK to SkincareAddiction [link] [comments]
I've been struggling with severe acne for a couple of years now. Last week I saw my family doctor, who prescribed me Benzaclin to use in the morning and Retin-A (tretinoin) gel to use in the evening. I've read that salicylic acid should not be used with tretinoin, so I stopped using my previous moisturizer (Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer) to switch to one that I had previously used before and thought I might be able to use with both treatments, aka Garnier Skin Naturals Hyaluronic Aloe Jelly. I had previously never experienced problems with this moisturizer, however, upon applying it I immediately experienced an intense burning sensation. My mom pointed out that my skin was now very red and looked rather puffy, and my skin definitely does feel quite irritating. It's very frustrating because I just want something that WORKS!!!!
I've been using the Benzaclin a bit longer than the Retin-A due to the fact that our pharmacy had a bit of trouble with ordering in the original retinoid treatment that I was supposed to use (I don't remember the name, I apologize). I've only used the Retin-A two or three times so far, I'm thinking of only using it 2-3 times a week to start before going into it every other night and then eventually nightly. I'm not entirely sure what my skintype is, aside from being very acne prone (obviously) and a bit oily along my nose. Might be combination? I'm not entirely sure.
While my parents said that they are willing to pay more for a product that has good reviews and is going to help me in my current condition, ideally I would prefer to keep it under $20 CAD due to the fact that we are struggling and I am still in the process of trying to find a job (been searching for months now with no luck) whilst also trying to apply to college/university.
Any and all help is appreciated. Thank you!
2024.05.14 01:24 BestReviewSHonest ❌ NERVE RENEW ❌((BEWARE!)) Advanced Nerve Support - with R-Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin B Complex
 | submitted by BestReviewSHonest to u/BestReviewSHonest [link] [comments] |
2024.05.14 00:55 Hot_Valuable1027 Products that i Willy always repurchase/ I highly recommend
These are my all time repurchase/favorite items:
Edit: sorry for the typos lol
submitted by Hot_Valuable1027 to Ulta [link] [comments]
- Peach & Lily Ginger Melt Cleansing Oil
- Peach & Lily Power Calm Hydrating Gel Cleanser
- Peach & Lily Super Oasis Concentrated Serum
- Peach & Lily Glass Skin Water Gel Moisturizer
- Peach & Lily Overnight Star Night Cream
- Peach Slices Acne Patches
- Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
- GoodLight Moon Glow Milk Toning Lotion
- GoodMolecules Hyaluronic Acid
- Olehenriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment
- Verb Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner
- Verb Moisturizing Glossy Conditioner
- Oaui Leave in Hair Conditioner
- Hero Cosmetics Nose Patch (I specifically like that nose patch over the Peach Slices one)
Edit: sorry for the typos lol
2024.05.13 22:17 Rossowdult DOR success story
TL;DR: After 3 miscarriages and a diagnosis of DOR, I had two healthy pregnancies without IVF or other ART.
We started TTC when I was 35.5, my partner 37. We got pregnant quickly, and quickly had 3 miscarriages, all around 8 or 9 weeks. We never had them tested, but my OB suspected genetic abnormalities.
My partner's test results were normal for a man his age. After the 2nd miscarriage, I had bloodwork and an SHG, a procedure where my OB filled my uterus with saline and looked at it on an ultrasound to see whether I had any visible issues that could explain what was wrong. This procedure was timed to a specific day in my menstrual cycle, so that while we were at it, she could look at my ovaries on the ultrasound as well, to make a prediction about how many eggs she could expect to retrieve if we decided to try IVF.
The SHG turned out normal. My uterus was perfectly fine. My ovaries, however, looked like those of a woman nearing menopause. My antral follicle count (AFC) was only 4. If we did IVF now, the doctor said, that’s how many eggs she expected to harvest -- just 4. Not nearly enough for a promising cycle. The results from the blood test also corresponded to the levels of a menopausal woman. Here are the numbers, for those of you who already know what these mean:
Day 3 AMH: 0.311
Estradiol: 23.8
FSH: 13.8
I might have looked 30 on the outside, but I’d just turned 36, and on the inside I was closer to 50. Our doctor did not recommend that we move forward with IVF. We asked her what we could do instead. She suggested I try supplementing with DHEA, and gave us the recommended dosage (25 mg 3 times/day, for a total of 75 mg daily). She also recommended CoQ10, though she didn’t have a suggested dosage for that, and noted that my vitamin D levels were low. I started supplementing with each of those three things.
I noticed the effects of the DHEA very quickly. It’s an androgen, and can cause women to start sprouting extra body hair. My libido sprang up to teenager levels, and I got acne again.
I decided to take only 200 mg/day of the CoQ10 because it was expensive. That and the vitamin D seemed to give me more energy, maybe, but I couldn’t say for sure.
It took us longer to get pregnant the 3rd time. The miscarriage was the same.
Our OB explained again why she didn't recommend IVF for women with DOR, and told us about a patient of hers who’d had 9 miscarriages before having a successful pregnancy. We were lucky we were able to get pregnant so easily, she said. We were lucky that we didn’t have any other issues compounding the DOR.
If we wanted to explore other options, she told us, our best chance was to use an egg donor. Other than that, all we could do was keep trying. During my fertile window, and given our age, she recommended intercourse every 48 hours.
I doubled down on my research. I read everything I could find online, and read a lot of posts on message boards like the one I’m writing now. Here’s what I decided to do:
Here is a study on CoQ10 in follicular fluid and its association with better outcomes: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00404-011-2169-2
Here’s another (“Conclusion: Our observation leads to the hypothesis that the oral supplementation of CoQ10 may improve follicular fluid oxidative metabolism and oocyte quality, specially in over 35-year-old women”): https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/7/10/141
The positive news about CoQ10 keeps coming. I’ll stop with these: https://rbej.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12958-018-0343-0, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/acel.12368
From what I learned while researching this stuff, both CoQ10 and acetyl l-carnitine are antioxidants that are thought to be active in the mitochondria. The mitochondria is sometimes called the “battery” of the cell, supplying its energy as it does its job. After an egg leaves the nourishing environment of the ovary for its journey down the fallopian tube, its only source of energy is its own mitochondria. That’s what keeps it fresh and alive. So an antioxidant that might help the mitochondria have more energy might be crucial for keeping egg cells, and the DNA inside them, better organized for longer -- long enough to conceive. This theory would apply to sperm cells as well, and is thought to be why taking these supplements gives people more energy. Young people have a lot of CoQ10 in their bodies, but after age 25 or so, our natural production goes down.
Here’s a study about egg quality and acetyl l-carnitine (ALCAR): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378432012002436
There isn’t as much research, especially in humans, on ACLAR as there is on CoQ10, but what’s been done so far looks promising. Here’s a study in mice: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378432012002436
As for alpha lipoic acid (ALA), my understanding is that this is thought to be beneficial for diabetics because of its effects on the pancreas. The pancreas and the ovaries are similar in the way they age (again, according to things I read while I was researching like crazy). While I’m not overweight, I’ve always had high blood sugar, and have type 2 diabetes on both sides of my family. So I added this to my regimen too.
Research: ALA supplementation is thought to be safe during pregnancy: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09513590.2018.1462320
A small study has shown ALA to be helpful in patients with PCOS undergoing IVF: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luisa_Caponecchia/publication/303088959_Effect_of_myo-inositol_and_alpha-lipoic_acid_on_oocyte_quality_in_polycystic_ovary_syndrome_non-obese_women_undergoing_in_vitro_fertilization_a_pilot_study/links/584fb41c08ae4bc8993b3211/Effect-of-myo-inositol-and-alpha-lipoic-acid-on-oocyte-quality-in-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-non-obese-women-undergoing-in-vitro-fertilization-a-pilot-study.pdf
Anyway, if you're still reading, pregnancy number 4 was a success. I quit every supplement except for prenatal vitamins. My doctor at the IVF clinic put me on progesterone until I got through week 10, in case a progesterone deficiency was the cause of my previous miscarriages. She’d never tested for this, so the progesterone was just a precaution. I’d always been plenty nauseated with each of my pregnancies, and the supplemental progesterone only made it worse. All I could eat were dry crackers. After reading a few things about the potential effects of progesterone on an embryo, I don’t think I’d do it again, not unless my doctor had a test result suggesting that it was what I really needed.
My doctor also recommended I start taking baby aspirin, 81 mgs/day, to be continued throughout the pregnancy, in case I had an issue with blood clotting that was causing the miscarriages. She’d never tested me for it, and given my AFC and AMH and FSH levels, it seemed like we already knew what my problem was, but she said it couldn’t hurt, so I went on it and stayed on it until 36 weeks.
Two years later, while I was supplementing with just prenatal vitamins and CoQ10, and without really trying, we got pregnant again. Baby #1 is now five years old, and #2 is three.
submitted by Rossowdult to DOR [link] [comments]
We started TTC when I was 35.5, my partner 37. We got pregnant quickly, and quickly had 3 miscarriages, all around 8 or 9 weeks. We never had them tested, but my OB suspected genetic abnormalities.
My partner's test results were normal for a man his age. After the 2nd miscarriage, I had bloodwork and an SHG, a procedure where my OB filled my uterus with saline and looked at it on an ultrasound to see whether I had any visible issues that could explain what was wrong. This procedure was timed to a specific day in my menstrual cycle, so that while we were at it, she could look at my ovaries on the ultrasound as well, to make a prediction about how many eggs she could expect to retrieve if we decided to try IVF.
The SHG turned out normal. My uterus was perfectly fine. My ovaries, however, looked like those of a woman nearing menopause. My antral follicle count (AFC) was only 4. If we did IVF now, the doctor said, that’s how many eggs she expected to harvest -- just 4. Not nearly enough for a promising cycle. The results from the blood test also corresponded to the levels of a menopausal woman. Here are the numbers, for those of you who already know what these mean:
Day 3 AMH: 0.311
Estradiol: 23.8
FSH: 13.8
I might have looked 30 on the outside, but I’d just turned 36, and on the inside I was closer to 50. Our doctor did not recommend that we move forward with IVF. We asked her what we could do instead. She suggested I try supplementing with DHEA, and gave us the recommended dosage (25 mg 3 times/day, for a total of 75 mg daily). She also recommended CoQ10, though she didn’t have a suggested dosage for that, and noted that my vitamin D levels were low. I started supplementing with each of those three things.
I noticed the effects of the DHEA very quickly. It’s an androgen, and can cause women to start sprouting extra body hair. My libido sprang up to teenager levels, and I got acne again.
I decided to take only 200 mg/day of the CoQ10 because it was expensive. That and the vitamin D seemed to give me more energy, maybe, but I couldn’t say for sure.
It took us longer to get pregnant the 3rd time. The miscarriage was the same.
Our OB explained again why she didn't recommend IVF for women with DOR, and told us about a patient of hers who’d had 9 miscarriages before having a successful pregnancy. We were lucky we were able to get pregnant so easily, she said. We were lucky that we didn’t have any other issues compounding the DOR.
If we wanted to explore other options, she told us, our best chance was to use an egg donor. Other than that, all we could do was keep trying. During my fertile window, and given our age, she recommended intercourse every 48 hours.
I doubled down on my research. I read everything I could find online, and read a lot of posts on message boards like the one I’m writing now. Here’s what I decided to do:
- Lots of exercise, or at least “lots” by my desk-worker standards (brisk walks every day, gentle training with 10-to-20-pound weights a few times a week, and frequent bike rides)
- Lots of time being happy and relaxed and out in the sun
- Supplements:
- DHEA, 75 mg/day divided in 3 doses
- CoQ10, 800 mg/day (ubiquinone, the cheaper kind)
- Vitamin D3, 2,000 IU/day
- Acetyl L-carnitine, or Alcar, 250 mg/day (the typical dose is 500 mg, but I found this amount gave me nightmares; at 250 mg I felt more energetic, like I could do twice as much exercising as I normally did)
- Alpha lipoic acid, 300 mg/day (this makes your urine stink, but it’s inexpensive and safe, and in addition to helping with fertility, I also found studies about its benefit to diabetics and its effect on the pancreas)
- Black cohosh on cycle days 1 through 12 (it’s an herb, so I have no idea how much I was actually getting)
- Vitex (ditto)
- Prenatal vitamins
- Fish oil (why not)
- More soy foods and freshly ground flax seeds in my diet, for extra estrogen
Here is a study on CoQ10 in follicular fluid and its association with better outcomes: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00404-011-2169-2
Here’s another (“Conclusion: Our observation leads to the hypothesis that the oral supplementation of CoQ10 may improve follicular fluid oxidative metabolism and oocyte quality, specially in over 35-year-old women”): https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/7/10/141
The positive news about CoQ10 keeps coming. I’ll stop with these: https://rbej.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12958-018-0343-0, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/acel.12368
From what I learned while researching this stuff, both CoQ10 and acetyl l-carnitine are antioxidants that are thought to be active in the mitochondria. The mitochondria is sometimes called the “battery” of the cell, supplying its energy as it does its job. After an egg leaves the nourishing environment of the ovary for its journey down the fallopian tube, its only source of energy is its own mitochondria. That’s what keeps it fresh and alive. So an antioxidant that might help the mitochondria have more energy might be crucial for keeping egg cells, and the DNA inside them, better organized for longer -- long enough to conceive. This theory would apply to sperm cells as well, and is thought to be why taking these supplements gives people more energy. Young people have a lot of CoQ10 in their bodies, but after age 25 or so, our natural production goes down.
Here’s a study about egg quality and acetyl l-carnitine (ALCAR): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378432012002436
There isn’t as much research, especially in humans, on ACLAR as there is on CoQ10, but what’s been done so far looks promising. Here’s a study in mice: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378432012002436
As for alpha lipoic acid (ALA), my understanding is that this is thought to be beneficial for diabetics because of its effects on the pancreas. The pancreas and the ovaries are similar in the way they age (again, according to things I read while I was researching like crazy). While I’m not overweight, I’ve always had high blood sugar, and have type 2 diabetes on both sides of my family. So I added this to my regimen too.
Research: ALA supplementation is thought to be safe during pregnancy: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09513590.2018.1462320
A small study has shown ALA to be helpful in patients with PCOS undergoing IVF: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luisa_Caponecchia/publication/303088959_Effect_of_myo-inositol_and_alpha-lipoic_acid_on_oocyte_quality_in_polycystic_ovary_syndrome_non-obese_women_undergoing_in_vitro_fertilization_a_pilot_study/links/584fb41c08ae4bc8993b3211/Effect-of-myo-inositol-and-alpha-lipoic-acid-on-oocyte-quality-in-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-non-obese-women-undergoing-in-vitro-fertilization-a-pilot-study.pdf
Anyway, if you're still reading, pregnancy number 4 was a success. I quit every supplement except for prenatal vitamins. My doctor at the IVF clinic put me on progesterone until I got through week 10, in case a progesterone deficiency was the cause of my previous miscarriages. She’d never tested for this, so the progesterone was just a precaution. I’d always been plenty nauseated with each of my pregnancies, and the supplemental progesterone only made it worse. All I could eat were dry crackers. After reading a few things about the potential effects of progesterone on an embryo, I don’t think I’d do it again, not unless my doctor had a test result suggesting that it was what I really needed.
My doctor also recommended I start taking baby aspirin, 81 mgs/day, to be continued throughout the pregnancy, in case I had an issue with blood clotting that was causing the miscarriages. She’d never tested me for it, and given my AFC and AMH and FSH levels, it seemed like we already knew what my problem was, but she said it couldn’t hurt, so I went on it and stayed on it until 36 weeks.
Two years later, while I was supplementing with just prenatal vitamins and CoQ10, and without really trying, we got pregnant again. Baby #1 is now five years old, and #2 is three.
2024.05.13 20:18 catharticlove BOTOX & ACNE SCARS! (ESP ROLLING SCARS!)
 | https://preview.redd.it/wal7u5aij80d1.jpg?width=301&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f6c6711029f68c06104825b9d8c14dd3e23b3216 submitted by catharticlove to AcneScars [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/jxe12q2lj80d1.jpg?width=1434&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=673054b1746ce2f935b898d59f19352df43165d2 I've shared my thoughts in our Telegram group (DM me if you’d like to join - the research cited can be found in the group) about this but wouldn’t be fair to not share it here - I’m also interested in the community’s thoughts and if anyone has had botox for acne scarring: Lately, I've been diving hard into Botox & scar research, especially Botox effects on ROLLING SCARS! ALSO…MAJOR props to Dr. Lam for using Botox on acne scars (aka following the research)—unlike some other big names in acne scar treatments who haven’t caught on. Could it be because Botox isn’t as profitable? Hmmmm. Botox, when used off-label in “micro-dosing,” involves hyperdiluting the botox and either injecting it INTRADERMALLY or applying it TOPICALLY after microneedling OR laser. Botox has been shown to weaken the superficial muscle fibers and releases the pulling effect on scars, showing great results, especially with rolling scars. This is a BIG benefit of Botox because, while there is research shows Botox also promotes collagen production, the mechanism of action of Botox is very predictable. Unlike biostimulatory fillers, which are less predictable in their effects and vary from person to person, Botox CONSISTENTLY weakens the muscle fibers attached to the dermis. THIS ALSO POTENTIALLY MEANS OMITTING SUBCISION ALL TOGETHER FOR ROLLING SCARS! Multiple studies show excellent outcomes when combining microneedling with topical Botox for rolling scars. If you’re considering dilute filler being applied topically post-laser, think about Botox as well. Some providers WILL LIKELY push against it due to lower profits, but be ready to show them the studies. IN TERMS OF BOTOX BEING TEMPORARY - Another study found Botox increases collagen production, reduces degradation, enhances angiogenesis, and reduces fibrosis without affecting wound healing. There just haven’t been enough studies done yet to know the long-term effects of botox for acne scars topical application seems safest, with no muscle paralysis side effects, thanks to lower concentrations and the transdermal method via microneedling. By muscle paralysis I mean if an injector injects too deep in the lower face, they can freeze the smile muscle partially for 2-3 months. Final Thoughts:
Behrangi, E., Dehghani, A., Sheikhzadeh, F., Goodarzi, A., & Roohaninasab, M. (2024). Evaluation and comparison of the efficacy and safety of cross‐linked and non‐cross‐linked hyaluronic acid in combination with botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of atrophic acne scars: A double‐blind randomized clinical trial. Skin Research and Technology, 30(1), e13541. Albalat, W., Ghonemy, S., Saleh, A., & Elradi, M. (2023). Microneedling combined with botulinum toxin-A versus microneedling combined with platelet-rich plasma in treatment of atrophic acne scars: a comparative split face study. Archives of Dermatological Research, 315(4), 839-846. Ebrahim, H., Elardi, A., Khater, S., & Morsi, H. (2022). Successful topical application of botulinum toxin after microneedling versus microneedling alone for the treatment of atrophic post acne scars: A prospective, split-face, controlled study. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 15(7), 26. Fabi, S. G., Park, J. Y., Goldie, K., & Wu, W. (2023). Microtoxin for improving pore size, skin laxity, sebum control, and scars: a roundtable on integrating intradermal botulinum toxin type A microdoses into clinical practice. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 43(9), 1015-1024. Kim, J. (2021). Topographic computer analysis for acne scar treatment on face accompanying biopsy study after dermal injection of hydrotoxin mixture. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 20(1), 75-83. |
2024.05.13 20:18 MariEshoLinares ELF SKINCARE
 | Hey guys! Did anyone else claim this skin care set a while ago? What do you think about it? I used it one time and my skin did not like it! Burning like crazy all day after and broke out with lots of red bumps..😳 submitted by MariEshoLinares to Influenster [link] [comments] What’s your experience with these? 😊 |
2024.05.13 18:16 HourAd8993 Alpha Lipoic Acid: Biofilm Disruptors and Gastritis
Hey everyone
I plan on taking Phase 2 Biofilm Advanced along with Rifaximin to treat H2S SIBO. My SIBO was caused by taking PPIs and I still suffer from gastritis. I tried taking Kirkman Biofilm Defence last week and all the enzymes in that flared me up really bad, stomach still hurts from it now.
I really want to take a biofilm disruptor but I see that Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) which is an ingredient can maybe irritate the stomach.
Has anyone had any experience with Phase 2 Biofilm Advanced or ALA who could say how likely it is to inflame gastritis? I know it comes with bismuth subnitrate and Black cumin which is meant to help. So desperately want to take a biofilm disruptor to help with eliminating SIBO but can't deal with getting an ulcer 😅
submitted by HourAd8993 to SIBO [link] [comments]
I plan on taking Phase 2 Biofilm Advanced along with Rifaximin to treat H2S SIBO. My SIBO was caused by taking PPIs and I still suffer from gastritis. I tried taking Kirkman Biofilm Defence last week and all the enzymes in that flared me up really bad, stomach still hurts from it now.
I really want to take a biofilm disruptor but I see that Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) which is an ingredient can maybe irritate the stomach.
Has anyone had any experience with Phase 2 Biofilm Advanced or ALA who could say how likely it is to inflame gastritis? I know it comes with bismuth subnitrate and Black cumin which is meant to help. So desperately want to take a biofilm disruptor to help with eliminating SIBO but can't deal with getting an ulcer 😅
2024.05.13 13:22 Tiberiusthemad Proven natural hacks to boost your mood (Serotonin) and lower anxiety. I hope it helps.
A lot of people from this subreddit have been asking this question and i got this article together to answer that question. I hope it helps. Cheers.
I honestly have found great help when i started taking Omega 3 in a daily basis, Vitamin B1 B6 B12, enough zinc, magnesium and Vitamin D.PS : for those who also want to increase their testosterone, improving your mood and lowering Cortisol greatly helps.
Stress Reduction
Our bodies release cortisol when stressed. Cortisol decreases serotonin levels in the body, by increasing serotonin reuptake. Too much cortisol can increase your risk of developing mental health disorders. That is why reducing mental stress can help balance cortisol levels and increase serotoninMany of the lifestyle changes below can be used to decrease stress.
Mood Improvement
Serotonin impacts our mood, but mood also affects serotonin production. Studies using brain imaging (PET), showed that brains of people who are happy produce more serotonin than brains of people who are sadTherefore, engaging in activities and doing things that make you happier can help boost serotonin production.
In addition, studies show that social interactions also influence serotonin levels. Spend more time with people who make you feel good in general
Exercise
Fatigue, as a result of exercise, increases the amount of tryptophan that can cross the blood-brain barrier (by decreasing BCAA levels) and thereby boosts serotonin production. Psychological benefits of physical exercise can be more readily achieved with consistent aerobic exercise trainingMice that ran on treadmills had higher levels of serotonin compared to mice that remained inactive. Brain tryptophan remained high even after exercise
Getting More Sun
It has been long known that bright light helps treat seasonal depression. But several studies suggest that light is also an effective treatment for other forms of depressionPeople have higher serotonin levels in the summer compared to winter
In fact, our modern way of life, in which we spend a lot of time indoors, may be depleting our serotonin levels, thereby making us more vulnerable to mood disorders
Pioneer studies suggest that our skin may produce serotonin when exposed to sunlight
In addition, you need vitamin D to produce serotonin, and sun to produce vitamin D
Therefore, going outside and spending more time in the sun on a regular basis is a great way to boost your serotonin levels.
Yoga and Meditation
A review of over 200 peer-reviewed RCTs, clinical trials, and meta-analyses studying complementary and alternative medicine suggest that yoga and meditation may help uplift mood and improve symptoms of mild, moderate, and treatment-resistant depressionIn fact, meditation activates many parts of the brain important for understanding the self, emotions, problem-solving, adaptability, and increasing awareness. Serotonin plays a role in wakefulness, along with other neurotransmitters, which are all raised in meditators
Thirty minutes of yoga and breathing exercises improved mood in a study of 71 healthy adults
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy or counseling may change brain chemistry and even increase serotonin activity (by increasing serotonin receptors). In a (DB-RCT) study of 23 patients with depression who participated in psychotherapy for 4 months, therapy significantly increased serotonin activity and improved symptoms of depressionEat to Increase Serotonin
Tryptophan is the amino acid building block for serotonin. Tryptophan is not produced by the body, so it must be taken in through diet.Current research shows that unlike purified tryptophan, consuming tryptophan-rich foods does not necessarily increase brain serotonin. That’s because tryptophan-rich foods, such as meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables, also contain many other amino acids. Tryptophan has to compete with these other amino acids for transport across the blood-brain barrier
On the other hand, lack of dietary tryptophan (compared to other amino acids) may lead to lower blood and brain tryptophan levels, decreasing serotonin production. Increased BCAAs also lower tryptophan and serotonin, as well as dopamine in the brain. This may be especially problematic for people who take protein powders to enhance exercise performance
Carbs
Consuming carbs increases serotonin levels by increasing the transport of tryptophan into the brainHowever, you should use other methods to boost your serotonin, as increasing carbs in your diet can have a plethora of negative effects.
which Supplements can Increase Serotonin?
L-Tryptophan and 5-HTP
In the body, L-tryptophan is used to make 5-HTP from which serotonin is made. Taking L-tryptophan may raise plasma serotonin, improving cognitive, motor, or gut issues in those who are deficientA protein called alpha-Lactalbumin from milk contains more tryptophan than many other proteins. In a (DB-RCT) study of 18 inpiduals, 12 grams of alpha-Lactalbumin increased the amount of tryptophan in blood plasma by 16% after 90 minutes
In another (DB-RCT) study, 12.32 grams of tryptophan increased blood tryptophan by 43% after 1.5 hours and improved memory in 23 subjects vulnerable to high stress
In a pilot study of 13 female patients experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS), 6 grams of L-tryptophan taken daily for 14 days improved mood, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and carbohydrate craving
Tryptophan can be purchased in the form of L-tryptophan supplements. 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) supplements are also available. It is important to note that 5-HTP is not the same as 5-HT, which is the chemical name for serotonin. 5-HTP freely crosses the blood-brain barrier (serotonin itself does not) to be converted into serotonin
Probiotics
In the digestive tract, probiotics restore the gut microbiome and influence the gut-brain axis. Gut bacteria are important because they can produce tryptophan, from which serotonin is made. Many mental health disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, are linked to less perse or fewer gut bacteriaIn a study (DB-RTC), an 8-week probiotic regimen (2.0 x 109 CFU/g of Lactobacillus helveticus and 2.0 x 109 CFU/g of Bifidobacterium longum) increased tryptophan levels in 110 inpiduals with depression. Increased tryptophan can increase serotonin production
A probiotic (Bifidobacteria infantis) given to rats for 14 days raised levels of blood tryptophan
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps the body make, release, and use serotonin in the brain. Vitamin D activates an enzyme that converts tryptophan into serotonin. If vitamin D levels are low, our brains make less serotonin. Thus, increasing vitamin D intake increases serotonin levels, reducing the risk of mental health disordersA cohort study of over 9K subjects demonstrated that taking vitamin D supplements during the first year of life was correlated with a 77% reduced risk of schizophrenia. In other words, preventing low vitamin D levels early in life may reduce the chance of having schizophrenia later in life
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
While vitamin D helps neurons make serotonin, the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), help neurons release serotonin and improve its activity (increasing serotonin receptor sensitivity). Fish, such as salmon or trout, are high in omega-3 fatty acids. The omega 3 fatty acid supplements are also sold as fish oil capsulesInadequate omega-3 fatty acids intake may increase susceptibility to psychiatric illnesses, including depression
In a (DB-RCT) study of 49 patients that repeatedly self-harm themselves, 1.2 grams of EPA and 0.9 grams of DHA capsules daily for 12 weeks reduced suicidal thinking by 45% and depression by 30%
An observational study of 256,118 Japanese participants, discovered that people who ate fish daily had lower rates of suicidal thoughts compared to people who did not eat fish daily. In another observational study of 1,767 Finnish subjects, consuming fish less than twice a week was associated with a higher risk of depression and suicidal thinking
In rats, low levels of omega-3 fatty acids (specifically alpha linoleic acid) are associated with lower serotonin activity, while DHA deficiency reduces brain serotonin in piglets
Reduced intake of both EPA and DHA by pregnant rats resulted in less production, storage, release, and activity (receptor function) of serotonin in the brains of their offspring. Serotonin was not only reduced in the mothers’ brains but also its availability and production were reduced by (65% and 29%, respectively) in the brains of newborn rats
St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort is a popular medicinal plant (Hypericum perforatum) used as an antidepressant for mild depression.The plant increases serotonin in animals, similar to typical antidepressants, but with fewer side effects
In a review (of 35 studies) of 6,993 patients with depression, St. John’s Wort standalone therapy improved mild to moderate symptoms as well as antidepressants and better than placebo. The typical dose is 300 mg of the extract 3 times per day for at least 4 weeks
S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe)
SAMe is needed to produce serotoninIt is a naturally occurring compound that plays a role in methylation, energy breakdown and may help patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who are not responding to conventional, synthetic antidepressants
In a (DB-RCT) study involving 73 MDD inpiduals unresponsive to drug therapy, 800 mg twice a day improved symptoms of depression compared to the placebo
In a (DB-RCT) study of 144 inpiduals with MDD, 1,600 – 3,200 mg of SAMe daily for 12 weeks significantly improved mood
A review of 132 studies (115 CT and 17 preclinical) concluded that SAMe can be useful not just for depression, but for an array of mental health disorders, such as substance abuse and psychosis
Vitamin B
Lack of vitamin B may be associated with the onset of mental health disorders. The body needs Vitamin B6 to make neurotransmitters like serotonin from 5-HTP (Vitamin B acts as enzyme cofactor)Vitamin B12 and folate (vitamin B9) are necessary for the folate cycle, which helps convert tryptophan into serotonin (by producing and recycling essential co-factors)
In a cohort study of 549 community-dwelling seniors, those with low vitamin B12 and B9 blood levels were more likely to have irreversible problems with cognition (memory, attention, and thought)
In Rhesus monkeys, a single dose of vitamin B6 increased serotonin production in the brain
In addition, treatment of healthy adult rats with a vitamin B mixture raised serotonin levels in the brain
Vitamin C
Vitamin C supplements over a period of 6 weeks increased brain serotonin levels in rats with drug-induced dementiaVitamin E
Vitamin E supplementation for 8 weeks increased serotonin in rats suffering from spinal cord injuryZinc
Zinc can target and activate serotonin receptorsIn a meta-analysis of 17 observational studies, blood zinc levels were lower in depressed inpiduals compared to non-depressed inpiduals
In a study (DB-RCT), 25 mg of elemental zinc supplements daily for 12 weeks reduced depressive symptoms in a study of 37 patients with major depressive disorder
Zinc can be increased through diet in foods such as red meat, oysters, and whole grains
Magnesium
Magnesium supplements increase serotonin levels by increasing its availability (reducing reuptake) in the brain. In a (DB-RCT) study, 500 mg of magnesium per day for 8 weeks significantly improved symptoms in 60 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate depressionMagnesium is found in green leafy vegetables, nuts, and legumes
Inositol
Inositol increases the sensitivity of serotonin receptorsIn one study of 30 women with a PMS mood disorder, myo-inositol reduced symptoms and improved mood given over 6 menstrual cycles
Inositol decreases depression in rats by binding serotonin receptors
Turmeric
Curcumin is the active component of turmeric. In stressed rats, curcumin extended the length of time serotonin stays active in the brain (by blocking the reuptake of serotonin). It also improved cognition and reduced serum corticosterone, a cortisol equivalent, in ratsIn mice, a single dose of curcumin (10 – 80 mg/kg) increased serotonin levels
Velvet Bean
Mucuna pruriens, known as the velvet bean, combats Parkinson’s disease better than the standard treatment (levodopa) in rats. In addition to being a source of dopamine, the long-term use of the powder form of Mucuna pruriens also restored serotonin levels in rat brainsL-Theanine
L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea leaves (e.g. green, black, or oolong tea) and Bay Bolete mushrooms, has relaxing effects on the mind. Green tea has the highest concentration of L-theanineIn a cohort study of over 42K Japanese inpiduals, those who consumed at least 5 cups of green tea a day experiences less psychological distress that is often associated with reduced serotonin
In rat studies, L-theanine raised serotonin levels in the brain
Rhodiola
Rhodiola rosea is a flowering plant that may help improve anxiety and depression. In a (DB-RCT) clinical trial of 89 patients with mild to moderate depression and low serotonin, Rhodiola rosea extracts (340 mg/day and 680 mg/day) for 42 days improved overall depression, including insomnia and emotional instabilityIn 70 depressive rats suffering from chronic mild stress and serotonin deficiency, Rhodiola extract (1.5, 3, or 6g/kg) for 3 weeks restored normal levels of serotonin
Saffron
Safranal, one of the main active components of saffron (Crocus sativus), increases serotonin availability in the brain (by blocking reuptake)A meta-analysis (5 RCTs) of 177 participants concluded that 30 mg per day of saffron capsules can improve symptoms of depression in adults with major depressive disorder within 6 to 8 weeks
Psychedelics
Psychedelics are hallucinogenic drugs such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin mushrooms. Psychedelics can stimulate serotonin activity (by directly binding to serotonergic receptors and also increasing their number), raise serotonin levels, and reduce its breakdownIn a recent pilot study (DB-RCT) of 12 patients with anxiety, 200 μg of LSD significantly reduced self-reported anxiety. LSD was given in a safe psychotherapeutic environment with medical supervision to avoid side effects
In a (DB-RCT) study of 17 healthy inpiduals, psilocybin (215 micrograms/kg) enhanced mood, increased goal-directed behavior and decreased recognition of negative facial expressions
Though psychedelics can activate serotonin signaling, unsupervised use may lead to serious psychological consequences. Certain plant hallucinogens, as well as synthetic hallucinogens, can be especially toxic. Using this substance should be under professional supervision.
Magnolia Tree
The bark and seed cones of the Magnolia tree (Magnolia officinalis) appear to have anti-stress, anti-anxiety, and antidepressant effects20 and 40 mg/kg of honokiol and magnolol, the main components of Magnolia officinalis, restored low levels of serotonin in rats with chronic mild stress
Magnolia bark and ginger rhizome are commonly used to treat mental disorders in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). 30 mg/kg of a magnolia bark and ginger rhizome mixture increased serotonin in the brains of depressed mice
Essential Oils
Essential oils are commonly used to reduce anxiety, stress, low mood, and other mental health disorders. Smelling the essential oils (inhalation) can activate pathways in the brain to boost serotonin and dopamine productionIn a study of aromatherapy in 60 elderly patients with depression (RCT), 5 ml of essential oil mixture (containing lavender, sweet orange, bergamot, and almond oil) increased serotonin levels after application two times a week for 8 weeks
Ylang-ylang essential oils increased serotonin levels in mice brains (hippocampus)
Bitter orange is an essential oil that reduced anxiety and improved mood by boosting serotonin activity in mice after 14 days of use
Lavender oil blocked the breakdown/reuptake of serotonin in cell studies
Valerian
The root of the Valerian plant increases serotonin levels and activity (by decreasing its turnover)Valerian may help with irritable bowel syndrome. In a rat study, components of the Valeriani root balanced overactive serotonin in the gut (colon) and serum
Valeriana officinalis root extract prevented the breakdown of serotonin in mice exposed to stress
Apigenin
Apigenin is a nutrient in citrus fruits that may improve cognition and behavior as well as symptoms of depression and stressIn mouse models, 20-day treatment with apigenin (10 and 20 mg/kg) increased serotonin levels, and decreased anxious behavior
Apigenin was able to reduce the impact of chronic mild stress in rats by increasing serotonin availability and reducing its breakdown
Berberine
Berberine is a salt derived from plants in the Berberis family (the roots, rhizomes, stems, and barks), including barberry, tree turmeric, Oregon-grape, and others. It blocks the enzyme MAO-A, which breaks down serotonin, thereby raising serotonin levelsA single berberine dose increased levels of serotonin by 47% in the brains of depressed mice. Long-term treatment with berberine (5 mg/kg for 15 days) increased serotonin by 19%
Mice given berberine in a different study had increased serotonin levels in regions of the brain (hippocampus and frontal cortex) important for memory and mood
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Carnitine may increase serotonin in the cerebral cortex, a region of the brain involved in cognition and memoryAcetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) is a modified form of carnitine, a common dietary supplement sold in health food stores. ALCAR protects the brain and may help with depression. In mice, it increased levels of serotonin in the brain when given daily for 25 days
Lithium
Lithium has long been used in the treatment of mental disorders such as bipolar disorder. It works by increasing serotonin activity in the brainPhysical Treatments that Increase Serotonin
Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback allows inpiduals to consciously change their brain activity (EEG waves) and therefore modify their behavior and cognition. Some of its clinical uses are for migraines, ADHD, and PTSDIn a study (RCT), neurofeedback (30 minutes, 5 sessions weekly, 4 weeks) was applied to 40 patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). FMS patients have lower serotonin and widespread pain in their muscles and bones. After 2 weeks, patients experienced less pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression
Massage
Massage therapy decreased cortisol and raised serotonin and dopamine in a broad population with stress-related health problems in 3 studiesIn one (RCT) study, 24 adults with low back pain were either given two 30 minute massages per week or subjected to standard relaxation procedures over the span of 5 weeks. Urine serotonin levels were higher in inpiduals who received massage therapy
Acupuncture
In a randomized clinical trial, 75 women with fibromyalgia, acupuncture increased levels of serotonin in the serum, compared to placeboIn rats, acupuncture-like stimulation increased serotonin activity in certain regions of the brain
Light Therapy
When sun exposure is not possible, bright light therapy can help increase serotonin levelsBright light therapy (photobiomodulation) shows promising results for depression based on clinical trials
In a study of 10 women with chronic headaches (observational), 34 seconds daily use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) significantly increased serotonin levels after just 3 days
In a study of 25 drug-free hospitalized veterans with depression or bipolar disorder, bright white light improved depressive symptoms. However, further testing needs to be done on the negative consequences of long-term light treatment
Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Long-term vagus nerve stimulation (14 days) increased serotonin levels in rat brainsIn rats, sustained vagus nerve stimulation for 14 days also increased the action of serotonin
Testing Serotonin
Serotonin that gets released into the blood gets rapidly broken down in the liver and lungs, to inactive metabolites (such as 5-HIAA) that are excreted in urine . That is why normally, blood and urine contain very small amounts of serotonin. Larger quantities of serotonin in the blood/urine can be found in people with serotonin-producing tumors (carcinoid tumors).Beware of the use of urine serotonin levels to check for “neurotransmitter imbalances”. While the companies providing these tests state that the levels in urine correspond to brain neurotransmitter levels, science has repeatedly shown that this is not the case
Serotonin doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier. Even if it did, it is released intermittently and influenced by many different stimuli. Furthermore, levels differ within different parts of the brain. And finally, values differ for the same person from one day to another
In addition, companies have been known to intentionally use extremely narrow ranges, without any scientific support whatsoever, in order to sell supplements to their clients
If you do have neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain, more reliable tests of serotonin levels are cerebrospinal fluid tests or measurements of serotonin in blood platelets
A PET scan is the only direct way to detect changes of serotonin production in specific areas of the brain
Serotonin Risks and Safety
Excess serotonin may result in serotonin syndrome, which can be fatal. Usually, though, serotonin syndrome is a result of drug interactions. No cases have been observed just from safe, natural approaches
MDMA, LSD, and other synthetic drugs may cause serotonin syndrome, and should not be taken without medical supervision or outside a psychotherapeutic environment
Most of the studies mentioned above were performed on adults. More research involving children is needed in order to determine safety.
Abnormally heightened levels of serotonin (hyperserotonemia) is a consistent finding in inpiduals with autism. Pregnant women with hyperserotonemia are more likely to give birth to children with autism
Drug Interactions
The use of St. John’s Wort, SAMe, or lithium simultaneously with serotonergic drugs like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO-I), and triptans, can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening and potentially fatal conditionLimitations and Caveats
Some of these studies have fairly small sample sizes. Additionally, many of these natural methods of increasing serotonin in the body have only been tested in animals and need further research in humans through clinical trials.In addition to the concentration of serotonin, both the number of serotonin receptors and their sensitivity may also play an integral role in determining serotonin activity.
Though serotonin is mostly made, stored, and released in the gut, serotonin acts as an important neurotransmitter in the brain. Some of these natural remedies and supplements need further testing to determine if they are able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Long-term application of these remedies should also be further studied.
2024.05.13 12:34 AccutaneEffectsInfo How Accutane Changes Your Brain: Dopamine & Cell Death
 | https://secondlifeguide.com/2024/01/07/accutane-effects-on-the-brain/ submitted by AccutaneEffectsInfo to AccutaneRecovery [link] [comments] INTRODUCTIONAccutane, also known by its generic name isotretinoin, is a widely used medication primarily prescribed for the treatment of severe acne. Over the years, its effectiveness in treating severe acne has been well-documented, earning it a reputation as a potent solution where other treatments fail. However, alongside its efficacy in treating acne, it has also been associated with a range of potential side effects – particularly in relation to the brain.The extent of its psychological impact particularly came to prominence during a 2015 murder trial, where attorneys argued that a 15-year-old flew into a homicidal psychosis on account of his treatment by the acne drug. [1] Though this may seem farfetched it isn’t an isolated incident, and the connection between Vitamin A and neurological disorders is one with long historical precedent. The effects of overexposure to Vitamin A on the central nervous system were first documented in 1856 by Elisha Kane, an Artic explorer who suffered dramatic changes in mood and temperament after ingesting polar bear liver. The many symptoms of Accutane treatment significantly overlap with those of Hypervitaminosis A, given that Accutane exerts its therapeutic effects through the primary metabolite of Vitamin A: Retinoic acid. However, unlike overexposure to Vitamin A, Isotretinoin is able to avoid xenobiotic responses that metabolise excessive retinoic acid, allowing for an even greater intracellular accumulation.[2] A meta-analysis of 25 randomised controlled trials found that neurological symptoms were amongst the most common adverse effects associated with Accutane treatment – with 24% suffering extreme fatigue and 10% complaining of significant changes in mood and personality. [3] Aside from the many case reports, there’s a good neuroanatomical basis for believing that retinoids are fundamental to cognition and mood. The enzymes that locally synthesise retinoic acid are highly expressed in regions of the brain that are rich in dopamine, such as the mesolimbic. [4] Dopamine is the neurotransmitter associated with feelings of reward, excitement and pleasure; however dysregulation of dopaminergic system can lead to mania and psychosis. The exact role retinoic acid plays in regulating dopamine is yet to be fully understood, but the evidence shows the two systems are deeply intertwined*.* [5][6] STEM CELLS AND RETINOIDS:Beta-catenin is a multifunctional protein that serves as a key regulator in many cellular processes, but most pertinently in stem cell proliferation. Many organs throughout the body rely on a pool of stem cells to draw upon for tissue repair and maintenance, such as the skin.Beta-catenin signalling is regulated by a ‘destruction complex’, which continuously marks the protein for destruction. When it is unbound from the destruction complex it translocates into the nuclei of cells to signal for the proliferation (increase the number) of stem cells in these given tissues. When beta-catenin is repressed by enhancing the action of the destruction complex, the stem cells in these tissues undergo a process of specialisation called differentiation**.** [7] https://preview.redd.it/efv0auyy860d1.png?width=1221&format=png&auto=webp&s=f980b81cced156a795193957fa3e6b04a788c21a Final stem cell differentiation.svg), This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. This process can’t be reversed, and the stem cell pool must replenish in order to preserve future tissue reparative properties. Retinoids are differentiating agents, that repress beta-catenin by enhancing the action of the destruction complex and thus inhibiting stem cell proliferation. A careful equilibrium must be maintained to ensure that stem cells don’t aberrantly differentiate. The consequences of disrupting this balance are most disturbingly evidence by the foetuses of mothers exposed to high levels of vitamin A, as foetal development is reliant on the proliferation of embryonic stem cells. These foetuses typically fail to develop normal limbs if they survive gestation at all. [8] Whilst beta-catenin signalling is regulated by retinoids, retinoid signalling is in turn regulating by beta-catenin feedback through the ALDH (aldehyde dehydrogenase) enzymes. ALDH enzymes play a key role in synthesising retinoids, and a regulated by beta-catenin. High levels of beta-catenin trigger an enhance ALDH activity, which in turn leads to greater retinoid synthesis and therefore suppression of beta-catenin. Alternatively high levels of retinoid signalling, as in during Accutane treatment, leads to suppression of beta-catenin and in turn ALDH activity. However, ALDH enzymes don’t exclusively serve to synthesise retinoids, they also play a vital detoxifying role in metabolising toxic acetaldehydes and lipid peroxides. [9] ACCUTANE REDUCES CORTICAL BRAIN ACTIVITYThere is a mountain of evidence within the scientific literature that points to the diverse and profound effects of Accutane treatment on the brain. The most striking of this evidence comes from brain imaging of patients being treated with Accutane, which indicated a 21% reduction in activity in the orbitofrontal cortex. [10]The frontal cortex is the region of the brain most developed in humans as compared to other animals and is responsible for higher cognitive processing. The researchers also identified that this reduction in activity was accompanied by headaches, with the severity of the headaches correlating with the degree of inhibition. The findings of this study corroborate the evidence for Isotretinoin inhibiting new nerve growth in the brain, and even directly causing apoptosis (cell death) of neurons. [11] The prevailing theory for depression is that it is a consequence of reduced neurogenesis (neuronal cell growth), which can be mitigated by neurogenic compounds. [12] It is therefore reasonable to connect the evidence of Accutane induced depression to these neurogenic effects. As previously established, beta-catenin signalling is needed to maintain stem cell populations in the many tissues that undergo continual growth and reparation throughout adulthood. The brain, and in particular the hippocampus, is one such region. The hippocampus is essential for the generation of episodic and spatial memory. Neuroplasticity in the hippocampus is needed to form new memories throughout adulthood. It’s been found that when beta-catenin is ablated in hippocampal cell cultures, the synaptic strength is diminished. Neurons lacking beta-catenin became thin and spindly, with reduced amplitude of spontaneous glutamatergic currents. [13] Conversely, enhancing beta-catenin signalling in transgenic mice allowed for greater neuronal growth and even enlarged brains on account of the increase in neural stem cell populations. [14] Understanding the role of beta-catenin is key to explaining the evidence for Accutane inhibiting new cell growth in the hippocampus. [15] BETA-CATENIN AND NEURONAL DEATHNotably the neurological role of beta-catenin isn’t confined to the hippocampus, as it also greatly impacts synaptic activity in two other regions: the hypothalamus and the amygdala. The hypothalamus is a part of the limbic system that controls the release of hormones involved in diverse processes including facilitating sexual responses, hunger, and circadian rhythms. Hypothalamic cells are also subject to both growth and regulation by beta-catenin which can be guided in particular by oestradiol, which activates the PI3K/Akt pathway.Poignantly, this action of oestradiol is the exact opposite of the mechanism of action by which Accutane suppresses beta-catenin. The importance of oestradiol is especially relevant for woman with respect to the oestrous cycle, and the periodic changes it induces on synaptic structures. [16] Given this evidence, it is perhaps unsurprising that hypothalamic cells (along with hippocampal cells) are amongst the neuronal cells most vulnerable to apoptosis (cell death) in response to retinoic acid exposure. [17] Another structure within the limbic system is the amygdala, which consists of two clusters of nuclei in the centre of the brain and plays a pivotal role in regulating memory, emotional response and feelings of reward and pleasure. Like the hypothalamus, the amygdala also appears to significantly influenced by beta-catenin. There’s evidence that beta-catenin is needed for the transfer of newly formed memory into long term memory, and specific deletion of beta-catenin prevented this memory consolidation. [18] Furthermore, researchers have been able to trigger dysregulation of the amygdala of rats by applying retinoic acid, resulting in heightened fear and anxiety responses. ALDH: ‘DETOX’ AND DOPAMINEThe Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH) family of enzymes plays a pivotal role in the metabolism of aldehydes, which are a type of reactive molecule within biological systems. It’s a diverse family of enzymes consisting of many isoforms with wide ranging targets contributing to a variety of physiological processes. In particular, ALDH enzymes are known for their critical detoxifying function in oxidizing aldehydes to their corresponding carboxylic acids.Given that ALDH enzymes have been implicated in cellular protection against oxidative stress, they subsequently play a role in the development of a number of diseases, in particular neurodegenerative disorders. They have a particular relevance to the metabolism of retinoids, as they catalyse the conversion of retinol to retinoic acid locally within tissues. [26] As discussed previously, ALDH activity is regulated by beta-catenin in a negative feedback loop. The administration of Isotretinoin marks these enzymes for downregulation by interrupting this feedback loop and suppressing ALDH activity. [27] Long term application of retinoic acid downregulates these enzymes through post-translational modifications, potentially giving an epigenetic basis for the lasting nature of Post Accutane Syndrome. [28] The adverse effects of suppressed ALDH activity are potentially very broad given the diversity of roles they play outside of metabolising retinoids. One of the best attested lasting adverse effects of Isotretinoin treatment is permanent night blindness. Researchers concluded that this is a consequence of the suppression a particular member of the ALDH family, RDH11, which serves to recycle rhodopsins in the retina. [29] THE LINK TO PARKINSONSIt’s hard to overstate both the importance and diversity of ALDH activity in the body, from the production of neurosteroids, to metabolism of alcohol to detoxification, but the particular focus of this article is their role in neurological functioning and how it relates to the adverse effects of Isotretinoin treatment. The first indication that play an important neurological role that ALDH isoforms are expressed in regions of the brain rich in dopamine. [30]For example the enzyme retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (RALDH1) is present in the dopaminergic terminals that innervate the striatum from the ventral tegmental area is necessary for the synthesis of RA in these areas. [31] The previously cited neuroimaging study found that the regions of the brain most rich in dopaminergic activity, such as the midbrain and mesolimbic, experience the greatest reduction in activity during Isotretinoin treatment. This could potentially be explained by the detoxifying role played by ALDH isoforms such as RALDH1 during dopamine transmission, which is likely inhibited by Isotretinoin treatment. The metabolites of dopamine such as DOPAL (3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde) are neurotoxic, but can be metabolised by RALDH1 to protect dopaminergic neurons**. If RALDH1 is inhibited these dopaminergic neurons within the mesolimbic are more susceptible to cell death.** [32] This effect is so profound that ALDH inhibitors are even able to induce Parkinsonian like symptoms, which is a type of Alzheimer’s characterised by the rapid loss of dopaminergic neurons. [33] Additionally, the overaccumulation of toxic dopamine metabolites results in negative feedback to acutely inhibit dopamine neurotransmission. This is why ALDH inhibitors such as Disulfiram can cause a blunted response to stimulants such as amphetamine. [34] Given that dopamine is needed to facilitate feelings of pleasure and, reduced libido is one of the most common complaints of people being treated with Disulfiram, which is a medication used in combatting alcohol addiction. In fact, it is now believed that Disulfiram is effective in treating addiction by blunting feelings of pleasure that drive addictions, through the negative feedback of toxic dopamine metabolites. [35] The evidence for Isotretinoin inhibiting ALDH expression indicates that Disulfiram could potentially serve as an effective analogue for some of the effects of Isotretinoin treatment. |
2024.05.13 09:42 Lime92 Looking to control oil and reduce pore size! [Acne] [Product Request] [Routine Help]
Hello you beautiful people! (Yes, even you reading this!)
The issues I need help with with order of importance:
Current routine: All products are Non-Comedogenic Cleanser and moisturizer contains Hyaluronic Acid
CeraVe SA Cleanser Salicylic Acid Cleanser
Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion
[Isntree] Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
PM routine is the same except without the sun gel sunscreen.
My previous dermatologist prescribed me Retinoid: Tretinoin Cream USP 0.05% Not sure if I should use this to treat oil and acne scars or if I need to do get an exfoliating facial/Fraxel laser treatment (or both).
I have been using this current routine for months now and might introduce the Tretinoin retinoid. Recommendations of other products or routines is much appreciated!
https://preview.redd.it/cy0b9bbwe50d1.jpg?width=2544&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0030d1db4cc74f704012296ac1652389cd7a964d
https://preview.redd.it/hd9yndbwe50d1.jpg?width=2544&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81123381dbe0c9f90ed9451bb6470724d43dfbeb
https://preview.redd.it/56ufhbbwe50d1.jpg?width=2544&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d06cfe48a6b94330564614c774ad7d73c6566ff
submitted by Lime92 to SkincareAddiction [link] [comments]
The issues I need help with with order of importance:
- Remove excess oil on T zone and scalp/head
- Repair acne scars
- Identify if I actually have blackheads or if it's just my sebaceous filaments and nose hair that might appear so
- Reduce pore size
Current routine: All products are Non-Comedogenic Cleanser and moisturizer contains Hyaluronic Acid
CeraVe SA Cleanser Salicylic Acid Cleanser
Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion
[Isntree] Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
PM routine is the same except without the sun gel sunscreen.
My previous dermatologist prescribed me Retinoid: Tretinoin Cream USP 0.05% Not sure if I should use this to treat oil and acne scars or if I need to do get an exfoliating facial/Fraxel laser treatment (or both).
I have been using this current routine for months now and might introduce the Tretinoin retinoid. Recommendations of other products or routines is much appreciated!
https://preview.redd.it/cy0b9bbwe50d1.jpg?width=2544&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0030d1db4cc74f704012296ac1652389cd7a964d
https://preview.redd.it/hd9yndbwe50d1.jpg?width=2544&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81123381dbe0c9f90ed9451bb6470724d43dfbeb
https://preview.redd.it/56ufhbbwe50d1.jpg?width=2544&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d06cfe48a6b94330564614c774ad7d73c6566ff
2024.05.13 09:27 LaTheorie Treating fungal acne + a damaged skin barrier
We get this question ask all the time.
Dealing with both fungal acne and a damaged skin barrier can be a double challenge, but fear not – with the right approach, you can restore balance and achieve healthy, radiant skin. Here's how to tackle both issues effectively:
Understanding Fungal Acne:
Fungal acne, or pityrosporum folliculitis, is a common skin condition caused by an overgrowth of yeast called Malassezia on the skin's surface. It often presents as itchy, inflamed bumps, small pimples in clusters, and persistent breakouts that don't respond to traditional acne treatments.
Addressing a Damaged Skin Barrier:
A damaged skin barrier can result from factors like harsh skincare products, environmental stressors, overexfoliation, or underlying skin conditions. Symptoms may include redness, irritation, sensitivity, dryness, and a compromised skin barrier function.
How to Approach FA + Dry Skin:
Have you experienced damaged skin barrier + fungal acne? How did you treat it?
submitted by LaTheorie to LaTheorie_Talks [link] [comments]
Dealing with both fungal acne and a damaged skin barrier can be a double challenge, but fear not – with the right approach, you can restore balance and achieve healthy, radiant skin. Here's how to tackle both issues effectively:
Understanding Fungal Acne:
Fungal acne, or pityrosporum folliculitis, is a common skin condition caused by an overgrowth of yeast called Malassezia on the skin's surface. It often presents as itchy, inflamed bumps, small pimples in clusters, and persistent breakouts that don't respond to traditional acne treatments.
Addressing a Damaged Skin Barrier:
A damaged skin barrier can result from factors like harsh skincare products, environmental stressors, overexfoliation, or underlying skin conditions. Symptoms may include redness, irritation, sensitivity, dryness, and a compromised skin barrier function.
How to Approach FA + Dry Skin:
- Gentle Cleansing: Start with a gentle, fungal acne-safe cleanser to remove impurities without stripping the skin's natural oils. Look for non-comedogenic and fragrance-free formulas to avoid further irritation.
- Hydrating and Repairing: Incorporate hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide into your skincare routine. These ingredients help replenish moisture, strengthen the skin barrier, and soothe irritation.
- Avoid Antifungal Treatment with Strong Actives: Using antifungal treatments such as ketoconazole or tea tree oil can help you combat the overgrowth of Malassezia yeast associated with fungal acne; however, it might also disrupt your skin barrier even further. So, first treat the skin barrier with hydrating products that are free from fatty acids. Same goes for harsh exfoliants, alcohol-based products, and other irritants that can further damage the skin barrier and exacerbate fungal acne symptoms. Opt for gentle, soothing formulations instead.
- Protective Moisturization: Finish your skincare routine with a lightweight, fungal acne-safe moisturizer to lock in hydration and protect the skin barrier. Look for formulas that contain occlusive ingredients like squalane or petrolatum to prevent transepidermal loss.
Have you experienced damaged skin barrier + fungal acne? How did you treat it?