There is a lot of information on my site. Sometimes you can get paralyzed by too much information. Let me break it down to the most critical action steps.
If you’ve been searching Google about what your symptoms mean and what to do about it you’ve likely tried some different diets or supplements hoping something would bring relief.
While researching and trial and error is better than doing nothing, it may challenge your patience and financial resources and damage your confidence in yourself and in the ability of anything to help. Trying and failing can cause hopelessness and anxiety and this is not a mental state that will help you move forward in a clear and organized way.
One of the basic principles I discuss on my blog is testing. You may have had a stool test or a blood test at your doctor’s office that showed nothing but you need to get the right testing. You and I know that this can’t only be in your head. There is something going on in the body and you need the right functional tests to find out what.
Testing
I always suggest doing two minimum tests. A stool sample for your large intestine, and a lactulose breath test for small intestine.
Here is the stool sample test I suggest. It is the best test on the market for parasites, which are very easy to miss in standard medical stool samples.
Here’s a success story of a client who used functional testing to find answers and get relief.
Diet
The diet you should be on is based very much on the test results above. They will tell us what is going on and how to starve or manage the overgrowth and or infection. You can do elimination diet of sorts to figure out trigger foods, using food journaling to help. Some people can do this alone but more people need accountability and help reviewing their entries and symptoms to find a pattern.
link to articles on diet
Supplements
While many people will balk at spending hundreds of dollars on functional gut testing, a look at their supplement graveyard (drawer full of supplements they tried and abandoned) will show that they spent more money on trying supplements they read about online based on hope and desperation. The supplements you take need to be based on a real proven need and reason and taken for a limited amount of time.
link to blogs about supplements
Beyond diet, supplements and gut overgrowth
How to work with me
I work with people over the phone, in person and on Skype.
Functional testing package
The function testing package includes two test.
Lactulose SIBO breath test for the small intestine
Stool test for the large intestine (choice of two tests).
The price of the testing ranges between $244 and $529 depending on the tests you choose and if you’re using the insurance for the GI Map ($85 out of pocket).
The test fees are paid directly to the labs.
Functional lab testing is one of the best ways to dig deeper to find the root cause (reasons for) digestive symptoms. These tests will look at the whole digestive system, and exhaust the pathogenic options that may have been missed through your doctor’s conventional tests.
You my have gotten a blood test, colonoscopy and endoscopy or parasite test, but there are many more things that can cause digestive distress. We test for everything, leaving you with the clearest possible picture of what is going on with the bacterial balance and microbes in your gut.
Often conditions like bloating are caused by imbalance in bacteria, yeast or parasitic overgrowth.
SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is a common cause of IBS symptoms so I recommend this test to anyone who suffers with some of these symptoms : bloating, gas, pain, reflux diarrhea or constipation. It’s important to identify SIBO or rule it out before moving forward.
Once we have answers you we can start to address them and balance your with nutrition and targeted supplements.
If you choose this testing package you will have to buy 3 to 6 coaching sessions with me to review your case, go over your results and monitor and support your progress as you implement the diet, supplement and lifestyle changes.
Three consultations
The package price includes 3 consultations with me to support you before, during and after the testing and help you interpret the results and create a plan in response.
This testing package includes three 60-minute sessions with me before and after testing, as well as e-mail support in between.
The tests I use are the GI MAP and the SIBO breath test.
What happens during the first session:
We go over your health history and look at diet, supplements, and lifestyle red flags that may be preventing your gut from healing. We clear up confusion and mistakes and I answer all your questions about the tests, and the best foods and healing practices to get the most out of your efforts. I get to know you and your personality and make suggestions best targeted to your particular issues.
What happens during our second session:
We go over test results and create a personalized program based on the results. As a health coach, I don’t treat or diagnose disease. We use natural modalities to restore balance to the body and gut, by lowering inflammation and addressing overgrowth.
What happens during the third session:
We check in after a few weeks on the protocol to make adjustments or improvements. You are on your way to feeling healthier, more alive and resilient during this and have me as a resource to answer questions and lend support as you make changes.
Three session are $315
Six sessions (3 month program meeting every two weeks)
This program includes 6 sessions with me over 3 months. We meet every two weeks over skype, whats app or the telephone to keep you on track.
The first three sessions follow the pattern above and the last three sessions are devoted to rebuilding the biome to boost immune system function and protect from future pathogenic invasion or over growth.
The clients who choose this program learn how to keep their most precious health resource in balance, their intestinal bacteria (also called biome).
I teach you have to detox your house of all the biome killers and to add biome builders to your life and diet. We also study motility, how to boost digestive fire and how to use your environment to support your healing. We also look at the missing piece in all this, which is how to calm and balance nervous system function. We work with the part of your nervous system that controls involuntary digestive function.
I am here to answer your questions about what is and what is not normal. How long it should take and ease your concerns every step of the way with you.
I’m here to listen and dive deep. And help you manage the emotional ride of healing your gut.
The 6 month program comes with a bottle of Megaporbiotic sent to your home to start rebuilding the microbial balance in the gut. Read about Megasporbiotic below.
The cost of 6 sessions is $675
Individual session
Do you have questions that need answering?
This is an opportunity to clear up confusion about all the conflicting health advice you’ve read on the Internet. You’ll get a feel of what it’s like to work with me and how I can help you. Unlike the other sessions above, this one does not require a health history, come with e-mail support or a follow up summary e-mail of what we’ve discussed. It’s a great, low cost option to get the short term support and guidance you need.
One session is $125
I accept Paypal or credit card and conduct sessions over the phone or Skype. I’ll send a calendar link after payment.
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My probiotic choice for SIBO and IBS
Megasporbiotic is a soil-based probiotic that can withstand cold and heat and does not need to be refrigerated, which makes it convenient for travel. Megasporbiotic is safe for people who react to common probiotic strains that contain lactobacillus. People with bacterial overgrowth have a hard time with most brands of probiotics because they contain strains that contribute to the overgrowth.
Megasporbiotic does not contribute to the overgrowth but rather act as a friendly and natural “antibiotic” (without the antibiotic side effects) that targets pathogenic strains. Read more about Megasporbiotic’s efficacy with SIBO here.
Some of my more sensitive and reactive clients used Megasporbiotic to replace a typical antimicrobial protocol. The aim is to rebalance the bacterial environment before bringing in antimicrobials to finish the job. An over reactive immune system can be calmed with the right probiotic and an anti-inflammatory diet.
This is one of the strongest and most effective probiotics on the market so you need to slowly work up to the full dose of 1 capsule a day. Instructions will be included with each order.
A bottle is $70 including shipping