Re: From Dr Ken

First of all, thank you SO MUCH Dr. Ken for taking the time to review my conditions and offer suggestions! It is such a blessing for me.

I already own Jordan's book PATIENT HEAL THYSELF and I also own Dr. Bernard's book DEATH BEGINS IN THE COLON.  Excellent books both of them.

As to digestive enzymes, I have tried many brands, some better than others.  Same with probiotics.  Some I have tried are Natren, Dr. Becker's, Dr. Ohira's.  I have tried 'loading' with Dr. O's, taking 6-8 a day for the first few days as they recommended.  I do like them best and plan to continue taking them.  I have also begun to add fermented foods and raw foods more to my diet for natural enzymes.

The only meds I've taken consistently in my life are antibiotics [for occassional infections and for acne].  This alone lead me to believe I have yeast/fungus overgrowth.  So I have tried to follow an anti fungal diet and take natural anti fungals as well for about three years now.  I currently take 25mg of atenolol although my bp is not that high, when I exert myself, my heart races so the atenolol slows it down.

My biggest issue, aside from regaining my health is to lose the 100+ pounds of excess weight that my body REFUSES to drop. I believe carrying this weight around every day is contributing to my joint/muscle pain and aches, wearing down my joints and back [have had lower back problems - bulging disc and bone spurs according to all the docs over 30 years, including chiropractors], and just limiting my quality of life overall since I can't DO much and I am always tired.  For some reason I've yet to discover my body will NOT let go of the fat.....yeast overload? Toxin overload? Perhaps the fat is protecting my organs?  I just don't know.  I have fought excess weight my whole life, often in damaging ways, so perhaps my body is saying ENOUGH!

I have had blood tests done over the years from reg. docs and naturopaths for estradiol, progesterone, vit. D, insulin as well as the usual, cholesterol and such.  Have also done hair analysis, live blood analysis, stool & digestion analysis, thyroid panels, etc.  I've used to progesterone creams for about six years since menopause because I believed I was balancing the estrogen dominance issues. Blood work done in 2008 show progesterone level was 1.3 ng/ml and the 'normal range' is 0.0-1.4 for post menopausal women. The estrodial level was 13 pg/ml and the normal range is stated as <46 pg/ml for post menopausal women. Perhaps blood work doesn't tell me anything anyway. A thyroid panel showed rT3 at 22.3 ng/dl, which they said was HIGH. No clue what it means, if anything. TSH, T4, T3, rT3/T3, FT3, FT4 were all normal, whatever THEY are! Or just normal at the time the blood was drawn?The live blood analysis showed NO yeast or fungal or parasitic overgrowth! This was a shocker so I think the live blood analysis is flawed OR my belief that I have that is wrong.  It DID show undigested proteins as well as poor assimilation of carbs.  That was also what the stool & digestive analysis showed as well.  Back to the gut issues!Insulin has always been normal, except I had 'gestational diabetes' with both my children.  Cholesterol levels hover around 200, but I'm not concerned about cholsterol levels to be honest I think it's a marketing ploy.

Hormone panel showed high DHEA and low cortisol levels thru the day, except for the morning. As I recall, it was a 24 hour spit thing.  Their analysis was that high DHEA is consistant with my symptoms of hair loss, increased facial hair and acne. The 'normal level' of morning cortisol, followed my low levels throughout the rest of the day, they said, could be from adrenal imbalance and low adrenal reserve, which exacerbate symptoms of low thyroid levels.

Well, I guess that helps more?  Again, I can't thank you enough, Dr. Ken.  I currently live in the country and can't find a naturopath within 200 miles!  This is a true blessing and potential lifesaver for me.

Marci

P.S. I'm posting public so perhaps someone else will be helped too!