Visit to Nutritionist and Gut Biome Test

Hi All

I promised Philbs1980 that I would report back following a Gut Biome Test I had back in late August, the results take a few weeks.

Firstly, I saw a Nutritionist back on 17 July 2019 as I was suffering with the after effects of food poisoning which had started on 22 November 2018 and to which I was still suffering with nausea and diarrhoea which is a very long time. She carried out a test on me (she used a magnetic bar which I held and she had individual pins where she inserted into a machine, each pin represented a substance/food) and said I had a high sensitivity to gluten, rye, barley, cow's milk (I'm Vegan so that wasn't an issue), Formalin ('Formalin definition is - a clear aqueous solution of formaldehyde and methanol used especially as a preservative', this doesn't sound very good to me) and a medium sensitivity to peas.

I wasn't 100% sure if she was correct as I was still suffering about 4 weeks later but if you look online you will see that you can still get problems even though you have excluded the food, I suppose you could call this 'die off'. I read on the IBS Network to which I am a member as it's an excellent tool and website that quite a few people can tolerate 'real' sourdough bread specifically that made with Spelt Flour (I have a starter in my lounge at the moment) so I bought some in the supermarket as I hadn't made any and I found that I was absolutely fine so I bought more and was still okay, this is where I started to doubt the Nutritionist so I had a meal out and had some spaghetti, wish I hadn't done that as I'm still getting some problems now and it's just over 2 weeks. Also, back in August I had a Vegan Magnum and I didn't realise it had Pea Protein in the list of ingredients, that too made me poorly but luckily enough that only lasted about a day. Therefore, I am not eating any gluten apart from sourdough bread, can't wait for my own, and I'm not eating peas.

To sum up, I would highly recommend seeing a Nutritionist, I don't regret it one little bit.

Now to the Gut Biome Test. I received the report and I had many pages which listed what disease protection I had i.e. how I was protected against Diabetes etc, my microbiome diversity, microbiome type. It also listed the probiotics and beneficial bacteria. Also personal to me was dietary fibre and butyrate, vitamin syntheses, microbiome nationality, recommended foods, raw data and the final pages were references.

There is an awful lot to take in and I didn't really know where to go from getting the report apart from eating from the suggested list of foods. I therefore wrote to the company listing my queries and they responded in full and said what I needed to do, now I know where I'm going on this. I've started today and order Milk Kefir Grains and I will be having a go at making Coconut Kefir

Also, my doctor was very interested to see how I got on and asked if he could view the report once it had been sent to me, I've emailed the report and it was confirmed yesterday that the surgery had received it.

To conclude: I would definitely recommend a Nutritionist and also having a Gut Biome Test. I'm more than happy for you to send me a personal message as to the company I used. Also, to confirm that in no way at all am I affiliated to either the Nutritionist or Company. A friend of mine saw the Nutritionist and she found out that she couldn't eat bananas, her tummy pain has disappeared since she stopped eating them so she recommended the Nutritionist. It was the Nutritionist that recommended the company I used and I expect she could be affiliated to them but I don't know but I'm certainly not in any way.

I've had IBS since 1996 and cannot wait to be 100% better but all I can say is all I'm getting now is the very odd day of not feeling 100% but I'm certainly a lot better than I was.

Here's wishing you all good health and I really do hope that this helps in some way.

[Hidden]

Hello Hidden

Good to hear of your progress.

I am curious to know about your first test, the magnet bar thing, you know how much I love evidence based science! 😄

I am not sure if I have mentioned about spelt sourdough and gluten vs. fructans before? If I have please excuse the repeat...Spelt sourdough (the Waitrose version at least) is moderately high in gluten but low in fructans.

I presume the Spaghetti was wheat based and not gluten free? Wheat has high levels of fructans (a FODMAP as I am sure you know) as well as gluten. Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) is becoming accepted in the medical fraternity as a real condition. GP's dismiss it because a test, beyond food testing, is not available so they say it cannot exist. believers will just say that there isn't a reliable test...yet.

There is mounting study evidence that some people believed to have NCGS in fact are sensitive instead to fructans. I know from my own experience that the latter became evident after testing with spelt sourdough.

Peas are high in fructans (and galactic-oligosaccarides) and garlic, onions and leaks, as well as wheat, are high in fructans.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi David

I held a magnetic bar and she had a case with lots of smaller bars with pins at the end of each bar. It was the best decision I've made as without her I would have carried on now knowing and now after reading the IBS Network article on the Spelt Sourdough then I wouldn't have realised about fructans either - amazing.

I'm so glad it's becoming more widely known about NGSG but one of my doctors that I saw who was actually goid on the let us say normal ailments and medication was fine but not when I said about seeing the Nutritionist, he didn't believe that at all. Funny though he was very interested in the Gut Biome test.

I've got Doves Farm Spelt Sourdough flour and started a starter yesterday, the first one didn't work as I think the house was too cold.

I was very surprised at the peas but understand now you've mentioned the fructans. I seem to be okay with garlic and onions, I hardly eat leeks.

Thank you very much for your reply.

[IBSNetwork Partner IBS Network]

We're pleased that you are feeling better. That's great.

For IBS, we recommend working with a registered dietitian with a specialism in IBS.

[Hidden in reply to IBSNetwork]

Thank you very much for your response. I did see my doctor and he provided me with a couple of links to the Fodmap Diet but unfortunately didn't refer me to a Dietician. With the help from this Forum and by looking at the IBS Network I seem to be doing quite well.😀

[IBSNetwork Partner IBS Network in reply to Hidden]

Great that you are feeling better. We always recommend working with a registered dietitian.

[Hidden in reply to IBSNetwork]

Thank you. Unfortunately I don't have the money to pay for a Dietician so it's now down to me to keep up with HU, IBS Network and the internet as well as keeping an eye on what I eat.

[IBSNetwork Partner IBS Network in reply to Hidden]

Have you tried accessing a dietitian through your GP / NHS?

[Hidden in reply to IBSNetwork]

Hi there

Yes I did and the doctor I saw listened when I mentioned a Dietician but provided a couple of links to the Fodmap diet and that was it.

Back in 2017, I'm sure it was that year, I was referred to a Dietician and initially I had to keep a food diary which did help, if that hadn't helped then they were going to refer me to a Dietician trained in Fodmaps but that didn't happen.

Then in November 2018 I got Food Poisoning and became quite poorly and since then I have had a Colonoscopy, Ultrasound and Endoscopy plus a myriad of blood tests. I have just, today, received another appointment for an Ultrasound as another doctor at my practice wasn't happy as they didn't receive the proper results.

I have found out for myself through trial and error that I can't eat broad beans because of the fructans. I can't eat gluten or peas, I saw a Nutritionist and I have tested that theory and I react to both.

I am a lot better than I was but would like to see a Dietician as I also have a skin complaint which I'm convinced is due to diet j have seen the doctor about it and he gave me steroid and anti itch creams.

[IBSNetwork Partner IBS Network in reply to Hidden]

We understand and definitely recommend speaking to a dietitian.

[Hidden in reply to IBSNetwork]

Thank you and yes I am going to mention it to my doctor.