- This topic has 7 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 10 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
I read Dr. Diana’s interview with Yasmina Ykelenstam on Yasmina’s website about Dr. Diana’s three new supplements, Parasym Plus, Digestive Enzymes for Vagus Nerve Support and VNS Soothing Digestive Aid, with great interest.
For a long time, ever since I was a child (I’m in my thirties now), I’ve had some form of gastrointestinal problems. It’s got progressively worse in recent years, however, culminating about one and a half years ago, when I got hit by a host of gastrointestinal issues, perhaps set off by food poisoning or a stomach flu. Who knows. Constant nausea, stomach pain, early satiety, acid reflux, intestinal pain, bloating. For years, I’ve had general food and histamine sensitivities; they also got worse and almost everything I ate caused sudden headaches, itching, bloating or rashes. Anxiety and a new round of depression quickly followed. I have struggled with anxiety, low energy and depression for many years as well as constipation, cold fingers and feet and skin issues. I have joint hypermobility.
I was then diagnosed with gastroparesis, gastritis (and reflux), and IBS. One of the gastroenterologists I saw also suggested that I most likely have a vagus nerve issue and another mentioned visceral hypersensitivity.
This year, I’ve been working with a functional medicine practitioner. I tested positive for SIBO and a parasite and was told I have leaky gut/bacterial dysbiosis. The practitioner I’m seeing also thinks there is a general motility/migrating motor complex issue. Getting rid of the parasite has helped and I’m trying to pick myself up again, but it is such slow and difficult work. Last week I had another setback again with what I suspect was gastroparesis flare-up. Even if I’m feeling a bit better it’s like I’ve been hobbling along all my life.
I’m hoping some might be able to answer the following questions:
1. Could some or all of the above supplements benefit someone like me? If so, which ones? I know I don’t have POTS or anything like that, but I do think that I have some motility issues that might merit their use, especially considering my gastroparesis diagnosis. My digestive system has always been slow.
2. Are there any contraindications? A reason why I shouldn’t risk trying them?
An unexplained anomaly has turned up on three different ECGs over the last 8 years (a depression of some sort, I think), though the heart specialist I saw did not seem concerned. Also, both of my parents have heart issues.3. Where can I find more information about how to take these supplements correctly and how long to continue taking them?
4. One person commented on Yasmina’s blog, saying that she developed gastroparesis after taking Parasym Plus for two weeks. Why would something like that happen? This worries me a bit, because although I already have some form of gastroparesis, I definitely don’t want it to get worse.
5. My practitioner was interested when I told her about the supplements but said that the Parasym Plus appeared to be exactly the same as Acetyl CH Active (K 40) from Apex Energetics. Is that true?
6. What if my gastroparesis is not related to low acetylcholine? Would it then be bad to take the supplements?
Thank you.
Wow, your case sounds like so many of us — including my own! For those of you who may have missed the interview with Yasmina (the low histamine chef), it is here: http://healinghistamine.com/dr-diana-driscoll-interview-vagus-nerve-and-potsmast-cell-activation/ It was a long journey for answers, but SO worth it in the end. To help figure out if low acetylcholine is a reason for your suffering, it can be helpful to look at symptoms of low levels. We have a “Top 10 symptoms” here:https://vagusnervesupport.com/top-ten-symptoms-of-low-acetylcholine/ The more symptoms, the more likely it is to be at least one of your problems. You already know my story of dramatic gastroparesis, gall bladder dysfunction, and even pancreatitis due to low acetylcholine — all resolved with Parasym Plus. Much of my brain fog and short-term memory problems were for the same reason, yet all of my doctors missed this. What a relief getting it back, however. As far as other products go, there is no other one on the market like it. This is how we were awarded a patent. It took about 3 years to get the mix just right in order to stimulate the (postganglionic) vagus nerve. If the amounts of each ingredient were not just right, it didn’t work! If we mixed it with food, it didn’t work. So it is unique, and I hope it is hugely helpful for you. I suggest starting with 2-3 capsules of Parasym Plus first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. I’d keep your stomach empty for up to an hour (or until you have a bowel movement). If you are like most of us, a bowel movement will be “knocking at your door” in the morning — just like NORMAL people! Imagine that! 😉 I would take the Digestive Enzymes abut 20 -30 minutes before you eat, and the Soothing Digestive Aid as you start to eat, to support your stomach acid production and gall bladder/pancreatic function while Parasym Plus does its magic for your inflammation. It all ends up coming together quite nicely for most of us. As is true with any supplement or medication, as your doctor about its use if you have any questions, and fingers crossed for you!
New to this forum. Not sure how to post my own thread so found this one to reply to. I’ve been bedridden for over a year with dysautonomia. Been to doctor after doctor as I know you all have been. Was lucky to get the Dysautonomia dx quickly due to being in the hospital during several terrible episodes. I’m sure they wouldn’t of believed it otherwise because all my test came back normal. But drug after drug has only made me worse. I have been approved to go to the POTS care clinic but am to ill to travel right now. I want to order the Parasym Plus but I see most people have mobility issues and it helps them with bowel movements first thing in the morning. I am just the opposite. I get up at 5 in the morning because I have to go. And sometimes go many times in a day. Not diarrhea but loose stools. What I eat comes out. Will Parasym make my issues worse? I am bed bound to dizziness and nausea along with spiking bp/hr if I try to do anything. I so related to Dr. Diana’s hyper pots video. Can’t explain how bad you feel its so bad! Any words of help will be appreciated. I so want to be able to get on my feet so I can travel to Texas. I live in Ohio.
I’m so sorry to hear how sick you are right now — it’s not unusual for POTS patients to become extremely ill, yet our condition is often STILL seen as anxiety, deconditioning, or hypervigilance?! Amazing to me. Because we are NOT all the same, locating the cause of your Idiopathic POTS is a critical first step. Until you can be tested and evaluated, I wonder if Zantac/Zyrtec might give you some relief? Did you get the free brochure on “The Top 4 things I would do if my kids or I were just diagnosed with POTS?” It’s free at http://www.POTSCare.com. Perhaps that can help? Hang in, my friend. There is ABSOLUTELY hope for POTS — but it takes locating the underlying medical problem. Gentle hugs…
I just printed the brochure yesterday. My husband went and got the zantac/Zyrtec. Will start out slow. Everything effects me poorly. Approximately 2 years ago i had a neck/back of head injury. Before this I was in excellent health, still running 4 times a week, light weight training and very active. Ended up with spinal fusion and everything went down hill from there. He damaged my thoracic nerve. Scapular dropped within days of the surgery. PT made it worse. The episodes began after therapist did manual traction on my neck. Started out at night a couple hours after i went to sleep and progressed from there. Always have the bowel episodes right after the shaking stopped. Had a upright mri that showed ligament damage in occipital area along with ligament damage in C!/C2. Suggested prolotherapy. I Feel like my nerves are more entrapped from these injections. Doc was very knowledgeable about ANS issues so we continued on with him for longer than we should of. I found a DO near me that knows about dysautonomia and has tried out many drugs on me. Always bad reaction. I did have the blood clotting tests done but I’ll have to look back to see if they covered what you suggested. I’ve had lots of lab work done in this last year all ok except for vit D which I have since gotten my number to 68. Last but not least the new DO did test for autoimmune and I had ssa 1.2 for sjogrens. Ssb no, ana no. No real symptoms other than a little dry but I cry tears and have actually tooo much saliva sometimes??? I’m 58 so doesn’t seem a far stretch to be a little dry. That’s my very shortened version of my miserable last 2 years. So just to be clear you wouldn’t recommend i start the parasym until I get to Texas? As far as the sjogrens the doctor didn’t seem to worked up with this low count and little symptoms.
Boy, you are not alone with medications affecting you poorly! I remember telling doctors that I’d start by taping pills on my forehead, then if that went OK, I’d move to sniffing them, then perhaps licking them. LOL. There’s usually a reason for these extreme sensitivities, and we need to try to locate those reasons before we can get effective treatments. So yes, I’d wait on starting basically ANYTHING new until evaluations can start to give us some answers. As hard as that can be…
One more very interesting thing that occurred for me was that we went to an osteopath that did manipulation all over my body. Nothing like cracking or popping. Barely touched my neck except for a little wave back and forth. I got off the table and literally all of my symptoms were gone! It was crazy. My husband and I went out to dinner and I was fine for three days. On the forth day I bent down to put something in a drawer and felt a little tear at the back of my head. Within hours I was down again. Thats why we went for the prolo because it seemed so obvious it is structural problems on the nerves including the vital vagus one! Went back the following week and doc performed cranial sacral therapy on me after I told him what happened. The next day my bp crashed and I ended up in the hospital. He wouldn’t take me back. He works for the Cleveland clinic so he just didn’t need me for a patient. The prolo has left me with a ton of inflammation at the back of my head and neck I’m anxious to try the diamox but it sounds like I should wait until I can get to you first. I am going to go ahead with the Zantac Zyrtec just to see. Thanks for your time Dr. Driscoll. I hope to be in front of you soon.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.