DNA Microbial Test Results

Yesterday I received the results of my last DNA Microbial (stool) Test. I requested by phone that my doctor's office email the results to me, because I knew my doc would be out of the office at a GIG conference until Monday. The results explained why I suffered flu-like symptoms for the past month or so. I have a high amount of a pathogenic bacteria (Clostrium difficile) and another parasite described as 'taxonomy unavailable'. The results say "A taxonomy unavilable finding indicates an ingested protazoan and not a human parasite. It does not indicate treatment unless patient symptoms and other inflammatory markers are consistent with parasitic infection." We'll see how my doctor interprets that.

When I emailed my doctor almost 2 months ago about my symptoms, he said he had run out of ideas (about causes?) and suggested I see either an eating disorder specialist, a massage therapist or an accupuncture therapist for 'stress'. Almost a year ago I was diagnosed with a bad parasite (cryptospordium) after my doctor previously recommended I visit a 'tummy temple' therapist for my gut pain which was actually caused by the parasitic infection. So I'm rather frustrated that my doctor discounted my symptoms AGAIN this year, rather than immediately recommending I take another DNA microbial test. Fortunately, after I insisted that I retake that test, he did agree to let me take the test. However, I waited a few weeks before I picked up that test, because my doctor's dismissal of my symptoms made me doubt myself. Nevertheless, as I felt worse even after taking daily probiotics for a few weeks, I decided that I needed to determine what was really happening in my intestines.

I'm glad I listened AGAIN to that inner voice (the Holy Spirit?) telling me that the DNA Microbial test could diagnose my problem. Nevertheless, I now anxiously await my doctor's response on Monday morning, while I cope with increasing nausea, cramping pain, and bloating. I feel like I will have diarrhea any minute now, but so far only softer stools than usual. Diarrhea is often a symptom of clostridium difficile.

Perhaps taking probiotics has prevented me from having worse symptoms from bacterial infection, because probiotics provide 'good' bacteria to fight off 'bad' bacteria like clostrium difficle. However, I suspect I will need a stronger antibacterial agent, hopefully an herbal supplement, to eliminate this bacteria. I've read about standard drugs for Clostriudium D, but I fear the side effects like loss of hearing, difficulty urinating and several very dangerous reactions. Patients with IBD or any inflammatory bowel conditions are cautioned against taking the standard antibacterial drugs. So I hope my naturopath has some herbal supplements I can take.

THE GOOD NEWS from my last DNA Microbial test is that I have NO measurable CANDIDA!!! YAAYYY!! Taking Nystatin for 5 months wiped out that fungus. It's nice to have some good news from a scarey report.

So I just need to endure these symptoms for a few more days. I will still take probiotics. I also may take a general purpose antibacterial herbal supplement, which my doc recommended for a previously suspected bacterial dysbiosis (imbalance) situation, which turned out to be really low good bacteria and higher than desirable bad bacteria. That herbal supplement has some nasty side affects, like nausea, bloating and cramping pain, but I already have those. LOL So I could take that supplement at night ... or not ... Right now I just have to wait and see.

Maybe the other good news is that I'm not rapidly losing weight, because I haven't felt nauseas enough to totally not to eat. (Anorexia is one symptom of clostridium d., probably because nausea makes people feel too sick to eat.) I wouldn't mind losing a few pounds. Nevertheless, drinking all that ginger tea for nausea keeps me feeling well enough to try eating. I've read that ginger also helps fight Clostridium D. Nevertheless, I just need prayer and distraction from discomfort for 2 days. If you read this post, please pray for me.