Question for Chemar & Pfeiffer update

[NancyE]

We finally had a stool test done for my son and I discussed the results with the doctor at Pfeiffer at our follow-up appt. last week.

 

It showed that his good bacteria was relatively good, but he had a high amount of Staph aureus, which needs to be treated. No yeast grew in the culture, but they saw a lot of yeast cells under the microscope, so that needs to be treated. He also had a small amount of blastocystis hominis (a parasite).

 

So, they want to first treat with metronidazole benzoate to kill the parasites, then with Uva Ursi (an antibacterial/antifungal herb) to kill the staph aureus and help with the yeast. We decided to wait until spring break to start the treatments in case he has adverse die-off reactions.

 

Does anyone have experience with these treatments?

 

He's doing ok on the rest of his vitamins, but I still haven't seen a big turnaround. Anxiety and OCDish behavior remain our biggest problems, plus tics have returned pretty strong at times. The doctor said to try SAMe and TMG, but to be sure to use a good brand. She mentioned TwinLab for SAMe, but they don't seem to make it.

 

Chemar, I know you've used SAMe in the past. Can you recommend a good brand for this and/or TMG? I have found that Source Naturals, Natrol, and NSI make SAMe in 200 mg. Are any of them good? They all seem to have lots of other ingredients in them.

 

We are also switching to Kirkman's Pro-Bio Gold probiotics and Nordic Naturals Pro-DHA capsules, per Pfeiffer's recommendations.

 

The doctor also said we could try the Houston AFP peptizyde enzyme while we try to switch to a gluten free diet again. That'll be the hardest thing to do, and while I'm not sure it's completely necessary, I want to at least test it to see if going back to gluten is indeed why his tics came back.

 

I'm a little overwhelmed by the changes and additions, but am hopeful that the SAMe/TMG may help his moods.

 

I appreciate any feedback from Chemar, and others who may have used these products. Thanks!

[Chemar]

Hi Nancy

 

we used the NOW brand of samE and once when the health store was out of it I got the NOW methionine which seemed to work just as well tho possibly slightly slower action.

 

didnt ever use the TMG (which shouldnt be used with the samE, but rather as a substitute for it)

 

Are you already supplementing with INOSITOL? If not, it really is highly recommended for the OCD/anxiety issues and can safely be used at the correct dose with other supps.

 

Uva Ursi is a very good antibacterial

 

do remember to give antioxidants now to build his system for when you do the parasite eliminations as that helps minimise die-off reactions....bilberry, beta carotene, vit C etc are all good and one also gets mutltiple antioxidant combos now

 

HTH

[kim]

Can anyone tell me if Pfeiffer can be covered by insurance? I finally found a Dr. in my area that said he would see my boys, but I could tell by talking to his receptionist that he has no experience with autism or TS and Health Plus does not recognize his practice.

 

Thanks,

 

Kim

[NancyE]

Chemar,

 

Thanks for the info! I will look for the NOW brand of SAMe. The doctor did say to use SAMe and TMG. Do you know of a specific reason not to? I thought it seemed like overkill, then I looked at an article that describes how methionine works with methylation, and it sort of made sense to use both.

 

SAMe travels through the body delivering a methyl group that allows metabolic reactions to work properly. After SAMe delivers the methyl group, it becomes homocysteine. Homocysteine is then ready to accept another methyl group which transforms it back into methionine.

 

However, if there are not enough methyl groups to add to homocysteine, then the homocysteine builds up in the body, which is bad. TMG is one pathway that can deliver a methyl group to homocysteine.

 

It sounds to me like a person might need to supplement with both to handle the different stages of methylation. Does that make any sense?

 

Also, I do give my son about 500 mg of Inositol in the morning. They did say I could give him it 2 or 3 times a day, so I may add it at night and see if that helps.

He currently gets vitamins A, C, & E among his other vitamins. Those are antioxidants, right?

 

Thanks again for your help!

 

Kim,

 

I think it depends on what type of insurance you have as to whether it will cover Pfeiffer. I have an HMO, so it won't pay anything. However, if you have a regular plan that pays something for doctors that aren't on the "preferred" list, they may pay 70% once you have met a deductible. Check with your plan. Pfeiffer will give you a detailed receipt to submit to insurance (although they require payment up front).

[Chemar]

Hi Nancy

 

well yes, that explanation of the methylation does make sense.

 

perhaps we were told not to use the TMG simultaneously because by then he was using the regular methionine rather than samE???

iHerb health encyclopedia also says TMG is an alternative to samE tho???

but I would follow the docs advice on this as he clearly knows what he is doing

 

I really would recommend the bilberry as an extra antioxidant. it is really good and has the added bonus of being an excellent supplement for vision.

 

we also use grapeseed extract (pycnogenol) when we need that extra antioxidant boost. i have the "plus" form

[Guest Guest_efgh]

Nancy

 

You mentioned that Pfeiffer suggested Enterococcus as a probiotic for your son. Are you planning to give that. Heard its very good since that is one of those strains of good bacteria which we don't get in normal fermented foods and hence such probiotics are supposed to be very beneficial especially for kids who are susceptible to allergies as well.

your thoughts and inputs on this,...

 

Chemar

 

Where do you get the bilberry? what exactly is that - a form of herb or fruit??

 

thanks.

[Chemar]

hi efgh

 

we buy bilberry capsules at the health store. Bilberries are a fruit and are high in nutritional good stuff.

During WW2 it was noted that the pilots who ate bilberry jam had better eyesight than others and research has shown that bilberry has remarkable vision effects.

 

It is now also known that this is an excellent antioxidant

 

[NancyE]

efgh,

 

Pfeiffer didn't actually suggest enterococcus as a probiotic. E. coli (I assume it's the same thing) was just listed as one of the beneficial flora tested for in the stool test from Doctor's Data. They did suggest we switch to Kirkman's Pro-Bio Gold probiotic, which has a number of strains in it.

 

Chemar,

 

thanks again for the info. I'll look for the Bilberry capsules.

[Guest Guest_efgh]

Chemar, don't you think its a better idea to give bilberry fruit as such to our kids rather than bilberry capsules.. Is that fruit freely available?

 

thanks

[Chemar]

I have never seen it here in the USA in fruit form efgh, but I believe bilberries are indigenous to the UK