@A MySpondylitisTeam Member. Hi Mel, yes, I definitely relate well to the experience of watching a loved one, and then myself too a few years ago, get worse from the prescribed medications that were supposed to be helpful. I think just MAYBE the meds could be helpful in the right environment. What I mean by that is if we address the CAUSES first and the symptoms are still present because our immune system has been kicked into overdrive in the production of inflammatory molecules, maybe a short term prescription might be helpful with settling things back down. Again, first set the environment straight for the meds to have hope of doing their job. With any luck, setting the environment straight will do the job and no meds will be needed.

Gut mapping tests can be ordered from any lab that offers it. I used LifeExtension.com because I saw an ad in their bi-monthly published magazine offering many of their lab tests for sale. They have an extensive list of labs. Check them out online. I used their most in-depth GI360 test. It was about $400 on sale, over $500 non sale i think. I filed an insurance claim directly with my health insurer and was reimbursed for about half my cost. They provided a couple dozen or so pages of results, what the results mean, and how to address problems found using both conventional and homeopathic treatments. For example, an excessive bacterial lode of streptococcus (big Psoriatic disease catalyst) as well as klebsiella pneumonia (big AS catalyst) were found and the recommendation was either high loads of long term IV antibiotics, or colloidal silver intermittently over a year. Guess which one i chose?😉 They send the collection kit directly to your home with easy to follow instructions. It's a 4 day stool collection 💩🤧and space will need to be made in your fridge for storage of that until you're ready to send it all back to them.

I shared the results of my test with my functional medicine practitioner and she put me on an array of digestive enzymes and chelators to balance my highly imbalanced microbiome and help capture the bad microbes and heavy metals to pass normally through elimination. I had no PREbiotics to help the probiotic bacteria do their job. I never would have known about the extreme imbalance and infectious microbes without the test. The nutritional/supplemental corrections have been game changers in my recovery.

Reach out anytime Mel. I believe I'm about out of room here for me to go into the other tests that have ben instrumental in my discovery to recovery. Yours in better health P 😌 🙏

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A MySpond...

Thank you so much for all this information! Appreciate you so much! Going to dig deeper into this all. My dad was someone that was constantly over prescribed medication which led to me being so against medication because I saw the impact on him. Like I said before I never even wanted to take things like ibuprofen and now I’m going from one biologic injection to another. Do you have a recommendation for where/how to do the gut micro biome testing? @A MySpondylitisTeam Member

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A MySpond...

@A MySpondylitisTeam Member. Hi Mel, I just saw your message to me from 2 days ago regarding Lyme, covid and the passing of your father (i am so sorry😓), then the hard hitting results of noticeable AS symptoms/diagnosis. This is extremely familiar to me. Similar in 2020, I had devastating family drama, a hurricane flooded the bottom level of my home that necessitated ripping out and throwing away everything to the foundation to rebuild - while still living in it - and covid twice. What i have since learned from an article I dont quite recall where from, it is thought that the spike protein of covid has the ability to pierce or wipe away the protective membrane that pathogens such as Lyme, pneumonia, streptococcus, eppstein barr, mold mycotoxins, and some parasites form around themselves to hide from our immune system. Thus the devastating cytokine storms that killed so many. Most people these days have multiple pathogens and toxic buildup in their bodies not realizing it until theyre dropped by a triggering even like covid. Thus the long covid of survivors. Lyme, and most others, can hide in your body anywhere from scalp to toes and any organ or connective tissues in between. Furthermore, just because you take medication for any of these doesn't mean you completely are cleared of them even if you take the full course. I posted last year a Lyme interview link between Dr Micah Yu and another retired Rheumatologist talking about the challenges with Lyme. There is natural Lyme support, pictured here. Also, lung support. In addition to the lung peptide i will share a picture of, there is one i took from Life Extension called Arthro-Immune with andrographalide and curcumin that helped me a lot. I was able to knock out a second round of bronchitis in one week using that instead of dealing with it for almost 3 months like a previous round. No antibiotics. Yes, Mel, there are many ways to heal your body without the side affects causing, disease perpetuating drugs. The more meds you take the more complicated it gets. Been there. Before long you'll be prescribed meds to combat the side affects of your meds. This is an absolute recipe for dire health consequences later that eventually you'll be told there's nothing that can be done. I witness that everyday I visit my parents. Its hogswallow. There's a lot that can be done, the conventional medicine drs just dont learn about it at med school. Unbelievable, but woefully true, Reach out anytime Mel. Yours in better health P

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A MySpond...

@A MySpondylitisTeam Member I’m actually very familiar with adverse childhood experiences and the impact they can have on long-term health. I have my degree in social work, and that mind-body connection has always really intrigued me. My ACE score is relatively low, though I do have a fair amount of daily stress from my job that I’m actively working on navigating in healthier ways.

As I mentioned above, I do have a history of Lyme and COVID, so I absolutely think those infections play a part of my overall health.

I’m also very conscious about mold exposure and environmental factors. I don’t believe that’s a major issue for me. Diet-wise, I eat very clean, mostly whole foods, minimal processed foods, and I’ve significantly cut back on social drinking as well.

Over the last year I’ve also been diving into gut health and the microbiome, which has led to further improvements in how I eat and support my body. I’m currently reading Body on Fire and continuing to learn.

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A MySpond...

Don't put up with the pain find something that works remember u control the disease the disease doesn't control u.