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Re: My !POSITIVE! test results for mycotoxins testing through Great Plains Laboratory

Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 6:50 pm
by circular
I second Julie's sentiment. Your progress and focus are impressive Brain! Thank you for sharing your experience in detail so we can all learn from it. I'm waiting for my HLA-DR results, and if I'm mold susceptible I may end up ordering the Great Plains test. Dr. Ackerley is switching to using that too. I'm about to post a link to a new podcast interview of her.

Re: My !POSITIVE! test results for mycotoxins testing through Great Plains Laboratory

Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 2:42 pm
by CoachDD
Greetings Brain - I am so impressed and happy for you! You are clearly dedicating to kicking out the mold! YAY!!

Like Circular, I am waiting for my HLA-DR results as well along with a plethora of other labs and tests through the ReCODE doc. My follow up is in two weeks, so we'll see what comes of it!

Re: My !POSITIVE! test results for mycotoxins testing through Great Plains Laboratory

Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 2:52 pm
by TheBrain
Thank you, Julie, Circular, and CoachDD for your kind, supportive words. This CIRS road is long and hard. I wouldn't wish this journey on my worst enemy. Wait, I don't have any worst enemies. ;)

Circular and CoachDD, best of luck with your test results. All of it will be revealing to you in one way or another (with hopefully lots of good news!), and determining your HLA-DR status is so important. Please share your results with us as much as you feel comfortable doing so.

Re: My !POSITIVE! test results for mycotoxins testing through Great Plains Laboratory

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 9:27 am
by Bettylacy
Appreciating all the information Brain, Circ, Julee, etc... on this site/thread:
I finally have some time for self-care in terms of research into my own health. I have a history of sinus infections, usually 1X per year for >10 years, usually spring or fall. I've thought could be more related to allergies? One was definitely brought on by mold visiting an old house on the coast. I am looking into mycotoxin test thru Great Plains. I have read on Laura D'itri site: https://www.lauraditri.com/how-to-test- ... d-illness/ to take acetyl-glutathione prior to testing for mycotoxin, and then someone mentioned on a prior related thread, I think it was Brain, to do an infrared sauna before testing in order to expedite excretion of mycotoxins. Are these enhancing tools really necessary?

Re: My !POSITIVE! test results for mycotoxins testing through Great Plains Laboratory

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 1:17 pm
by TheBrain
Bettylacy wrote:Appreciating all the information Brain, Circ, Julee, etc... on this site/thread:
I finally have some time for self-care in terms of research into my own health. I have a history of sinus infections, usually 1X per year for >10 years, usually spring or fall. I've thought could be more related to allergies? One was definitely brought on by mold visiting an old house on the coast. I am looking into mycotoxin test thru Great Plains. I have read on Laura D'itri site: https://www.lauraditri.com/how-to-test- ... d-illness/ to take acetyl-glutathione prior to testing for mycotoxin, and then someone mentioned on a prior related thread, I think it was Brain, to do an infrared sauna before testing in order to expedite excretion of mycotoxins. Are these enhancing tools really necessary?
Hi Bettylacy,

People with one or two mold-susceptible haplotypes have bodies that don't easily eliminate mycotoxins. So someone could have a high burden of mycotoxins in his or her body, but do a urine mycotoxins test and get a false negative result. In such people, taking glutathione supplements and/or doing far infrared (FIR) sauna sessions before collecting a urine sample can help the body release some of the mycotoxins, which would yield an accurate positive result.

People with one or more multi-susceptible haplotypes might be in a similar situation because they can be mold susceptible, but I'm uncertain if they need to take such measures, though it sounds logical to me.

If you don't know your status in terms of these haplotypes, you might want to go ahead with one or both measures prior to your sample collection. I was advised to do three FIR sauna sessions prior to collecting my sample.

If you go forward with the testing, please let us know how it goes. Good luck!

Re: My !POSITIVE! test results for mycotoxins testing through Great Plains Laboratory

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 1:47 pm
by Bettylacy
Brain;
Thanks so much. I neglected to say that I failed VCS. I will proceed with the glutathione. I don't know anyone with an IR sauna. From my readings on Shoemaker site and threads on 23 and me, and APOE4 info, a high percentage of people are susceptible to mold. There is a question as to how valuable the genetic testing is. I understand that you and Julie used it as motivation to pursue deeper dive. Can I find out the haplotype from my 23 and me results. I have run it thru Promethease, so have all the rs id's. Can I determine the HLA-DR iwith this info? I understand there are so many SNP's of HLA-DR and they are still discovering more. ty Betty

Re: My !POSITIVE! test results for mycotoxins testing through Great Plains Laboratory

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 2:20 pm
by TheBrain
You're welcome, Bettylacy. I'm sorry to hear you failed VCS.

I have two places nearby that offer FIR sauna, and I don't live near a big or even medium-sized city. One is run by a functional medicine nurse practitioner, and this is just one of her services. The other is a business that offers several alternative therapies. I was surprised by how inexpensive sessions were. I ended up buying 9 sessions for about $15.50 a session. So for me, three FIR sauna sessions were cheaper than a one-month supply of S-acetyl glutathione for $80. My FM practitioner has me taking two 200-mg capsules twice a day. I use Xymogen's product.

To the best of my knowledge, we can't determine our HLA-DR status using 23andMe. Fortunately, my health insurance covered the cost of this testing. Life Extension offers HLA-DR Mold Genetic Testing, but it costs $349.

I do recall one of our members saying that the value of genetic testing for one's HLA-DR status has come into question. I'd love to know why, but I haven't come across any details on the matter. If it weren't for knowing I have two mold-susceptible haplotypes, I likely would have Type 3 Alzheimer's in my future (if not already).

Re: My !POSITIVE! test results for mycotoxins testing through Great Plains Laboratory

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 3:20 pm
by slacker
TheBrain wrote:
I do recall one of our members saying that the value of genetic testing for one's HLA-DR status has come into question. I'd love to know why, but I haven't come across any details on the matter. If it weren't for knowing I have two mold-susceptible haplotypes, I likely would have Type 3 Alzheimer's in my future (if not already).
TheBrain;
You quoted Greg at BiotoxinJourney.com about Dr Rapaport's take on HLA DR status here. I listened to her entire talk, and she basically said what Greg summarized, and you quoted. There are populations that test positive at high percentages, so for her the test not a good discriminator for people who are at high risk. Of course this is her opinion; others may still feel it is of value.

Re: My !POSITIVE! test results for mycotoxins testing through Great Plains Laboratory

Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 3:36 pm
by TheBrain
Thanks, Slacker. I forgot the information came from Greg and that I posted it. Dr. Rapaport's office sees patients from all over the world, so maybe that's why she sees the high percentages (and that might also be why Dr. Shoemaker is questioning the value of testing HLA DR). I wonder if the lower percentage we're used to seeing is from patients in the United States?

Anyway, I still would like more details. Maybe they'll come out at some point.

Re: My !POSITIVE! test results for mycotoxins testing through Great Plains Laboratory

Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 12:12 pm
by circular
TheBrain wrote:Dr. Rapaport's office sees patients from all over the world, so maybe that's why she sees the high percentages (and that might also be why Dr. Shoemaker is questioning the value of testing HLA DR).
I think Dr. Shoemaker and others have good reason to to feel that HLA genetics aren't foolproof just given how complex genetics and epigenetics are, which isn't to say HLA genetics may not be useful motivating patients. Dr. Shoemaker also now has a much more advanced and expensive type of genetic testing available (north of $,1000), so keep that in mind when interpreting his statements. That's not to say he is making statements about HLA genetics that are biased by financial interest in a new approach, because I don't know, but that it's something to be aware of too.