TheBrain wrote:LindsayCrosby wrote:Hello!
I had similar numbers on my test. Wondering if you have detoxed and retested? How do you feel now?
Hi Lindsay. I have detoxed and retested, but it seems like the detoxing will need to be ongoing because I continue to have new mycotoxins show up. This time, I had a high level of gliotoxin, but it was zero the last time.
This weekend, I’ll post my latest results and comment more. But I’ll say here that I’m not feeling as good as I’d hoped for at this stage of the process.
Hi again, Lindsay. First of all, I want to make sure you're aware that you can get a free 30-minute consultation with a Great Plains expert following each mycotoxin test you do (as well as the organic acids test (OAT) and probably others). Just call customer service to set up an appointment.
I've uploaded my latest test results from June 20, 2020.
#4 Great Plains GPL-MycoTox - Mycotoxins test results 6-20-20 for ApoE4.Info.pdf
My Ochratoxin A (OTA) is almost normal now. Neither my functional medicine (FM) practitioner nor the Great Plains (GP) consultant believes this mycotoxin is an issue for me at this level. What isn't known is what would happen if I stop taking binders that help remove OTA. Would my level stay close to where it is, or would it rise? I live in coastal North Carolina, which is a moldy place.
My Gliotoxin is alarmingly high (3002.88 where <200 is normal). This mycotoxin wasn't tested for until my 3rd test, and it was zero then. My FM practitioner and the GP consultant thinks this is a new exposure for me (versus a mycotoxin that has emerged from my body to be removed; the body can only detox only so much at a time).
The question is: Where does this Gliotoxin exposure come from? Some possibilities: the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus (from contaminated food, soil, and/or mold colonization in my body) and/or Candida overgrowth. So my exposure could come from a combination of sources. The good news: It's very unlikely that my home is a source. More good news: The treatment is "benign," but I had to add seven more supplements to my already extensive supplement regimen. Ugh...
I could have had an OAT done, which would reveal if I have Candida overgrowth or mold colonization going on. However, in September, I'm getting an OAT as well as my 5th mycotoxins test done. The costs add up.
I learned from the GP consultant that soil, especially compost, contains Aspergillus fumigatus. I had done hours of weeding within a couple of weeks before I collected my urine sample. It turns out that in the spring, my husband had placed fresh compost where I spent most of my time weeding. So I suspect that's a major source of my exposure. I did some weeding in the same area last week, but I wore an N95 mask while doing it. Not a pretty sight and not particularly comfortable in hot weather, but I think it's in my best interest to wear it while weeding.
My Mycophenolic Acid increased from test #3 to test #4, but the range has been changed, and my level isn't too far above the normal range. My Zearalenone is now zero, as is my Citrinin. Both had been above the range in test #3. So I'm happy they're gone.
I have two mold-susceptible haplotypes, which means my body has a hard time releasing mycotoxins on its own. (I'm assuming experts still believe in this genetic risk, but I haven't researched the matter lately.)
My FM practitioner believes I'll never have all zeroes on my results from mycotoxins testing. She thinks mycotoxins will always be coming in and going out of my body (and it appears my body will always need me to take binders and other supplements to address them.) That tells me I'll always need to be proactive.
So will I ever feel all better? I certainly hope so, and I believe most people do. However, this coming December will mark three years since I've been working on this mold toxicity issue. For some, it's a slow process. For others, it's much quicker. I hope you fall into the latter category and are feeling better in a matter of months.
Let me know if you have further questions. Of course, feel free to post your own test results. Good luck with your treatment!