I have Graves disease and hyperthyroidism which is not under control for quite a long time(1.5y) this disease was diagnosed whrn I was 9 years old nd now I'm 25...I have improper bowel movements pain in the bones when I try exercising. I have lethargy...depression ...and doc r unable to figure out my issues . Though I know thats due to thyroid abnormal functioning .recently I am experiencing serious hairfall since 2 months despite of very good diet ...I am sure that there's something wrong with my gut health too .. which stool test should I go for. I seriously wanted to go for a stool test bcz doc hasn't asked for any stool test. please help me out It's been more than 6 months I'm experiencing gut issues. I have been gluten free for abt an year now. .and I have switched to no dairy from may 2020
@@subhashiniverma1763 hi there, and thank you for sharing your experience. The test I like to use is the GI MAP. It's a good, broad spectrum stool test. Do you live in the US? But even before working on what you find in a stool test, it's important to get your diet under control (which it sounds like you're already doing), and trialing probiotics, and supporting basic digestion. Once you've got those well handled, THEN you can address whatever you find on the stool test. You have to lay the foundation first. For more on that process, you can download a free copy of ROadmap to Gut Recovery (if you haven't already) at confluencenutrition.com/roadmap.
@@subhashiniverma1763 start with one probiotic from each of the three main categories: a lacto-bifido blend, a saccharomyces boulardii, and a soil-based probiotic...see this video for more detail: czcams.com/video/DBFCiFbG-3Y/video.html
Well that was very informative , thank you . I have IBS - D and I have been trying to gather as much research as possible but I noticed everybody wants to sell you something. My MD Prescribed an anti spasm pill which does help but does not cure my problem.
Hi Frank, I'm glad it felt helpful...and i'm glad the anti-spasm pill helps, but I agree, it's best to solve whatever underlying problem you have so you don't need the pills anymore! Thanks for watching!
Can you make a video on the difference between a food sensitivity test, a microbiome test, and a stool test? Which one is the best one to use to know what foods we should eat or avoid
Hi Franz, I made this video that I hope addresses your question...let me know if you still have another question I didn't answer. Thanks for watching czcams.com/video/0EDNE5u3EPU/video.html
What’s your opinion on Microbiome kits on the market? I’ve been considering Thryve and Viome to get a better understanding of my body and what foods are truly going to fuel it & improve my digestion.
Hi Jennifer, great question. I don't feel like those tests are very clinically useful. I find them interesting, but the state of the research is such that we aren't really able to say, except with some broad strokes, that a particular imbalance of particular bacteria or groups of bacteria translates to specific symptoms. I'm much more interested in where the rubber meets the road. I have seen a Viome test result, and I can't see how they could possibly give the dietary advice they give based on the test results. No matter the test, the results need to be read in context of what your body actually says about things. I find the gold standard of food tolerance is how you feel, which we can evaluate using food-symptom tracking. Even the GIMAP, which I use with clients sometimes, doesn't necessarily tell us directly what we need to do clinically. Hope that helps, and thanks for watching.
What biofilm buster do you recommend before taking a stool test? Thank you for this content, can't tell you just how valuable this info is for me (and others)!
Hi Brit, if your test will be a GI MAP, it's generally thought you don't need biofilm busters. BUt if you'll be using a non-PCR DNA test, you'll want to include one. NAC, which is a little harder to find lately, or BIofilm Phase 2 is a good product. Thanks for watching, and I'm glad my videos are helpful for you :)
Hi I've recently come acrross your channel and I find that you are one of the only functional nutrition specialists who goes into these subjects and provides clarity in a space thats unknown to many people. Needless to say I'm very thankful you and your channel exist. Recently, I came across some information that tied in many of my long term health issues into one possible cause or group. I suspect I may have a long-term chronic streptococcus infection throughout certain parts of my body. My symptoms are long term acne that started at puberty and hasn't susided despite being 23 (diet only goes so far & i remain highly food-sensitive), bladder/interstitial cystitis issues, minor parapelvic cyst in kidney, long-term sinus issues, and constipation/gas/bloating. Is there any way you could help point me in some direction, particularly in the area of stool or microbiome testing. I really want to get to the bottom of this as I've had so many pointless testing done by conventional doctors. I'd appreciate any help you can offer.
Hi Chosen One, nice to meet you! You are on the journey, and I love how you're thinking about your situation. Taking a wider view in the beginning and doing a thorough assessment helps point you in the right direction and also helps you waste less time and money. Gut testing may or may not be a necessary assessment at first. I highly recommend this video, where I share the steps that help you get some clarity about where to start, and I'm happy to further discuss how you might proceed: czcams.com/video/z2E0LsPoaAA/video.html And I'm curious...with your symptom picture you describe, have you explored a low oxalate diet at all? It's not likely to be the one single magic pill, but thought I would ask. Let's connect further if you need more.
@@ConfluenceNutrition Same guy different account here ! Yes i explored low oxalate and it did give me some relief but not a solution. Peanut butter is very irritating for example. Everything has lead me to GI MAP. The only thing I’ve ever heard of that connected cystitis, sinus, and acne as symptoms of one thing was streptococcus. I also looked into a few people with acnes’ GI MAP results online and they all happen to show high levels of strep. I’m not 100% tied to this but it’s definitely my leading theory so far. I submitted an application to do the 30 min consult 👍🏻
Hi Mrs. Liz, I don't think it's possible to order a stool test without some kind of health professional on board. There may be some direct to consumer tests, but in my opinion they are not as useful or high quality as the GI MAP or the GI FX. Stool testing is something I offer access to inside my Calm Digestion Method program, which helps people with bloating, constipation, or diarrhea who are frustrated and confused by their gut health diets and protocol go from food anxiety, endless questions, and second guessing to a confident plan for calm digestion. If that sounds like something you need help with, along with stool testing, I'd love to connect on a free discovery call. You can schedule that here: confluencenutrition.com/contact.
Good video! I'm really struggling between GI360 (doctors data I'm not sure?) and the GI Map, they both seem good in different ways. However I think GI Map is the most complete regarding parasites etc? GI 360 doesn't include H Pylori as standard, and I assume misses others. One thing that puts me off GI Map is the one day collection, like you mentioned, three day can be better to not miss things. However I assume due to the PCR/DNA testing, one day is considered good enough by the GI Map lab? Thanks!
Hi Aiden, the GI360 and GI MAP are pretty comparable, I think either is high quality. I am trained to read the GI MAP so that's the test I use in practice, but either would be fine...thanks for watching!
I did the Comprehensive Stool Analysis and Parasitology with The Great Plains Laboratory. I am pretty happy with the data. The expected/beneficial flora was good. No despotic flora. Some commensal/imbalanced flora which I am addressing. Any suggestions?
IT sounds like you're on the right track...I think the most important take-away is to address YOU and your symptoms, not the results on the paper. Thanks for watching!
Great question! They are part of an overall assessment of gut function and health. In some cases, the results can suggest a gut rehab path, like probiotics or enzymes for example, and in some cases, it would suggest specific treatment courses that might need an MD to help with, or herbal approaches. This would be in the case of a specific infection, like H. pylori, or C. diff, for example. They alwasy need to be read in the context of other things going on in the case.
Hello. I recently got some results back from the Genova GI Effects stool test. They seem kind of suspect because they seem to suggest my digestive system is functioning fairly normally even though I've had a compromised digestive system for 20 years with issues like leaky gut, inflammation, and other things. This is due to to chronic Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses like Bartonella. Have you encountered erroneous results from that Genova test before? It's possible my gut is not in horrendous shape like it used to be but the summary page shows a zero in almost every category. That was surprising. Also, they did not instruct me to send the sample refrigerated and I'm wondering if that could have played a part in this. Maybe the sample could have been affected somehow in transit? Thanks!
Hi Howard, (is that your real name, LOL??), I don't find the GI Effects that useful. I highly prefer the GI MAP because it tests for DNA of around 60 pathogens, and it gives you a quantitative readout of those organisms. The GI Effects is based on culture and microscopy and can miss a lot of things. That said, with your chronic Lyme, have you been on a long-term antibiotic treatment protocol, either herbal or pharmaceutical? It's also possible there's not much going on in your gut microbiome, but your gut could still use some support on gut function...or yes, even that your sample was compromised...hard to say from where I'm sitting!
@@ConfluenceNutrition Howard is just a screename. I was taking abx through a picc line for a couple years. They did almost nothing. That was a few years ago. I don't think they did too much gut damage. My gut was already destroyed from 15 years of undiagnosed Lyme and coinfections. I did a lot of work on it and it improved but it got worse again. Do you know if there's a section on the GI Effects test that could help me determine levels of leaky gut? The doctor who ordered the test didn't read the results before our appt so he was reading it in real-time. We wasted a bunch of time and I didn't get much out of it. Thanks a lot!
@@Howard_the_Duck Love the screen name, everytime I read it, I hear the song...anyway, several years of antibiotics may have minimized your gut flora, though it often leads to fungal overgrowth. A few years back I met a Lyme patient who had empty GI tests who had been on long-term antibx. The GI Effects doesn't really have good indicators of leaky gut. Leaky gut isn't really a specific diagnosis, you can kind of assume you have a leaky gut if you have gut symptoms, but there's not one specific cause or treatment. There are tests for intestinal permeability, a synonym for leaky gut. I believe Genova makes one.It can give you an idea about how severe your permeability is. Sorry your doctor didn't take good time to review your test ahead of time...that's lame.
I have a stupid questions. I want to get GI Map since I have constipation and bloating. How do I know what I can do to heal my gut after getting the result? Is there explanations on the GI Map report that is in layman's term?
Thanks for watching! Have you ever used a stool test? How did it help you? Leave a comment below!
I have Graves disease and hyperthyroidism which is not under control for quite a long time(1.5y) this disease was diagnosed whrn I was 9 years old nd now I'm 25...I have improper bowel movements pain in the bones when I try exercising.
I have lethargy...depression ...and doc r unable to figure out my issues . Though I know thats due to thyroid abnormal functioning .recently I am experiencing serious hairfall since 2 months despite of very good diet ...I am sure that there's something wrong with my gut health too .. which stool test should I go for. I seriously wanted to go for a stool test bcz doc hasn't asked for any stool test. please help me out
It's been more than 6 months I'm experiencing gut issues. I have been gluten free for abt an year now. .and I have switched to no dairy from may 2020
@@subhashiniverma1763 hi there, and thank you for sharing your experience. The test I like to use is the GI MAP. It's a good, broad spectrum stool test. Do you live in the US? But even before working on what you find in a stool test, it's important to get your diet under control (which it sounds like you're already doing), and trialing probiotics, and supporting basic digestion. Once you've got those well handled, THEN you can address whatever you find on the stool test. You have to lay the foundation first. For more on that process, you can download a free copy of ROadmap to Gut Recovery (if you haven't already) at confluencenutrition.com/roadmap.
@@ConfluenceNutrition I am from India
I'm not taking any probiotics...I have stopped consuming curd also from a last few months...what should I do...
@@subhashiniverma1763 start with one probiotic from each of the three main categories: a lacto-bifido blend, a saccharomyces boulardii, and a soil-based probiotic...see this video for more detail: czcams.com/video/DBFCiFbG-3Y/video.html
Well that was very informative , thank you . I have IBS - D and I have been trying to gather as much research as possible but I noticed everybody wants to sell you something. My MD Prescribed an anti spasm pill which does help but does not cure my problem.
Hi Frank, I'm glad it felt helpful...and i'm glad the anti-spasm pill helps, but I agree, it's best to solve whatever underlying problem you have so you don't need the pills anymore! Thanks for watching!
Can you make a video on the difference between a food sensitivity test, a microbiome test, and a stool test? Which one is the best one to use to know what foods we should eat or avoid
Hi Franz, thanks for watching. I would love to, that's a great topic for a video. I'll try to remember to let you know when it's ready.
Hi Franz, I made this video that I hope addresses your question...let me know if you still have another question I didn't answer. Thanks for watching czcams.com/video/0EDNE5u3EPU/video.html
What’s your opinion on Microbiome kits on the market? I’ve been considering Thryve and Viome to get a better understanding of my body and what foods are truly going to fuel it & improve my digestion.
Hi Jennifer, great question. I don't feel like those tests are very clinically useful. I find them interesting, but the state of the research is such that we aren't really able to say, except with some broad strokes, that a particular imbalance of particular bacteria or groups of bacteria translates to specific symptoms. I'm much more interested in where the rubber meets the road. I have seen a Viome test result, and I can't see how they could possibly give the dietary advice they give based on the test results. No matter the test, the results need to be read in context of what your body actually says about things. I find the gold standard of food tolerance is how you feel, which we can evaluate using food-symptom tracking. Even the GIMAP, which I use with clients sometimes, doesn't necessarily tell us directly what we need to do clinically. Hope that helps, and thanks for watching.
What biofilm buster do you recommend before taking a stool test? Thank you for this content, can't tell you just how valuable this info is for me (and others)!
Hi Brit, if your test will be a GI MAP, it's generally thought you don't need biofilm busters. BUt if you'll be using a non-PCR DNA test, you'll want to include one. NAC, which is a little harder to find lately, or BIofilm Phase 2 is a good product. Thanks for watching, and I'm glad my videos are helpful for you :)
Hi I've recently come acrross your channel and I find that you are one of the only functional nutrition specialists who goes into these subjects and provides clarity in a space thats unknown to many people. Needless to say I'm very thankful you and your channel exist. Recently, I came across some information that tied in many of my long term health issues into one possible cause or group. I suspect I may have a long-term chronic streptococcus infection throughout certain parts of my body. My symptoms are long term acne that started at puberty and hasn't susided despite being 23 (diet only goes so far & i remain highly food-sensitive), bladder/interstitial cystitis issues, minor parapelvic cyst in kidney, long-term sinus issues, and constipation/gas/bloating. Is there any way you could help point me in some direction, particularly in the area of stool or microbiome testing. I really want to get to the bottom of this as I've had so many pointless testing done by conventional doctors. I'd appreciate any help you can offer.
Hi Chosen One, nice to meet you! You are on the journey, and I love how you're thinking about your situation. Taking a wider view in the beginning and doing a thorough assessment helps point you in the right direction and also helps you waste less time and money. Gut testing may or may not be a necessary assessment at first. I highly recommend this video, where I share the steps that help you get some clarity about where to start, and I'm happy to further discuss how you might proceed: czcams.com/video/z2E0LsPoaAA/video.html And I'm curious...with your symptom picture you describe, have you explored a low oxalate diet at all? It's not likely to be the one single magic pill, but thought I would ask. Let's connect further if you need more.
@@ConfluenceNutrition Same guy different account here ! Yes i explored low oxalate and it did give me some relief but not a solution. Peanut butter is very irritating for example. Everything has lead me to GI MAP. The only thing I’ve ever heard of that connected cystitis, sinus, and acne as symptoms of one thing was streptococcus. I also looked into a few people with acnes’ GI MAP results online and they all happen to show high levels of strep. I’m not 100% tied to this but it’s definitely my leading theory so far. I submitted an application to do the 30 min consult 👍🏻
@@jesseguerrero8203 Hi Jesse, sounds good, I'll look forward to meeting you!
Which test is the best that we can purchase without a doctor ordering it?
Hi Mrs. Liz, I don't think it's possible to order a stool test without some kind of health professional on board. There may be some direct to consumer tests, but in my opinion they are not as useful or high quality as the GI MAP or the GI FX.
Stool testing is something I offer access to inside my Calm Digestion Method program, which helps people with bloating, constipation, or diarrhea who are frustrated and confused by their gut health diets and protocol go from food anxiety, endless questions, and second guessing to a confident plan for calm digestion. If that sounds like something you need help with, along with stool testing, I'd love to connect on a free discovery call. You can schedule that here: confluencenutrition.com/contact.
Good video! I'm really struggling between GI360 (doctors data I'm not sure?) and the GI Map, they both seem good in different ways. However I think GI Map is the most complete regarding parasites etc? GI 360 doesn't include H Pylori as standard, and I assume misses others. One thing that puts me off GI Map is the one day collection, like you mentioned, three day can be better to not miss things. However I assume due to the PCR/DNA testing, one day is considered good enough by the GI Map lab? Thanks!
Hi Aiden, the GI360 and GI MAP are pretty comparable, I think either is high quality. I am trained to read the GI MAP so that's the test I use in practice, but either would be fine...thanks for watching!
I did the Comprehensive Stool Analysis and Parasitology with The Great Plains Laboratory. I am pretty happy with the data. The expected/beneficial flora was good. No despotic flora. Some commensal/imbalanced flora which I am addressing. Any suggestions?
IT sounds like you're on the right track...I think the most important take-away is to address YOU and your symptoms, not the results on the paper. Thanks for watching!
very good info there.
Thanks for watching, Cris!
So how do results help you? What do you do with this information?
Great question! They are part of an overall assessment of gut function and health. In some cases, the results can suggest a gut rehab path, like probiotics or enzymes for example, and in some cases, it would suggest specific treatment courses that might need an MD to help with, or herbal approaches. This would be in the case of a specific infection, like H. pylori, or C. diff, for example. They alwasy need to be read in the context of other things going on in the case.
Hello. I recently got some results back from the Genova GI Effects stool test. They seem kind of suspect because they seem to suggest my digestive system is functioning fairly normally even though I've had a compromised digestive system for 20 years with issues like leaky gut, inflammation, and other things. This is due to to chronic Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses like Bartonella. Have you encountered erroneous results from that Genova test before? It's possible my gut is not in horrendous shape like it used to be but the summary page shows a zero in almost every category. That was surprising. Also, they did not instruct me to send the sample refrigerated and I'm wondering if that could have played a part in this. Maybe the sample could have been affected somehow in transit? Thanks!
Hi Howard, (is that your real name, LOL??), I don't find the GI Effects that useful. I highly prefer the GI MAP because it tests for DNA of around 60 pathogens, and it gives you a quantitative readout of those organisms. The GI Effects is based on culture and microscopy and can miss a lot of things. That said, with your chronic Lyme, have you been on a long-term antibiotic treatment protocol, either herbal or pharmaceutical? It's also possible there's not much going on in your gut microbiome, but your gut could still use some support on gut function...or yes, even that your sample was compromised...hard to say from where I'm sitting!
@@ConfluenceNutrition Howard is just a screename. I was taking abx through a picc line for a couple years. They did almost nothing. That was a few years ago. I don't think they did too much gut damage. My gut was already destroyed from 15 years of undiagnosed Lyme and coinfections. I did a lot of work on it and it improved but it got worse again. Do you know if there's a section on the GI Effects test that could help me determine levels of leaky gut? The doctor who ordered the test didn't read the results before our appt so he was reading it in real-time. We wasted a bunch of time and I didn't get much out of it. Thanks a lot!
@@Howard_the_Duck Love the screen name, everytime I read it, I hear the song...anyway, several years of antibiotics may have minimized your gut flora, though it often leads to fungal overgrowth. A few years back I met a Lyme patient who had empty GI tests who had been on long-term antibx. The GI Effects doesn't really have good indicators of leaky gut. Leaky gut isn't really a specific diagnosis, you can kind of assume you have a leaky gut if you have gut symptoms, but there's not one specific cause or treatment. There are tests for intestinal permeability, a synonym for leaky gut. I believe Genova makes one.It can give you an idea about how severe your permeability is. Sorry your doctor didn't take good time to review your test ahead of time...that's lame.
I have a stupid questions. I want to get GI Map since I have constipation and bloating. How do I know what I can do to heal my gut after getting the result? Is there explanations on the GI Map report that is in layman's term?
i am your fan
:) Thank you for watching and your complement!