For those of you considering the metametrix test here are my results so you can take a look at them:

Bushi - I'll fix this shortly so we can see your images full-screen. Leave it with me!

Edit: The actual files are too small Bushi (or were auto-downsized by the forum software). If you email me your original images at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it I'll take a look and see what I can do. Your commensal microbes look pretty good from what I can make out but looks like you have some additional bacteria and parasites hanging around?

Hey Maff,

Thanks for your response.

As you mentioned I do have a bit of a mould problem. I was thinking that could be because I have been diagnosed with a dust/dustmite and mould allergy for which I inject every two days. I'm supposed to build a resistance up to them. I've been doing it for 18 months now. I have to say that things are a lot better now. Before I could hardly breath, was badly clogged up and had bad post nasal drip. Now I still do have a slight drip sensation from time to time but my nose is not so clogged up to the extent it was before. Perhaps that's where the mould problem comes from as I am always having to swallow and I must be ingesting the mucous. Like having a constant cold.

The response I got in my letter said that it was candida. But you're saying that it's not any species of candida or usual resident of the human gut. I am taking the Caprylic acid, black walnut, goldenseal, cat's claw, codliver oil and oil of oregano. Don't know if I'm taking enough of the stuff though. I was thinking about taking massive doses of vitamin C throughout the day as I've heard that can really help with many illnesseses. However, I know that it can aggrevate the stomach if not done properly.

So I don't have any type of pathogenic bacteria then as you mentioned, but I do have an imbalanced SCFA (what is that exactly?) which is slightly over acidic pH which points to dysbiosis (disordered microbial ecology) i.e SIBO and yeast overgrowth.

As you know I was diagnosed with Hypochlorhydria for which I take Betain HCL tabs with Pepsin with all my meals to help break down the food I eat. Not sure if I have noticed a massive difference with that now that I have been on it for some time. So how is my pH acidic if I suffer with low acidity? I probably missing something.

As you also mentioned I also have a lot Clostridia. I looked up clostridia but could only find it associated with C-Dificile. Is it something different???

So in your opinion because my bacterial levels are not in bad shape you think that Fecal Transplantation would probably not help me then? And when you mention tackling it with antimicrobials are you refering to the natural supplements which I am already taking? i.e black walnut, goldenseal etc...

Do think that just taking the antifungals and antibiotics which I bought would help? (Rifaximin and Metronidazole / Nystatin and itraconozale ).

I'm sure that this fermentation has lead to a whole host of sensitivities such as wheat, dairy, etc..and could even be the cause of not just my food allergies but also my nasal allergies.

Sorry for the long winded message...but I have so many questions and after so many years of suffering I finally feel I'm getting some answers!!!

Hypochlohydria - I hadn't even heard of it until a few weeks ago!

Thanks

Bushi

I have just received the results of my Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis test (CDSA) and thought I would post the results so that people can see what it looks like if they are thinking of paying for the test.

Maff, I will leave it to you to sort out the display.

Basically it tells me that I have adequate number of enzymes and that the absence of meat fibres suggests I am digesting them well. Before I did the test I had not started taking pancreatic digestive enzymes. However, I think I had started to take HCL (Hydrochloric Acid), although I had stopped for a few days before giving the sample). The test also shows that I have a good intake of of soluble fibre and this is fermented by friendly bacteroides in the large bowel.

However, what the test did reveal was the presence of two strains of yeast called Kloeckera and candida pelliculosa which are not very commonly known strains. So this seems to indicate i have a fermenting gut due to yeast.

So the Dr has suggested I take a course of Ketoconazole 200mg daily with Nystatin powder 1/3rd of a teaspoon with meals. Along with antifungals such as garlic, plant tannin (which I'm not sure what that is) and Uva Ursi (which I had not heard of). However, these natural alternative may have limited affects.

The Doc, also suggested taking Kefir which contains bacteria that produce a toxin which inhibits yeast growth.

The only thing that has confused me is that I have already been taking Water Kefir for some months now (Not milk kefir) and I have just realised that water kefir contains the yeast 'Kloeckera'. I thought all the bacteria and yeast in Kefir are supposed to be beneficial ones??!!

This link lists what water kefir contains:
www.yemoos.com/waterkefirstrains.html

"Water kefir is typically composed of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Pediococcus and Leuconostoc bacteria with yeasts from Saccharomyces, Candida, Kloeckera and possibly other minor yeasts".

So one doubt I have now is whether i should continue with the water kefir??

Hope this is of some you to some of you.

The HCl supplements may have skewed your results a little in a positive direction for digestion Bushi...but depends on how long you stopped taking them before you gave your stool sample as well as your bowel transit time (how long it takes food & stools to pass through your intestines). Gastric acid, or HCl, is the heavy duty initial stage of protein digestion...it literally unravels the complicated structure of proteins so proteolytic digestive enzymes can work on breaking down small pieces into peptides and amino acids in the small intestine.

I have to admit that Kloeckera is not a yeast I am particularly familiar with but it does sound like your water kefir is a likely source. Question is...is it doing any harm or is it benefitting you by taking up residence in your gut? I am not sure on that. Candida we know is a normal resident but not a good thing to have around in excess. Saccharomyces is a genus of yeast that is actually used as an anti-Candida supplement in the form of the Saccharomyces boulardii strain.

I can't claim to be an expert on kefir, particularly water kefir, but from your quote it seems to contain some desirable microbes as well as some that we might consider less desirable. I'll have to let you make your own mind up on that one I'm afraid.

One thing I wanted to reply about was your doctor's recommendation of ketoconazole. That's the oldest and most toxic of the 'azole' antifungals and requires monitoring of liver enzymes during use as a result. Fluconazole (Diflucan) or other newer azoles would be safer and what I would choose for myself over ketoconazole. The alternatives antifungals are all pretty good. Tannins are chemicals found in tea and many medicinal herbs and have strong antimicrobial activity. Uva ursi and garlic are other common natural antifungals.

Good luck with the treatment and figuring out the kefir question (sorry can't help on that one!).