<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0">
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        <title><![CDATA[Functional Laboratory Tests - The Environmental Illness Resource | Reviews]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Descriptions and reviews of books, products and treatments relating to environmental illnesses.]]></description>
        <link>http://www.ei-resource.org/</link>
                                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">3202-553</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Neurotoxic Metabolite Test (NMT): nmt]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.ei-resource.org/functional-laboratory-tests/gastrointestinal/neurotoxic-metabolite-test-(nmt)/</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                    <img src="http://www.ei-resource.org/images/stories/jreviews/tn/tn_3202_list_nmt_1253719762.JPG"  border="0"  alt="Neurotoxic Metabolite Test (NMT)"  title="Neurotoxic Metabolite Test (NMT)"  align="left"  style="width: 75px; height: 100px"  />                                i got my kit for $60 from  cfs discovery.com.au in melbourne australia
i was in a relapse at the time and my urine turned dark purple in 3 minutes or less. it did not change colour after. remained the same.  so i am strong positive. 
but i have heard from some friends that they had  negative and yet they are severely ill. 
i am looking at immune system problems - have had virus for 10 weeks - not making any energy
further testing is to be done                  ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Gastrointestinal]]></category>
                <pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2012 06:47:54 +0100</pubDate>
            </item>
                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">2943-501</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Adrenal Stress Index (ASI): a dhea user for 3 years]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.ei-resource.org/functional-laboratory-tests/endocrine-(hormones)/adrenal-stress-index-(asi)/</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                I have used DHEA supplements for the last 3 years. It added energy and a strong sense of wellbeing and a healthy sex drive as well.  I have noticed other things like my hair is thicker...I grew back eyebrows (but have to pluck more like when i was younger) and at age 51 I am constantly told I look like i am in my late 30's.  I have gained a lot of weight in the last 3 years tho and am wondering if this is a side effect.  I dropped about 20 lbs in the first 6 months of using it..(50 mgs a day) but after that i slowly have gained it all back over the course of the last 3 years and mostly in the last 6 months.  If anyone has any info on weight gain and dhea, please let me know.
Thanks,
Tina  lovewillprevail8@yahoo.com                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Endocrine (Hormones)]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sat, 18 Sep 2010 00:43:33 +0100</pubDate>
            </item>
                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">3376-431</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Heidelberg Stomach Acid Test : Useful for its accuracy - expensive and time consu]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.ei-resource.org/functional-laboratory-tests/gastrointestinal/heidelberg-stomach-acid-test-/</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                I had a Heidelberg pH Test back in 2001 following a Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA). The CDSA flagged up a number of abnormal results regarding digestion and absorption so I had the Heidelberg test to help pin down the cause(s). 

The test has a long history and proven track record so I have confidence in the results. As it turned out my stomach acid output was fine - in fact it was 103% of normal so definitely not a cause of my poor digestion. In hindsight and with more knowledge of medicine and my own health it is likely the CDSA showed poor digestion due to stress, which increases transit time therefore reducing the amount of time food is in contact with digestive juices. I subsequently found further evidence of fungal and bacterial dysbiosis which the CDSA had strongly indicated and this could certainly impair digestion.

As for the Heidelberg Test procedure itself I didn't find it too unpleasant. The pH monitoring capsule really is the size of a large nutritional supplement so if you're used to swallowing these you'll have no problem at all. After this you just lay back and wait while the capsule sits in your stomach sending back data. I actually had a vfersion of the test that also tests pH in the small intestine to determine bicarbonate output from the pancreas as well so I was lying on the clinic bed for about 2 hours. Testing stomach pH only takes 30-40 minutes. In either case you can just sit back and read etc.

The test is obviously not cheap as the equipment is expensive and it takes a significant amount of the doctor's time but if you have the hallmark symptoms of low stomach acid or other reason to believe it may be a problem then this test is the best way to get a definitive answer. Recommended if you can afford it.

                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Gastrointestinal]]></category>
                <pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:56:47 +0000</pubDate>
            </item>
                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">3202-400</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Neurotoxic Metabolite Test (NMT): Neurotoxic Metabolite Test (NMT)]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.ei-resource.org/functional-laboratory-tests/gastrointestinal/neurotoxic-metabolite-test-(nmt)/</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                    <img src="http://www.ei-resource.org/images/stories/jreviews/tn/tn_3202_list_nmt_1253719762.JPG"  border="0"  alt="Neurotoxic Metabolite Test (NMT)"  title="Neurotoxic Metabolite Test (NMT)"  align="left"  style="width: 75px; height: 100px"  />                                Having suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome for 18 years and had other tests strongly indicating gut dysbiosis I was intrigued to hear about Professor de Meirleir's work and very interested in taking the Neurotoxic Metabolite Test myself.

Living in the UK, I obtained the test from ME/CFS specialist Dr. Sarah Myhill, M.D., at a cost of a little over Â£20. You can also obtain the test directly from Protea biopharma or a handful of distributors in other countries.

The test itself was a very simple matter. I collected a sample of urine in the container provided the first time I visited the bathroom on waking. I then used the pipette type tool to take a smaller sample and add this to the vile containing a special chemical (known as a reagent) that reacts with hydrogen sulfide metabolites. I then turned the vile upside down a couple of times to mix the reagent and urine together and started timing for 3 minutes.

So the test itself was quick, simple, and relatively inexpensive. The tricky part I discovered is interpreting the results. The instruction sheet provides pictures which show viles with sample colours indicating negative, moderate positive, and strong positive results. The problem is that my sample showed a definite change of colour within the 3 minute period but did not match up to any of the pictures. My sample had more of a brown hue than any of the pictures show. Despite this, based on how dark my sample turned I believe my result to have been borderline moderate-strong positive. 

After reading others' experiences with the test on various websites and forums it seems my experience is common. Perhaps it is simply a matter of the colour rendering when the instructions leaflet is printed but it is certainly something that Protea biopharma need to look at if the test is to become an approved diagnostic test I would have thought.

Still, I saw a definite colour change towards a darker colour so will take this as further evidence of gut dysbiosis in conjunction with various other tests I have had including CDSA and gut fermentation profile.

If you are a ME/CFS patient and have not had any testing regarding gut dysbiosis I'd certainly recommend the NMT as a cheap and easy home test which can be regarded as an initial screen. A positive looking result could then be followed up with further testing such as those I've mentioned.

                   ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Gastrointestinal]]></category>
                <pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:48:34 +0100</pubDate>
            </item>
                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">2943-358</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Adrenal Stress Index (ASI): Helped explain many symptoms and guided treatment]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.ei-resource.org/functional-laboratory-tests/endocrine-(hormones)/adrenal-stress-index-(asi)/</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                Although providing the saliva samples throughout the day is a bit inconvenient (and it is often hard to even produce the required amount of saliva) it is worth it to understand how your adrenal glands are functioning.I have had two ASI tests and the results for cortisol in particular have correlated exactly with my symptoms. 

Cortisol levels are supposed to be highest in the morning to give us the drive and energy to get going. They are then supposed to decline gradually throughout the day, reeaching their lowest level at night to allow sound sleep.

My results show that my cortisol levels are low in the morning, which explains my inability to wake up and get going until late morning (10:30-11:00). They then rise and peak around 12-1 and this is when I am feeling a lot better and am my most productive. My cortisol then falls and reaches a low at 4pm when I experience a corresponding period of drowsiness and it is a real struggle to carry on being active. My results then indicate my cortisol shoots up at night which explains why I find it hard to relax in the evening and don't go to bed until late. My sleep is also of very poor quality.

I should explain that I have suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome for 18 years from the age of 12 and these results are typical of an ME/CFS patient.

The results have been very helpful to me and I have found licorice is effective at boosting my low morning cortisol while phosphatidylserine blunts my high night time levels and allows me to sleep better. The results also showed generally low DHEA and I have found DHEA supplementation to be very useful at improving my stress resistance, mood, and general feelings of well-being.

I'd recommend this test to anyone suffering from chronic stress and associated symptoms as well as those suffering from ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and unexplained chronic illness.

                 ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Endocrine (Hormones)]]></category>
                <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:18:37 +0100</pubDate>
            </item>
                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">2939-356</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Intestinal Permeability Test: Useful in any unexplained chronic illness]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.ei-resource.org/functional-laboratory-tests/gastrointestinal/intestinal-permeability-test/</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                The intestinal permeability test is so easy to perform at home and is relatively inexpensive (I paid about Â£40/$65) that I'd recommend anyone with unexplained chronic health problems does one, whether they have digestive symptoms or not. 

The number of conditions that researchers are linking to increased intestinal permeability/leaky gut syndrome is increasing all the time. Studies are currently underway to determine its role in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and it has already been linked to Crohn's disease, autoimmune diseases including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis, and may be associated with asthma as well as food allergy and intolerance, and allergies in general.

This test may also alert patients and health care providers to the presence of malabsorptive conditions including celiac disease.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the health of the entire body depends on the health of the GI tract. This simple and inexpensive test gives a good picture of how well the GI tract is doing its job of absorbing nutrients while acting as a barrier against toxins, allergens, and microorganisms. 

A good initial screen of gut health. If results show malabsorption or leaky gut syndrome further testing (usually more expensive) can help to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. 

This test really helped to confirm my suspicions that poor gut health was behind the worsening of my health problems which include chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and chronic liver toxicity.


                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Gastrointestinal]]></category>
                <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:02:20 +0100</pubDate>
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