Hi Zoe,

I apologize profusely for not replying before now. I was diagnosed with pyridoxine dependency when I was five months old. Regarding seizures I am doing fine, all of my severe seizures are controlled.

!!!! Happy Birthday Zoe !!!!

Many of the anti-epileptic drugs deplete various Bs and this is an important as the Bs also act as coenzymes in digestion, i.e. they are important in the digestive breakdown of foods and failure in this will lead to overgrowth of bacteria, if not fungal also. How many people don't have controlled seizures or don't get them to stop because of the side effects of their anti-epileptic drugs. Thanks for all these links! DogtorJ has helped a lot of folks, that's for sure.
My thought is to approach this from the angle of "how to take anti-epileptic drugs safely" which would cover the side effects along with what to do about them. It can be done in a way that would give physicians and patients more infomation up front so they would more quickly recognize risks and complications and have options to deal with them that fit with the conventional mindset--including when to stop using a drug.

I think you are right in not approaching this putting down anti E drugs. That might just bring out the daggers.
I am wondering since things like Vitamin B, and antibiotics can increase yeast/fungal issue if anti E meds can do this too. Leaky gut is also a hug issue with food sensitivities.

I can offer the sites that I began my search with:
http://www.stankurtz.com ( he might even be willing to help you since he recovered his child from autism by healing his gut)
http://www.danasview.net
http://www.dogtorj.com (of course he remains a hero of mine since he began me on my nutritional research)
http://www.enzymestuff.com/digestion.htm
http://www.health-truth.com/

Part 1 of 3
Hi Robin,
Any links you have will be appreciated. Bottom line in what my research is turning up is that anyting that alters the way the small intestine functions, from irritation, to simple constipation, keeps the bacteria in that part of the gut too long allowing it to over multiply.
Something I'm finding useful for myself is taking betaine supplements right after a meal, along with several tabs of chewable vitamin C over the next few hours to help stimulate stomach acid, thus proper digestion and bowel function. A teaspoon or so of magnesium at night also helps much along with plenty of water throughout the day whether or not I feel thirsty or am drinking other fluids.

Part 2
The article I'm working on right now concerns small intestine bacterial growth and celiac disease. Many of the people who do not have improved digestion from a GF diet turn out to have SIBO. This also raises the question of whether the gluten intolerance may be due to impaired digestion from the bacteria. There's also a tie-in to anti-epileptic drugs and the nutrient depletions which can affect digestion and thus bacterial overgrowth. You are so right about the SAD diet-maybe I should write about that and SIBO too, what do you think? I'm doing fine in KY, had to move into low income housing again. But the new apartment is just great and the people in this building very nice. So, I'm making some friends here and getting on track again with my health.
Within the first day of moving here my symptoms began to improve, think I had some chronic bacterial and fungal infections which the very dry air in this building are enabling me to overcome.

Part 3
I've done nothing but improve since moving here in December.
I just finished a trial work period through voc rehab and will be out looking for jobs in a week or two.
I'm just getting enough of a handle on my own inflammation to be coming out of my brain fog and getting to the writing again. Last night I pulled down a lot of information on anti-epileptic drugs, the pros and cons, including nutrients depleted and what can be done about it. I'm planning to go forward now to doing a small manual type book that would be user friendly to both patients and doctors. I think it will be more effective to write from this point of view rather than focus on the down side of anti-epileptic drugs alone and would love some feedback from you on this.

How goes with your art? Any new pictures to share? Good to hear from you.

Hi Zoe - Welcome back.
I can't give you much info on intestinal bacterial issues, except for some of the websites I use when I need more info. Rebecca has dealt with fungal overgrowth, in fact this is occurring as I write this. This is especially a top ten topic for those working to recover children dx with autism. I know there is a connection between it and neurologist issues.

I do know that antibiotics cause an increase in yeast/fungal overgrowth. Bacteria die-off increases yeast. So the over use of antibiotics in our culture, most likely is causing intestinal imbalance. That is why probiotics have become popular. Also our SAD diet is killing off enzymes which are needed to break down food. The food then just sits and ferments, and creates further problems.

Trying to discuss this with conventional doctors is like talking to a brick wall.

Good to see you back.
Are you enjoying KY? Any jobs come your way? How is your health?

Hey Zoe,
Been telling people about gluten and what it does to the people at work. They want more info and recipes. I cannot find the links.

Hi Zoe! Sorry it's been so long. Been very busy! How have you been doing lately?