Reducing IGE levels for food allergy and asthma

This posting is from 2012 - to read the most recent update (May 2015) read my article "Reducing IGE Levels for Food Allergies and Asthma Update"  We've made much progress (knock on wood) and had much learning since this original posting!


So we had a 6 month follow up with the allergist after my other post on lowering IGE levels.  I'll open with what I think is the core of her, and all the other allergists I've seen, approach... "...Well I don't think there's any use in tracking that with my asthma patients.  I just don't see how that could be of any value in my management of their asthma."  Now I'm paraphrasing, but in a nutshell that is what she said to my question regarding the connection between elevated cholesterol and liver function and asthma and the studies that show a link between the two... and how people with liver disease (not saying we have it) can have elevated IGE levels because b-cells can be differentiated into IGE antibodies in the LIVER and taking steps to detox the liver and improve its function can lower IGE levels....

Silence.

(I should add that years back my son had a cholesterol test - standard blood draw panel from the chiropractor that we went to see - and it was slightly elevated - at the time he was in the 25% for weight).

Look, I'll be the first to admit it.  I did not go to medical school.  I read and think about lowering my son's IGE levels and healing him... maybe a bit too much.  And, I've turned my life upside down on this quest.  But it doesn't mean that I'm not onto something. 

Then she followed up the earlier statement with a chuckle and a "It's not like I'm a hepatologist.  Why don't you talk to your pediatrician about that."  Not too go off on a total rant, but it's amazing to me how we can discuss in the corporate world the idea that "silos" are bad - that is the disconnect between departments in a structure or group that is trying to achieve a common goal.  It makes for redundant and sometimes counter-effective efforts, major opportunities for screw ups, and it just sucks resources out when smaller efforts would be equally if not more effective - if there was just productive cross communication between departments.  So why have we allowed our health care to be silo'ed - oh sorry, I just woke up - profits.

Ok enough of a rant.  I think I made my point.  And this experience further affirms for me the need to really see most doctors as tools.  Not that they are stupid or bad - but ultimately you as a patient on the pursuit of health need to recognize that you must consult the professionals and then go off and do your own due diligence before just taking their word for what is best.  Doctors ultimately, the majority of them at least, are, as my allergist above so eloquently put it, in the the field of disease and illness "management."  Do not expect them to heal you.   

But back to our IGE update.  So status as of this visit (and I'm working on a graph):
IGE back up to 1165 from 1072 in June
Asthma issue not so good - could be from cold but also tells me I'm not doing my best - back to flovent 1 puff 2 times a day, and when he has a cold - 2 puffs 2 times a day.
Boo.

Skin test for avocado negative - so we are super slowly - in an effort to manage my anxiety with the process - going to introduce over the next couple weeks.  My son, who is nursing cold, was so excited at the prospect of a new food that he begged me to give him some when we got home.  I, of course in total neurotic me fashion, gave him a small dot of a smidge on the tip of one fork prong.

We can focus less on weight gain - my son is in the 60% (this time last year 25-50%) for his age and weight.  Now I can pull back on the carbs and push more veggies (which I have always done - but before I've let him eat more carbs just for calories).  I think this weight gain is about the camel milk.  He has gained nearly 10 pounds over the last 12 months - in comparison to a 2-3 pound weight gain in years prior. 

Now what does the above mean moving forwards?

Well I am scheduled to speak with herbalist in the next 2 weeks.  I want to discuss modifying our protocol - I really don't feel like I am getting a payoff for the efforts it takes to get him to swallow the 28 or so (not counting vitamins) capsules a day.  I feel like after 1.5 years, we'd see more improvement - even with our not so great compliance these last couple months.  I've read about some other herbs that have been shown to be much more potently IGE decreasing.

I feel like we've experienced the IGE curve they discussed in the study where they used 1 gram of sodium ascorbate with some children who had elevated IGE levels and other issues as well - but basically within the first 6 months, IGE levels dropped only to slowly rise back up to they began over the following 1.5 years.

I am examining some probiotic options - of course the strains that I can find that are linked to reducing IGE levels - are currently in mixtures grown on and containing traces of dairy - still verbotten.

This next year will be about the liver - I have a theory about my son.  My theory is this - he got completely thrown out of whack with the antibiotics in the first moments of his life - so his flora got totally set off in the wrong direction.  Then, and this is before that, I believe that in the womb or somewhere after, his liver became loaded with toxins.  I don't want to go into too much self beating here - but I just was not the most thoughtful pregnant woman - dietwise, home remodeling-wise... just not thoughtful.  Also, I do believe that all the vaccines added fuel to this combo and that coupled with a possible propensity for IGE production (his father has allergies to cats and possibly eggs) made for a perfect storm.  And now it's my job to make it right.

So back to the liver - 2013 - the year of liver detox.  The only thing is slow - because as Dr. Levy said in a speech I saw - "Detoxification can be retoxification."  So I'm not sure yet how to approach this - beyond I've read about some supplements and vitamins I'm exploring.

Bring back the veggie juice campaign.  I'm going to reinstate the veggie juice efforts with my son to get his antioxidant capacity boosted.  Important all around - especially for asthma.  I may break out the blender or other modern day device to overcome the obstacle of cleaning my juicer after each use.  Another 2013 push - something is better than nothing perfect.  IE, blender usage for juicing or smaller juicer - for me better than not doing it because I don't have time or energy to haul out my big juicer.

Bring back kung fu - we stopped going to kung fu in the summer because the teacher we were studying under kind of went over the deep end.  I've found another school I'm happy with - but it involves a drive and $150/month.   I think though now, that part of what made his pft test better in June was all the nutritional efforts, the first 6 month boost of vit C, and kung fu.  

Links to articles that inspired above:

Sodium ascorbate and IGE 
Cholesterol and asthma
Liver and IGE
Liver X receptors control IGE expression in B cells
Increase antioxidant capacity with fruit and vegetable consumption
Antioxidant capacity and pulmonary function

MRSA boil topical approach

I recently met someone who had also battled MRSA.  It never ceases to amaze me how all over it is.  In fact, I am more convinced that the majority of people (if they've ever been in a hospital) are carriers.  I remember the nurse at the infectious disease doc telling me that she believed the majority of health care workers are carriers as well.

It's interesting because while we were traveling, I had to take my son to the urgent care facilities due to a spiking fever (101 - 103.6) and rich cough for - well - the entire duration of the trip.  When I finally took him in - the doctor there gave us 3 antibiotics - oral, for my son's eye (because I mentioned that he had some eye crust the day before), and ear (because  the doc thought his ear was looking like it may be starting an infection).

When I asked what these were for - he said bronchitis.  I asked - "What if it's viral?" He responded "If it was my son, I'd give him the antibiotics," with an air that seemed to scream "DUH LADY - Just do what I say OK!"  We also had an issue with the asthma - so he recommended upping the flovent (which we did).  Upping the flovent was all we did - for several reasons.  But it struck me - that in this day and age - I wonder if antibiotics should be given at all without doing some sort of sputum testing or something.  I mean - how can you know whether or not the medicine will work for whatever particular bacteria it is you think you're fighting.  I think this guy was really just old school - but having the MRSA experience really gave me a weariness for antibiotics.  Of course, they need to be in the arsenal - but as a last - last - last resort - and once susceptibility testing has been done.  

For my son, I upped vitamin C, gave him extra zinc (about 10 mgs), magnesium, cod liver oil,  a concoction of honey, acv, and water (which he hated but drank), AND our Qigong teacher gave him an intense massage for about 45 minutes.  After that, he fell asleep for a couple hours.  (I must disclose that he had taken a dose of benedryl an hour earlier, which makes him sleepy) - but after he awoke a couple hours later, the fever did not return and the cough died down.

Upon our return home, we did a session of hydrotherapy - and all was once again good in the world.

But back to the woman I met.   Apparently, she had MRSA on her leg - done the oral antibiotic thing - and it kept returning.  She told me that she had recently gotten a small boil on her leg again - and she took this topical gel called tecnu first aid gel (formerly known as Staphseptic - but re-branded because the FDA was after them for marketing that it killed MRSA - which according to my acquaintance it actually did do) put a glob onto the boil - then with a needle she scrapped the boil until it started to bleed.  Using cotton swabs, she squeezed out all the pus - constantly reapplying the gel to make sure that it was always covered.  Until, she had basically bled it out.  Yet more gel and She claimed that by the next day - it was well on its way to healing.   Amazing.  According to her, the tecnu gel must get into the wound - she couldn't just put it on the boil and it would make it go away - that is why she bled it. 

Now I am not recommending you do this - just sharing someone's experience. 

I mentioned vitamin C additionally to her.  From my experience,  I needed the battle won internally - but maybe as a 1-2 - tecnu gel and vitamin C could work together.

Update

Tecnu contains benzethonium chloride - not so in love with this chemical.   See safety sheet here.
Just something to be aware of.