I said I would post the answer I got from Enterolab. Unfortunately, they did not answer my question about what the margin of error was on the testing, a concern since the yeast result was only 11.

"We do not have lists of foods to avoid, but you will want to watch ingredient labels containing baker's or brewer's yeast and anything with the word "soy" in it. The only ingredient with "soy" in it that seems to be ok as far as we can tell is soy lecithin. Though the severity of your sensitivities can change depending upon the health of your immune system and other factors, the reaction will never really go away. The only way to control it is through elimination of the offending foods from the diet. The severity of each of your sensitivities can be different, so it is difficult to say how much a little would affect you. Less is good, but none is best in this situation. If the result is 10 or above, the sensitivity exists, though again the severity can vary among differing reactions. Your reaction can change as your health and body changes, but it never really goes away. Even if you are able to bring the IgA antibody counts down into the normal range at some point, once you reintroduced the foods into the diet, the antibody production would soon start up again. Sincerely, Phyllis Zermeno, RN, BSN Clinical Manager"

I've seen lists of soy ingredients that don't include "soy," so no help there.

Heck, wine doesn't say "yeast" on the ingredients label. Perhaps I can get away with it Certainly, vinegar and mushrooms don't have yeast on the label either.

I'm tempted to remove all the soy, everything with yeast on the label (got to find me some yummy gluten-free, yeast-free bread -- I may have to actually bake -- good for comic relief, if nothing else), and keep with the wine. In a year when I retest to see if I'm healing, I can check on the antibody production and see what it says.

VERY interesting study, annelb! If I'm reading that abstract correctly, the antibodies to yeast can disappear with adherence to a gluten-free diet. It doesn't say anything about a yeast-free diet being necessary.

I wonder if the same is true for soy?

mistofviolets -- I'll read up on rotation diets. I will just need to find enough things I can eat Too bad about the hummus thing, for you It just dawned on me that I can never have baklava again.

JudyLV -- Well, then, you've tried. You have to go with what makes you feel better. Were you told why it had to be animal fat BTW? On another board, I've been hearing about how coconut oil is good for about everything that ails a body. People really do disagree about diet. Then there is flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil -- everything seems to have its true believers.

If you ever want a free second opinion, you might email Dr. McDougall. He is very good in responding. I don't know what he would say about the "stressed adrenals" issue. I obviously am not an expert about any of this.

Have you ever read about any of those non-MS conditions you mention causing muscle weakness on just one side of the body? At first they thought my BIL had had a small stroke or strokes, then couldn't find evidence of it. Then they found antibodies to Lyme and treated that; but it wasn't the problem. A spinal tap and they say it isn't MS, but that he should go see an MS expert. Very puzzling. All the while he is finding it harder to walk and hold onto things securely. Very frightening when he is just my age.

I really appreciate everyone's comments. I'm so glad to have found this board. Now if I can control my attraction to all those cute emoticons Like that one. I had to show it to my daughter, a competitive fencer. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on her school's email system, it appears. She really wants it. OK, I'm really getting

I'll answer your McDougall question along with this. My son initiated virtually all of our dietary changes. I was exclusively breastfeeding (seven years ago) and he had small amounts of blood in his stool. The doctor said it was probably a dairy allergy, so I cut all dairy out of MY diet so I could continue to breastfeed. Eventually the rest of the family went dairy-free. Then I did a lot of research and felt that (for my family - I don't want to debate what's right for anyone else's family!) it would be healthier to give up all animal products. So although we began our vegan journey from a health perspective, we also try to embrace the compassionate side, especially with our child. My research also led me to believe that an organic whole foods diet was the healthy way to go (a McDougall idea, true, however if its a plant-based whole food, I'm ok with it, whether it is high in fat or not). Undiagnosed chronic tummy aches for my son at age 5 led us to a gluten-free diet. Undiagnosed reflux at age 6+ caused me to remove both soy and corn from my son's diet. Enuresis is another symptom he exhibits when he eats food that isn't "good" for him. GF flours - too much or too often - also seem to have ill effects. We are doing all this by trial and error, but he is healthy and growing. As for eating out, that is my personal choice. We live in an area of the country where "vegan" is virtually unheard of, and I don't trust anyone to be able to provide me with a non-contaminated vegan/gf meal. Don't let my decision scare you!

jamietwo, actually I'm at the weight right now that Dr. McDougall has said there is no limit on the amount of high fat, whole plant foods I can have. I was skinny to begin with and now I am losing weight since I went gluten-free. I seem to be eating a lot, adding nuts, etc. I guess I need to go out and buy myself some real nice dark chocolate. I don't know that is McDougall-friendly, but I chose to believe all those studies saying that chocolate is good for you. I put to one side the fact that many, if not most, of them are financed by the chocolate industry.

I can see how your restaurant choices can be affected by where you live. Where I live, there are all sorts of ethnic restaurants with a number of vegan offerings and many restaurants will put something together even if it isn't on the menu. When we travel, things can get much harder. I shouldn't have assumed that it was as easy for you.

It sounds like you are doing a great job with your son. Sometimes trial and error is all we have to go on.

Hi hathor~

In regard to your BIL and non-MS conditions that mimic MS~

Is your BIL taking B12 (1000-2000mcg daily, methylcobalamin preferred)? Have they tested his B12 level, methylmalonic acid, homocystiene levels? B12 deficiency can cause symptoms that mimic MS....wide ranging... can be one sided, and can occur with B12 levels in 'normal' range. The eMedicine and AAFP articles linked on this page of The Gluten File are very good overviews. B12 Deficiency

You may have found these sites already, but I'll leave them in case you haven't.
DIRECT-MS Website
Paleodiet and MS
Nutritional Healing on MS
GSDL on MS

Here are some interesting papers on the differential diagnosis of MS. I've known a couple of people from BT who have had Lyme Disease, B12 deficiency, and gluten sensitivity (all at the same time).... and all three things needed treatment.


Cara

Then they found antibodies to Lyme and treated that; but it wasn't the problem.

My son's gluten sensitivity surfaced after he was treated for Lyme Disease. He was given the standard antibiotic treatment by our pediatrician but had new persistent health problems after treatment. My son continued to have monthly fevers, weakness and nausea. We ended up going to a LLD-Lyme Literate Doctor and he continued treatment for another year--after being dismissed by the pediatrician.
How was your BIL treated for Lyme and was it by a LLD? It seems that Lyme Disease is another little understood and under treated disease. This site might give you some more information http://www.lymenet.com/

--Judy

I don't know all the details. I do know he had several days of antibiotics being fed directly into his heart via catheter. I don't think this is the standard treatment.

I hope he can get answers soon. My husband and I forward everything we find to him and the comments here will certainly be mentioned. He is supposed to be seeing another expert about now; I'll keep my fingers crossed that this one can figure out the problem.