So I am going to share what we have learned from our recent embarkation, if that's a word, into this area. This is a bit gross so be forwarned.

We were originally going to have the neurotransmitters tested and balanced but in discussing this with the practicioner before we actually came in, over the phone, and for free (what doctor would ever do this?), I learned that it would probably not be productive. Why?

Because how they test is via saliva (4 x a day) and urine, and if there is a deficiency/imbalance, they give you supplements. For dopamine, that would be tyrosine and phenylananine. We have already tried that with very high quality OTC supplements and it did nothing. We do, however, get some pretty fast response from the 5-hour energy drink, which has both in it, as well as B vitamins, all in a liquid form (discussed here before). The practicioner suggested that to her, this indicates that there might be a problem with the GI tract (ie absorption perhaps, inflammation, etc.) and that we should have that looked at first. They don't do that at their facility, so we went to the GI place.

We picked up the poop test kit at the GI place and were told that it measures dna traces, yes traces, of bacteria, virus, parasites, yeast, etc. and etc. and etc. that are or have recently been in your gut. You take scoops of your poop at different places so as to get a pretty good sample, so to speak, of what all is there.

This test has only been out about five years and is so sensitive it picks things up other standard GI tests miss, we were told. I find it incredible that there is a test out there that can detect dna remnants in poop and tell you what they belong to yet we cannot find a biomarker for PD! Maybe there isn't one?

But I digress. The test is expensive, but it measures so much that at a minimum we will have a very good baseline to measure against in the future should we need or want to do that.

I also learned that when the body is in a high cortisol state, no matter how much you diet or exercise, you will not lose weight. The body will cling to those fat cells because it is in fight or flight mode. Makes total sense, and I dont' know why I didn't think of it before. It's so easy to just blame the mirapex, which definitely does not help, but there is more to it than that. I just thought I'd mention this for anyone out there frustrated with this issue.

So we will be taking the test next week (you have to overnight it to the lab which no one does on the weekend) and will report back what we find. It takes several weeks. I fully expect to see something is not right there, but I have no clue as to what it might be. Depending on what we find, we can move forwards with balancing our gut.

Has anyone else done one of these GI tests, and if so, what were the results?

Great minds think alike. heh heh heh.

Thanks for posting this.

I'm going to do similar testing next week but through Quest. Don't know whether it's the same test although instructions are same. I'm looking for H. pylori and any other bugs I may have picked up in addition to "good" bacteria.

The first time I lost my balance I blamed it on the worst stomach thing that I ever had the week before; was living in the bathroom for two days and couldn't even keep water down.

We can compare right here and with others who want to join.

I have to do something quick because my head is getting fuzzy and I feel I'm sliding downhill (kicking and screaming all the way down).

Shetawk