I’m glad you like my website! I’ll be wishing I was in Boca in a few months myself.

I understand that your thyroid tests look normal, but that’s the first place I would look if you were my patient. Reference ranges for thyroid markers are often too wide and therefore cause it to look as if everything is normal, when in fact there is a often a functional problem. Of course I can’t be sure, but again, that’s where I’d look. Additionally, the thyroid is often “dragged down” by other organ and gland imbalances; notably, the adrenals, reproductive organs and glands, liver, hypothalamus, pituitary, immune system, and intestinal tract. So it’s imperative to look for imbalances in those areas as well.

Also, excess reproductive hormones can cause problems with thyroid receptor site resistance or an excess of protein-bound (non-active) thyroid hormone.

Of course anything can cause anything. Thyroid is just a hunch from the limited information I have here.

Your doctor should probably get his/her emotions out of your care in the sense of not being “happy” about your choices. He/she should be able to come up with a protocol to cease HRT and get you on a path to feeling well again.

Good luck,
Dr. Rob D’Aquila

I don’t know of any doctors in your area. Although here is a link to the International College of Applied Kinesiology website where you can search for a doctor: http://www.icakusa.com/find-a-doctor/. Their site will only include registered members who are certified applied kinesiologists. I can’t say that an applied kinesiologist can help you, because I don’t know – and I typically refer to the ICAK site because AK is one of my primary specialties.

Best of luck in your search,
Dr. Rob D’Aquila

Thank-you,
Brenda Adams

I can’t make any specific suggestions for you as you are not my patient and I haven’t examined you. I will however shed light on what you’ve explained.

I’ll definitely say it’s good that you are looking to rule out more serious conditions via blood work and a CT scan.

You mentioned the high stress job as being somewhat of a trigger and that very well may be an issue as mental/emotional disturbances will certainly result in physiological changes than can definitely affect the digestive system.

As far as the surgery, it’s possible that scar tissue (or simply the removal of the uterus) could be adversely affecting other organs and joints.

Why your MD “looked unimpressed” when you told him you found something to feel better is beyond me. Whether or not it’s the solution is besides the point. And in fact, that can help in diagnosing. I frequently take into account whether a certain supplement (or drug for that matter) helped a person – as you can pick apart the physiological changes that are taking place (if it changed symptoms) to help with differential diagnoses.

If you were my patient, I’d look into the need for more stomach acid, intestinal flora imbalances including the presence of an infection (e.g.: parasitic, yeast, etc.), and structural issues involving the pelvis, spine, and cranial nerves (the vagus nerve in particular) – and again, the possibility of the surgery affecting connective tissue in the surrounding area.

Chlorophyll is actually the “old school” nutrient that was recommended for an “open” ileocecal valve by many AK chiropractors. I typically don’t use it though because I usually see bigger issues at hand as mentioned above.

I wish I could be of more help, but it’s hard to do without examining a person. So many issues could play a role. More could include a thyroid imbalance affecting the rate at which the GI tract functions, magnesium deficiency, emotional and stress imbalances, etc…

Let’s hope the CT scan and bloodwork indicate more of a functional issue at hand. A colonoscopy can be revealing as well, but that’s up to your MD to consider.

Good luck with everything, and I wish you a resolution to all your symptoms soon!

Dr. Rob D’Aquila

I am taking a few moments to thank you wholeheartedly for your interesting and informative article on the ICV. I have been suffering with mystery digestive problems for quite some time now and my general practitioner could not shed any light at all on my condition. I visited a whole bunch of specialists thinking it was linked to other existing health problems.

I found that the symptoms described in your well written article was exactly what I had been going through for over 5 years! You certainly know your profession because all my problems are highlighted in that one article.

May I take this opportunity to send you and your family festive greetings and I wish you every success for the New Year 2010!