There are so many helpful, fascinating topics I really want to get a chance to read on and summarize for my blog posts. Writing and explaining helps solidify the information in my mind and hopefully the summarized information helps some readers too. Sadly, I just can’t keep up with all that I want to do in a timely fashion. So today I’m going to share three links which have been shared with me that some readers may be interested in. Eventually, I’d like to read and summarize on the methanogens and progesterone links. But, honestly, I can see it may take me a year to do it.
Link ONE is about how certain microorganisms in the gut make methane which then slows the intestinal transit leading to chronic constipation. This may lead to the idea that a breath test could be diagnostic and certain antibiotics helpful.
Methanogens in Human Health and Disease
http://www.nature.com/ajgsup/journal/v1/n1/full/ajgsup20126a.html
Link TWO is about the effect of progesterone and prostaglandins on women’s colons. Women with chronic constipation and slow transit have been found to have abnormal levels of prostaglandins and cyclooxygenases in their colons. When researchers applied progesterone to colon cells from women without constipation, they were able to bring about the abnormal levels seen in cells from constipated colons. So there is clearly a role between progesterone, prostaglandins, and chronic constipation.
Chronic constipation in women linked to prostaglandins
http://www.modernmedicine.com/modern-medicine/news/modernmedicine/welcome-modernmedicine/chronic-constipation-women-linked-prostag?page=full
Link THREE is about an online, digestive conference coming up. It is free. There are some good speakers involved who are on the cutting edge, or at least reading up on the cutting edge, of digestive health. The speakers are from a wide variety of backgrounds, some MDs and some not. Usually something like this is a good place to listen, generate ideas, and then verify ideas with research or run them by your doctor.
The Digestion Sessions
http://digestionsessions.com/
Closing
Information is key. Help your doctor help you by learning the new information out there. Your doctor is like a good coach. They have strong knowledge and experiences, but they’re trying to orchestrate many, many players all day long. There is no way on God’s great earth doctors can ever keep up on all of the new information. Print off credible articles, highlight important information in it which you think applies to you, and then say, “Hey, Doc. I found this article about my problem. Could we try it for me or do you think it’s a bad idea?”
Thank you Ashwin, Nishka, and Toni for the links. I can’t wait to delve into them more.
Terri
The HSD 
I just found some interesting information that I thought I would share here under the theme of link sharing. I just found out that I have really low T3 Thyroid hormone but normal T4 and TSH. Hypothyroidism is linked to slow motility. My doctor wants me to start taking T3 hormone replacement and jumped to the conclusion that “maybe my thyroid is just shot- it happens sometimes.” What is really interesting is that about two weeks ago I started adding Kelp seasoning to my GAPS soups- Kelp has a LOT of Iodine- and my motility has been great for the first time in years!! Iodine is needed to convert T4 to T3. I am going to start taking more Iodine supps that my doctor recommended as well.
Here are some interesting links:
Thyroid and the Gut: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20351569
http://hypothyroidmom.com/constipation-the-embarrassing-hypothyroidism-symptom-that-may-save-lives/
Also interesting about all this is that my LDL cholesterol is through the roof- 202 and total Cholesterol 295. I am 27, fit, active and follow paleo/ GAPS diet. I was just reading that low carb diets can cause this cholesterol spike sometimes and also disrupt thyroid function. I eat a lot of squash but maybe not enough?
I may not be explaining all this well but I wanted to put the thyroid issue on your radar 🙂
That was a really nicely written blog post. Thanks for sharing. On iodine–I take iodine (and make sure to take/eat the other nutrients which work in concert), and I have been very happy with the results. (I’m actually in the middle of a series on iodine here on HSD actually.) I can’t say that iodine has specifically helped my GI function. Maybe it has. But still not “cured.” My thyroid tests have always been unremarkable as far as conventional medicine goes. I’ve been quite fascinated by iodine and how conventional medicine dismisses it. A little appalled actually. On cholesterol, those are some pretty overwhelming numbers, eh? Makes you wonder what to think. My numbers have not budged from 10 years ago (and were fine then and fine now). My husband’s, although not as dramatic as yours, have trended up this way. However, his ratio is very good. I’m just waiting for the better cholesterol tests to be in wide use so we can use those to help us better understand and stratify risk. What we’re working with now is not tremendously helpful. Although, in all my elderly patients who looked great, their HDL was excellent. The other numbers weren’t so predictable. Anyhow–lots to think on. ~~ Terri