Have you had a
reaction to any medication? Have you had a stressful medical event, be it a
root canal or other uncomfortable procedure? What if that stress and discomfort
was enough to trigger gluten intolerance and ill health?
I found an
interesting case report in Gastrointestinal
Medicine recently. The report, titled ‘The onset of enhanced intestinal
permeability and food sensitivity triggered by medication used in dental
procedures’ drove home an important point that we have known for some time.
When the immune system is compromised beyond a certain level, its ability to
keep bad genes turned off is thwarted. In other words that healthy ‘off’ switch
flips to the ‘on’ position and disease is now manifest.
In this
particular study, a healthy 52 year old woman with no discernible health issues
went through vigorous dental procedures for several months. She received a root
canal, bone graft and dental implants. Her initial visits were five in number
over the course of only ten days. During that time she received anesthetics,
antibiotics and painkillers.
Four months later
while completing the dental implant procedure, she again received anesthesia,
antibiotics and painkillers. A few hours later she developed a severe allergic
reaction along with difficulty breathing. This was handled with emergency
adrenaline but afterwards the patient started suffering from diarrhea, vomiting
and abdominal pain lasting over a week. This was followed by IBS-like symptoms
that went on for months.
She saw a
gastroenterologist who tested her blood extensively including tests for celiac
disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. All tests were negative
including gene tests for celiac disease. The gastroenterologist could offer no
help.
Fortunately the
patient did not give up and sought a second opinion from a practitioner in the
functional medicine field. This doctor evaluated her for a leaky gut, gluten
sensitivity and cross-reactive foods. These tests were all positive. Upon the initiation
of a gluten-free diet, avoidance of cross-reactive foods, probiotics and a
clinical nutrition program designed to heal the gut, the patient was back to
normal within six months.
What can we learn
from this case study?
1.
If
you are planning an elective medical procedure, take a little time beforehand
to optimize your immune system and heal a leaky gut. If you have a strong
immune system embarking upon a procedure that requires drugs and is stressful,
you are much more likely to weather it successfully if you have prepared ahead
of time.
2.
In
any elective situation, consider making the procedure less stressful by giving
your body a little time to recuperate between visits. Did this patient really
require five visits in only ten days? Surely she could have stretched them out
somewhat and it would have been less stressful to her system.
3.
Find
a functional medicine or like-minded practitioner to work with, if possible.
Here at HealthNOW we prepare our patients for such stressful events when we
know that they are going to happen. Nutritional protocols properly executed can
make the difference between a compromised immune system and one that bounces
back well after stress and drugs. I shudder to think what might have happened
to this patient if she hadn’t received a second opinion from a savvy
practitioner. Her desire for dental
implants could have resulted in compromised health for the rest of her life.
Have you had such
an occurrence? Has a pregnancy, surgery or illness seemed to compromise your
health to the degree that you’ve never fully bounced back?
If so, I’d like
to hear from you and help you. Our destination clinic treats patients from
across the country and internationally. You don’t need to live local to us to
receive care.
Visit us at www.RootCauseMedicalClinic.com. If you have questions or need any help, I’m here for you! Call 408-733-0400.
I look forward to hearing from you.
To your good health,
Dr Vikki Petersen, DC, CCN, CFMP
IFM Certified Practitioner
Founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic
Co-author of “The Gluten Effect”
Author of the eBook: “Gluten Intolerance – What You Don’t Know May Be Killing You!”
Founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic
Co-author of “The Gluten Effect”
Author of the eBook: “Gluten Intolerance – What You Don’t Know May Be Killing You!”
Reference:
Case Reports in Gastrointestinal
Medicine. 2012; 2012: 265052. The
Onset of Enhanced Intestinal Permeability and Food Sensitivity Triggered by
Medication Used in Dental Procedures: A Case Report. Aristo Vojdani and Jama Lambert
PMCID: PMC3447324
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