Emily i have heard of it but dont know anything about it but ask dr to check for it i believe when we go to the dr write down everything you want to get checked for and show him im lucky i have a great one now and im getting checked for things i dont even now about LOL so just ask him to check you and keep us informed about it im curious about the conditions. HUGS

Some tests that may be worth getting: ANA, Anti-DNA, Sed-rate or ESR (a non-specific test for inflammation). Also, a complete thyroid screen including thyroid-antibodies (these are found more often in fibro patients than healthy people). However, LDN may reduce auto-antibodies according to Hashimoto sufferers.

Vitamin D and Vitamin B12, thyroid (specify Free T3 and Free T4, as well as TSH) are things that I believe everyone with fibromyalgia should have checked.

As for leaky gut, this is a good basic article to start with: http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/features/leaky-gut-syndrome

I had a few blood panels done one by reg dr, one by neurologist who looks for different things then the rheumy who looked for others things before they officially dxed me with fibro because all test were normal.

I really hope they can find something and able to help you.

Good luck

ANA, ESR, CRP are good ones to rule out (on a first run) many inflammatory or auto-immune issues (like lupus, RA, etc.). And if you have concerns for leaky gut (which can occur as a ysmptom of Crohn's or celiac, or as its own special self with that fuzzy fun phrase "we don't really get it").... have them test for nutritional deficiencies beyond the usual metabolic panel stuff.

Wish I had more, but those are always a good baseline. :Good luck!

Leaky gut tends to come with gluten intolerance. Fibro is frequently mistaken for Celiac or gluten intolerance. I was misdiagnosed with Fibro and nearly died from Celiac.

I would suggest that you get a blood panel for gluten to be sure.

Oh yeah, leaky gut is very real. The intestinal wall becomes thin and fluids leak from the intestines to the abdominal space.

Hope you get some answers.

Leaky gut? That sounds hilarious and terrifying at the same time. Do I even want to know...?

M.

What Is Leaky Gut?

Question: It has been suggested to my wife by an alternative medical practitioner that her varied gastrointestinal symptoms may be the result of "leaky gut." What is this?

Answer: Leaky gut syndrome is not generally recognized by conventional physicians, but evidence is accumulating that it is a real condition that affects the lining of the intestines. The theory is that leaky gut syndrome (also called increased intestinal permeability), is the result of damage to the intestinal lining, making it less able to protect the internal environment as well as to filter needed nutrients and other biological substances. As a consequence, some bacteria and their toxins, incompletely digested proteins and fats, and waste not normally absorbed may "leak" out of the intestines into the blood stream. This triggers an autoimmune reaction, which can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal bloating, excessive gas and cramps, fatigue, food sensitivities, joint pain, skin rashes, and autoimmunity. The cause of this syndrome may be chronic inflammation, food sensitivity, damage from taking large amounts of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), cytotoxic drugs and radiation or certain antibiotics, excessive alcohol consumption, or compromised immunity.

Leaky gut syndrome may trigger or worsen such disorders as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma.

My colleague, pediatrician Sandy Newmark, M.D., who deals with leaky gut syndrome in children, tells me that it isn't clear how many people have this disorder or exactly what problems can be attributed to it. Dr. Newmark says that it has been established that a significant percentage of children with autism have increased intestinal permeability, but it isn't known whether this is a cause or an effect of food sensitivities and an underlying metabolic problem.

Some alternative medicine practitioners blame such unrelated problems as migraines, bad breath and insomnia on leaky gut syndrome and recommend buying home test kits purportedly capable of measuring intestinal permeability. I doubt it. For treatment, some of these practitioners recommend an assortment of dietary supplements.

I would be wary of any diagnosis of leaky gut syndrome if you don't have inflammatory bowel conditions (Crohn's disease, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome), rheumatoid arthritis, or asthma.

The leaky gut treatment I recommend involves avoiding alcohol and NSAIDS as well as any foods that you're allergic to. Make sure you're eating plenty of fiber. Take Culturelle or another probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus GG. I would also recommend eating an anti-inflammatory diet, including essential fatty acids like fish oil and GLA. In addition, you might try supplementing with glutamine, an amino acid that helps maintain intestinal metabolism and function and seems to benefit patients who have had intestinal injury from chemotherapy and radiation.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA361058/what-is-leaky-gut.html

Hi Emily. It is my understanding that you will have to see a wholistic doctor to gain insight into leaky gut syndrome. Conventional medical doctors are reluctant to accept the term "leaky gut" syndrome or treat it. It is considered a controversial illnesses amongst conventional medical doctors.

I have been researching candida overgrowth, because a lot of the symptoms overlap with fibromyalgia. Also, I have recently tested positive on blood tests for candida overgrowth. It seems that candida can overgrow in our intestinal tracts and wreak havoc. I have an appt with my doctor next week about the candida overgrowth. While researching candida overgrowth the term "leaky gut" comes up as well.

Here's a recent article that I was reading that mentions it.
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Comments BY DR. AMY MYERS
APRIL 4, 2013 5:15 AM EDT
You might be wondering, What on earth is candida? Candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast, and a very small amount of it lives in your mouth and intestines. Its job is to aid with digestion and nutrient absorption but, when overproduced, candida breaks down the wall of the intestine and penetrates the bloodstream, releasing toxic byproducts into your body and causing leaky gut. This can lead to many different health problems, ranging from digestive issues to depression.

How do you get candida overgrowth?

The healthy bacteria in your gut typically keep your candida levels in check. However, several factors can cause the candida population to get out of hand:
Eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar (which feed the yeast)
Consuming a lot of alcohol
Taking oral contraceptives
Eating a diet high in beneficial fermented foods like Kombucha, sauerkraut and pickles
Living a high-stress lifestyle
Taking a round of antibiotics that killed too many of those friendly bacteria
Here are 10 common candida symptoms
Skin and nail fungal infections (such as athletes foot or toenail fungus)
Feeling tired and worn down or suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
Digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
Autoimmune disease such as Hashimotos thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma or Multiple sclerosis
Difficulty concentrating, poor memory, lack of focus, ADD, ADHD and brain fog
Skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, hives, and rashes
Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, or depression
Vaginal infections , urinary tract infections, rectal itching or vaginal itching
Severe seasonal allergies or itchy ears
Strong sugar and refined carbohydrate cravings
How do you test for Candida overgrowth?

Blood test

You'll want to check your levels for IgG, IgA, and IgM candida anti-bodies. These can be checked through most any lab. High levels indicate an overgrowth of candida. I find in my clinic that these can often be negative even when the stool or urine test is positive.

Stool testing

I find this to be the most accurate test available. This will check for candida in your colon or lower intestines. The lab can usually determine the species of yeast as well as which treatment will be affective. (Note: be sure that your doctor orders a comprehensive stool test rather than the standard stool test.)

Urine Organix Dysbiosis Test

This test detects a waste product of Candida yeast overgrowth known as D-Arabinitol. An elevated test means an overgrowth of candida. This test will determine if there is candida in your upper gut or small intestines.

How do you treat candida overgrowth?

Effectively treating candida involves stopping the yeast overgrowth, restoring the friendly bacteria that usually keep them in check, and healing your gut so that candida can no longer enter your bloodstream.

Getting rid of the candida overgrowth primarily requires a change in diet to a low carbohydrate diet. Sugar is what feeds yeast, so eliminating sugar in all of its simple forms like candy, desserts, alcohol and flours.

And reducing to only one cup a day of the more complex carbohydrates such as grains, beans, fruit, bread, pasta, and potatoes will prevent the Candida from growing and eventually cause it to die. I would recommend eliminating all fermented foods as well.

Using diet alone could take three to six months before the candida is back under control. Because of this I use an anti fungal medication such as Diflucan or Nyastatin for a month or longer with my patients. If you are self-treating you can take a supplement of caprylic acid. Caprylic Acid comes from coconut oil and basically "pokes holes" in the yeast cell wall, causing it to die.

You may read that some people recommend herbs such as oil of oregano. Oil of oregano can be very effective, but it can also kill good bacteria so I don't recommend it. The anti-fungal medications and caprylic acid are very specific to yeast and will not harm your good bacteria.

It's a must to restore the healthy bacteria that typically keep your candida population under control, you should take probiotics on a regular basis. Taking anywhere from 25 to 100 billion units of probiotics should help to reduce the Candida levels and restore your levels of good bacteria. Finally, healing your gut by eliminating inflammatory foods that can harm your GI tract and introducing foods that aid in digestion and nutrient absorption, will prevent candida from working its way through your body, and will dramatically improve your overall health.

If you would like to find out for sure if you have candida overgrowth, consider seeing a functional medicine doctor who is trained in detecting and treating candida.

Emily I also wanted to say to please have them check your vitamin D3 levels as mine was extremely low at the beginning of my fibro diagnosis. I used to get this deep, aching, bone pain that I thought was cancer. I had to supplement with 10,000 ius a day of vitamin D3 and after 6 months it only went up a little. My doctor then increased it to 20,0000 ius a day. It took a little over a year, but it finally rose to 54. Optimum levels of vitamin day are between 50-80, not the 25 that the test will say is normal. After my vitamin D levels rose, I finally got rid of that particular pain. (I wish it would have got rid of all of it, but I'm grateful that the bone pain is gone). As always, best wishes!

Emily i hope you tell the doctor to check everything and please keep us up to date on this i care and curious about the gut thing. Hugs Lisa

Wow! What an awesome group of buddies you are. I appreciate your help so much. I will synthesize the info into bullet points so that I can march in to the doctor prepared.

Fortunately, this new doctor I have (about a year and a half) is very open minded because last time I had a colonoscopy the gastro scoffed at me when I asked him if I might have leaky syndrome. He asked me what it was and I was not prepared enough to respond so that he basically put me down.

I KNOW that there is something very definitely wrong with my digestive system. Problem is that since fibro affects all systems to some extent, I don't know if the problem is because of fibro or independent of it.

I have had mild but pervasive systemic inflammation for years and although fibro is not an inflammatory disease, perhaps the inflammation is secondary, I.e., an indirect effect. In other words, inflammation is the body's reaction to try to protect itself. So, perhaps it is secondary or perhaps it is from my gut because it's Russian roulette if I eat out. If It hits me, I get constipation, pain from systemic inflammation, and fog until what I ate leaves my body. I assume the culprit is food contaminated with gluten. Could be additives. It never happens when I eat at home because I don't eat additives, gluten, or dairy at home.

Oh, the gastro who scoffed at me was the one who did the blood test for gluten intolerance and found me negative and said my gut looked fine, but then repeated dietary tests showed otherwise. Afterwards I learned from a center at Columbia university that there are 11 different tests for gluten intolerance and that they all have to be negative before they will clear you. Physicians typically only do one test.

Sorry, ranting.