Guest guest Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 I've been thinking about our year on HNI enzymes and I have some questions. Our journey started with us having an easy kid and then a really difficult kid. My youngest was prone to explosive tantrums, negative mean-spirited mood, mood swings, and locking up in anger and frustration. I kept thinking she'd outgrow it, and when she was 5, about to turn 6, I was feeling very discouraged. What is WRONG with her? What explains the huge difference in temperment between my two kids? I casually mentioned to an online friend that my dd's poop stunk to high heaven. I mean, it was REALLY foul. She said it could be indicative of an overgrowth of bad bacteria in her gut. Although my dd is not on the spectrum, she suggested I read 's book and consider enzymes. Why not, what did we have to lose? Our start on HNI enzymes in June 2004 was nothing short of a miracle. We started with Pep, and added in ZP, and by the end of the first week, we saw the Happy Child Effect. Believe me, the change in her disposition was flat out AMAZING. Sunny, cheerful. Normal mad, normal frustrated, not crazy out of bounds mad. Much more rational, and much less apt to lock up. Her poop was no longer foul smelling. We added in NF a few weeks later and had a rough adjustment to that, but we got past it. We had a rough November when I experimented with treating for yeast, and tried to wean off of NF with meals. Better when we went back on all 3 HNI enzymes plus Culturelle. Bad each time we tried to introduce Nordic Naturals fish oil. Better when we got rid of it. A year later, June 2005, she's 7 yo, and I wondered what to do next. Although we had lived with this " new " kid, I felt like we could push for even more improvments in her mood and disposition. When she would have a bad day, I would wonder if we had just adjusted to the new kid and had forgotten how bad it was before? Or if it was just an age appropriate stage? Or was something else going on that was making her feel bad? But why, a year later, did the sunshine we saw at first not seem so bright? Had we just gotten used to it? Each time I see those old behavior rear their heads, I wonder if it is true regression, or learned behavior from the past, or just her spirited, intense temperment? We did a food diary for a month and nothing jumped out at me. We cut back on carbs, and saw less mood swings and fewer complaints of being hungry all the time. We are participating in the Virastop trials with and so far we have seen a surge in the Happy Child Effect. It's obvious to both dh and I how much more cheerful and sunny she's been since starting the trial. I'm thrilled, of course, but honestly I am no closer to understanding any of this. I feel like the enzymes are these magic pills that are helping my kid, but why? How long do we need to be on them? After the Virastop trial, I'd like to see if we can wean off of NF again, or not give all 3 HNI enzymes with every morsel of food ($$$). Last week, after dragging my feet and coming up with all kinds of reasons *we* didn't need to do a hair test, we sent in our hair test samples. I decided to do both of my daughters and myself. It seems like one obvious stone unturned, and I think I'll feel better so I don't have to wonder anymore. I had a mouth full of amalgams, Rhogam shots, ate seafood, and the kids were fully vaccinated up to preschooler age. We also live near 2 large coal-fired power plants. We'll see. Concerns I still have: Negative mood will pop up now and again, often accompanied by lots of complaining (it's hot, I'm bored, this shirt bothers me, it's noisy) or being very critical or nasty of those around her. I can't explain why. On really bad days I feel like the enzymes are not working their magic anymore. Was it something she ate? Do we need to supplement? What isn't working right with her wiring? And always, why isn't my other kid like this? It would be nice to feel like I have a handle on this before we hit puberty hormones. She still complains of being hungry quite a bit. I seems like my 2 daughters eat the same things and same amounts and get about the same exercise (we homeschool and spend a lot of time together). My older one is a string bean and my 7 yo dd is still toddler-chunky. Her belly still sticks out, and she doesn't seem to be thinning out as she gets older. I'm stabbing in the dark here, but would a thyroid panel be in order? Thanks for hearing me out, if you got his far. in Illinois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2005 Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 The question of 'do enzymes wear off' was heavily monitored in the first year of this group. But in over four years and thousands of families passing through (and reports from enzyme users not in the group), this has never been reported. There was also a concern that a person may become 'intolerant' of enzymes over time as they do to many foods. This also has never been reported. What we see is if an enzyme product isn't going to work, that is apparent from the beginning. There is no abrupt regression several months later as does happen at times if you do GFCF and then quit the diet without enzymes. If enzymes do work from the beginning, the improvements are maintained over time, or continue to improve more over time. Unlike food eliminations, enzymes can help pro-actively heal tissue. So what you may see is that the longer you use enzymes, the less you need for the same level of improvement. This can be due to gut healing. As the gut heals, you own enzymes can be restored so you don't need supplemental ones as much. This is very good. >>>> Negative mood will pop up now and again, often accompanied by lots of complaining (it's hot, I'm bored, this shirt bothers me, it's noisy) or being very critical or nasty of those around her. Unfortunately, this is typical kid (and adult) behavior too. If it is just a day or two here and there I would say it sounds very typical. It will be very interesting to see your daughter's progress on the Virastop. One of the patterns/symptoms of a viral problems is a cyclic pattern of unexplained illness and then unexplained improvement. The cycles can be weeks or months or years apart. It is the cycle pattern that is indicative rather than the actual time period. It is great she is doing so well with the enzymes at the time. Also, the hair test might tell you something. My kids are rather close in age but different in body type. One chews a lot and one doesn't like to chew. One has a very gentle personality and one is more intense or rough. That is typical too. While it isn't fun to ever have your child fussing, now when my son is fussing it is appropriate to the situation. Such as he can't find his homework in his backpack and doesn't want to get docked points for lateness. At least the fussing is in context. Oh, yeah, and that puberty thing...is any teenager 'typical'??? . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2005 Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 >>Better when we went > back on all 3 HNI enzymes plus Culturelle. Bad each time we tried to > introduce Nordic Naturals fish oil. Better when we got rid of it. My son did not tolerate fish oil or any EFAs except with mito cocktail and amino acids. http://www.danasview.net/mar05.htm >>But why, a year later, did the sunshine we saw at first not > seem so bright? For my son, I would make a change and he would improve for a week or two, then regress again. Sometimes he only needed the change [usually a new supplement] for 1-2 weeks, but sometimes it meant that another problem would then surface. > We did a food diary for a month and nothing jumped out at me. We cut > back on carbs, and saw less mood swings and fewer complaints of being > hungry all the time. " Hungry all the time " , for my kids, meant either they were eating a food or supplement they did not tolerate, or they had a yeast overgrowth issue. > We are participating in the Virastop trials with and so far we > have seen a surge in the Happy Child Effect. It's obvious to both dh > and I how much more cheerful and sunny she's been since starting the > trial. When I did anti-virals with my kids, the viral " die off " caused massive yeast overgrowth. So consider increasing your yeast protocol. >>I feel like the enzymes are these magic pills that are > helping my kid, but why? Improperly digested foods were causing her to have problems. >>How long do we need to be on them? My kids needed enzymes until about round 50 of ALA chelation. After the > Virastop trial, I'd like to see if we can wean off of NF again, or not > give all 3 HNI enzymes with every morsel of food ($$$). Try going down to 1/2 capsule of each. But for my kids, only ALA chelation removed the need for enzymes with all foods. > Negative mood will pop up now and again, often accompanied by lots of > complaining (it's hot, I'm bored, this shirt bothers me, it's noisy) The last two comments sound like yeast overgrowth for my kids. > On really bad days I feel like the enzymes are not working their magic > anymore. Was it something she ate? Enzymes did not address all foods for my kids. And for those foods, my kids did not tolerate them until the very end of ALA chelation. >>Do we need to supplement? After ALA chelation allowed my kids to tolerate foods and supplements, they needed MANY supplements to correct all the problems that the metals caused. >>And always, why isn't my other > kid like this? All four of my kids were metal toxic. The severity of their issues is directly correlated with the timing of the first vaccination. My #2 is most severely affected, and he received HepB vax at birth. My least severely affected #1 was sick for his 2mo well-check, so did not receive vax until 2-1/2 months. My other two kids had vax at 2mo, and they are variously affected, the severity is between #1 and #2. #3 is a boy and is more severe than #4 who is a girl and did not receive the MMR. > She still complains of being hungry quite a bit. For my kids, foods/supplements not tolerated, and yeast overgrowth, caused this. >>(we homeschool and spend a lot of time together). We homeschool also! >>My older > one is a string bean and my 7 yo dd is still toddler-chunky. This is EXACTLY my #1 and #2! #1 was really thin, and #2 was really fat, until enzymes and chelation. >>Her belly > still sticks out, and she doesn't seem to be thinning out as she gets > older. Food intolerance, but especially yeast overgrowth. > I'm stabbing in the dark here, but would a thyroid panel be in order? Possibly. Altho many thyroid issues are related to metal toxicity, so hopefully the hair tests will give you some good info. Dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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