Biofilm Defense - Adult Experience

[Guest guest]

As an adult working toward breaking down biofilms this year, I thought it might

be helpful to share what this experience 'feels like' with parents of children

on a protocol with it or considering it. I share some of the genetic factors

affecting methylation capacity & have come quite far through life (though with a

low quality of life in the later half) despite an awful lot of Hg and other

metal exposures over the years, including childhood.

I started frequent dose chelation over three years ago and had a lot of

gut/brain trouble with it, even at very low DMSA & DMPS levels. Results from it

are amazing (including clear headedness, great memory, etc.), but I haven't

tolerated ALA at all and, as a result, my endocrine & immune functions remain

quite low. This winter I had follow-up stool testing done through Genova.

Though it wasn't looked at with a prior test done in '03, Lactobacillus species,

various Strep species, and various Citrobacter species showed up. A lot of

research on them led to discovering they are all hydrogen sulfide producers and

all methylate mercury. Obviously, the gas produced is terribly toxic, affects

the entire system (not just the gut) and perhaps is a key source of so much free

radical activity in my case. The citrobacters were something new in my system &

I suspect had caused odd changes in bowel habits & lead to frequent diarrhea.

My appetite has been poor, yet for the most part have eaten enough to gain

weight, and have experienced slow, gradual weight loss for 3-4 years. I believe

the sulfur food and ALA essentially throws 'fuel on the fire' with the type of

gut bacteria I have had in excess.

In February I started using BioFilm Defense, once in the morning, alternating

Oregon Grape Root, Barberry, Goldenseal, and added Olive Leaf to my typical

Grapefruit Seed Extract & Oregano Oil. I opted out of antibiotics because I've

had so many of them for so many years (bladder, ear, tonsil, strep infections,

etc.) and it seemed counterproductive when trying to restore bowel flora.

Beginning the first day, within an hour I felt cramping just beyond my stomach.

It was uncomfortable and passed. Each day for over a week, I was experiencing

this a little further down the track. As it hit the lower colon/rectal area, it

was a lot more intense (citrobacter zone?). I was down & really sick with detox

illness at this point for a week or two, slowly rebounding. The cramping in

that area, for you women, is basicly like having period cramps in the colon. I

sensed the area had to be raw, but somehow there was a lot of muscular

contraction. The healing took about three days or so. It didn't affect bowel

movements - no significant constipation, which I'm prone to - but a lot of

strange stuff was passing through. I didn't see a doctor (I'd spoken to Dr.

Boris in Long Island prior to starting) due to distance & not having anyone

local who understands what's going on.

As I slowly was coming out of this, I felt a lot better. Typically with travel,

I run into lots of chemical sensitivity issues, but this was way down & was able

to help my daughter with her newborn & 2 yr old for two weeks. The second week

of this & a week later meant taking a break from the Biofilm use, which I

thought was important anyway. Sadly, I realized the colon/rectal type of

infection was picking up again two weeks ago. I restarted Biofilm with a

broader antibiotic/antiviral herbal assortment than I'd used initially, and had

been gradual about making teas & capsules with those herbs a month or two prior.

The same reaction with Biofilm occurred, first day at one point in the gut and

after that the colon/rectal area, where cramping started again, lasting about

three days. This time was different - I don't know if I'd picked up a virus

that took over or what during this detox (we're waiting on detailed blood work),

but a concurrent ear infection set in with something else causing widespread,

diffuse & shooting pain, patches of rash, and high fever (5 degrees above my

normal. My immune system certainly hadn't been up for the detox challenge at

this time & actually was sent by my doc to emergency for evaluation of my

appendix. It's difficult evaluating my bloodwork: WBC's don't respond! I went

along with taking a broad-spectrum antibiotic, yet on Day 4 of 7, still have

pain in that ear. This is an ear where chronic infections had begun early in

childhood, it's the one with tinnitus that chelation relieves, and it's the one

where really critical dental work took place, including mixed metals (gold crown

on top of & next to amalgam - for years). At this point, I'm wondering if the

antibiotics can do as well as herbs & am certainly frustrated with starting over

on gut issues.

I kept taking Biofilm Defense through this ordeal. Did this open up a 40 year

old, chronic infection?

My concerns with Biofilm Defense, since I get very powerful responses from one

capsule per day, is that it may have potential to motivate really determined

strep bacteria to go deeper into the body's tissues.

I believe it's really important to have the liver & kidneys as prepared for the

detox as possible (not after travel, extra chemical exposure, and a compromised

diet). My liver congestion, once chronic, had been way down via chelation & a

whole foods, organic, GF-CF-SF-Low Cysteine diet.

Sugar is something I'm almost completely intolerant of -- I don't believe a

child could ever figure this out (or a parent, for that matter). An occasional

handful of raisins, a banana, a couple ounces of 85% dark chocolate...that's the

limit. I get sick EVERY time it gets beyond this. Fruit is probably the worst

offender. There's a lot of opportunity to be counterproductive here *I think*,

although I've also wondered if sugars might lure bacteria out of hiding places.

For citrobacters, I had to go off any supplements with either FOS or citric

acid/citrate, lactose, acidic fruits like tomatoes, grapefruit.

The first time around, I'd first eliminated from the diet for about a week

before starting Biofilm Defense.

I started using Mountain Rose Herbs, buying in bulk, and making my own capsules

& teas because this company is organic & really checks it's sources, and

everything is remarkably fresh. It takes time to make your own, which parents

don't have a whole lot of, but I'm probably able to have five times as much at

top quality for the same amount of money doing this myself. It's more difficult

to monitor exact amounts, however, and requires a lot of herbal homework.

I hope this doesn't come off as being about me...I've raised an ADHD child and

am very concerned about the chemical and metal exposures affecting our children

and how we can overcome vulnerabilities. Quite honestly, I prefer to be a

guinea pig trying something new since I can express myself & hopefully share

with parents & physicians some idea of what their children may be experiencing.

Please feel free to email me personally if you are considering a biofilm

treatment route. I can't recommend anything...only help you perhaps understand

your child's response. I'm seldom online but will respond if your email is

referenced " biofilm " .

Joanne