u/Ajax34762

Don't know how serum bilirubin is tested in other countries, but here in Australia when your doctor orders a liver enzyme blood panel, it's your total bilirubin levels that is measured and displayed in your blood test report. The issue here is, that total bilirubin levels won't necessarily inform you if your gallbladder function is compromised. You need to test direct bilirubin levels for that, which isn't routinely done and your total bilirubin may fall within range, typically considered under 20umol/L, but your direct bilirubin level may still be above range, like above 6umol/L and so your doctor may not flag any issue.

Example. My total bilirubin is 13umol/L, which seems good as is mid range. I still had symptoms though and read about direct bilirubin levels and ordered my own blood tests, specifically measuring direct bilirubin and my direct bilirubin level is 8umol/L, when it should be under 6.

According to my GI map, I have overgrowth of bacteria involved in hydrogen sulfide SIBO.

I have tried various herbal antimicrobial combinations with berberine, allicin. I found they upset my gut more than actually working.

Since I started taking betaine HCL, I had the most improvement in symptoms. Recently added Ox bile and noticed a further reduction of pale loose stools.

Betaine HCL definitely has antimicrobial properties as stomach acid is what helps eliminate bacteria in the digestive tract. Bile is also antimicrobial. These substances are what your body already naturally relies on for their antimicrobial action. A healthy gut microbiome has evolved around these substances in the digestive tract.

Wouldn't it make sense to utilize substances that your digestive system and microbiome is already more accustomed to like acid and bile in eliminating overgrowth ? And these are unlikely to disrupt your microbiome as a healthy microbiome relies on bile flow and adequate stomach acidity, in contrast to herbal antimicrobials that can disrupt the gut microbiome.

Bile is what helps neutralize stomach acid as in enters the duodenum.

Can compromised bile flow increase risk of or cause duodenitis?

Anyone develop duodenitis as a consequence of gallbladder stones/sludge ?

Anyone here disgnosed with duodenitis also have symptoms of histamine intolerance?

I have had ongoing insomnia for the past 2 years. Issues with falling asleep and broken sleep. Part of it is due to a medical issue and also difficulty relaxing my mind when trying to sleep.

What I recently discovered has helped me falling asleep is reading a book when lying in bed as I found it really relaxes and resets my mind as my thoughts are focused on what I am reading and not any other thoughts. During this process I start to feel tired and sometimes even doze off when reading and end up falling asleep.

Give it a try, maybe it will work for you

I eventually discovered my weight loss was due to poor digestion from low stomach acid. Taking betaine HCL my weight very quickly returned in a matter of weeks despite consuming the same amount of calories.

If food isn't being properly digested, it can potentially feed bacterial overgrowth again, despite taking antimicrobials.

Consider betaine HCL as an option.

Still trying to identify the cause of low stomach acid.

Can prolonged and chronic low ferritin induce an autonomic nervous system issues?

My main symptoms are palpitations and fatigue due to low ferritin. Idiot doctors said its anxiety. I continued to ignore and try to push through my symptoms, which only made my symptoms worse. Now I get palpitations from very minor stress or exertion like walking up stairs.

My theory is, since oxygenation around the body is being compromised by low ferritin, in response the nervous system has to compensate by increasing heart rate. If the nervous system is constantly primed keeping heart rate elevated, this makes one's nervous system more sensitive.

For those with gastritis, did you happen to regularly eat spicy food or had more than usual around the time you developed it?