Cholestyramine....blugh!
It's probably time I updated my blog. I haven't been keeping up to date with posts/blogs as it seems candida/fungus seem to be causing me the most problems (intensified a billion times by CAPi abxi which I have stopped). I am currently doing the biofilm protocol and anti-candida diet (which I was also doing whilst on CAP), as well as sauerkrauting and kefir-gaining up a storm! Have improved greatly for the most part, but have been prescribed cholestyramine as a mopper to soak up neurotoxins that were found to be extremely high in my gut from yeast. My question is, how do you take this stuff?! I tried in water as the instructions suggested, stirred and drank straight away so it didn't have a chance to thicken but I couldn't get it dwn fast enough. Tried with double the amount of water and still the same problem - it thickens despite me gulping as fast as possible and makes me not just gag, but vomit. Mixing with chocolate pudding as the instructions also suggest would clearly be counterproductive to the candida problem (oh how I'd love some chocolate pudding...or any pudding for that matter). The only success I have had is getting empty gelatin capsules, pouring the sachets into the capsules and drinking them with a fair amount of water. 8 capsules per sachet though and it's very time consuming! Not too mention difficult with my dodgy shaky hands. Any hints?
Also, what's the best timing for it. I'm not on abxi but still on all supplementsi as well as biofilm protocol and still trying to work out how long after/before you can take the stuff. My dr warned me it would taste like cement...I gag down so many revolting things I thought he was underestimating my willpower. Seems not!
Tks in advance to anyone who uses cholestyramine and has advice :-)
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Maybe your cholestyramine is different in Australia than in the USA. But with mine, I just mix it in about 2 ounces of water, stir it and wash it down quickly. Then I eat something like peanut butter or nuts to stimulate bile production about 10-30 minutes later. I don't use it as much anymore because I find cholella and charcoal to be helpful enough. Plus, the cholestyramine I have is sweetened with sugar so that is counterproductive to my low sugar diet. It also tastes a little like watered down orange juice so I could mix it in that, I suppose.
How much powder are you taking at a time? I remember taking some herbal powders as a kid and my mom telling me to roll them in to a capsule made out of bread. That worked pretty well.
Started CAPi for Cpni on 11/14/10 -Doxyi, NACi, Azith, Flagyli, T3, Ursidiol, St Johns Wort, B-complex, B12, Folic Acidi, Vit C, Vit D3 (12,000/day), Vit E, Astragalus, Chlorella, Lauricidin, Creatine, Alpha Lipoic Acidi, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Liposomal Vit C
Bile will be stimulated more effectively if your fat (preferred to the oils which are very similar but may not stimulate the fat sensitive cells in the stomach that stimulates the bile to flow) is taken on a empty stomach and given a little lead time to do the stimulation BEFORE you take the Cholystyramine.
I have taken both the imported and USAdispensed Cholystyramine. The variety that I imported was without sweetener, and did expand more quickly than the sugar sweetened variety that I have been dispensed here in the US. So, my experience is that the manufacturers may stablize it and formulate it in somewhat different ways but the basic ingredient binds fatty endotoxinsi that are excreted in the bile into the small intestine.
How I do my cholystyramine, and I just took two packets this very afternoon is as follows;
On an empty stomach, mid-afternoon or evening just before bedtime are the times that I consider taking it to keep it away from major meals, meds and supplementsi.
Since the goal is not to decrease my cholesteroli but to sequester neurotoxins, I do not take it with meals. Also I take supplementsi and CAPmedications with meals to decrease potential nausea, gastric pain and or vomitting which have occured for me (I may be in the minority but it does happen for some of us on CAP), so Mid-afternoon and just prior to bed (by an hour or so generally) are the times that I put it into my system.
I take a tall glass, about 16oz or so, I fill that glass half full with chilled Seltzer water, lemon or lime would be good if the cholystyramine does not have a flavoring of it's own. I take two packets and quickly add them and stir. (this foams a bit so that is why a larger glass.) I pop a drinking straw into the glass and proceed to drink it a quickly as possible standing up next to the sink. I think good thought generally totally unrelated to the chalkiness or other unpleasant descriptors of the sensation.
Since it is only about 8 oz or so, and since I have doubled the density by using two packets, I quickly rinse out the large glass and straw and add a few ice cubes refill with more seltzer, this time generally 12 to 16 oz and proceed to cleans out my mouth and throat while enjoying the freshness of the seltzer water.
Certainly clear water or event tonic water could be enjoyed after the increase the amount of fluid with which to expand the powder and increase it's effectiveness. And clear water can certainly be used instead of the seltzer but I find that these small adaptations help with my potential adversion to the substance and dispell any untoward sensations or flavors that may need to be endured to get it past my mouth and tongue!
For me this is the best neurotoxin binder that I have found. I have tried the charcoal but for me I needed more binding. I tried the chlorella for a while but again I personally needed something stronger. I have found that ChitosanUltra (extra concentrated there are two strengths so you would need twice as much of the lesser concentrated variety to get the same binding effect.) And to note that if you have shell fish allergy it may cause you trouble is also good to know.
Kate 001 do you have any more questions? Please let us know the inventive tricks that you use to allow yourself to get past the challenge of drinking it. I'd like to know for my personal benefit if there are other good suggestions for taking it. It definitely is the best binder, mopper for me.
This is a useful thread for those of us who need cholystyramine to absorb the lipophillic endotoxins from the bacterial die off.
Louise
You mentioned Chitosan ultra, Louise – I’m just starting to use this (easier to buy than Cholestyramine, which needs a prescription), in an attempt to clear some of the toxins which chlorella isn’t helping with, and would appreciate some advice please.
Mine says that is should be taken with meals, and at least 4 hours before or after any medications or supplementsi. I believe the advice to take with meals is for when it’s used for weight loss – and I don’t want to risk losing the benefit of nutrients in my food. So can I take it away from my meals? I’m wondering about mid-afternoon or bedtime, depending on when I fit the other supplementsi in. Is it best to take this with some fats? Advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks x
Neuroi symptoms & many health problems from 1989. NACi+all supps(04/11) doxyi(05/11) roxi(06/11) tinii pulses(12/11-03/12, 10/12-01/13), amoxi(02/13)
Thanks for your tips Louise. I do have the unsweetened variety so perhaps that is why it expands so quickly! I don't think i could even suck the one I have through a straw, it thickens so quickly! I'll give the seltzer water a go....perhaps the fizz will distract from the grittiness like you suggested.
Again, many thanks! I'm going to go and chug some down now!
It is better to believe than to disbelieve; in doing so, it brings everything into the realm of possibility (Einstein)
CFSi/FM (2001); 'probable' MSi; Cpni; EBVi; HHV6; Chronic sinusitis/bronchitis/allergies
What I wrote above for Cholystyramine would hold true for my perspective of ChitosanUltra and I do agree that it is used to absorb fats so you would not to drain your meals of that portion of nutrition on a regular basis.
Yes, I would take it away from meals since I want to use these moppers to clease my bile of toxins. Yes, best with some fats. I have used some full fatted cheese as a quick stimulus for bile flow, and I have used a piece of bacon (they sell it precooked here and I heat it up but could be eaten cold I guess. Using the pre-cooked variety is a convenience.
The capsules are definitely easier than getting and mixing and drinking the reconstituted powder. I do have to say that I would like you to keep up with reporting because during the time that I took it several years ago I never blogged or logged very much about my use of the Chitosan Ultra and now those detail are in the past. I think when I found it I was already using imported Cholystyramine and was very impressed by my improvements as a result of adding it into my plan.
I agree that it is a good choice to make if you cannot get the cholystyramine. Yasko has started to use it to absorb toxins from the stool and get them out of the body as opposed to being reabsorbed.
Mid afternoon or late evening which is best for time I guess is really a personal call regarding convenience. Waiting four hours after for supplementsi and meals and medications can be done very easily if you can take it late in the evening, as I see it.
Yes you need to use a wider straw. Wow your stuff must be very thick. Sound like spoon could be needed ;0) Remember to chase it with something clear to add more volumn of liquid to the mix to prevent any tendencies to constipation. This is really important for those with decreased bowel motility.
Many thanks for the advice, Louise. Much appreciated. Bacon (yes, they sell the pre-cooked here as well) or cheese sound good! I'll report back on how whether ChitosanUltra helps. Hoping!
Neuroi symptoms & many health problems from 1989. NACi+all supps(04/11) doxyi(05/11) roxi(06/11) tinii pulses(12/11-03/12, 10/12-01/13), amoxi(02/13)
Haha Louise yes, I do at times feel like I need a spoon! wish I could add some chocolate topping and sprinkles :-p
Ok...I've been slack with taking it because of the vomiting issue but have resolved to start taking it twice a day as of today. I'll make sure I report back to let you know of any differences in how I feel. I'm aiming for mid afternoon and evening like you suggested. It's nice to get feedback from someone who's had success from it.
It is better to believe than to disbelieve; in doing so, it brings everything into the realm of possibility (Einstein)
CFSi/FM (2001); 'probable' MSi; Cpni; EBVi; HHV6; Chronic sinusitis/bronchitis/allergies
Kate001, here is the address for the ChitosanUltra references, I have not read any of them but this may be of interest. And this website is where I have gotten a number of supplementsi overtime, the website was suggested to me by JimK from our website. Their prices are good and shipment reliable. I get my Sam-e here and they include a bottle of B-complex 50 so that folks are encouraged to take it with their same to prevent the potential Bvit deficiencies that are warned about.
http://www.wholehealthproducts.net/chitosan-hd-references.html
this is the homepage http://www.wholehealth.com/