Here at Brainstorm Health, we love to hear about the positive changes that parents report in their children while working with us. We also know that progress would not happen without the patience, dedication and determination of these amazing parents and that setbacks along the way are common. It is important to celebrate breakthroughs, large and small, on our children’s journeys to better health. When our Brainstorm Health practitioner Kirsty told us the story of one of her young patients, 5-year-old James*, it was so heartwarming that we had to share it with you.
Hello Kirsty. Tell me a little about your patient and the symptoms he first came to you with.
James had digestive issues from birth - frequent loose stools, alternating with constipation. He had limited ability to focus, little eye contact and poor social skills. His sleep was also disturbed. His GP was investigating possible sleep apnea at the time. He often felt fatigued and had sore arms. He also suffered from frequent infections - bronchitis, viruses and colds, and had been prescribed several courses of antibiotics.
How were these symptoms impacting his life?
His social interaction was minimal, he felt tired often and generally in poor health, which impacted his home life as well as his experience of the nursery he attended.
What were your initial steps in helping him?
We made some dietary changes initially. We put him on a dairy-free diet and also cut out foods that are high in histamine. We ran several biomedical tests, including stool analysis, a urine test to assess metabolic function, hair mineral analysis, and food intolerance as well as evaluating his epigenetics.
What did his lab tests reveal, and how did that shape your therapeutic approach?
The tests revealed a compromised digestive system, with evidence of dysbiosis, yeast overgrowth, poor nutrient absorption and gastrointestinal inflammation. He was showing reactions to several foods. He was not digesting protein well, his detoxification pathways were not working optimally, and he had a high toxic load. He also had elevated levels of histamine - an inflammatory chemical released by cells of the immune system.
With all of this information, I could tailor my therapeutic approach to James' specific needs. We devised nutritional interventions and a supplement regime to support gut health, lower inflammation and improve detoxification capacity.
How long did it take before his family started seeing positive changes in his symptoms?
At James' next appointment, several weeks later, his Mum told me that he was sleeping through the night, with a reduction in mouth breathing. His digestion had improved significantly: he was having two regular bowel movements a day, and bloating had reduced. His hyperactivity was less frequent, and stimming had also really calmed down.
Where speech had previously been minimal, he was now trying to construct sentences and speaking more at home. His school fed back that his handwriting and cognitive function had improved, he was asking for help, making friends, and speaking more in class.
How long have you been working together now?
18 months.
What has been the biggest ‘breakthrough’ moment on James' journey?
Improving overall gut health was the foundation for improvement in so many other areas. It is so fundamental, and that’s why it is always one of the first areas that we address.
How is James doing now?
He is doing very well overall, especially at school, with his learning, speech, behaviour, and social skills. And at home with a more diverse diet and improvements in his speech and behaviour. There have been a few occasions when some of his previous behaviours have returned. We have done some further testing which has revealed exposure to mould and other toxins and depleted essential fatty acids. These are the areas that we are now focussing on, and we hope to see even more improvements for James in time.
*The patient's name has been changed in this report to protect their privacy.
Please note we do not diagnose or treat illnesses at Brainstorm Health, but we can help you advocate to get the right medical diagnosis from qualified doctors if necessary.
|