Tag Archives: Functional Medicine

Well I got the results of my tests and I’m still trying to figure it out but here are the basics.  The doctor said that the tests show I’m deficient in vitamin B12. They also show that, yes, I have a leaky gut. The tests showed that there is too much of the bad bacteria in my system thanks to the leaky gut.  Also, my body doesn’t process any of the fats I eat, good or bad so that doesn’t help either.  So what is the next step.  I’m taking some supplements to see if we can start getting things working right.  I’m using a B12 cream in the morning.  I take a supplement called Ortho Digestzyme to help with digestion.  I’m taking Glutamine to help heal the leaky gut.  Then I’m doing drops of Biocidin to help with getting rid of the bad bacteria.  I’ve also gone off the prescription pill for the acid reflux.  That has been tough but I hate taking more pills.  I’m tracking my foods and seeing what causes flare-ups and taking DGL lozenges when I need.  I guess when you go off that type of medicine that has been inhibiting the acid once its out of your system the body goes into overdrive creating the acid.

What’s next?  I will be reading through al of the information I got with my test results.  Just been a bit busy to really sit and read through it all.  Also I’m going on vacation for a couple of weeks and I’m working on a plan to keep eating paleo as best as I can.  Looking for foods that I can easily prepare while there, luckily we will be with family, and making sure I have some convenient snacks so I won’t be tempted by the fast food/junk food.  I will share what I decide to take let you know how it works.

It has been a while since I’ve posted and I think I should tell what has been going on.  Since the beginning of the year I’ve been having issues with breathing and my throat swelling and my chest bugging me.  I’ve also had some dizziness and just feeling crappy to put it simply.  I’ve always thought my thyroid was the issue as when you look at the symptoms I have many.  In fact, I felt I had Hashimoto’s because of how my body swings between the symptoms of hypo- and hyperthyroidism.  Well they did all the antibody testing and an ultrasound of my thyroid and it came back normal.  This was after all the antibiotics and prednisone I took in January because I had a sinus/chest infection.  To explore my thyroid further I went to and ENT.  After what I would call a weird visit he said my thyroid wasn’t the issue it was acid reflux and allergies.  He gave me a pill and that was it.  I went back to my primary care physician and asked how to find out the cause of all of this.  I felt there must be a food sensitivity as my throat would really swell after eating certain food but that I couldn’t narrow it down completely.  Her reply is that is not what she does.  That is more holistic medicine.  So on to find someone who can help me.  In May I met with a nutritionist/functional medicine provider.  What a difference.  She understood that I wanted to figure out the cause of why I felt so bad.  She listened when I said please don’t throw a bunch of pills at me. I’m a terrible pill popper.  She decided we would run some tests to see what was going on as well as make some changes to my diet and we would go from there.  From some of the history I told her, like when I take medications that should help me regardless of shat they are I always gain a bunch of weight even though most people on those meds would be losing.  She felt maybe leaky gut was a problem.  I can go through depression and anxiety.  I am active, I don’t have cholesterol or blood pressure issues.  I’m not pre-diabetic.  As a larger person I don’t have many of the health issues one usually associates with a heavy person, but at the beginning of the year something started to change.  Well on Thursday I will find out the results of all the tests.  On June 7th I started a paleo diet at her recommendation.  I will say I love how I feel.  I’m pretty sure I have lost weight but will wait until tomorrow or Thursday to weigh myself.  So far so good.  Making changes for the better.  I can do this and I will beat this whatever it is!