Hello Friends,
Eric mentioned that he tried functional medicine and I wanted him to share some of his experiences with us...
This is your chance to chime in if you've tried it.
Did it work for you?
What did you do?
In what ways did it benefit you?
Thanks,
Monique
Functional Medicine--Does It Function?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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wmonique2
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Functional Medicine--Does It Function?
Diagnosed 2011 with LC. Currently on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
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Gabes-Apg
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Monique
my response to this is 'it depends'
like finding a good doctor or a good specialist - it is the same with all practitioners, some are good and some are not so good
some have extensive background in IBD's and some just follow the textbooks (a bit like doctors)
Here is Aus, for the past 15 years with infertility rates on the grow, alot of practitioners have 'jumped on the bandwagon' and claimed to be experts in that field (as they know that people will spend the money to try anything)
as i have previously written - MC is not the same as other IBD's, or IBS. the text book treatments for IBD's IBS dont necessarily work so well for MC - and the text book treatments need tweaking when there are other health issues occuring....
Do research, get recommendations, quiz the practitioner, how many patients with IBD's have they treated, how long did it take for the symptoms to abate,
Also have realistic expectations - MC is rare and quite a few people have never heard of it.
Yes i was blessed that my best friend is a naturopath and has had digestion issues and has a keen interest in digestion issues. ultimately, it was this forum and my own research that helped me the most, she just helped me along the way.
I have shared quite a few of the discussions/articles from this forum and my research with her and she uses them quite a bit.
knowing some of your recent history and the recent discussions, my recommendation would be to do more work (which you can do yourself) on the emotional/mental/grieving side of things, before outlaying money with a practitioner.
my response to this is 'it depends'
like finding a good doctor or a good specialist - it is the same with all practitioners, some are good and some are not so good
some have extensive background in IBD's and some just follow the textbooks (a bit like doctors)
Here is Aus, for the past 15 years with infertility rates on the grow, alot of practitioners have 'jumped on the bandwagon' and claimed to be experts in that field (as they know that people will spend the money to try anything)
as i have previously written - MC is not the same as other IBD's, or IBS. the text book treatments for IBD's IBS dont necessarily work so well for MC - and the text book treatments need tweaking when there are other health issues occuring....
Do research, get recommendations, quiz the practitioner, how many patients with IBD's have they treated, how long did it take for the symptoms to abate,
Also have realistic expectations - MC is rare and quite a few people have never heard of it.
Yes i was blessed that my best friend is a naturopath and has had digestion issues and has a keen interest in digestion issues. ultimately, it was this forum and my own research that helped me the most, she just helped me along the way.
I have shared quite a few of the discussions/articles from this forum and my research with her and she uses them quite a bit.
knowing some of your recent history and the recent discussions, my recommendation would be to do more work (which you can do yourself) on the emotional/mental/grieving side of things, before outlaying money with a practitioner.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
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wmonique2
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- Contact:
Functional Medicine--Does It Function?
Gabes,
Thanks so much for your sensible advice. I went back on elavil yesterday and that's making a huge difference in my physical being and consequently my emotional one.
But I have work to do as you know.
Warm regards,
Monique
Thanks so much for your sensible advice. I went back on elavil yesterday and that's making a huge difference in my physical being and consequently my emotional one.
But I have work to do as you know.
Warm regards,
Monique
Diagnosed 2011 with LC. Currently on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
My chiropractor also practices functional medicine and I tried it about four years ago. It's a great start but flawed. The testing for food sensitivities is a blood test that did not catch the dairy, eggs, or soy that I cannot have. It got me on the right path to looking at my diet and eliminating gluten but soy is a big offender for me so I spent a lot of money out of pocket when I had no chance of improving. I also needed the heads up about legumes. Too many in the same day or too close together cause me to feel run down. I try to avoid them all together but sometimes I need a break from the same-old handful of foods.
I've always meant to go back and share the Enterolab info. It's just a sad fact that not many docs know anything about MC and how to manage it. I was just relieved that he agreed it was everything to do with my diet.
I've always meant to go back and share the Enterolab info. It's just a sad fact that not many docs know anything about MC and how to manage it. I was just relieved that he agreed it was everything to do with my diet.
I too have found success with a functional naturopathic doctor. While my symptoms had decreased significantly and I was off all meds, the accupuncture treatments that she has done with me over the past 7 weeks have brought my BM back to once a day, normal formed BM. They were not this formed even while on the Entorcort. I am absolutely thrilled with her. She sat down @ our first appointment and just listened to my history for 90 minutes and was extremely helpful with her suggestions (most of which I was already doing). I'm going to continue with her treatments!
It functioned beautifully for me. Have never taken prescription meds. Steadfastly refused steroids, methotrexate and sulfasalazine for MANY years prior to being dx/w/MC, having witnessed the physical and mental deterioration of my siblings who went that route.
I'd been GF for about 4 months before my dx/w/LC & CC in late '09 on advice of my ND. Drugs were not an option I EVER considered. Here is a link to my protocol that my ND and I worked out:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... t=protocol
My initial protocol:
2 rounded Tsp. Glutamine Powder - 3 times a day (Vital Nutrients)
2 PB 8 Pro-Biotic Acidophilus (Nutrition Now)
2 Loperamide Hydrochloride – 2 mg. /3 times a day (Kirkland Brand)
1 Proboulardi 2 times a day (Metagenics)
2 Vitamin D3 (2000 I.U.)
1 Tbsp. Organic Coconut Oil (Aunt Patty’s)
I take the first round of those when I first get up and follow it with this:
Banana smoothie:
1 RIPE Banana
3 Tbsp. Almond butter
1/2 C. Green Juice (Odwalla)
More info on the link.
Connie
I'd been GF for about 4 months before my dx/w/LC & CC in late '09 on advice of my ND. Drugs were not an option I EVER considered. Here is a link to my protocol that my ND and I worked out:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... t=protocol
My initial protocol:
2 rounded Tsp. Glutamine Powder - 3 times a day (Vital Nutrients)
2 PB 8 Pro-Biotic Acidophilus (Nutrition Now)
2 Loperamide Hydrochloride – 2 mg. /3 times a day (Kirkland Brand)
1 Proboulardi 2 times a day (Metagenics)
2 Vitamin D3 (2000 I.U.)
1 Tbsp. Organic Coconut Oil (Aunt Patty’s)
I take the first round of those when I first get up and follow it with this:
Banana smoothie:
1 RIPE Banana
3 Tbsp. Almond butter
1/2 C. Green Juice (Odwalla)
More info on the link.
Connie
Resolved MC symptoms successfully w/L-Glutamine, Probiotics and Vitamins, GF since 8/'09. DX w/MC 10/'09.
Martha, I'm not sure if there are different philosophies of functional medicine but my doc explained it as what we already know here- food can make us sick. Instead of using drugs to treat symtoms, a blood test was used to screen for reactions to foods and an elimination diet was perscribed as a means of addressing the cause of the symptoms.
Donna,
I began by taking the L-G and Loperamide 3x/day and am pretty sure that I did that for at least 3 months or so, then stopped the Loperamide entirely. I continued with the rest for about a year and now only take L-G and probiotics if I'm having symptoms of an oncoming flare. Have also discontinued everything else but the Vit D and B-6/B-12 sublingual, which I didn't list above, as I took that for many years before my dx.
The only prescription med I take is Premarin, which doesn't seem to be a problem for me. Been on it for at least 25 years, I'm one of those here who was dx with endometriosis and had a hysterectomy (kept the ovaries) @ 26 y/o.
We're all different, but this worked for me. Hasn't been a perfectly smooth path, and I have had stress related flares from time to time, but generally feel quite well.
Connie
I began by taking the L-G and Loperamide 3x/day and am pretty sure that I did that for at least 3 months or so, then stopped the Loperamide entirely. I continued with the rest for about a year and now only take L-G and probiotics if I'm having symptoms of an oncoming flare. Have also discontinued everything else but the Vit D and B-6/B-12 sublingual, which I didn't list above, as I took that for many years before my dx.
The only prescription med I take is Premarin, which doesn't seem to be a problem for me. Been on it for at least 25 years, I'm one of those here who was dx with endometriosis and had a hysterectomy (kept the ovaries) @ 26 y/o.
We're all different, but this worked for me. Hasn't been a perfectly smooth path, and I have had stress related flares from time to time, but generally feel quite well.
Connie
Resolved MC symptoms successfully w/L-Glutamine, Probiotics and Vitamins, GF since 8/'09. DX w/MC 10/'09.
Connie,
Good for you! And the probiotics don't bother you...I have not been able to take them since my diagnosis.
I reacted to all 11 tests from Enterolabs. I'm in hyper alert!
Did you eat a restricted diet or just use the supplements listed above?
Thanks for sharing (sorry, I'm an elementary school teacher)!
Linda
Good for you! And the probiotics don't bother you...I have not been able to take them since my diagnosis.
I reacted to all 11 tests from Enterolabs. I'm in hyper alert!
Did you eat a restricted diet or just use the supplements listed above?
Thanks for sharing (sorry, I'm an elementary school teacher)!
Linda
Linda :)
LC Oct. 2012
MTHFR gene mutation and many more....
LC Oct. 2012
MTHFR gene mutation and many more....
Linda,
The only thing I eliminated was gluten, so I guess I am one of the lucky double DQB1's here. I can even eat ice cream now. My Enterolab results are posted here. You no doubt must have taken the more recently perfected Enterolab tests, as mine were analyzed in 12/'09.
I'm sorry you're in hyper alert, been there, this whole process of finding your triggers is pretty frustrating, but I truly believe that the heavy duty drugs that our GI's recommend do more harm than good, and lots of people here go that route before coming here for help and information, but that's just IMO. I'm not the only anti drug person here, however. Steroids, especially Prednisone, scare the bejeezus out of me and have caused harm to my family members who took that route.
Didn't mean to hijack Monique's thread.
Connie
The only thing I eliminated was gluten, so I guess I am one of the lucky double DQB1's here. I can even eat ice cream now. My Enterolab results are posted here. You no doubt must have taken the more recently perfected Enterolab tests, as mine were analyzed in 12/'09.
I'm sorry you're in hyper alert, been there, this whole process of finding your triggers is pretty frustrating, but I truly believe that the heavy duty drugs that our GI's recommend do more harm than good, and lots of people here go that route before coming here for help and information, but that's just IMO. I'm not the only anti drug person here, however. Steroids, especially Prednisone, scare the bejeezus out of me and have caused harm to my family members who took that route.
Didn't mean to hijack Monique's thread.
Connie
Resolved MC symptoms successfully w/L-Glutamine, Probiotics and Vitamins, GF since 8/'09. DX w/MC 10/'09.
Connie.......I totally agree. I do not want to take any drugs, as I believe that taking too much ibuprofen, for menstrual cramps, all through my life contributed to getting MC. My husband is a chiropractor, and we are just beginning to understand this disease, and do things accordingly....naturally. The food trigger thing is really mentally exhausting. I'm going to try the MRT testing in a month or so if I'm not making progress.
Thanks for sharing your story of success, as I hope to do someday!
It's great to meet such caring people such as yourself on this site!
Thanks for sharing your story of success, as I hope to do someday!
It's great to meet such caring people such as yourself on this site!
Linda :)
LC Oct. 2012
MTHFR gene mutation and many more....
LC Oct. 2012
MTHFR gene mutation and many more....
Gabes makes good points regarding practitioners/specialists.
This is my general impression on the topic. Regarding the specific management of MC, Tex's book is likely going to be of more help than any allopathic, eastern, western, functional, or GI you find.
Overall, I like the approach of functional medicine, but it's possible plenty of allopathic docs think this way even if they've never heard the term "functional medicine." In very general terms, I believe that functional medicine is better suited for managing chronic conditions and western/allopathic medicine is more appropriate for acute ones. Leg cut off in a car accident? Drive PAST the acupuncturist and go to the ER. If the last ten years have been spent bouncing from doctor to doctor with nothing but new prescriptions to "see if they'll work", along with the prescriptions for medicines that will help you cope with the side effects from the other medicines...maybe it's time to see a functional med doc.
I would direct those interested to the Institute for Functional Medicine to learn more. http://www.functionalmedicine.org/ - specifically http://www.functionalmedicine.org/about/whatisfm/ Modern/western/allopathic medicine tends to be disease-oriented where a doctor knowledgeable about that disease manages your symptoms associated with that disease. In this scenario, you may have five specialists giving you treatments for five different diseases/conditions. In the ideal situation, your PCP would coordinate all this and put the puzzle pieces together to create a health management strategy that addressed the whole "you." Unfortunately, most PCPs instead see themselves as the first line treatment for basic conditions and defer the rest to the specialists.
To put it bluntly (and unfairly), allopathic doctors give you a drug to mask your symptoms and a functional med doc tries to find the underlying cause for the condition that causes your symptoms.
When some people hear "functional medicine" they assume you're talking about an acupuncturist, herbalist, nutritionist, chiropractor, etc. who thinks they should be your primary doctor. This is not the case. They're regular board-certified doctor/MDs who have been trained to approach patient assessment and disease management a little differently.
I think they're getting away from using this illustration (couldn't find it on the IFM current website), but I like it.
The functional medicine tree identifies the common root causes and the resulting dysfunctions which ultimately lead to the labels that doctors have placed on their patients. Allopathic medicine tends to stay up in the branches. Each disease has its corresponding drugs that are given to combat it (and usually prescribed by the specialist that lives on that specific branch). The goal of functional medicine is to work backwards to uncover the root causes.
Allopathic docs can recommend yoga and functional med docs can prescribe prednisone. It's not a clear cut good/bad thing. The functional med doc my family has been seeing is excellent but has only been practicing "functional" medicine for five years. It's my guess that if we had met him seven years ago we would still think he's an excellent doctor.
My only criticism is that functional med docs seem to love supplements as much as allopathic docs love prescriptions.
The IFM can be a useful resource when trying to find a doctor to manage a chronic condition. But we must employ the same tactics as with any other doctor to determine if they are compassionate, understanding, caring, open-minded and knowledgeable/experienced with specific condition(s).
This is my general impression on the topic. Regarding the specific management of MC, Tex's book is likely going to be of more help than any allopathic, eastern, western, functional, or GI you find.
Overall, I like the approach of functional medicine, but it's possible plenty of allopathic docs think this way even if they've never heard the term "functional medicine." In very general terms, I believe that functional medicine is better suited for managing chronic conditions and western/allopathic medicine is more appropriate for acute ones. Leg cut off in a car accident? Drive PAST the acupuncturist and go to the ER. If the last ten years have been spent bouncing from doctor to doctor with nothing but new prescriptions to "see if they'll work", along with the prescriptions for medicines that will help you cope with the side effects from the other medicines...maybe it's time to see a functional med doc.
I would direct those interested to the Institute for Functional Medicine to learn more. http://www.functionalmedicine.org/ - specifically http://www.functionalmedicine.org/about/whatisfm/ Modern/western/allopathic medicine tends to be disease-oriented where a doctor knowledgeable about that disease manages your symptoms associated with that disease. In this scenario, you may have five specialists giving you treatments for five different diseases/conditions. In the ideal situation, your PCP would coordinate all this and put the puzzle pieces together to create a health management strategy that addressed the whole "you." Unfortunately, most PCPs instead see themselves as the first line treatment for basic conditions and defer the rest to the specialists.
To put it bluntly (and unfairly), allopathic doctors give you a drug to mask your symptoms and a functional med doc tries to find the underlying cause for the condition that causes your symptoms.
When some people hear "functional medicine" they assume you're talking about an acupuncturist, herbalist, nutritionist, chiropractor, etc. who thinks they should be your primary doctor. This is not the case. They're regular board-certified doctor/MDs who have been trained to approach patient assessment and disease management a little differently.
I think they're getting away from using this illustration (couldn't find it on the IFM current website), but I like it.
The functional medicine tree identifies the common root causes and the resulting dysfunctions which ultimately lead to the labels that doctors have placed on their patients. Allopathic medicine tends to stay up in the branches. Each disease has its corresponding drugs that are given to combat it (and usually prescribed by the specialist that lives on that specific branch). The goal of functional medicine is to work backwards to uncover the root causes.
Allopathic docs can recommend yoga and functional med docs can prescribe prednisone. It's not a clear cut good/bad thing. The functional med doc my family has been seeing is excellent but has only been practicing "functional" medicine for five years. It's my guess that if we had met him seven years ago we would still think he's an excellent doctor.
My only criticism is that functional med docs seem to love supplements as much as allopathic docs love prescriptions.
The IFM can be a useful resource when trying to find a doctor to manage a chronic condition. But we must employ the same tactics as with any other doctor to determine if they are compassionate, understanding, caring, open-minded and knowledgeable/experienced with specific condition(s).