How Functional Medicine Gave Me Hope

"If it doesn’t feel right then it’s time to start asking questions and advocating for yourself!"

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE:

Functional medicine determines how and why illness occurs and restores health by addressing the root causes of disease for each individual. It's individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes.

It was my last hope of desperately seeking help. After years of unexplained medical issues and no direction or answers from traditional medical providers, I had decided to find a functional medicine doctor. It’s an out of pocket expense, however the cost is much less than the copays and deductibles that we’ve been paying over the years and with zero results or direction. This is worth the shot at this point.

First, a brief summary of my medical history

Symptoms

- pressure and pain in my whole head

- seeing colored spots that obstructed my view

- balance issues

- extreme fatigue

- low to extremely low BP (109/36)

- 2 x TIAs (transient ischemic attacks, mini-strokes)

- confusion, forgetfulness, and foggy brained sometimes even out of body feelings

- digestive system havoc and new food sensitivities

- pain and sensitivity all over

- muscle cramps

- emotional exhaustion from the unknown

- no sex drive for years

- itchy skin and scalp

Completed diagnostics & labs

- MRI of the head

- CT of the head

- EMG (electromyography)

- EEG

- EKG

- Stress echo

- Lower extremity and carotid Doppler

- Neurologist referral

- Neurosurgeon referral

- Physical therapy

- Gastroenterologist referral

- Nephrologist referral

- Cardiologist referral

- Infectious disease referral

- Endless labs of basic panels and urinalysis.

All of this and still no conclusion???

Trying something new and what sparked it

I had a recent trip to the ER. Ongoing headache and extreme cranial pressure. Confusion and balance symptoms. BP 109/ 36 and I felt like I was heavily sedated. After over 2 hours of waiting and the ER doc says, "So why are you here today?" I explain my past history and today's symptoms and he says, "What are you expecting to happen out of this visit, what do you want done?" SAY WHAT?! This was my ongoing experiences with medical encounters. Needless to say I directed what tests to be done and everything "looked normal".

The ER nurse upon discharge, whispered to me on the side...

"Look into functional medicine!".

That's exactly what I did the very next day! I searched locally and read great reviews about Dr. Ryan Ball of Prosper Health Clinics. I called and he answered the phone personally, we talked for 15 min about my history and it was a no-brainer. I scheduled an appointment.

About Dr. Ryan Ball, DC ABAAHP FAAMFM

He advocates the use of lifestyle, diet, nutraceuticals, stress management, hormone assessment, analysis of chronic infections (Lyme, mold, parasites), detoxification, and sleep hygiene to achieve rehabilitation of the different systems of the body. He calls this approach ‘targeted neurochemistry’ and ‘clinical nutrition’. All of these different parts of health affect how the brain and body function. If you are sick in one area of the body then you are sick everywhere.

The goal is to identify where the cause is, to get rid of the cause, and then allow the body to heal, thrive, and prosper. Once the systems are rehabilitated, the patient should be able to live their life without the problem coming back and without having to come back to the clinic to maintain the results. In other words, the body should be able to maintain its own results without continuing the therapy.

Dr. Ball accepts patients across the United States if you want a quick consult with him to see if you're a good fit.

After completing an extensive yet refreshing 15-page history and reviewing everything with Dr. Ball in-person, he sent me for lab panels many of which I’ve never had ordered in the past. I'm so overwhelmed with emotion that I have a medical professional who is listening and looking for answers first by looking deeper into my blood and reading my history while connecting the dots.

I'm not making any magical claims by any means and this journey has just begun, however, there’s a peace in knowing that this professional is more on my side than the other specialists and family doctors to not only get me back on track but allow me have a chance to live without feeling like I’m crazy or making up my symptoms.

Have I been good to my body? Nope, not good enough! Can I do better AND do I want to feel better? 100% Yes! There's an unlimited number of possibilities as to why I got this bad. We can't spend time figuring that out, but we can figure out how to repair most of it.

Dr. Ball found issues with my blood results that my current Family Practice provider was actually making worse. I wasn’t being heard or taken seriously. I felt like I was a nuisance.

My family practice office had me in an iron toxic overload state! I had to donate blood immediately to dump the iron before I had organ failure.

THIS IS MY BODY. I HAVE TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

My point is, around every corner of our lives there’s something we can change. I’m watching more and more people losing control of their health and trust me, our country is does not care or regulate enough of what should and should not be on the market.

There’s an extremely alarming amount of ingredients that dozens of other countries have banned and and we’re pumping it into everything. We consume mindlessly.

These are the supplements that my new functional medicine doctor recommended to get started. I have an active autoimmune response, we need to lower histamine and he believes my brain is inflamed among other things. This was based on my completed health history and new lab results. He also put me on an Autoimmune(AIP) diet to remove potential inflammatory response foods. This is not long-term and is used to essentially rebalance my immunity then reintroduce in phases.

A side note: I wanted to quickly share with you a free membership to some good discounts through a special website called Vita Living.

All of these supplements I had previously bought from my doctor, I can now buy here along with an amazing array of other products and earn points and discounts. Give it a peek.

Do something about it

You absolutely can say "NO" to your habits and make better decisions. Every single day is a different challenge but it’s worth it, I’m worth it, and so are you. I slip up and consume things I shouldn't some times but that's ok. We can't be 100% with everything we do. It's impossible, just make strides towards permanent improvement daily and you'll eventually make it a habit of nature. The only alternative to being proactive is to continue feeling like shit. We both know that's not an option anymore if you're still reading this.

This photo below, is me taking time to be balanced and emotionally in charge of myself. I ride my bike and walk almost daily. I listen to a variety of music to embrace a better mood and I just go. MAKE THE TIME. DO IT ALONE. If you can't be comfortable alone then this is your first focus. Golf, shoot hoops, walk your dog, crochet in a park. Just get fresh air, get into the wilderness. Reset and do it often.

Be comfortable with yourself. Independence is a building block of your own energy and strength.

This is my new self-help tool, a book called “Eat for Energy”. I found this at Barnes and Noble for $26 but you can buy it on Amazon Prime for $19.79. I wish I would have got the better deal but, picking this up in person and being able to read the first few pages sold me and was worth the extra $6 bucks.

The author, Ari Whitten, was diagnosed with the same virus that I've been diagnosed with, Epstein Barr Virus. I immediately knew I had to have this book because of all of my unexplained health issues throughout my life. Food is essential and the nutrients in today's food is being depleted and interrupted with toxic chemicals. We have malabsorption, hormone disruptors, deficiencies, chemical toxicities, and this is all a part of a vicious cycle that prevents us from feeling and living optimally.

Finding this is my added inspiration to learn more, eat better, move better, think better, sleep better, and feel better. A science-based nutrition book and thank God, not a prescription pill for cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, depression, sleep disorders, etc. I’m not saying stop taking your meds, but our bodies are so out of whack from what we do it it, imagine what you'll feel like when you get it balanced?

Take it upon yourself to read a little each day. EDUCATE YOURSELF ON YOUR HEALTH.

Start small, but don’t give up. Your brain’s health (dopamine, melatonin, and other hormones) and body will improve greatly! If you could feel the changes I’ve been feeling, you would stop your bad habits in a heartbeat. I’m just getting started, and there is so much more work to do.

Be well my friends!