Health Mysteries Solved

The Case:  Holly is 39 and has been experiencing strange body sensations like tingling, buzzing and internal vibrations that she can’t explain She’s seen several neurologists, had MRIs, nerve tests and a brain scan but it was all normal The only solution doctors offered was anti-anxiety medication. She knew that wasn’t her issue.  Strange tingling, feeling like your body is buzzing inside, and similar symptoms could be related to various medical conditions involving the brain or central nervous system so Holly did the right thing by getting those checked out first. But, like many people who deal with unsolved health mysteries, once her doctors ruled those out, they stopped searching for an answer. In fact, they essentially said it was all in her head.  Feeling undermined, ignored, and frustrated, Holly came to see me. I was ready to get to the root of the problem and I suspected it wasn’t going to be something that could be measured with MRIs and CAT scans.  The Investigation I deal in science. My work is f

The Case:  Candace is 39 and has been dealing with acid reflux for years. She was diagnosed with GERD and prescribed acid lowering medication but when it stopped working she switched to probiotics and digestive enzymes.  These helped a little but she was still suffering and needed to find the root cause. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and acid reflux diagnoses have been increasing dramatically for the past 20 years. So much so that it is now considered a very common disorder with an estimated 20-30% of the Western population experiencing it. However, many people who suffer from it are prescribed acid-blocking medications like Prevacid, Omiprezole and Nexium however, these options come with their own concerns and cautions. Few patients are encouraged to look for the cause of their issue, but when Candace came to see me, I knew that was exactly what we needed to do.  The Investigation Candace experienced some relief by following a strict course of probiotics and digestive enzymes however it didn’t com

The Case:  Camille is 38 and has experiencing unexplained joint pain, fatigue and generally not feeling like herself. Blood tests revealed an elevated ANA but that could mean many things and doctors were unable to give her a diagnosis. Further bloodwork pointed to an issue with thyroid and inflammation.   The Investigation An elevated ANA can mean a lot of things but generally it indicates that there is an autoimmune issue which could be lupus, scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, or a variety of other diseases. However, a positive ANA is not considered enough to diagnose any of these. In Camille’s case, I could see from the additional blood work I ran that there was more to this story; that there was perhaps more than one puzzle piece missing to complete this picture.  Dr. Keesha Ewers is an integrative medicine expert, a popular speaker, and the best-selling author of Solving the Autoimmune Puzzle: The Woman’s Guide to Reclaiming Emotional Freedom and Vibrant Health. She’s board certifie

The Case:  Kim is 37 and lives in a high-rise in New York City For about a year she felt foggy, tired, and plagued by headaches.  She was also experiencing joint pain that traveled from ankle to shoulder to knee.  She tried anti-inflammatories but it only masked the problems.  Her doctors were unable to find the cause of her issues.  It’s not uncommon for people to turn to functional medicine to deal with headaches and inflammation but there was something that made me think there was something else at play in Kim’s case.  The biggest clues were that aside from the pain, she also said she didn’t feel like herself. I knew that we had to get to the source of the inflammation and the roving joint issues.  The Investigation My suspicion was Lyme disease but Kim is a city girl and hadn’t been hiking in areas where she might have been exposed. I needed to investigate whether this might be the cause of her issues as it certainly seemed to explain the collection of concerns.  Dr. Darin Ingels is an expert in Lyme di

The Case:  Avery is 37 and was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism ten years ago.  Despite taking medication, she still suffered from weight issues, fatigue, constipation and dry, brittle hair.  Additional testing revealed she had Hashimoto’s.  She made the lifestyle changes suggested, little changed.  Avery’s experience is not totally uncommon. The traditional medical system helped treat her symptoms but it wasn’t until she turned to functional medicine that she was able to get to the real root of the problem. Or, so she thought. When I met with her, I knew there was still a piece of the puzzle that was missing and it would required her to be open minded about the cause of her health issues.  The Investigation When we feel ill or our body is not functioning the way we want it to, we think about all of the physical things that could be wrong with it. For many people, solving their health mystery doesn’t need to go any further than this. But, for Avery we had to go beyond the physical and dig a little into the hea

The Case:  Katherine is 37years old and 20 weeks pregnant Since early in her pregnancy, she’s had stiff joints and been exhausted and extremely nauseous. Prenatal vitamins made her morning sickness worse and time wasn’t making anything better.  Katherine was having trouble keeping food down and was worried about getting sufficient nutrients to the fetus.  The Investigation During the first trimester of pregnancy, it’s common to experience nausea and fatigue. For most women, the body finds it’s new equilibrium by the second trimester. When Katherine came to me with continued issues, I knew we had to dig a bit deeper into her diet and look at what she’d done to prepare her body for pregnancy.  Kristin Mallon is a Registered Nurse (Certified in Inpatient Obstetric) and a midwife. She’s a pregnancy expert, published author and co-founder of Vibrant Beginning Pregnaceuticals. She’s delivered thousands of healthy babies. Her focus is on helping women prepare their bodies optimally before, during and after pregnan

The Case:  The husband, wife, kids and friends of people dealing with health mysteries can feel invisible or taken advantage of.It may not be happening to them, but they are impacted.  Likewise, those dealing with health issues often feel their partners can’t understand them and therefore may not support them in a way they would like. Stress, frustration, heartbreak and even new illnesses can be side effects of loving someone dealing with a health mystery. For every person dealing with an unresolved, or undiagnosed illness, there’s a group of family and friends who are also dealing with it. Whether they have to take on the task of caregiver, reframe their relationship and activities to accommodate limitations created by the illness, or struggle as they watch someone they love suffer.  When I work with clients, we focus on their issues but I am always aware that they are not the only one who is impacted.  Alicia Munoz is a couples therapist and the author of “No More Fighting”. She’s been helping couples tra

The Case: Naomi is 39 and has been dealing with IBS for years She was experiencing chronic bloating stomachs and diarrhea We solved this issue once but it came back The Investigation Naomi seemed like a typical IBS case. We did some testing and were able to identify some intestinal infections and food sensitivities. These we were able to address through natural remedies and diet changes. She felt better than she had in decades. It seemed like it her case was closed; her health mystery solved. But then, she started to experience flare-ups of her old IBS symptoms. Further testing gave us no clues - everything was clear and normal. There were no new life events or stressers either. The only clue I had was that she seemed to hold on to so much fear around her symptoms coming back that I started to wonder if perhaps her emotions might be the culprit in this mystery. I turned to the work of Debi Silber. She’s an expert (in fact she coined the term) Post Betrayal Transformation. Her work in helping women heal afte

The Case: Misty was 35 and concerned about fertility Doctors discovered (and operated on) endometriosis leaving her with brain fog and extreme fatigue Medication and more surgery were suggested but she was told that her symptoms were normal The Investigation We Americans tend to trust our medical system despite statistics that show a failing system. We feel lost when a doctor tells us something is fine when we know in our gut it’s not. We don’t speak up when we’re told our symptoms are normal and that we should just get used to living with them. We ignore our instincts because we believe someone who’s been educated must know more about our bodies than we do. Misty’s experience is all too common. She was given few options and dismissed. She was told that because her labs were ‘normal’ she should get used to these symptoms. When more mysterious symptoms showed up and were dismissed (like a 45 lb weight gain) Misty knew that she had to fight for her quality of life. Since then, she’s not only become her own h

If you or someone you know has Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s, you probably know that the diagnosis often comes with mixed emotions. On the one hand, it’s a relief to know that there really is a reason for all of these symptoms. No more confusion around symptoms that come and go. No more doctors dismissing your concerns. You finally have proof that it’s not all in your head. But, that relief often ends when you discover that there is no specific cure. Soon the frustration, fear hopelessness sets in. You go searching for answers only to find confusing and conflicting information. You end up feeling overwhelmed and you start to worry that you’re never going to feel good again.   I’ve Been There I remember the emotional roller coaster I felt when I was first diagnosed 18 years ago. It took me a long time to find and avoid my Hashimoto’s triggers. BUT this understanding changed my life. Now, as a clinical nutritionist practicing a functional medicine type approach, I’m on a mission to help everyone with Hashimoto’

The Case: Melissa is 35 woman experiencing daily stomach discomfort. As each day progressed she got more bloated, gassy, and uncomfortable belly distention. She tried elimination diets and even antibiotics but the bloating kept coming back. The Investigation When Melissa came to me she had already been diagnosed with SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth). Her doctor prescribed antibiotics and that worked, at first. But, the symptoms came back so I knew we had to get to the root of the problem if we were going to help Melissa stop feeling like she was 4 months pregnant. SIBO is an excessive amount of bacteria in the small intestine. This can cause a variety of symptoms and if left unchecked can lead to more serious concerns. SIBO can also be caused by more serious health concerns. Once considered to be rare, SIBO is now easier to diagnose and it is estimated to affect up to 15% of otherwise healthy people. Dr. Seth Osgood is a board certified family nurse practitioner and Institute of Functional Medici

The Case: Elise is 37 and for the past 5 years, she’s had very low sex-drive Extensive hormones tests gave no physical explanation She and her husband wanted to find a way to reconnect and make sex a part of their relationship again. The Investigation A sexless marriage is defined as one where the couple has sex less than 10 times a year. For Elise, her disinterest in sex had been going on for 5-years. There were many factors that played into this - including being on an opposite work schedule to her husband - but she knew that it was primarily because of her low libido. I ran some additional, more comprehensive lab tests (to make sure that her doctors hadn’t missed anything) but found nothing out of the norm. I did notice one thing. When Elise talked to me about her issue with sex drive, she seemed embarrassed. She giggled nervously everytime she mentioned sex. I suspected that something in her past or her upbringing might be the clue we need to find to solve this health mystery. I turned to  Lauren Handel

The Case: Karen is 31 and eats a very healthy diet. She started to experience eczema, rashes, and itchy skin as well as anxiety. Doctors prescribed topical steroids and antihistamines but these only masked the symptoms. Here condition escalated to swollen eyes and hives on her face. The Investigation When I met with Karen I suspected that her diet was to blame for her condition even though she was eating really healthy. I just knew there was something in her diet that was causing the problem; something was causing a histamine reaction. But, I also suspected it likely wasn’t a traditional food allergy. I brainstormed  with my partner at Complete Nutrition and Wellness, Beth Mosher. She’s a clinical nutritionist who has been studying nutrition and how it relates to health and human development for almost 20 years. I knew that together, we could solve this health mystery. We knew that it wasn’t a specific food allergy or sensitivity so we had to look at how else food could be impacting her. Allergic Reactions

The Case: Diana is 36 and suffers from irregular bowel movements and stomach upset. Endoscopies, colonoscopies and genetic testing for celiac disease provided no answers She tried adjusting her diet but nothing has helped and her doctor was stumped. My first suspicion was that her Celiac test was a false negative or that she had some underlying gluten-sensitivity. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats and many people may have the sensitivity. It’s estimated that 30 – 40% of people are genetically positive for gluten-sensitivity. Many go undiagnosed. Dr. Peter Osborne is world renown in the field of gluten and grain sensitivity. He is the author   of the highly acclaimed bestseller, ‘No Grain, No Pain’ and is a Doctor of Chiropractic and board certified in clinical nutrition and pastoral medicine. He is the clinical director of Origins Healthcare in Sugarland, Texas and is also an advisor for Functional Medicine University. He joins me in the discussion of this case to share his significant expertis

The Case: Victoria is a 45 year-old mom of three who works full time. In the last 9-months, severe pain in her hip has made her active lifestyle difficult. She was treated by a physiotherapist and a chiropractor and even tried natural supplements but nothing helped. The Investigation When I met Victoria, I noticed she had spider veins on same leg that was in pain. I suspected that was a clue. Spider veins, a form of varicose veins, are abnormally enlarged vessels that usually appear on the legs like dark blue or red squiggly lines. About 50% of the population develop spider veins but women are more susceptible, especially as they age. Many people consider spider veins to be a cosmetic problem that’s not how they are viewed in chinese medicine. That’s why I turned to Belinda Brown for help with Victoria’s health mystery. Belinda is a classical acupuncturist with a busy practice in Hoboken, New Jersey. Acupuncture Works with the Body’s Qi Qi (pronounced chee) is the flow of energy through our body. We are in

The Case: Bethany is a 37 year-old teacher who’s always sick Doctors can’t explain why her immune system is failing She’s meticulous about her hygiene and has tried every natural supplement available. The Investigation The obvious explanation for Bethany going from cold, to flu, to cold was that she worked in a classroom full of germs. But, her fellow teachers weren’t getting sick like she was. Bethany seemed to be sick with something new every month. When changing her diet and taking the usual nutritional supplements didn’t help, we knew there had to be something else going on. Usually, I don’t like to say that it was all in her head but in this case, I suspected there was a mind body connection. My first clue came when Bethany mentioned how meticulous she was about washing her hands and how bad she felt about getting sick and missing work. That’s when I knew I needed to dig deeper into her mindset. It turned out that she had some deep-seated shame around being sick that went all the way back to her childh

The Case: Jena is 35 who recently moved across the country. Since then, she’s experienced sinus issues, brain fog, dizziness, and fatigue. Her GP sent her to specialists who did countless test but they couldn’t figure out what was going on. The Investigation Jena knew there was something going on even though all of the doctors and tests revealed nothing. When she came to me, we looked at a bunch of possible causes that the specialists may have missed. But, when she told me that she’d recently moved into an apartment where they had recently repaired some water damage, I knew we had our first clue to the real cause of her problems. Mold can cause a great deal of health issues, even if you can’t see it. Evan Brand knows this from personal experience. Now, he’s made it his mission to reveal just how prevalent and harmful mold can be to our health. Evan is a Clinical Nutritionist who has been studying the effects of mold on the brain and body. His interest came about when he discovered that exposure to mold was

The Case: Amanda is a 37 year old mom working part time. For 5 years she struggled with insomnia that kept her mind racing and her body tired. She tried sleep medications, antidepressants, and melatonin but they made her groggy. I tried addressing her adrenal issues with supplements, but the insomnia persisted. The Investigation There was no question that Amanda’s case was not your typical insomnia case. When we discussed her busy lifestyle, it became clear to me that stress was playing a role in her issue. We worked on  controlling her elevated cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and rebalancing her nervous system. And even though she felt calmer and more in control, sleep still evaded her. I could tell that supplements alone were not going to put out this stress-fire. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) estimates that 35% of Americans do not get enough sleep. A lack of sleep becomes insomnia when it causes you to feel impaired during the day and persists for over a month without any other discernible ca

The Case: Patti is a physically fit 42 year-old. She was experiencing fatigue, brain fog, the strangest part - exercise that used to energize her was now making her more tired. Extensive tests proved her thyroid was not to blame so we had to dig deeper in to her health history. The Investigation Despite having typical symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, Patti’s levels were well within the normal range. With that off the table, we had to really think outside the box. I started to wonder if it might be an infection or some sort of virus. That’s when I looked into Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). According to the CDC, “ Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also known as human herpesvirus 4, is a member of the herpes virus family. It is one of the most common human viruses. EBV is found all over the world. Most people get infected with EBV at some point in their lives. EBV spreads most commonly through bodily fluids, primarily saliva. EBV can cause infectious mononucleosis, also called mono, and other illnesses.” It’s esti

The Case: Sally is 41 year old mom working part time. She was experiencing extreme fatigue, needing naps to get through the day and unable to find the energy to do anything. She thought it might be a thyroid issue because it runs in her family but her doctor said her levels were in the normal range. The Investigation When fatigue is a symptom, the thyroid is often involved. I wasn’t about to take that possibility off the table. According to the American Thyroid Association, an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. But, it is more prevalent in women. One in eight women will develop a thyroid condition in their lifetime. I invited Dr. Justin Marchegiani to join me in discussing Sally’s case. He is a virtual functional medicine doctor and the author of the Thyroid Reset. He knows all too well that the typical tests done in traditional medicine don’t tell the whole thyroid story. We spend the first part of our discussion explaining exactly how the thyroid works, it’s connection to th