A Functional Medicine Doctor? Maybe Pathogen Killer?

It sucks, my doc stopped doing any phone consults. He is so busy.

It's a quandry. I know that there are FM docs all over. I would try to see one of them first. My doc isnt an fm dr he is just a super smart doc. He actually is duplicating the prototcol he had me on with the sodium butyrate plus Pediococcus acidlaci, planataruem and something else Ive forgotten.. and calling it his Leaky Gut protocol.

I got super lucky with him. If you are near a large city I think you can often find good docs you just often have to try multiple specialities and it's often good to try something like a certified group of docs like FM. Ive done alot of work for many doctors in the FM community and have found many innovative folks. Dont be afraid to try chiros, nds.. but I will say it's nice to have someone with a good mix of herbal/alternative knowledge and lab testing, prescription capabilities.

I pulled these Australian names from The Institute for Function Medicine

Name Phone City Specialty
Bartone, Anthony, MBBS 61-39-826-6200 Toorak Naturopath
Criticos, John, MD 917-912-4199 Coogee
Devaux, Christian, MD 61-26-629-1104 Clunes Integrative
Epstein, Julie, MBBS FRACP Sydney Antiageing medicine
Grauer, Elise, ND +61(3)95002229 Melbourne Naturopath
Lam, Hong, MB, BS +61 3 96901433 Melbourne General Practitioner
Mouratidis, Steven, BSc, ND 61-3-9855-2249 Williamstown

I think another good idea is to connect with other motivated patients in your area. Maybe through an online chronic illness community.. they will often have innovative dr recommendations.

The things I stay away from, personally, are:
muscle testing
muscle testing
muscle testing
treating any one thing in a vaccumn

I definitely recommend that people try immunologists and rheumatologists if at possible. Try doing research on whoever you choose. They probably are going to be independent.. so you are unlikely to find the type of doctor you need at a managed healthcare group (Kaiser, Scott and White, yadda yadda). In some us states nds have plenty of prescribing power to treat. They can prescribe abx, diflucan.. yadda yadda.

Im taking diflucan 2x per week now to just to make sure to keep the yeast down. Ive been terrible over the halloween week and cannot believe Ive had no repercussion. I think if I do the current diflucan rx, my other supplements and herbs.. then this should be completely addressed long term. Im trying to repopulate with really good guys and keep up on that.

Anyway..
here's how to tell if you have a good doc
1. The first visit is atleast an hour and includes complete history, not just gut. You had headaches? Joint pain? You are always tired? This is applicable. The doc then orders tests (mostly routine stuff plus some stuff like mycoplasma pneumonia igg and igm, lyme igg and igm, antistreptolysin antibodies, homocysteine, ammonia (plasma/serum), a stool test at someplace like great plains, genova, metametrix or diagnostechs.

2. These results prompt one more round of tests to kinda dial things down. This round of tests is bit more specialized.. like spectracel/nutraeval, genetic testing, urine amino acids, ion tests... and then treatment.

Treatment is a plan to action that is longer term then most people are used to. Dr offers complimentary therapy information on things like detox, adrenal support, diet mod, etc.

So what do you think of the gluten challenge results? Loose stools without urgency/cramping/or blood. Could it be because i upped my probiotics at the same time? I take L plantarum 40 billion cfu/day.