Functional Medicine

[chenstone18]

Second post of the day. Has anyone any experience of this form of medicine? I am currently seeing a private physician and the jury is still out as to whether it is helpful. I currently eating better but the suppliments are costing me a fortune for what appears a limited effect. So far it hasnt had any positive impact upon the episodes of af. So would love to hear from any of you lovelies who have used this form of medicine and whether it helped your condition

[Tako2009]

Hi Chenstone18- no experience myself although I am a firm believer in eating for health - see Dr Rupy Aujla - but I believe a forum member CDreamer has posted about this before. She is certainly more knowledgeable than me on this subject!!

[Padayn01]

Is this the same as Homeopathic Medicine?

[chenstone18 in reply to Padayn01]

No its not its all about gut health and inflammation and adjusting diet to eliminate foods that cause inflammation. It also looks at diet deficiencies especially vitamins and minerals.

[CDreamer in reply to chenstone18]

FM is a lot more than that. That is purely nutritional therapy.

FM goes a lot deeper & traces family health back to grandparents, looks at emotional well-being, sleep patterns, stress and exercise. The preliminary questionnaires are about 30 pages of very detailed questions. The bloods & gut tests are numerous & ongoing.

[Hidden]

My primary doc is an integrative medicine doc. He practices regular medicine but emphasis on nutrition, lifestyle, exercise. He likes to prescribe supplements which are costly. I do take magnesium glycinate , CoQ10 and fish oil, although the fish oil is controversial. He is all about anti- inflammatory diet, like Mediterranean. No processed foods, sodas, etc. I am not a perfect patient by any means. I behave maybe 75% of the time, have lost 40 lb over the last 4 years, have changed my lifestyle re no alcohol other that a beer (less than monthly, lol), exercise( walking mostly), try and keep my stress down. Im happy to say Ive not had any a fib in 2 years for whatever reasons. I hesitate to even say that as it could come knocking on my door anytime.

[CDreamer]

Yes, I’ve worked with several Functional Medicine Doctors & it has helped me generally and I think in the very long term - 5 years - it has helped the AF but I also had other therapies which also helped - HBOT - oxygen therapy, CPAP for sleep apnea, pacemaker & mindfulness & meditation for reducing stress.

Treating wholistically is not a fast fix for positive outcomes, think years not months & work with more than just nutrition. After a year of cutting out dairy & gluten I noticed a big difference, my gut improved after a few months of specific supplements to treat toxic gut bacteria and gut health is now as good as it has ever been.

I didn’t expect Lifestyle Medicine to have much of an impact on my AF.

The 2 doctors I have worked with are both NHS doctors - 1 is GP & other is Hospital Consultant so both are in a position to do some of the tests & monitoring through NHS.

I now take only 3 supplements & focus more on food nutrition but yes they are expensive - but the tests are very expensive.

[Singwell in reply to CDreamer]

Hi CDreamer. I'm following this post with interest as I've been considering Functional Medicine as I'm convinced there's a link between my digestion and AF. Long history of acid reflux, early stomach perforation (aged 19) etc. How do you recommend finding a good practitioner? Like you I'd want someone' medically trained as well. Thanks so much!

[CDreamer in reply to Singwell]

It is very hard to find both medically trained and LSM doctors, I don’t know of a reliable Directory, as there is on most specialities but this is the Professional Website and I suggest that you email them with an enquiry. bslm.org.uk/

Expect initial costs to be somewhere in the region of £200-£250/consultation and the initial consult is about 2 hours. Tests and supplements can also mount up so all in all, it’s not cheap but I do think it is worth it.

This is the site of the Doctors I have/still are working with devonlifestylemedicine.com/ but I should warn you that only one is now continuing to practice and obviously not seeing patients face to face at the moment.

Read the blogs on their site - some really good info - this one in particular on gut health devonlifestylemedicine.com/...

I would also recommend you to start by reading Dr Chatterjee’s book - The Four Pillars of Health and listening to his podcasts. I have picked up much of what I have done to improve my health from these and other low cost sources. drchatterjee.com

Another really good site from The Doctors Kitchen - excellent recipe book with really good scientific stuff about why these foods are good for you - Dr Rupy also does Cooking Hangouts on FB. thedoctorskitchen.com/

I helped launch this organisation 2 years ago which organises talks locally - obviously suspended at the moment but has useful general links -livingwelldevon.co.uk/resou...

Another excellent source of information/help FOR DOCTORS but one that brings hope you may be interested in is one set up to improve the nutritional education of our next generation’s of doctors - nutritank.com/

It’s a huge subject and one that is really gaining momentum but unfortunately rarely hits the mainstream.

Fell free to PM me with any queries/questions. Best wishes CD.

[Singwell in reply to CDreamer]

WOW. Thanks so much for this CDreamer! Lots for me to be looking through to get started even in lockdown.

[chenstone18 in reply to Singwell]

This link is for a functional Doctor who also works in the NHS. She is Birmingham based but does clinics in London as well. I am currently using her services but at moment no face to face consultations only via Zoom video conferencing.

drgayetri.co.uk/

[Singwell in reply to chenstone18]

Oh great. I'm in mid Wales so Brum not impossible. Cheers!

[CDreamer]

Sorry the LWD site link isn’t working but try pasting it into your browser livingwelldevon.co.uk/

[secondtry]

I have seen a Naturopath for 6 years & believe Alternative Practitioners have a support role or lead role for most of us. For those with possible gastric issues, I have sent off via this professional an annual Nordic Lab Organix test, which is around £200 and is a hi tech analysis with a useful detailed report of different levels recorded and suggested solutions.

[dwright12]

I was using a functional dr and then she retired. I was on a ton of supplements (expensive) and realized that not all supplements are the same, so I stopped a bunch of them and still take probiotics, magnesium and niacin. I tried two other functional dr but didn't like either one. I found a good primary dr