| When a new client comes to see me in clinic, we run through all their symptoms and, often, when we go through everything, other common niggles or issues that they have either accepted as ‘normal’ or unconnected will come up. This is why we go through so much detail and look at everything from digestion to sleep to hormone balance every time. You never know what will come up! Sometimes, it is fairly clear what direction we should take for our plan but at other times the client has tried so many different things or had the symptoms for so long, that I recommend we start with a functional test. Recently in clinic, a gentleman came to see me with long-term digestive issues which had clearly impacted his daily quality of life (and sleep) for several years. I recommended that rather than make assumptions as to the root cause of his symptoms, that we carry out a functional stool test to get an accurate diagnosis. The test result came back with a confirmed parasite and a very specific bacterial overgrowth. We were then able to formulate a very targeted plan to deal with these two issues and he has started his new protocol this week. Although without a test the plan I would have recommended would have helped him, by having these test results we were able to be much more specific and direct, leading to quicker results. Functional testing can be: – stool testing – for suspected gut issues and inflammation – blood testing – for nutrient deficiencies that may be driving symptoms, AI conditions, hormone imbalances etc – dried urine testing – for hormone balance and female health conditions If you have an resolved issue, don’t keep guessing, get the applicable testing done so you can then respond in the most appropriate way. |
