On April the 18th I saw a Functional Medicine practitioner. It was interesting.
She asked me a lot of questions, a thorough medical history, a short exam….it was a long visit. But tell me, why do providers send you the information to fill out before you get there if they aren’t going to look at it until you are sitting in the office. I feel like that’s a waste of time. Me just sitting there while they read the information they’ve had for days. Of course, I don’t feel they should do a lot of work when I’m not there, they don’t get paid extra, but being prepared would be nicet.
We talked quite a while. She thinks I have an autoimmune disease, just like other doctors do, they think they just don’t have a test for it. I don’t really see what difference it makes to know if I have an autoimmune disease or not. There isn’t a one stop treatment for those diseases. Mostly I see doctors giving those with autoimmune steroids. Something I can’t take.
She wants me to get some blood tests done. One for allergies, one for genetics, and one for….oh golly, I don’t remember what the other one was for. My insurance doesn’t pay for any of this. It’s expensive. I haven’t gotten them done yet. I was waiting on my insurance to see if they pay for anything, and now I’m waiting on my ride. It’s a little difficult when you depend on someone else to drive you places, and that person works full time. Stuart doesn’t mind taking me, but his time is limited. We’ll get there.
We talked about my migraines, she is hoping to find a trigger with the tests. She suggested Magnesium Threonate (see the image above, I got mine from Amazon), and turmeric for the pain. I started them within a couple of days and boy has it made a difference. I’ve had days without migraines. That’s HUGE! I have that base line headache all the time, it’s been there most of my life, but the migraine on top of that has left me for a few days at a time. I’m shocked at how much this has helped me. Shocked! Why hadn’t my migraine specialists suggested this in the past. It really bothers me that I may have been helped years ago, if only someone would have suggested the right form of magnesium. Heck, I never had a doctor suggest magnesium at all. I started taking it because I read about it. But I didn’t know there were different kinds and I couldn’t tolerate the kind I was taking. I’m just so grateful for the relief.
I’ll go back to the functional medicine practitioner after I get the blood tests done.
This week a very good friend of mine came for a visit. It was so nice to see her. She lives on the opposite side of the country from me, our visits are rare, and precious. It was so nice to have a real friend come and spend time with us.
Kym and I went shopping. I went out without Stuart for the first time in over 5 years. It was liberating, but it was also a little scary. However, Kym is one of the most level headed people I know and I knew she would not freak out if something happened. She did something so right. At one point I felt I needed to go home and I said so, she just said, “Okay, let’s go.” She didn’t freak out and ask me countless times if I was okay. She trusted me to tell her if things were getting bad. I admit though that I may have pushed it further but I was a little scared and tired. It was a very good shopping trip. No I didn’t go crazy with the spending, but I did find a couple of cute things that fit. (I’ve lost a lot of weight recently, so I need clothes that actually fit me now. Kym is a good person to shop with.
Vertigo has been kind to me recently. I’ve had very little spinning, and when I do it is just a slight spin, nothing to worry about. I did fall last week, and hurt my back a little, but really it’s nothing to be concerned about. If things go as well as they have been I won’t have anything to write about. LOL
Picnic with Ants 
I am very happy to hear you have had some relief finally. Have a great weekend.
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Thank you Patricia. I’m thrilled about it myself. Ha. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
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Glad you found someone who seems helpful! Are you on any groups on Facebook for your symptoms? They are very helpful. I’m now working with gonstead chiropractor and hopeful! Days misalignment (jaw, atlas and most important the spine/foundation) causing nerve pathways to not to function properly. Someone also mentioned vestibular therapy has completely rid the vertigo and tinnitus for them.
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Vestibular therapy did wonders for me! My life changed drastically after that. I still have some vertigo, I don’t think it will ever go completely away, as I have damage in both ears.
I can’t go to a chiropractor, I have degenerative arthritis in my neck and upper back.
I have been in some groups on Facebook, but not much. I’m just not crazy about them.
I’m glad you have found a way for you.
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Wow! Good for you! How special to have a shopping trip with a girlfriend for clothes! (Bonus it was for smaller sizes!) I bet it was just as much fun for her. Big steps forward for you. Be prepared for the flares and handle them with a level head as you always do. I’m so happy for you Wen!!! ~Kim
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I’m a bit tired today, and achey, but I really tried not to do too much, so not much flaring I hope.
Thank you for your kind words, always.
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Always.
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Pingback: Functional Medicine and a Visit from a Friend. – Stone in the Road
So happy for you! I don’t understand why doctors are afraid of telling us alternative options. A theory I have is that they think it will take away from their precious relationships with the pharmaceutical companies. And if they don’t understand some of the options (why aren’t they opening their minds and learning) or want to stick with the tried and true, we wonder how well they are taking our illnesses and symptoms seriously. I hear that a lot with chiropractors but so many people get help from them.
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I have had doctors ask me about acupuncture and chiropractic help, but neither helped me and I can’t go to a chiropractor now because of degenerative arthritis in my neck and upper back.
I do wonder if they are afraid of malpractice. I take a supplement wrong that they suggested or had a reaction to it….and I sue them. People sue people for any reason now a days.
I’m still upset about the magnesium. They give magnesium infusions at my migraine docs office. But I wasn’t bad enough. Having a moderate to severe headache for over a year, isn’t bad enough. Thing is, she knows the benefits of magnesium and when I asked about it she said, yeah I could try it some people have good results. Really? Then why not suggest it? I’m confused. Does she depend on my business so much she doesn’t want me to get well?
Can you tell I’m ticked?
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OMG!! That is great news!! I hope this will work for you with the migraines. That would be a blessing–whoohoo!! Glad you had time with a good friend who understands. That is priceless. 🙂
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GREAT news, Wendy. Finally! The visit from your friend sounds like a godsend. I can’t even imagine 5 entire years without going out if S. can’t take you.
I’m thrilled that your shopping trip yielded a couple of new things to wear (and smaller – yay!). Not only will you feel happy wearing them “for their own sake,” but also for the reminder of the memories of Kym’s visit. So great to read you have a friend who is loving and gets it! Small miracles? NO! Huge.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
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It has been very joyful around here recently. 😊
Kym’s visit was great. It was good getting out without Stuart. I’ve been afraid to do that, even if I had the opportunity.
Too bad she lives in San Francisco. Or too bad I live in Charlotte.
Too bad we don’t see each other more often.
BTW….it is great to be in a smaller size. Heeheehee
love wendy
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I’m so glad your friend came to visit. Since I recently was able to catch up with Sammy, I know how wonderful it can be – and how much fun.
Did you set out to lose weight or was it a result of a change in meds?
xx,
mgh
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It was a joy to visit with Kym. It was restorative, as I know your visit with Sammy was.
I have been trying to lose weight for a long time, but meds made it hard. Then I was put on one that kills my appetite. It has helped. I’m still working at it, but it’s much easier when you aren’t hungry all the time.
I’d like to lose a little more, but I think I’ve hit a plateau. I haven’t lost any the last 2 weeks. We’ll see. I’m fine if it stays like this. I feel so much better.
♡♡♡
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Somebody once told me that the body plateaus so that your skin can “shrink” – to put it colloquially. Haven’t researched personally, however, and I’m sure there are a lot of other factors to consider, but it sounds encouraging enough to keep people on the horse even though they have stopped losing poundage.
I’d like to lose 5-10 pounds over the next year myself, but I’m also okay with where I am (remember, I’m tall, so that’s really not much – tougher to drop weight as you get closer to “ideals”). Like you, I feel so much better on the thin side.
In any case, slow and steady wins the race?
xx,
mgh
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Hello Wendy 🙂 This is a great post! You sound so much more positive and optimistic! How great that you have found some relief in the Magnesium tablets too!! I actually went for a type of rehabilitation for my neck and jaw yesterday (I’ve not got to this part of my story yet in my blog writing…) Anyway, They also did acupuncture and physio etc…but also talked to me about my diet and suggested some supplements too. one of these supplements is a form of Magnesium (in Spanish it’s called Magnesean Forte – I’ll have to google it!) Anyway, you have spurred me on – I will try this, and see if it helps with the pressure and pain in my head and ears.
How lovely also, for you to have a good friend come to visit. I’m sure you must have really loved seeing her, and having some shopping time!!
Take care Wendy. It’s so good to read your positive words! 🙂
– Carly
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Yay for stuff working, and for a nice visit with your friend!! I’m going to pass along your supplement info to my friend; she was just talking about getting a daith piercing to see if that would help with her migraines as well. It’s just tough to know what will do the trick. As always, wishing you all good things! ❤
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It is tough to know what might work. I’m of the thought, if it does no harm, I’ll try it. As long as I don’t take massive amounts of Magnesium it’s harmless. I considered daith piercing, but just wasn’t sure of the efficacy. And thought it would hurt. 🙂
I hope your friend finds relief. I had about given up. Thought I’d live with that pain forever. I hope this continues to work.
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