Why I Chose a Functional Medicine Doctor Over a Gastroenterologist to Address My Stomach Problems
You may have read in my first blog post that I’ve been struggling with digestive problems since I was seventeen years old. In December 2019, when I was twenty-nine, I faced a week of exhaustion, nausea, and overall sour feeling in my stomach that led me down a path of finally investigating what was going on. This path led me to consulting with multiple gastroenterologists who ran (or wanted to run) a few tests to determine if I had SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) and/or celiac disease. Long story short, I never had those tests done by the gastroenterologists for a few reasons: 1) the pandemic started in the U.S. right around this time and I could not get an appointment for a SIBO test until 2021 and 2) I never felt fully aligned with either of their approaches.
I told myself I was aligned with their approaches but deep down, I knew I wanted more tests and more answers.
Because I never felt fully aligned with their approaches, I decided to continue to shop around until I found a doctor who wanted to address all of the symptoms I was having (constipation, bloating, fatigue). This is why I ultimately chose to work with a functional medicine doctor.
This journey towards a healing plan was long (almost a full year) and it was not a decision I took lightly. I did my research, consulted with multiple doctors, and got real with how much I needed to prioritize my health. Some of you may also be struggling with gut problems and you may not know where to start when it comes to finding answers to what is causing your symptoms. I wanted to share my journey with you to shed some light on what I went through and why I ultimately decided to start my healing journey with a functional medicine doctor. I hope that by sharing my journey, you will learn that you are not alone in your struggles and that a path towards healing is 100% possible.
I had been to a GI doctor when I was seventeen and at that time, they diagnosed me with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and prescribed me Amitiza. I believe IBS is a “catch all” diagnosis when doctors cannot figure out why you are having digestive issues. It is not a helpful diagnosis and most people are sent on their way, with the only advice being “increase your fiber”, “eat more vegetables”, and “drink more water”. We all know this advice is not helpful and does not resolve symptoms for good. When I was seventeen, I knew a pill was not going to solve my problems, so I ended up getting the prescription filled once and decided to focus more on changing my diet. Changing my diet and focusing on de-stressing helped my stomach cramps but my constipation problems never resolved. Because multiple people in my family struggled with these issues, I honestly thought not going to the bathroom every day was normal. I went through my twenties not thinking anything of it.
I knew I needed to address these digestive problems after a trip home for Christmas in December 2019. During my entire trip, I was feeling nauseas, fatigued, and anxious. These flare ups started happening about once a month and I knew that if I continued to ignore them, my symptoms would start running my life.
In February 2020, I decided to see another GI doctor. This doctor tested my thyroid hormones (TSH and FT4) and tested me for H. Pylori (a bacteria that attacks the lining of your stomach). Both of these tests came back with no answers - my thyroid hormones were in a “normal” range and I tested negative for the bacteria. They also wanted me to get tested for SIBO, but due to the pandemic, that test was pushed until further notice. Ultimately, this doctor recommended that I increase my fiber intake (by the way, I’ve learned that fiber is not always the answer for IBS patients) and prescribed me Bentyl to take when I had stomach cramps. Again, I knew taking a pill was not going to resolve my issues. I had it filled once and have taken it only twice during major flare ups.
At this point, I was in a waiting game. I was going to end up waiting a whole year to get tested for SIBO, so I decided to try an elimination diet*. I started an 8-week elimination diet in September 2020. My elimination diet was based on the book, The Inflammation Spectrum by Dr. Will Cole. While I was on this elimination diet, I felt a little better but my constipation was not resolved. About a month into this elimination diet, I met with another GI doctor to get a second opinion on what was going on in my gut. During my consultation, I told this doctor that I was not going to take any medications and that I wanted to take a holistic approach to addressing my issues. This doctor wanted to me get tested for SIBO as well as celiac disease but was unable to schedule either test until early 2021. I was back to square one, waiting for tests and answers.
I continued with the elimination diet. Some of my symptoms were better - I was feeling less fatigued and bloated - but I was not going to the bathroom regularly. I thought I would be able to find my answers on my own, through experimenting with food - but deep down, I knew I needed more help. In November 2020, I finally did what I’ve been wanting to do for years - I consulted with a functional medicine doctor**.
After my consultation and having understood their approach, I decided to move forward with running multiple labs through their practice. Since my initial consultation, I’ve sent in labs (including a test for SIBO!), received my results, and have a plan to move forward with healing my body. The lab results revealed not only leaky gut syndrome and SIBO but also some things going on in my immune system that I probably would have never learned about had I chosen a conventional medicine path.
For years, I was used to people telling me all of these symptoms were normal and “part of getting older” - and even if they were considered normal, I didn’t want my life to be run by flare ups of stomach pains, fatigue, and nausea. I am so glad I made this decision for my health.
Over the next several months, I will be working with the functional medicine doctor and team of holistic health coaches to navigate the healing process. Healing my body in this way will not be a quick fix but I know it’s the right decision. After years of thinking my symptoms were normal, my body needs time to heal, and I know this approach is the best decision for me long-term.
There is a lot more I want to share about the results of my tests but I will save that for another post! I will share more updates as I continue this journey. If there are specific things you would like to learn more about, please contact me here.
And yes, in case your were wondering, the functional medicine doctor I am working with is Dr. Will Cole & team. Visit his website to learn more about his practice and check out his new podcast, The Art of Being Well. This is not sponsored, I am just really excited about how he and his team have helped me thus far.
*Before starting an elimination diet, please consult with your doctor.
**Read more about what functional medicine is here.
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash