SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE WORKING WITH DR. CAROLYN FINNEGAN
Case Study
Symptoms:
Suffered from eczema, fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, depression, difficult periods (PMS and cramping), and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – mostly diarrhea
Overview:
In her own words, Janelle “wanted to stop putting a bandaid on the issues”. She was on multiple medications for rashes, depression and IBS that weren't working. . She said that she felt there was something wrong that traditional medicine was not uncovering.
Approach Taken:
As a Functional Medicine Doctor, I have been taught to ask a different set of questions. Rather than searching for a drug to treat the symptoms, I asked what had caused the inflammation in the first place. Generally inflammation is caused by only a few triggers: an imbalance in the microbiome, infections, allergens, toxins, stress, and/or a poor diet.
Testing Done:
I used special testing in conjunction with a detailed history to uncover that in Janelle’s case, she had an infection in her gut: H. Pylori, her microbiome was off balance with not enough good bacteria and an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, she had a gluten intolerance, and she had adrenal fatigue.
Plan of Action:
I used a combination of lifestyle coaching and specific supplements to help her heal. I used an elimination diet to uncover the gluten intolerance and introduced more vegetables for fiber and nutrients, and I started her on a meditation and exercise routine to calm her adrenals, help her deal with stress, as well as boost her mood. In the first phase, I gave her Vitamin D, herbal adrenal support, Omega 3 fats, Magnesium, 5HTP (to boost her serotonin), and a natural product to kill the H. Pylori. In phase 2, we worked on killing the bad bugs in her gut with natural remedies like oregano oil. And finally, in phase 3, we replaced the good bacteria with specific probiotics and worked to heal her gut lining with herbal combination products.
Results:
Within a month, Janelle’s anxiety had gone down and her IBS symptoms had decreased significantly. After 3 months, her eczema cleared up, she was feeling more energetic, and her mood had improved significantly. By month 5, she was able to get off of her SSRI and she reported that she no longer had cramping or PMS with her periods.
I employed the principles of Functional Medicine to get results that have lasted for Janelle. I use these principles for repeatable results with all of my patients, and I’m looking forward to sharing them with you!