Many of my current patients come with pages of normal labs but still feel fatigued and exhausted much of the time. The reason often is that standard testing is looking at population data and uses reference ranges that do not correlate with optimal health. Many times the testing is not detailed enough to uncover subtle changes and ideal values that can be corrected to improve and prevent disease patterns. Functional Medicine has been an excellent platform to help uncover concerns and resolve issues.
Testing Hormones and Thyroid
In functional medicine we test hormones and thyroid using a different standard for testing that involves more details to help uncover concerns at an earlier phase before chronic diseases become established. Often in standard medicine a TSH is drawn and found to be normal when less than 4, but we look at things more deeply using t3, t4 and TSH as well as autoimmune thyroid testing to uncover potential processes that have not been found in the past. We use a combination of testing and looking at all symptoms to help find root causes for concerns.
Microbiome and Gut Inflammation
Also, we uncover many sources of inflammation in the body that are not tested in traditional medicine. Often my patients with fatigue also struggle with gut issues. We do extensive testing on the microbiome and look for issues and imbalances that may be contributing to fatigue. Inflammation is a common source of mitochondrial issues. When mitochondrial sense too much inflammation they decrease energy production. CIRS is a condition where mitochondria conserve energy to attempt to heal the body. When inflammation continues, they body gets stuck and fatigue persists. It becomes a chronic cycle and the sources need to be removed. Chronic inflammation and CIRS blog
Nutrient Depletion as a Cause of Fatigue
Fatigue often is the result of certain nutrient depletions. Initially it did not seem possible that patients might be depleted in nutrients from a basic American Diet. In my practice, I have often found that certain nutrients are found at lower than ideal levels and contributing to fatigue. The B vitamins are very involved as mitochondrial cofactors that help to produce energy for driving cellular energy. Often I find this after years of eating a depleted diet or restricted food plan. Most nutrients are found in colorful fruits and vegetables and not found in processed foods in the amounts needed to drive optimal cellular reactions.
Environmental Concerns as a Cause of Fatigue
In my practice I focus on removing things that may be contributing to less than ideal health. I have found that simply removing modern day chemicals and sources of radiation can help to decrease the toxic load on the system and allow for more ideal health. Mold has also been a finding that has contributed to chronic fatigue in many as well as concerns with long Covid as well.
Contact Us for More Information
Jennifer Kessmann MD, ABFM, IFMCP, DABIHM, Fellow AAFP
Creating Health Naturally
Dr. Jennifer Kessmann is a Certified Functional Medicine Physician passionate about finding a solution to your health concerns and bringing you back to optimum health. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas A and M University while studying scientific nutrition. She is currently practicing Functional medicine focusing on finding the root cause of disease to improve health. With over 20 years of experience in traditional medicine as an MD, she is able to recognize patterns quickly and find answers to one’s health conditions. Passionate about lifestyle and its impact on disease processes, the mind-body connection is important.
Dr. Kessmann is a functional medicine consultant who works in conjunction with your current health care team. Dr. Kessmann is not considered a replacement for your primary care physician. She requires all new patients to have a primary care physician to cover emergencies and routine care and screening.
Dr. Kessmann does not accept insurance.
Dr. Kessmann helps to create health through Functional approaches to facilitate the body and its natural healing process. She values a personalized approach to medicine and understanding that each person is unique and needs a different approach. The process takes a willingness to make significant lifestyle changes and incorporate a personalized supplement program to make it effective. Using state of the art lab testing and genetic evaluation she is able to further determine the causes for illness and help find solutions that last.
