My Vision for Scottsdale Holistic Medicine
Through years of practicing I have often seen people who are chronically unwell despite the best medications in conventional medicine. What I see at times is that in a busy primary care model, the right diagnosis may fall through the cracks. It is excellence in medicine to run proper diagnostic testing.
One example of this was represented by a young woman I saw in her twenties who was put on stimulant medication for narcolepsy and excessive fatigue. Upon running some of her screening lab work, it turned that her ferritin (stored iron) level was a 3, almost none. No wonder she was so tired! With a complex history of multiple health issue and irritable bowel syndrome, her nutrition was impaired.
Another condition that I often see undiagnosed is Hashimoto’s autoimmune hypothyroid. I had a patient who said it took three endocrinologists to run more than a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). Many doctors will only run a TSH and Free T4 test. If you are having symptoms of fatigue, depression, weight gain, sensitivity to cold, joint pain, dry skin and hair loss, it would behoove you to have a more complete thyroid assessment done. This would include the lab tests: TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Thyroglobulin antibodies, Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies and Reverse T3. These tests would more accurately depict what is happening with your thyroid and with proper treatment, you may be on the path of regaining your quality of life.
Aside from proper diagnostic testing, I really want people to be heard in my practice and have access to medical treatments that are less invasive and help put them on the path of self care. If you feel like something is missing in your care and you need extra help, please don’t hesitate to call.