Case 6 : JOURNEY OF A PERIMENOPAUSAL WOMAN, HOW FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE HELPED HER WEIGHT AND ANXIETY ISSUE

A woman age 45 years approached us complaining of severe anxiety issues, inability to lose weight despite trying hard, extreme low energy, fatigue, depression, severe panic attacks, insomnia, extreme bloating, gassy stomach, burning and flatulence. 

On routine blood work her ESR was found to be high @ 50mm/hr, her free T3 was 2.19pg/mL much lower than the optimum level of 3. Her estradiol(E2) level was less than 10 which is negligible against normal level of 50-200. FSH was higher to menopausal level. She was positive for Lyme disease IgM (Borrelia burgdorferi) which is a tick born infection and if untreated leads to severe neurological issues and this finding along with imbalanced hormones correlated with her symptoms. She was also positive for Epstein Barr Virus IgG. Her heavy metal scan (Pic 1)  revealed high level of aluminum and cadmium and multiple nutrient deficiencies and low levels of magnesium, silicon, zinc, chromium, and molybdenum.

Her comprehensive stool (Pic 2) testing showed high positive dysbiotic flora at 4+ with Citrobacter freundii a gram-negative bacterium and member of the Enterobacteriaceae family, is considered dysbiotic at 3+ or greater.

Citrobacter freundi complex has been implicated as a cause of gastrointestinal infection and inflammation leading to IBS, if left untreated it can cause dyspepsia, frequent watery motion without abdominal pain, fecal blood, or white blood cells.

As a part of her therapy patient was put on multiple nutrients based on deficiencies observed, IV detoxification with ozone and High dose vitamin c. She was also put on Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. 

She was given short course of antibiotics to cope up with Lyme infection and a prolonged course of amino acids, herbal supplements and detox enemas to ensure removal of built-up bio-film in gastrointestinal tract. 

After 6 months of treatment patient reported of having lost 10kgs of weight, better sleep quality, anxiety reduced by 80%, gastric issues resolved and patient continued to be on a maintenance treatment with us.