COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 349
Conventional blood tests for thyroid function, glucose, and
cholesterol, or all normal, and her doctor only briefly tested for
female hormones, which didn't reveal anything significant during
her first appointment. She needed validation, and they talked
about perimenopause, a transition before menopause that can
cause a wide range of symptoms.
They decided on a more comprehensive approach to the testing,
such as estradiol, FSH, progesterone testosterone, DHEA, and
cortisol. When the results came back, they told her her
progesterone levels were low, explaining her regular cycles, mood
swings, and breast tenderness. Her estrogen levels were
fluctuating dramatically, which was likely causing her night sweats
and weight gain. Cortisol levels were too low in the morning and
spiked at night, disrupting her sleep and leaving her fatigued.
They created a plan and started on bio-identical progesterone
cream, which supported her balancing estrogen levels, adding
more protein into a diet, reducing caffeine, and incorporating
stress management techniques to support her adrenal health.
They also added magnesium and adaptogens to help with sleep
and anxiety over the next few months.
She started to see changes in her sleep and improved night
sweats. Anxiety mood swings became less frequent.
Case Study by Dr. Juliana Nahas MD, FMACP
This is how viewing lab work from a traditional and functional
standpoint helps to get a better perspective on how to begin
working with the pediatric population.
The patient is a nine-year-old female with ADHD, constipation, and
a history of gross motor development delays in her infancy. Her
family history includes a case of Hashimoto's hypothyroidism in her
mother and a case of recent recovery from C. diff and colorectal
cancer in her father.
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