Integrated medicine incorporates elements from both natural and orthodox medicine to create comprehensive and multidimensional diagnostic and treatment plans. This multimodality approach is an absolute requirement for the successful treatment of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome. The reason for this is, many body systems are affected and that calls for a total body approach to restore healthful function. Prescribing drugs to help with sleep, pain and to stay awake is only the first step toward stabilization but is by no means adequate as a long term strategy to return to health.
 
The Naturopathic doctors who hold a state medical license and provide primary care for patients (in Oregon and twelve other states) are a prime example of vitalistic integrated medicine providers. These physicians use a ‘whole-person’ health focused approach. Their emphasis is on restoring health and wellness through sound scientific treatments. These include prescription drugs to help with symptom control and patient stabilization, as well as focused patterns of nutrition to restore organ and body vitality and function.

Integrated medicine has its focus on health and healing rather than disease and procedural treatments. It views patients as whole people with minds and spirits as well as bodies and includes these dimensions in the diagnosis and treatment. It also requires patients and doctors to work together to maintain health by paying attention to lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, quality of rest and sleep, and the nature of interpersonal relationships.

The awareness cultivated by integrated medicine practitioners’ results in a drastically different consultation process. This process focuses on the whole person and works to help doctors identify the different pieces of the health puzzle and place them together. Integrated medicine is not about teaching doctors to use herbs instead of drugs, it is a philosophy of inclusion and openness; the openness to use modern day biochemistry and medical science while at the same time studying and addressing the dynamic aspects of the illness. 

Integrated treatment protocols require active patient participation because its not just about taking pills, it’s about caring for the whole body, mind, and spirit through lifestyle changes and through the doctor honoring a ‘whole-person’ bio-psychosocial perspective. Research shows that the consultation process and holistic approach adopted by practitioners of complementary medicine make patients feel more in control of their illness and of the recovery process – patients have choices in the type of treatments and modalities used and also the pace of the restorative effort.

Integrated medicine restores core values which have been eroded away by social and economic forces.  It is good, wholesome medicine and we have every hope and intension for the effective integrated medicine of today to become the mainstream medicine of the future.

Dietary patterns are strongly linked to 7 of the top 10 causes of illness and death in North America, including heart disease, obesity, several cancers, and diabetes.

The diet-gene-health interaction is receiving a lot of attention by research scientists as it is proving to be a very effective way to control disease outcome with more than just condition-specific positive changes. The newest studies indicate that in as little as in three months of implementing a healthy lifestyle, prostate cancer cells changed the expression of about 500 genes.

In the latest 2008 prostate cancer study, free PSA was reduced and most importantly, known cancer causing genes were down regulated and protective genes were switched on. This is very positive as these are genes that code for inflammation, fat metabolism and oxidation – all processes playing very important roles in the development in most first world chronic disease. The other important change observed in this group of men were weight loss and central obesity (a risk factor increasing all cause mortality), lowered blood pressure and lipid profiles among other improvements. The medicine used: eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and soy products, moderate exercise such as walking for half an hour a day, and an hour of daily stress management methods such as meditation.

The next important step is to find out how to make sure you have the right nutrition for your body type and genetic expression.  One of the more specific and individualized ways of assuring you are on the right track, is though Nutritional Genomic Testing. Currently tests that assess your individual expression of genes that either predispose you for, or protect you against cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, hormonal disorders, inflammatory conditions, immune and auto-immune conditions, environmental toxin related diseases, osteoporosis and autism to name the most important ones. The NutriGenomic tests include measures of specific defects in genetic expression/enzymes and specific interventions that would be most effective at correcting biochemical blocks or bottlenecks causing lack if immunity and a buildup of undesirable chemicals like cholesterol, toxins, proteins and hormones.

Many people suffering from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have challenges with the above. The great news is that now we can test to see where the problems are and which nutrients and medicines are needed to compensate for the suboptimal genetic expressions predisposing folks to have problems.

Back to basics: we are and become what we eat. Now we have science guiding us in what we should eat for our specific individual genetic make up to ensure better health. With the help of functional medicine doctors you can identify and prevent diseases before they become symptomatic.

One of the most common  questions is “What should I eat?” and because fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue are complex this is just one of the important aspects of regaining optimum health. The multitude of “diets” can be confusing. While I do not recommend a specific diet, basic guidelines can help you decide what is best for your body.
In a most simplistic way, foods can be broken down into three groups: carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Today’s diet contains high amounts of simple carbohydrates. Sugar (sucrose) is just one of these.

The sugar roller coaster

The body needs fuel to run efficiently, just like your car needs gas. People with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue are no exceptions. Carbohydrates you put into your mouth is broken down to particles that your body uses: glucose, vitamins, and minerals or flushed out as waste.
When you eat a high sugar food, your body gets a sugar “rush” because the glucose levels rise so fast.  Your body must maintain balance and too much glucose can actually be dangerous to your cells, organs and nervous system.  The “alarm” goes off in response and sends insulin to carry the glucose out of the blood and into the cells. If there is not enough room in the cell, the body stores this extra fuel as fat.

The high level of glucose also triggers brain chemicals such as dopamine and that makes us feel better, but only for a short while. Some people can crave that good feeling and become “addicted” to high sugar foods.

After the glucose is gone the levels drop and this again triggers the body to get more.  You end up on a roller coaster of blood sugar ups and downs when this happens.

Sugar in foods

Avoiding foods that are simple, refined sugars helps to prevent the roller coaster ride.  Foods like this are usually “white”.  White bread, white flour, white rice, potatoes; any food that has a large amount of easily digested carbohydrates in relatively small portions can be in this category.

This may sound simple but it is not easy.  Sure, it is obvious your candy bar or ice cream cone, or donut are made with sugar.  The average 12 oz soda has 10 teaspoons of sugar!

I put fruit juices in a hidden sugar category.  Even the 100 percent juice made with fructose ( aka fruit sugar) reacts as if you have poured a simple carbohydrate into the gut but now it is in a  liquid form that can charge quickly into the blood stream as glucose and set off the alarm to start the roller coaster. Although fructose is better utilized by the body than sucrose, the reaction on the body is the same.

Other types of hidden sugar can be cleverly disguised. Take a look at your favorite coffee creamer and notice the ingredient: high fructose corn syrup. This product is nothing more than oil and sugar. Any product with high fructose corn syrup is something you should avoid.   Ketchup and other condiments can contain sugar as well.

One important tool you can use is to learn the names of sugars. The hint is the “ose” on the end of the word. Fructose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, are just a few.

Cortisol and cravings

Your cells and your brain must have a constant supply of glucose to function. The body has many systems to maintain this critical function. It is not surprising hormones can also play a role in sugar cravings.

The adrenal glands put out cortisol in response to stress.  If your adrenal glands have been under a constant stress they can become “tired”, just like you.  This causes the production of cortisol  to be reduced and you can get symptoms like sugar cravings, low blood sugar and shakiness when you are hungry.  We call this “adrenal fatigue” and your FFC doctor can work with you to balance your hormone levels which often alleviate the sugar cravings.

Yeast

Overgrowth of yeast, especially in the gut, can trigger sugar cravings.  Yeast like warm, moist, sweet places.  The problem is too many yeast in the body can block the body from absorbing essential nutrients and contribute to fatigue and pain.
Symptoms of yeast overgrowth can be sugar cravings, gas, bloating, diarrhea, recurring vaginal infections, rashes, recurring sinus infections among others.  Blood and stool test can help detect yeast in your body.  Your history form at FFC will have questions to help your provider determine if yeast is a problem for you.

A good diet can help to control yeast. Your FFC provider can also prescribe supplements and antifungal medications specifically for yeast.

The bottom line on eating for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue:

1. Avoid white foods: processed refined products, white flour, potatoes, white rice.
2. Avoid sugar and foods that act like sugar in the body.
3. Eat a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, vegetables, whole fruits, whole grains.
4. Ask your provider about balancing hormones, especially cortisol.
5. Find out if yeast treatment is right for you.

Hope all had a wonderful Independence Day.  The last few days have been humid, muggy, and cloudy here in Pennsylvania.  I am happy to say that I’m not missing out on much with the weather being yucky as I have been feeling a little under the weather for the last two weeks.

I had an appointment at the Center last week with Dr. G.   I relayed to Dr. G that overall I felt great; however, I have had a nagging not-so-good feeling lately.  I moved mulch two weeks ago.  I knew that I had to “spread out” the work.  I knew that if I attempted too much in too little time, I would suffer in the end.  In order to accomplish my tasks, I completed intervals of work and rest.   The tasks had spread out over two evenings and two weekend days.  I was happy that I had finished the task and overall had felt ok.  Unfortunately a day later at work, I felt extremely tired and worn out and had to go home.  I ended up working ½ days as I really didn’t feel well enough to work full days.  I have also had a persistent non-productive cough.  This whole feeling has somewhat baffled me as it doesn’t really feel like fibro.  I had the parvo virus a few months ago and Dr. G feels it could be another round of parvo.  Unfortunately there isn’t any specific medicine or supplements for parvo.  I am also taking azithromycin as the last two blood works revealed elevated levels for mycoplasma pneumonia.  It’s hard to believe my immune system has succumbed to some of these illnesses.

My work has been extremely stressful and I’m sure that isn’t helping things either.  We are in the process of a large project.  I have learned how to say NO a few months ago; however, I find it interesting that sometimes people do not respect your decision to say NO.  NO means NO!  We live in such a fast-paced, overachieving environment that sometimes people just don’t get it.   If you don’t embrace the overzealous behavior, you are frowned upon.  I have had to become a “bitch” (for lack of a better word) in order to get my point across that my health is #1 and I know my limitations irregardless of how I look.

I believe that the emotional and psychological healing from fibro can be very difficult.  For many with fibro, we have had to have someone “validate” that the illness even exists.  Once we have that validation (and that could take years) we work on a treatment protocol with our doctor.  There is a part of the treatment protocol that the doctor cannot really help with….and that is basically reprogramming your mind with your body’s capabilities.  You have to absolutely be cognizant with each and every decision you make.  It is so easy to get caught in the moment and believe that you can live your life as you had once known.

I believe I can accurately gauge my physical capabilities; however, I am still working on gauging the emotional and stress limitations for my body.  For me, it is very hard to gauge my limitations in these areas.  I can remember Dr. G telling me “stress is cumulative”.  While I completely understand what he is saying….I am at a loss to know when too much is too much.  I don’t go out of my way to expose myself to emotional and stressful situations….life in general is stressful.  In the game of life, how do I blend with “normal people” without crashing and burning?  That is truly the million dollar question.

In closing, I have come a long way in the last several months.  I’ve never dreamed that I could feel good again.  I am working on my emotional healing process and will share my journey.  I have a wonderful husband and am grateful to have him.  As many know, fibro is not only hard on the patient…having fibro truly has an impact on the entire family. I am also thankful for the wonderful staff at King of Prussia.  I look forward to my visits each month and chatting with everyone at the Center.  They have truly become a part of my family.  I absolutely love Beth.  She is truly a breath of fresh air.  She brings “life and fun” to the patients.  Her loving, caring nature is important to fibro patients and their treatment.

I know that to stay in this war against the fibro, I must stay on track and continually add more “firepower” to my army by eating properly, taking my vitamins, supplements, and prescriptions as well as reducing the stress in my life.  Take care and more to follow next month.

Lisa