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GM Testimonial

Written by Christopher Kelly

Sept. 25, 2014

GM, 47-year-old Male

Main complaints:

1. Extreme physical fatigue
2. Mental fatigue
3. Chronic body aches

GM said it best with his original description of the problem:

Excuse my French, but I am feeling like crap for the last 18 months and especially the last nine months. Usually, I am a very energetic, happy, and horny guy. Lately, I feel miserable and cranky, have low motivation and sex drive, find it hard to concentrate, have difficulty starting and completing tasks, have skin and scalp issues. Overall, I just feel like crap.

Listen to the interview.

These issues arose late 2011 during a period of increased work stress (and excitement), and the death of two close family members.

GM’s doctor has been unable to find anything wrong with him except for slightly elevated C-reactive protein (inflammation). The first test I ran was the BioHealth 205 Adrenal Stress Profile, a comprehensive saliva hormone panel that includes:

• Cortisol
• DHEA
• Estradiol
• Estriol
• Progesterone
• Melatonin
• Testosterone

The result showed low cortisol, low DHEA and low testosterone, which explained the way GM felt, but the question remained, Why would these hormones be so low?

The elevated noon cortisol is likely due to the consumption of caffeine:

The investigation continued with the Genova Diagnostics Organix Comprehensive Profile, a urine test that includes a total of 46 markers. The salient points for GM were:

• Vitamin B6 deficiency
• Elevated levels of oxidative stress leading to DNA damage
• Elevated xylene (environmental toxicity) indicating inadequate liver function
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

The final test I requested was the BioHealth 401H GI Pathogen Screen, a stool antigen test that detects the presence of pathogenic bacteria, ova and parasites. In GM’s case a parasite called Blastocystis was found:

Parasitic infections like Blasto are the leading cause of fatigue that I see, and also explain the elevated C-reactive protein.

Interventions

Diet

GM’s history of thyroid problems prompted me to suggest the Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) diet which can be difficult to implement. A month of coaching was all it took to get started, and there was no issue with compliance. Occasional treats presented no issues.

Sleep

GM wasn’t sleeping well, and that could have been a deal breaker. Initially, I suggested 3mg of prolonged-release melatonin which worked wonders. Later, he moved on to the amino acids L-tyrosine and 5-HTP. Note: No coaching was required here. GM knew how to create an environment conducive to sleep and how to protect his circadian rhythm.

Exercise

Initially, GM didn’t feel energetic enough to work out at all, so I suggested 30 minutes of walking. Later, his energy would be restored to the point where he could engage in whole-body resistance training.

Stress reduction

Since I believe that most of the problems I see are rooted in an excess of stress, anything that reduces stress is generally beneficial. In this case, I recommended the guided meditation app, Headspace.

Supplements

• An adrenal support protocol consisting of DHEA, pregnenolone, vitamin C.
• A 60-day parasite self-cleanse consisting of Artecin, Amazon A-P and oregano oil.
• A Thorne multivitamin plus fish oil.
• PharmaNAC, a derivative of the amino acid L-cysteine, which is an essential precursor used by the body to produce glutathione to mitigate oxidative stress.
• Additional liver support.
• Prescript-Assist pre and probiotic to establish a more healthy gut microbiome.

Outcome

It’s only been about four months since I started working with GM, and most of his main complaints have been resolved. Again, GM says it best:

Sleeping like a baby. Haven’t felt this good in years. No side effects. Bone broth is fantastic! Now able to workout. Reduction in cravings.