Has anyone here used a “functional” doctor?

[frugal-one]

Is that the same thing as integrative medicine, ie docs like Andrew Weil? Conventional docs seem to order tests and meds for specific symptoms most likely because their patients want instant relief. My experience with docs (and now mostly PAs) has been very mixed.

The two are very different. I believe I need to find the cause of illness in my case. Functional should do testing for deficiencies which I know has been a problem with a mineral deficiency in the past. YLMV
https://www.healthline.com/health/fu...ative-medicine

[pinkytoe]

I was having several unusual for me symtpoms recently - the most troubling was frequent heart palpitations. Turns out I was very deficient in B12 but I had to ask for that test since I had a hunch it was related. After taking B12 for several months now, things are back to normal. Sometimes and hopefully in your case, it is something simple like that.

[happystuff]

I like the idea of a functional doctor. Seems like it should be a "norm" for any doctor to look at the whole person they are treating instead of just symptoms, etc.

[frugal-one]

I was having several unusual for me symtpoms recently - the most troubling was frequent heart palpitations. Turns out I was very deficient in B12 but I had to ask for that test since I had a hunch it was related. After taking B12 for several months now, things are back to normal. Sometimes and hopefully in your case, it is something simple like that.

Years ago magnesium and more recently potassium showed very low. Crazy how vitamins and minerals are not checked since nearly any drug (even aspirin) depletes your body of something.

[littlebittybobby]

okay----something you kids might be interested to know is that i am under the direct care of a DO. Yup. Actually, the DO has NP's under her supervision, i guess you'd say. The reason i only occasionally see an MD, is i think the re-allocation of (human) resources in the medical community/profession/industry. As a primary care provider, the DO (or the NP) can evaluate the patient/client/customer, and decide whether to give them medical advice and a preescription and/or to pass them further up the line, to a specialist---usually an MD, or to non-MD's with training in testing or therapy. See? It's the new way o' doing things---more efficient, more effective, and maybe more profitable. Yes, there are still some MD's practicing on their own, and if that is what you'd prefer, see if one of them is taking new patients. But yeah---several years ago, i went to an "Urgent care", operated by an MD, for one issue, and he said he could see me if i had $150 cash, which was definitely worth it, to me. For an out-of-pocket pay, it was far less costly than an ER visit. His clinic specializes in workplace injuries, where insurance usually pays the bill. Yup. Hope that helps you some.