Chronic illnesses are not just illnesses but complex conditions that demand a comprehensive approach. When a patient like Megan, who has battled with a multitude of symptoms across various systems for years, experiences significant recovery, it’s a testament to the intricate nature of these conditions. Each person’s chronic illness is a unique constellation, but sharing the treatment strategy that helped Megan with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and more symptoms may provide valuable insights for others grappling with similar challenges.
I met Megan a little over a year ago. She is a 32-year-old woman who presented to my office with chronic fatigue, exercise intolerance, brain fog, migraines, numbness and tingling in her hands and feet, joint pain, muscle weakness, vertigo, fevers/flushing, and an overall sense of feeling sick. She struggled to perform daily living activities and could only perform one significant activity each day. She was not reading or watching TV because she struggled to follow along and took two or three naps daily. She had moved home to live with her parents due to her health.
Megan’s History
Megan recalls first experiencing symptoms when she was in high school. She would get sick more frequently than her friends. She also reported being in pain since childhood. She was diagnosed with depression in high school. She spent her summers at a camp on the East Coast but did not recall having a tick bite. However, her sister had previously been diagnosed with Lyme disease.
Five years ago, her symptoms increased in intensity and became more pervasive. Megan experienced fatigue, sore throats, and swollen lymph nodes. Later that year, she began experiencing migraines. Her primary care physician ordered many laboratory tests. Still, the only remarkable findings were Epstein-Barr virus IgG antibodies (IgG antibodies are common and reflect a previous exposure or reactivated infection). A conventional (and poorly sensitive) Lyme test was negative.
Diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Megan continued to seek care in hopes of getting an answer to the cause of her symptoms. Her primary care doctor diagnosed her with chronic fatigue syndrome and referred her to a university hospital’s chronic fatigue clinic in northern California. After waiting months to be seen at the clinic, she left the appointment disappointed and with only a prescription for low-dose naltrexone (LDN). Unfortunately, LDN did not improve her symptoms and worsened some, so she stopped the medication.
A Functional Medicine Approach
Since she was not getting answers to the cause of her symptoms or improvement of her symptoms with conventional doctors, she sought care from a functional medicine physician. The assessment from the functional medicine doctor was that her gut health was the root cause of Megan’s symptoms. She changed her diet and took supplements directed at improving her digestion for months, but her symptoms remained the same.
Quality of Life Declining
Megan began to experience more symptoms, and her prior symptoms worsened. Due to the significance of her symptoms, her quality of life declined, and her world became smaller. She was in a graduate program pursuing her passion, but she struggled to keep up with the demands, so she was forced to take a medical leave. At this point, her primary care physician was grasping to figure out the cause of Megan’s symptoms, so she recommended testing to rule out multiple sclerosis.
At her first office visit, we reviewed Megan’s complex health history. She reported her energy was a 1/10 (1 being the lowest). In addition to the symptoms in the second paragraph, she experienced sound sensitivity, swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, nausea, and anxiety. She scored high on a validated Lyme disease questionnaire (GSQ-30), indicating a high likelihood of a tickborne infection. A test for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) was negative during the physical exam.
Based on our discussion of her health history, I recommended a comprehensive suite of tests to uncover the underlying cause or causes of her symptoms. With Megan’s prolonged illness, I knew that these remarkable lab results would be pivotal in charting her path to recovery.
Lab Results
Megan brought results from a recent comprehensive lab test from a national reference lab. The results were unremarkable except for low vitamin D, high CRP, and elevated EBV IgG antibodies. A thyroid panel, ANA, and autoimmune antibodies were normal. I ordered additional tests for mast cell activation syndrome and autoantibodies for rheumatological diseases, and all the results were normal.
Lyme, Chronic Viral, and Mold Lab Results
Advanced tests were ordered through specialized laboratories to get the most accurate results. A chronic infection panel that indicates whether a virus is active or not was negative for Epstein Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Human herpes virus 6 (HHV6). A comprehensive tickborne infection panel from a reputable laboratory was positive for Bartonella IgM and Lyme IgG antibodies. Megan also had slightly elevated mycotoxin levels, which indicated an exposure to mold.
Initial Treatment
I started Megan on a protocol to reduce her mold toxin burden and IV antibtiocs for Lyme disease. After a few weeks of antibtiocs, Megan felt worse, so I switched her to an oral antibiotic protocol for Bartonellosis. At a follow-up appointment six weeks later, Megan reported that although a few symptoms had improved, overall, she did not feel any better since starting the new antibiotic regimen.
Change in Treatment Direction
When the trajectory of a person’s symptoms is not going in the direction you want, it is crucial to revisit the health history, laboratory findings, and response to treatment. In the context of the cell danger response, the chronic disease persists because healing is incomplete. This concept helps us understand that the body’s response to a threat can become chronic if the danger is not adequately addressed, leading to persistent health issues.
I was curious about Megan’s cellular health and had been using a specialized lab test that measured markers of mitochondrial function, cell membrane health, and DNA adducts. This test provides detailed information about the health and function of her cells and mitochondria and the presence of DNA adducts, which are chemical modifications of DNA that can interfere with its normal function. The lab test results could inform us about the significance of her cellular and mitochondrial function and whether she needed treatment to heal completely.
Cellular Health Lab Results
Megan’s results from the specialized laboratory were quite remarkable. They revealed that her cellular and mitochondrial health was significantly compromised. She tested positive for five DNA adducts, which might have affected DNA transcription. A unique glutathione panel was abnormal, reducing her body’s ability to protect against oxidative damage to cells and detoxify harmful compounds. Her levels of common environmental toxicants were also elevated, indicating a high level of exposure negatively affecting her health.
Improving Cellular and Mitochondrial Health
Based on the lab results that reflected Megan’s cellular health, I prescribed her a series of IV treatments over ten weeks to improve cell and mitochondrial membrane health, support the detoxification of toxicants, and remove DNA adducts. Phosphatidyl choline is a critical phospholipid that supports these functions and was a primary ingredient in her protocol.
Repairing cell and mitochondrial membrane structures is foundational for recovery from chronic illness.
When I saw Megan at the end of the treatment, some of her symptoms were better, including fewer migraines, neuropathy, fevers/heat intolerance, and cognition. However, her energy level was still low, at 2-3/10. She repeated the test that measured cell and mitochondrial membrane health, toxicant levels, and DNA adducts, and all the markers improved significantly. It can take time for symptoms to catch up after cell and mitochondrial membrane repair treatment, so I knew she would continue to improve.
Supporting Mitochondrial Function
Since Megan was still struggling with fatigue, I prescribed her a series of weekly IV NAD treatments to support mitochondrial function. NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) helps the mitochondria make energy. In addition to NAD, the IV protocol included vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and glutathione, increasing NAD’s effectiveness. Throughout IV treatments, we gradually increased Megan’s dose of NAD up to 600mg. Mitochondria produce 95% of the energy required for all physiological functions.
Administering treatments intravenously is significantly more effective than orally. One hundred percent of the nutrients and compounds are absorbed when delivered intravenously. At best, 40% of oral supplements are absorbed, and the percentage goes down if someone has digestive issues. In addition, higher doses of nutrients and compounds can be delivered intravenously, which increases the therapeutic effect.
Successful Recovery From Chronic Fatigue
After Megan completed the treatments, I saw her for a follow-up appointment. She reported her energy had improved from 2-3/10 to 6-7/10 in the three months since we last spoke. I was thrilled to hear about this significant improvement in a short amount of time. Anyone who has experienced (or still experiences) chronic fatigue knows it can be a long struggle to recover. Megan had been sick for over five years and was getting her life back. She is engaging in activities she could not do while sick, like visiting with friends and getting a job.
A Roadmap to Recovery
The successful recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome is challenging. Sometimes, the road from chronic illness to health is not just about undoing what caused the disease. Megan’s recovery from numerous symptoms that she suffered from for multiple years was remarkable. Her health is not entirely back to normal, but she is on the right path and feels like she is participating in her life again. Her healing success came from the information we discovered from comprehensive testing, following an effective treatment protocol, and Megan’s commitment to getting better. By sharing Megan’s case, I hope to provide a model that may help others suffering from complex chronic illnesses.
