host posted on October 31, 2007 19:30
Article by Lynn Jennings, MD
It’s time to re-introduce myself.
My name is Lynn Jennings, MD and I have been a physician for 22 years. I am board certified in Family Practice. I practice alternative/integrative medicine in Wichita Falls, Texas at Champions Clinic.
When Doug asked me to do a column on the symptoms of fungal infection, I thought, “ The truth is that the symptoms are as varied as the people who present with them and are often mistaken for other things.” We exchanged a few emails and came up with this idea. I will present the patients to you essentially as they would be presented to another doctor. I will leave out anything that might identify the individual and I will give them a new name for the sake of the discussion. In this, I hope to show you how I came upon the diagnosis of underlying fungal disease and treatment plan.
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is presented for educational purposes and should not be used as an alternative to seeking medical treatment. If you are ill or have a medical problem, please see your doctor or health care professional. Our goals are to get you asking questions and to make the changes that will improve your health and the health of your family.
Since I practice alternative medicine, I frequently see individuals with chronic medical problems. They have seen many other physicians but have had their symptoms treated with no lasting effect. Often they have been made to feel as though their problems are “all in their head.” Or worse is the implication that they have not been compliant with their treatment plan.
Presenting concerns: Linda presented to the clinic with her husband for an evaluation of her thyroid. She stated that she could never remember having a normal body temperature. In fact she brought along a temperature chart which showed temperatures ranging from a low of 96.3F and generally ranging in the low 97’s. She also reported fatigue, weight gain and inability to lose weight, poor sleeping, carpal tunnel symptoms and thinning hair. Linda states that her doctor thought she might be depressed and that she had been placed on an antidepressant in the past. Linda also has been suffering from irritable bowel symptom for 20 + years, with irregular bowel movements, constipation and diarrhea. Linda and her husband have researched her problems via the internet and are concerned that she may have celiac disease. Celiac disease is a chronic diarrheal disease characterized by malabsorption and precipitated by eating gluten containing foods.
Social history: Linda and her husband have one young child and Linda is employed outside of the home. Linda quit smoking seven years ago and only occasionally has a drink. She and her husband exercise regularly walking and biking. With regards to her diet, Linda uses artificial sweeteners and diet drinks.
Medications/Supplements: None. She has no known medication allergies.
Past Medical history/Review of Systems: Linda had a history of recurrent bronchial infections as a child for which she received multiple courses of antibiotics. She also reports ongoing problems with allergies. Linda also has received treatment for rosacea as well as psoriasis with multiple courses of antibiotics. In the past few years, Linda was hospitalized with pancreatitis secondary to a gallstone in her common bile duct. This resulted in a surgical procedure to remove the stone as well as to remove her gallbladder. She did develop acute renal failure with her pancreatitis, however, her kidneys have since returned to normal function.
Physical Examination: Linda’s physical exam revealed a weight of 261 lbs., a height of 5’4” and some tenderness in her mid-upper abdomen. The rest of her physical examination was within normal limits.
Assessment and Plan: In medicine, most doctors will look for the simplest explanation. Ideally if all of the symptoms can be attributed to a common cause, then that becomes the most likely cause.
Based on Linda’s past medical history and her symptoms, I felt that chronic fungal disease could explain the majority of her medical problems. Let me explain.
When Linda was very young, she had recurrent episodes of bronchitis that were most likely treated with antibiotics. These antibiotics would have killed off the good bacteria in Linda’s gastrointestinal tract and led to problems with absorption. Those of you who are familiar with Doug Kaufmann will recognize the problems associated with a “leaky gut.” I believe that this “leaky gut” is the cauldron from which most chronic medical conditions arise. This “leaky gut” allows passage of proteins that would ordinarily be blocked from absorption. Your body recognizes these proteins as “foreign” and mounts an inflammatory attack against them. This becomes a problem of chronic inflammation and that can spread to different areas of the body including your joints, skin and other areas of your body. In Linda’s case, she developed problems with rosacea which was treated with a prolonged course of antibiotics (aggravating the leaky gut). She also developed psoriasis. She continues to have ongoing problems with her gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea and constipation. I feel that this contributes to the malabsorption of vitamins and nutrients.
Linda and her husband have noticed that wheat products (gluten) seem to aggravate her symptoms. Not a surprise when you consider that most grain products are contaminated with fungus and mycotoxins. So, we can explain Linda’s gastrointestinal problems as a result of chronic fungal infection which worsens with repeated exposure to mycotoxins and fungus.
Many of Linda’s symptoms suggest a chronic problem with her endocrine system, specifically her thyroid. I believe that there is a connection between endocrine problems and fungal disease. In Linda’s case, her thyroid function studies (blood work) were “normal” but her symptoms seem to clearly be related to thyroid problems. Her chronically low body temperatures, in the face of normal lab work, suggest that she is having a problem converting the less active thyroid hormone, T4 to active thyroid hormone, T3. This syndrome is known as Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome. In Linda’s case, this was most likely precipitated by the stress of chronic fungal infection and has been present for most of her life.
Ultimately, Linda’s medical problems can be explained as a result of chronic fungal infection. To attempt a cure will require elimination of the fungus and the reestablishment of normal bowel flora. I spoke to Linda and her husband at length. Neither of them had come into the clinic expecting to be told about the fungal connection to disease but fortunately both were open-minded and willing to give the treatment plan a try. I began Linda on a daily over the counter antifungal as well as a daily probiotics. I explained the initial phase diet and gave them information about foods to avoid and sample menu plans. I also directed them to Doug Kaufmann’s website, www.knowthecause.com, for more information.
Linda and her husband will continue to exercise. Additionally, I began Linda on a protocol using compounded, sustained release T3 in an effort to re-establish the normal conversion of T4 to T3. Eventually Linda’s body should be able to take over the production the active form of T3 and Linda will no longer require prescription T3. We will monitor the effects of the protocol by checking Linda’s temperature at least three times daily.
To be honest with you, I actually talked a lot more to Linda and her husband. Her husband began to realize that he had many of the symptoms of chronic fungal infection and he was also going to begin an antifungal regimen, probiotics and initial phase diet. But that is another column.
Blessings
Lynn Jennings, MD