Phyllis

Phyllis is a 47 year-old female who was initially seen by me in the fall of 1995 with a number of medical diagnoses including allergies, fatigue, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, headaches, recurrent infections, and a history of Lyme Disease.

A review of Phyllis’ medical history revealed multiple medical complaints including nasal symptoms for the previous seven years perennially with some increase from spring through fall. Her main complaints were sneezing, stuffiness, and post-nasal drip. Other typical allergy symptoms included problems with the eyes (itching, redness and swelling), throat (pain, itching, throat clearing and a history of throat swelling after eating certain foods), and a cough especially in the morning. Atypical allergy complaints included multiple gastrointestinal symptoms for over 20 years, specifically heartburn, bloating, and erratic bowel movements. Phyllis also was concerned about urinary frequency, a rash of the arms, legs, and face “all my life,” muscle and joint pain for the previous five years, headaches at least once or twice a week associated with increased eye symptoms, decreased concentration and short-term memory for over one year, and fatigue thought to be approximately 60% of normal.

Phyllis was treated for Lyme Disease in 1990 after receiving a tick bite followed by rash, joint pain, and mild fever. A blood test confirmed the diagnosis of Lyme disease, and she was treated appropriately with an antibiotic for over one month.

Phyllis had seen a number of physicians who typically have blamed her multiple medical complaints on stress.

Her physical examination was within normal limits except for allergic shiners and an allergic appearance to the nasal turbinates.

At a follow-up visit only two months later, Phyllis was being treated with Sublingual Immunotherapy for her allergies to 18 foods, 17 molds, five chemicals, and 24 inhalants/pollens. Her most significant objective allergic reactions were to wheat, potato, and five molds. She experienced medical symptoms testing eight foods including milk, wheat, corn, and sugar.

A review of her medical history revealed exceptional improvement in only two months which included no infections, marked improvement in nose, eye, and throat complaints, no cough, decreased bloating, normal urinary frequency, no muscle and joint pain, rare headaches, improved concentration and short-term memory, and her energy level had increased from approximately 60 to 85% of normal.

Her significant improvement was attributed to my recommendation to decrease milk products, sweets, baked goods, junk food, and the immunotherapy for her multiple allergies.

At a follow-up visit in July 1996, Phyllis believed she was doing extremely well. Her energy level was described as being her best ever even in comparison to childhood. She was exercising regularly, and her multiple medical complaints were all significantly improved.

Phyllis’ history is an excellent example of adult patients I see who have multiple medical complaints of a subjective nature and are frequently told by their physicians and/or many medical specialists that all of their medical problems are 100% stress-related.

The key to Phyllis’ rapid improvement was that she knew her medical history, and that stress was not the full answer for her subjective medical complaints. She needed a physician who took the time to listen to her medical history and implement a medical program to fit her particular health needs.

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