Chronic Fatigue and the Functional Medicine Approach
My Personal Journey with Chronic Fatigue + How I Help Patients Heal
If you’ve been struggling with chronic fatigue, I see you—because I’ve been there. It’s actually one of the main reasons I first discovered Functional Medicine and ultimately changed my life and the way I practice medicine today.
💭 My Story: From Exhaustion to Empowerment
It all started when I was in graduate school working toward my doctorate. I was exhausted, worn out, and pushing through the demands of clinical rotations and studying. I knew something wasn’t right, so I went to the student clinic and ordered some bloodwork. My white blood cells came back lab low.
Now, being a student, I had what’s lovingly called “Medical Student Syndrome”—where you start diagnosing yourself with every condition you read about. With my low WBCs, my mind went straight to leukemia. I thought, “Maybe I have cancer. Maybe I’m going to die.”
But thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
What I didn’t know at the time—but discovered later—was that I had Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). I had contracted mononucleosis shortly before moving across the country to start my program. I hadn’t yet learned about stealth pathogens or how EBV can reactivate, especially under stress or when your immune system is run down. Once I understood that, I was able to support my immune system and begin the healing process.
🥩 Then Came Bodybuilding... and Breakthroughs
During grad school, I also decided to compete in bodybuilding. I hired a coach who put me on a cyclical ketogenic diet, and it was like night and day—I felt amazing. Energized. Clear. Strong. I was shocked at how good I felt eating in that way, and I knew there had to be more to the story.
Later, when I began my studies in Functional Medicine, I started running labs on myself—everything I now use for patients. That’s when I discovered I had a Candida overgrowth. Suddenly, it all made sense. The reason I felt so good on keto or low-carb was that I was unknowingly starving the candida. But anytime I added carbs back into my diet, my fatigue and symptoms returned… until I learned how to treat it.
Once I properly addressed the candida, I could eat carbs again—especially to fuel workouts and build muscle—without crashing. I also found out I had some degree of adrenal burnout, which was no surprise given the stress I had been under for years.
Treating that adrenal dysfunction helped restore my energy, focus, and ability to show up for my patients at a whole new level.
🔍 Common Root Causes of Chronic Fatigue in Functional Medicine
Through my own healing and in practice, I’ve found that chronic fatigue is rarely just “one thing.” It’s usually a combination of imbalances across several systems. Here are some of the most common causes I uncover in my patients:
🧠 HPA Axis Dysfunction (Adrenal Fatigue)
Cause: Chronic stress, poor sleep, trauma, overtraining, or under-eating
Labs: Cortisol circadian rhythem testing (salivary or DUTCH test), DHEA
Clues: Crashes after activity, wired-but-tired at night, morning sluggishness, salt cravings
🍽️ Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Cause: Oxidative stress, nutrient depletion, toxins (mold, metals), chronic infections
Labs: Organic acids test (OAT), CoQ10, carnitine, B vitamins
Clues: Muscle weakness, post-exertional malaise, brain fog, poor recovery
🧬 Nutrient Deficiencies
Common Deficiencies: B12, iron, magnesium, vitamin D, zinc, folate
Labs: CBC, ferritin, B12, MMA, homocysteine, vitamin D
Clues: Pale skin, dizziness, cold hands/feet, easy bruising, poor concentration
💩 Gut Dysfunction
Cause: Dysbiosis, leaky gut, SIBO, candida, parasites
Labs: GI-MAP, SIBO breath test, Zonulin, calprotectin
Clues: Bloating, gas, food sensitivities, skin issues, alternating stools
🦠 Chronic Infections or Reactivated Viruses
Common Culprits: Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Lyme, CMV, HHV-6
Labs: EBV panel, Lyme panel, viral titers
Clues: Flare-ups during stress, swollen lymph nodes, low-grade fevers
🧫 Toxin Load
Cause: Mold, heavy metals, chemical exposures
Labs: Mycotoxin urine test, heavy metal testing, OAT
Clues: Multisystem symptoms, sensitivity to smells or chemicals, rashes, headaches
🧠 Thyroid & Hormone Imbalances
Cause: Hypothyroidism, PCOS, perimenopause, testosterone or estrogen imbalance
Labs: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, antibodies, sex hormones
Clues: Cold intolerance, weight gain, hair loss, menstrual irregularities
💔 Blood Sugar Dysregulation
Cause: Insulin resistance, reactive hypoglycemia
Labs: Fasting insulin, HbA1c, glucose curve
Clues: Fatigue after meals, brain fog, irritability when hungry, crashes
💡 Why I Start With a Functional Medicine Health History
If you're tired of being tired, I want you to know I don’t just guess—I investigate.
When you become a new Functional Medicine patient, I ask you to complete a comprehensive health history that often takes 30–60 minutes. I personally review this before our first visit along with any prior lab testing you send me. That way, by the time we meet, I already have a sense of which systems are likely involved, and we can create a targeted plan that doesn’t waste your time or money on unnecessary testing.
This approach helps us:
Focus only on the most relevant functional labs
Use your symptoms and story as our guide
Find and fix the root causes of your fatigue
💛 You Deserve to Feel Like Yourself Again
If you’re tired of feeling tired, know that I truly understand. I've walked this path myself—and now I help others find the energy, clarity, and freedom they deserve.
Whether you're dealing with post-viral fatigue, gut imbalances, burnout, or you’re just not sure what’s going on, we’ll figure it out together. Your energy is worth the investment. Let’s uncover what’s holding you back—and get you back to living fully.
