Has anyone been to a functional medicine practitioner vs dermatologist?

[Kat]

I remember hearing about them Fred!

Proceed with caution Kelly. I'd be sure to ask a lot of questions but with that said, if you proceed, I certainly wish you great success.

[Caroline]

Well, we do not have this FM exactly over here, but we have doctors over here, real doctors, that do not stick to only the standard medical professions.
The standard medics, like rheumatologists and dermatologists are normally connected to a hospital.
These other doctors are more general purpose and have there own private practice. They indeed look to someone in a much wider way. To the person as a whole, quite like you describe in your story on Functional Medication.

When my rheumatologist started to prescribe me MTX, I felt quite quickly how awfully "wrong" this was, and is because in the mean time there is much proof that it is a senseless medication.
Then I started to go searching for other solutions and finally I landed with such a doctor and via him I ended up with DMF, currently still the best that happened to me the last years.
I discussed this later with the rheumatologist, but he still appeared not to be able to step out of his comfort zone and start prescribing DMF and was unwilling to guide me on it.

so….. "other" doctors are not always less, perhaps even very good.
From my side… beware of the normal medical profession

[Kat]

so….. "other" doctors are not always less, perhaps even very good.
From my side… beware of the normal medical profession

That's very true Caroline. It can be very difficult to know where to put one's trust.

[Fred]

From my side… beware of the normal medical profession

Rubbish, that's saying a professional medical person who has done years of training under strict rules and regulations is no better than someone who just makes up a piece of paper or pays for a so called certificate of competence and decides to treat people.

When a persons body gets ruined by a Quack Doctor, who do people turn to for help? The professional trained medic.

[jiml]

From my side… beware of the normal medical profession

Rubbish, that's saying a professional medical person who has done years of training under strict rules and regulations is no better than someone who just makes up a piece of paper or pays for a so called certificate of competence and decides to treat people.

When a persons body gets ruined by a Quack Doctor, who do people turn to for help? The professional trained medic.

Oh that's a bit harsh. As English is not Caroline's first language. I'm sure Caroline did not mean beware possibly more be careful as they often don't listen and get rid of you by writing a prescription, at least that's what I think was meant.

[Kat]

Did I miss the sarcasm Fred or were you being serious?

If so, not all doctors with training are trustworthy.
Of course, it's easier for people who come up with alternative ways to be on the crooked end of things as they don't have to do the years or education nor the licensing, etc. but it can be difficult in knowing who to trust even with those with good reputations. Look at Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's physician, and what he was willing to do for money. He wasn't following practices set forth by the medical associations. Then there's doctors like this:

John Bodkin Adams - British general practitioner, and suspected serial killer, thought to have killed over 160 patients. Acquitted of one murder in 1957 but convicted of prescription fraud, not keeping a dangerous drug register, obstructing a police search and lying on cremation forms.

I will agree however that I trust the medical doctors over the alternative practices. But I've never researched or used alternate medicine so I don't have much to go on really.

[Caroline]

From my side… beware of the normal medical profession

Rubbish, that's saying a professional medical person who has done years of training under strict rules and regulations is no better than someone who just makes up a piece of paper or pays for a so called certificate of competence and decides to treat people.

When a persons body gets ruined by a Quack Doctor, who do people turn to for help? The professional trained medic.

Only partly true of course. So basically I do not agree with you.

If you don't by yourself pay attention to what the "professional" doctors say, unfortunately I have seen a number of them when my PsA started, then you will end up with the wrong things.
You know I ran into the MTX garbage with my rheumatologist.
I have also been to a Orthopedics specialist, because of the fact that my feet hurted in that period. He took a look at the X-rays, and suggested that I had an operation at my feet, so he would chop off some piece of bone and so. A real butcher. I said him goodbye of course.

So I'm sorry, but I am quite mistrustful from now on.

My GP though, she is quite ok.

Did I miss the sarcasm Fred or were you being serious?

You still have to find out Kat, but Fred and I rarely agree on things.

[Fred]

Oh that's a bit harsh. As English is not Caroline's first language.

No it wasn't harsh, it was my opinion. And I'm sure Caroline wouldn't have taken offence by my comment Jim, as she knows me well enough.

Did I miss the sarcasm Fred or were you being serious?

Yes I was being serious, a legal registered and qualified person is the only one who should be treating us. Yes there are the odd bad apple, but they are all regulated unlike most of those who are just in it for the money.

Only partly true of course. So basically I do not agree with you.

See Jim Caroline was not offended by my comments.

You still have to find out Kat, but Fred and I rarely agree on things.

Yes and we are both OK with that, as we both have opinions and it stimulates conversation.

At the end of the day it's the individual that has to choose who is the best person to muck about with their body, me I prefer the official medical team at the hospital they have looked after me very well and are always there for me.

And to quote Kelly's post where she said "How is functional medicine different? By listening to the patient and learning his or her story, the practitioner brings the patient into the discovery process and tailors treatments that address the individual’s unique needs." I get this service from my dermatologist and I'm happy.

Sorry Kelly for taking your thread off topic, I didn't intend for it to become a debate.

Fred thinks maybe he should stop posting in the natural treatments threads as I often seem to offend. ...................................... I've thought and no I won't stop as it wouldn't be much of a forum if we all thought we shouldn't give our opinions.

[Kat]

Personally, I love respectful disagreements so I don't offend easily. I do think I took your post (Fred) too literal reading it as just because they're licensed that would equal good and realized that wasn't your meaning.

I don't know if I think ONLY doctors are qualified to treat, but personally I want proper certification on the person diagnosing me. It is a bit of a disappointment to realize that even the best doctor's can make a mistake, especially if you're their patient. But in the end, doctors are people too, well most are anyway.

But, I'm not totally convinced either that some alternatives aren't better than the medicines we're prescribed. I am very leery of people (scammers) promising results that may bring them money and the person seeking them no relief. The problem is that their isn't the regulation involved in a lot of people offering alternatives. Sometimes it takes someone willing to step outside the box to find other solutions. I'm not that person, but I can understand why some people want to seek opinions other than their doctors.

[Fred]

I am very leery of people (scammers) promising results that may bring them money and the person seeking them no relief. The problem is that their isn't the regulation involved in a lot of people offering alternatives.

That about sums it up

Sorry going a bit off topic again but to help in what I was saying, you may have heard about the dodgy breast implants from France? People paid for them privately but now want the Government to pay to put it right. So what I'm saying is yes it's good too look at some natural alternatives, but be VERY VERY careful as the world is full of false promises that will cost you a fortune and could end up making matters worse. Then when your body has been ruined by a quack you will end up talking with a professional in the end in the hope of putting things right, if it's not to late.