THE BEST FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINIC FOR GUT HEALTH IN EDINA, MINNESOTA
(Comprehensive Functional Medicine Gut Protocols)
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE at its BEST!
Is it Acid Reflux, or Low Stomach Acid?
Bobbi's story - A must watch video for anyone suffering from Stomach Acid issues.
Video Summary:
Bobbi shares her health journey with Dr. Paul Deglmann, DC, DACNB, FACFN at Restorative Health Solutions.
Initially, Bobbi struggled with severe bloating, constipation and left-sided pain, exacerbated by exercising and eating carbohydrates. After unsuccessful attempts with traditional doctors—who only managed her symptoms and prescribed acid reflux medication—and a functional doctor who tried antibiotics and protein shakes for SIBO, she finally found relief through Dr. Paul's approach!
Watch below to see what Dr. Paul's testing uncovered, which ultimately brought Bobbi lasting relief:
The key to resolving chronic digestive issues will not be found by managing symptoms alone. The first step requires proper identification of the root cause(s) behind your symptoms. Through comprehensive functional testing, (very different from conventional tests tried in the past), Dr. Paul identified where Bobbi's symptoms (constant bloating, pain, and food intolerances) were stemming from. His protocol focused not on managing symptoms, but finding and addressing the root of her symptoms, resulting in Bobbi's complete recovery.
*2025 UPDATE: Two years later, Bobbi continues to feel healthy, has gained a better understanding of her body's triggers, and is living her best life, completely symptom-free!
{Scroll down to read a message from Dr. Paul for anyone struggling with stomach acid imbalance}
Conversation between Bobbi and Dr. Paul:
Bobbi: When this all first started, I was experiencing really bad bloating and constipation, so constant constipation and bloating.
And then on my left side, I was experiencing a lot of pain. I guess it slowly developed over time and then got to the point where I felt like I needed to do something about it. It was completely disrupting my life.
I couldn't eat. It became to the point where all I could eat was protein because every time I ate anything that was carb-related, my stomach would start hurting or I would get extremely bloated. Because I wasn't eating well, I felt like I was struggling with energy and a little bit of brain fog.
And also, I worked out all the time and so my workouts were suffering. I just felt lethargic, I guess, all the time. And it was just, you know, really draining on my body and my mental state for the way I felt.
Dr. Paul Deglmann: If I remember right, the left-sided pain that you were experiencing, that would kind of worsen when you would exercise and kind of limit what you were doing? Correct.
Bobbi: It would get worse and then also get worse when I ate anything other than protein.
Dr. Paul Deglmann: What kind of things did you try prior to coming to see us? Testing, diets, you know, medications. Share with us a little bit on what kind of things you did prior to coming here.
Bobbi: I went to go see a traditional doctor and they ran, you know, traditional tests. They did an MRI, they did x-rays because of the pain on my left side. And of course, they didn't find anything.
So they tried to give me just medicine for acid reflux, which of course didn't help at all. And then they just were out of ideas. You know, they just wanted to treat the symptoms and it just wasn't getting anywhere for me.
So I ended up seeing another functional doctor who diagnosed the SIBO through the breath test. And then she tried with protocol where you drink the protein shake, substance shake, but didn't eat anything else for 14 days. So we did that two rounds.
So for 28 days, not consecutively, but for 28 days, I drank nothing but this protein shake and didn't eat anything else trying to kill off the SIBO. That did not work. As soon as I started eating again, it came right back.
She also tried to do just a traditional antibiotic. That was for 14 days. That didn't work.
And then we tried just natural substances or supplements like garlic and berberine. That made me feel good when I was taking them. But as soon as I tried not to take them or we backed down on the dosing, as soon as I would eat anything consecutively, particularly if it had carbs in it, my bloating and constipation came back right away.
And as far as my diet again, I was still focusing mostly on protein and I love vegetables. And so that was really hard for me to cut out all the vegetables and just eat the protein to make myself feel better. Yeah, so now I feel great.
Absolutely great. I feel as good if not better than I did before this all started. My workouts are back to normal.
I'm actually rebuilding my muscle because during the process of not eating right and continuing to work out, I was depleting my muscle. So now I feel like my muscle tone is coming back. I'm actually lifting heavier than I ever have.
So I feel good about that. And I don't feel like I have any problems with anything that I eat now. So yeah, I feel absolutely great now.
Dr. Paul Deglmann: At what point in the protocol, when you were working with us, did you feel the biggest shift in your health?
Bobbi: I think it was after we did the stool test and you found out that it was candida that my eye was full of. And we started the supplement protocol for taking care of that. I noticed almost immediately after I started the supplements relief with the constipation and the bloating all the time.
Dr. Paul Deglmann: When we were doing the protocols and you were feeling better, you had a couple occasions still right where you had to go on antibiotics for a little while to kind of clear out some of those symptoms while we were doing that.
Bobbi: Correct. So I think after we got some of the bloating taken care of, I was still feeling the pain in my left side in my pancreas area. And so I started taking some of the supplements again, or the antibiotics again, to relieve some of that pain on my left side, which again, it was helping when I was taking them.
But as soon as I stopped taking them, it would come right back.
Dr. Paul Deglmann: And what was the thing that we did that you felt that was the biggest help in terms of keeping your symptoms away and feeling good long term?
Bobbi: Well, I think it was the overall supplement protocols. But then in the end, it was the HCL supplement that you recommended that I take that has kept everything in check for me. And as you know, I think that was one of the last things we ended up doing, but it honestly has been great.
Dr. Paul Deglmann: So when we see that low elastase on the stool panel, right, one of the common reasons why that can be low is it doesn't get the signal from proper amounts of stomach acid to make the enzymes. And so one of the biggest reasons elastase would go down is because of low stomach acid. There's not a great stomach acid test out there.
Obviously, you know, somebody could have belching during or after their meals, they could get full quick, they could have acid reflux, they could have bloating, they could have constipation, diarrhea, they can have a lot of different symptoms. So there's not a perfect test, but there is, you can look at mechanisms and understand physiology of the gut, try to figure out why does the bacterial overgrowth keep happening or the fungal overgrowth or candida, or why do the symptoms keep returning once they're off of antimicrobial like herbs. When we don't have enough stomach acid, it welcomes bacteria and it welcomes overgrowth.
And so if we can optimize stomach acid, it is your big protector to try to prevent these symptoms from coming back, try to prevent the bacteria from accumulating and being overgrown. And that I think was the biggest, you know, turning point in your case was that and supporting with some enzymes, encouraging motility, because low stomach acid is going to impact motility as well. So if we can increase the stomach acid, it can also then therefore help with motility and then help with gas and bloating, you know, bowel movements, everything like that, and discomfort, pain.
And I do think that was one of your big turning points. How long do you think that you've felt really, really good for with little to no issues?
Bobbi: Probably been four or five months now that I felt really good.
Dr. Paul Deglmann: Yeah. And that's the longest stretch since all this happened, correct?
Bobbi: Correct.
Dr. Paul Deglmann: Oh, for sure. Correct. Good.
How was your overall experience kind of working with, you know, me and Restorative Health Solutions, the staff, the whole clinic, the process, the communication, like what was your overall experience with us?
Bobbi: My overall experience has been great. I feel like you've been a great listener of what has been going on. I love the idea of that.
You look at the data, you look at the tests that you run and you come up with solutions. You're just not treating the symptoms because as you know, all conditions can have the same symptoms. And I feel like traditional doctors are just trying to treat the symptoms instead of looking at the root cause.
So I loved working with you because you looked at all the data and came up with the root cause and then came up with a plan to solve the issue. I felt like that made my treatment plan go faster than just guessing based on my symptoms. Your staff is awesome.
They are so helpful and efficient. I also love that I didn't have to come into the office to see you. A lot of our, all of our calls were Zoom other than our initial consultation, which made it easy for me because I do not live close to your office.
So that made it very convenient. And also with the supplements, it's so easy to get the supplements either online or just call your staff and they will send them out to you. So very easy process.
So that makes it easy to be a patient and stay a patient.
Dr. Paul Deglmann: One of the biggest messages is right. Tests don't guess. Everybody's so different.
And so when we look at like how many possibilities we can have that causes, you know, digestive symptoms or bloating, right? When we start testing, we can really start to narrow down and try to figure out what that root cause is for that individual person. A lot more streamlined approach in terms of what are we, what are we going to do for diet for this person?
What are we going to do for lifestyle recommendations? What are we going to do for supplements and how long do we have to be on these supplements? What should we do for a maintenance plan?
And I, like I always tell everybody, right, I want to try to get you better and help you get better. But the most important thing for us is to try to keep you better long-term.
Bobbi: Part of my biggest frustration with the route I had been going before I came here was they only took me so far and then didn't have an idea or a plan to continue going, even though I wasn't feeling better. And that's what I think that was one of the first things in our initial consultation that I said to you is like, I need a plan. I need to know where we're going with my treatment and what is the thought process that you have to get me well.
Not just guessing like what to do next, but have an idea. And so that was a big concern of mine when I came to you and you absolutely checked that box.
Dr. Paul Deglmann: So happy to hear that you're doing really, really well and we just got to keep you rolling and keep you feeling good long-term. That's the ultimate goal. Is there anything you'd like to say to someone that's listening to this, that's in a similar boat that used to be in, that's struggling, maybe has done the traditional medical route and is told everything's normal?
I would say they have to invest in their health.
Bobbi: I think it's 100% worth it. And I obviously can tell you from experience from how miserable I was when I came to you to how I feel now is just day and night. And so it's just 100% worth taking the time.
And I'll also say spending the money, because I know that can be a big hurdle for people spending the money. But if you don't have your health, you don't have anything. And so if you're miserable every day, that's going to spill over into the quality of your life in every aspect.
And so it is absolutely 100% worth taking the time and spending the money to get healthy. I'm just thrilled that I'm feeling this well, especially when, in the beginning, I was told if I have SIBO, that it's something that you manage. It's not something you cure.
And I 100% feel like I'm cured.
Dr. Paul Deglmann: Awesome. Well, thanks so much for taking time with us today and telling your story. And thank you so much once again.
Acid Reflux Paradox: Dr. Paul's Insights and Message for those suffering from Acid Reflux type symptoms...
Dr. Paul's Message to You:
Request Free Consultation with Restorative Health Solutions
Before you submit your information, please understand that Dr. Paul does not accept Medical Insurance, but many patients leverage HSA plans for care. We are unable to work with patients living outside of The United States.
FAQs:
Do you offer virtual consultations?
Yes! At Restorative Health Solutions we offer both in-person and virtual consultations. Feel free to share your preference with our front desk when you reach out. *We are unable to work with patients that live outside of The US.
How much does the 15-minute phone call cost?
One benefit to working outside of the constraints of the big insurance companies...Dr. Paul is able to offer your 15 minute phone call free of charge to you!
Typically how long are the appointments?
The initial appointment after the first phone call is 1 hour on average. Follow-up visits are usually 30 minutes.
How many visits will I need?
This of course, depends on your unique situation and plan for recovery! Typically, our follow-up visits are every 3-6 weeks in the initial phase of the protocol and every 3-6 months for maintenance or wellness visits. Telehealth options are also available.
Do I need a doctor referral to come see you?
No, you do not! We see people referred by doctors, friends and family, and especially those that are taking charge of their own health.
I am not sure what tests have been run by my MD already? Will you be willing to talk to them on my behalf?
Yes, absolutely! We routinely look at the previous testing you have already run. Please share as much as you can and we will take it from there.
I am already taking supplements or antibiotics? Can you still help me?
Yes, absolutely! Most new patients come to us and are trying to take supplements or antibiotics with little-to-no progress. Managing your gut microbiome while on Antibiotics is crucial for better gut health. We will review any and all current supplements with you as soon as the initial office visit/virtual appointment. Taking the right supplements, in the right sequence, with the right amount and frequency is Very Difficult to try on your own, but crucial for long-term improvement. With Dr. Paul's help in finding what your gut is missing, it's possible you will not need to be on supplements forever! Bring them in for your first in-office visit/virtual consultation and Dr. Paul will review them with you.
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