Functional Medicine Testing
Follow Up Appointments
Functional medicine follow-up appointments are unlike the short follow-up appointments you are used to in a hospital setting. Instead of a short appointment intended to check for any major side effects and to adjust the dosage of medication, functional medicine appointments are necessary for the readjustment of your treatment plan in order to maintain your healing trajectory.
Follow-up appointments are recommended in a range from every two weeks to every six weeks depending on your health status. The frequency of follow-up appointments Dr. Lum will recommend is based on his personal assessment of your health using a multitude of factors.
Think of your recovery as a swimmer who has found themselves swept out to sea and needs to get to the shore again. While you could swim, it would be much faster if you rode a surfboard and used the peaks and troughs of the waves in your favor, effortlessly skimming on the surface. Just as a surfer uses the natural momentum of the ocean, Dr. Lum uses your follow-up appointments to guide you toward recovery on the fastest and most efficient path.
As symptoms disappear, your treatment plan will be adjusted to reflect this new reality. With each appointment, the plan will slightly adjust to treat emerging health concerns that were not visible even a few weeks ago. Remember that the body 'wants' to heal.
Much of the rhetoric used to talk about disease is inaccurate. In the case of an autoimmune disease, patients are often told that the "body is attacking itself" - this is not the case, but rather it is the body responding to what it perceives to be a threat within the body, and the body is damaged in this process of self-defense. It is, in fact, collateral damage, not deliberate self-destruction.
As we remove impediments that prevent the body from healing naturally, the body is buoyed up to the surface, powered by its own natural capacity for restoring health. The frequency of your follow-up appointments is to ensure that you get to shore as quickly as possible.
In my practice, a diagnosis signals the beginning, not the end, of clinical inquiry.
If you are suffering from debilitating pain, a chronic condition, or symptoms that do not fit into a diagnosis, you have likely been told that there is "nothing you can do" and you will only be able to manage symptoms through medication - but will never truly heal.
For the vast majority of my patients - a full resolution of symptoms is common.
Once underlying factors of your illness are identified and properly treated, health can restore itself in your body. Instead of using a diagnosis to only prescribe a symptom-suppressing medication - in my practice, a diagnosis signals the beginning, not the end, of clinical inquiry.
What makes us different
Diagnosis is a starting point
The current healthcare treatment model is designed to manage your symptoms at best and, at worst, keep you dependent on the healthcare system for life.
Often, pharmaceutical treatment alone is not an adequate response to severe symptoms or chronic conditions - a full investigation into the progression of illness must be undergone to find the factors that contributed to these symptoms in the first place.
Symptoms that are labeled as chronic - like headaches, anxiety, depression, migraines, allergies, digestive problems, autoimmunity, fatigue, and pain - have factors that contribute to their development.
These factors can range from underlying viral infections to bacterial overgrowth, an allergic reaction, an environmental toxin, a combination of genetic variants, or another condition entirely.
Once treated and removed, symptoms disappear, and conditions often go into remission.
What is functional medicine?
Grounded in history and fine-tuned by science - functional medicine harnesses the power of healing plants and naturally derived supplements that have been integral to health for millennia.
Advanced testing for superior diagnostics
Pharmaceutical-grade plant extracts
Tailored treatment plans
A worldwide practice with 100% online services
Physician-led qigong healing for symptom alleviation
What we’re known for
Treating for a higher quality of life - going beyond a diagnosis to treat your symptoms, not cover them
What is functional medicine?
Grounded in history and fine-tuned by science - functional medicine harnesses the power of healing plants and naturally derived supplements that have been integral to health for millennia.
Advanced testing for superior diagnostics
Pharmaceutical-grade plant extracts
Tailored treatment plans
A worldwide practice with 100% online services
Physician-led qigong healing for symptom alleviation
How is functional medicine different?
Functional medicine identifies the underlying causes of your illness or symptoms and uses effective, scientifically-supported natural treatments to restore you to health.
Dr. Lum has developed a unique system of functional medicine that utilizes your health history, symptoms, conditions, any previous testing you already have, genetic testing, the latest diagnostics, medical history, and family history to form an accurate picture of your current health status.
From there, he narrows down your primary health impediments and constructs a personalized plan of treatment.
Step by step, he restores any impaired systems within your body. With each appointment, your treatment will be reassessed to make sure you are on track.
Getting Started
Your 'new patient' Functional medicine appointment
During your hour-long Functional Medicine consultation, Dr. Lum will go into detail about your symptoms, medical history, family history, diet, lifestyle, and any other factors that may have led up to your condition.
Dr. Lum will also review any recent blood testing, questions you may have, current medications, supplements, or anything else you would like to bring or talk about.
At the end of your appointment, a personalized treatment plan will be given to you which will be updated at each appointment. Dr. Lum may then order additional tests to further identify imbalances and dig deeper into your health condition.
What symptoms and conditions can functional medicine help?
Depression
Covid and long covid
Lyme and coinfections
Thyroid conditions
Heart disease
Eczema and psoriasis
Rashes and hives
Unexplained symptoms
Vertigo and tinnitus
Arthritis and joint pain
Postnatal autoimmunity
Post-infection fatigue
Ocular and complex migraines
Post-covid anxiety
Anxiety
Allergies
Autoimmune disease
Brain fog
Headaches
Crohn's and ulcerative colitis
Histamine intolerance
Gastrointestinal problems
Food allergies and sensitivities
Environmental allergies
Fatigue
Nausea
Insomnia & strong hypnic jerks
Factors evaluated during your appointment
Intestinal Lining Function
Hormone Imbalances
Neurotransmitter Health and Function
Toxin Accumulation
Infections - Fungal, Viral, Bacterial
Inflammation Assessment
Immune System Assessment
Nutrient Requirements
What next?
During your treatment, Dr. Lum will be available if you need to email him any additional questions you may have.
Unlike many clinics, you do not have to sign a contract for a certain number of appointments per month nor do you have to sign up for a 'plan.' You pay for each appointment as you have them.
While testing can be very helpful in certain circumstances, it is not required. We are now 100% online and we are helping patients all over the world.
You can talk to Dr. Lum directly by scheduling a
Free 15 Minute Consultation with the link below
or you can call or text the office directly at 816-728-5291.