Hiya,

I have recently found a functional medicine practitioner who is also on paleo network list. He's a chiropractor, not a typical GP MD. But he can run the full gambit of tests.
So my questions for this thread are:

Can anyone recommend the names of any diagnostic tests?
Has anyone had any poor experiences, or life changing discoveries from seeing a functional medicine practitioner?
Can anyone suggest any particular tests that may suit my daughter (7) and I?
My daughter is 7 and had a previous diagnosis of Global developmental delay, which was over turned when I removed gluten and dairy from her diet 2 years ago. We have been eating almost purely paleo for 3 months. In the last 3 months she has stopped wetting the bed and has been demonstrating higher order thinking- so I know I'm doing generally the right thing, I just want to make sure there isn't something else I could be doing- because at times she still appears to be much much below average in social development. Sometimes I swear she's on the autism spectrum- low social skills but likes being social. Girls on the spectrum are very different to boys on the spectrum, and much less likely to be diagnosed. She craves underripe bananas and if I'm not around she will down 4 of them. She is not carrying any weight, but has difficulty maintaining energy. When her energy drops, her emotion regulation is that of a 2 year old. I think i want to check there is no candida overgrowth, or any other parasites. I would like to check her gut permeability as she really was profoundly affected by having gluten and dairy for the first half of her young life.

Me, I'm 39. 72 kilos, so about 5 kilos to lose, and strong. Been low carb on, and spectacularly off, for over ten years. Turning paleo seems to have switched my binging. I have recently lost 17 kilos (40 pounds?) since February. I feel great, but I will have some checks done as well- esp my endocrine system, gut flora health and candida.

So does anyone know what sort of tests I should be requesting? any input would be valued

I have a 13 year old grandson that is on the autistic spectrum. Before he was dx he was very strictly GF but was eating GF grains and rice. He gets severe reactions from gluten cross contamination. He started having some issues after a couple of years & had a problem with potatoes.

He did his own research into the night shade vegetables & gave up potatoes!! At the same time he found the info on Paleo. He knows that I eat a more Paleo diet. He switched himself to Paleo and is not going to go back. He has the very rare GF grain treat now.

He is very happy now & off any meds & has tons of energy. He is also diary free. We use coconut milk to cook with.

He takes 2,000IU of vitamin D everyday. As an adult I take 6,000IU of vitamin D.

I would suggest that you test your child for vitamin D & if she is not at the top of the chart for D, supplement, I would supplement anyway....

Then the next thing that some of us have issues with is B12. I would get her tested for the B vitamins along with all the other vitamins. & make sure that she is not anemic.

Look for other food allergies. Does she go to sleep sometimes after eating? that can be a sign of a food allergy. My grandson seems to have inherited my food intolerances. Does anyone else in your family have food allergies? You might look at what they are allergic to...

I would also limit the bananas... & are you giving her sweet potato french fries and plenty of the good fats? I cook my sweet potato fries in bacon grease.

Kale is an excellent food & i highly recommend it. You can even dry it in the oven & make kale chips. I only use kale in my salads. I just quit buying lettuce!