Chris Kresser's Podcast / Website Helped me so much

[PhoenixBurger]

I don't know what I have, and neither do my doctors. But I am very much in the same boat as all of you. I just have to share this resource that I have lived and breathed by for the last 2 years. Because taking his advice has totally transformed my symptoms and my world. Mind you, I am the biggest skeptic, and think every clinician / doctor is an undereducated embarrassment. So for what its worth - for me to be blown away by someone's knowledge, intuition, and understanding of the human body is very very rare.

I was almost unable to walk at one point, doubled over in fatigue daily. Even going to the store was a mess - and I am a 39 year old with a very fit, healthy body. Something broke in me. And my life became a total mess. I had bouts of severe joint pains, fibromyalgia pains in all the "hot spots", symptoms of multiple sclerosis all over my body - most of it very transient - disappearing a few weeks later only to be replaced by another set of symptoms exactly like some new disease. My calves were locked up, I had neuropathy in my left foot. My hands were ice cold for no reason. I had stabbing pains, and muscle twitching all over my body.

I started listening to this guys podcast - dont even remember how I found it. I think I was looking for health podcasts on my iPhone Podcast App. I don't even know how to describe how this guy has helped me. I forced myself to go back about 100 podcasts and listen to each one in succession. Its a lot of listening. Hours and hours and hours. But i was totally blown away by his knowledge of studies and research. He puts every doctor I've ever met, to shame. (Thats not very difficult).

Over the next 6-12 months I started taking notes on his suggestions for dietary changes, lifestyle changes, and supplements. Anything that seemed to apply to me. I even forced myself to listen to the podcasts that seemed to have nothing to do with my situation, and found nuggets in them that have been invaluable. And over that period of time I started healing for the first time. Its all based on solid published studies. He is mostly a Paleo guy - but that is only a minor part of his recommendations. He's more of an integrative medicine specialist who believes in a head to toe - whole lifestyle modification to treating disease. He also doesn't support standard Paleo. He supports a customized paleo based on your particular needs.

I know this sounds like an infommercial but I have a long posting history here so I'm legit. My situation has completely transformed because of his input. So I had to share.

You may not be a podcast listener. I never was. Who has the time? But I found the time. Anytime I'd get in my car to go to the grocery store I'd plug in my iPhone and press play. When making breakfast every morning I'd do the same. Pretty much any downtime where I can't "do something else" I was listening to the podcasts. I hope you will consider listening to them. He's got a website too with interesting articles. It's all free. So please - absorb this guys knowledge. Its totally helped me.

Fav podcast app is PodCruncher but iPhone comes with a free one. Search for: "Revolution Health Radio". You can also listen to them all online here: http://podbay.fm/show/372257397

-PB-

 

[LivingwithFibro]

Love Chris Kresser's approach and work! What I'd give to work with him one day.

 

[PhoenixBurger]

I still listen to his podcasts religiously. They are so full of helpful tips. There are some reviews that surprised me saying he didn't have the best bedside manner in person, but everyone's got an opinion I guess. I rarely agree with most people on things Better yet, he's starting a training clinic to photocopy himself into new clinicians, so hopefully there will be a whole batch of new people who can help, and who consult with him for in-person patients. Keep an eye on his website - they announce accepting new patients periodically.

By the way - his treatment for Fibro is elimination of Gluten and wheat products entirely, as well as physical therapy. Have you tried both for any duration without cheating?

 

[LivingwithFibro]

I still listen to his podcasts religiously. They are so full of helpful tips. There are some reviews that surprised me saying he didn't have the best bedside manner in person, but everyone's got an opinion I guess. I rarely agree with most people on things Better yet, he's starting a training clinic to photocopy himself into new clinicians, so hopefully there will be a whole batch of new people who can help, and who consult with him for in-person patients. Keep an eye on his website - they announce accepting new patients periodically.

By the way - his treatment for Fibro is elimination of Gluten and wheat products entirely, as well as physical therapy. Have you tried both for any duration without cheating?

He's such a knowledgeable person, his experience, his research and integrative-medicine-ancestral approach as a naturopath is admirable. I heard about his clinician training programme! Wish he as doing these workshops all over the world.

I heard the same on the internet, people saying he barely listened to them in the consultations whilst others' experiences differed. I don't really know.

I don't live in the U.S and I cannot afford his rates so I won't be working with him anytime soon. Thanks for the info though!

Yeah, I have tried both without cheating. They do make a difference but not too much. The root cause of my diseases/ailments isn't fibromyalgia though. I have been sick since birth.

 

[Timaca]

@PhoenixBurger ~ What would you say are the top 10 things you changed that helped you?

Best,

 

[PhoenixBurger]

1) Exercise. Mild. Whole body. Both weights (every muscle group) and Cardio (treadmill breathing very deep).

2) Rest. Ample rest between. Always in bed by 10pm. Always 8 hours of sleep or more. Even if it meant taking NyQuil at 5am when I would wake up. The exercise helped fix sleep problems though.

3) Dietary changes. Elimination of all wheats (breads) gluten (pastas) sugars (except a little fruit) and stimulants (caffeine). I was pretty severe at one point and this change caused the greatest improvement back then.

4) Supplements. Only a few. The ones I thought would help the most. Healthy fats (coconut & fish & flax). CoQ10 Ubiquinol, RLA, and ALA.

5) Dead Sea Salt Baths. No idea why but so therapeutic. I got them from Adovia online. Expensive. But 2x a week I absolutely lived by them.

No cheating. No cheating on the diet. No over-exercising. Ample rest. Always in bed on time. Mental distractions. Perfect lifestyle in every way that I knew how. I even juiced organic vegetables 3x a week for awhile there. Not smoothies. Cold pressed vegetable-only juices.

I don't think I have CFS. I don't know what I have. It keeps evolving. That tells me its probably autoimmune. I only hope its not cancer. But even if you don't know what to believe, I would hook in to his Podcast using your iPhone (or other) podcast app - search for Revolution Health - and listen to each and every one. You will find nuggets in each episode and I found myself taking notes constantly. I truly do believe his methodology can help.

 

[LivingwithFibro]

1) Exercise. Mild. Whole body. Both weights (every muscle group) and Cardio (treadmill breathing very deep).

2) Rest. Ample rest between. Always in bed by 10pm. Always 8 hours of sleep or more. Even if it meant taking NyQuil at 5am when I would wake up. The exercise helped fix sleep problems though.

3) Dietary changes. Elimination of all wheats (breads) gluten (pastas) sugars (except a little fruit) and stimulants (caffeine). I was pretty severe at one point and this change caused the greatest improvement back then.

4) Supplements. Only a few. The ones I thought would help the most. Healthy fats (coconut & fish & flax). CoQ10 Ubiquinol, RLA, and ALA.

5) Dead Sea Salt Baths. No idea why but so therapeutic. I got them from Adovia online. Expensive. But 2x a week I absolutely lived by them.

No cheating. No cheating on the diet. No over-exercising. Ample rest. Always in bed on time. Mental distractions. Perfect lifestyle in every way that I knew how. I even juiced organic vegetables 3x a week for awhile there. Not smoothies. Cold pressed vegetable-only juices.

I don't think I have CFS. I don't know what I have. It keeps evolving. That tells me its probably autoimmune. I only hope its not cancer. But even if you don't know what to believe, I would hook in to his Podcast using your iPhone (or other) podcast app - search for Revolution Health - and listen to each and every one. You will find nuggets in each episode and I found myself taking notes constantly. I truly do believe his methodology can help.

Woah, that's awesome!

We should post and discuss the podcasts we found to be the most helpful

 

[caledonia]

I like Chris Kresser's info too. I believe he would fall under "functional medicine". You can go to the Functional Medicine Institute website to find a functional medicine doc in your area.

I was surprised how many there were in my area, and was lucky enough able to find one who can act as my GP and also takes Medicare (and also has a good bedside manner).

 

[MCRobbie]

IMO, even though Chris is not an ME/CFS specialist he is one of the brightest minds in medicine and is trailblazing a new path for Functional Medicine. He is absolutely brilliant, deceptively so, a tremendous talent. If I had the money Id become a patient just to see what he would come up with.

Heres a videocast of Chris where he answers a viewers question about how to determine the cause of a non specific symptom such as "fatigue', at 16:50 he talks about his seven mechanisms he looks at which could lead to fatigue in this case. Its a good introduction to his philosophy.

 

[LivingwithFibro]

http://chriskresser.com/chronic-fatigue-treating-the-cause-not-the-symptoms

He employs an approach that targets everything.

EDIT: didn't see your post, I was posting the exact same thing. That's my favourite podcast

 

[MCRobbie]

Oh that's funny LWF, yes its a good one.

 

[PhoenixBurger]

IMO, even though Chris is not an ME/CFS specialist he is one of the brightest minds in medicine and is trailblazing a new path for Functional Medicine. He is absolutely brilliant,

I couldn't agree more. I have literally listened to every one of his podcast episodes (took me a few months), and I am the most critical person alive when it comes to clinicians, doctors, and their lack of knowledge / understanding. This guy knows more than all the doctors I've seen, combined, and he doesn't even have an MD. But that is the future of medicine.

The decentralization of information means that the golden keys to health knowledge are no longer just being hoarded by the "good old boys" club of doctors. I still do value the clinical and real-world experience doctors bring to the table. That can't be duplicated by reading. But unfortunately they are so grossly lacking in education, knowledge, and the latest studies - as well as any sort of preventive medicine techniques or nutrition ... that I find them to be nearly obsolete in most circumstances. A complete waste of my time in fact

Listening to Chris's podcast gives me hope that my situation can be managed. That there are steps I can take to improve my health. That this whole thing isn't out of my control. And that my doctors (plural) viewpoint that "medical problems just happen to you. theres nothing you can really do" ... is completely false.

 

[drob31]

MD's seem to get an "education," and then proceed to take patients at such a furious pace they don't have time to research or learn anything, let along give their patitents enough time.