Identifying and targeting the underlying drivers of disease is crucial to achieving real, lasting results. We know that some common drivers have been identified in the research and we can assess which of these may be most relevant to the individual through conducting a thorough assessment and further testing.
See below for some of the most common drivers.

While there are common threads each person with a fibromyalgia diagnosis may experience their condition differently and have a different capacity and response to treatment approaches.

I would love to have a magic pill but unfortunately none has been found yet. Fibromyalgia is a complex condition involving multiple body systems and causes. Sometimes the journey can be slow and hard, but I am here to support you all the way!

General pathology testing includes a full blood examination, general biochemistry, liver function tests and may also include immune and inflammation markers. These tests can usually be obtained through your GP or can be ordered privately through myself. Having these basic tests are important to get some baseline markers, assess liver and kidney function, give clues to deficiencies and rule out any obvious pathology that may have been missed.

Some nutrient levels are commonly measured along with general pathology. These include things like iron studies, B12, folate and vitamin D. Occasionally other nutrient measures can be useful such as iodine, B6, selenium, zinc and copper. These are more commonly ordered privately.

Due to the strong link between gut health and microbiome abnormalities and fibromyalgia, I find various gut tests can be very helpful in assessing how big a part the gut is playing in driving pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms. The complete microbiome map is a stool test that assesses various aspects of the microbiome including types and amounts of normal intestinal flora, opportunistic flora, pathogenic microbes, yeasts, and parasites. Other information this test provides can gives us insight into digestive inflammation, enzymes and digestive capacity and the likelihood of intestinal hyperpermeability (leaky gut) caused by damage to the gut lining.

Hormones can play a role in pain and fatigue. Sometimes we might recommend a hormone panel to look at reproductive and/or adrenal hormone levels and how they are peeking and troughing throughout the day or month. These types of panels may be particularly useful for people with a history of burn out, women in perimenopause or people who notice changes in symptoms in conjunction with their menstrual cycle.