I can’t praise my newest doctor enough. I had asked my Neurologist several months ago for a referral to a Nutritionist, since none of my doctors seemed willing or able to give direction to my own research on supplements and cofactors. Most Nutritionists offices I’ve found on the internet appear to be glorified weight-loss clinics, but this one is different. I’m sure that’s why I had to wait so long for the appointment.

I finally had the appointment this week, and the dialogue with the doctor lasted TWO HOURS!! It was the most thorough question and answer period with a doctor I have ever had in my life. He asked many questions about lifestyle, medical history of mine and my family, my sleeping habits, spiritual values, as well as the obvious questions about my current eating habits.

He asked lots of questions about how my Mitochondrial Myopathy presents, how it is inherited, and all the issues I’ve had over the years that were misdiagnosed, but were obviously early manifestations of this disease.

He spent time explaining his approach to achieving maximum nutrition. Unlike my desperate visit to the herbalist, there was absolutely nothing mumbo jumbo in his philosophy, but he still obviously embraces much of the holistic approach to medicine.

For the first time since my diagnosis, I have now had a comprehensive blood panel testing for current levels of every imaginable vitamin and mineral, as well as more standard blood panel tests. He’s also re-tested my heavy metal levels, as we live very near an EPA toxic site that is still being monitored. The phlebotomist took 14 tubes of blood!!

I see him again in two weeks, and we’re looking forward to it. I am to keep a food log for the 7 days prior to the appointment.

In the meantime, he wants me to up my protein intake – and he made specific suggestions about what to eat more of, based on foods I had already indicated that I liked and ate. And he wants me to do chair yoga and meditation daily, practices I have previously only dabbled with.

But the most wonderful and hopeful part of this office visit was his request that I provide him with information, so he could do research on his own about Mitochondrial Myopathy!! I do carry with me in my “medical bag” a card from Mito Action that outlines information for clinicians, and of course that has their url on it. He was very pleased to get that as a start, and I’ll be taking a list with us, and lots of printouts, when we see him again.

For the first time in a long time – we feel HOPE!