Naturopathic Approach to Diagnosis

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In conventional medicine, fibromyalgia is typically diagnosed based on:

• A history of widespread pain lasting more than 3 months

• The presence of other common symptoms, such as fatigue, non-restorative sleep, and cognitive dysfunction ("fibro fog")

• Ruling out other conditions that could explain the symptoms

There's no single lab test to confirm fibromyalgia, which often makes diagnosis a process of exclusion.

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At METALAB, naturopathic doctors go beyond symptom checklists. While we recognize conventional diagnostic criteria, we also focus on identifying underlying contributors to your symptoms—factors that may not show up in a standard workup, but still affect your quality of life.

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Here’s what the naturopathic diagnostic process may include:

🧪 Functional Lab Testing

Naturopathic doctors may order specialized lab tests to investigate physiological imbalances often associated with fibromyalgia:

✅ Comprehensive Thyroid Panel

Many individuals with fibromyalgia-like symptoms have undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction. We test TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies to assess full thyroid function.

✅ Adrenal Stress & Cortisol Testing

Using salivary or dried urine tests, we assess cortisol rhythm throughout the day to evaluate your body’s stress response and resilience—critical in chronic fatigue and pain syndromes.

✅ Nutrient Testing

Deficiencies in magnesium, vitamin D, B12, and CoQ10 are common in people with fibromyalgia and can contribute to fatigue, pain, and mood changes.

✅ Inflammatory & Oxidative Stress Markers

Markers like CRP, homocysteine, and oxidative stress panels help us understand whether low-grade inflammation or cellular stress is playing a role.

✅ Gut Health Testing

Digestive dysfunction can drive systemic inflammation. We may use stool testing or SIBO breath tests to explore gut microbiome balance, leaky gut, or hidden infections.

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🧠 Symptom Pattern Analysis & Timeline Mapping

We map out your symptom history across time to look for patterns, potential triggers, or links to past illness, trauma, infections (e.g., Epstein-Barr virus), or hormonal changes.

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🧬 Genetic & Mitochondrial Markers (Optional)

In some cases, we explore how your genetics may affect your energy production, detoxification pathways, or neurotransmitter balance—all potentially relevant in chronic pain and fatigue syndromes.

A Diagnosis That Leads to a Plan

Rather than labeling you with a diagnosis and stopping there, we use this in-depth process to create a personalized treatment roadmap. Our goal is to understand why you’re experiencing fibromyalgia symptoms and how we can help your body rebalance and heal.