This is another reason why it is helpful to have an ID doc involved in antibiotic treatment for MAC. Mine knew to check the levels. For whatever reason, mine remained in the normal range even with 18 months - many of them on a daily regimen.

My concern is that "functional medicine" practitioners are loosely defined and regulated. For example, a chiropractor, who has limited training in chemistry, human physiology and other areas, can take a 6-10 month course in functional medicine (sometimes on-line) with limited hands-on practice, and rebrand their practice as "functional medicine." So one must definitely choose very carefully and know the credentials of a functional medicine practitioner. My clinical network has their own specialized functional and integrative medicine department, well-vetted and held to their standards. My daughter sees one of them to help with mystifying symptoms.

I fear we are expecting our medical professionals to be "all knowing" and it simply cannot happen. I asked about my pulmonologist's total "patient load" - it is over 1000! She cannot possibly know every little thing that could be affecting each of us. It would be like asking a French professor to know every single word in the language, how to spell it and how to use it.

So, like it "takes a village" to raise a child, it takes a team to help us manage our health.
How did you find your functional medicine doctor?
Sue