Welcome to the Blog of
Dr. Matthew Lewis
Here, you’ll find news from our office, insights and observations from trusted sources in health, information about innovations in the effort to take back your own good health, testimonials from our clients, resources and recommendations of note, and more. Read a post or two and comment on anything that strikes a chord.
Recovering from Lichen Sclerosus: A Patient Case Study — Part One
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Editor’s Note: Today, we’re taking another detour from our usual blog posts that present information from our own medical team and staff. As we did a few weeks ago, we’re presenting a case study that we recently received from a patient who wants to share her personal journey with our healthcare practice, this time for a case of Lichen Sclerosus.
Below, in her own words, is 42-year-old Janet’s experience with Lichen Sclerosus. If you’re not familiar with Lichen Sclerosus, it is a chronic inflammatory skin condition primarily affecting the genital and perianal areas, although it can occur on other parts of the body. Common symptoms include:
- Smooth white patches of skin
- Itching, discomfort, and pain
- Easy bruising or tearing
- Painful sex and painful or difficult urination (if it affects the genital area)
The condition is more common in women, particularly those who are postmenopausal, but it can also affect men and children.
Next week, we’ll be back to our normal format with a blog post featuring our plan of care and some additional thoughts about treating patients living with Lichen Sclerosus.
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My Journey With Lichen Sclerosus
The most important thing I learned from my journey with Lichen Sclerosus is that the first thing I should have done is visited with someone like Dr. Matthew Lewis at PROKOVE Health.
Prior to seeing Dr. Lewis, I had been dealing with the symptoms of Lichen Sclerosus for more than 10 years. At first, I suffered from itch and irritation, but I didn’t have the classic “white patches.” I consulted multiple doctors, primary care and Ob/Gyn, who diagnosed me as having yeast infections and prescribed repeated courses of fluconazole (an anti-fungal medication). Given the inconvenience of repeat visits to doctors who provide little to no relief, I started using over-the-counter creams, suppositories, and probiotics, none of which was very effective.
Four years ago, the disease progressed to the point where I could no longer tolerate it. My skin began to tear when I had intercourse, and I was dealing with persistent irritation and discomfort. I consulted three more Ob/Gyns and received ineffective treatment recommendations — from changing soap and laundry detergent to using prescription estrogen cream to having surgery. I went to a functional medicine doctor and saw minor improvement after addressing nutritional deficiencies and making dietary changes. However, the discomfort was still consuming my life and causing tension in my marriage.
About three years ago, after conducting my own internet research and bringing it to the attention of my doctors, I finally received a diagnosis of Lichen Sclerosus and was prescribed the standard of care — topical steroids. When my condition continued to worsen, my physician performed a
Personalized Long-COVID Treatment: A Case Study – Part Two
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Last week on our blog, one of our patients shared his experience with Long COVID and how we have been helping him on his journey to recovery (see “Recovering from Long COVID: A Case Study.”) His symptoms started after three bouts of Covid-19 in as many years, and even though he was a strong and healthy 63-year-old, the disease had taken a toll on his resiliency — his body’s ability to bounce back after a serious illness.
When we first met him, Doug was physically weak and exhausted and cognitively impaired (both thinking and memory). He had already consulted two other doctors who told him that conventional medicine had no effective treatment protocol for Long COVID and that his symptoms were likely to last for six to 24 months. They recommended that he enroll in a Long-COVID program available through the University of Florida.
We offered a better solution — a personalized plan of care to restore his health, fitness, and resiliency.
In this post, I share additional details about the personalized treatment protocol we prescribed for Doug at PROVOKE Health. But first, we offer a few words of caution.
Not a One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Here at PROVOKE Health, we practice functional medicine and integrative healthcare — a systems-based, whole-body approach that focuses on restoring health instead of merely eliminating illness or suppressing symptoms. That’s why functional medicine is effective in treating health conditions that conventional medicine cannot resolve.
Unfortunately, it is also why what works for one patient may not work for another. Every patient is unique and has special medical needs based on their age, genetics, medical history, family health history, lifestyle, health and fitness objectives, as well as other variants. We do not have a “long-COVID treatment protocol” that we prescribe to all our patients who report symptoms of long COVID. What we offer is a personalized plan of care, which evolves over time as the patient’s health improves.
In this post, I share the personalized plan of care we prescribed for Doug. We caution against using this as a standardized long-COVID treatment protocol or as a way to self-medicate. Prior to treating any patient, we conduct a thorough evaluation, which may include ordering lab tests to determine specifically what the patient needs. Taking too much or too little of a medication or supplement, poor quality products, or the wrong combination of medications and supplements, can do more harm than good. We recommend that you work closely with a certified functional and integrative medical practice in order to obtain personalized, medically supervised treatment.
Doug’s Long-COVID Plan of Care
For Doug, we developed the following
Recovering from Long COVID: A Case Study – Part One
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Editor’s Note: Today, we’re taking a slight detour from our usual blog posts that present information and analysis from our own medical team and staff. Instead, we’re presenting case study that we recently received from a patient who wants to share his personal journey with our functional medicine and integrative healthcare practice.
Below, in his own words, is Doug’s experience with Long COVID and PROVOKE Health’s founder Dr. Matt Lewis and our team of healthcare providers, including our Medical Director — Dr. Karalynne Blochberger, MD. Next week, we’ll be back to our normal format with a blog featuring Dr. Lewis’ care of plan for Doug and some additional thoughts about treating patients living with Long COVID.
Here then, is Doug’s story in his own words:
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I’m a 63-year-old man, 5 feet 11 inches tall, about 190 pounds, a father, physicist, businessman, preacher, and author. I exercise regularly and am generally in good health with no prior major medical issues except for a previous bout with black mold toxicity from 2010 to 2012.
I contracted Covid-19 three times — each about one year apart — in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The first two cases were mild, and I recovered in about a week. The third time, however, the symptoms were more severe. I discovered that I had Covid-19 for the third time on Dec. 20th, 2023. By Jan. 1st, 2024, I thought I was fully recovered. However, two days later I began to experience symptoms that would later be attributed to Long COVID.
My Long COVID Symptoms
Long COVID is a collection of symptoms that last three months or longer after the first symptoms. I experienced the following three severe and debilitating Long COVID symptoms:
Florida is No. 1 in The Nation for Mold — Here’s How to Protect Your Family
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Florida leads the nation in a number of things, including being the most favored destination for people who are retiring. It’s also the most popular state for new business formations —outside of Delaware, which is a business formation mill. And the Sunshine State is also No. 1 for something called Education Freedom, which enables students and parents a choice of educational options that best meet their needs.
We could go on and on with these “best in the nation” accolades, but this post deals with what we consider one of Florida’s least laudable attributes: mold. Hands down, Florida is No. 1 in nation in mold.
According to a March 2024 study, Florida scored 38.76 out of a possible 40 on the FDP Mold Index. Mississippi ran a close second at 38.66 and Louisiana came in third with 38.52. FDP’s mold index is based on four key metrics that can be attributed to higher chances of mold growing inside and outside the home:
- Average rainfall
- Average temperature
- Average humidity
- Average age of homes
Each metric accounts for 10 of the total 40 points.
These scores are no surprise to our medical team here at PROVOKE Health. Many of our patients live in Tampa and other areas in South Central Florida, and their initial visit to our clinic or via a virtual appointment is often because they’re seeking relief from symptoms commonly related to mold exposure. These patients typically have already consulted with conventional medical practices without receiving much, if any, relief. Some of these medical practices don’t even offer a clear diagnosis.
At PROVOKE Health, we provide relief through a highly personalized protocol that addresses everything from in-home testing and mold remediation to blood draws, detoxing, and treating any mold/fungal infection. We calm the inflammatory response and restore health and function to the body’s nervous system, which is often impacted by mold exposure. And while we don’t test homes or perform mold remediation ourselves, we have a list of trusted companies that do as part of our treatment protocol.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Toxic Mold Exposure
Mold exposure can cause infections, especially sinus infections, as well as overwhelm the body’s natural detox mechanisms. Infections and toxins can cause chronic inflammation, which produce symptoms that are vague and difficult to trace back to a clear underlying cause unless you’re a trained medical professional who knows what to look for. Symptoms of mold exposure include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Power of Peptides in Reducing Brain Inflammation
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Marilyn, an otherwise healthy 45-year-old woman, first visited our functional medicine and integrative healthcare clinic complaining of unrelenting fatigue, brain fog, loss of concentration, difficulty recalling words, and restless sleep.
She had seen other doctors, and they were unable to offer a diagnosis or any effective treatments. Her brain MRI scans came back as normal, and the neurologists with whom she consulted found no notable dementia or neurological disease that could explain her symptoms.
Her nervous system and brain were seemingly intact. All good from the perspective of conventional medicine, but Marilyn knew better; clearly, her brain was not functioning optimally. Marilyn’s symptoms were classic signs of brain inflammation. We had seen these same symptoms in hundreds of patients in the past. We knew the causes, and we had effective treatments to help her.
In this post, we look at common causes of brain inflammation and the PROVOKE Health approach to treatment, which may include the use of medically prescribed therapeutic peptides such as:
- Semax
- Selank
- Thymosin Beta 4
Exploring the Causes of Brain Inflammation
In Marilyn’s case many of the common symptoms of brain inflammation were there: exhaustion, clouded thinking and brain fog, poor sleep, anxiety, and a steep decline in quality of life. But before I (Dr. Lewis) go deeper into the specifics of Marilyn’s case, let’s take a look at the bigger picture.
Other Health Conditions Linked to Brain Inflammation
Numerous health conditions can negatively impact brain health and function, including the following:
Weight Loss Benefits — and Side Effects — of Semaglutide and Ozempic
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In recent years, medical researchers and pharmaceutical companies have made remarkable progress in the area of diabetes management. Specifically, semaglutide (sold under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, and others) has proven to be effective in helping people with Type 2 diabetes regulate their blood glucose (sugar) levels.
As an added bonus, semaglutide has also proven to be effective in promoting weight loss for many people. Likely you’ve heard or read all about that by now. And you certainly wouldn’t be the first to wonder if semaglutide could work that magic on you.
Here at PROVOKE Health, we too have observed some amazing results in our functional medicine and integrative health clinic, with people who have struggled for years to lose weight suddenly shedding pounds, feeling great, and looking better than they had in years.
However, recent reports of adverse side effects have begun to emerge — side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, fatigue, malnutrition, and “Ozempic face” (the rapid loss of facial fat, which can make the face look gaunt or droopy).
In this blog post, we review some of the arguments for and against semaglutide. But first, let’s take a look at what this medication is, how it works (its mechanism of action), and some of its common adverse side effects.
What Is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is the generic name for a group of antidiabetic medications classified as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists. Some GLP-1R agonists, including Ozempic, can also be very effective in promoting weight loss and treating obesity. (For more about this, read our previous blog post, “Ozempic for Weight Loss: Too Good to Be True or an Effective Treatment,” here on the PROVOKE Health blog.)
Most of the medications in this class are injectable, meaning you inject a liquid form of the medication using a needle and syringe. Injections are delivered to the fatty tissues beneath the skin in certain areas of the body, including the belly, outer thighs, and upper buttocks.
Semaglutide has earned a great deal of positive press for its promising benefits, especially in respect to weight loss. However, like any medication, this class of medications carries potentially negative side effects. Prior to taking semaglutide or any of its brand-name equivalents, it is important to weigh the potential benefits against the possible adverse side effects before adding these medications to your diabetes management or weight loss plan.
How Semaglutide Works
Two thirds of people in the United States suffer, to some degree, from insulin resistance. That means their cells don’t respond properly to insulin — a hormone the body produces to stimulate the metabolism of sugar. Over time, the insulin receptors on cells become less and less responsive to insulin, especially when subjected
We’re Now Offering IV Nutrient Therapy in Tampa, Florida
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PROVOKE Health (formally Functional Healthcare Group, and still Dr. Matt Lewis’ healthcare practice) is now offering medically supervised IV nutrient therapy for its patients and select walk-ins in Tampa / South Central Florida. But what does that mean exactly? Let’s unpack that statement to find out.
Functional medicine is a patient-centered healthcare model that seeks to identify and treat the root cause(s) of chronic illness all the way down to the cellular level. Medically supervised IV nutrient therapy delivers vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients directly through the bloodstream to cells throughout the body to optimize their health and function.
Delivering nutrients via IV drip allows them to travel directly to the cells so that nothing is lost in the digestive process. As a result, your body gets more nutrients faster.
By improving and then leveraging your body’s natural ability to fend off illness and repair health, we’re able to successfully treat a variety of health conditions that other doctors’ offices choose to ignore, don’t test for, or don’t know how to treat. IV nutrient therapy, when incorporated into a handcrafted plan of care, plays a key role in restoring health by providing the body the essential micronutrients it requires for optimal function.
When you’re grappling with acute or chronic illness, the efficiency of a nutrient-packed IV may turbocharge the healing process. By directly targeting the affected cells with a concentrated blend that addresses your specific needs, we jumpstart the healing process, enabling your body to respond promptly to treatment. Each IV is carefully formulated to address your health history, symptoms, and desired health and fitness objectives.
Our IV Nutrient Therapies
Currently, we are offering the following IV nutrient therapies:
Feeling Your Best During Perimenopause and Beyond
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Despite popular narratives, perimenopause isn’t just about hot flashes, night sweats, sex hormones, ovulation, and the natural transition to menopause. It extends beyond hormones to impact muscle mass, bone density, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, mood, skin health, sex, and more.
Perimenopause of course is a natural phase before menopause when a woman’s body starts shifting, causing irregular periods, mood swings, and other changes due to fluctuating hormone levels, marking the transition to the end of reproductive years. It’s like a rollercoaster ride for the body, with ups and downs, as it prepares for the next stage of life.
In this post, I call attention to how low estrogen caused by perimenopause can negatively impact your health, and what you can do to slow and even reverse the progression of health conditions related to declining estrogen.
Addressing Muscle Loss
Muscle loss for women typically begins in one’s 30s or 40s and becomes more pronounced with aging. It’s a gradual process, and its progression can vary among individuals in response to numerous factors, including the person’s health history, genetics, exercise regimen, diet, and stress. A decline in estrogen levels during menopause (usually occurring in the late 40s or 50s) can contribute to the acceleration of muscle loss in women.
One important aspect of healthy aging is to avoid the loss of muscle mass or, even better, build muscle mass as you age. This is entirely possible to accomplish with the right combination of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), exercise, proper diet, and medication to stimulate growth hormone.
It’s no secret that as we age, we tend to lose muscle mass, but muscle is more than what meets the eye. It has a range of impacts on the body, including functional strength and independence, metabolic and hormonal health, bone health and prevention of chronic disease. Here are a few ways that muscle health impacts overall health:
Diagnosing and Treating Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)
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Some medical conditions are relatively easy to diagnose with a standard blood test, urine test, or medical imaging. Among them are diabetes, anemia, impaired kidney or liver function, certain thyroid disorders, and certain infections and cancers.
However, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) isn’t one of those conditions. In order to diagnose MCS, doctors must first be aware of the condition, and then generally must rely on a clinical diagnosis — a trained doctor’s best guess based on the signs and symptoms of the illness and the patient’s medical history, rather than on lab tests or medical imaging.
That’s a problem, because most conventional doctors have trouble accepting that multiple chemical sensitivity is a bona fide illness, and without hard evidence, such as that provided by lab tests or medical imaging, patients can’t prove that they have a medical condition. I often see patients who have been suffering with MCS for years on end. They’ve been to a half dozen doctors or more who’ve been unable to offer any explanation for their symptoms. In some cases, their doctors have gone so far as to suggest that nothing is medically wrong with them, or even led them to believe that “it’s all in your head.”
I’m here to tell you that if you’re experiencing symptoms of multiple chemical sensitivity — which I will describe in this post — you have a real medical condition. It’s certainly not a figment of your imagination, and you’re not a hypochondriac. I’m also here to tell you that bona fide medical treatments are available to alleviate your symptoms and put you back on the road to recovery.
Understanding Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a medical condition that causes a person to react to low levels of certain chemicals in their environment, such as the following:
- Cleaning products
- Detergents
- Off-gassing from furniture or building materials
- Paint
- Perfumes and other fragrances
- Pesticides
- Plastics
- Tobacco smoke
- Vehicle exhaust fumes
Electromagnetic fields may also pose a risk to some individuals.
While most people without MCS tolerate low levels of these chemicals, people with MCS react to them. It’s not technically an allergic reaction, but it can trigger allergy-like symptoms that cause discomfort or negatively impact your quality of life.
Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Multiple chemical sensitivity symptoms differ among individuals who have the condition, but generally include one or more of the following:
Diagnosing and Treating Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
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Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a complex and often misunderstood disorder of the immune system that occurs when mast cells — a type of white blood cell — trigger an excessive inflammatory response.
MCAS can cause a range of symptoms, including skin rashes, itching, flushing, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, difficulty breathing, fatigue, headaches, joint and muscle pain, and neurological symptoms. It often makes people hypersensitive to foods they never had a problem eating in the past.
Based on their symptoms, patients with MCAS are often diagnosed as having allergies, asthma, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), an inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis), or another medical condition. Meanwhile, their underlying MCAS, which is the root cause of their symptoms, remains undiagnosed and untreated.
If you’re experiencing the symptoms I described or you’ve been diagnosed as having one of the conditions I mentioned, you’ve probably been prescribed medication to alleviate your symptoms. Medication for symptom relief may be effective to some degree for a period of time, but it doesn’t fully address the underlying issue. As a result, you’re likely to continue to suffer.
Through this post, I’m hoping to increase awareness of mast cell activation syndrome, so more patients can get the right diagnosis and effective treatment.
Identifying Your Triggers
When they function properly, your mast cells play an important role in protecting your body against pathogens, such as infectious bacteria and viruses. When these cells perceive a potential threat, they release chemical mediators — including histamine — to launch a rapid immune response intended to destroy and eliminate the pathogen.
However, when these cells become overly sensitive, they release chemical mediators in response to non-threatening triggers. Sometimes, they release too much. Triggers vary among individuals and may include the following:
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