How Targeted Testing Helped Carl Heal His Gut and Regain Energy

Carl tried everything but nothing worked until he stopped guessing and started using the right data

When Carl came to see me, he had the usual mix of symptoms that most mainstream providers either brushed off as normal or labeled too complex to address.

He dealt with chronic bloating, unpredictable energy, and frequent sleep disruptions. Despite trying various protocols and supplements, he felt stuck. He had followed elimination diets, taken generalized advice, and relied on short-term fixes. Nothing addressed the root cause.

What happened next reflects what I witness every day in my practice. Real healing begins when we stop guessing and start using the right tools to uncover what the body actually needs.

Understanding Food Sensitivities

Many people believe they are sensitive to everything. That belief is rarely accurate. The real issue is that no one has taken the time to uncover the specific triggers that are creating inflammation.

For Carl, those triggers were gluten and dairy. Once we removed them, his digestion settled, his energy improved, and the bloating resolved. Within a few weeks, he felt like a completely different person. His gut was no longer being disrupted by foods it could not handle.

That said, I do not believe in avoiding foods forever unless absolutely necessary. In my practice, we work toward restoring tolerance. That means repairing the gut, calming the immune system, and removing the stressors that make the body overreact in the first place.

Carl is not avoiding gluten and dairy for the rest of his life. He is simply giving his body the time and support it needs to heal. The goal is long-term freedom, not lifelong restriction.

The Value of Monitoring

When we introduced iodine, which is something most people are lacking, Carl experienced sleep problems. Instead of continuing, we paused. His sleep returned to normal, which confirmed that his body was not tolerating the iodine well at that time.

This experience is exactly why I monitor progress at every step. True precision medicine means making decisions based on real data and patient feedback. It does not mean pushing a protocol just because it has worked for others.

A Better Approach to Detox

Carl’s iodine sensitivity also affected how we approached detoxification. He developed a skin reaction, which indicated that his system was overloaded. We slowed down, reduced the dosage, and adjusted based on how he was responding.

Healing is a process. It is not dramatic, it is not fast, and it does not follow a preset timeline. It has to be guided by the individual and what their body can handle.

What Made a Difference

Digestive enzymes provided immediate relief. MSM powder, something you would not expect to be a game changer, made a significant difference in his physical performance. This was not because it was eliminating toxins, but because it supported a sulfur need in his system.

This is why supplementing without testing often leads to wasted time, effort, and money.

Why Toxin Load Matters

As we continued working together, we discovered that Carl had accumulated halide toxins. These included bromide and fluoride, both of which are common and often overlooked. They were contributing to the symptoms that would not go away.

This is where most approaches to functional medicine fall short. Many providers will suggest a probiotic or a sleep supplement. Few will look at environmental toxins or know how to interpret what they find.

Getting Personal with Treatment

Every step of Carl’s treatment was customized. That included how we used MSM, iodine, and detox strategies. Nothing was generalized. This is the heart of functional medicine done the right way.

The reason most people never get this level of care is because it takes time, attention, and a commitment to constant adjustment. It does not work well in a high-volume system that treats everyone the same way.

You must stay curious, make thoughtful changes, and always rely on objective data.

What Really Helped Carl Heal

Carl’s progress did not come from a long list of supplements. He got better because we removed the things that were causing harm and added only what his body clearly needed.

There were no extreme diets and no miracle products. Just science, observation, and careful changes that built momentum over time.

If you are tired of spending time and money on one-size-fits-all protocols that do not reflect your reality, it is time to try something different.

This is the process I teach in my autoimmunity recovery program. It helped Carl, and it continues to help hundreds of patients who want real answers and real results.

If you’re tired of dealing with digestive issues, unexplained fatigue, or symptoms that seem connected to food sensitivities, join my next free webinar by registering today. Register Here.

Until next time, be well,

Dr. Stillman