The purpose of this review is to warn others against the predatory exploitation of chronically ill individuals, which I experienced at Funmed. I sought treatment following an extended period of severe chronic illness, experiencing a list of symptoms (e.g., extreme fatigue, gut issues and weight loss, flu symptoms, generalized pain, fainting, etc). I suspected long Covid, but had also received other diagnoses (e.g., POTS, H-EDS, MCAS, ME). I turned to Funmed in desperation, attracted to statements on their website such as ability to treat chronic fatigue and reduce 70% of severe symptoms in ten months. The following points summarize my experience: • Misleading information: At my first consultation, I was told by a doctor that the clinic had strong experience in successfully treating patients with my profile. I enquired about specific tests, which they told me would be available within my (expensive) testing package. Having paid for the treatment plan, the doctor changed position and explained that with such severe illness, it was not certain whether their treatment would have any effect. Hence, their entire charade of ‘treatment’ failed to even produce a placebo effect. In addition, the doctor admitted that he had never heard of the tests I had requested and pretended never to have discussed them. • Pointless testing: Funmed deploys a confounding range of tests, which they promote as systematic and evidence based. Many of these are, however, dismissed by the health care sector as completely unreliable and/or targeting non-existent conditions. This includes allergy testing and tests for SIBO/leaking gut. More significantly, the only response provided to their tests was a long list of (very expensive) supplements (e.g., vitamins, antioxidants). The ‘medical team’ had no medical knowledge that could link test results to my symptoms – nor theories on how supplements would treat them. There was no follow up on the tests, even though this was specifically promised before we paid for the package. • Generic advice: Instead of a personalized plan, I was prescribed the same tests/diet/supplement as every other patient – evidenced by the generic approach described on their website/app. An exaggerated questionnaire was initially sent out, based on far-ranging questions such as ‘what disruptive events occurred during your time as a foetus’? Such comprehensive questioning may have been warranted for an actual holistic strategy. However, the doctor was only interested in narrow, diet-oriented questions (e.g., ‘you should not eat raspberries’). The treatment team showed no interest in stressful life events or overlapping medical conditions, and provided no individualized or emotional support, beyond the dogmatic diet plan. The health app made this situation worse by sending irrelevant articles, e.g., information on the importance of weight training, whilst the team was aware that I was too ill to even walk. • Extreme elimination diet (‘carnivore’ – only meat for a period of six weeks): There is no scientific evidence whatsoever that such a treatment is effective for the debilitating symptoms I suffered. As proof of concept, the Funmed doctor provided an article, written by other Funmed doctors (which, notably, was not accepted by any scientific journal), primarily pointing to weight loss as a positive outcome. The doctor also tried to explain to me (as a life-long vegetarian and climate change researcher) that a diet entirely based on meat is sustainable. The extreme elimination was followed by a strict diet, without any planned endpoint. These restrictions made my already painful circumstances even more difficult, including by limiting my social life and exacerbating weight loss. I explained the adverse and potentially dangerous effects of restriction diets on individuals with a history of disordered eating, but was largely ignored. In my view, the ‘medical treatment’ provided by Funmed is pure quackery. Their interventions are unlikely to help and can even make patients worse. If possible, I would give them a negative score.
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