What does it look like to truly take wellness into your own hands? Is Function Health worth it? How does it work? Did you find it overwhelming?

These are all questions that have come up recently as I’ve started my first few months using Function Health. And while I do love an in-depth review, that is still likely to come, I thought this would be better, as I think I can capture the emotional experience of navigating wellness with a history of diet culture a bit more in-depth.

So today I’m going to walk you through the process so far: the lead up to testing, the mental side & fears that often keep us from seeking help, the actual testing process, and getting my results.

As always, my DMs are open for questions. I will be using a referral link today that allows you to skip the waitlist and should provide a discount. But it also supports this space and allows me to create, research, and be the guinea pig for you.

Grab your tea and settle in. We’ve got loads to debrief.

Preparing For Your Function Health Test

This will apply more for women or those who were born biologically women, but the initial testing is based on your menstrual cycle. If you aren’t already tracking it or don’t find it easy to predict, they will help you navigate this. They want you to test between days 2 – 4, so it’s okay if you have a cycle that varies a bit. Just know that if you sign up today and aren’t due for two weeks, you’ll be delayed.

That being said, it took me 3 tries to get my testing schedule aligned. The first one – well, we will talk about the anxiety and freakouts in a minute. The second one – I think I ended up with a time I just knew wouldn’t work. You’re required to fast for the test, and the testing time was later than I was comfortable with.

Round 3 – I was able to complete successfully. But more on this in a second.

It could have absolutely been the combo of everything – a particularly stressful few weeks, my period, and the amount of blood drawn, but I ended up needing a major nap for recovery. Something to keep in mind for your own testing.

My mother, a nurse, was surprised (and maybe a bit outraged) by how many vials they take. I think anywhere from 9 – 12. And you have two blood draws in the first week-ish.

How easy is it to schedule, find a location, and complete the blood draw?

I was concerned initially that I would need to travel to complete testing. I don’t live in the smallest town, but it’s by no means health forward. So I was shocked when I realized the company Function Health has partnered with is truly all over the US.

There were at least 3 options for places to do my blood draw locally.

You schedule all of your tests via the Function Health website. And they will help you make sure it’s in the right window for your cycle.

I made sure to go as early as possible to make it more seamless with my routine and to try to avoid the added stress of extended fasting. My appointments were at 730am and I was done within 20 minutes.

The only caveat I would mention with this is that it’s easier to get earlier appointments when you schedule weeks out. It’s one of the reasons it took me a few tries to get my testing sorted (along with my terrible timing and navigating closures for holiday weekends).

But if you need to adjust for your next cycle, it’s very easy to do.

The Mental Side Of Using Function Health

I wasn’t sure how I wanted to chat with the community about this, but I know that someone else will have this experience, and I wanted to hopefully help you feel prepared to navigate it.

If you had asked me before if I had health anxiety, I would have said no. The irony of being in a medical family (at least my version of it) is that in the town I’m in, doctors are not something you want to see. Or at least that’s the story that has been previously drilled in.

So coming into this, I’ve yet to have a positive health experience in this city.

Now, of course, anxiety and the internet make for a fun combo, and it’s easy to see everything as an opportunity to self-diagnosis. The fear that I could find something I was ignorant of was something I had to work through.

I used a lot of the techniques I talk about in 75 Love to walk through this. Tapping. Journaling. Acknowledging the fears. Prayer. I knew that, even on a subconscious level, I needed to open myself up to the idea that I could have a new, better, and different health experience. But anxiety shows up when we’ve got things to sort through, and mine was clear & present.

Going For My Blood Test

The Function Health app and system are great about making sure you have all the info you need. Because they are working with a chain, I’m going to assume most of them operate the same.

I arrived at the testing site 10/15 minutes ahead of time. There are kiosks in the lobby. You’ll need the code for your appointment and your ID. It’s quick and easy. And they tend to move people through on time.

If you find the actual blood draw challenging, you can bring music or something else to help. But the tech was in front of me, taking vials, and it went quickly. I didn’t really feel like I had time to settle in or a chance to listen to music. It’s certainly an option if you need it.

After the draw, you simply walk out and wait to see the results from the tests. It’s likely you’ll even see a few show up on the same day.

Getting Your Test Results & Interpreting Them

With the exception of a few test markers, most of mine were available to see within the first week. That being said, learn from my mistakes and let the majority of things settle in before you react to them.

You’ll find that the recommended supplements and foods to avoid/enjoy will start to fill in. But this will shift as you get more results. So take a beat before you decide what you’ll do with all the information you’ll inevitably be given.

My Initial Reaction & Feelings After Getting My Function Health Test Results

I’m not sure I can accurately do a “what to expect after your test” because I imagine this varies depending on what your results indicate. For myself, I’ll say I wasn’t wildly surprised. My results were as good as I could hope, knowing I already had a feeling I would need to make certain changes.

However, I do have a few thoughts that I think I’ll need to revisit when I do an update.

My results showed that some of my specific cholesterol numbers weren’t where I wanted them, as well as my insulin. Now, of course, most people would think to blame weight on this. But I’ve spoken with others who you would traditionally perceive as being a healthy weight or even “skinny” who are also dealing with this. So there is definitely more than just the scale at play.

The two things that feel like a big question in my brain are my autoimmunity numbers and the amount of supplements recommended.

Now, if you’re new to WSS, you might not know that I’ve done quite a few food sensitivity tests over the years. When you’re eating foods that your body doesn’t agree with, it can cause an autoimmune reaction as it’s extra taxing on your system.

Because I know my body and what I’ve previously removed vs added back in, I have my suspicions on what could be causing this.

But I feel like it would be beneficial to suggest future testing if multiple markers weren’t in range (and they didn’t).

Supplement-wise, there are 34 on the list. That’s a lot of flipping supplements. They do provide you with a top 5. And some of them seem like they could be combined. But I was shocked by this. Not necessarily because it’s what they would recommend, but because it feels almost counter to what I learned when working with a functional nutritionist last year.

Obviously, the information you are given from these tests is for you (and potentially your medical team to interpret). But if I didn’t have my background or previous experience, I think I would feel even more overwhelmed.

How I’m Using My Function Health Results & Next Steps

Despite an abundance of info, I find myself left with more questions. So as of now, I’ve decided my next steps will be to invest in a CGM (continuous glucose monitor). Oura ring has a brand partner that I think will work best, as they aren’t nearly as much of an investment as the other ones people normally promote.

For me, it makes little sense to change my diet completely when I don’t have the base level knowledge of how some of these foods impact me daily. I’d like to get a better handle on my blood sugar, insulin, food routine, and wellness habits before I throw a bunch of things at the wall hoping they will stick.

I will be updating you, as always with the journey along the way. But if you want to make sure you don’t miss it, you can sign up for the newsletter here. If you’ve started working with Function Health, I’d love to hear about your journey. Let us know in the comments below. And if you’ve got any questions, feel free to leave those as well.

I’ve yet to reach out to the brand to ask for more specifics. But it’s something I’m happy to do if we need it. For now, I’m sending you all the love and hope you have a joy-filled week. Until next time. Xoxo, Savvy

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