Biomed offers solutions for common ‘aging’ issues.

Printed Tuesday, January 20, The Brunswick News

Interrupted sleep, dwindling energy, diminishing libido and a vanishing metabolism. 

For many, these symptoms read like a script handed to men and women entering their 30s. And so many have come to expect these very traits as the telltale signs of "getting older." In fact, they’ve become so commonplace that most don’t even try to find remedies. 

But Elizabeth Fletcher and Dr. Michael Hamm are on a mission to change that. 

The two have teamed up as the local providers at a practice called BioMed, located within the ERgent Med facility on St. Simons Island. There, they offer a holistic approach to treating patients, one where science-backed research and open communication dictate their approach to care.

"We always look at patients from a full wellness perspective … we talk about what they’re experiencing and what brought them in," Fletcher said. Their goal is to find the source of the patients’ symptoms and create customized care plans for patients so they can experience optimal results. That starts with a medical history and questionnaire followed by a full lab panel — including bloodwork, cholesterol and thyroid checks, vitamin testing and hormonal screening. 

Biomed Provider Elizabeth Fletcher, PA-C

"We also have Styku health screening technology, which provides a full 3D body analysis in less than 60 seconds. The Styku scan is included with the initial consultation and provides exact body measurements, provides risk assessments and analyzes where you are healthwise," she said. This includes a patient’s cardiovascular risk, waist-to-hip ratio and measurement of abdominal visceral fat. It’s the perfect starting point and offers patients a rare look at aspects of their health that often aren’t available. 

Within a week they have all the results and begin to chart a customized plan for the patient.. It’s a plan that’s medically driven rather than solely based on aesthetics. Sometimes, a hormone imbalance is the first thing detected – and one of BioMed's many areas of expertise is hormone replacement therapy. 

Hormones remain a bit of a mystery for many, but they're often the cause of "age-related" issues. "We experience symptoms that we often feel like 'this is just how it is now' or 'I just don’t have the youth I used to,'" she said. 

"Many don’t realize that so many of these symptoms are a result of hormone imbalance, and with the right hormone replacement therapy plan, they can feel just how they used to, and more often, even better than before."

Fletcher and Hamm have seen this transformation time and time again. And one of the most often treated hormonal deficiencies is testosterone. That, Fletcher adds, is true for both men and women. Decreased testosterone values can lead to common complaints typically associated with aging.

"Testosterone is a naturally occurring hormone that is necessary for both men and women. It is inevitable that when we age, we will all reach a point where our bodies will not produce enough testosterone," she said. "The symptoms of low testosterone have a domino effect. One symptom begins to exacerbate the next symptom and then the next. Our bodies need balance for all the systems to work in harmony. This is true for any age, whether you are 35 or 55."

Unfortunately, many don’t take the time to address these imbalances. It’s often something that can be misdiagnosed if not entirely ignored. 

"Many women are misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression when the real culprit is that their bodies are not producing enough testosterone," she said. "Symptoms like not sleeping through the night anymore, brain fog, increased stress and feelings of anxiety, low or no libido — these are all symptoms of the body not producing enough testosterone and/or estradiol."

For men, low testosterone often presents as low energy in various aspects of life.  "… and not just in the gym," Fletcher says. "Many fathers come in because they want to rediscover the energy they had in their youth so they can be the best version of themselves for their family and in the workplace." 

But Fletcher and Hamm have the solution. When they find a testosterone imbalance, they provide bioidentical hormone replacement with pellet therapy.

"These are compounded hormones that are identical in structure to those your body naturally produces. This way, your body recognizes and uses these replacement hormones in exactly the same way it produces naturally," she said. 

"Our plans are customized for each patient. We don’t rely on 'what is normal for your age and lifestyle,' we listen to our patients' concerns, we compare their lab results and health history, and we create a plan that will produce optimal results."

With pellet therapy, patients do not experience the drastic increases and decreases of hormone replacement they could experience with hormone creams and injections. "I do prefer the pellet treatment because it’s plant-based and all natural," she said. 

For those who’ve experienced the changes, their lives have been changed for the better — as individuals, parents and as couples.

"One of the most common changes we hear from our patients is that they are pleased to have their sex life back. We also enjoy hearing patients brag about how their workouts are producing the same results now as they did in their 20s," Fletcher said. 

"Energy, stamina, strength and muscle retention are game changers for a successful workout. When they finally see the results they want, it’s motivation to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Our patients are walking in with noticeably more confidence. You can see the difference as they walk in stronger, healthier and more energized."