Recovering From a Brain-Gut Miscommunication: Katie's Story
For years, Katie struggled with debilitating stomach pain and migraines. As a teenager, Katie's stomachaches were so severe that she missed large parts of school. She endured migraines that kept her in dark, quiet rooms for days. Doctors dismissed her symptoms with labels such as IBS or an eating disorder. These chronic symptoms led her to discover functional neurology, where Dr. Devon Gaston looks at the entire brain-body connection that led to her diagnosis and treatment.
This is Katie's story of recovery.
After nearly being hospitalized, Katie's pediatrician suggested that she start a food journal. It eventually revealed triggers caused by certain foods and sensitivity to light. This careful journaling and dieting helped Katie manage for a time, until she caught COVID-19 in 2022.
The Breaking Point
After COVID, Katie’s health unraveled. She developed a balance disorder that caused:
Exhaustion and dizziness
Nausea before, during, and after meals
Constant cramping and stomach pain
6–9 bathroom trips a day
Again, the cycle repeated. She met multiple doctors who had no clear solutions. Her condition left her incapacitated and hopeless.
A New Approach
That’s when she heard about functional neurology. At Passport2Health, Dr. Devon Gaston reviewed Katie’s complete medical history and ordered comprehensive testing, including blood work, stool and urine panels, as well as advanced neurological testing. This revealed underlying autonomic nervous system dysregulation, which plays a crucial role in regulating various body functions, particularly during rest and digestion.
Our partner, Vibrant America, visited Katie's home to do the bloodwork. They'll work around your needs to help your recovery. One of the tests that Dr. Devon Gaston ordered is the Gut Zoomer, a comprehensive gut health test that analyzes a stool sample to assess your microbiome and beyond.
The test results led to Dr. Gaston's diagnosis of Dysautonomia as a sequelae of COVID-19, where there is a blood shunt (an abnormal blood flow). This affected the passage of blood to her intestines and back, causing a problem with digestion that perpetuated a ‘leaky gut’ and inflammation. In other words, it's a miscommunication between the brain and the gut axis. The blood-shunting problem caused her body to be in a fight-or-flight mode, constantly leading to her severe stomach pain and contributing to dizziness.
Dr. Devon's comprehensive individualized testing and vagal stimulation strategies led Katie to understand that she has a compromised immune system affecting her gut-brain connection, and that her inflammation was fueled by misdiagnosed gluten and peanut sensitivities.
The Path Forward
Dr. Gaston built a care plan with:
Supplements to repair the gut barrier
Targeted exercises to rebuild brain–gut communication
Erchonia's laser therapy for improved cerebral perfusion (blood flow)
Physical therapy to increase blood circulation and balance
A strict gluten-free diet
Importantly, Dr. Gaston set expectations clearly:
“It is a process and not a one-and-done fix. It could take up to 6 months to a year to see results with the proper treatments.”
It also takes dedication from the patient. Katie's recovery depended on her commitment to her treatment.
The Results
Today, Katie reports marked improvement:
More energy
Less pain
Better balance
Renewed confidence
Back to work
Katie's showing her recovered balance with her adorable pups 🐾
Her words:
“Dr. Devon put my trust back in doctors with the way she explains things in detail so I could understand what was happening in my body. I’m not 100% yet, but I’m getting there.”
Why This Matters
Katie’s journey reflects a larger issue in healthcare where patients with complex or chronic symptoms get dismissed with quick labels instead of comprehensive answers. A lack of equipment, knowledge, or specialists on staff could cause this.
At Passport 2 Health, we partner with pioneers in healthcare whose innovative efforts and research have led to cutting-edge technology equipment. We proudly offer Erchonia laser therapy in-clinic, for purchase, and rental. We also work with Vibrant America for comprehensive blood analysis, which can be taken from the comfort of your own home.
Functional neurology examines the entire picture: the connections between the gut, brain, and immune health. Chronic symptoms are a sign from the body asking for deeper care. Dr. Devon Gaston can help you find the answers and create a personalized therapy plan that will lead to your recovery.
👉 If you know someone struggling with unresolved gut or neurological symptoms, share Katie’s story.
Wellness is not a luxury; it's a priority.
