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Join Tami Burdick, a patient advocate and the author of Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis. Discover the overlooked factors that can contribute to unexplained health issues and learn practical steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from environmental threats.

Tami Burdick is a patient advocate and author of Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis.

She discusses the KevinMD article, “Everyday dangers unknowingly impacting our health.”

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Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast, and get CME for this episode by clicking on the CME link in the show notes. Today we welcome back Tami Burdick. She’s a patient advocate and the author of the book Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis. Today’s KevinMD article is titled “Everyday dangers unknowingly impacting our health.” Tami, welcome back to the show.

Tami Burdick: Thank you so much for having me again.

Kevin Pho: So to hear Tami’s story, since she’s been on multiple times, go to KevinMD.com/podcast, find the search icon, and search Tami’s name to hear her story and prior episodes. But today, let’s jump right into your most recent article, “Everyday dangers unknowingly impacting our health.” Tell us, how did this one come together?

Tami Burdick: Yes. So I contracted granulomatous mastitis several years ago, and what we would find out through that journey is that it appeared the environment was actually what caused that diagnosis, as a mostly environmentally associated bacteria was to blame. That fueled the fire within me to really learn more about our environment and the potential dangers out there that many people, including myself, were really unaware of.

Kevin Pho: Talk to me in more detail about how the environment, how the water, may have contributed to your diagnosis.

Tami Burdick: Yeah. So I was on a business trip, and apparently the public water had been unknowingly contaminated. There was also another gentleman on that same business trip who contracted this bacterial infection through his ankle, the same way that I did through my breast, and neither one of us had actually had an injury of any kind. So once we knew what bacteria I had been dealing with, we were able to trace the origin, which was water, sewer and soil. Even though in research the bacteria did originate within the oral biome of a human, it can also be associated with goat milk as well. But after we were able to trace my steps and test the water in my own home, we were then able to really determine our confidence level in that business trip being the culprit for the bacteria. So I was kind of like Erin Brockovich, in a sense, where I had to trace my steps and get everything figured out.

But it’s not just bacteria that we have to be concerned about. There are chemicals and whatnot in the water across the country. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of PFAS, but they’re carcinogenic chemicals that many of us are unknowingly bathing in and drinking every single day of our lives.

Kevin Pho: Now, did you trace this contaminated water back to some type of hotel, and how did you conclude that it was definitively from that source?

Tami Burdick: Yes. So I didn’t go and collect water samples from that area, but there have been multiple women in and around that radius who have also been diagnosed with GM, and the other gentleman on the business trip had contracted an infection through his ankle. We diligently traced my steps. I had not been in any pools, spas, lakes, oceans, mud races, nothing of the sort. Once we did test for bacteria in my own shower, it was negative for that, as well as others through the process of elimination. So like I said, our confidence level was pretty high about where I contracted it, and we were able to link it back to that trip. What I did learn about that area in particular is that there’s a significant use of well water. So when you’re looking at things like cisterns and well water and things of that nature, there is potentially a higher risk of contracting those types of contaminants.

Kevin Pho: And this episode obviously set you on a trail to look for the dangers that we routinely face in our environments. So tell us some of your findings.

Tami Burdick: Absolutely. I do actually have a background in home inspection, so I have this general sense of how our own homes can actually be making us unknowingly sick, with symptoms and certain diagnoses. But when it comes to our environment, there are a lot of opportunities for us to get sick, things like ticks and tick-borne illnesses, if you’re out taking a nature walk or even walking through your front yard. Like I said earlier, we’ve got the different contaminants in public water, for example. There are even chlorines, and there are PFAS. This whole journey that I went through, getting sick from the environment, really set the fire for me to learn more about what could potentially be out there making people sick.

Kevin Pho: So what are some common things that a typical homeowner should look out for? You mentioned well water, and you mentioned things like ticks. What would you say are some other common environmental hazards that we may overlook?

Tami Burdick: Yeah, so when it comes to your home, I will say this. If you’re at home and you find yourself feeling this general sense of unwellness, but then you leave your house or go on vacation and start to feel a little better, that can be a red flag that, hey, maybe there’s something in my home that I’m getting exposed to that’s making me feel unwell. Or maybe most of the members of your family are sick, or maybe even your pets aren’t in good health. When we look at that, it could be a red flag that maybe you should look into things a little bit further.

I think a lot of new homeowners in particular really don’t understand that a home inspection is more generalized. Most home inspections don’t include a lot of things that homeowners should be testing for, such as mold, volatile organic compounds and radon, and a lot of these things can be making people sick without them even knowing it. With mold in particular, a lot of people think, well, if I don’t see mold, the mold’s not there. But mold can be hiding almost anywhere, and mold spores release mycotoxins, and it’s actually those mycotoxins that can make people really sick, especially those with a genetic expression that could make them feel the effects of it worse than somebody else.

Kevin Pho: So let’s say someone listening to you now fits that exact scenario, where they feel better after leaving the house and they suspect that there’s something going on. When you say look further, what are some tangible next steps that they should immediately take?

Tami Burdick: Yeah, so obviously they can hire a professional to come in. There are professionals who are certified in testing for radon, which can actually be responsible for causing lung cancers, especially in those who have never smoked a day in their life. They can look to hire a mold inspector who is certified in looking for mold, and they can obviously test for other things, like volatile organic compounds. So it’s really about hiring a trusted, reputable professional to come in and help you look for these things, because, like I said, you might not see them, but they can be there.

Kevin Pho: Now, you’re a patient advocate. OK, so how about if someone were to go to their primary care physician, or to a clinician, and say they suspect some type of environmental exposure? Are there any tests that you would advocate for, or that you would ask this patient to ask their clinician to do?

Tami Burdick: Yes. So I belong to a lot of different health groups on social media, and it’s really a struggle to get clinicians or health care professionals to think outside the box. I think most often they’re going to say, “Well, go ahead and test your home.” They’re not going to be so apt to start running XYZ testing on you, and perhaps your generalized bloodwork looks normal, but the patient genuinely just doesn’t feel good. So it’s difficult sometimes when you go to your clinician or health care professional and say, “I’ve got all these symptoms.”

I even went through something like that years ago. We found mold in my condo, and I had all sorts of symptoms, and I was getting referred to all of these different specialists. I really was going through the revolving door of doctors, and I’m just like, I’m not a hypochondriac, I’m genuinely not feeling well, something is wrong. It took some time, but there was actually mold in my attic that was contributing to all of my random, crazy symptoms.

Kevin Pho: So are there any specific specialists that you’ve heard about in these health groups, who some patients may have had some success getting to listen to them?

Tami Burdick: Yeah, so functional medicine practitioners in particular are really great at looking for different types of testing that they can use to help these patients identify, OK, is this person dealing with mycotoxins, or is this person dealing with Lyme disease? You can easily be tested for Lyme disease through your actual PCP. I don’t know why it would be a struggle if the patient clinically presents with symptoms, or maybe they knowingly have been bitten by a tick before. There are specialists out there who work with mycotoxin illness, or mold illness in particular. Dr. Shoemaker, for example, has been a very well-known individual in helping patients with mold illness in particular. And there’s actually a segment on the former show Monsters Inside Me about that, where a couple bought a new home, they had lived there for about six months, and they both started having all of these random symptoms. They didn’t feel well, they knew something was wrong, and lo and behold, they had Aspergillus in their home.

Kevin Pho: Now, short of hiring a professional to go over your home, are there any everyday things that people can do, maybe buying an air purifier or filtering their water? Do those have any utility at all?

Tami Burdick: Absolutely. You can actually test your own water for over 150 contaminants. There’s an at-home test that anyone can use to test their own water. Air purifiers are great. They make whole-house air purifiers, and there are also single-room air purifiers that you can buy. You can also talk to reputable HVAC companies about upgrading your HVAC system. There are certain types of lights and filters that can help. You can clean your ductwork. If you do find mold, you can have it professionally remediated. So there are definitely things that help make your home safer. And be more aware of the everyday products that you’re actually using in your home. A lot of the chemicals and things that we’re using are very toxic, so I actually switched to a more natural, organic, holistic way of running my household.

Kevin Pho: So what are some common everyday products that are culprits for environmental toxins? Are we talking about soaps and detergents and fabric softeners and stuff?

Tami Burdick: Absolutely. Actually, dryer sheets are a big no-no. They’re probably one of the worst culprits when it comes to making your home unhealthy. Burning candles is another, and all of the different types of plug-ins that have all those crazy scents, detergents, different types of cleaners. So just be a little more self-aware. There are apps out there that you can download that will help you make better choices about the products you use in your home, and even personal care items too, things like toothpaste and the different soaps and lotions that we’re using. Just be a little bit more mindful: Read ingredients, and know what those ingredients are.

Kevin Pho: In your article, you talk about some people who have a genetic predisposition to environmental toxins. So tell us more about that.

Tami Burdick: Yeah, so there are HLA genes. I actually have a gene in particular called the MTHFR gene, which affects your methylation. It can also interfere with your body’s own natural detoxification pathways. So there are certain genes out there that can make it more problematic for certain people when it comes to the everyday dangers that might be at work in our environment or our homes.

Kevin Pho: We’re talking to Tami Burdick. She’s a patient advocate and the author of the book Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis. Her KevinMD article today is titled “Everyday dangers unknowingly impacting our health.” Tami, tell us some of the take-home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience.

Tami Burdick: Yeah, so if you’ve got all these random symptoms, if you think something might be wrong, don’t feel like you’re alone, and don’t feel like you’re crazy. There are tools and resources out there that you can use, so use them. Always be your own best advocate. That’s what I tell everybody. You know your body better than anyone.

Kevin Pho: Tami, thank you so much for sharing your story, time, and insight, and thanks again for coming back on the show.