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New Hope! Thanks to Dr. Oz who has taken over where we left off!

In Memory of my friend Robert Atkins, MD

The news of the suspension of  ”Dr. Atkins” medical license this past week has caused me, my staff and thousands of people in the health field to question the validity of the governing officials. We are all frightened to use our intelligence. Can they simply rip your life’s work away from you if you use experience and knowledge to care for your patients?  Will we have to turn patients away out of fear of having our licenses revoked?

A  US Senator remains in office after leaving a young girl to drown. He has admitted a serious problem with alcohol. His brother entertained many women in the building where his wife and children lived as he used his executive powers to run the government..

The FDA just removed  two dangerous drugs which it had previously approved, from the market.  We are all supposed to understand this and ignore it.  Nobody’s perfect. Right?

An update for this year…A powerful drug company has set six and a half billion dollars aside for legal defense because their drug caused  strokes and cardiovascular incidents which it had previously claimed to prevent.

Why is it that medical doctors, who have earned everything the old fashioned way, are subjected to such suspicious scrutiny?  It’s as if we studied eight years longer than is required for most degrees; stayed on call 24, 36 and 48 hours at a time; exposed ourselves to all the diseases; listened to problem after problem; read seven or eight medical journals a week; constantly assumed enormous responsibilities; and protected ourselves financially from a litigious society looking to profit from our work—just to cheat everyone and overcharge them?

There are times when I look at my staff and think, “There will never be enough money to pay these special, dedicated people.”  When I see them working so hard to satisfy and comfort everyone in trouble, I thank God that these are the people who surround me. I asked Linda, my office managed, to represent our feelings. I ask you, the reader, to think of us as kindly as we do of you. I ask that you respect the illustrious contributions of Dr. Robert Atkins and all those medical scientists who spend their lives making yours better.

Although I am retired from the practice,  my love and respect for my girls remains the same.

Linda’s letter follows:  

“When I chose a career as a medical assistant approximately 29 years ago, it was because I loved people and wanted to help. I looked forward to making a difference in their lives and comforting them when they were in need. Things have changed greatly since I made that choice.

“I remember when patient care was the most time-consuming part of the physician’s day, and mine. I remember when patients paid their bills and were immediately reimbursed by their insurance companies. I remember when collection agencies for doctors’ offices were unheard of. I remember when “Code” meant a patient was in cardiac arrest. Now “Code”—procedure code and diagnosis code—brings frustration to each staff member who hears the word.

“Doctors can no longer run their practices with just someone to answer the phone and a nurse. They need to have an office manager, an insurance coordinator, a receptionist, a computer specialist and many clerical assistants. Instead of devoting all their time to patient care (which is their primary concern!) doctors must now divert their attention to matters such as meeting the payroll, answering the many letters from insurance companies requiring more and more information, and patients who are just looking for them to make one small mistake. What has happened to Medicine?

The patient, doctor and office staff long for the “old days” when a patient was sick and just came to the doctor for loving, supportive and professional care; then time was taken up thinking about medicine and not economics; and when insurance companies paid for care without millions of questions and unnecessary paper work.

“Oh, yes, many things are different now, but one thing has always remained the same: I love my patients and want the best for them, more than anything else. That’s what medicine should be about!”

Linda Katz, Office Manager

Sandi

Chickie

                 Kathryn

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Patient to Doctor – Success!©

“Growing older” always seemed to mean counting the years and boring young folks with tales of how I won World War II single handedly. Lately, it has meant trying not to notice each new physical complaint.

“Luckily, my doctor had the standard treatment for each symptom: Vasotec for elevated blood pressure; Motrin for back pain; Valium for shaky hands; more Motrin for knee pain; antacids for bloating; and more Valium just for feeling lousy.

“Years ago, I discovered that my mother and New York State were both wrong. Milk was not good for me. Without milk, my digestion improved, but I was still bouncing from constipation to diarrhea with constant heartburn.

“Every morning I ate a sesame bagel with a coughing spasm that made me guess that I had a wheat sensitivity, but I wouldn’t back away from my favorite breakfast.

“I’m blessed with a sunny disposition, but that smile was wearing thin.

“Now comes the good part. I went to see Dr. Alfano. Having read her columns about food sensitivities, I thought she could help me feel better. Now, three months later, what has happened is unreal. The results of a blood test uncovered a plan that I could follow. At last my body wasn’t fighting my food intake.  My life and mood have completely changed.

“My blood pressure is now normal without medication. My back pain is gone, and my hand tremor has subsided. My knees don’t hurt, and my digestion is as good as it was in 1944 when I was in the Army and could eat nails.

“Although this was not a reducing diet, I’ve shed 30 pounds. My waist size has gone from 40 to 36, and I feel great! I can hardly believe it myself, Dr. Alfano, I love you!”.

(By the way, this gentleman is not sensi­tive to the wheat in the bagels. The sesame seeds were the problem!

S. V., was the editor of the local newspaper that published my articles. I love you too S.V.)

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 Patient to Doctor — The Great Impersonator©

Disguised under many hats lies a disease that threatens the life of the individual and all those around him or her. Deceptively, this disease can present itself as an eating disorder such as gluttony, bulemia or anorexia. The victim may be hyper or total­ly immobile. He or she could be monk-like in religious fervor, or a derelict abandoned to hedonism.

“I never touch liquor,” one person might say, while another with the same disorder could be lost in a drunken stupor. The per­son might be always in pain, or may never feel a thing.

The many faces of depression come without labels. If you think this is easy to recognize, think again. The patient who is stricken with this ailment has worked every­thing out so well, you would never suspect. He or she could be the life of the party.

Anhedonia, the Greek word for the ab­sence of pleasure, is the common thread that weaves the painful thoughts of the depressed patient. There is never any light at the end of the tunnel. Decisions are difficult; concentration is difficult. There is a dark cloud just about above everything.

The fear of being found out is always present. Many patients feel, “it’s just a chemical disorder”! Many times it is. I have witnessed incredible results by improving the diet, removing food allergies, and correction of nutritional deficiencies. If the condition os recognized ealy enough, it may work and it is definitely worth a shot! Ignoring it, pretending it will go away, never results in anything other than disatrous complications.

“I don’t want anyone to think I’m crazy,” some say. They hesitate to tell people how they feel so no one will think less of them. A physician, an attorney or a judge or a senator doesn’t want others to think he or she is incompetent.

It is time to recognize depression as an llness. Just like diabetes or high blood pressure, this may be an inherited illness over which the patient has no control whatsoever. Learn about it. Don’t be afraid of it. Caught early, it may be entirely curable.

We didn’t catch my friend early enough. He was only 40 when he died. Actually, the death started the first day he was introduced to the effects of alcohol, which took 20 years to kill him.

Of the five sons his parents proudly raised, he was the most caring and sensitive. Immediately, people would fall in love with him. Was he missing anything in his life? Most people wouldn’t think so. Were any of the ingredients that make a healthy child missing? Not one. I have known his parents all my life. His mother is dedicated, and his father is hard working and successful. What happened? How does a young person lose his existence to a bottle?

Alcoholics don’t necessarily start out as derelicts. They drink because they feel bet­ter when they drink. Their personalities are liberated and they become the people they want to be. For awhile, the pain seems to go away.

It does not take long to recognize the early “benefits” of alcohol. Just a drink or two makes some feel “normal.” How could something that seems to improve life be bad?

Insidiously, it becomes difficult to func­tion. It’s not that you’re a bum; you just need it to fall asleep, work, calm your ner­ves, help you relax, face your boss, give a speech… Eventually, it’s not even you doing it. Your wife/husband nags, your parents won’t stop, or the kids upset you.

Now the disease spreads to the “enablers” around him or her. “Don’t get your father upset,” is a statement that carves the disease directly into the minds of the children. They become “responsible” for their parent’s abusive behavior. They must be bad kids to cause such problems. Their repressed anger blossoms into their own depression later in life.

There are no more highs, just lows that get deeper and deeper.

The depression which made the alcoholic takes the victim and all those who love him or her. Could we have saved my friend? Depression is treatable. Look at the people around you. Tell them it’s not their fault. Love them and direct them to help. It takes strength to go for a cure.

[Anne,

This article is important.  There are studies showing that alcoholism, or any addictions, can be caused or facilitated by a lack of SEROTONIN.  We can boost serotonin levels with nutritional supplements.  A Dr. Jaffe in NJ and a Dr. Bucci of Texas have been very successful in this (60%).

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From the “Ask The Doctor” Column

Never has a molecule been so maligned as the fat molecule.  We think of it as an ugly, deplorable blob, depriving us of sex appeal and popularity.  The ominous threat of cellulite and flab leaves us desperately searching for the quick fix—one diet after another.

Actually, the energy in fat is a cleverly stored nutrient. 

Fat has more than twice the caloric content of carbohydrates or protein.  Layers of nine calories per gram (fat) placed around our bodies insure the preservation of the species, especially the all-important,  female species!

Supermarkets weren’t always around.  As we were crawling out of the sea, we needed energy, in the form of food, to live.  The fittest—or fattest—survived if they were nourished.  A good man was supposed to bring a dragon home for dinner.  Mommy would cook and serve and  the family would eat and eat.   They ate enough so the excess was stored as fat.

There were no refrigerators in the caves, so if George couldn’t get a dragon the next week, there was no danger of death.  You could just crack open a fat molecule for plenty of energy.

Fat is like money in the bank.  So nature, or God, thought up a very clever system for the preservation of life.  Just in case…

This soft layer provides insulation as well as energy. The cave got too cold…no problem!

Daddies were leaner than mommies.  The hunt kept Dad thinner and more muscular.  Mommies were left in the cave to nurture.  Mom was programmed to take care of everyone. Probably endowed with more fat to begin with, and a lower metabolic rate,  she could survive with just the leftovers  (Sound familiar?).

Nature made sure that she could get along with a lot less, and adjusted her metabolism to stay that way.  In fact, modern science has shown that the female’s set point is up 20 pounds for each child she bears.

The typical basal metabolic rate for most females is about 1,500 calories, while the male’s is approximately 2,500.  That means men can eat 1,000 calories more than women and not gain weight. (that’s an extra meal of 2 beers, a plate of Alfredo pasta, and some bread)

Think of fat as a separate organ with a mind of its own, directed by primitive instincts dating back millions of years.  Your fat loves you.  It’s protecting you against daily fluctuations.

 Not only is it money in the bank—it’s drawing interest!  No matter how much you spend, it seems to keep growing!

The system is very efficient, as evidenced by the yo-yo syndrome.  Just go on a diet and restrict your caloric intake.  You will probably lose a pound or so in the first week, or if you’re lucky, three pounds in a month.  Then it seems to plateau.  Your body says, “No food!  We’ll have to lower the metabolic rate.”  In response, you may reduce your calories to 1,000 or 800 per day.  Maybe another pound will come off, but you are hungry.  The fat cells are nudging you to eat.  There is nothing else on your mind but food.

Saturday is David’s bar mitzvah, or Michael’s confirmation, and you promise that you won’t eat, but once you get there, you know what happens.  Unable to resist the urging of those all-wise cells, you’ll get on the scale and find that you’ve gained all the weight back in one day.  It’s discouraging, isn’t it?  You may give up, thinking that you’ll start again on Monday.  We all know that something came up Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so forth.

We have learned that counting calories doesn’t work.  Calories are not all the same.  Now we know to keep our fat content at 30 percent or less.  However, we’re told to increase the good fats.  What are they again??

If you’re eating something that totals 100 calories and contains three grams of fat, multiply by nine (the number of calories per gram of fat) times three grams to arrive at 27 calories.  Divide that number by the total number of calories in the food, and you’ll find that 27 percent of the food is made up of fat.

Carbohydrates and proteins have only four calories per gram.  Our bodies don’t store carbohydrates or proteins—only fat is stored.  This diet means eating plenty of grains, more pasta, and breads.  It works very well for some people, provided they do not have allergies or sensitivities to wheat or yeast.  For many it has unraveled and attacked with the Syndrome X and Hyperinsulinemia. So the low-fat diet is not the solution, either.

Defective insulin production has been incriminated in obesity.  In other words, the ingestion of some carbohydrates in some individuals causes the pancreas to pour out excessive amounts of insulin.  Insulin makes you feel hungry.  As a matter of fact, in days gone by, Anorexia Nervosa was treated with insulin to increase the appetite. Atkins was on to something.

Dr. Michael Weintraub published a study several years ago showing that obesity is a chronic illness and must be medically treated for life.  He used anorexic agents (diet pills) on a regular basis, totally disregarding the prejudices many of us have against these drugs.  His study indicated that, if the patients were properly treated, they maintained a steady, healthy weight loss, and were able to maintain that weight loss if the medication was systematically prescribed.  He showed the side effects of the drugs to be far less than the side effects of obesity. I’m not sure that approach is justified.

Aside from assuring  steady visits to the doctor, an addiction might be the outcome while weight stays the same!

Recently, one of the women’s magazines in the supermarket reviewed the article and showed a very positive interest in this method of weight loss. It seems that “what goes around, comes around!”

Waist fat and hip fat are other considerations in our Anti-fat battle.  The more we learn the more confusion we create.

The truth lies somewhere amidst all these theories.  Fat was a good thing.  As we evolved, chocolates, The Big M, fettuccini, tortellini, and fried chicken at every corner of our existence made the creation of the fat molecule unnecessary.  We do not need to store fat anymore.  We eat 3 and more times daily with snacks in between. Our fat cells, once thrilled to add a few more cells, are now inundated with bulging excess.

Eat less or exercise more? Is that’s all there is? 

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Welcome new friends and former patients to my cyber office!

“Where Traditional and Alternative Medicine Meet for Your Good Health”

Very early in my career I became aware of the serious consequences of some of the drugs I was taught to use.  There were times when veritable “miracles” happened after I took patients off the drugs they had been using for years. My reputation as “The Doctor of Last Resort” came after I saved my Rx pad for last and focused more on the CAUSE and not the symptoms of disease processes.

The Secret of my success was:

• Diet and Lifestyle adjustment
• Detoxification and removal of Inflammation
• Detecting and Supplementing nutritional deficiencies

All done after targeted, individualized laboratory testing.

So Stay With Me

You owe it to yourself and to those you love

I’m retired from the practice and now have more time to research and, more importantly, more time to answer your questions or, just say Hello!

Constance Alfano-Weigand, MD, CCN, ND