Dr. Fine talked GF group in Arkansas...

[mjbonsais]

Here's what was said:

The highlight of the meeting was when a physician(neurologist) asked "what's the point in testing people when they refuse to change their diet". Just as Dr. Fine was about to answer, a member of GFCA spoke up and said "I want to answer that." She told the doctor that "if one person takes your advice, then you have met your professional responsibilities. If you are not telling everyone who crosses your path who is a candidate, then you are not meeting your professional responsibilities." What a great answer and it did get applause. Dr. Nelsen then said that if the family physician gets involved and continues to suggest lifestyle changes at each visit, some patient will listen and will make the changes the doctor suggests.

I hope that doctor heeds the advice.

I asked how the stool tests, which are IGA tests, are affected if one is IGA deficient or if the sample is from a child under 3. The answer was that children under 3 have alot of IGA in their gut. IgA deficiency is defined by a serum test and there is a question as to why IgA is found in the blood when it is secretory antibody - intestine, lungs, mucous membranes. But IgA deficiency can cause a low or normal result in the stool testing and that is why Dr. Fine always recommends the complete panel that will include gene testing and malabsorbtion as these tests are not influenced by IgA.

Dr. Nelsen http://www.aafp.org/afp/20021215/2259.html was there. He said that he has a lot of philosophical agreement with Dr. Fine"s secretory antibody testing but that Dr. Fine was 3-4 steps ahead of the mainstream physician and it will take a lot to get the other physicans there. Right now we have to get physicians to think about CD and get serum antibody testing.

Dr. Fine said that it takes about 17 years for something new to be accepeted by the medical community - the would mean that EnteroLab has 12 more years to go.

I enjoyed meeting Dr. Fine but wish that I could have sat down and talked with him for a while.

[peanut]

Mj,

I just noticed you said Arkansas - do you live in Arkansas ? I live in Arkansas ! Anyhoo, I would have liked to have been there to hear Dr. Fine and Dr. Nelson - my pcp had me read a lot of Dr. Nelson's research on Celiac when I was dx'd.

Love,

Carla

[tex]

Hi MJ,

Well, like your signature line says, you certainly are someone special, if you met Dr. Fine. That must have been a good meeting. Excellent post.

Thanks for posting that information,

Tex

[moremuscle]

Hi Mo,

It was an exciting description you gave of some of what happened at the meeting - I am very jealous of you having met Dr. Fine. When/if I ever meet him it is going to be a priority to thank him for what he has done for me and what he is doing to help so many of us who are not getting appropriate help from the medical community.

Thanks for sharing with us.

Love,
Karen