INDULGENCES health lab by william e. kelly
levels, a list of foods I was either allergic or sensitive to was compiled (alternative foods were suggested) and hormone levels were shown to be out of balance. We then discussed possible treatments, the advantages and/or disadvantages of
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH
ANTI-AGING MEDICINE
I am about to pass through the American Association of Retired Persons portal to the other side, “OLD AGE!” Yikes! Sharing my first-hand experience as an anti-aging patient is just a tad unnerving, but “HEALTH LAB” this month asks you to just think about it. Found in some 100 nations worldwide and rapidly expanding, the medical com-
munity in the United States has been slow to embrace anti-aging medicine. Just as chiropractors were shunned and being gay was once diagnosed as a mental disorder, the science that seeks to maximize healthy life expectancy while optimizing quality of the life in our “senior” years is lagging behind. My doctor is a board certified and licensed general practice (GP) family physician and age management specialist with an impressive history and credentials sufficient to satisfy even my heavy-handed skepticism. That–coupled with his insistence that I share and discuss my findings and treatment plan with my regular GP– sealed the deal. My choice was also based on the careful independent review, research and due dili- gence that I conducted. Once I made the decision that I had little to lose and much to gain, I made an appointment. (In the spirit of full disclosure, readers should also know that my age management specialist is also a long-time friend.) That being said, this article is ultimately about my experience, not necessarily my doctors or their abilities. The first step in March, of 2010 was to answer a questionnaire designed to provide an
overview of my lifestyle, habits, practices, mental and emotional health, sleep patterns, diet, physical activities and alcohol and tobacco use. Next, I met meet with a specialist for a two-hour private consultation and a physical examination. We also discussed my concerns, medical history and went over medications. His approach is the marriage of traditional medicine with personalized “functional medicine.” Never have I felt so thoroughly briefed about the variables in the aging process. He emphasized that there is no fountain of youth, only treatment and lifestyle choices that can slow the aging process, increasing life span and maximizing quality of life. In easily understood terms he defined the basic principles of age management. Paraphrasing, in “traditional medicine” the tendency is toward findings and treatments predicated on average values and norms given age range and sex. Conversely, “func- tional medicine” personalizes diagnosis and treatment by examining body systems and function specific to the history of individual patients and their complaints. Every three months over the next year, I had follow-up appointments where blood,
urine, saliva and other tests were ordered, reviewed and discussed to assess my total health. As a result, some vitamins and minerals were shown to be at abnormally low
each were carefully explained. We then charted a course that would allow my body to restore itself to healthier levels while bringing my hormone levels back into balance. Follow-up tests were done to track my progress every three months. Adjustments were made to medication dosages to custom fit my particular body type, age and condition. I made simple adjustments to my eating times and habits. There was no rigid diet to follow, so withdrawal symptoms were minimal. I learned to need certain foods less, or substitute them for other tasty alternatives. I began to feel a positive impact on my energy levels, mood and weight. Six months later, I felt on top of my game and had lost more than 30 pounds. That I was able to achieve weight loss and restore my mental and physical health to
levels I had not known for some three decades seems impossible, yet here I am. While it remains to be seen whether my life expectancy has been increased, this is what I can say with certainty: -Physically and mentally, I feel better than I’ve felt for the past 25 years. My energy
levels are close to what they were when I was 30. -My blood work, particularly my cholesterol and glucose levels have been dramati-
cally lowered too much safer levels (I had been a borderline diabetic with unhealthy cholesterol levels). -I lost seven to eight inches around my waist. The love handles melted and I now
sport a 35 to 36 inch waistline. -I do not deny myself foods that I love or take diet pills, but use what I have learned
about food, and how it impacts my particular body system. I adjusted how, what and when I eat rather than how much I eat. -I suffered from an undiagnosed nerve disorder resulting in back and intestinal pain most of my life and took addictive pain blockers, anti-inflammatory medicines and injections to control the symptoms. They are now a thing of the past. The specialist with whom I worked delivered an integrative, personal approach to my
health, and has been involved in all aspects of my care. The ensuing treatment and the improvement in my health, well-being and quality of life far exceeded my expectations.
HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT FACTS: -In men, reduced heart attack risk, stroke and depression are associated with normal levels of testosterone and is well-documented in cardiology and urology literature. -Women with imbalances in estrogens and progesterone have a higher risk for
breast and uterine cancers and women who are overweight and past menopause have this imbalance. - Hormone balancing, sensible nutrition, exercise, stress reduction and other
variables are indeed vital to the applied science of age-management medicine. I confess to having tried every fad diet and exercise program known, without suc-
cess. I read books and attended lectures, consulted more dietitians, general practitio- ners and specialists than I care to recall–at a cost I don’t dare tabulate. All my caregivers held impressive degrees and had the best intentions, but nothing worked for me. I had given up hope. Then along came anti-aging medicine which, when properly monitored, is a reasonably safe alternative to manage personal health. With life spans increasing and our population of seniors growing rapidly, paths to better aging, higher quality of life and a stronger body are in demand. My results are not necessarily typical. So much depends on your individual health issues and your willingness to participate in your own improvement. There are no guarantees. Certainly no doctor can say that you will have the exact same experiences that I have had. If they do, I would suggest you look for another because that one is probably selling snake oil. Each of us is unique in our genetic make-up, lifestyle and the related impact each has on our physical and mental
health.Do your own research and reach your own conclusions. Everyone is getting older, but physical decline may not be inevitable. There may be another choice. JUST THINK ABOUT IT before proceeding. I sure did.
FEEDBACK?
billk@ragemonthly.com or
blog@ragemonthly.com
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RAGE monthly | APRIL 2011
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