For Dr. Fine's patients-- e-mail

Lucy · Post by **Lucy** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 12:54 am

Hi gang,

Tonight, I received a group e-mail from Dr. Fine. He's invited his old patients/maybe new ones as well, to come up to Dallas to tour Enterolab's new facility, celebrate his new album by dinner and a concert with dancing, & talk about his research article which is submitted or is being submitted (forget which) -- anyway, it's finally finished. He also finally has his home delivery organic food website up and running, and it was linked to that message.

Most important thing is that he is introducing some new tests, including quite a few food sensitivity tests, and I think, even one for pancreatic insufficiency as well as IgA insufficiency -- things like that.

There are some pictures of him from his recording covers -- looks like he's building lots of muscles these days, so must weigh a bit more as well. Can't see any body fat on those arms, but I wonder what he's finding to eat to put on that weight?? He doesn't eat a whole lot of things, or at least he didn't a while back. Do I dare ask? If he were to see me in my Speedo, he'd die of a heart attack anyway! Ha!

Welp, did any of you on his mailing list get that e-mail? The event is the first weekend in Dec., as I remember reading. Are any of you able to attend that weekend? I just saw Anne of the old Braintalk Celiac/gs site briefly when I was there at the other meeting back in Spring of 2006, although I'm sure that there were others that Anne knew from that site in attendance. There were reps from the Epilepsy organizations and some others as well. It was really a fun time, and since we'd taken Mother with us, it was great that the hotel had such an accommodating w/c accessible room. The lady who cleaned our rooms each day was wonderful, offering to help in many ways, and very sincere about it. Also, there was so much fresh food to eat -- at all the breaks, there was fresh fruit, etc.. We never had to worry about any of the meals provided with the event, and there were lots of friendly people, especially celiacs, in attendance. I really think that alot of those people travel around the country attending all the big national meetings, like GIG and CSA, and make many friends that way from around the country, so this was another event they could add to those. There are all kinds of group trips for people with just the gluten issue, but I'm not sure how easy it would be with all our food issues. That's why I appreciated that Dallas meeting back in '06, so much. I know his camps must be great, but I think they've begun to add in some dairy options for those that can have them, particularly since the camps are for the entire family, so parents can supervise their children in what they allow them to eat.

Anyway, it sure would be nice if some of us could make it there that weekend, but of course, I never know that far in advance. I wonder if someone can't make the dinner and concert, if it's still possible to attend the open house of the lab without charge? That might be more doable for some of us. Whatcha think?

Yours, Luce

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 7:05 am

NO, I'm insulted, I didn't get one. I did all of his tests.........

Great news about publishing and new tests.

Post by **tex** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:57 am

Joan,

I didn't get one either. Maybe he only sent invitations to various VIPs, and/or people who are verified "attenders", IOW, those who have attended some of his other functions, since they are much more likely to attend .

Tex

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 7:48 pm

Tex,

You are right - I learned at camp that if you attended camp or a lecture in the past you are put on the mailing list.

I got the e-mail and would like to go but not sure if I can make it.

Mary Beth

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:15 pm

BTW, Dr. Fine is buff. He cycles and works out alot. He's incredibly lean and muscled up. All I ever saw him eat was a Jethro Bodine size bowl of salad.

Mary Beth

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:53 pm

I didn't get the email either, so it probably got sent to previous attendees, as Tex wrote.

I didn't see any date for the conference - did I miss something?

Did he mention the specific food sensitivity test? I hope he really is submitting his research. Maybe it will finally make our GIs sit up and take us seriously.

Gloria

Post by **tex** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:49 pm

I didn't remember seeing a date either, but when I went back and re-read it, I found this:

Lucy wrote:The event is the first weekend in Dec., as I remember reading.

So, I would assume that it's scheduled for the 5th and 6th of December.

Tex

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 5:27 am

The event is Dec 4 and 5 (evening only). The new food tests are for nuts, legumes, meats, nightshades and other grains. He's only speaking for an hour on research update, research submission and the "Higher Truth of Health". Looks like the rest of the event is promoting music and products.

Mary Beth

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:46 am

Sheesh, I wish he didn't have to be a rock star.........

Post by **tex** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:24 am

Joan wrote:Sheesh, I wish he didn't have to be a rock star.........

To be honest, that's the main reason why I've never been to one of his "conferences" - it's a big turnoff for me. I've come close to signing up for more than one, but I always do a "slow burn", when I think about him requiring me to pay for the "privilege" of seeing him engaging in his "hobby", or "second career", or whatever it is, (or paying for the privilege of skipping out, when that part of the "conference" comes up). I have nothing against music, (I used to be a musician myself, and I love "good" music), and I certainly think that everyone, (including doctors), should have at least one hobby that they're passionate about, and music is one of the best, since it provides many benefits for cognizance and articulation, far beyond what meets the eye. However, everyone has her or his own taste in music, and most of us would rather spend an afternoon cleaning public toilets, than to spend a half hour, (or whatever), listening to music that does not appeal to us. Suffice to say, rock music ain't my cup of tea, in the first place, but even if it were, I resent him promoting it, (or any other second career), on his clients' nickels. Of course, it could be worse - he could be a wanna be opera singer.

That said, his conferences still serve a useful purpose, for people who like to attend such events. With the advent of his organic food business, however, I hope that they don't turn into a virtual "infomercial", for "Fine Enterprises".

Remember when he used to personally answer e-mails?

Tex

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:45 am

In Dr. Fine's defense, the 2 events are separate. Dec. 4 is the Enterolab Open House and lecture and there is no charge. Dec. 5 is music and Dr. Blueberry/organic food promo in another location and it's $25/person or $40 per couple for gluten free dinner, concert and a CD - not exactly a big money maker for him. The music I heard was not hard rock - it's folksy more than anything. I will probably go to the lecture and not the concert. Based on what he charges for his tests (compare his cost for genetic testing to Promethius and you know what I am talking about), his camp and events like this, I really don't get the idea he is out to gouge anybody. He really is a nice guy, albeit one who walks to the beat of his own drum.

Mary Beth

Post by **tex** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 2:30 pm

Mary Beth wrote:Based on what he charges for his tests (compare his cost for genetic testing to Promethius and you know what I am talking about), his camp and events like this, I really don't get the idea he is out to gouge anybody. He really is a nice guy, albeit one who walks to the beat of his own drum.

I totally agree. His prices are a real bargain, compared with virtually everything else connected with the medical world. My remarks above were in reference to his regular "conferences", rather than the upcoming "open house" event in December.

I didn't mean to suggest that I have any issues with his professional qualifications, and/or his lab services - I think all that is top rate, and beyond reproach. For all I know, I may be the only one in the world, (well, possibly besides Joan), who finds his musical aspirations to be somewhat incongruous with his medical accomplishments, to the extent that they seem to put a damper on my enthusiasm regarding his presentations, but I have a gut feeling that the reality, is that his music, lifestyle, etc., is probably a large, (make that huge), part of why he is having such a difficult time getting his research published, (by a straight-laced medical community). Like virtually all of us, I'm frustrated and annoyed by the thought that even though something like that shouldn't make any difference, it obviously does, and I'm pretty sure that the aura surrounding that situation, adds to my disenchantment with his music, unfortunately.

Thanks for coming to his defense, and giving me a chance to explain my thoughts a little better.

Tex

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 3:30 pm

I'm selfish, I just want him to concentrate on helping us and not spend so much time and effort on his music. We NEED him desperately.......He's abandoned patients to his brother from what I've read here and I'm sure he's doing less research.

I do appreciate all his work.

no-more-muffins · Post by **no-more-muffins** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:27 pm

According to his staff he submitted his research for publishing this summer. I called the lab to ask a question about results and then I asked about the research. They said it could take weeks or months but he had submitted it. Hopefully it will be published soon.

Post by **Rosie** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 12:11 pm

That was interesting reading more about Dr. Fine and his other musical interests! IMO, it's great to have a hobby, and be a more complete individual, but it sounds like his musical interest is becoming more like his primary interest, and of course that concerns all of us. You can only have so much time, and his work with food sensitivities is bound to suffer.

I sure hope that he can get his paper on the validity of his food sensitivitity tests published. I'm a scientist, and when I hear only that a paper has been "submitted" I begin to wonder. I don't know how much others here know about the process of getting a paper published. Of course the first step is to submit the paper to a particular Journal. Then the editor of the journal sends the paper out to a number of people, often 3, for review. This is the crucial step in getting a paper actually published. The reviewers go over the paper and critique it. The deadline for a reviewer to return their comments to the editor is usually in the one month range. They then select one of 3 possibilities: (1) Accept as is (2) Accept with revisions (3) Reject. The most common is #2, accept with revisions. This is because an outside reader will often see what they perceive to be "holes" in the paper. Often this involves doing suggested further experiments, or collecting additional data to fill the holes. If the person who submitted the paper disagrees with the reviewer, they can submit a "rebuttle" to the Editor of the journal explaining why they feel that the reviewer is mistaken, but the Editor has the final say. Then the person who submitted the paper has to decide whether they want to do the suggested revisions and re-submit the paper, or just withdraw the paper and try to submit it elsewhere. Being rejected by a journal doesn't necessarily mean that it's a bad paper, and it can often get published eslewhere. Sometimes papers get rejected because they aren't "timely", which is another way of saying the research isn't considered important enough for that journal. There is a real "art" to selecting a journal for publication. Journals are "ranked" as to how good or prestigeous they are. Of course you want your paper to be published in the best journal, but they are harder to get accepted to. So if you get rejected at one journal, you can select a journal in a lower tier to submit it to next with a much better chance at publication. It's actually pretty common practice to submit first to a highly ranked journal and then if rejected submit where it really should have gone in the first place.

And of course there are politics involved. The reviewers are anomyous, but the reviewers know who has submitted the paper. A person who submits a paper can give the editor a list of names of people he doesn't want to review his paper, such as competitors in his field, or people who he feels wouldn't give a fair review. But there is no gettting around the fact that reputation has a big effect. I have seen cases where a really poor paper has gotten published in a prestigeous journal simply because it comes from the lab of a prominant and well-connected researcher. And of course we all recognize that Dr. Fine's reputation may have suffered because of his perceived eccentricities.

Of course Dr. Fine's staff aren't going to be telling people exactly where his paper is in the submission process. But it would be interesting to know. If he submitted his paper in the summer, then he should have gotten back the initial reviews. This business of haveing a paper "submitted" can go on for a very long time......

Rosie