1. Celiac Disease is often overlooked in a primary care setting because the symptoms vary from person to person. Symptoms may occur in the digestive tract but in adults, we are less likely to have digestive symptoms and may instead have vague symptoms such as fatigue, anemia, depression, or even canker sores inside the mouth. If a physician says "no" to a patient that questions if they have Celiac Disease; my recommendation would be to go to a Celiac Disease website and print the information on symptoms and bring it to your physicians attention. Then should the physician still say "No" to testing you for Celiac or gluten sensitivity; I would recommend either a referral to a gastrointestinal doctor or switching primary care physicians.Sometimes as physicians, we tend to always look at a field of horses without thinking that there may be a zebra somewhere in the field.As a Family Physician, patients come to me with many questions and complaints. I try to listen to them without interrupting and then plan my course of action. Should a patient of mine complain of more than one thing in different systems (i.e. GI, Neurology, Psychiatry.) I would start to suspect a disease process such as Celiac. For example, should a patient regardless of their age; present to my office complaining of abdominal bloating and pain with associated fatigue, bone or joint pain and depression or anxiety. I would run blood tests and include a work up for Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity.

1. In my practice, once a patient is diagnosed with Celiac Disease, my care model is pretty straight forward. Since patients with Celiac often tend to have other diseases in which the immune system attacks the body's healthy cells and it could be a genetic issue; I then test my patients for other autoimmune diseases such as: diabetes, thyroid disease, autoimmune liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, adrenal gland disorders and other connective tissue diseases. I also schedule my patients to meet with a nutritionist or dietician for counseling and advice on how to change their diet so they do not get frustrated every time they go out to dinner or to the supermarket. Then I refer them to a gastroenterologist for further consultation, tests and possible biopsy of the small intestines. Patients with Celiac disease in my practice are seen every four months for follow up and blood tests; this is at the discretion of each physician. I know some physicians that see their Celiac patients twice a year and sometimes only once a year.Originally thought to be a rare childhood disease, Celiac is now known to be a common genetic disorder. More than 2 million people in the United States have the disease or about 1 in 133 people. Among people who have a first-degree relative- parent, sibling or child-diagnosed with Celiac Disease, as many as 1 in 22 people may have Celiac. The new diagnostic tools that are available or soon to be available for Celiac disease testing is a breakthrough in early detection. Some people with Celiac disease may have no symptoms but can still develop complications of the disease over time. Long term complications include malnutrition; which can lead to anemia, osteoporosis, liver diseases and cancers of the intestine. Since it is becoming increasingly more difficult for patients to gain access to physicians in a timely manner, the new home test kit and other diagnostic tools are a terrific source of screening; as long as patients follow up with their physician for further testing.

1. Personal Choice Family Practice of Jupiter was started by myself in 2007 after reading a book called "A Doctor Like Papa" by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock with my 11 year old daughter "Leah" and my 9 year old son "Sam". The story is based in the early 1900's and is about a family physician in Northeast Vermont who makes house calls in his horse and buggy and takes his daughter with him. As I read the story; I realized two things...1. this was why I chose Family Medicine as a career and 2. I was doing the complete opposite of it. At the time, I was in solo practice in West Palm Beach, Florida seeing on average 30 patients a day, spending 5-10 minutes with each patient and not really knowing any of them as well as I would have liked to. By the time I finished reading the story with my children, I set the gears in motion. I took a business loan, a 2nd mortgage and line of credit to build my "dream practice". I began building a 1000 sq ft "homelike" office in Abacoa, Florida. The basis of the practice as going to be "Old-fashioned Medicine with a high-tech twist". My previous practice had over 3000 patients, my new Family Practice is limited to 300 patients. It is a private, membership practice whereby patients pay an annual, affordable fee and receive services not seen in today's world of medicine. Each patient that signs up with my practice receives house calls (day or night) to either their homes or business, same day appointments with up to one hour visits, no waiting, 24/7 access to me by way of cellphone, email, text messaging, and I even have a lab and pharmacy inside my office for my patients convenience. Since opening in March of 2008, I have over 270 patients and plan on only taking 30-50 more. This will allow me to be the physician I always wanted to be. I love practicing medicine again and can now say I am truly a part of my patient's family.

BIO:

Dr. Lorne Stitsky was born in a small town outside of Toronto, Canada in 1970. His family moved to Sunrise, Florida in 1977. Dr. Stitsky attended Florida State University from 1988 to 1991. He received his Bachelors Degree on the Dean's List in Biology and Organic Chemistry from Nova University in 1993. He attended Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to Florida Hospital Orlando for his family practice Internship. Dr. Stitsky became Chief Resident of Family Medicine at Wellington Regional Medical Center in Palm Beach, Florida from 1998 to 2000. Dr. Lorne Stitsky has won many awards for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the people of Palm Beach County. He lives in Juno Beach, Florida with his wife of 16 years, Michelle (his high school sweetheart), his daughter Leah, age 12, his son "Sam" age 9 and their Golden Retriever "Casey. Dr. Stitsky's hobbies include Tae Kwon Do, surfing, skateboarding and taking care of his new 2010 Yellow Camaro SS.

For more information visit www.drstitsky.com or call 561-779-1520 for your free consultation on this unique family practice.