D.C., C.C.N.
Warrenville
(630) 836-9900
tob1152@aol.com
http://www.drtobryan.meta-ehealth.com/site/office/index.jsp
Functional Medicine, Metabolic disorders and chronic disease

Services

Describe your services:
I am the Sherlock Holmes for chronic disease and metabolic disorders. I assist you in learning why the symptoms you have continue and the underlying cause or issues . I provide state-of-the-art diagnostic tests to assist in identifying the causative dysfunction that manifests in frustrating symptoms now. I take time to talk with each patient individually, not just on intake, but as you begin to implement your healing plan. Our conversation helps me learn what is helping you maintain health now, and identifies where blocks might be hindering your healing. By getting to know you and your individual systems, I consider your history, the influence of your family, your eating behaviors, nutritional concerns, your thought patterns, and even environmental factors. These all play a role in achieving optimal health.

How does your healing modality work?
By identifying biochemical and physiologic imbalances, the underlying mechanisms that cause your symptoms become evident. A personalized action plan is then developed to assist you in achieving restored good health. Using diet and nutrition whenever possible along with educating you about how your body works, you begin to put your new understanding into practice. Your body begins to strengthen and heal. We continue medically-prescribed drugs and modalities for as long as necessary while monitoring the lessening of symptoms and side effects. I bring a hand-picked team of experienced allied health professionals to enrich your understanding of yourself and your body. For example, I may prescribe that you take time to learn to shop and prepare food in a new way—you spend two hours with a nutritionist and knowledgeable chef, then we monitor the results.

How do you see your services evolving over the next three years?
As more and more information becomes available, some of the approaches we take now as “out-of-the-box” and unusual, will likely become more accepted. In the meantime, I see that my focus will be geared towards serving patients who have had difficulty in finding relief for troublesome symptoms. I will continue to study the latest research and apply the principles from that research to give my patients the most comprehensive, cost-effective healthcare addressing their health concerns.
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Benefits

What are the benefits/results people see?
Patients who work with me come to understand the underlying mechanisms that cause their confusing symptoms and poor health. Most individuals show improvement or elimination of symptoms, and return to normal, energized function and activities of daily living. For example, patients with previous gastric distress and depression can eat meals with family and friends and have energy for managing a daily routine.

Why do people come to see you?
My patients often come to see me as a last resort or because they have confounding symptoms that don’t fit into a single disease category. They may have tried everything and are caught in a confusing whirl of conflicting information, depression and a very sick body. They have heard that I take time to listen to their concerns before I begin my work. Patients who work with me often experience seemingly miraculous results, but it’s not magic. I not only understand bodily processes and know what simple tests will provide definitive answers, but I help patients follow through with a plan (which can take some time) to create the lifestyle and dietary changes that will support them after their work with me is done.

Who is an ideal client?
An ideal client is ready to face the real issues regarding his/her health which means someone who not only wants to know what is wrong, but is willing to take responsibility for taking action to create good health. I will educate, assist and support the journey toward optimal health.

What makes you different/good at what you do?
I am a Board-Certified Nutritionist with thousands of hours of additional training in Functional Medicine: I understand the etiology of disease. I am compassionate and kind. Like Sherlock, I gather accurate information, make careful observations and skillfully listen to learn how to best help you.
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Philosophy/Approach

Describe your healing philosophy:
Our bodies are meant to be healthy. If we are experiencing dis-ease, healing and restored function return by identifying and removing the obstacles to health. I examine and review the way your body works on a cellular and a behavioral level by applying appropriate tests and measures relative to “normal”. This helps us identify where your body has fallen out of health. My work with you then is educational and supportive, both instructing and motivating you to take charge of your health from a place of knowledge. Within a couple of visits, you have learned why, how and what to do to restore health to your body.

Describe your style or approach:
My approach is personal, educational and specific to your concerns. I work with you to achieve good health given your body, your lifestyle and your genetics, and provide a means to stay healthy for a lifetime.

Why do you do what you do?
When I was in my 20’s and a chiropractic intern, my wife and I were trying to get pregnant. We had difficulty, so I began to seek help from experts. I called the 7 most famous holistic physicians in the country and asked what they would do for infertility. They all told me what they would do. I put a program together that focused on diet and toxicity (specifically based on the symptoms we were having). Addressing my identified zinc deficiency (zinc is crucial to sperm quality and quantity) and my wife’s liver toxicity, we became pregnant in 6 weeks. Friends and neighbors heard about our story and asked if I’d work with them, too. Even women who had been artificially inseminated and still had difficulty getting pregnant, within six months, seemed to benefit from the approach.

As a result of my personal experience with understanding the health of my wife from a functional medicine approach, I felt great passion for educating and guiding people using these tools. I had learned that the body is not system-specific when there is a problem; for example, if there are reproductive problems, liver toxicity may be the problem. And that’s the way the body works. My training over the years has allowed me to learn the metabolic mechanisms of disease and the markers for determining where the break-down in health are occurring.

Health issues are usually multi-system problems, so a healer must be able to look at the function of systems on the surface that sometimes do not even show disease.

Where do we start, then? We begin with a detailed questionnaire and in-office evaluation (this usually takes a couple of hours—–before any other testing is even recommended.
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Education/Background

Education/Training:
Graduate ‘Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice ‘, Institute for Functional Medicine, (1999, Gig Harbor , Washingtom) Diplomat of American Clinical Nutrition Board (D.A.C.B.N.,1996)
American Board of Clinical Nutrition
Certified Clinical Nutritionist (C.C.N., 1996)
International & American Association of Clinical Nutritionists
National College of Chiropractic (1981, Chicago IL ), Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.)
University of Michigan (1974, Ann Arbor ), Bachelor of General Science

Years Professionally Practicing:
23 years

Contributions/Publications:
Adjunct Faculty, Dept of Nutrition, National University of Life Sciences , Lombard , IL
Visiting Instructor, 2004, Northeastern Illinois University , M.S., Exercise Science, “Applied Nutrition in Health and Performance’

Presentations:
* Designs For Health Physicians Teleconference: The Neurological Complications of Gluten Sensitivity
* Parent University : Your Child’s Brain-How Food Can Inhibit or Enhance the Thinking Process
* Parent University : What Doctor’s Won’t Tell You About Ritalin
* Northeastern University T.E.A.M. Conference: The Runaway Childhood Epidemic: Obesity and Diabetes
* Nutrition For Optimal Health Association: How Wheat Harms Your Brain
* Parent University : Maximize Your Child’s Brain Power
* International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists Annual Symposium (Nutritional Advancements in Adolescent and Pediatric Care: The Neurological and Cognitive Complications of Wheat/Gluten Sensitivity
* Northeastern University T.E.A.M. Conference: The Neurological and Cognitive Complications of Wheat Sensitivity
* Common Ground: Saving your Brain: Keeping What You’ve Got And Rebuilding What’s Been Lost
* Earthly Goods: Staying Young While Growing Older
* Earthly Goods: Your Cardiac Blueprint: The Heart Test That Could Save Your Life
* Earthly Goods: M aximizing Your Child’s Brain Power
* Earthly Goods: Saving Your Brain: Maximizing What You’ve Got Left
* Libertyville Civic Center: Is It Hot in Here Or Is It Just Me-The Perimenopausal Years
* Northeastern University T.E.A.M. Conference: Brain Function: Keeping What You’ve Got and Rebuilding What’s Been Lost

Publications:
* ‘Immune Responses to Dietary Proteins, Gliadin and Cerebellar Peptides in Children with Autism’ Nutritional Neuroscienes, Vol. 7, no. 3, 151-161, 2004
* Are Oats Harmless in Celiac Disease , Celiac.com’s Guide to A Scott-Free Life Without Gluten, Fall, 2005, Vol.4, Number 4
* How Much Gluten is Safe , Celiac.com’s Guide To A Scott-Free life Without Gluten, Summer 2005, Vol.4, Number 3
* Wheat: Staff of Life or Unsuspected Cause of Illness, Pioneer Press, Feb. 2004
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What to expect

Describe a typical session:
Prior to your first visit, you are asked to complete a detailed questionnaire about your health history, lifestyle, environmental exposures, and dietary choices. Then, during the first 45 minutes of your first visit, a review and exam is conducted to check physical symptoms, physiological age, nerve function and presenting biochemical status (this is an opportunity not only for us to get to know you as a person, but to get an overview of your current health status). Then, I personally spend one hour with each patient digging a little deeper. I assess your functional state, looking at your genetics, the mitigating circumstances and the trigger for your disease.

How long is a typical session?
First visit: 2 ½ hours. Follow-up visits are one-hour in length. Most patients see me for 3-5 visits total.

Describe your office or treatment room:
The office is warm and friendly, located in an easy-to-access location with ample parking and on the first floor (no stairs). Wheelchair access. My front-desk and nursing staff are compassionate and kind. Two comfortable exam rooms, a lab and a consultation suite. We understand that people hurt and do our best to assist our patients to good health.

How should someone prepare for a session?
Call 847-680-3100 to schedule an appointment. You can obtain the health history questionnaire ahead of time by downloading it from my website (www.drtobryan.meta-ehealth.com), or we will mail a copy to you. It usually takes an hour to complete the questionnaire. Most patients come to the first visit prepared for a urinalysis and others tests that require a 12-hour fast.
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Logistics

Office hours/days of the week:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Fee Range
First visit=$250 for 2 1/2 hour session. Follow-up visits usually take one-hour and are $150/visit. Lab tests specific to your condition range in cost and patients pay the laboratories directly or submit to your insurer (depending on your policy).

Take Insurance?
No

Cancellation Policy?
Yes, we require 48 hours advance notice to cancel or re-schedule an appointment.
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Closing Comments

What else might someone want to know about you?
I personally believe in the approach I have developed over the years as I’ve achieved mastery in understanding the clinical, nutritional and biochemical pathways. I walk my talk.and follow my own advice with healthy living.
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