The Doctor Is In JCC Fitness Club members embrace informal give-and-take. Dr. Henry Gonte answers questions at the JCC. Bill Carroll Special to the Jewish News that you have to take a shower before corn- ing in here Gonte quips. "Hey, Doc, where can I get a new shoulder and a new knee?" ational surveys of people visit- asks a fitness club regular. "Giving away any ing a physician's office show that samples today, Doc?" says another. patients usually get an average "We get a better and longer explanation of 15 seconds to explain what's wrong of medical problems than we do from with them — before the doctor interrupts our regular doctor," said Simon Binke of to speed up the visit. Bloomfield Township, almost in unison But that's not the case with Dr. Henry with his wife, Ray. They've Gonte of West Bloomfield. A general attended every session in the practitioner for 47 years, Dr. Gonte lets past few months. "He seems the "patients" talk as long as they like just a wonderful doctor:' want, and loves to shmooze right along adds Ray. with them. He does this in a meeting When "Meet the Doc" room in the southeast wing (the old started, Gonte told people to Holocaust Memorial Center) at the Jewish stand and ask their questions, Community Center in West Bloomfield but they seemed reluctant every Friday afternoon. to be identified with their Dr. Gonte For about an hour and a half, Dr. Gonte medical situations in front of conducts a new feature, sponsored by everyone. So he placed a question box on a the JCC Fitness Club, called "A Free Hour table and the "patients" now anonymously With the Doctor:' or, more affectionately, ask their questions. just "Meet the Doc." It's informal repar- "I want to talk about the after-effects of tee, often laced with jokes and Yiddish my heart bypass surgery:' whispers one expressions, covering a variety of medical man shyly. "Talk louder — you're a lawyer; problems. you must have talked louder than that "We call it a 'free hour' because we want in court;' Gonte admonishes. "Come on people to come in, relax and discuss gen- up here and put that question in the box. eral health issues without worrying about You're a lawyer; you can write. And you giving me their Blue Cross card:' Gonte can walk better than I can." explained. "It's not a class or a lecture; the people just want to 'meet the doc' and talk Standing Tall about what ails them." Gonte, 71, is alluding to the fact he has About 90 percent of the "patients" are only one leg, having lost the other to bone Jewish, some dropping in after exercising at cancer at the age of 35. "But he's a legend the fitness club. "From now on, the rule is in the medical field, handling a medical N 32 April 26 • 2007 .1N practice all these years with one leg; and he's been competitive and beaten adversity all of his life:' said Joe Stern of White Lake. Using metal crutches, Gonte won cham- pionships in racquet ball doubles and still strives to play golf twice a week. "But I don't putt because it's too hard getting off the cart and climbing on and off the put- ting green:' Gonte explains. The graduate of the Des Moines (Iowa) College of Osteopathy now has office hours in Inkster three days a week and often works out at the fitness club and swims. "You do the best you can with what you've got" is his philosophy. He and his wife, Arlene, have three adult sons (two of them doctors) and three grandchildren. "He's amazing;' commented Annette Whiting, JCC Fitness Club director. "I was very much in favor of these weekly ses- sions when he broached the idea to me. Our members love it, mainly the seniors with various ailments. People are now very comfortable with him." "Let's discuss the boiche (stomach)," says Gonte as he kicks off a recent session, "because here's a question on how to get rid of belly fat. The answer is that man was developed to walk on all fours with 22 feet of bowel dangling below him. But now he's standing straight with the stomach layers piled up on top of each other. "Obesity causes toxins in the system, leading to all kinds of problems. Walking just 30 minutes a day with a 1,200- to 2,000- calorie-a-day diet are sufficient. And no smoking; Chantix pills may help you quit." More Insights Other subjects covered include: • Open-heart surgery — with a cameo appearance by Dr. Fred Wolf of Farmington Hills, a retired cardiologist, discussing the merits of heart stents vs. bypass surgery. "Take folic acid daily to fight heart artery plaque and lower the homocysteine level:' Gonte advises. • Cholesterol — "Take your statin drugs (Lipitor, etc.) at night after the liver releas- es excessive cholesterol:' he says, "and get blood tests often to check liver function. A side effect of Lipitor could be muscle pain, and sometimes Crestor, Vytorin or Zedia may be better." • GERD or acid reflux — "caused by obesity, poor diet, smoking and alcohol;' Gonte warns. "Don't go to bed until four hours after dinner, when the food leaves the stomach for the bowel." • Dry skin after showers — "often caused by long showers and excessive hot water," he points out. "If the skin really itches, rub on some Vasoline." "Hey, Doc, what do I do about this 'trig- ger' finger on my hand?" asks an exerciser. "Hold it that way until next week," Gonte retorts. "We're outta time." H For more information on the "Meet the Doc" sessions, call the JCC Fitness Club at (248) 980-6235.