Issue Date: November 17, 2002

Follow-ups: January's housecall: Bill and Maria O'Brien wanted help with heart disease for themselves and the kids. March's housecall: Debbie Handkins had a stressful job and migraine headaches. June's housecall: Joe Urban's family was alarmed by his prostate cancer. September's housecall: Nancy Pettit was concerned about the hormones she was taking for menopause; her husband and children were going through life changes, too.

Follow-up visits from Dr. Tedd

During 2002, 4 other families with common health problems also asked USA WEEKEND for help. Here's how they've changed for the better!

Armed with personal advice from our resident medical expert, four USA WEEKEND families have changed their lives. Catch up with the four determined families featured in this year's "Dr. Tedd Makes a House Call" series.

"I did everything perfect ... then this"

Bill and Maria O'Brien of Shreveport, La., and their children worried about their high cholesterol and a family history of heart disease. Bill's problem reached a critical point in August 2001, when he had an emergency cardiac catheterization and two stents, metal mesh tubes, were placed to correct blocked arteries. A determined Bill was on his treadmill the day after his surgery, and with a strict vegetarian diet he got his cholesterol down to 150 from 350.
Meet the O'Briens: The original story.

Enter Dr. Tedd. He counseled that such an extreme diet would be difficult to maintain, even for someone as focused as Bill. And Dr. Tedd urged the whole family to work on establishing long-term, healthful lifestyles that included sensible diet, exercise and attitude, as well as regular medical checkups.

The advice had broad impact: Bill says people who had read about his family in USA WEEKEND Magazine told him, "Because of your story, I got checked and found a problem."

Soon after the article appeared, Bill had serious chest pain -- angina -- and doctors found scar tissue around his stents, a common side effect. Bill called Dr. Tedd for a second opinion on treatment and was grateful for some reassuring counseling. Bill had a second angioplasty to clear blood flow.

This heart setback took a toll on his attitude. "I was angry," says Bill, 50. "I did everything perfect ... then this." Out of anger and frustration, Bill eased up: "I thought, if I'm going to go, I'm going to have some fun." He gained a few pounds he's now working off, and in August, his cardiac treadmill test went well.

"I took his advice" on stress

Debbie Handkins of Cincinnati -- associate pastor at the 1,800-member Montgomery Community Baptist Church, wife of engineer David and mother to 8-year-old triplets and a preteen -- has been plagued with migraine headaches since age 11. But after changing her medication and taking a tip from Dr. Tedd, Debbie, now 42, is having fewer, and less severe, attacks.

"Dr. Tedd told me to reduce stress, so I took his advice and went on sabbatical this summer. I spent a lot of time resting with family and studied at a seminary. I went to monasteries and spent time in silent retreat." As a result, even though hot weather usually triggers her migraines, she had only three the entire summer -- a significant improvement.

David Handkins, 50, is recovering slowly from knee surgery, but he has been using a recumbent bike, as Dr. Tedd advised, for low-impact exercise that won't aggravate his osteoarthritis. Debbie has noticed David is eating much more healthfully, too.

Bridget, 12, has Langherhan's cell hystiocytosis, a rare disease that causes unchecked cell growth, but she's now asymptomatic. Debbie says as a result of the USA WEEKEND article, they heard from several other families dealing with LCH and were able to share their experiences and advice with those readers. As for the triplets, Gavin and Elliot have done well with their asthma so far this fall, and Rachel remains in good health.
Meet the Handkins: The original story

"A nice, warm, fuzzy feeling"

Joe Urban of Westminster, Md., was recovering from prostate cancer when Dr. Tedd paid his house call. Joe continues to be proactive about his prostate cancer, having checks every three months. In June, his PSA -- prostate specific antigen -- went up 0.1 point, but in September, it was back down. "We attribute it to our faith [in God]," wife Nancy says. "I really believe that, plus the supplements, is all working together."

Nancy was encouraged by Dr. Tedd's positive reaction to their use of alternative medicine and supplements. Nancy and Joe both regularly receive acupuncture treatments to reduce stress, and Joe has been taking a combination of megasoy, IP6 and grapefruit fiber for his prostate.

"For a long time, I felt I was out in left field, because I believed this way and a lot of doctors didn't," Nancy says. "The fact that [Dr. Tedd] talked about that and about [alternative medicine expert] Andrew Weil gave me a nice, warm, fuzzy feeling."

Nancy says Dr. Tedd "has a positive, upbeat attitude. ... It blended very well with ours. He reinforces that your situation is as bad as you choose to make it or as good as you want it to be. A positive attitude can get you a long way, and it will heal."
Meet the Urbans: The original story

A decision on hormones

Nancy Pettit of Vail, Colo., wondered about the risks of hormone replacement therapy vs. the benefits. Dr. Tedd walked Nancy through the pros and cons, recommending that she continue to use the hormones as they were originally intended, to relieve the symptoms of menopause. Nancy is following his advice.

After Dr. Tedd's house call, Nancy's husband, Kent, finally had a checkup to determine the cause of his heart pains. To his relief, a stress test and treadmill test showed he had a harmless arrhythmia. He's doing circuit exercises and plans to jog more regularly. His cholesterol has dropped to 230 from a high of 260.

The family is moving to a new house, with room for the exercise equipment Nancy plans to use to ease her back and leg pain.

Meet the Pettits: The original story

Also this week:
Meet the Tutts: Dr. Tedd makes a house call
How much sleep do kids need?
Health Briefs: Crying babies, light therapy for prostate cancer, duct tape for warts, etc.
Ask Dr. Tedd Mitchell a health question