I enrolled in the program at a cost of $385 for the first consultation and $129.00 a week afterwards. I started the program on September 26, 2012 and followed their directions impeccably. On October 19 I noticed an irregularity in my bowel movement and reported it to the nurse at the clinic. She recommended that I see a doctor at the walk in clinic next door to the Bernstein Clinic. This took place in Victoria, BC. The walk in clinic doctor, Dr. F Muller ordered blood tests on October 19. On October 23 Dr. Muller called me to come for an appointment to talk about the lab results. She noted that my potassium was above the safe limit and that I was possibly at risk for arrythmia. She recommended that I cut my potassium supplements in half. The next day, today, when I went to the Bernstein Clinic I took a letter with me and a copy of the lab results and complained about their dilegence in monitoring the extremely high doeses of postassium that they had insisted I take. (I have a copy of both the letter and the relevant lab results.) The nurses at the clinic contacted Dr. Bernstein in Toronto to ask him what he wanted to do and he instructed them to kick me out of the program - I have asked the clinic for my medical records, but they have not agreed to give them to me. They did refund the money I had paid in advance for the next two weeks.
My thoughts on this are as follows:
1. The potassium that they prescribe is a product that is made specifically for the Bernstein program. Did I strike a chord when I questioned it's use? Is there something fishy about the potassium supplement?
2. Why is Dr. Bernstein so afraid of a second opinion and of a complaint? I had been completely compliant to his program and indeed, had lost 20 pounds in one month.
3. If the diet is as extreme as they say it is, how can they justify kicking me off the program, cold turkey, without any advice about steps I should take. When I asked this question, the nurse told me to just stop taking the potassium and go back to eating normally.
0 comments