Tuesday, February 15, 2022

A PEMF SUCCESS STORY: "GETTING MY LIFE BACK FROM CFS"

Interview by: Lennard Gettz, Ed.D & Roberta Kline, MD
Edited by: Dr. Robert L. Bard

Introduction

In support of personal leadership and proactive health, The Integrative Pain Healers Alliance applauds Ms. Suzanne Wheeler of Minneapolis, Minnesota as our Researcher of the Month.  After years of suffering a life-altering disorder that currently continues to challenge the scientific community of its root causes, Suzanne explored “outside the conventional box” of opioid prescriptions until she uncovered the one remarkable solution that got her back on her feet and joining life again.  Invoking CHANGE against all odds by diligently searching for what’s beyond the convenient takes courage and conviction.  It is this level of leadership that defines Alternative Health and Wellness to educate others about new answers that offer better results.

SHOT DOWN BY CFS
In 2017, I was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I had been essentially home bound for about two years and probably bed bound about 50% of my time. CFS was found to be the source of my 'all over body' pain- and so started my road to seeking out more targeted treatments. 

Life before CFS was very active. I worked in corporate America for 17 years as a regional manager for a large building facilities company and managed a team of about 3000 people. Prior to that, I was in the United States army for a decade. I was a Blackhawk pilot and a C 12 airplane pilot in the military before I entered corporate America. 

I started to feel significant pain after the birth of my 3rd daughter in Oct 2002.  I had a traumatic delivery due to a condition called placenta previa.  I lost over half my blood volume during the birth and received extensive blood transfusions.  I never felt the same after that experience.  About a week after delivery, the pain throughout my body started.  Over the years – it became worse and worse, and the fatigue became debilitating.  I kept pushing through with my job and family responsibilities which may have damaged my body even further.  


CFS is not an easy problem to resolve. I spent extensive time at Stanford University's chronic fatigue clinic with some of their top specialists.  I was also sent to the Workwell Foundation (CA) where I underwent a two day CPET (image insert) a cardiopulmonary exercise testing where they were able to determine what my anaerobic threshold was my VO2 max.  It was there that the clinicians found the extent of my metabolic dysfunction; my reports showed a VO2 reading equivalent to that of about a 95 year old. 

I had the kind of pain that radiated all over- throughout my spine, throughout my hips, legs, my knees, ankles, feet also throughout my arms. I had, peripheral neuropathy in my hands. I had trouble moving my hands and trouble typing and then also trouble walking. It developed to the point where in 2015 I was using a cane in my late forties to walk. I was desperate to get pain relief for more than a decade. I also had compression in my lower spine and my L4, L5, and also in my thoracic region (T 11 & 12) that caused extensive pain.  It wasn't an easy thing to figure out but through MRI, you can see the physical deformities- where imaging helped make everything pretty clear. But as to why it radiated through my body like it did, it took a lot of years to find out. 

DESPERATE FOR PAIN RELIEF
Since 2002, I tried everything- modalities from opioids to hip injections to spinal injections from a pain clinic. I saw chiropractors, I had acupuncture, tens units, electrical stim, laser treatments, extensive cranial psychotherapy, massage, a lot of ice and heat, a massage chair and a hot water Jacuzzi (which was the one thing that I responded to the best).

All pain relief from this point was temporary.  The base pain would eventually return and continue to get progressively worse. Years into this, it didn't seem like there was a lot left for me to try.  I learned that my condition was based on a specific virus that destroys your metabolic system and your body doesn't have the ability to oxygenate for energy. I was extremely tired all the time with post exertional malaise and my anaerobic thresholds became very low.  Our body builds up lactic acid with any exertion, with even minimal amounts of exertion. 

TAKING CHARGE: RESEARCH OUTSIDE THE BOX
In 2017, I learned about PEMF and its concepts of getting to the cellular level by helping my cells oxygenate.  Reading the many testimonials about it, it seemed to make better sense than the other modalities I tried so far.  User stories matched up with my symptoms and what I had been told by doctors was happening to my body. My sister introduced me to the idea upon seeing a presentation at a horse event, believe it or not. I became intrigued and acquired a rental and eventually purchased my  own model.

ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
I have HAD some wonderful physicians who are experts in their lane. At the height of my illness, I was seeing six different doctors who had me on so many medications (10 or 12 prescriptions) and I was still bed ridden- hence, nothing was working. 

Before I started using the PEMF, I had been essentially home bound for about two years and probably bed bound about 50% of my time. And if I was not in bed, I was seeking pain relief, usually in a hot bath. I would say within two weeks, the pain throughout my body had significantly subsided. I still had a little bit of joint pain but the overall soft muscle pain was GONE.  I had been taking opioids for over a decade prior, and I practically eliminated all that. It was, it was pretty unbelievable. Pain was a huge factor.  I wasn’t changing my doctors - but the one thing we all agreed on is that they found sudden improvement in me.  In my gut, I was confident of the changes were from the use of PEMF.


SUZANNE TODAY
I live a completely different life. To be clear, I'm not healed. I still have to live a more gentle life- certainly nothing like I used to do back in my army days or my early years working in corporate America- running and teaching aerobics and doing things like that. I still am not there to be able to do all that. The disease is still there, but the symptoms are managed and I have eliminated all the harsh, addictive medications. I am definitely getting so much more out of life without pain pills as opposed to being bed ridden and walking with a cane.

For anyone suffering like this, it's worth looking into. You want the expertise from the medical world, but you should blend the holistic treatments that are available- and then research it. If you search PEMF- read up on it! You'll find so many clinical studies and user testimonials that are coming up on that for all different ailments (not just mine) and they're seeing results. 

Thanks to PEMF, I'm able to participate with my family. I'm able to travel, go to the beach and take wonderful walks again. My sisters and I started my own business helping horses and people (with PEMF) be more pain-free and traveling again. It's hard not to be passionate about something that has that effect on your life. My husband says he got his wife back.


SPECIAL THANKS
The editors of this spotlight proudly gives thanks to Ms. Suzanne Wheeler for her generosity in sharing her story and her resources with us.  Additional thanks to Dr. Jerry Dreessen of the AOPP (Association of PEMF Professionals) and Pat Ziemer of Magnawave Inc. and Aura Wellness PEMF for coordinating our interviews, shared countless materials and conducted unending support to help our educational program bring new light to PEMF technology for chronic disorders and supportive testimonials in alternative therapeutics.   





ScienceNews Extra
Commentary on CFS/ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
By: Dr. Bobbi Kline

One of the key underlying findings in conditions causing chronic mental or physical fatigue is dysfunction of the mitochondria. Mitochondria are small structures located in the nucleus of every cell, and every cell contains thousands of them. These powerhouses produce the energy our bodies need to carry out every function in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). When mitochondria don’t function at their best, or too many of them are destroyed, our energy levels suffer. While this can be due to inherited genetic disorders, most often it is seen as the result of chronic damage over time.

Many of the biochemical reactions in our bodies produce toxic versions of oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen, including how we make ATP. These toxic molecules, which we call free radicals, have to be neutralized so they don’t damage the mitochondria. Our bodies have powerful antioxidant defenses to keep these in check. But when these protective systems become overwhelmed by too many free radicals, oxidative stress results and mitochondria are damaged.




IN THE NEWS

THE 2022 POST-MILITARY CRUSADERS COALITION 
2/11/2022- A 2022 initiative by community leaders launched the PMCC or Post Military Crusaders Coalition to launch an action plan for health resources for injured American veterans. Similar to the First Responders Cancer Resource project, this campaign supports all veteran advocates and service members support organizations by offering educational initiatives, alternative therapeutic modalities, sustainable diagnostic technologies and clinical research programs. 




CONTRIBUTORS

BOBBI KLINE, MD 
(Educational Dir. /Women's Diagnostic Group)
Dr. Kline is a board-certified ObGyn physician, Integrative Personalized Medicine expert, consultant, author, and educator whose mission is to change how we approach health and deliver healthcare. She helped to create the Integrative & Functional Medicine program for a family practice residency, has consulted with Sodexo to implement the first personalized nutrition menu for healthcare facilities, and serves as Education Director for several organizations including the Women’s Diagnostic Health Network, Mommies on a Mission. Learn more at https://bobbiklinemd.com 

 
ROBERT L. BARD, MD  (Diagnostic Imaging Specialist)
Having paved the way for the study of various cancers both clinically and academically, Dr. Robert Bard co-founded the 9/11 CancerScan program to bring additional diagnostic support to all first responders from Ground Zero. His main practice in midtown, NYC (Bard Diagnostic Imaging- www.CancerScan.com) uses the latest in digital Imaging technology has been also used to help guide biopsies and in many cases, even replicate much of the same reports of a clinical invasive biopsy. His most recent program is dedicated to the reporting of mental health diagnostic and innovative solutions including the use of modern neuromagnetic technologies and protocols in his MEDTECH REVIEWS program. 


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Disclaimer: The information (including, but not limited to text, graphics, images and other material) contained in this article is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or scientific claims. Furthermore, any/all contributors (both medical and non-medical) featured in this article are presenting only ANECDOTAL findings pertaining to the effects and performance of the products/technologies being reviewed - and are not offering clinical data or medical recommendations in any way. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read on this page, article, blog or website.

Monday, February 7, 2022

PEDIATRIC MYOCARDITIS & NATIONAL DETECTION MOVEMENT (Part 1)

Written by: Dr. Robert L. Bard

Since the advent of Covid-19 Long Haul studies in 2021, the medical diagnostic community shifted into overdrive- seeking out all available screening and examination protocols to assess health problems called POST-ACUTE SEQUELAE (PASC). One of the recent Covid-19 related headliners is the rise in cases of MYOCARDITIS in children 16 years and under. CDC Reports link the pathological impact with covid infection since it is proven that Viral infections are a common cause of myocarditis. 

Between early 2020–2021, patients with Covid-19 had nearly 16 times the risk for myocarditis[1]. According to the CDC, in a study of myocarditis cases, 2,116 (41.7%) had a history of Covid-19.  In addition, cases of myocarditis reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) indicated links between Myocarditis and Pericarditis to come from the mRNA Covid-19 vaccination (especially in male adolescents and young adults) more often after the second dose.[2].

Myocarditis is defined as an inflammatory disorder of the heart muscle (myocardium) leading to cardiac dysfunction. It is also recognized as myocardial cell death [3]. Checkups for this also reviews for PERICARDITIS (the inflammation of the outer lining of the heart). Various causes of myocarditis includes: Viral Infectious including adenoviruses, echoviruses, enteroviruses like the coxsackie viruses. In addition, predisposition can occur from those with Autoimmune diseases such as Celiac disease, Churg-Strauss syndrome, Crohn disease, Kawasaki disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis etc. (See NIH chart for full list of causes- [4])


STANDARDIZED DIAGNOSTICS

As with any critical disorder, detecting early stages of myocarditis allows for a higher opportunity to treat and even eliminate the health risk.  In children, symptoms include: Fever, Fainting, Breathing difficulties, Rapid breathing, Chest pain and Rapid or irregular heart rhythms [5]. In adults, symptoms range from chest pain, shortness of breath, at rest or during activity and fluid buildup with swelling of the legs, ankles and feet. To prevent possible heart damage, a cardiologist may order one of a number of imaging options:

▪ Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
▪ Chest X-Ray
▪ Heart MRI
▪ Blood Tests
▪ Doppler Ultrasound for Acute Myocarditis
▪ Cardiovascular MR Elastography (MRE)
▪ Ultrasound Elastography

See expanded details on diagnostic protocols, visit:  http://pediatricscan.com/myocarditis.html





MedNews Extra
Saving Lives Through Advocacy & Research:
FOR ELYSA FOUNDATION

Around the first week of Feb, 2022, our clinical diagnostic researcher, Dr. Robert Bard launched his PediatricScan.com 2.0 in NYC‐ which included a Pilot program for Myocarditis Screening through the use of advanced Doppler Ultrasound Imaging.  To establish the clinical network for this program is to connect with ICU specialists & Cardiologists as well as all associations supporting Myocarditis research.

We met the directors of a remarkable national advocacy foundation called FOR ELYSA FOUNDATION‐ a non‐profit organization dedicated to promoting Education, providing Light, and supporting Research in the areas of viral myocarditis and pediatric sudden cardiac arrest. (www.ForElysa.org). Mrs. Jana Rojas and husband Jaime Rojas from Kansas City developed this organization inspired by the loss of her vibrant little girl,  Elysa Louise Rojas who passed away at the tender age of two years old. " In Elysa’s case, a common childhood virus was responsible for her myocarditis. The virus either attacked Elysa’s heart directly or caused her immune system to attack her heart muscle in a “friendly fire” fashion while trying to fight the virus. The inflammation in her heart increased drastically and very quickly to the point of sudden cardiac arrest. Doctors and scientists do not fully understand the mechanisms within the body that cause a virus to “go haywire” in the immune systems of individuals with myocarditis. There is currently no way to predict when/if this will occur."



The FOR ELYSA FOUNDATION is one of our first advocacy friends in pursuit of bringing national awareness and supportive clinical research for myocarditis diagnostics and prevention. According to the ForeElysa.org website, Myocarditis is a disease marked by inflammation and damage of the heart muscle. There are many causes of myocarditis, including viral infections, autoimmune diseases, environmental toxins, and adverse reactions to medications. The most common cause of myocarditis in North America is viral infections. Myocarditis usually attacks otherwise healthy people. It is believed that 5 to 20% of all cases of sudden death in young adults are due to myocarditis. Although the exact incidence of myocarditis is not known, it is estimated that approximately 343,000 people die of myocarditis and its major complication, cardiomyopathy, each year. The prognosis is variable but chronic heart failure is the major long term complication. Myocarditis and the associated disorder of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy are the cause of approximately 45% of heart transplants in the United States.  

Materials in this excerpt are published with express consent from The For Elysa Foundation.  For complete Information, visit www.FORELYSA.org



HOW & WHEN TO CHECK FOR PEDIATRIC MYOCARDITIS
By: Jana Rojas
The tricky thing with myocarditis being virally mediated is that Elysa could have had a heart scan a week before she died (the day before she contracted the virus that wrecked her heart), and it would have been normal. I am hesitant to insinuate that imaging could "clear" a patient and provide a clean bill of health without noting that this can and does occur spontaneously after viral infections, and so testing while ill or post-virally is actually the key message and window of opportunity for myocarditis detection.
In my mind, the primary role for cardiac diagnostic imaging as it related to myocarditis specifically would be for: 
1) acutely ill children in ED/urgent care/hospital inpatient settings
2) children exhibiting the signs and symptoms you have outlined (fainting, sudden fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations), 
3) after known Covid or other viral infection with prolonged or delayed healing (ie ongoing fatigue, shortness of breath, etc)  
4) and possibly PRE-PARTICIPATION SPORTS PHYSICALS. The pre participation screenings would be enhanced cardiac screenings in general to ideally pick up congenital heart defects and other concerns as well as myocarditis. 





TROUBLESHOOTING MYOCARDITIS
By Bobbi Kline, MD (Integrative Physician / Genomic Research Specialist)

As a mom, my heart grieves for parents, including Elysa’s, who suffer such devastating tragedy. It’s the worst thing you hope never happens to your child, and I truly admire parents who turn a tragedy into something positive. It requires such amazing strength, courage and grace. As a physician, I find my self immediately asking "Why do these things happen? How can we predict or prevent them?" As clinicians, we look for patterns to help guide diagnosis and treatment. We know what to expect, but sometimes they can lull us into a false sense of security. Childhood viruses, as any parent knows, are an expected part of those early years. 
But what happens when they turn out to be something more? That’s where pattern recognition is crucial. When something obviously falls outside those patterns, it’s a signal to question and go deeper. But what happens when you don’t even recognize that deviation? What if something is so uncommon or so subtle that it’s hard to detect among all the noise? Post-viral myocarditis is one of those conditions, and I’m glad to see it now in the spotlight. Raising awareness is a key first step. While COVID-19 has certainly helped to highlight this condition, it goes further than COVID. Many common childhood viruses have been implicated in causing myocarditis, but most people are completely unaware. I admit that it was not something I ever really thought about as my kids were growing up. And I am not alone. Educating clinicians as well as parents on what to look for, when to be alarmed, when to go deeper is crucial. This alone will save lives. 


But it’s only the first step. We also need better tests and tools to quickly and easily identify who is at risk, and better treatments for helping these children. This requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes better diagnostics including noninvasive technology, along with effective medications and other treatments. It also includes the burgeoning field of genomics and personalized medicine, both to provide a better understanding of the why, as well as a powerful tool to predict and prevent. For, at the heart of this, is understanding each child’s uniqueness in a way that empowers.  Two studies have been published this year that have the potential to leverage the power of DNA to identify who is at risk for developing myocarditis after a viral infection. Not only that, but also which of those children are most likely to recover, and therefore need fewer interventions, and which of those children are most at risk for sudden death and require much more intensive treatment and support. And, in today’s world, we also need the power of legislation to make sure everyone has access to this higher level of care. There is much promise to change the trajectory of this devastating illness, and it is only through advocacy such as this that it will happen. 




1) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): Association Between Covid-19 and Myocarditis Using Hospital-based Admin Data 3/2020-1/2021) https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7035e5.htm
3) MR Imaging of Myocardial Infarction | RSNA-Radiological Society of North America  / https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/rg.335125722
4) The Diagnostic and Clinical Approach to Pediatric Myocarditis: A Review of the Current Literature (NCBI/NIH)  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6352488/
5) Diagnosis and Management of Myocarditis in Children (American Coll. of Cardiology) https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/ten-points-to-remember/2021/07/09/17/31/diagnosis-and-management-of-myocarditis

Disclaimer: The information (including, but not limited to text, graphics, images and other material) contained in this article is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or scientific claims. Furthermore, any/all contributors (both medical and non-medical) featured in this article are presenting only ANECDOTAL findings pertaining to the effects and performance of the products/technologies being reviewed - and are not offering clinical data or medical recommendations in any way. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read on this page, article, blog or website. None of the information provided should be interpreted to be or is meant to be medical advice, suggestions, or counseling.