The early days spent looking for a cause
My medical story started in the early part of 2014 with some lightheadedness followed later the same year with some dizziness and a few falling down spells. Over a period of two years, I consulted with five highly respected physicians, including a neurologist and cardiologist, none of whom could pin point the cause of my health problem. During this period I conducted my own research reading as much as my schedule would permit. The most informative books are listed here. While I learned something from every book, Detoxify or Die by Sherry Rogers, MD has a special place in my heart as it provided the key to my finding environmental medicine specialist Dr. Robin Bernhoft who has offices in Ojai and Santa Monica, California. Detoxify or Die has a resources chapter that included the website for the American Academy of Environmental Medicine which, in turn, has a physician locator that led me to Dr. Bernhoft.
After completing a very comprehensive 20 page questionnaire, I met with Dr. Bernhoft who recommended a test to determine if I was suffering from an excess of one or more heavy metals. Such test did show that I had an excess of eight heavy metals (Aluminum, Cadmium, Gadolinium, Lead, Mercury, Nickel, Thallium and Uranium). While the mercury no doubt came from my consuming a half a can of tuna for lunch every day for a period of several years, it is a mystery where the problem with the other heavy metals originated. Dr. Bernhoft recommended a series of chelation treatments which I have been undergoing and which, based on follow up test results, have led to a substantial reduction in the heavy metals in my body. Furthermore, I have experienced a substantial improvement in the dizziness and falling down occurrences.
Initial goal – To spread the word about heavy metals toxicity
The length of time and difficulty it took to find a doctor who could correctly diagnose the cause of my medical problem motivated me to do what I could to spread the word about the medical problems associated with heavy metals toxicity. The resolve to spread the word was further strengthened by stories I heard from other patients of Dr. Bernhoft while undergoing our chelation treatments. Hearing stories of some patients having been on their journey for as long as 20 years before finding the cause of their medical problem resulted in my feeling somewhat less sorry for myself … but further confirmed for me the need to spread the word about this medical problem.
How my research broadened my perspective on personal health issues
However, as a result of all my research, what started out as a simple goal to “spread the word about heavy metals toxicity” has transitioned to a much broader goal. To say that there is a problem with the US healthcare delivery system is a huge understatement. The problems that we see every day in the political arena are only a part of the problem. Another significant part of the problem is the conflicted nature of the manner in which health information is communicated. The operative word in the prior sentence is “conflicted” in the sense that the health information that a person receives is frequently in conflict with their own personal health interests.
For anyone interested in pursuing this topic, reading Overdosed America by John Abramson, MD would be a great place to start. Dr. Abramson makes the following three significant points in his book:
- that 50% of the budget of the FDA department responsible for approving new drugs is paid directly by drug company user fees because the federal government is unwilling to provide adequate funding (p. 249)
- that much of the medical profession’s continuing education efforts are sponsored by the major drug companies (pp 117-24)
- that “publication bias” is a serious problem within the medical profession (pp. 113-17)
While the problems created by the first two bulleted paragraphs are obvious, the third paragraph needs some elaborating. Publication bias takes many forms, some more technical than others. One simple example is the practice of publishing the results of tests that support the effectiveness or safety of new drug or medical device while not publishing the results of tests that do not support such drug or device.
Another book I would recommend is Global Censorship of Health Information by Jonathan Emord who is an attorney. This book describes how FDA policies act to suppress a free flow of information in the health area. Its outstanding history of the First Amendment helped inspire this website’s name.
Revised goal – We all need to do our own research
My educational journey has led me to one main conclusion … we all need to do our own research. While we can’t expect to get to the same level of understanding as our health professionals we can expect to become more knowledgeable and have more confidence in our health decisions. A video on this important point can be viewed by clicking here. And even then, at least based on my own experience, we can expect to be frustrated at times by a lack of reliable information on which to base our health decisions.
Freedom of Speech-Health 