Re: Light at the end of the tunnel

October 10, 2003

,

I have been praying for you my friend! I'm so glad to hear that you will be

able to go home soon, how exciting!

Remember...sip, don't gulp! LOL I did that ONE TIME...ick.

Take care!

Melisa Rechenmacher

Pampered Chef Kitchen Consultant

For more information or a free catalog e-mail me at:

KitchenStore2urdoor@...

October 11, 2003

In a message dated 10/10/2003 9:09:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

topazmoon1964@... writes:

> <-----Happy Dance...Happy Dance...Happy Dance

>

> Keep good thoughts for me so I can go home on Tuesday or Wednesday by the

> latest. While everyone has been good to me here at DRMC, I've been away from

> home for 2 1/2 weeks and I miss my own bed and kitties.

>

> Yesterday was such a horrible day (I was depressed and crying most of the

> morning). Now I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

>

Hi again Halle-to-be! I'm glad you are on the mend -- it's been a rough one

for you and I am sure your kitties have missed you as much as you have missed

them. They will be so glad to see you! Just a few days, now, sweetie! Hugs

and blessings, Ann

October 31, 2003

Could you provide the source to this document, article or whatevah?

> Light at the End of the Tunnel

>

> On this much, scientists and doctors agree: Tiny flashes of

infrared

> light can play a role in healing wounds, building muscle, turning

> back the worst effects of diabetes and repairing blinded eyes. But

> what they can't decide on is why all these seemingly miraculous

> effects happen in the first place.

>

> For more than a decade, researchers have been studying how light-

> emitting diodes, or LEDs -- miniscule, ultra-efficient bulbs like

the

> ones found in digital clocks and television remotes -- might aid in

> the recuperative process. NASA, the Pentagon and dozens of

hospitals

> have participated in clinical trials. Businesses have sold

commercial

> LED zappers to nursing homes and doctors' offices. Magazines and

> television crews have drooled on cue. Medicare has even approved

some

> LED therapy.

>

> Despite all that effort, " there's not a clear idea of how this

works.

> There are just working hypotheses, " said Marti Jett, chief of the

> molecular pathology department at the Walter Army Institute of

> Research.

>

> One possibility comes from Dr. Harry Whelan, a colleague of Jett's

> and a neurology professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In a

> 2002 study backed by the National Institutes of Health and the

> Persistence in Combat program from the Pentagon's research arm,

> Whelan used LEDs to restore the vision of blinded rats. Toxic doses

> of methanol damaged the rats' retinas. But after exposure to the

> flashes of infrared light, up to 95 percent of the injuries were

> repaired.

>

> Human trials have been less dramatic, but still shockingly

effective.

> Using a Food and Drug Administration-approved, handheld LED --

> playfully called Warp 10 for its Star Trek style -- wound-healing

> time was cut in half on board the USS Salt Lake City, a nuclear

sub.

> Diode flashes improved healing of Navy SEALs' training injuries by

> more than 40 percent. And a Warp 10 prototype was used by U.S.

> Special Forces units in Iraq, Whelan asserts.

>

> These LEDs originally were developed by NASA to stimulate plant

> growth. Now, the agency wants to use the gadgets to build

astronauts'

> muscles during weightlessness. DNA synthesis in muscle cells

> quintupled after a single application of LEDs flashing at the 680-,

> 730- and 880-nanometer wavelengths, according to Whelan.

>

> How exactly all this happened remains a mystery, Jett said. She's

> identified more than 20 genes that typically are associated with

> retinal damage, for example, and " the LED alters all of them. "

>

> " Some increased, some decreased, " she added. " But they were all

> brought back to normal. "

>

> Why? Whelan thinks that the LED pulses give the retinal cells extra

> energy, allowing them to heal more quickly. Ordinarily,

mitochondria -

> - the engines of the cell -- turn sugars into energy. They do so

with

> the help of an enzyme, cytochrome oxidase, which carries electrons

> during the energy-transfer process. Whelan's theory is that light

> particles from the LED give the cytochrome electrons it ordinarily

> would get from sugar. Light becomes a substitute for food,

basically.

>

> Dale Bertwell, the founder of Tampa, Florida-based Anodyne Therapy,

a

> maker of LED medical devices, doesn't buy the explanation.

>

> " Mitochondria in no way explains the effects " of the LEDs, he said.

> If Whelan is right, wounds could be healed just by " eating another

> candy bar. "

> What's more, Bertwell added, the $1.2 million the Pentagon's

Defense

> Advanced Research Projects Agency just invested in Whelan's work is

a

> waste.

>

> " They're funding Harry's work to build something that's already in

> widespread use, " Bertwell said.

>

> That something, Bertwell said, is Anodyne's purse-sized,

> monochromatic, LED zapper. Life Care Centers of America, a nursing

> home chain, has bought nearly 200 of the devices, approved by

> Medicare last year. Gentiva Health Services, a home health-care

> provider, ordered another 25.

>

> The devices are being marketed as an antidote -- maybe the first

> antidote -- to diabetic neuropathy, a deadening in the small nerve

> endings at the body's extremities. The syndrome is blamed for the

> vast majority of diabetic amputations.

>

> Because of all the sugar in a diabetic's blood, the nerve endings

can

> become brittle.

>

> The diodes' flashes combat this by momentarily breaking nitric

oxide

> away from hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries

> oxygen, Bertwell asserts. Nitric oxide is a vasodilator -- a

> substance that causes blood vessels to expand. That, in turn,

> stimulates blood flow, which can cause nerves to break their

brittle

> nature, and grow again.

>

> Dr. ph Prendergast, a Redwood City, California,

endocrinologist,

> says he's used LED therapy on more than 200 patients with diabetic

> neuropathy. After about 10 treatments of 40 minutes each, 95

percent

> of those people reported having some feeling restored to their

feet.

> Nearly two-thirds are completely back to normal, Prendergast said.

>

> But, when asked why he's seen such startling results, Prendergast

> said, " It just goes up; that's all I know. "

>

> Dr. Margolis, a pediatrics professor at the Medical College

of

> Wisconsin, expressed similar sentiments. He and Whelan are part of

a

> seven-hospital clinical test to see if LEDs can reduce one of the

> nastier side effects of chemotherapy, called mucositis. It's

> basically an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which

> results in canker sores in the mouth and throat.

>

> In an earlier study, mucositis in bone-marrow transplant recipients

> dropped to 58 percent from an expected 70 percent to 90 percent

after

> daily treatment using a 670-nanometer LED array.

>

> The trial Margolis is involved with started only recently, so he

> won't pronounce any definite conclusions.

>

> " But it appears to those of us working in the ward -- the doctors,

> the nurses -- that patients getting the light treatment get

> significantly less sores, " Margolis noted.

>

> That being said, he had " absolutely no idea " why this was

> happening. " It's my first venture into the light, " he said.

October 31, 2003

Here you are. As soon as I hit the " send " button I realized that I

had forgotten to include the source:

http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,60786,00.html

Lana

> > Light at the End of the Tunnel

> >

>the light, " he said.

November 3, 2003

what I read on tthe net, and there is a lot of research on this if you do

searches on the right terms. like low level laser theraphy.

They said the mitochondria respond to the red light (680nm approx) and boost

their output of ATP a bunch. teh cell walls respond to the infrared 880nm

and makes them work better.

Wanst to experiment ? just get out your laser pointer and shine it on your

skin. Even though they say they healed eyes with leds, NEVER shine a laser

pointer in your eyes it will damage them.

What I have been trying is to shine the laserc pointer into the arteries on

the wrist. maight be a good way to heal burns from electro devices.

I read its great for healing open wounds

do some searches on google there is tons of stuff on it, alot of it is onder

laser theraphy which also can apply to LED effects. since its all based

light of varying colors. Far Infrared saunas use infrered in the 2 to 10

micron range and beyond, they are great for detoxing, probobly based on same

effect of infrored affecting cell membranes.

V

Light at the End of the Tunnel

> Light at the End of the Tunnel

>

> By Noah Shachtman

> Oct. 29, 2003

>

> On this much, scientists and doctors agree: Tiny flashes of infrared light

> can play a role in healing wounds, building muscle, turning back the worst

> effects of diabetes and repairing blinded eyes. But what they can't decide

> on is why all these seemingly miraculous effects happen in the first

place.

>

> For more than a decade, researchers have been studying how light-emitting

> diodes, or LEDs -- miniscule, ultra-efficient bulbs like the ones found in

> digital clocks and television remotes -- might aid in the recuperative

> process. NASA, the Pentagon and dozens of hospitals have participated in

> clinical trials. Businesses have sold commercial LED zappers to nursing

> homes and doctors' offices. Magazines and television crews have drooled on

> cue. Medicare has even approved some LED therapy.

>

> Despite all that effort, " there's not a clear idea of how this works.

There

> are just working hypotheses, " said Marti Jett, chief of the molecular

> pathology department at the Walter Army Institute of Research.

>

> One possibility comes from Dr. Harry Whelan, a colleague of Jett's and a

> neurology professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In a 2002 study

> backed by the National Institutes of Health and the Persistence in Combat

> program from the Pentagon's research arm, Whelan used LEDs to restore the

> vision of blinded rats. Toxic doses of methanol damaged the rats' retinas.

> But after exposure to the flashes of infrared light, up to 95 percent of

> the injuries were repaired.

>

> Human trials have been less dramatic, but still shockingly effective.

Using

> a Food and Drug Administration-approved, handheld LED -- playfully called

> Warp 10 for its Star Trek style -- wound-healing time was cut in half on

> board the USS Salt Lake City, a nuclear sub. Diode flashes improved

healing

> of Navy SEALs' training injuries by more than 40 percent. And a Warp 10

> prototype was used by U.S. Special Forces units in Iraq, Whelan asserts.

>

> These LEDs originally were developed by NASA to stimulate plant growth.

> Now, the agency wants to use the gadgets to build astronauts' muscles

> during weightlessness. DNA synthesis in muscle cells quintupled after a

> single application of LEDs flashing at the 680-, 730- and 880-nanometer

> wavelengths, according to Whelan.

>

> How exactly all this happened remains a mystery, Jett said. She's

> identified more than 20 genes that typically are associated with retinal

> damage, for example, and " the LED alters all of them. "

>

> " Some increased, some decreased, " she added. " But they were all brought

> back to normal. "

>

> Why? Whelan thinks that the LED pulses give the retinal cells extra

energy,

> allowing them to heal more quickly. Ordinarily, mitochondria -- the

engines

> of the cell -- turn sugars into energy. They do so with the help of an

> enzyme, cytochrome oxidase, which carries electrons during the

> energy-transfer process. Whelan's theory is that light particles from the

> LED give the cytochrome electrons it ordinarily would get from sugar.

Light

> becomes a substitute for food, basically.

>

> Dale Bertwell, the founder of Tampa, Florida-based Anodyne Therapy, a

maker

> of LED medical devices, doesn't buy the explanation.

>

> " Mitochondria in no way explains the effects " of the LEDs, he said. If

> Whelan is right, wounds could be healed just by " eating another candy

bar. "

>

> " They're funding Harry's work to build something that's already in

> widespread use, " Bertwell said.

>

> That something, Bertwell said, is Anodyne's purse-sized, monochromatic,

LED

> zapper. Life Care Centers of America, a nursing home chain, has bought

> nearly 200 of the devices, approved by Medicare last year. Gentiva Health

> Services, a home health-care provider, ordered another 25.

>

> The devices are being marketed as an antidote -- maybe the first antidote

> -- to diabetic neuropathy, a deadening in the small nerve endings at the

> body's extremities. The syndrome is blamed for the vast majority of

> diabetic amputations.

>

> Because of all the sugar in a diabetic's blood, the nerve endings can

> become brittle.

>

> The diodes' flashes combat this by momentarily breaking nitric oxide away

> from hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen,

> Bertwell asserts. Nitric oxide is a vasodilator -- a substance that causes

> blood vessels to expand. That, in turn, stimulates blood flow, which can

> cause nerves to break their brittle nature, and grow again.

>

> Dr. ph Prendergast, a Redwood City, California, endocrinologist, says

> he's used LED therapy on more than 200 patients with diabetic neuropathy.

> After about 10 treatments of 40 minutes each, 95 percent of those people

> reported having some feeling restored to their feet. Nearly two-thirds are

> completely back to normal, Prendergast said.

>

> But, when asked why he's seen such startling results, Prendergast said,

" It

> just goes up; that's all I know. "

>

> Dr. Margolis, a pediatrics professor at the Medical College of

> Wisconsin, expressed similar sentiments. He and Whelan are part of a

> seven-hospital clinical test to see if LEDs can reduce one of the nastier

> side effects of chemotherapy, called mucositis. It's basically an

> inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which results in canker sores

> in the mouth and throat.

>

> In an earlier study, mucositis in bone-marrow transplant recipients

dropped

> to 58 percent from an expected 70 percent to 90 percent after daily

> treatment using a 670-nanometer LED array.

>

> The trial Margolis is involved with started only recently, so he won't

> pronounce any definite conclusions.

>

> " But it appears to those of us working in the ward -- the doctors, the

> nurses -- that patients getting the light treatment get significantly less

> sores, " Margolis noted.

>

> That being said, he had " absolutely no idea " why this was happening. " It's

> my first venture into the light, " he said.

>

> http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,60786,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_10

>

November 3, 2003

Does PHOTON GENEI by ED SCHILLING also works on the same principle of laser

therapy ?

Heard / read lot about it.

>From: " V " <webman@...>

>Reply-

>< >

>Subject: Re: Light at the End of the Tunnel

>Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 11:06:20 -0800

>

>what I read on tthe net, and there is a lot of research on this if you do

>searches on the right terms. like low level laser theraphy.

>They said the mitochondria respond to the red light (680nm approx) and

>boost

>their output of ATP a bunch. teh cell walls respond to the infrared 880nm

>and makes them work better.

>Wanst to experiment ? just get out your laser pointer and shine it on your

>skin. Even though they say they healed eyes with leds, NEVER shine a laser

>pointer in your eyes it will damage them.

>What I have been trying is to shine the laserc pointer into the arteries on

>the wrist. maight be a good way to heal burns from electro devices.

>I read its great for healing open wounds

>do some searches on google there is tons of stuff on it, alot of it is

>onder

>laser theraphy which also can apply to LED effects. since its all based

>light of varying colors. Far Infrared saunas use infrered in the 2 to 10

>micron range and beyond, they are great for detoxing, probobly based on

>same

>effect of infrored affecting cell membranes.

>V

>

> Light at the End of the Tunnel

>

> > Light at the End of the Tunnel

> >

> > By Noah Shachtman

> > Oct. 29, 2003

> >

> > On this much, scientists and doctors agree: Tiny flashes of infrared

>light

> > can play a role in healing wounds, building muscle, turning back the

>worst

> > effects of diabetes and repairing blinded eyes. But what they can't

>decide

> > on is why all these seemingly miraculous effects happen in the first

>place.

> >

> > For more than a decade, researchers have been studying how

>light-emitting

> > diodes, or LEDs -- miniscule, ultra-efficient bulbs like the ones found

>in

> > digital clocks and television remotes -- might aid in the recuperative

> > process. NASA, the Pentagon and dozens of hospitals have participated in

> > clinical trials. Businesses have sold commercial LED zappers to nursing

> > homes and doctors' offices. Magazines and television crews have drooled

>on

> > cue. Medicare has even approved some LED therapy.

> >

> > Despite all that effort, " there's not a clear idea of how this works.

>There

> > are just working hypotheses, " said Marti Jett, chief of the molecular

> > pathology department at the Walter Army Institute of Research.

> >

> > One possibility comes from Dr. Harry Whelan, a colleague of Jett's and a

> > neurology professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In a 2002 study

> > backed by the National Institutes of Health and the Persistence in

>Combat

> > program from the Pentagon's research arm, Whelan used LEDs to restore

>the

> > vision of blinded rats. Toxic doses of methanol damaged the rats'

>retinas.

> > But after exposure to the flashes of infrared light, up to 95 percent of

> > the injuries were repaired.

> >

> > Human trials have been less dramatic, but still shockingly effective.

>Using

> > a Food and Drug Administration-approved, handheld LED -- playfully

>called

> > Warp 10 for its Star Trek style -- wound-healing time was cut in half on

> > board the USS Salt Lake City, a nuclear sub. Diode flashes improved

>healing

> > of Navy SEALs' training injuries by more than 40 percent. And a Warp 10

> > prototype was used by U.S. Special Forces units in Iraq, Whelan asserts.

> >

> > These LEDs originally were developed by NASA to stimulate plant growth.

> > Now, the agency wants to use the gadgets to build astronauts' muscles

> > during weightlessness. DNA synthesis in muscle cells quintupled after a

> > single application of LEDs flashing at the 680-, 730- and 880-nanometer

> > wavelengths, according to Whelan.

> >

> > How exactly all this happened remains a mystery, Jett said. She's

> > identified more than 20 genes that typically are associated with retinal

> > damage, for example, and " the LED alters all of them. "

> >

> > " Some increased, some decreased, " she added. " But they were all brought

> > back to normal. "

> >

> > Why? Whelan thinks that the LED pulses give the retinal cells extra

>energy,

> > allowing them to heal more quickly. Ordinarily, mitochondria -- the

>engines

> > of the cell -- turn sugars into energy. They do so with the help of an

> > enzyme, cytochrome oxidase, which carries electrons during the

> > energy-transfer process. Whelan's theory is that light particles from

>the

> > LED give the cytochrome electrons it ordinarily would get from sugar.

>Light

> > becomes a substitute for food, basically.

> >

> > Dale Bertwell, the founder of Tampa, Florida-based Anodyne Therapy, a

>maker

> > of LED medical devices, doesn't buy the explanation.

> >

> > " Mitochondria in no way explains the effects " of the LEDs, he said. If

> > Whelan is right, wounds could be healed just by " eating another candy

>bar. "

> >

> > " They're funding Harry's work to build something that's already in

> > widespread use, " Bertwell said.

> >

> > That something, Bertwell said, is Anodyne's purse-sized, monochromatic,

>LED

> > zapper. Life Care Centers of America, a nursing home chain, has bought

> > nearly 200 of the devices, approved by Medicare last year. Gentiva

>Health

> > Services, a home health-care provider, ordered another 25.

> >

> > The devices are being marketed as an antidote -- maybe the first

>antidote

> > -- to diabetic neuropathy, a deadening in the small nerve endings at the

> > body's extremities. The syndrome is blamed for the vast majority of

> > diabetic amputations.

> >

> > Because of all the sugar in a diabetic's blood, the nerve endings can

> > become brittle.

> >

> > The diodes' flashes combat this by momentarily breaking nitric oxide

>away

> > from hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen,

> > Bertwell asserts. Nitric oxide is a vasodilator -- a substance that

>causes

> > blood vessels to expand. That, in turn, stimulates blood flow, which can

> > cause nerves to break their brittle nature, and grow again.

> >

> > Dr. ph Prendergast, a Redwood City, California, endocrinologist,

>says

> > he's used LED therapy on more than 200 patients with diabetic

>neuropathy.

> > After about 10 treatments of 40 minutes each, 95 percent of those people

> > reported having some feeling restored to their feet. Nearly two-thirds

>are

> > completely back to normal, Prendergast said.

> >

> > But, when asked why he's seen such startling results, Prendergast said,

> " It

> > just goes up; that's all I know. "

> >

> > Dr. Margolis, a pediatrics professor at the Medical College of

> > Wisconsin, expressed similar sentiments. He and Whelan are part of a

> > seven-hospital clinical test to see if LEDs can reduce one of the

>nastier

> > side effects of chemotherapy, called mucositis. It's basically an

> > inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which results in canker

>sores

> > in the mouth and throat.

> >

> > In an earlier study, mucositis in bone-marrow transplant recipients

>dropped

> > to 58 percent from an expected 70 percent to 90 percent after daily

> > treatment using a 670-nanometer LED array.

> >

> > The trial Margolis is involved with started only recently, so he won't

> > pronounce any definite conclusions.

> >

> > " But it appears to those of us working in the ward -- the doctors, the

> > nurses -- that patients getting the light treatment get significantly

>less

> > sores, " Margolis noted.

> >

> > That being said, he had " absolutely no idea " why this was happening.

> " It's

> > my first venture into the light, " he said.

> >

> > http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,60786,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_10

> >

September 18, 2005

Thanks for your unfortunately common story. Please take my article on this site to every Dr. who had ever seen you and include your story.

I would send it to the biggest newspaper in Alaska.

I don't know i there is a HTN speicalist in Alaska but there should be.

Some specific comments on your story FYI.

In a message dated 9/18/05 1:53:11 PM, blu674me@... writes:

Hello to everyone.

I just wanted to introduce myself and share my experience, which until

now has been 8 years of sheer terror. The story may be a little

lengthy, and definitely convoluted, but if it can help others who are

fighting aldosteronism, maybe it'll be worth the read.

In 1997 I had an upper molar abcess while I was in Colorado visiting

my 3 year-old daughter. I called my dentist in Alaska and asked if he

could prescribe something for the pain until I got home. He

prescribed prednisone, in a form called Medrol dose-pack. I took the

first dose (five pills) and the world fell apart. It felt like

someone shot me in both kidneys. After two days curled up in my hotel

room, without even the presence of mind to call an ambulance, I could

finally walk and eat something. I believe to this day that this

incident was the genesis of my kidney problems. Shortly before this,

I'd had an exit physical from the Navy, and my BP was perfectly normal.

It is possible that giving Medrol allowed the infection in your molar to get into your blood stream and cause severe problems. I would report that Dentist to the Dental Society. Infections should never be treated with steroids as they may make them worse. You did not desciribe you kidney problems.

In 1998, I was waiting at the pharmacy for an unrelated prescription,

and I tried out the blood pressure machine to kill time. It read

190/100. I was 31 years old. The chart on the machine had a warning

about levels this high. So I called a GP physician at random out of

the phone book. He started me on an ever changing series of worthless

BP meds that did not help at all. After a couple of years wasting

time with this idiot, my BP was up to 220/120. I checked myself into

the emergency room with arrhythmias and soaring BP.

When as low K discovered?

They kept me for

a few hours, and were unable to lower the BP at all. I got a referral

to what was supposedly "the best" nephrologist in Alaska. Ha. He put

me on all sorts of other unhelpful meds, including one that he told me

would cause a brain hemorrhage if I quit taking it abruptly. After

none of this helped, he told me to pray. Gee, thanks.

By the fall of 2002, my BP was spiking at times up around 300/170. My

gums would bleed constantly. Capillaries were rupturing in my eyes.

I knew I was going to die. It was just a matter of when. The previous

year, I had quit a two pack a day smoking and two pot of coffee a day

habit cold turkey. I was so scared, it wasn't even difficult to kick

the habits, but quitting seemed to have no effect. I truly believe

that caffeine and nicotine abuse was playing havoc with my adrenals.

Not likely-at least as far as we know.

Out of desperation, I made an appointment to see my parents' GP. He

did one exam and said "if you were my son, you would be at the Mayo

Clinic yesterday". And so I went.

I can't say enough good things about the Mayo Clinic. Thank God for

them. But I still had too much aldosterone. After a three-day

marathon of tests,(CT scan and urine collection said no

pheochromocytoma) the best doctor in the universe (at least as far as

I was concerned at the time) put me on a combination of Spironolactone

25mg a day, Toprol XL 100mg twice a day, Minoxidil 10mg am, and 2.5mg

pm, and Lasix 40mg pm. Wanted to see me back there in two months.

The Mayo Clinic is doing an excellent job. Better that in the old days when the did not look for PA if the K was normal.

After 10 days, my BP was down to 160/100. Which, although still high,

was worlds better than it had been. On my second visit to the Mayo,

the Doc adjusted my meds slightly, adding 25mg spironolactone in the

evening.

Things were going great. My BP at times would get down to 130/75.

Unbelievable. But then my chest muscles started hurting. I wrote to

the Mayo Doc, and he replied that this is a side-effect of Spiro.

Also a chance of growing breasts. I decided there was no way that was

going to happen to me. I quit taking the Spiro without asking

permission. I know, I know, I know. You don't have to say it.

Lucky man you. This is called you bet your life!

Well, my BP, of course, spiked again. Badly. So, I did what any

rational human would do. I remained off of the Spiro and ignored it.

I am the world's worst patient. (aka: Idiot) During that time, I

started investigating anything on the net that had to do with BP.

Earlier this year, I found this group. I saw the DASH diet mentioned.

Checked into it, and cut my salt intake drastically.

Started taking a good amount of potassium, and a powdered magnesium

supplement called "Natural Calm" Added 25mg Spiro back into my

regimen. BP went down to 130/75. I started experimenting with salt.

If I would use "normal" amounts of salt for 2-3 days, my BP would

soar. Even with the Spiro. Cut the salt back to <1000mg per day, and

down went my BP.

Aldo is the classic cause of Salt Sensitivity (SS).

Cut to the chase: I am working with the Mayo doc on lowering some of

my meds. I believe that by restricting my salt intake to <1000mg a

day, taking plenty of potassium and magnesium and getting enough

excercise that I'll be able one day to completely eliminate my meds.

I also believe that the lack of salt in my diet is the reason I can

take Spironolactone without my pectoral muscles hurting and/or growing

breasts.

do yu have any renin aldo numbers to share with us?

May I recommend some books to you.

1. The High Blood Pressure Solution, by D. , M.D.

2. The Magnesium Solution For High Blood Pressure, by Jay Cohen, M.D.

3. The Miracle Of Magnesium, by Carolyn Dean

4. The Body's Many Cries For Water, by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D.

5. The Caffeine Blues, by Cherniske

Did you not also read the DASH diet BOOK? If not I strongly recommend it.

I hope nobody does the stupid things I've done, but I do hope that

sharing my story can give hope to someone. Thank God I found this

group. It made me quit eating salt, and start taking Spiro again. I

wish all of you good health and happiness.

Wade

Anchorage, Alaska

September 18, 2005

In a message dated 9/18/05 11:21:51 PM, farahbar@... writes:

Hi Wade,

Thanks for the story. I was wondering with a bp of 300/170, did you end up with a heart failure or heart attack?

Thanks for the book suggestions. Does in High Pressure solution talk at all about hyperaldosteronism? I read Healiing Hypertension by Mann(of hypertention center, new york hospital-cornell medical center)," uncovering the secret power of your hidden emotions few yrs ago" to learn more about hypertension and my problems since no meds were working on me and my brother suggested the book thinking I had emotional problems causing my hbp.. There was no mention of PA. Few months ago when I was finally diagnosed, I contacted him by email hoping to learn more about aldosteronism and he responded to the email within a day, I was so impressed, however, his response was that he didnt' know much about hyperaldosteronism and all he knew about it was that it would be cured by surgery.

wishing you the best of health,

Farah

As you all know there is a lot of folks out there who write about HTN but dont really know the full spectrum of disease. Hope more folks find our site.

I am interested in setting up an email based consulting site for PTs with difficult HTN. The problem is how would I bill for my time and expertise? Any suggestions? Most insurance companies will not pay for e based consulatations but my knowledge (and our groups) can be life saving.

May your pressure be low!

Clarence E. Grim, BS (Chem/Math), MS (Biochem), MD, FACP, FACC, FAHS

Clinical Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology

Director, Hypertension Diagnosis and Treatment Center

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

Published over 220 scientific papers, book chapters and 220 abstracts in the area of high blood pressure epidemiology, physiology, endocrinology measurement, treatment and how to detect curable causes.

Listed in Best Doctors in America

Specializing in Difficult to Control High Blood Pressure and the History and Physiology of High Blood pressure in the African Diaspora

September 18, 2005

In a message dated 9/19/05 12:21:36 AM, blu674me@... writes:

Farah,

Thanks for the reply and the kind words. To answer your first

question, amazingly, no, there was no heart failure or heart attack.

I literally scared the doctors in Anchorage who "treated" me. They

didn't have any idea what to do, and they didn't want me to die

without doing SOMEthing.

As to your second question, no, Dr. makes no mention about

hyperaldosteronism in his book. In my experience, the only person who

has known about this condition is my doctor at the Mayo Clinic in

Rochester, Minnesota, Dr. Gregoire. He deserves the title of

healer.

All doctore learned about PA in medical school. Take my aritcle to your Dr. up there.

I assume there is no family Hx of Low K or HTN?

They should be able to eaisly make the diagnosis if your K was low or by measureinn rein and aldo.

What Dr. DOES point out in his excellent book is the critical

ratio of potassium to sodium. In my case, my PA was greatly

exacerbated by an imbalance in this ratio.

It always is.

It is hard to believe thta a book that talks about K does not mention PA.

Not being a physician, I

would never suggest how one deal with his/her condition, but I would

definitely recommend anyone with hypertension that does not respond

well to drugs read this book.

I would suggest it it better to see a Dr. who knows about HTN.

I don't know of Mann or his book, but if he claims that all

hyperaldosteronism can be cured with surgery, I'm not sure I'd seek

his counsel any more.

Send him my article please.

As to emotions, I do believe that emotions play a role in all healing.

Even when I had nearly given up hope of recovery, I concentrated (and

still do) on being constantly grateful for any time here at all.

Having recovered now, it is even that much more of a gift. It's a

beautiful autumn day in Alaska where I live, and I took a long walk

around the lake this evening. Colorful leaves on the ground, cool

breeze.....and I was grateful. I believe deeply that love and

gratitude mend the spirit, which , when possible, mends the body.

Alaska is fantastic. We were just there about a month ago for 5 perfect days. Too bad you hadnt written earlier I could have seen you in consultation up there.

My BP is now stable at 125/70. I would be happy to share with anyone

the steps that I took to achieve my recovery. Best of health and life

to you, Farah.

Wade

> Hello to everyone.

>

> I just wanted to introduce myself and share my experience, which until

> now has been 8 years of sheer . The story may be a little

> lengthy, and definitely convoluted, but if it can help others who are

> fighting aldosteronism, maybe it'll be worth the read.

>

> In 1997 I had an upper molar abcess while I was in Colorado visiting

> my 3 year-old daughter. I called my dentist in Alaska and asked if he

> could prescribe something for the pain until I got home. He

> prescribed prednisone, in a form called Medrol dose-pack. I took the

> first dose (five pills) and the world fell apart. It felt like

> someone shot me in both kidneys. After two days curled up in my hotel

> room, without even the presence of mind to call an ambulance, I could

> finally walk and eat something. I believe to this day that this

> incident was the genesis of my kidney problems. Shortly before this,

> I'd had an exit physical from the Navy, and my BP was perfectly normal.

>

> In 1998, I was waiting at the pharmacy for an unrelated prescription,

> and I tried out the pressure machine to kill time. It read

> 190/100. I was 31 years old. The chart on the machine had a warning

> about levels this high. So I called a GP physician at random out of

> the phone book. He started me on an ever changing series of worthless

> BP meds that did not help at all. After a couple of years wasting

> time with this idiot, my BP was up to 220/120. I checked myself into

> the emergency room with arrhythmias and soaring BP. They kept me for

> a few hours, and were unable to lower the BP at all. I got a referral

> to what was supposedly "the best" nephrologist in Alaska. Ha. He put

> me on all sorts of other unhelpful meds, including one that he told me

> would cause a brain hemorrhage if I quit taking it abruptly. After

> none of this helped, he told me to pray. Gee, thanks.

>

> By the fall of 2002, my BP was spiking at times up around 300/170. My

> gums would bleed constantly. Capillaries were rupturing in my eyes.

> I knew I was going to die. It was just a matter of when. The previous

> year, I had quit a two pack a day smoking and two pot of coffee a day

> habit cold turkey. I was so scared, it wasn't even difficult to kick

> the habits, but quitting seemed to have no effect. I truly believe

> that caffeine and nicotine abuse was playing with my adrenals.

>

> Out of desperation, I made an appointment to see my parents' GP. He

> did one exam and said "if you were my son, you would be at the Mayo

> Clinic yesterday". And so I went.

>

> I can't say enough good things about the Mayo Clinic. Thank God for

> them. But I still had too much aldosterone. After a three-day

> marathon of tests,(CT scan and collection said no

> pheochromocytoma) the best doctor in the universe (at least as far as

> I was concerned at the time) put me on a combination of Spironolactone

> 25mg a day, Toprol XL 100mg twice a day, Minoxidil 10mg am, and 2.5mg

> pm, and Lasix 40mg pm. Wanted to see me back there in two months.

>

> After 10 days, my BP was down to 160/100. Which, although still high,

> was worlds better than it had been. On my second visit to the Mayo,

> the Doc adjusted my meds slightly, adding 25mg spironolactone in the

> evening.

>

> Things were going great. My BP at times would get down to 130/75.

> Unbelievable. But then my chest muscles started hurting. I wrote to

> the Mayo Doc, and he replied that this is a side-effect of Spiro.

> Also a chance of growing . I decided there was no way that was

> going to happen to me. I quit taking the Spiro without asking

> permission. I know, I know, I know. You don't have to say it.

>

> Well, my BP, of course, spiked again. Badly. So, I did what any

> rational human would do. I remained off of the Spiro and ignored it.

> I am the world's worst patient. (aka: Idiot) During that time, I

> started investigating anything on the net that had to do with BP.

> Earlier this year, I found this group. I saw the DASH diet mentioned.

> Checked into it, and cut my salt intake drastically.

> Started taking a good amount of potassium, and a powdered magnesium

> supplement called "Natural Calm" Added 25mg Spiro back into my

> regimen. BP went down to 130/75. I started experimenting with salt.

> If I would use "normal" amounts of salt for 2-3 days, my BP would

> soar. Even with the Spiro. Cut the salt back to <1000mg per day, and

> down went my BP.

>

> Cut to the chase: I am working with the Mayo doc on lowering some of

> my meds. I believe that by restricting my salt intake to <1000mg a

> day, taking plenty of potassium and magnesium and getting enough

> excercise that I'll be able one day to completely eliminate my meds.

> I also believe that the lack of salt in my diet is the reason I can

> take Spironolactone without my pectoral muscles hurting and/or growing

> breasts.

>

> May I recommend some books to you.

> 1. The High Pressure Solution, by D. , M.D.

> 2. The Magnesium Solution For High Pressure, by Jay Cohen, M.D.

> 3. The Miracle Of Magnesium, by Carolyn Dean

> 4. The Body's Many Cries For Water, by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D.

> 5. The Caffeine Blues, by Cherniske

>

> I hope nobody does the stupid things I've done, but I do hope that

> sharing my story can give hope to someone. Thank God I found this

> group. It made me quit eating salt, and start taking Spiro again. I

> wish all of you good health and happiness.

>

> Wade

> Anchorage, Alaska

>

September 18, 2005

Hi Wade,

Thanks for the story. I was wondering with a bp of 300/170, did you end up with a heart failure or heart attack?

Thanks for the book suggestions. Does in High Pressure solution talk at all about hyperaldosteronism? I read Healiing Hypertension by Mann(of hypertention center, new york hospital-cornell medical center)," uncovering the secret power of your hidden emotions few yrs ago" to learn more about hypertension and my problems since no meds were working on me and my brother suggested the book thinking I had emotional problems causing my hbp.. There was no mention of PA. Few months ago when I was finally diagnosed, I contacted him by email hoping to learn more about aldosteronism and he responded to the email within a day, I was so impressed, however, his response was that he didnt' know much about hyperaldosteronism and all he knew about it was that it would be cured by surgery.

wishing you the best of health,

Farahblu674me <blu674me@...> wrote:

Hello to everyone.I just wanted to introduce myself and share my experience, which untilnow has been 8 years of sheer . The story may be a littlelengthy, and definitely convoluted, but if it can help others who arefighting aldosteronism, maybe it'll be worth the read.In 1997 I had an upper molar abcess while I was in Colorado visitingmy 3 year-old daughter. I called my dentist in Alaska and asked if hecould prescribe something for the pain until I got home. Heprescribed prednisone, in a form called Medrol dose-pack. I took thefirst dose (five pills) and the world fell apart. It felt likesomeone shot me in both kidneys. After two days curled up in my hotelroom, without even the presence of mind to call an ambulance, I couldfinally walk and eat something. I believe to this day

that thisincident was the genesis of my kidney problems. Shortly before this,I'd had an exit physical from the Navy, and my BP was perfectly normal.In 1998, I was waiting at the pharmacy for an unrelated prescription,and I tried out the pressure machine to kill time. It read190/100. I was 31 years old. The chart on the machine had a warningabout levels this high. So I called a GP physician at random out ofthe phone book. He started me on an ever changing series of worthlessBP meds that did not help at all. After a couple of years wastingtime with this idiot, my BP was up to 220/120. I checked myself intothe emergency room with arrhythmias and soaring BP. They kept me fora few hours, and were unable to lower the BP at all. I got a referralto what was supposedly "the best" nephrologist in Alaska. Ha. He putme on all sorts of other unhelpful meds,

including one that he told mewould cause a brain hemorrhage if I quit taking it abruptly. Afternone of this helped, he told me to pray. Gee, thanks.By the fall of 2002, my BP was spiking at times up around 300/170. Mygums would bleed constantly. Capillaries were rupturing in my eyes. I knew I was going to die. It was just a matter of when. The previousyear, I had quit a two pack a day smoking and two pot of coffee a dayhabit cold turkey. I was so scared, it wasn't even difficult to kickthe habits, but quitting seemed to have no effect. I truly believethat caffeine and nicotine abuse was playing with my adrenals. Out of desperation, I made an appointment to see my parents' GP. Hedid one exam and said "if you were my son, you would be at the MayoClinic yesterday". And so I went. I can't say enough good things about the Mayo Clinic. Thank God

forthem. But I still had too much aldosterone. After a three-daymarathon of tests,(CT scan and collection said nopheochromocytoma) the best doctor in the universe (at least as far asI was concerned at the time) put me on a combination of Spironolactone25mg a day, Toprol XL 100mg twice a day, Minoxidil 10mg am, and 2.5mgpm, and Lasix 40mg pm. Wanted to see me back there in two months. After 10 days, my BP was down to 160/100. Which, although still high,was worlds better than it had been. On my second visit to the Mayo,the Doc adjusted my meds slightly, adding 25mg spironolactone in theevening. Things were going great. My BP at times would get down to 130/75. Unbelievable. But then my chest muscles started hurting. I wrote tothe Mayo Doc, and he replied that this is a side-effect of Spiro. Also a chance of growing . I decided there

was no way that wasgoing to happen to me. I quit taking the Spiro without askingpermission. I know, I know, I know. You don't have to say it. Well, my BP, of course, spiked again. Badly. So, I did what anyrational human would do. I remained off of the Spiro and ignored it.I am the world's worst patient. (aka: Idiot) During that time, Istarted investigating anything on the net that had to do with BP. Earlier this year, I found this group. I saw the DASH diet mentioned.Checked into it, and cut my salt intake drastically. Started taking a good amount of potassium, and a powdered magnesiumsupplement called "Natural Calm" Added 25mg Spiro back into myregimen. BP went down to 130/75. I started experimenting with salt.If I would use "normal" amounts of salt for 2-3 days, my BP wouldsoar. Even with the Spiro. Cut the salt back to <1000mg per day, and

down went my BP. Cut to the chase: I am working with the Mayo doc on lowering some ofmy meds. I believe that by restricting my salt intake to <1000mg aday, taking plenty of potassium and magnesium and getting enoughexcercise that I'll be able one day to completely eliminate my meds. I also believe that the lack of salt in my diet is the reason I cantake Spironolactone without my pectoral muscles hurting and/or growingbreasts. May I recommend some books to you.1. The High Pressure Solution, by D. , M.D.2. The Magnesium Solution For High Pressure, by Jay Cohen, M.D.3. The Miracle Of Magnesium, by Carolyn Dean 4. The Body's Many Cries For Water, by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D.5. The Caffeine Blues, by CherniskeI hope nobody does the stupid things I've done, but I do hope thatsharing my story can give hope to

someone. Thank God I found thisgroup. It made me quit eating salt, and start taking Spiro again. Iwish all of you good health and happiness.Wade Anchorage, Alaska

September 18, 2005

Farah,

Thanks for the reply and the kind words. To answer your first

question, amazingly, no, there was no heart failure or heart attack.

I literally scared the doctors in Anchorage who " treated " me. They

didn't have any idea what to do, and they didn't want me to die

without doing SOMEthing.

As to your second question, no, Dr. makes no mention about

hyperaldosteronism in his book. In my experience, the only person who

has known about this condition is my doctor at the Mayo Clinic in

Rochester, Minnesota, Dr. Gregoire. He deserves the title of

healer.

What Dr. DOES point out in his excellent book is the critical

ratio of potassium to sodium. In my case, my PA was greatly

exacerbated by an imbalance in this ratio. Not being a physician, I