CASE HISTORIES
BC
was first seen in our medical center January 3 2000: he came specifically
to pursue Chelation Therapy. His primary diagnoses at the initial
visit were Coronary Artery Disease, Insulin Dependent Diabetes,
HTN, Hyperlipidemia, and Peripheral Neuropathy.
He
was diagnosed with diabetes in 1995 and in good health other than
his diabetes. In May of 1998 he had a comprehensive evaluation including
echocardiogram and stress test and was told all was well. In February
1999 he began to notice some chest "pressure" that occurred
occasionally associated with exercise but also with anxiety and
excitement. His primary care physician at that time told him that
because of the previous negative stress test Coronary Artery Disease
was unlikely. Several weeks after that encounter he apparently saw
an ophthalmologist who recommended that he should have a repeat
stress test. This was performed and revealed significant ST segment
depressions, that was consistent with the normal ejection fraction
with mild Inferobasal Hypo kinesis with mild mistral regurgitation.
His history includes a brother who died with myocardial infarction
at age 47.
Catheterization
was performed May 1, 1999 and was consistent with estimated 10 percent
left main occlusion, 40 percent proximal LAD, 50 to 60 percent obtuse
marginal stenosis and 70 percent mid right coronary artery stenosis.
A thallium stress test was also performed this was strongly positive.
It was consistent with inferior ischemia at low work loads. He did
not reach 85 percent predicted maximum heart rate. He was discharged
to home and was told he should have medical therapy for his coronary
artery disease. He was readmitted to the hospital in August 1999
for an infection at the site of a trauma and also a second opinion
regarding medical therapy versus PCTA. Recommendation at this time
was angioplasty for relief of symptoms to be scheduled after his
shoulders were stabilized which were injured at the previous automobile
accident.
He
had an additional catheterization in October of 199 and was told
that the previous recommendation for angioplasty was not now recommended
because the number of blockages he had and bypasses surgery was
recommended. The second catheterization revealed a 20 percent proximal
stenosis of the left main coronary artery, 50 percent proximal stenosis
of the left anterior descending the circumflex and an 80 percent
lesion in the mid portion of the right coronary. The patient opted
not to accept the recommendation for t he bypass surgery. He told
me that the surgeon implied that if he did not have bypass surgery
he would be dead in a relatively short period of time.
His
comprehensive program was begun with his first Chelation treatment
part of his program on January 20, 2000. On February 10, 2000 a
reevaluation of his current status revealed that he was walking
4 miles daily without any problems.
He
noted that his blood sugars were averaging lower, prior to starting
his Chelation program they were in the 160-200 range fasting, and
they are now ranging from 90-120. His urine sugars were also negative
for the first time since we had been seeing him. He also had been
able to decrease his insulin from 7-8 units that he was using at
night only 2 units. By mid April 2000 he reported to me that on
his own he gradually decreased and then discontinued 2 of his drugs
Altace and Amaryl. He also continued to decrease his insulin and
over the last six week period he just takes it on an occasional
basis because of improvement in his blood sugars. His BP is averaging
120-80 range at home.
He reported in early May that his insulin use is 4 units but only
on a as needed basis if his blood sugar is above 150 and its been
averaging in the teens to one 120's. He also noted, interestingly,
that he likes Martinis. These will raise his blood sugar from the
teens to perhaps the twenties and it stays there for 2 or 3 days.
He
also mentioned some chest pain he had periodically. He had never
been given any prescription for nitroglycerin so I provided that
for him. He took it for his chest and had no relief. I thought that
it was structural and so we treated him structurally with Osteopathic
manipulation, and he had improvement in those symptoms. By mid June
2000 he reported that he had not needed to use humulin or the nitro
for a long time.
By
early October he reported that his blood sugar was averaging 113-120
range. October 17, 2000 was his last visit with us as he was moving
to Florida. At this point he was much improved as far as his coronary
artery disease and his type 2 diabetes were concerned. He experiences
significant improvement in life quality.
We
saw him in October 2004 when he was visiting in the area from his
new home in Florida. He stated he continued his Chelation program
in Florida. He also received a Chelation treatment while in the
area. He mentioned at the present time he occasionally gets vertigo.
He reported that he had an ultrasound of his carotid in Florida
and he was told there was some slight evidence of plaque but it
was not significant. His blood sugars average in the 125-130 range
at night at home and averages in the 80's in the morning. He continues
to be active physically working 8-10 hours a day as of October he
was 70 years of age.
J.E.
is a 64-year-old Caucasian female who suffered a myocardial infarction
in August of 1998. Post MI she had angioplasty to the left anterior
descending artery (LAD). A repeat catheterization in May of 1999
was due to the patient's admission to the hospital with "chest
pain syndrome" and this revealed an 85% occluded LAD. This
was preceded by an abnormal Thallium stress test. Additionally the
right coronary artery had an 80% stenosis proximally and 70% stenosis
distally. Her renal arteries were also evaluated adjunctively and
were reported as normal. Aggressive medical therapy was recommended
to be continued and coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) was a
most likely consideration. The patient opted not to have CABG.
She
did have a stress test in October of 1999. She had a small reversal
defect in the inferior lateral wall. A previous arterial/anterior
apical defect that was seen in 1998 was no longer present. She had
an ejection fraction of 69%. Her Bruce Protocol response was 56%
of maximum predicted heart rate and she complained of increased
chest tightness with radiation to the neck at about seven minutes.
Her ejection fraction in August of 1998 was 79%.
Around
this time the patient learned of chelation therapy, attended an
educational program at the Maulfair Medical Center, and after appropriate
diagnostic procedures and discussions, decided to start her specifically
prescribed program on August 7, 2000. Her program progressed satisfactorily.
In
May of 2003, a medication reaction, which mimicked chest pain syndrome,
resulted in hospitalization. Having a previous history of coronary
artery disease and angioplasty, she was offered cardiac catheterization
and agreed. The findings included, "The area of the previously
angiplastied section appears to be widely patent." This is
compared to an 85% occlusion identified in a 1999 catheterization.
"The distal right coronary artery is a large dominant vessel
without any atherosclerosis", and this compared to the distal
coronary artery with 70% stenosis in the 1999 catheterization report.
The
patient was seen by cardiology again in September of 2004 preparatory
to back surgery that she was anticipating. The summary of this evaluation
was, "She presented today for cardiac catheterization with
slight improvement in her coronary arteries compared to her catheterization
of 2003." "She is cleared for her back surgery……"
C.F.
was first seen at the Maulfair Medical Center in January 1998. He
was referred by an ophthalmologist to pursue chelation therapy for
coronary artery disease. He had angioplasty in 1986. He began to
experience symptoms in 1997, had additional angioplasty in April
of 1997 and in December of 1997. He also had bypass surgery, had
a second catheterization, and was told that two of his three bypasses
were occluded. He mentioned that at the time he spoke to his cardiologist
about pursuing chelation therapy and he stated that he was very
supportive and told him to "go for it".
An
interesting side piece of information concerning C.F. is that he
does not drink alcohol, he does not smoke, his cholesterol levels
have always been good, he eats well, and he exercises regularly.
C.F.
was seen on several occasions by cardiology in January of 1998.
The catheterization in early December of 1997 revealed 100% occlusion
of the right coronary artery and the vein graft to the right coronary
artery was also occluded. There were collaterals to the right coronary
artery from the circumflex system. The left anterior descending
was narrowed 90% near the origin. Additional stenotic disease was
present ranging from 60% in one artery to 80% in another. His ejection
fraction at this time was 65-70%. A comment was made by the cardiologist
that the patient was depressed in regards to the fact that his bypass
surgery after eight months was not effective. The summary of his
December 1997 catheterization was 100% occlusion of the right coronary
artery, 100% occlusion of the saphenous vein graft to the right
coronary artery, 100% occlusion of the left anterior descending
and the diagonal from the left anterior descending being stenosed
90%, and the collaterals to the right coronary artery from the left
circumflex. In January of 1998, this patient had a Thallium stress
test which revealed an ejection fraction of 53%.
The
patient was first seen at the Maulfair Medical Center January 20,
1998 and after appropriate diagnostic procedures and education,
the patient started a comprehensive chelation therapy program in
February of 1998.
A Thallium stress test in January of 1999 revealed an ejection fraction
of 60% with decreased uptake in the inferior lateral portion of
the left ventricle with diminished systolic contractility in this
area. He underwent a SPECT cardiac stress evaluation in January
of 2000. This revealed an ejection fraction of 66%. There were no
fixed or reversible defects and normal ventricular contractility.
A Thallium stress test in January 2002 revealed an ejection fraction
of 72% with normal wall motion. A cardiology consult regarding the
patient in December of 2003 stated "C.F. has continued to do
well from a cardiac standpoint. He has had no recurrent cardiovascular
problems or symptoms as of late." A stress test performed in
January of 2003 was normal. His LV was within normal limits. A stress
test in January of 2004 revealed "no obvious ischemia or infarct
identified. Post stress ejection fraction was 69%. The EKG was negative
for ischemia." On February 16, 2005 a stress test revealed
a post stress ejection fraction of 69%. Results indicated "negative
stress test for ischemia up to 7.0 MET's and 91% of maximum predicted
heart rate."
In
present time, the patient continues to do very well. He continues
on the maintenance phase of his chelation therapy program. He is
69 years of age and continues to enjoy life and is quite active
physically.
W.K.
was a 70-year-old Caucasian male when he was first seen at the Maulfair
Medical Center in August of 1993. He had known coronary artery disease
and had CABG in October of 1992. He is the son of a physician.
He
learned about chelation therapy and the Maulfair Medical Center
and came to us to learn more, and to potentially pursue chelation
therapy. He started his specific comprehensive chelation therapy
program at the end of the following month. W.K. has been on his
chelation therapy program ever since. He is currently 81 years of
age. He looks significantly younger than his stated age. He sees
a cardiologist on an approximate yearly basis. The last visit was
three months ago and he was told that he was doing fine. He had
a stress test and did well with it. He also had an echocardiogram
approximately six months prior to this visit and that was also good.
His
regime includes regular exercise at a hospital in a cardiac rehab
program, and he does this regularly five days a week. We explain
to all of our patients that regular exercise is an essential part
of the comprehensive chelation therapy program protocol.
It
would be appropriate to note at this point that after 25 years of
experience prescribing appropriate comprehensive chelation therapy
programs, I can say without doubt or reservation that those patients
like W.K. and others that we have been treating benefit when they
are active participants in the overall program. A lot of time is
spent by our staff encouraging patients to be active participants
and share in the benefits that others experience.
J.W.
was an 81-year-old Caucasian male with a primary diagnosis of coronary
artery disease. He had CABG in 1991. He had some reoccurrence of
symptoms and had a repeat catheterization in 1994 and was told that
he was stable and no additional therapies were indicated or prescribed
at that time. He developed some additional angina while cutting
grass earlier in the year prior to his first visit at our center.
He had been learning about chelation therapy and came to pursue
it. At his initial visit he also complained of pain in his legs
and calves while walking, although it could also occur when he exercised
on the treadmill. He also stated that while he did not get angina
with the treadmill, he did get it on occasion with walking. After
appropriate diagnostic procedures, a comprehensive chelation therapy
program was prescribed and he began treatments at the end of October
1997.
By
early December 1997 he reported that his angina was improved and
he could now go steps without difficulty. His blood pressure at
a visit in early January of 1997 was 110/60. His initial blood pressure
at his first visit was 142/90. By mid January of 1998 he reported
that he had noted significant increase in energy, a further decrease
in angina, and was able to do work outside which he was not able
to do before secondary to the angina. Later in January of 1998,
he reported that he was very happy with his program and actually
at age 81 he went to a gym the day before and stated that he has
been restored as far as his ability to do exercise was concerned.
He was on the treadmill for 30 minutes which he had not been able
to do for sometime. He also reported that he was able to do this
without any angina or dyspnea. He also mentioned that at a recent
family doctor's visit, his fasting blood sugar was down to 124 and
the last time he had it evaluated it was 149. His primary diagnoses
are coronary artery disease and Type II Diabetes.
In
April 1998 he commented to me that he recently mowed his lawn which
for him was a definite improvement. He was unable to do that the
previous fall without getting angina. He also stated that he continued
his exercise program at the YMCA. By early May of 1998 he had seen
his family doctor and had his annual physical including EKG and
various labs and his doctor told him that he was doing very well
and he was well pleased with him.
At time went on, he had some increases in angina and then decreases.
By the end of 1998, he was exercising three times a week at the
YMCA without angina, spending about an hour and a half total time
exercising with a combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercises.
In
early March of 1999, a visit with J.K. revealed that he had seen
a dentist recently and was told that he had no cavities. The visit
prior to that he had 12 and the dentist apparently was impressed
at this dramatic change in his dental status. The patient continued
his chelation therapy program and late in the year of 2000, some
claudication that he had developed had improved significantly, his
angina was improved significantly, and he reported that his family
doctor was very happy with his blood sugars which were averaging
fasting in the 125 range.
Beginning
in 2001, he continued to have some intermittent angina but it was
improved as far as the frequency was concerned. J.K. is now 84 years
of age. In mid 2001, he commented to me that he had developed a
bit of a test for himself to determine how he was doing with his
coronary artery disease with a grocery cart. He stated that prior
to some changes that we made in his program in early 2001, he was
unable to push a grocery cart from one end of the store to the other
even when it was empty and now he could do it with it full. He also
mowed his own lawn without any symptoms and it takes an hour or
two to do that. He also mentioned that the year prior it would have
taken all day because of frequent stops that he had to make secondary
to the angina.
A cardiology evaluation in mid 2001 found J.K. to not be experiencing
shortness of breath and his angina pattern is stable. He also had
a sinus bradycardia, compensated.
As
of July 2005, the patient continued on a chelation program getting
the chelation treatment part of his comprehensive chelation program
on an every ten day basis. His blood sugar was stable, fasting averaging
around 100. He is requiring some Nitroglycerin at the present time
for angina and takes some daily. He continues to be fairly active
physically considering he has attained the age of 88.
R.T.
was first seen in September of 2004 with the presenting diagnosis
of coronary artery disease. The patient had a stress test a month
prior to his visit which was suggestive of coronary artery disease.
He had a catheterization several days prior to his initial visit
with us and it was positive. He was medicated with a betablocker
and ASA anticoagulation. Reevaluation several months later was recommended.
His
anginal type symptoms persisted and actually worsened and the potential
for bypass surgery was moved up. He was opposed to surgical intervention
and learned of us and presented himself for consultation. He had
not been prescribed anything other than the betablocker and anticoagulation
so I prescribed Nitroglycerin that he could have on hand to use
on an as-needed basis. His symptomatology included shortness of
breath and significant fatigue. He is a 62-year-old Caucasian male
and simply could not do what he had been accustomed to doing. Additionally
the cardiologist pulled his commercial driver's license so he was
out of a job.
After
appropriate diagnostic procedures, he began a comprehensive therapeutic
program which later included a program of External Counter Pulsation
which the patient requested. I also recommended a second cardiology
opinion as the first included a comment that he would not be driving
commercially anymore. The second cardiology consultation included
a comment that, if he passed a stress test, he could regain his
commercial driver's license.
During
this time, the patient was actively participating in his entire
program including aggressive exercise. He rode a bike up to 20 miles.
He then reached a point where he was able to do his bike riding
and other physical activities without any fear of developing any
angina or shortness of breath. He was riding a bike outside up to
100 minutes. This was during the winter months. He was also doing
cross-country skiing. He had a second stress test in February of
2005. This Cardiolite stress test revealed that he exercised for
12.5 MET's work capacity, had an ejection fraction of 55% and the
EKG portion was negative. The cardiologist at that point stated,
"From a cardiovascular standpoint at this point I have released
him to go back to work." The cardiologist at the time apparently
mentioned to the patient that he had never seen that occur before;
a positive stress test revert to a negative one.
The
patient also had to be evaluated via the Pennsylvania State Department
of Transportation to get clearance and that physician also commented
that he had never seen this before and cleared Richard for driving.
As of this writing, he has been driving for five months. He continues
to be asymptomatic. He continues on his program and is "a happy
camper".
E.K.
had his initial office visit November 25, 1985. He was a 53-year-old
male, weighed 210 pounds and his blood pressure was 140/84. He had
suffered a massive coronary occlusion in June of 1980. He was told
he was inoperable. He had angina, fatigue, and shortness of breath
on exertion. His primary interest was pursuing a chelation therapy
program. After appropriate diagnostic procedures, his comprehensive
chelation therapy program was prescribed and his first chelation
treatment was received January 14, 1986. During the ensuing 20 years,
he has continued on his program. He has developed Type II diabetes
and in present time, continues to do well. As of this writing, it
is 26 years post his initial myocardial infarction.
He
also had the benefits of an External Counter Pulsation program in
2003.
He
continues to be overweight and certainly an improvement in lifestyle
modifications would be helpful. From a cardiovascular standpoint,
he continues to do very well considering it is 26 years post MI.
He is currently 72 years of age.
A
summary of his life quality status that the patient provided in
April of 1993 indicated, "1980-blocked arteries, inoperable.
Angina, fatigue, shortness of breath upon any exertion. 1983-not
doing anything around the house. March of 1985-rototilling the garden.
S.P.
was first seen in July of 2003. He came specifically to pursue chelation
therapy. He stated that he had known about chelation therapy for
sometime. He presented with multiple chronic degenerative disease
entities including insulin dependent diabetes with the diabetes
being present for 25 years. He was 59 years of age on his initial
visit. He was diagnosed with coronary artery disease approximately
a year prior to his initial visit. He was also diagnosed around
the same time with carotid artery disease. In addition, he had significant
diabetic retinopathy and had multiple laser ablations in the past.
He also had peripheral neuropathy of both feet and hands. After
appropriate diagnostics, he was prescribed a comprehensive chelation
therapy program and started that program in early September of 2003.
The program progressed satisfactorily. By the end of September he
noted that his blood sugars had improved fairly significantly. He
monitored them on a regular basis and stated that they were averaging
in the 140 range. This compared to 100-350 range fasting. He also
noted improvement in energy. He also noted that he had had dry skin
on the right foot for a long time that he had to apply cream to
daily, and that had improved to the point where the cream application
has been unnecessary.
He
also noted at this stage that he was able to decrease his blood
pressure betablocker that he had been taking regularly on a twice
a day basis. He was able to decrease it to once in the morning and
perhaps one later in the day which he was experimenting with. In
addition, he was able to maintain his blood sugars with less insulin.
In the past he was taking up to 30 units of short-acting Humulin
a day and currently it was down to 5 when he did need it. He also
had lost seven pounds. At the end of October he reported that his
blood sugars were much easier to control, and the bleeding that
he had in his eyes secondary to his diabetic retinopathy had decreased,
they are less frequent, and that his vision clears faster after
he has a bleed. He said that ophthalmology evaluated him fairly
recently and was happy with the changes. In January of 2004, he
had a follow up evaluation of his carotid artery disease and was
told that a blockage, which previously was estimated to be 50-79%,
was now 30%. This data the patient received from the technician
who performed the carotid ultrasound evaluation. He also mentioned
that his eyes were better. The left was stable. He had not had any
problem with it for over a year. The right he still had some occasional
bleeding in it but it was significantly less than in the past. In
March of 2004 the patient mentioned that he had seen the vascular
surgeon who apparently confirmed that the study done recently represented
a 20-25% stenotic lesion compared to a previous 79%. He also mentioned
at this visit in March of 2004 that he had not had any bleeding
at all in his right eye for over a month and that was a first time
for many, many months and as a result of that, he was able to be
scheduled for and had cataract removal from that eye. This procedure
was not possible previously because of the persistent bleeds.
At
the end of April of 2004, we discussed his blood pressure that was
quite improved. At that visit it was 102/60. At his first visit
in July of 2003, it was 170/90. He also continued to notice less
need for insulin to control his blood sugar. He was exercising on
a regular basis walking around the neighborhood and his wife estimated
that it was probably about two miles. Prior to starting his program,
he was able to walk only half a block and then had to stop because
of shortness of breath and fatigue.
In
July of 2004 he commented that he had not had any bleeding in his
left eye for a year and only gets occasional bleeding in the right
eye.
S.P.
is a rather dramatic story. The degree of improvement that is available
to patients who have chronic degenerative debilitating diseases
is quite variable and dependent upon many factors including the
quality of the program prescribed and the quality of the patient's
compliance with it. These are the two most important factors that
impact the eventual outcome.
