Hormones Matter Top 100 Articles of 2015

Published on January 4, 2016

5240 views

Happy New Year, everyone. We have another remarkable year under our belts. Hormones Matter continues to grow month after month. This year, despite the site being down for a month in September, we had over 815,000 visitors, most staying quite a while to read our articles.

Since inception, we’ve published close to 900 articles, many are read by thousands of readers every month. The hysterectomy and endometriosis articles continue to draw large crowds, demonstrating the great need for information in these areas of women’s health.

Our success is thanks to a fantastic crew of volunteer writers who spend countless hours researching complex medical topics, making connections, identifying unconventional therapeutic opportunities, and bringing to light, what are often, invisible illnesses. Without these incredibly talented and compassionate individuals, Hormones Matter would not exist.

Before we begin the new year in earnest, let us take a moment to thank all of the writers of Hormones Matter.

Thank You Hormones Matter Writers!

Below are the articles and authors who made the top 100 list for 2015. If you haven’t read these articles, it’s time to do so. If you like them, share them and share our site so we can continue to grow. If you were helped by any of our articles, take a moment and send the writer a thank you note.

This year, we thought we’d do something a little different and include the 25 all-time favorite articles on Hormones Matter. Be sure to scroll down to the second table and take a look. The numbers are quite impressive.

Since we are run by volunteers and unfunded, feel free contribute a few dollars to cover the costs of maintaining operations. Crowdfund Hormones Matter. Every dollar helps.

If you’d like to share your health story or join our team of writers: Write for Us.

Hormones Matter Top 100 Articles of 2015

Article Title and Author	Reads
1. Post Hysterectomy Skeletal and Anatomical Changes -WS	50,814
2. Sex in a Bottle: the Latest Drugs for Female Sexual Desire – Chandler Marrs	47,910
3. Sexual Function after Hysterectomy – WS	28,898
4. In the ER Again – Heavy Menstrual Bleeding -Lisbeth Prifogle	25,326
5. Endometrial Ablation – Hysterectomy Alternative or Trap? -WS	25,048
7. Adhesions: Cause, Consequence and Collateral Damage – David Wiseman	22, 868
8. Is Sciatic Endometriosis Possible? – Center for Endometriosis Care	11,701
9. Endometriosis: A Husband’s Perspective – Jeremy Bridge Cook	11,626
10. A Connection between Hypothyroidism and PCOS – Sergei Avdiushko	11,024
11. Often Injured, Rarely Treated: Tailbone Misalignment – Leslie Wakefield	10,580
12. Hysterectomy: Impact on Pelvic Floor and Organ Function – WS	8,494
13. Pill Bleeds are not Periods – Lara Briden	8,440
14. Silent Death – Serotonin Syndrome – Angela Stanton	8,408
15. An Often Overlooked Cause of Fatigue: Low Ferritin – Philippa Bridge-Cook	8,374
16. Wide Awake: A Hysterectomy Story – Robin Karr	7,733
17. How Hair Loss Changed My Life – Suki Eleuterio
18. The High Cost of Endometriosis – Philippa Bridge-Cook	7,170
19. Skin Disorders post Gardasil – Chandler Marrs	6,891
20. Essure Sterilization: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Margaret Aranda	6,820
21. Love Hurts – Sex with Endometriosis – Rachel Cohen	6,779
22. Dehydration and Salt Deficiency Migraines – Angela Stanton	6,638
23. Adverse Reactions, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Gait, Balance and Tremors – Chandler Marrs	6,445
24. Stop the Metformin Madness – Chandler Marrs	6,400
25. Lupron, Estradiol and the Mitochondria: A Pathway to Adverse Reactions – Chandler Marrs	6,110
26. Endometriosis after Hysterectomy – Rosemary Finnegan	6,093
27. The Reality of Endometriosis in the ER – Rachel Cohen	5,962
28. Mittelschmerz – what should you know – Sergei Avdiushko	5,780
29. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea to Relieve Menstrual Pain – Lisbeth Prifogle	5,586
30. Mommy Brain: Pregnancy and Postpartum Memory Deficits – Chandler Marrs	5,437
31. Parasites: A Possible Cause of Endometriosis, PCOS, and Other Chronic, Degenerative Illnesses – Dorothy Harpley-Garcia	5,414
32. Endometriosis and Risk of Suicide – Philippa Bridge-Cook	5,413
33. Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics and Thyroid Problems: Is there a Connection? – JMR	5, 228
34. Adenomyosis – Philippa Bridge-Cook	5,022
35. Gardasil: The Controversy Continues – Lisbeth Prifogle	4,809
36. Hyperemesis Gravidarum – Severe Morning Sickness: Are Mitochondria Involved? – Chandler Marrs	4,801
37. Oral Contraceptives, Epigenetics, and Autism – Kim Elizabeth Strifert	4,452
38. High Blood Pressure in Women: Could Progesterone be to Blame? – Chandler Marrs	4,446
39. My Battle with Endometriosis: Hysterectomy at 23 – Samantha Bowick	4,288
40. Thiamine Deficiency Testing: Understanding the Labs – Derrick Lonsdale	4,045
41. My Battle with Endometriosis and Migraines – Angela Kawakami	3,839
42. Tampons with Glyphosate: Underpinnings of Modern Period Problems? – Chandler Marrs	3,835
43. Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox are Chemo Drugs – Lisa Bloomquist	3,792
44. Hysterectomy or Not – Angela’s Endometriosis Update – Angela Kawakami	3,750
45. Warning to Floxies: Beware of New Med for Psoriatic Arthritis – Debra Anderson	3,691
46. DES – The Drug to Prevent Miscarriage Ruins Lives of Millions – DES Daughter	3,655
47. Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction (SOD) – Brooke Keefer	3,540
48. Progesterone for Peripheral Neuropathy – Chandler Marrs	3,278
49. The Fluoroquinolone Time Bomb – Answers in the Mitochondria – Lisa Bloomquist	3,251
50. Why is PCOS so Common? – Lara Briden	3,211
51. Pregnancy Toes – What Sugar does to Feet – Angela Stanton	2,971
52. Five Half-truths of Hormonal Contraceptives – The Pill, Patch and Ring – Joe Malone	2,834
53. Five Years After Gardasil – Ashley Adair	2,831
54. Bleeding Disorders Overlooked in Women with Heavy Periods – Philippa Bridge Cook	2,826
55. Is Gardasil Mandated in Your State? – Lisbeth Prifogle	2,814
56. Is Prenatal Dexamethasone Safe: The Baby Makers’ Hubris – Chandler Marrs	2,808
57. Porn Brain – A Leading Cause of Erectile Dysfunction – Chandler Marrs	2,792
58. Lupron and Endometriosis – Jordan Davidson	2,752
59. Endometriosis, Adhesions and Physical Therapy – Philippa Bridge-Cook	2,746
60. Glabrata – A Deadly Post Fluoroquinolone Risk You’ve Never Heard About – Debra Anderson	2,703
61. Are You Vitamin B12 Deficient? – Chandler Marrs	2,635
62. Topamax: The Drug with 9 Lives – Angela Stanton	2,635
63. Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome – Philippa Bridge-Cook	2,622
64. The Endo Diet: Part 1 – Kelsey Chin	2,614
65. Endometriosis and Adhesions – Angela Kawakami	2,544
66. Thyroid Disease Plus Migraines – Nancy Bonk	2,530
67. Is it Endometriosis? – Rosalie Miletich	2,414
68. Hysterectomy, Hormones, and Suicide – Robin Karr	2,412
69. Why I am Backing the Sweetening the Pill Documentary – Laura Wershler	2,321
70. I Wanted to Die Last Night: Endometriosis and Suicide – Rachel Cohen	2,271
71. How Can Something As Simple As Thiamine Cause So Many Problems? – Derrick Lonsdale	2,456
72. Thyroid Dysfunction with Medication or Vaccine Induced Demyelinating Diseases – Chandler Marrs	2,034
73. Angela’s Endometriosis Post Operative Update – Angela Kawakami	2,017
74. Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics Damage Mitochondria – FDA Does Little – Lisa Bloomquist	1,993
75. Endometriosis and Pregnancy at a Glance – Center for Endometriosis Care	1,969
76. Don’t Take Cipro, Levaquin or Avelox If…. – Lisa Bloomquist	1,960
77. Gardasil Injured – Dollie Duckworth	1,898
78. Fear of Childbirth Prolongs Labor – Elena Perez	1,888
79. Fluoroquinolone Poisoning: A Tale from the Twilight Zone – Kristen Weber	1,883
80. Personal Story: Thyroid Cancer – Myrna Wooders	1,880
81. Recurrent Miscarriage – Philippa Bridge-Cook	1,873
82. Recovering from the Gardasil Vaccine: A Long and Complicated Process – Charlotte Nielsen	1,842
83. Pelvic Therapy for Endometriosis, Adhesions and Sexual Pain – Belinda Wurn	1,818
84. Hormones, Hysterectomy and the Hippocampus – Chandler Marrs	1,777
85. Why Fatigue Matters in Thyroid Disease – Chandler Marrs	1,718
86. How Do You Deal with the Lasting Effects of Endometriosis? – Samantha Bowick	1,697
87. Depression with Endometriosis – Samantha Bowick	1,678
88. Easing Endometriosis Pain and Inflammation with Nutrition – Erin Luyendyk	1,648
89. Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis and Ovarian Teratomas – Chandler Marrs	1,634
90. Autoinflammatory Syndromes Induced by Adjuvants: A Case for PFAPA – Sarah Flynn	1,595
91. Endometriosis Awareness Month: A Wish Noted – Philippa Bridge-Cook	1,513
92. The Role of Androgens in Postmenopausal Women – Sergei Avdiushko	1,477
93. It Wasn’t by Choice: Dysautonomia – Margaret Aranda	1,454
94. Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics Associated with Nervous System Damage – Lisa Bloomquist	1,453
95. Vitamin D3 and Thyroid Health – Susan Rex Ryan	1,439
96. Dealing with Doctors When You Have Undiagnosed Endometriosis -Angela Kawakami	1,439
97. Endometriosis and Being a Trans Person: Beyond Gendered Reproductive Health – Luke Fox	1,436
98. Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome and Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Research and Treatments – Philippa Bridge-Cook	1,430
99. Living with Ehlers Danlos is Hell – Debra Anderson	1,420
100. What is Fluoroquinolone Toxicity? – Lisa Bloomquist	1,415

Hormones Matter All-Time Top 25 Articles

Article Title and Author	Reads
1. Post Hysterectomy Skeletal and Anatomical Changes -WS	105,336
2. Sex in a Bottle: the Latest Drugs for Female Sexual Desire – Chandler Marrs	99,098
3. Endometrial Ablation – Hysterectomy Alternative or Trap? -WS	70,999
4. Adhesions: Cause, Consequence and Collateral Damage – David Wiseman	40,299
5. In the ER Again – Heavy Menstrual Bleeding -Lisbeth Prifogle	39,821
7. Sexual Function after Hysterectomy – WS	35,188
8. A Connection between Hypothyroidism and PCOS – Sergei Avdiushko	31,193
9. Is Sciatic Endometriosis Possible? – Center for Endometriosis Care	24,691
10. Endometriosis: A Husband’s Perspective – Jeremy Bridge-Cook	23,251
11. Skin Disorders post Gardasil – Chandler Marrs	18,105
12. Gardasil: The Controversy Continues – Lisbeth Prifogle	14,174
13. Wide Awake: A Hysterectomy Story – Robin Karr	14,134
14. Endometriosis and Risk of Suicide – Philippa Bridge-Cook	13,836
15. Love Hurts – Sex with Endometriosis – Rachel Cohen	13,782
16. Endometriosis after Hysterectomy – Rosemary Finnegan	13,294
17. Hysterectomy: Impact on Pelvic Floor and Organ Function – WS	13,056
18. Adverse Reactions, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Gait, Balance and Tremors – Chandler Marrs	12,901
19. How Hair Loss Changed My Life – Suki Eleuterio	12,835
20. Mittelschmerz – what should you know – Sergei Avdiushko	11,919
21. Often Injured, Rarely Treated: Tailbone Misalignment – Leslie Wakefield	11,521
22. An Often Overlooked Cause of Fatigue: Low Ferritin – Philippa Bridge-Cook	10,821
23. Mommy Brain: Pregnancy and Postpartum Memory Deficits – Chandler Marrs	10,591
24. Adenomyosis – Philippa Bridge-Cook	10,249
25. I Wanted to Die Last Night: Endometriosis and Suicide – Rachel Cohen	9,826

The Flu Vaccine, Molecular Mimicry, Narcolepsy: Clues to Gardasil Injury

by Chandler Marrs, PhD

Published on November 18, 2015

9227 views

What do molecular mimicry, the H1N1 Flu vaccine and the HPV vaccines Gardasil or Cervarix have to do with the brain neurons involved in narcolepsy or hypersomnia? Plenty. Researchers are learning that vaccine induced immune reactions can destroy innate cells via molecular mimicry and in the case of the flu vaccine, the hypocretin/orexin neurons responsible for maintaining wakefulness are attacked. Idiopathic hypersomnia, a derivative of narcolepsy is one of the many side effects reported by post Gardasil girls and women. Could the HPV vaccine be attacking those same neurons? Is molecular mimicry at play in the HPV vaccine too? The answers are yes and possibly, but with the HPV vaccine, the molecular mimicry is more widespread and the research only beginning to delineate its effects.

What is Molecular Mimicry?

Molecular mimicry is the notion that foreign pathogens like bacteria, viruses and vaccines can be so similar in structure or function to innate, ‘self’ peptide sequences that they evoke an autoimmune response in the exposed individual. Molecular mimics are thought to be involved in the onset of Type 1 Diabetes, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis and other diseases, including some neurological disease processes.

Molecular mimics are snippets of protein code embedded within the pathogen that are either functionally similar and contain sequences of identical code to those found innately in humans, or structurally similar and because of their shape can bind to and activate an immune cell receptor. The protein codes, called motifs, are instructions that govern all aspects of the cell’s activity levels, and indeed, our very health and survival. Some codes tell the cell to live and how to function, others tell the cell to die and even how to die. The thought is that when external pathogens contain protein motifs that mimic internal and innate protein motifs, our immune system recognizes the foreign invader and attacks not only the dangerous pathogen, but the innate molecules that contain those same protein motifs too, evoking all sorts of damage to potentially many different tissues and organs. When there is structural similarity between the pathogen and immune cells, the process for immune activation is quite easy. The pathogen slips in, binds to a receptor and initiates the inflammatory immune response. In either case, the immune response to the environmental pathogen results in a disease process identified as autoimmune – the immune system attacking itself. It should be noted that connection between molecular mimicry and autoimmune disease onset is hotly debated.

Narcolepsy or Hypersomnia, the Immune System and the Flu Vaccine

In 2010, amidst the fears of the H1N1 swine flu pandemic, citizens in Scandinavia and Europe were given the adjuvanted (MF-59 a squalene based adjuvant plus ASO3 – squalene-α-tocopherol mix) flu vaccine called Pandemrix. Shortly thereafter physicians began noting an increase in new onset cases of narcolepsy, especially in Scandinavian children.

Narcolepsy is the lifelong disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness with abrupt and sudden transitions to REM sleep. It affects approximately ~ 1 in every 3000 individuals worldwide. Individuals with narcolepsy/hypersomnia have sudden and very strong urges to sleep throughout the day, though at night insomnia may develop. Patients may fall asleep as many as 20-30 times per day, for brief periods, making regular functioning difficult without wake stimulating medications.

Often co-occurring with narcolepsy is a condition called cataplexy. Cataplexy denotes the muscle tone and behavioral changes that precede the narcoleptic sleep incident. Cataplexy symptoms can range from the barely perceptible loss of facial muscle tone or twitches to full muscle paralysis and collapse. Approximately 70% of patients with narcolepsy also have cataplexy.

Hypersomnia, or more specifically, idiopathic hypersomnia, is a central nervous system disorder similar to narcolepsy. Like with narcolepsy, the brain is unable to regulate sleep-wake cycles, only here instead of bouts of uncontrollable sleepiness and periods of sudden onset sleep, with idiopathic hypersomnia, the sleepiness is severe, excessive and continuous. Both narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia have long been thought to be autoimmune in nature, triggered by environmental factors. Bacterial infections such as streptococcus pyogenes, the bacteria responsible for strep throat/pharyngitis and skin infections like impetigo can elicit narcolepsy in some individuals, as well as autoimmune rheumatic fever and kidney disease in others.

Hypocretin/Orexin Neurons Damaged in Patients with Narcolepsy/Hypersomnia

From an autoimmune standpoint, key to triggering narcolepsy in some individuals, is presence of a particular gene variant in immune cells called human leukocyte antigens (HLA). The variant is labeled HLA -DQB1*0602. Fully 98% of patients with narcolepsy exhibit the DQ0602 haplotype (DQA1*0102/DQB1*0602) versus 18-25% of the general public who have the mutation but do not experience narcolepsy. DQ0602 impairs and often destroys the brain neurons that secrete a peptide hormone that is required to maintain wakefulness. The wake-promoting hormone released from the hypothalamus, is called orexin or hypocretin. Orexin and hypocretin are the same molecule that was discovered simultaneously by two separate research groups and then named independently. Readers will see research articles on both orexin and hypocretin linked to narcolepsy (and the flu vaccine, migraine, glucose metabolism, feeding behavior, to name but a few other areas of research).

Molecular Mimics in the Flu Vaccine Attack Hypocretin Neurons and Induce Narcolepsy

Researchers from Stanford found molecular mimics in the adjuvanted Flu vaccine, Pandemrix, both sequence code and structural similarities that initiated immune system attacks on the hypocretin/orexin system in narcolepsy patients but not healthy controls. It should be noted in this particular study, only the adjuvanted version of the flu vaccine was studied, as that was the product distributed in Europe and Scandinavia. The non-adjuvanted version of the Flu vaccine sold in the US was not tested.

For the present study: CD4+T Cell Autoimmunity to Hypocretin/Orexin and Cross-Reactivity to a 2009 H1N1 Influenza A Epitope in Narcolepsy, the researchers used confirmed narcolepsy patients and controls who were all positive for the DQB1*0602 gene variant associated with narcolepsy. Here, despite having the variant, only the patients had a reactivation of the immune attack on the hypocretin neurons. The control group, who were also positive for the variant, but who had no active symptoms or diagnoses of narcolepsy, did not demonstrate the same immune response. This suggests that other factors in addition to the molecular mimics and a personal predisposition must align to initiate the immune response or, in this case, what is deemed the autoimmune response. It also suggests, that in predisposed individuals, vaccine introduced molecular mimics can trigger immune system attacks and initiate disease states that may or may not have been symptomatic pre-exposure.

What this research does not explain is whether the new onset cases observed in the Scandinavian population post vaccine exposure were solely in individuals with the pre-disposing genetic variant. Was the increase in narcolepsy post flu vaccine exposure indicative of a latent disease state simply triggered by the vaccine? Or is it possible that there are other molecular mimics embedded within the flu vaccine, not yet identified, that might also trigger narcolepsy? Finally, and most importantly, could there be additional factors native to this and other vaccines, to the individual, or with the combination thereof, that evoke an attack on the neurons responsible for regulating wakefulness and inducing narcolepsy, or evoke an attack on other cells and elicit different disease processes? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then our approach to vaccines ought to be rethought.

Molecular Mimicry and the HPV Vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix

Here is where it gets interesting for those interested in post Gardasil injury. The flu study, as limited and focused as it was, provides important clues to how and why the HPV vaccine might also induce an array of side effects, including, but not limited, to hypersomnia in some individuals but not in others.

Researchers have begun investigating molecular mimics in the HPV vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix. Thus far, they have identified 82 pentamer (5) level mimics and 34 heptamer (7) level mimics in the HPV 16L component. The offending motifs control a variety of cell behaviors related to cardiac functioning, cell permeability and cell death. An immune system attack on any of these motifs could elicit serious illness. Indeed, the researcher postulates that the mimicked motifs controlling cardiac functioning could be culprits in the post HPV vaccine incidences of sudden death.

To my knowledge, the full HPV vaccine to human proteome has not been mapped and so how or if there are mimicked protein motifs within the HPV vaccine that are capable of attacking the hypocretin/orexin neurons is not known. Nevertheless, idiopathic hypersomnia, a derivative of narcolepsy, is one of the core symptoms of post Gardasil injury, though it is sometimes misdiagnosed and mischaracterized as excessive fatigue and sleepiness. Additionally, a number of other symptoms post Gardasil are influenced by the hypocretin/orexin system, including feeding behavior, gastroparesis (perhaps via galanin) migraine, and all over pain (via dynorphin) – more on this in subsequent posts. Since we now know that molecular mimics can evoke reactions, it is only a matter of time before researchers match the vaccine protein motifs and structural homologies to individual gene variants, environmental predispositions and the clinical symptoms/syndromes that develop.

Perhaps even more interesting, when we dig into the hypocretin/orexin system we see that the neurons are especially susceptible to changes in ATP. Intracellular ATP in hypocretin/orexin neurons must be maintained at much higher levels than in other cells. Diminished ATP stores inhibits hypocretin/orexin firing and thereby reduces sustained wakefulness. We know from other research and patient reports that severe thiamine deficiencies are present in post Gardasil injury (whether the deficiencies existed pre-Gardasil, but were asymptomatic is not clear). Thiamine is a required co-factor in the production of ATP. Reduced thiamine would impair functioning in the hypocretin/orexin neurons and induce the hypersomina and hypophagia and many of the other symptoms we see post vaccine.

In subsequent papers, I will explore the myriad functions the hypocretin/orexin neurons regulate and how damage to those neurons, either directly as indicated in the flu vaccine study, or indirectly, via targeting critical co-factors provides clues to the constellation of post Gardasil injuries. Additionally, I will address the molecular mimicry debate and how it will reshape the framework for understanding autoimmunity.

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Recovering from the Gardasil Vaccine: A Long and Complicated Process

by Charlotte Nielsen

Published on September 16, 2015

57258 views

My daughter Sara was almost 13 when she became ill after two inoculations of the Gardasil HPV vaccine. Read her story: The Gardasil Experience in Denmark. Much has happened since then in Denmark as well globally concerning the HPV vaccine issue. Sara turned 15 when over two years of severe illness had passed. She has slowly achieved some recovery from more than 30 symptoms including a walking disability and severe brain fog.

This is an update on the continuing struggle toward Sara’s recovery. Like many families, we have had to navigate in areas of medicine, where there were no experts to guide us. Thanks to networking, it has been possible to find highly skilled doctors, using a variety of methods from both orthodox and complementary medicine, to help treat Sara.

As families of Gardasil-injured girls we have had fights with our respective governments to recognize the illnesses that were born from this vaccine. In Denmark and Japan, the battles we fought have begun to bear some success. Researchers are uncovering new connections, and medical institutions are beginning to recognize the post Gardasil health issues. We are making progress, but there is still much to do.

Gaining Recognition for Gardasil Injuries: Denmark and Japan

For thousands of patients and families, in over 50 countries, recovering from post Gardasil illnesses has been an ongoing struggle. It has been difficult for the patients and their families to get the medical care needed. There is still very little research on post-Gardasil injuries. There are no tests available to diagnose the illnesses and injuries that develop post vaccine, and there are no recognized treatments for these patients within established health care systems. In fact, for the most part, these symptoms are all-but-ignored by most practitioners.

However, the activism and networking of many families has led to some positive outcomes in recognition. For example, a Japanese TV company made contact and visited our home in December 2014. Soon after a documentary about the Danish HPV situation aired in Japan 12th January 2015. Sara was the main case. Danish doctors met with the Japanese Prof. Kusuki Nishioka, MD, PhD, director of Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, who specializes in rheumatic diseases and fibromyalgia. Dr. Nishioka has been a leading voice in Japan against the HPV vaccine. The meeting (featured at 9:50) concluded with a recognition of clear similarities between the symptoms of Japanese and Danish patients.

In Denmark, over the last two years, there has been a growing public wake up with stories in the newspapers, on TV and social media. The interest among politicians, authorities and doctors increased. This has probably been a contributing factor in the growing number of patients reporting side effects. According to the latest update (September 2015) from a database of the Danish Health and Medicines Authority, of the over 500,000 young girls and women who received the vaccine, there have been:

1806 reports of adverse reactions (each person could have up to over 30 symptoms)
374 reports (out of 1386) per News on Side effects per have been classified ‘severe’ from 2006 and up through April 2015.

I should note that the Danish Board of Health failed to report an additional 81 adverse reactions that occurred prior to the vaccine’s introduction into children’s vaccine program in 2009; 11 of these 81 cases were classified serious. The latest update of the database can be viewed here: Danish reports of Gardasil adverse reactions.

In Denmark, the reporting of adverse reactions has increased by about 100 new cases every month since April. Still more families realize how their daughter’s symptoms look similar to obvious patterns presented. A thread is running through all these cases stories of severe side effects, as a Danish leading hospital doctor and researcher stated on TV (1:30).

Gardasil, POTS and CRP: New Research on the HPV-Vaccine Induced Neurological Damage

A research team of doctors and medical staff at Coordinating research Centre/Syncope Unit, Frederiksberg Hospital, published three studies of patient groups with severe neurological symptoms including pain following shortly after HPV-vaccination.

Suspected side effects to the quadrivalent human papilloma vaccine.
Another study describes 21 cases with the diagnose POTS: Orthostatic intolerance and postural tachycardia syndrome as suspected adverse effects of vaccination against human papilloma virus.
The Danish findings have made EMA (European Medicines Agency) investigate into the HPV-vaccine, security and side effects by focusing on POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome). The EMA report is expected to be finished by May 2016.
Danish and Japanese health authorities are keeping contact as well. Danish Health and Medicines Authorities with the help of a pediatrician are reviewing all adverse drug reports in Denmark focusing patterns of symptoms rather than diagnoses.
A Danish TV documentary in March this year presented three case stories. Over fifty young girls participated anonymously in the report simply by silent presence, all making a great impact. The report presented interviews by Danish and British physicians. A Danish professor of molecular medicine comments about the remarkable test results of a young patient after intravenous infusions of phosphoplipids, performed in England (21:20).

Increased Media Coverage, Increased Side Effect Recognition

After the Danish TV report aired, a veritable telephone storm began the very next morning with post Gardasil patients wanting referrals to Frederiksberg Hospital. Until then, the Syncope Unit had examined about 80-90 patients with HPV-vaccine side effects. After the TV documentary, the number of patients grew to 350, increased to 525 referrals by August, and now there is a huge waiting list.

At the same time, Health Care Council of Danish Regions announced the establishment of five centers (one for each Region in Denmark), opening June 1, of this year. These centers were established to treat patients with suspected side effects from the HPV-vaccine. Frederiksberg Hospital Syncope Unit, situated in Copenhagen, as a research Center for natural reasons remained center of the Capital Region. Over 1100 patients are referred to the five Regions by now.

The problem is, in spite of waiting lists, the four other centers have no experience and no present research to help clarify these symptoms in patients without a diagnosis. The knowledge and qualifications of staff behind these doors remain lacking because of the paucity of research on Gardasil side effects. Unfortunately, still some patients are met by an attitude of arrogance. Most physicians have no idea what to look for in these HPV injuries.

At the Frederiksberg Syncope Unit the research team doctors have some ideas, though. While continuing to work with new patients, the unit’s physicians are diagnosing many cases of POTS (by tilt bearing test). By September this year, 62 reported cases have been diagnosed POTS after the Gardasil, HPV vaccination in Denmark. Symptoms are mainly neurological and sometimes resemble or include those of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). Several of the patients after receiving the Gardasil HPV vaccine examined at Frederiksberg Hospital could be diagnosed ME, according to the research team´s third study this year: Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis a Relevant Diagnosis in Patients with Suspected Side Effects to Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine?

POTS, ME and Mitochondria

POTS is a well known comorbidity to ME according to the research. It is also connected to mitochondrial dysfunction. An emerging theory is that Gardasil damages nerve cells and induces mitochondrial degeneration. This then leads to conditions of energy loss with neurological symptoms. An increasing number of international studies on Gardasil and Cervarix have been published over the last few years. Case studies such as CNS demyelination following HPV vaccination have been described. Research teams and doctors in Denmark, Israel and Japan etc. are looking into correlation by studying autoimmunity and possible markers. When analyzing symptoms a pattern emerges between this vaccine and many severe injuries. Strong connections have been presented in Death after Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination: Causal or Coincidental?

More recently, six cases of POTS were described and published. Another case study presents a 14 year old girl with POTS and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome after the Gardasil vaccine. Last year a Japanese study included 40 cases, the main part with symptoms identical to CRPS, and four cases were even diagnosed POTS. Prof. Yehuda Shoenfeld and his team recently published a study on Safety of Human Papilloma Virus-Blockers and the Risk of Triggering Autoimmune Diseases. The authors conclude, after a review of U.S. VAERS reports, though the vaccine is stated as safe, there are many mechanisms by which autoimmunity is triggered by Gardasil vaccine adjuvants and viral proteins. They suggest that recombinant proteins from Gardasil are leading to an increased association with autoimmunity.

My daughter Sara experience the symptoms concordant with the major criteria of ASIA syndrome proposed by Prof. Shoenfeld. Her case was sent to the international ASIA registry last year. By now other Danish patient cases are being registered.

The Japanese doctor Kusuki Nishioka presented his work at an international congress of bio-rheumatology in Moscow July 2014. Nishioka’s work points to another post Gardasil Syndrome called HANS or Human Papillomavirus Associated Neuroimmunopathic Syndrome.

Sara’s Recovery from Gardasil Injury

Our daughter’s health history is an example of a likely temporal correlation between the Gardasil vaccine and a host of complicated post vaccine symptoms. Sara fainted two days after her second vaccination with Gardasil, March 2013. Right after this, all her neurological symptoms appeared, one after another. Children’s hospital performed several analyses including CT and MRI scans. The only blood test that came out positive was a very low vitamin D test (at 25). The only suggestion for treatment by children’s ward, was a powder medication for non-existing constipation that was postulated due to her abdominal pains. This medication was given despite the fact that her primary symptoms were neurological like tingling, burning and pain of legs and arms, dizziness, fatigue and a constant headache. A neurological examination seemed out of question and was rejected.

We realized that there was no treatment in Denmark for Sara and went to the Swiss clinic Paracelsus, Lustmühle. Back in Denmark, Sara was diagnosed POTS at Frederiksberg Hospital shortly after; although a doctor of social medicine at children’s hospital had claimed Sara could not suffer from any physical diseases and implied it was only some kind of bio-psycho-social disorder.

With the help of our Swiss doctor, Sara had several tests performed by foreign laboratories (German, Swiss, Belgium and British). Clear markers were found proving a dysfunction of her mitochondria, the “powerhouses” of the cells. Among signs of severe oxidative stress were low levels of coenzyme Q10, a key element in the energy production of the cells.

Severe toxic reaction to the vaccination with Gardasil, initiating fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) with acquired mitochondriopathy, was the Swiss diagnosis. Sara’s muscle pains were correlating classic trigger points of FMS.
Similar symptoms and diagnoses have been proposed in two patients after post HPV vaccine, by Dr. Manuel Martínez-Lavín.

Sara’s treatment was planned from test results, by her Swiss doctor’s experience in pediatrics and diseases of energy loss like Fibromyalgia Syndrome. The doctors there had great competence and knowledge from other vaccine injuries. On several occasions, the doctor hit the nail on the head with tests which would guide treatment details. Sara slowly began to improve.

Abdominal pains recovered within the first few months. At our local children’s ward doctors did not manage to perform a test of Celiac disease, whilst the Swiss clinic found pathological bacteria like Klebsiella Pneumo and other problems of the gut, which needed treatment.

After the Gardasil vaccine, her skin and muscles were sensitive to any touch, she could hardly use a wash cloth for her face. Today a careful massage and deeper pressure of muscles can even be tolerated.

More common metabolic tests were later managed within the Danish system (by our GP), and several linked hormones were affected. Sara had TSH and T4/T3 measured at the very low/ under border. According to the Swiss doctor there is a clear cut connection. He theorizes, recombinant proteins from Gardasil lead to damage of the brain nerve cells, especially affecting the hypothalamus and hypophysis, running the production of hormones in the thyroid gland, the adrenals and the ovaries. Via the TSH-control the thyroid gland normally should produce sufficient levels of T4/T3. But TSH is low as the releasing hormone (TRH) from the damaged hypothalamus is low. TRH has a direct effect on the mitochondria, as a permanent “crosstalk” is going on.

Hormones Matter has published a number of articles on post-medication and vaccine thyroid injury.

Last winter Sara had a solution of homeopathic injections of her skin (sub cutane, D5 Hypophysis and Hypothalamus) four times a week, performed at home by her very brave dad, monitored by the Swiss doctor. New Danish test results are showing TSH and T4 increased to normal levels.

Her HPV related symptoms were worsened with menstrual related pains, increasing to unbearable levels. Though still quite painful today, they are closer to normal for her age.

Her temperature regulation problems have almost gone. Before she would freeze and need a woolen blanket when everybody else felt warm in front of the wood-burning stove, or she would feel too hot in chilly surroundings. Night sweats are history.

Along with the mentioned treatment Sara has been taking a huge number of additional natural supplements and medication. Her diet has been strictly controlled too, with only healthy, nutritional foods allowed per our wonderful Swiss nutritionist at the Paracelsus Clinic.

More than once, Glutathione was measured by test to be at the very low border, and it has been complicated so far to raise this to normal levels.

No doubt phospholipids (NT Factor ATP lipids powder) made a difference of mitochondrial function since the ATP, the energy for every cell, has increased markedly. Nevertheless, lab tests have proven there is still an inability to produce sufficient amounts of ATP, which explains her rapid fatigue and problems in concentrating over longer periods of time. We expect future tests to show even better results based on the very good improvements we have seen so far.

Correcting the Post Gardasil Thiamine Deficiency

Probably the most effective supplement lately has been Sara’s treatment for thiamine deficiency, advised by Dr. Lonsdale. Thiamine is Vitamin B1. This article, in particular, was very helpful: Thiamine and magnesium deficiencies: keys to disease.

We found a German laboratory, Ganz Immun Diagnostics, performing the test for Transketolase in red cells, and the TPP-effect which was 27,5% (normal range < 20%.). To Dr. Lonsdale, there was no doubt, Sara would need Allithiamine (TTFD, a bioavailable form of fat soluble Vitamin B1), plus magnesium potassium aspartate.

Sara went through a tough time over some weeks by a so called “vitamin therapy paradox“. Side effects occurred, she had to go down to half the dose to continue and simply cope with some unpleasant symptoms for a few weeks before going back on full dose. Sara came out better than she had been for a long time, with more energy, and slowly a clearer mind. So far, most of her previous main pains still remain to some degree, but the paradox-related side effects have gone.

Best of all her brain fog began to lift with the thiamine treatment. Learning has even become possible along with concentration and memory improving. She manages a limited number of lessons at home, and she remembers much better than earlier. Her new level of energy allows her slowly to participate in the activities she had not been able to do in the years since the vaccine injury. Still seeing friends takes her energy, and social life is limited. If she overdoes her activity, the bill arrives sometimes days later by exhaustion and deterioration.

Another important treatment has been to increase the level of SAM. S-Adenosyl Methionine (also SAMe) is an important compound of the body and plays a role in many important processes of the immune system including maintains cell membranes. Last summer Sara could only walk up to 300 meters in a very slow speed at pains, with burning feet and exhaustion. We used a wheel chair once to get her to an open air musical area. This really felt like a step in the wrong direction.

She was diagnosed toxic neuropathy (after Gardasil) by a Danish retired doctor. The Swiss doctor made sure we had SAM measured by a German laboratory. Within the first four weeks of treatment by Methyl Guard (Thorne, US, Veggie caps), Sara could walk much better. We even enjoyed her amazing first careful dancing steps for the first time within months.

Sara’s Health Today

Today Sara can walk distances at good days about 1.5 kilometers at a normal speed with small pauses; and she can bike even longer. Twitching legs and cramps have almost disappeared and very rarely occur after too much exertion.

Sara started horse riding therapy, which she simply loves. After some weeks her muscle power improved clearly, and she can now carry a horse saddle. Months ago she could hardly lift a glass of water. She is more independent in activities of daily living, though she still needs help to some degree. She can do things like baking pan cakes again.

While still improving, our hope is to find a way for Sara to recover from resisting pains and to achieve more energy over time. Remaining are still some sensory disturbances (tingling and the more rare burning sensations) and sensitivity to light. Her constant headache lasting over two years, muscle pains of legs/and partly of arms are still present, though once in a while less heavy and variations appear during day time. Still remains severe fatigue and often a delayed exhaustion, which are all typical ME-symptoms. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is another diagnosis Sara probably will have to cope with.

Sara lost two important years of teenage life. She’ll have lots to catch up with in the future. She faces a great challenge with her education, as two school years have been lost so far. She will hopefully go back to some kind of school life in the future. Sara enjoys music and her classical song lessons. She has kept her hopes and dreams alive, and she can even benefit from her very hard experiences by Gardasil injury. The damage it did to her made her mature and wise beyond her age.

The Toll Gardasil Recovery Takes on the Family

As a family this has been a challenge; sometimes feeling like a never ending nightmare. We realized early, there was no established treatment for this condition, and perhaps luckily, we went abroad in time.

As a mom, I have to stay on top of everything and keep up my energy for activism, networking, and first of all for the care taking. Organizing blood samples is another job, plus catching up on results and writing regular status reports of symptoms and improvement. Ordering supplements is a task for her dad. Sara’s treatment has been counting over 25 different capsules, tablets, plus liquid remedies and drops, powders and injections.

No Danish physician has been able to take charge of Sara’s treatment. The Swiss doctor has been the main physician during the last two years. Our GP kindly assists in blood taking for German labs etc., something not many GPs would do.

The Swiss treatment was welcomed by three or four physicians here, who all have been supportive in Sara’s care. Foreign practitioners shared with us their knowledge and experience as well. For sure, the more consensus, the safer we feel.

Added to treatment, there are exhausting meetings with officials in accordance of planning Sara’s teaching and making sure her lessons are always adjusted to her present resources. We have clear laws on teaching ill pupils at home by local school.

As these post vaccine injury conditions are still not very well known, authorities do not always understand and respect patient’s decreased resources and special needs. Many young girls are trapped by now in the grey area, not able to cope with education or full time work, neither do we have social legislation to cover them appropriately.

There are no guarantees of a full recovery, though we still have our hopes and spirits. The pleasure and great relief of seeing Sara progress will never replace the tremendous pain and losses she has suffered, neither the price we payed as a family; not to mention financial costs.

Regarding connection the remaining dots of vaccine damages, rebuilding mitochondrial function is of great importance. By taking supplements of certain vitamins, minerals, phospholipids, fatty acids (omega-3 and -6 oils), antioxidants and amino acids, it is possible to facilitate a regeneration and maintenance of mitochondrial structure and cell metabolism. These supplements ease the symptoms for Sara and other post HPV-vaccine injured patients.

Final Thoughts

Well skilled naturopaths and physicians from Japan, across Europe and the U.S. are putting great effort in trying different protocols with varied positive effects. An example of co-work is Japanese, Danish and British protocols, as described in Orthomolecular treatment by Atsuo Yanagisawa. There is no quick cure fitting everybody. It is an individual and very long process to find the appropriate treatment. There exists great consensus on certain issues. Namely, that we need more testing and research. The more we know about post Gardasil damage at the molecular level, the better a treatment could be adjusted precisely for each patient. Along with more research and improved testing, we need to understand the relationship between this vaccine and the range of side-effects that develop. This will uncover causal connections to the vaccine injuries. Most importantly, we need to share experiences and research. This will help those who need to recover, and hopefully, prevent future victims.

Two Steps Forward One Step Back: Diary of Gardasil Injury in Japan

by Lim Suk Ho

Published on November 19, 2014

7613 views

Momoka received her first dose of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, in March of 2012. Prior to the vaccine she had mild asthma but was otherwise healthy and active. She was a vocalist and a bass guitarist in the high school band. In 2007, after possible exposure to rabies in Laos, she had three rabies injections. When the family moved to Japan, Momoka also received Hepatitis A and B, the Japanese encephalitis vaccines, as well as the vaccine for measles and rubella. There were no adverse reactions of note to these vaccines. It is only after the HPV vaccine that her health began to decline.

The following represents a diary that Momoka’s mother kept regarding her health after the Gardasil vaccine. The authorship of the article was granted to Mr. Lim, the chiropractor treating Momoka by request of the family. The article was written in Japanese and translated by a friend of Hormones Matter.

First Year Post Gardasil Vaccine – 2012

Momoka was in Year 9 at school and actively involved in school life as a student councilor. She also very busy for preparing high school entrance exam. The symptoms lasted a long time, but were not considered very serious, at least initially. Nevertheless, I decided not to go forward with the third Gardasil injection.

March 27 – First injection of Gardasil (15 years old).
April 15 – Headache started and lasted for 5 days, during this period appetite decreased.
April 20 – Fell, she said ‘I cannot understand why I fell”.
April 23 – Pain in foot, x-ray showed swollen ligament.
May 9 – Lump was found at the injection site that was painful and hot. The pain disappeared in several days.

June 2 – Second Gardasil injection
July and August – Headache occurred only several times, no serious symptoms.
November 22 – Headache. Symptoms of cold lasted for some time from this day.
November 27 – Headache and shoulder pain. Shoulder swelled. Something flying in front of eyes.

Second Year Post Gardasil Vaccine – 2013

From January through March 2013 Momoka was studying hard for her entrance exam and fortunately there were no clear symptoms.
April 20 – Diarrhea continued, but she was fine on the weekend. We suspected the diarrhea to be psychogenic, and visited a psychosomatic medicine (psychiatry) department, and a Chinese medicine was prescribed. The diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress continued off and on through February of 2014.
April 25 – Visited an internal medicine department, Momoka was diagnosed as ‘irritable bowel syndrome’, prescribed trimebutine maleate and etizolam.
April 28 – Momoka became emotionally intense and shouted around.
May 4 – Heart palpitations began. The palpitations became more frequent as time passed.
May 7 – A rash appeared on her chest. She was continuously depressed in May.
July 23 – Felt dizzy and visited a pediatrician. She was diagnosed as orthostatic intolerance (Postural Orthostatic Tachycaria Syndrome – POTS). No medicine prescribed.
July 25 – Momoka became depressed without reason. She suddenly started to cry. We visited a psychosomatic medicine department and she was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and ADHD. She was prescribed Zoloft and Landsen for one week. During that time, she experienced severe sleepiness. She slept almost all day. After finishing the course of the medication, the sleepiness disappeared gradually.
August 15 – When her cousin piggybacked on her, pain in the back started and lasted for one week, but her mother suspected that the cause is not the piggybacking.
August 27 – Started to have treatment for ADHD with Concerta, but the palpitation was so bad, and she stopped taking the medicine after three days.
August 30 – Had a counseling session in a psychiatric department recommended by her school, and ADHD was denied. Since Momoka’s sister is diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder and ADHD, I did not think Momoka had suddenly developed ADHD, but did not fully appreciate this until seeing the school psychiatrist.
October 31 – Complained of foot pain, but there seemed to be pain sometimes before this point.
November 3 – Pain in the bottom of eyes, dizziness.
November 8 – When got up in the morning, could not move the neck, the pain was strong, visited an orthopedics, given a poultice. She thought that it was because she was holding a guitar.
November 15 – Her neck and feet still painful.
She had diarrhea often in December, neck pain continued for a long time and she felt that this pain would not disappear forever. Since she started her high school, there was even one day she was fine. After the summer, her mental strength came back, so we thought this was not psychogenic.

Third Year Post Gardasil 2014

January 2 – When got up in the morning, she complained of neck pain. This time it was painful even when it was not moved. She was lying down whole day while growling. Her uncle, who is a physician suggested that Momoka sprained her neck during sleep.
January 3 – The neck pain weakened, but she had severe malaise, and after this day she often complained of severe malaise. (Around this time, slight involuntary movement started to appear in legs).
January 18 – Fever around 38 degree Celsius.
January 19 – Strong pain in the neck.
January 20 – Pain in the whole body. (Around this time, diagnosed as straight neck by an orthopedics.)
January 24 – Since palpitation continued, visited a cardiovascular medicine department and used a Holter monitor. She was diagnosed as premature ventricular contraction and they decided there was no need for treatment.
January 27 – Tonsillitis.
February 3  – Severe palpitation and pain in body.
February 7 –  Small toe swelled and became painful.
February 8  – Symptoms like hypoglycemia, small toe was diagnosed as chilblains by an orthopedics.
February 11 – Severe hunger and dizziness.
February 12 – Cataplexy when coming back from school.
February 17 –  Fingers of one hand swelled and became painful, x-ray results were normal, in the evening fingers of the other hand also swelled.
February 18 – Blood test in a pediatric clinic, CRP normal, white blood cell normal
February 20 – Detailed results of blood test showed no suspect of collagen disease, etc. February 21 – She complained of knees making sounds and could not walk in a normal way.
February 22 – Walking slightly improved, but there was still pain. We started to suspect that this was HPV vaccine injury after joint swelling on February 17. If she did not have this symptoms, we would be still visiting around hospitals a lot. From the end of February, under the guidance of chiropractor Mr. Lim, she started leg and foot exercises, stopped eating sugar and took a large amount of vitamin B (Vitamin B1, B2, and B6). She also took good quality salt.
March 1 – Received 1st chiropractic treatment by Mr. Lim.  The pain in neck, which had continued for half a year, disappeared.  Pain did not return on the following day.  This was a huge surprise to Momoka, and she had decided to overcome her problems caused by Gardasil with chiropractic treatments.
March   3 – Headache.  Felt like the inside of the head was tickled, and felt sick. Contacted Mr. Lim. Hypoglycemia was suspected and a piece of chocolate was taken. The symptoms soon disappeared (this might be caused by continuing a diet without sugar for one week). Complained of taste disorder.
March 4 – Pain on the left half of the body. Lost appetite and could not eat even rice soup.
March 6 – Felt good and played the piano after a long absence.
March 7 – Severe pain in left chest. The pain moved to feet in the evening.
March 8 – The pain continued, but she determined not to take a pain killer and endured the pain. The pain in neck was the maximum.
March 9 – Fever at 37.7 degree Celsius
March 10 – Slight fever continues. Surprisingly, although there was severe malaise, the pain in the neck and foot was weak, and there was no pain at all on the back.
March 14 – Second chiropractic treatment by Mr. Lim. This time, she had the treatment next day as well. We stayed in the town where the clinic was, the cost to travel to the clinic is around $400 dollars. Treated also with a poultice. After this day, when a pain appeared, a poultice was applied, and the pain in that area always disappeared by the next day.
March 16 – Strange pain appeared in small toe, which did not disappear by warming or massaging. The pain was induced even by touching with a cloth.
March 20 – Started a bath with citric acid.
March 25 – Severe palpitation.
March 28 – Stormed by depression. The same kind of depression as when she visited a psychosomatic medicine department last summer.  Difficult to concentrate whatever she was doing.  The arm was heavy, so immersed it in a citric acid bath.
March 29 – Third chiropractic treatment by Mr. Lim particularly around neck and arms. The pain in the neck and back greatly decreased.
April 1 – Pain as if water was boiling in feet. Such a degree that she could not walk.
April 3 – Started to take Protein (whey), but she did not like the taste and stopped in three days.
April 8 – Sever vomiting and diarrhea.
April 15 – Panic attack.
April 19 – Fourth chiropractic treatment by Mr. Lim.  Her back became flexible.
April 24 – Could not concentrate, could not take a note in lessens, lost way in the school, and nearly collided with a utility pole.
April 25 – Spasm through legs.
May 16 – Cracked toe bone. Sounded like she kicked a stair because of irritation. From the beginning of May,she became sensitive to an antiperspirant spray, and her body started jerking.
May 27 – This symptom disappeared by an ultrasonic treatment with a gel by Mr. Ono (who was a student of Mr. Lim).
June 13 – Severe pain in body after a long absence.
June 17 – Started to take supplement for digestive system. She said that she could hear grit grinding in her neck.
June 23 – Felt sick in late afternoon, around 8 o’clock in the evening she had difficulty in breathing and palpitation. Was this caused by wheat? (She had noodle for lunch and biscuits in late afternoon). Just on that day, Mr. Lim told that she should stop eating wheat.
June 25 – In the morning, all of the pain in neck, which was lasting for a long time, disappeared.
June 26 – She said that all of the strange feel in the heart disappeared.
June 27 – Her appetite had returned and she ate a lot of food from the morning.
June 28 – Her eye sight became faint. Probably due to fat of horse mackerel. Pain in the feet.
June 29 – The pain in the feet disappeared by the morning. This kind of quick disappearance of pain was the first time.
July 6 – Started supplement for the second stage, which was for caring liver function.
July 10 – Her eyesight dropped.  Tested and found to have a slight degree of astigmatism.  She had hypoglycemia, which was cured by eating plum.
July 12 – Severe stomatitis lasted for several days.
July 20 – She began taking additional supplements made from natural ingredients for improving liver function as part of the second stage of treatment.
July 30 – Taking Vitamin B2 and B6.
August 3 – Strange feel in the heart and spasm disappeared.
August 26 – School trip to Tokyo. Spasm in her body and difficulty in breathing started after evening meal. Spasm in her body and difficulty in breathing started after evening meal. Mr. Lim advised to take Vitamin B2, a large amount of water, pickled plum, citric acid, lemon and sea salt. The symptoms disappeared in a few hours. This may be caused by busy schedule of the trip, and Momoka also participated in a whole-day concert two days before the trip.

From September onward, no major symptoms. When Momoka kept sitting for a long time or became too tired, the muscle pain or the back pain occurred. However, there were no symptoms in the heart, involuntary movement, panic disorder, and muscle weakness.

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HPV Vaccine Reactions: A Response to Walking on the Edge of a Sword

by Derrick Lonsdale MD, FACN, CNS

Published on September 4, 2014

4660 views

This post is an attempt to answer the questions raised by the extraordinary post vaccination medical history of this 16 year old girl. Of all the HPV vaccine histories that have been recorded on “Hormones Matter” this is, in my view, one of the worst. We seem to be carrying out a vicious experiment on human beings and if this is not recognized as an indictment on the HPV vaccine, I do not know what will move the powers that be. With a very detailed history like this it is easy to see the relationship of the symptoms with the HPV vaccine. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this represents massive mitochondrial dysfunction affecting the brain and nervous system, particular the autonomic nervous system. I will try to discuss each symptom as it appears in the history.

Clues in the Pre – HPV Vaccine History

First of all it must be recognized that this young lady had pervasive developmental disorder, asthma, pyelitis, a topic dermatitis, otitis media, Candida, hemolytic streptococcus, pneumonia, “wart”, periodic fever, agrochemical sensitivity and recurrent stomatitis before she received the HPV vaccine. We are not told whether these symptoms were related to previous vaccinations. This appears to be consistent with a persistent concept among parents that infancy vaccines sometimes do more harm than good in a minority of children. The history here suggests a genetic or nutritional risk factor in addition to the stress of the vaccination.

Post – HPV Vaccine Reaction

Her attitude towards this dreadful post HPV vaccine legacy was excellent since she attended school in spite of fever. She is described as athletic with a good nature prior to vaccination and there was a major post vaccination personality change. The slow pulse suggested parasympathetic dominance that made at least a partial post-vaccination switch to sympathetic dominance. I base this on the description of an average post vaccination increase in pulse rate. I believe that the timeline reported in the medical history is important. She had the usual three injections. After the first one she developed asthma and since this was an early affliction I assume that the injection was a stress factor that triggered it. Asthma is caused by an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. After the second injection she developed urticaria. This was again a signal through the autonomic system that delivered a message to histamine releasing cells in the skin.

The worst situation arose after the third HPV vaccine injection. Symptoms described were arrhythmia, an increase in circulating eosinophils, fever, hypersomnia, aggressiveness, childish behavior, hyperpnea, muscle weakness, headache, parotitis, temporo-mandibular joint syndrome, dysphagia, stomatitis, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, photophobia, double vision, and “blood stagnation” in the hippocampus. The gradual worsening with each injection might be compared with the repeated blows of a hammer where a nail is driven in a little bit more with each blow. With this detailed description, a cause and effect relationship with each injection seems to be obvious and it would be stupid to regard this as a coincidence.

Oxidative Stress and the Brain

Let me try to explain these symptoms because I can assure you that they are all related to the brain. In particular, I am referring to the limbic system of the brain, that part of the brain that computes our adaptive mechanisms through the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems. The reference to the hippocampus makes it clear that the limbic system is involved because this is an important organ within that system. We can sum up the situation by saying that this young lady is now maladapted to her physical and mental environment.

When this part of the brain suffers from reduced energy efficiency from defective oxidative metabolism in mitochondria, it becomes erratic in the way it reacts to input signals delivered through the sensory system. This continuous process of brain and body signaling is how we adapt to our environment throughout life. We have to go back to the writings of Hans Selye whose professional career was spent in studying the effect of physical stress in animal systems. He reported his work as “The General Adaptation Syndrome” and referred to the diseases of mankind as the diseases of adaptation. I would have preferred to call it the diseases of maladaptation. What Selye emphasized throughout his writings was that it was consumption of energy that was required for adapting and its failure resulted in the syndrome that he described.

Now we know that the mitochondria are responsible for producing energy required for this, the General Adaptation Syndrome makes perfect sense. When Selye was doing his work, the biochemistry of energy metabolism was in its infancy. Now we have much more information about oxidative metabolism and energy production. Until recently, any mitochondrial dysfunction was considered to be invariably genetic in origin. We are now aware that it can be acquired as a result of environmental stress that results in insufficient energy to meet the mental or physical demand.

Diminished Oxidative Metabolism and the Limbic System: HPV Vaccine and Personality

The change in personality from a gentle to an aggressive individual is absolutely characteristic of diminished oxidative metabolism in the limbic system. In particular, the autonomic nervous system becomes extremely erratic in its behavior. It winds up by misdirecting the normal signals that go to the organs of the body and the associated symptoms are chaotic, referred to as dysautonomia. For example, the reaction to a mild reprimand might be an explosive temper tantrum and dietary indiscretion might well be an important factor in the waves of juvenile violence that seem to be otherwise inexplicable. For the past 35 years I have been seeing the personality of children change because of abnormal biochemistry in the limbic system. They have wicked temper tantrums, kick the door or the wall, are rude to parents and teachers and are generally out of control. By rescuing them from their appalling diet and giving them supplements, nearly all of them would gradually come back to being a normal child.

We are suffering from an epidemic of biochemical rather than psychological disease. Of course there is a genetic principle behind it; there always is! The smarter the child the greater the dietary risk. This should be fairly obvious to anybody because, like our cars, the better the car the better the fuel has to be. Because the brain, central nervous system and the heart are the most oxygen consuming tissues in the whole body, it is hardly surprising that they are the first to succumb. They are the organs most affected by vitamin B1 deficiency that causes beriberi. This vitamin, like a spark plug in a car, is a necessity to the oxidation of glucose, the primary fuel used by our cells, particularly in brain. Of course, it is not the only non caloric nutrient required, but its association with energy metabolism is clearly dominant.

We have seen from previous posts on this web site that some victims of post vaccination postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) were thiamine deficient and the dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system could legitimately be called beriberi. I have suggested several times that a marginal state of brain biochemistry may exist before the vaccination is given and that it acts as a stress factor. This might be from an unknown genetic risk or from a diet that does not meet the mental and physical activity required by the individual or a variable combination of both. It would explain why this HPV vaccine appears to pick off the brightest and the best.

In my opinion this young lady can only be helped by the administration of intravenous vitamins since that is the only way in which the necessary concentrations can be built up. It can be compared with changing the spark plugs in the engine of a car to improve its performance. Thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide is available in Japan under the trade name of Alinamin, I have no doubt that this would be an important addition to the intravenous concentration of water soluble vitamins.

HPV Vaccines are not Effective, Safe or Necessary

by Judy Wilyman, MSc

Published on June 5, 2014

5689 views

I was recently invited to present my research on the HPV vaccine at the Euroscicon Controlling Cancer Summit held in London on 12 May 2014. The theme of the presentations was Advances in Cancer Screening and Prevention Research and the paper I presented was titled: HPV vaccines have not been demonstrated to be safe and effective in the prevention of cervical cancer.

HPV Infections Mostly Harmless

In my presentation I provided evidence that HPV infections are harmless and asymptomatic unless specific environmental co-factors are also present. This is why HPV infections should not be feared by the public and why the medical literature states that cancer is a rare outcome from any type of HPV infection. The fact that cervical cancer is a higher risk in developing countries than in developed countries is explained by the presence of environmental co-factors that are necessary for an HPV infection to progress to cancer. These co-factors (risk factors) are more prevalent in the developing countries. The fact that HPV infections are mostly harmless on their own means that vaccinating all women in developed countries (e.g. Australia, US and the UK) results in the majority of women (99%) being on a drug for a disease that they are not at risk of getting. This is not cost-effective and it is also not necessary because the vaccine has not been proven to be safer or more effective than Pap screening combined with surgery.

If the HPV vaccines are proven to have value in years to come it could be offered to women in the high-risk category. That is, women who are exposed to the environmental co-factors that are necessary for an HPV infection to progress to cervical cancer. However, as yet the vaccine has not been proven to be safe or effective in preventing cervical cancer. Currently governments are claiming that because the HPV vaccine targets 2 of the 15+ strains of HPV associated with causing most cervical cancer, it will prevent some cervical cancer, but they have not determined how much can be prevented. This argument is flawed if the majority of women on the drug are not at risk of cervical cancer and if there is already an effective method of preventing cervical cancer in place. In this case, Pap screening combined with surgery is an effective method of prevention (9 out of 10 cancers) and it is risk free and will still be required by vaccinated women.

The Global Harm Associated with HPV Vaccines

Currently there is much global debate about the harm that is being associated with HPV vaccination programs. As of June 2014 Japan has stopped recommending this vaccine until further safety studies have been conducted. India and Utah have also stopped recommending this vaccine and France is considering similar action. In France the use of HPV vaccine was debated in an open scientific forum on 22 May 2014. This forum allowed all stakeholders to present their case to the French parliament. This is the debate that governments and health professionals are not having in many other countries, for example, Australia. In fact, the Australian government is recommending this vaccine free to all adolescent girls and boys in school programs without a debate about its safety and efficacy in preventing cervical cancer (a non-infectious disease).

HPV Vaccine Adjuvants

The HPV vaccine has two ingredients that are linked to causing infertility. These are sodium borate and polysorbate 80 and the Australian government has not explained why these ingredients are in a vaccine that is being recommended free to adolescents. This vaccine also has three times as much aluminium hydroxyphosphate sulphate (an adjuvant that is linked to autoimmune diseases and hypersensitivity) as any other vaccine and three times as many adverse events have been reported to this vaccine. The most common adverse events are neurological conditions and autoimmune diseases.

Adverse Events Associated with HPV Vaccines

Since the introduction of HPV vaccines 34,700 adverse events have been voluntarily reported to the US CDC, including 157 deaths and 6,977 permanent disabilities and chronic illness. This is possible because the Merck (vaccine manufacturer) funded Phase 3 clinical trials for Gardasil vaccine did not use an ‘inert’ (non-active) placebo in the unvaccinated control group. They used aluminium adjuvant in the comparison group and they did not collect long-term adverse events. The clinical trials only followed the health outcomes of all vaccinated girls actively for 15 days after vaccination. After this time the reporting of AE’s was voluntary which does not allow scientists to make causal relationships to the vaccine.

Here is a link to a video of the serious adverse events that some girls have experienced after using this vaccine. These have included seizures, paralysis, convulsions, tics, encephalopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome and death. The parents of injured children and those that have died after vaccination urge you to research this vaccine before you trust the government’s recommendation of this vaccine.

Report from the French Parliament on the Safety of Aluminium Adjuvant in HPV Vaccines (22 May 2014)

The public hearing held in Paris on the safety of aluminium adjuvants in vaccines was attended by the French Health Minister and reported on by the European parliament. The hearing was open to the press and titled ‘Vaccine Adjuvants: A Controversial Question’. The most recent science on aluminium adjuvants in vaccines demonstrates that many individuals have a pre-disposition (genetic condition) to experiencing a serious reaction from aluminium adjuvants in vaccines. These serious reactions include neurological damage and autoimmune diseases – multiple sclerosis, arthritis, lupus, etc – and are caused by the artificial stimulation of the immune system with vaccines. Here is a link to the report on the public hearing http://sanevax.org/french-vaccine-debates-immediate-measures-required/

This indicates the significance of fully informing parents about the vaccines that are recommended in government vaccination programs and the importance of vaccines being administered by general practitioners with an assessment of the family history of the patient. Vaccines are a medical intervention and they should not be administered in school programs because family history is a contraindication to vaccination.

Conclusion

Cervical cancer is curable with early detection by Pap screening (9 out of 10 cancers) and all vaccinated women will still need Pap screening. This is because the vaccine (costing $Au450 per person) does not target ~30% of cervical cancer (13+ strains of high-risk HPV are not covered in the vaccine) – even if it is proven to be of some value in years to come. It is also a fact that HPV infections are harmless unless specific environmental co-factors are also present and this is why vaccinating all women in developed countries results in the majority of women (99%) being on a drug for a disease they are not at risk of getting.

Reference

Wilyman J, 2013, HPV vaccination programs have not been shown to be cost-effective in countries with comprehensive Pap screening and surgery. Infectious Agents and Cancer. 8:21 (June): pp1-8.

About the Author: Judy Wilyman MSc, is a PhD Candidate studying Population Health Policy at the University of Wollongong (UOW) School of Social Sciences, Wollongong, Australia. She is the founder of Vaccination Decisions, a website that she has set up to present her research.

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Pap Smears Saved my Life: Cervical Cancer After Gardasil

by Laurel

Published on April 24, 2014

6899 views

I went to the doctor in early January 2008 and during the consultation was asked if I’d had my Gardasil shot. There was no discussion about possible side effects and I was urged to have it while it was still free. So I had the first shot then, just before my 26^th birthday. I had the second shot at the end of February.

I was healthy, fit and enjoying life. I was working in retail and there was talk of promotion and management training. My long term plans included a career change so I was training at the gym regularly to get my fitness level up. I passed a thorough preliminary medical examination in early May.

A Delayed Reaction to Gardasil?

In mid-May, I broke out in a rash. Originally I thought it might have been bed bugs or a reaction to laundry powder but it persisted and the doctor thought it was an allergy of some sort. I was put on antihistamines but the rash continued. One day my eyelid was swollen. Another day my lip swelled up. It seemed random and puzzling.

In June, I had my third Gardasil shot and then things really started to rev up with the symptoms escalating in frequency and severity.

It was then, that I started keeping a health diary to track what I was eating, what medication I was on, and what symptoms I was experiencing. After a few weeks I realised that it was not related to what I was eating, so just recorded medication and symptoms being experienced.

By July, the rash was all over my torso, legs, and arms and my face. It would sometimes come up in great welts. One night my thighs were blood red and so itchy I thought I’d go mad. One day I woke up and my entire face was so swollen, I looked like I’d been beaten up and I could barely recognise myself. My hands and feet would swell up and be so painful I could barely walk. My wrists and ankles ached and I had trouble sleeping because every time I moved I was in pain. I had strange bald patches on my tongue.

Post Gardasil Skin & Inflammatory Reactions – Patient ZVK from Hormones Matter

A Post Gardasil Inflammatory Condition

I had so many blood tests I felt like a pin cushion. In early July the doctor rang back to say my recent blood tests showed elevated CRP levels (an inflammatory indicator). I went back for weekly blood test, and the CRP levels continued to be elevated and rising higher each week. Up until then I had been seeing different doctors at different clinics so my mum suggested I see her doctor, Dr R, so there was some overview perspective.

By this stage I had taken so much time off work that I ran out of sick leave and went onto sickness benefits.

Dr R tried to get me an appointment with an Allergist but the waiting time was 10-12 weeks, and I was put on the cancellation list. In the mean time I went gluten-free and cut down on processed foods. Nothing worked.

Idiopathic Urticaria and Angioedema

On the 24^th July my tongue started to swell. My mum drove me to the Emergency Department of The Alfred Hospital. I thought it will be just like on ‘House’ or ‘All Saints’ and the doctors will solve the riddle, provide a diagnosis and cure me. But no such luck. I was told I had “idiopathic urticaria / angioedema”. They couldn’t say what caused it and all they could do was try to control the symptoms. After spending hours there I was eventually sent home with a script for high dosage antihistamines – I was on 2 x 24 hr strength tablets twice a day. One thing I learnt was that I was meant to be taking 2 different types of antihistamine, R1 and R2, for the urticaria.

The doctors assured me this would control my symptoms. It didn’t.

Connective Tissue Involvement

I managed to get an appointment at short notice – there had been a cancellation- to see Dr S, a Specialist Physician (specialising in diagnosis), on 25^th July. He took thorough notes of my history and symptoms. He said clinically it looked like connective tissue involvement suggestive of rheumatoid arthritis or a lupus-type condition. He ordered more blood tests, including a specific one for lupus. He also said not to worry too much as clinicians had recently being seeing patients presenting with what they were calling ‘pseudo lupus syndrome’. Could these pseudo lupus syndromes be related to the Gardasil vaccine or other medication reactions? I wonder.

Swollen Tongue

On 14^th August, exactly three weeks after my previous visit, I was back at the Alfred Hospital Emergency Department. Three weeks of the treatment had not controlled the symptoms, but had left me physically weaker – I was nauseous, tired from lack of sleep and in pain. I went to the Emergency Department at 10.15 pm as the back of my tongue was swollen and there was a strange feeling in my throat. I felt like I had a large bubble in my throat and it was difficult to swallow. The Alfred Hospital staff were spectacularly unhelpful – I was told to report back to the desk if unable to breathe. Over the next hours the swelling seemed to stabilise in that it wasn’t getting worse. I left The Alfred at 12.30am having not been seen and I got home at 2.30am. At about 6.30am the swelling suddenly started to increase and I had difficulty in swallowing. My mum came and collected me and we went straight to see Dr R. She said in over 30 years of practice she had never seen or heard of anything like it. I was put back onto cortisone.

On 20^th August I had my revisit with Dr S. The blood test for Lupus was negative, so I was one of the ‘pseudo lupus syndrome’ patients. He recommended I see a Rheumatologist rather than an Allergist or Dermatologist. He said that, in Melbourne, Immunologists tended to be research rather than clinical, and that Rheumatologists were the autoimmune specialists. So, onto another waiting list to see a yet another specialist – an appointment was made with Dr A for 9^th September.

On the 2^nd September I finally got to see an Allergist. He recommended a very restricted “elimination diet” which, by that stage, I didn’t have the energy or inclination to follow. I had worked out weeks earlier that the swellings were not related to what I was eating. However, I did buy some allergy free soap, toothpaste and shampoo. And he provided a list of foods/drinks to avoid because of preservatives.

A Heart Murmur

On the 9^th September I saw the Rheumatologist Dr A. Like Dr S she took a comprehensive history. She ordered an extensive battery of blood tests – for HIV, Barmah forest virus, Ross river virus etc. On examining me she detected a heart murmur and ordered a chest CT scan and echo cardiogram. One thing I was sure about was that I had no heart murmur when I passed the comprehensive medical back in May.

Still No Answers

It was the same old story: Dr. A as a Rheumatologist was a connective tissue specialist, not an autoimmune specialist. She suggested seeing a clinical Immunologist, Professor H, and appointment was arranged for 13^th October.

So I spent months on high-dose antihistamines and intermittent short courses of cortisone. The cortisone initially controlled the rash, but as soon as I stopped the treatment the rash came back. Eventually the rash appeared even when I was on cortisone. So the recommended treatment didn’t work. What was worse was that the doctors seemed mystified and perplexed by my multitude of symptoms.

By this stage, based on my diary, I was seeing some emerging patterns: The symptoms appeared more severe around the time I got my period; and also after exercise, if I went to the gym or personal training. I also had the feeling that the antihistamines may have been actually exacerbating the symptoms, particularly the swellings. The most striking instance occurred on the evening of 14^th August within 15 minutes of taking the histamines, my lip suddenly started swelling up and then the swelling progressed to my tongue and throat.

Unstable Mast Cells

A breakthrough of sorts came when a colleague gave Dr R an information sheet about Ketotifen – a mast cell stabiliser – that seemed to explain and (hopefully) treat my symptoms.

Apparently people with chronic urticaria and angioedema do not suffer from specific allergies, but rather an unstable mast cell system. According to the fact sheet, the unstable mast cells leak histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which result in other associated symptoms, such as headaches, tiredness, lethargy, irritability and difficulty in concentration. It can also affect the gastrointestinal tract causing cramping, bloating, indigestion, regurgitation, flatulence, intermittent diarrhoea and constipation. Many patients suffer from joint pains and muscle pain. These symptoms are due to the inflammatory properties of leaked histamines, prostaglandins and leukotrienes. I was unable to see the doctor who wrote the information sheet, as he only saw asthma patients.

Also, Ketotifen was not available in tablet form in Australia and we had to send to New Zealand for it. Ketotifen is only available in Australia as eye drops. A friend sent me an advertising leaflet for Zaditen “the only triple action, anti-allergy eye drops for symptomatic short term treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis available over the counter without prescription.” Strangely, it was titled Zoe’s Dilemma and featured a cartoon of teary-eyed Zoe “I’ve got minutes to pull myself together!” being ZAPPED with Zaditen by a handsome young white-coated healthcare professional, saying “Only I can give you a quick solution”.

By the time we sent to New Zealand, received the tablets and found a doctor willing to oversee it, I didn’t start the Ketotifen until September. Gradually the swellings became less frequent. The rash remained but became more “normal”.

Back to Urticaria

When I saw the Clinical Immunologist, Professor H, on 13^th October he was the first health professional I’d seen that wasn’t mystified by my many and varied symptoms. He diagnosed severe chronic urticaria and, when shown my photos, said they were classic of severe urticaria. In terms of severity, my condition was in the top 5% he had seen.

He went on to explain that an unstable mast cell system was the basis of all autoimmune conditions. Researchers were just starting to unravel how the immune system works, particularly autoimmunity. He said that researchers had recently discovered that unstable mast cells leaked many chemicals, much more than previously thought (i.e. many more than mentioned in the Ketotifen information sheet). He was currently supervising a PhD student researching this topic.

I queried how it was strange I should, within a two month period, be so badly affected -particularly as I had been so fit before. Professor H said that, for some reason, the fittest people were often the most severely affected by autoimmune disease. It was as if their immune systems were also super fit, and turned in on the body with extra zeal. He also said that there was evidence in support of my intuitions – that symptoms were often worse after exercise; and, for women, worse around the time of menstruation.

The only recommended treatment was a long-term course of high dose cortisone. He explained that long-term cortisone use had some nasty side effects. Although he couldn’t guarantee it, he was confident that the treatment would get rid of the rash. He couldn’t say how long I would have to stay on cortisone. I was to think about the pros and cons of this, and decide whether to start the cortisone when I came to my next appointment in December.

Alternative Therapies

On 28th November I consulted a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, Dr Z. He was the first health practitioner I had seen who was confident that the rash could be treated successfully. He said there were acupuncture and Chinese herbs specifically for it. I had the treatment and the rash disappeared.

I don’t know whether it was the acupuncture or a combination of acupuncture and the Ketotifen, but something finally worked. I was still having intermittent swellings, but at least the rash was gone.

When I revisited Professor H on 2^nd December, the rash was gone. I decided to stick with the Ketotifen for another 4 months as recommended on the information sheet.

I did remain rash free taking just the Ketotifen, and then remained rash free when I stopped it in March 2009.

The whole experience left me exhausted, I felt as if my life had been put on hold for months. I had to take time off work and could only work part time after that. Not only did it cost me a lot financially in terms of being off work, I had to spend a fortune on antihistamines, Ketotifen, painkillers, indigestion tablets, and assorted other drugs.

In March 2009, just after finishing the Ketotifen and possibly as a result of all I’d been through, I experience for the first time ever an episode of acute anxiety and panic attacks for which I had treatment and counseling.

And Now Cervical Cancer

The biggest shock occurred in March 2011 when I went for my regular pap smear and was diagnosed and treated for cervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS). This was 17 months after my previously normal Pap smear, and three years after the first Gardasil shot. All of my previous pap smears had been clean.

I went for my regular pap smear with Dr P. early March 2011. A week later he rang me to say the report was showing glandular-cell abnormalities and I was to come in the following Tuesday for an assessment. [There are two main types of cervical cancer: the more common squamous-cell abnormalities and cancer (squamous carcinoma); and the rare but more aggressive glandular-cell abnormalities and cancer (adenocarcinoma)].

The following Friday I was in surgery and had a cold knife cone biopsy. The results came through the following Wednesday that the margins of the cone biopsy were clear.

I am very aware that I was fortunate – having my screening with a specialist colposcopist and having the surgical procedure within 10 days of the results being received. As a result of this, the cancer was detected early, at the in situ stage.

I have to have a follow-up screening every 6 months to make sure the cancer doesn’t return, and so far so good. I’m reassured that I’m having reliable and expert follow-up

So not only did I experience severe adverse reactions to the vaccine, it is obvious that Gardasil does not even protect against the serious cervical cancer: glandular cell cervical cancer. As AIS is thought to be caused by HPV 16 and 18, the exact viruses the Gardasil vaccine is supposed to protect against. Since I didn’t have the either HPV or cancer a mere 17 months prior to my vaccination, I have to wonder whether the Gardasil vaccine introduced the virus and the cancer into my system.

Recurrence of Urticaria and Angioedema

In June 2011, maybe as a result of stress, I had a recurrence of the urticaria/angioedema, including swelling of my tongue and throat. This time I was touring around Cornwell, UK so it was a little scary not knowing where to locate the local doctor or hospital.

When I saw Professor H a couple of months later, he said researchers in Australia had now developed a new version of the mast-cell stabiliser. It was being trialled with impressive results and they were trying to get the government to approve its use in Australia. He suggested that, as the Ketotifen had worked for me before, I go back onto it. When I eventually got the capsules for New Zealand and started taking them, the symptoms gradually subsided.

When I was telling Professor H. about being in Cornwell at the time of the recurrence, he said “Just as well your tongue didn’t start to swell.” On hearing that I’d had episodes of my tongue and throat swelling both recently and in 2008, he immediately wrote out a script for an epi-pen and told me to carry it at all times. As my mum later commented, it would have been helpful to know this three years earlier in 2008.

Six Years Post Gardasil

So how am I, six years on? I am still struggling with the aftermaths of Gardasil.

Although the urticaria / angioedema haven’t reoccurred for 3 years, I am struggling with an “invisible” legacy of insomnia and fatigue.

My sleep pattern is extremely disrupted. I have had a problem with insomnia since a teenager but, post-Gardasil, this became much more severe. I have been experiencing the strange situation of having no energy, being extremely fatigued, and yet I can’t get to sleep.

In 2010, I made the decision to return to study and relocated to Geelong (about an hour away from Melbourne) to attend Deakin University. Distance, work and university commitments made it impossible to have consistent follow-up treatment with Dr Z. TCM seems the best prospect to help with my sleep/energy problems, but unfortunately wasn’t an option for me at the time. I didn’t have the energy to go another round of finding local doctors, explaining symptoms, having more blood test, etc. So I battled on as best I could – herbal tea, Valerian, prescription sleeping tablets – nothing worked.

After the 2011, recurrence of symptoms my sleep patterns were even more disrupted. Early in 2012, I saw Dr M., a sleep specialist, and did a sleep test. I was awake all night and was officially diagnosed with sleep narcolepsy – falling asleep during the day due to exhaustion from insomnia.

A more visible legacy of Gardasil has been with my skin. Post-Gardasil my skin has been shocking with acne much worse than I’ve ever experienced, even when I was a teenager.

On reading Gabriella’s story I realise that maybe I can finally find some answers to regaining my health… it’s just a matter of knowing where to start and who to see.

However, the main message I want to get out to other Gardasil women – and all young women – is the need for annual pap smears. Dr P, who diagnosed and treated me for cervical adenocarcinoma, says there has been an increase in the number of young women developing this type of cancer, and that annual Pap smears are essential to monitor for it. Again, I have to wonder if the Gardasil vaccine and the increase in cervical cancers in young women are connected.

Pap smears saved my life, not bloody Gardasil.

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Five Years After Gardasil: Nursing my Mitochondria

by Gabriella Chow

Published on April 1, 2014

11905 views

My journey with Gardasil began innocently in Australia. In 2008 after two years of pervasive marketing, I fit right within the 26 years old ‘market segment’. I qualified for a free vaccination. Little did I know what was about to hit me; not once, but three times.

Health and Vaccination History Pre-Gardasil

I was in good health prior to Gardasil; hard working, athletic and traveling extensively. I had all the required vaccines by the French medical authorities for a person from my generation.

Between 2006-2007 corresponding to the beginning of my Master’s degree, I was injected with a number of vaccines that I thought, based on medical advice, were needed to cover international travel: diphtheria, typhoid, yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, the flu vaccine, and a tetanus boost.

Mid-2008, I had my first shot of Gardasil (20/06/2008 GARDASIL SEQUENCE 1, Batch No.K0176). My second shot was in October 2008 (10/10/2008 GARDASIL SEQUENCE 2, Batch No.K2307). The 3^rd sequence of Gardasil was injected in February 2009 (05/02/2009 GARDASIL SEQUENCE 3, Batch No.K5754).

Post Gardasil: Severe Hypersomnia, Dizziness, Tremors and Weight Loss

A flu-like episode with high fever lasting over a week occurred following the second vaccine shot. Full-blown hypersomnia first manifested when I fell into a deep sleep for 17 hours straight. Somnolence worsened for several months after the 2^nd and 3^rd Gardasil shots, until suddenly, and seemingly out of the blue, I was able to be awake for an average of 45 minutes to 3 hours a day.

During that initial phase of the syndrome, lifting a fork to eat, cooking and even walking to the kitchen were all too much effort. I needed to lie down or I would fall asleep on my computer keyboard. As I did not know the difference between tiredness and somnolence, I had difficulty explaining my initial symptoms to my doctors; yawning away through consultations until my post-consultation nap.

I experienced severe dizziness for the first time in what was to become a recurrent manifestation of this syndrome for the next five years. The dizziness intensified to the point of losing balance. I could no longer attend my regular weight-lifting classes: the floor would spin when I would pick up the weights. I tried to fight the lack of balance with my mind-over-matter method. I even managed to drag myself to a gym class during those first days of illness, seeking to force my body back into action. I thought willpower alone could jerk my body back into functioning. It didn’t work. My attempt was met with a record 10 minutes in a BodyPump class, followed by several hours of sleep. After 10 days of this dizziness and somnolence, I asked a friend to drive me to a doctor.

The Parade of Doctors Begins: Untangling the Gardasil Reaction

Doctor #1, my regular GP, said I was fine and just to rest. By then I also had hand tremors as well as dizziness and somnolence. I went to doctor #2, this time at our University Health Center. She ordered blood tests, all of which came back normal. I recall her telling me that I was healthy and that it was ‘all in my head’. Supposedly, the tremors that she could clearly observe were ‘all in my head’. She thought I was faking my symptoms. Within the next six weeks, I went to see doctor #3. Her diagnosis was Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) because I had – in her terms – ‘burned out my neurons’ through extensive intellectual efforts.

The next five months are a blur. I don’t recall much other than sleeping. I remember falling asleep everywhere instantly. I would fall asleep slumped on my desk or anywhere I sat. I would warn taxi drivers that I might fall asleep in their cab, and ask them to kindly wake me up at destination should this happen. This was in addition to the 10-12 hours per night I would sleep and the several hour naps I had in the morning and in the afternoon every single day.

More Doctors and More Symptoms

I moved from Australia to France and saw doctor #4. Soon, a new symptom began. It was tachycardia (rapid heart rate). My heart would pound furiously and I would be out of breath going up stairs, despite how athletic I had been just a few months before. Doctor #4 exhausted all possible tests and he referred me to an internal medicine specialist at Foch Hospital in France, doctor # 5. He suggested narcolepsy in his referral letter.

By then I had developed intense salt cravings which went hand in hand with the dizziness and tremendous thirst. During ‘waves’ of extreme somnolence, I had noticed that eating salt helped. I would ask for a bag of potato chips, to which I would add a lot of extra salt. Overtime, I figured out that it had to be sea salt otherwise it did not have the same effect on the dizziness or other symptoms. During these episodes I slurred my speech and had trouble speaking. This was often accompanied by major episodes of somnolence. I had noted that any exertion of physical energy was profoundly draining (e.g. walking, standing up, cooking); so too would mental energy demands such as strong emotions, empathy or anger. If became angry, I would fall asleep, as if the energy output required for anger was too much demand on my already drained body.

Since my salt cravings were so intense, doctor #5 suggested a series of tests, including one for adrenal gland tumors. This was July 2010. All the tests came back normal apart from a vitamin D deficiency.

Doctor #5: Narcolepsy without Cataplexy?

Doctor #5 concluded that I had narcolepsy without cataplexy since I had the capacity to sit down before falling asleep, rather than the cataplexy associated with collapsing asleep. He prescribed 300mg/day of Modiodal (Modafinil-Australia; Provigil-US).

The results of the treatment with Modiodal were tremendous. Since this ‘wake-promoting agent’ is used in combat by special forces, it was bound to help me control my somnolence. I was able to get much more done during the day, although I was still extremely somnolent. I began my weight-lifting class again, with better results, but I still needed 2 to 3 hours of sleep after a class and I was still dizzy and had all the other associated, up-to-then unexplainable symptoms.

Oh Wait, not Really – Says Doctor #6

In October 2010, I saw a sleep specialist, doctor #6. She told me:

“I see a lot of women like you. Women in your generation have a lot of pressure professionally and personally. You don’t have narcolepsy. You have psychogenic hypersomnia because you have been through a lot professionally and personally.”

In other words, she was implying that it was all in my head. She suggested that I would recover in about six months and did not run any tests in the sleep lab. She prescribed 400mg of Modiodal a day and told me to resist somnolence during the day to seek to force my body back into a wake-sleep routine. So I tried, although not too successfully. By then I had my nap armchair at work where I would have 10-minute power naps when I was too somnolent and dizzy. The increase in medication helped me resist the daytime somnolence but all of the other symptoms remained and some new ones appeared. I was now very sensitive to sound and light and needed sunglasses even indoors.

Powering Through my Declining Health Post Gardasil

Gradually, it seems that my body adjusted to the higher dose of Modiodal and I developed a tolerance for the dizziness and the somnolence. I enrolled in a Ph.D. program in November 2010. By early 2011 – I was both working full-time and starting a Ph.D. Being highly determined, I thought I would make my body function again, and yes, I was going to do this Ph.D. and to have this full-time job despite whatever tantrum my body was having with its dizziness, somnolence and other symptoms. I kept powering through. I thought the diagnosis of hypersomnia was final.

Another Six Months and Still No Improvement

Six months after doctor #6 told me I would be healed, I was no better. Her explanation for my lack of recovery was my “hectic” lifestyle. She told me, “you work too hard, give it another year, you should be fully resting for 6 full months but I understand you have to work.”

I was not making any progress on the somnolence, the dizziness, the light and noise sensitivity, or the salt cravings and thirst. I could barely hold it together on the physical front to keep up a career and my PHD. I did not have any energy to look more into the medical puzzle I was facing.

During the treatment when Modiodal was working well, doctor #6 tried another medication on me – to replace the Modiodal due to some changes in government funding for this medication which apparently did not qualify anymore for non-narcoleptics. She prescribed 80 mg of Ritalin. By early 2012, this new anti-somnolence medication made me extremely ill, so she changed the prescription back to Modiodal. My weight had plummeted to a low 48kg, despite eating normally.

US Doctors Post Gardasil: Pieces to the Puzzle

From late 2012 to early 2013, I spent six months in the US. I needed to follow-up on the hypersomnia. I met doctor #7 in the US and put him in touch with doctor #6 in France. I told him that I was convinced I was not properly diagnosed. ‘Psychogenic’ hypersomnia sounded like nonsense to me and it was increasingly obvious that we needed to reassess the symptoms. I told him that I was very dizzy most of the time, that light sensitivity had increased to a point of needing sunglasses indoors, that I had salt cravings etc. Also by then I was particularly skinny. I told him that I had discovered that exercise was allowing me to function without dizziness for a few hours, post weight-lifting especially. I started noticing a thick dry scale on my scalp. It was not dandruff and the inflammation – whatever it was – was very painful. Some new diagnoses emerged.

Hypothyroid. Doctor #7 in the US identified that I was hypothyroid. The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels came back high at 7.89 uIU/mL indicating that I was hypothyroid in spite of being skinny. Gaining weight is more common with this thyroid condition. Doctor #7 thought that the hypersomnia was due to the hypothyroidism, and that levothyroxine would fix it all, the hypersomnolence, the dizziness, and the light sensitivity. This was in January 2013. He referred me to a sleep specialist for further testing and a dermatologist for the scalp problem.
Low Potassium. I was also found to have low potassium levels although nothing much was thought of it at the time. This was a relevant clue as we shall see later in this post.
Vitamin B Deficiency. The dermatologist, doctor #8, tested me for tropical parasites given the countries I had traveled to. All came back normal. She seemed concerned though and suggested a complex of vitamin B supplements because in her experience, deficiencies in certain forms of vitamin B can trigger these sort of dermatological manifestations. I had no time to follow-up with her due to travel, nor to order the vitamins. I was too focused on the dizziness and hypersomnia and newly discovered thyroid problems and could not fathom a link to a vitamin deficiency. In retrospect, with what I now know of thiamin deficiency, I realize she was probably correct.
Back to Narcolepsy. The sleep specialist in the US, doctor #9, requested a sleep study because he suspected narcolepsy without cataplexy. He told me that I did not fit into the typical narcoleptic profile. The sleep study was done in February 2013 after 13 days of weaning myself off the Modiodal (yet having started the levothyroxine). By the time I completely weaned myself off the Modiodal for the sleep study, I could not exercise anymore and I was back to falling asleep all the time. In fact the sleep technician had to walk into the test room to wake me up during the day-time part of the sleep study because – as those who have done sleep studies know – you have to stay awake during certain periods of time for the tests to be valid. I was unable to resist the somnolence and was falling asleep uncontrollably on my ‘wake-up’ chair. I had an average of 4.75 minutes in a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), indicative of severe somnolence. I communicated the information to doctor #6 in France.

Post Gardasil Idiopathic Hypersomnia, Plus Hypothyroid

Doctor #9, seeing the results of the sleep test, told me it was clearly NOT psychogenic hypersomnia and clearly not Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). It was not narcolepsy either. He suggested ‘idiopathic’ hypersomnia or ‘vaccine-related’ hypersomnia. I was also shown to have mild sleep apnea. By April 2013 I had abnormally high Reverse T3 levels and Thyroxine (T4) levels despite normal TSH levels. I went back to doctor #7. We agreed to increase the levothyroxine to 100Mcg per day.

Back to France – Finding Support at Monastery

I had to leave the US in April 2013 to defend my PhD in France. Doctor #9, the sleep-specialist in the US, kindly gave me the equivalent of Modiodal samples for 3 months: I could not order more than one month of Modiodal at a time and had no more medical coverage in France. To manage the hypersomnia, I was given instead of 400mg of Modiodal per day, 250mg of Armodafinil a day. So there I was in France, in a new town, actually in a monastery, between April 2013 and August 2013.

Diet and Exercise Clues: Possible Mitochondrial Dysfunction Post Gardasil

By then I had noticed that sugar and other carbohydrates triggered somnolence. Complex carbohydrates did not affect me. This was in addition to the extra sea salt at strategic times to reduce episodes of somnolence. The extra salt induced extreme thirst most of the time. I found that weightlifting would allow me to function without dizziness for about 24 hours, and 15 to 30 minutes of jogging would give me 4-6 hours of functioning without dizziness. In fact, when I felt most dizzy – if I did pushups or lifted weights – I was guaranteed a reduction in dizziness. I communicated this with Dr. Marrs at her website, Hormones Matter. She had found research showing that exercise induced mitochondrial biogenesis. Somehow, my body knew that too, although, at the time I had no idea why it worked.

At one point during my stay at the monastery, my symptoms worsened. I developed what is called “tunnel vision” and the light sensitivity became extreme. I needed to wear my sunglasses most of the time, even indoors. I needed eye drops otherwise my eyes would burn. I felt like I was passing out most of the time. My eye bags were strange. They went down to my jawbones across the cheeks. Noise and conversations would exhaust me. I started eating on my own, not in the commissary with the others. This coincided with the re-emergence of heart palpitations. I was unable to run. Some monks and nuns began asking me if I was eating enough. No matter what or how much I ate, I would not gain wait. I kept losing weight.

This was probably the worst time of the illness. When the dizziness would manifest, I would feel like my energy was being completely drained from my body. If I could put to words the mental image I had when this would happen, it was as if light – I take as representing my energy levels – was leaking or rather shooting upwards from the top middle part of my skull. However delirious this sounds, and I was very ill, somehow I took it as my body telling me through the delirium that there was ‘an energy leak’. That was my inspiration to find a way to heal and my task was to find the biochemical source of this ‘leak’.

Hashimoto’s and Low Gammaglobulin

I went to see doctor #10 in a small village in Southern France. TSH levels had gone down to 0.1 so I had shifted from hypothyroid to hyperthyroid. We found out that I had in fact Hashimoto’s disease in addition to the ‘idiopathic’ hypersomnia. I had hypogammaglobulinemia and low total protein levels. I had lost 7 kilos between February 2013 and June 2013. Here again, Dr. Marrs had written about post Gardasil Hashimoto’s.

Doctor #10 told me to reduce the levothyroxine, and that I should see a blood specialist in hospital due to the hypogammaglobulinemia. The blood specialist was on holiday. Concerned with the way my health was degrading, I called a friend in Paris. Worried, and with the best of intentions, he sought to help me out and called another doctor in Paris for advice. I was subsequently told I had an appointment with doctor #11.

Doctor #11 was Lecherous

I saw doctor #11 in Paris and he told me that the Gardasil vaccine had no side effects, and that obviously all of my symptoms are in my head. So there, about 4 weeks before defending my Ph.D., an expensive doctor who knew nothing about my health asked that I stop taking the medicine that keeps me awake despite the hypersomnia and gave me a prescription for lithium ‘to help’ me wean myself off the Modiodal. He then proceeded to quiz me on my sex life, alluding to some throwback of female hysteria and repressed sexuality as a diagnosis. He seemed way too tickled by what he imagined was my sex life than in the debilitating health problems I was bringing to the medical consultation. Out of the blue, he asked: ‘do you have any issues climaxing?’. To this day I do not know how to relate his question to my light sensitivity, hypersomnia, salt-cravings, hand tremors, thirst, Hashimoto’s, dizziness and palpitations.

I became concerned when he intimated that, should all results come back negative, and he made sure I knew he thought they would come back negative, that he would prescribe appointments with a retired psychiatrist, a friend of his, to work on my thought patterns. He then calmly alluded to electroshock treatment on patients around my age at a clinic he was working at in Canada decades ago as a very good technique to retrain psychosomatic women. Yes, an expensive doctor who liked at one point in his life to experiment with electroshocks on ill women. As my exit strategy with this strange character, I told him I would indeed stop the Modiodal and go ahead with the lab tests.

I headed straight back to the monastery in Southern France, more perplexed with my health than before traveling. I arrived at the monastery almost destabilized. When I told the Mother Superior about the tone of the appointment, she burst out laughing. Her humor comforted me tremendously.

Doctor #12 – Managing the Hashimoto’s Post Gardasil

The next day, other friends had organized a medical appointment in a hospital in Montpellier, in Southern France, with an endocrinologist, doctor #12. She confirmed Hashimoto’s and asked that my thyroxine dosage be reduced. She referred me to an internist doctor closer to the monastery in another hospital.

Doctor # 13 – Probably Gardasil but You’ll Have to Live with It

Doctor #13 was an oncologist, in-hospital internal medicine. He ran a number of other tests and another MRI for pituitary issues. All came back normal apart from the thyroid function, but we already knew that. At one point he suggested we test for Breimer’s disease, however, the tests showed normal vitamin B12 levels. Tests for Lupus came back negative.

Doctor #13 told me that medicine was not advanced enough to offer me a clear diagnosis. He told me that possibly Gardasil triggered the hypersomnia, but that at this point in time without the exact mechanisms or the source of my syndrome, I’d have to live with the state of ‘no diagnosis’.

Despite my degrading health, somehow I defended and passed my Ph.D. in July 2013. In August 2013, I headed back to Australia.

Treating Post Gardasil Reactions in Australia – Doctors 14, 15 and 16

I needed a sleep specialist in Australia for the treatment of the hypersomnia. I had to get another GP (doctor #14) and sleep specialist in Australia, doctor #15. The sleep specialist was very attentive and made sure I could continue with the anti-somnolence medication. He also suggested we try a CPAP machine due to the minor sleep apnea. He started communicating with doctor #9 in the US. He mentioned that in children, what is considered ‘minor’ sleep apnea can trigger all sorts of health problems. Excessive coughing did not make it possible to continue with the trial test.

Since finding out I had Hashimoto’s in addition to the hypersomnia, and that my blood results were off, I was convinced of the need to refine the diagnosis. It was time to change tactics.

I went back to doctor #14, my new GP in Australia and shared my concerns. I also requested a referral to an endocrinologist to manage the thyroid disease I now have. She organized a referral to an endocrinologist, doctor #16. The endocrinologist was oblivious to the set of symptoms that accompanied Hashimoto’s. In only two visits, she managed to stabilize my TSH levels with 93.25 Mcg Eutroxsig per day and that was it. She did not want to see me for another year – to her the entity she was treating was Hashimoto’s and was unrelated to the other set of symptoms. She suggested yoga to reduce salt-cravings and light sensitivity; thereby implying these other symptoms were unrelated to an underlying medical condition.

I went back to doctor #14. My thirst and salt cravings, my light and noise sensitivity were so bad. I was exercising with military discipline to fight the dizziness, to counter what I now understand to probably be mitochondrial injury. I asked doctor #14 to run a number of tests and also to find an immunologist for me. The sleep specialist, doctor #15 in Australia, supported my consulting an immunologist because of my difficulties fighting infections and also low IgA, Hashimoto’s etc. Doctor #14 listened to him and while organizing an appointment with the immunologist he suggested, she also sent me to see a General Physician, doctor #18. Doctor #18 was more interested to know whether or not I had had breast augmentation ‘due to their shape’ than in my actual health concerns. He was an Australian version of French doctor #11. Needless to say, I never went back.

Meanwhile, I had learned through the Hormones Matter website, thanks to Dr. Chandler Marrs’ work, Dr. Derrick Lonsdale’s expertise, and a courageous mother, that four patients with unusual symptoms post-Gardasil (3 girls and a boy) had been tested and found to be thiamine (thiamin) deficient, using the erythrocyte transketolase test. Beriberi was at the core of their symptoms, and for whom doctors were able to do nothing prior to that diagnosis.

I tried to get the correct test for this deficiency. This was in September 2013. After six weeks of emails to three doctors (two in-hospital specialists and doctor #14), explaining the different types of thiamine testing, I realized I was getting nowhere. I learned then that doctor #14, was under pressure by the boss of her practice to stop ordering tests for me. Even though I am not depressed, she offered anti-depressants. I decided not to return. I went on a hunt for another GP to replace doctor #14. The new GP, doctor #19 ran a number of tests linked to nutrient absorption issues. All were normal.

Finally, an Ally – Doctor #17

In October 2013, my total protein levels were still low, IgA was low and I had very low vitamin D. Antithyroid peroxidase (TPO) was high. I had low potassium levels again (3.1mmol/L), which was consistent with the low potassium levels noted months earlier. (I now understand that this is typical of thiamine deficiency, or Beriberi). I also had a consistently low white cell count measured in France and in Australia.

Thanks to doctor #15, I met doctor #17, an Australian in-hospital immunologist who ordered another series of tests. He was interested in Derrick Lonsdale’s articles on the post Gardasil thiamine deficiency. Thanks to Dr. Marrs’ encouragement, they wrote to each other. We tried to get the thiamine deficiency test done in Australia. It was impossible to locate one lab that could do the correct testing. In September 2013 and October 2013, whole blood B1 levels were normal, at 143nmol/L (lab range: 66-200) and at 65ug/L (lab range: 28-85). Yet what needed to be tested was the activity of thiamine. Dr. Derrick Lonsdale makes it exceedingly clear that measuring transketolase is the only way to show that the activity of thiamine is normal. Transketolase requires two cofactors, thiamine and magnesium. The erythrocyte transketolase test is designed to show their deficiency or abnormal chemistry by detecting the activity of the enzyme.

While I was in a Southeast Asian country in November 2013, I tried again to get the erythrocyte transketolase test done. No luck. I tried getting the test in Japan through doctor #20, a researcher who was contacted for me in Japan. Beriberi is more common in Japan – I thought – they had to have labs for this, right? I asked the Japanese through a researcher in France, doctor #21. He tried six labs in Japan. No luck.

By late November 2013, after repeated failed attempts to get the transketolase test and my continued worsening health, Doctor #17, the immunologist, and I decided we would just try the thiamine replacement treatment with TTFD suggested by Derrick Lonsdale. Dr. Lonsdale tells me that TTFD stands for thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide. It is the synthetic equivalent of allithiamine, the naturally occurring disulfide derivative of vitamin B1(thiamine) in garlic. Clinical, animal experiments and biochemical research all have shown that it has therapeutic properties far beyond those of simple thiamine replacement.

Please do not try this alone without a doctor’s supervision as there can be dangerous paradoxical reactions.

Thiamine Replacement Treatment – Surviving the Paradoxical Reactions

I started in November with 100mg / day of TTFD. After 5 days I decreased the dose to 50mg / day. I had been warned by Dr. Lonsdale of the initial worsening of symptoms that he calls ‘paradox’. So I knew that my symptoms might get worse before they got better. I had no idea how severe that paradoxical reaction would be!

I want to explain this thing that Dr. Lonsdale calls ‘paradox’. He explained it to me as follows:

Unfortunately, we disregard history and the struggles that researchers went through in order to define the cause of the vitamin deficiency disease, beriberi. These are simply lost to the awareness of the modern physician. It was well known, when this disease was common, that the dangerous time of initiating treatment was directly proportional to the severity of the disease and how long it had been in existence. Under no accounts whatever should POTS be treated with TTFD without the care of a knowledgeable physician.

The initial phase of TTFD intake landed me four times in hospital emergency with extreme dizziness and heart palpitations over a period of five weeks. On one occasion, I was in two different hospitals in one day with chest pains and palpitations and very severe dizziness. On another instance, the gym called in an ambulance when my heart rate would not go down and I was extremely dizzy and incoherent. I recall blurting out to some petrified gym staff that I needed to have my ‘heart pulse’ monitored when in fact I meant heart rate.

In ER visits, I met resident doctors #22 and #23. One wanted me to see a neurologist and an endocrinologist. Her letter: ‘Presents L sided chest pain – sharp pinching pain…objectively in emergency. No criteria for admission @ present… would benefit from a review by both neurologist and endocrinologist’. One other resident in another hospital wanted me to see a cardiologist: ‘intermittent palpitations… thank you for seeing this patient for consideration of halter monitor’. Both were baffled by my symptoms. Dr. Lonsdale explained that this was a normal and expected temporary effect. My last ER visit was early December 2013.

Are the Post Gardasil Illnesses Related to Thiamine Deficiency?

Dr. Lonsdale’s work shows a connection between thiamine deficiency and dysautonomia. Thiamine deficiency Beriberi is actually a prototype for dysautonomia in its early stages because it affects the hypothalamic/autonomic/endocrine axis. I am inclined to agree, given my recent experience. Whether I was thiamine deficient prior to the vaccine or not, is now impossible to determine. What has become clear is that post Gardasil vaccine, my body went into a tailspin, for which no prior diagnosis or offered treatment worked.

I now understand that the symptoms of my condition are indicative of three forms of dysautonomia, all of which appear to have been induced by thiamine deficiency: the postural and orthostatic components of POTS were indicated by dizziness and fainting upon standing up. Cerebral Salt Wasting Syndrome was indicated by the intense salt cravings and Beriberi was confirmed with my positive reaction to thiamine treatment. The hypersomnia, since it has improved, appears to be caused by thiamine deficiency as well. Hashimoto’s disease, to which I have a genetic predisposition, was part of the mess and I have since learned that it is very common post medication or vaccine. It is of course possible, according to Dr. Lonsdale, that a latent, asymptomatic thiamine deficiency was triggered into clinical significance by the Gardasil vaccination.

Healing Post Gardasil

Since the ‘paradox’ passed early December 2013, with the TTFD treatment, I have had more energy than I have had in five years. The constant dizziness is gone. My extreme salt cravings are gone. My skin has improved. Light and noise sensitivity both have diminished. I have been able to put on weight. I do not need sunglasses when driving at night or earplugs in noisy environments anymore.

Going forward, I am giving my body what it needs to heal. Gradually, we are titrating my hypersomnia medications downward while providing my body with critical nutrients to feed the mitochondria. Currently – in addition to crucial daily exercise – my strategy is the following per day:

Early morning: probiotics; 200mg Modiodal; 93.25 thyroxine
Mid-morning: 50mg TTFD (Allithiamine, Ecological Formulas); 150mg Magnesium (works with TTFD); 1000 iu vit D3 (to counter vit D deficiency)
Lunch: 200mg or 175mg Modiodal
Mid-afternoon: 500mg Acetyl L-Carnitine; 150mg Co-Enzyme Q10
Night: 66mg TTFD, 1000µg B12, 66mg B6, 69mg vit.E, 66mg dl-α-as tocopheryl succinate, 20mg pantothenic acid calcium, 6.6mg γ-Oryzanol (2 pills of EX-PLUS Alinamin, Takeda Pharmaceuticals)

Note that initially between November 2013 and February 2014, I was on only 50mg of TTFD and 150mg of magnesium, plus a multivitamin. Now beyond the paradoxical phase, with the TTFD supplements my energy levels have soared. I decided to gradually increase the TTFD to 83mg. I am now at 116mg. Since my ailment seems to point to the mitochondria, I decided early March 2014 to add Acetyl L-Carnitine and Co-enzyme Q10. I also added probiotics to counter damage from ongoing medication. I now seek to decrease the Modiodal levels, gradually.

Post Script: I Was Given the Key to my Health at the Monastery

During the worst of my illness, a key was given to me in the form of both a pair and a trio. The trio was Dr. Chandler Marrs, Dr. Derrick Lonsdale, and the mother of Gardasil-injured patient. And the trio was paired with a context conducive to finding answers. Let me explain what I mean by the context.

I was in the last leg of my Ph.D. in France. During this challenging time physically, mentally and intellectually, but also financially, I was offered refuge in a monastery. My health was severely degrading. It was in this context of prayer, under the protection of this religious community while finishing my Ph.D. dissertation and preparing my Ph.D. defense, with a fantastic Wi-Fi connection at the monastery, that I began searching furiously for answers.

I needed to understand this complex biochemical mess that was manifesting in my body. What doctors were consistently discarding could not be this complicated to understand. The symptoms of this syndrome were not psychogenic: they did not occur in a chemical vacuum. Yet my doctors were baffled. And they were discarding my symptoms as an unsolvable mystery in not just one country, but in three countries: Australia, France and the United States.

Research on adverse reactions to Gardasil, as presented on Hormones Matter changed my perspective of this illness. A growing body of evidence seemed to indicate a link between Gardasil and a set of side effects ranging from Postural Hypotension Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) to cerebellar ataxia, autoimmune disease and debilitating somnolence.

After countless GPs, I was referred to three in-hospital specialists to treat multiple conditions: a sleep specialist, an endocrinologist and an immunologist.

It turns out that the Gardasil vaccine-induced hypersomnia and vaccine-triggered Hashimoto’s was just the tip of the iceberg. I also had Cerebral Salt Wasting Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Beriberi, all forms of dysautonomia, all potentially related to thiamine deficiency. None of this was detected or even considered by the physicians I sought help from, barring the dermatologist doctor #8 who mentioned the B vitamins as potentially involved in my illness. Even if the doctors had considered thiamine deficiency, testing in commercial labs was insufficient to detect it, leaving patients like me to fend for ourselves.

Through Hormones Matter, Dr. Chandler Marrs’ research and writing has helped me to connect the dots for my post Gardasil ordeal. Along with Dr. Derrick Lonsdale’s work showing the array of symptoms caused by thiamine deficiency, I now have a more accurate diagnosis and the treatment needed to heal. Together, Dr. Lonsdale’s research and Dr. Marrs’ articles on mitochondrial injury, are the closest I have come to a well-rounded explanation for the complex range of symptoms that I experienced over the last five years. Their work is giving me and my physicians treatment options that were otherwise unknown.

A few days ago, I discovered the work of Dr. François-Jérôme Authier and Dr. Romain K. Gherardi. Their work unveils even more of the complex chemical interactions at the core of this multifaceted syndrome.

What I Learned

Complex diseases sometimes have simple solutions, but to get there requires communication and collaboration amongst patients, doctors and researchers. My illness crossed medical boundaries requiring a multidisciplinary approach. There were no immediately knowable diagnoses, no medications that could effectively treat what was ailing me and, because of which, many physicians disregarded my symptoms as unsolvable, and the worst of them – thankfully a limited number – attributed my illness to psychogenic manifestations. If it were not for the online publication Hormones Matter, where patients, researchers and physicians work to find solutions to complex diseases and reactions, I would not be writing this post. I would be too ill.

A Note of Gratitude

I am profoundly grateful to the eclectic, geographically dispersed medical team which has helped me make sense of my ordeal. I am particularly grateful to Dr. Chandler Marrs for her out-of-the-ordinary patience and dedication to research and understanding adverse reactions, for making sure patients with complex diseases are heard. I am very grateful to Dr. Derrick Lonsdale for both his wisdom and his generosity in sharing, at 88 years old, his depth of knowledge on thiamine. May this knowledge be put to good use. His research legacy is a powerful one. I am grateful to Doctor #15 for being attentive and considering the possibility of a link between thiamine deficiency and some sleep disorders; to Doctor #17 for being willing to listen to a patient and to try the TTFD treatment; and to Doctor #21 for activating medical research networks both in Japan and France to seek to help me out. I am making sure that Doctors #15 in Australia and #9 in the US are in touch regarding the impact TTFD has had on the hypersomnia in my case.

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