Appreciate your thoughts. The crux of the problem is an MRI based exam, not sure of heart or carotids, but if you have time to read the following, there seemed to be a strong positive turn around in every reading after adopting Pauling's recommendations, along with a new anti-Lp(a) drug, until this "CTA" test::
So I had HUGE hopes for the CTA (dye contract test) on Feb. 11. Heartbreakingly, it STILL showed the stenosis at 80%. So we are back at square 1. I cannot fathom the reason for the difference in the tests. None of this makes sense. The only thing that makes sense is Pauling’s reasoning and findings and that is not working for me, apparently, although my trust in these tests seems shaken now.
The rest of the story
Hi, Owen,
We discovered your fine institute and the Linus Pauling Unified Theory after I was diagnosed with an 80% asymptomatic stenosis in my left carotid about a year ago, on January 29, 2018. As quickly as I can, I will tell you my story, then I have a critical question. So I apologize for the length of my email but I will try to make it as succinct as possible.
It took me about six months to develop a treatment regimen for medical management. The first three months were a panicked effort to avoid surgery – which a general surgeon was trying to rush me into (he’s done about 1000 carotid endarterectomies).
So I meet with a functional medicine registered dietician. The doctor who discovered the stenosis is also certified in the Bale Doneen method. Their book is called “Beat the Heart Attack Gene.” I don’t know if you are familiar with them.
I also found a non-surgeon cardiovascular specialist who supported me in my effort to manage the situation medically. She put me on 5 mg of Crestor, which I started decreasing significantly – almost down to zero by August – because it caused muscle pain in my arms. I am a pianist so that doesn’t work well.
By July, I had begun taking Cardio-C. I started with two scoops a day, and worked up to four scoops a day by mid-August. Here is the complete list of supplements I have also been taking since that time: Actually, the Cardio-C was three scoops a day in September 2018…I increased that to four scoops in October and five scoops through the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays when I did eat 2 slices of homemade pecan pie plus some cheese and a bit of butter – for about 4 – 5 days in a row for each holiday.
Areds 2capsules
divided into twice daily
D3 4000 IU
divided into 20000 twice daily
B12 1000 IU
once daily
Vit C 7500 mg
divided into 2500 three times dail
Now 4 – 5 times daily
L-Lysine 7500 m
divided into 2500 three times daily
Now 4 – 5 times daily
L-Proline 1500 mg
divided into 500three times daily
Now 4 – 5 times daily
Folate - Methofolate 2667 mcg
once daily
Omega Fish Oil 4000 m
divided into 2000 twice daily
Ubuiquinol 400 mg
divided into 200 twice daily
Multipvitamin 1 capsule
once daily
Turmeric 1 capsule
once daily
allegra 1 capsule
once daily
K2 MK-7 200 mcg
divided into 100 twice daily
SpectraZyme Pan 9 360 mg
Three times daily
Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg
Once daily
Selenium 200 mcg
once daily
1 full aspirin 325 mg
once daily
Niatain 1000 mg
once daily
Magnesium 800 mg
divided into 400 twice daily
Important points:
I had another ultrasounds in my cardiovascular specialist’s office on August 22. I grilled the technician with questions and he seemed very knowledgeable and showed me pictures. I heard the sounds of the ultrasound on each side of my neck. My right side has very little stenosis and sounds quite clear, as expected. The full heart beat sound one might expect. I also heard the one on the left side of my neck – the one with the 80% blockage. It ALSO sounded very clear! He spent a lot of time doing the test. When my husband and I met with the specialist in her office, she proclaimed, “It’s less than 70%!!! WHAT are you doing?” I told her about the vitamin C therapy and all the other supplements I was taking. I also told her I was practically off of the statin and had started taking Repatha shots twice a month (I had had two of these by the time I did this ultrasound) instead.
My husband and I were ecstatic to say the least. By the time we did my labs again on Nov. 1, my total cholesterol had come down from 224 to 162; my LDL from 117 to 52; my HDL up from 89 to 102; and most importantly, my Lp(a) down from 43 to 27. TWENTY-SEVEN!. Over the holidays, my next labs taken Jan 24, 2019 were virtually the same, only I had cut the Repatha shots to 1 per month (1.2 dose). My total cholesterol went to 164 from 162 and my Lp(a) to 30 from 27. Big whoop.
So I had HUGE hopes for the CTA (dye contract test) on Feb. 11. Heartbreakingly, it STILL showed the stenosis at 80%. So we are back at square 1. I cannot fathom the reason for the difference in the tests. None of this makes sense. The only thing that makes sense is Pauling’s reasoning and findings and that is not working for me, apparently, although my trust in these tests seems shaken now.
I ordered your Book 1 and have read pieces of it. I also read enough of the G.C. Willis paper you reference to see that more significant stenoses can take 2 – 3 years to dissolve. I also saw where taking statins can keep the C from working. My doctor says the Repatha targets the Lp(a). But I wonder if it, too, is inhibiting the C’s natural ability to dissolve my stenosis.
My husband and I are still very distrustful of the ability to find a surgeon and a hospital with a complication rate of 3% or less. We are considering going to Mayo Clinic to get another opinion.
I get labs done every three months. My other thought after reading part of your book is to stay off the Repatha for this next three months and see what happens to my Lp(a) only using the Cardio-C. Do you see anything in the list of supplements I am taking that could be inhibiting the Cardio-C’s ability to heal my plaque? Should I be taking more B6 or Vitamin E?
Do you have any advice for me? I would so very much appreciate your CANDID advice, I will NOT hold you responsible no matter the outcome (unless it’s as I know it should be and my stenosis starts going away!). I am looking for HELP. And ADVICE. Please. This has been a very hard week. But I am fine – I do four 1 ½ hour ballet classes a week, two Pilates Reformer hour long sessions, and I am in college again – a piano performance major – and lugging a 10-lb backpack up and down five flights of parking garage stairs six times a week. I am 63 years old and I have at least another four decades to live. And there is a lot I plan to do in that time!
I believe in the Pauling therapy. I believe so in what you and Robert are doing with the foundation and I am grateful for it.
Thank you so much,
Lisa
First yes, in my opinion, and Pauling's recommendation, you should be taking at least 400 to 800 or more vitamin E. The late founder of A.C. Grace credited 4000 iu of his Unique-E for saving his life.
I think the aspirin is probably a mistake, but I understand the reasoning.. I would try weaning that, and replacing with the vitamin E.
Pauling also recommended Vitamin A (25,000 iu) and one or two Super B-complexes. (People taking Tower's Heart Technology are getting vitamin A)
Was the MRI with contrast on the carotids - or heart?
When I looked it up, it seemed to be used to diagnose the working of the heart? I note the improvement in all factors, including Lp(a). Also note that 18 out of 100 people who have the test are false positives - said to have the blockage/disease, when they don't.
The positive predictive value of cardiac CTA is approximately 82% and the negative predictive value is around 93%. This means for every 100 patients who appear to have coronary artery disease after CT angiography, 18 of them actually won't have it, and that for every 100 patients who have a negative CT angio test result (i.e. the test says they do not have coronary artery disease), 7 will actually have the disease as defined by the reference standard of invasive coronary angiography via cardiac catheterization.[4] Both coronary CT angiography and invasive angiography via cardiac catheterization yield similar diagnostic accuracy when both are being compared to a third reference standard such as intravascular ultrasound or fractional flow reserve.[5][6]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronary_CT_angiography
In my book I relate the story of my uncle who was diagnosed with a 50% and 80% carotid blockage. Had surgery for the 80%.. surgeon showed my aunt the white plaque that was scraped out... Then, she put him on half the correct dosage (5 pills of vitamin C and 5 pills of lysine) instead of 5 grams of each, and one month later, during the surgery of the 50% blockage, they found NO PLAQUE, again, on what was supposed to be a 50% blockage. Exact details in my book.
The ultrasound seems to confirm blood flow has returned. All the blood factor readings improved. I am not familiar with the particular test, but if it is measuring calcium, yes it would take longer to resolve, but blood flow is key. Also I am unfamiliar with the effects of the new drug he is taking.
All seems to revolve around the results of that test. Hopefully johnwen will respond. If you have any more input on how that test is used to diagnose carotid blockages (as opposed to the apparently positive ultrasound) I would appreciate.
Sounds like you have progressed in the right direction without surgery, on the other hand, I think carotid surgery is generally safe.