My PT Journal (stroke)
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 12:35 pm
My first post.
I'm a male, in my early 60's, and suffered a small stroke in mid-January 2020.
At first it was thought to be a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA), since I recovered after 30 minutes except for facial droop. An MRI brain scan showed a small area of damage, and a Ultrasound + CT scan showed a 63% blockage in the left carotid artery, at the branch point (presumed to be the culprit!). Their report stated "Given the size of some of the vertebral artery foramina this appears long-standing." No other concerns / blockages were found.
I was discharged from hospital after 1 week and put on Clopidogrel and Atorvastatin (which I immediately stopped taking when I got home and I replaced with 75mg daily aspirin). The doctors advised I should have a carotid endarterectomy, i.e. cut open the carotid and scrape out the blockage. I declined.
I don't smoke, have only the very occasional glass of wine, train with weights 3 times a week, not overweight and no other health issues. 2.5 years ago I went Vegan. I take B-complex, serrapeptase (250k iu/day) + other supplements and 2g Vitamin C (VC) every day. I thought I was protected!
So why did I get a stroke?
I think the reasons may have been:
(1) The blockage was probably formed over the 50+ years I was eating meat and diary products.
(2) I did not do enough cardiovascular exercise (I have a desk job).
(3) Doing weights (e.g. bench presses) might stress the neck arteries too much.
(4) Since going vegan, I tended to consume more salt, which damages the arteries.
(5) 2g Vit C on its own does not prevent or clear blockages - you need Lysine as well!
(6) I was taking buffered Vit C, which contained Calcium Ascorbate - probably a bad choice.
(7) I was taking on and off 50mg DHEA and pregnenolone - can't be sure they are to blame, however.
Were there any warning signs?
In retropect, possibly so. I was showing symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction (ED), having the occasional spell of dizziness,
seeing pulsating in the back of the eye when doing bench presses. I also noted my gums and teeth weren't doing so well. For at least 10 years I have had a small blind area in my left eye and tinnitus in my left ear - I can't be sure that these are connected, though.
So while in hospital I researched PT and arranged to have the ingredients posted home. At the time I read somewhere that VC and lysine should be in equal amounts, so when I got home I started taking 15g of VC and 15g (1) of lysine per day for two/three days, until I realised I should only be taking a max of 6g/day of lysine.
After a few days I got a very itchy rash on my upper back and chest and on my right wrist. It looked like measles. I have no idea if this was due to the excessive lysine, or whether it was a reaction to the iodine injection I had when they did my CT scan. The rash gradually disappeared over about 4 days.
Also I found my blood pressure was around 120/75 at home, while in hospital it was around 140/80. I don't know if this fall in pressure was due to the mega lysine dose or due to me using a different blood pressure monitor.
My PT regime is now:
Vit C as ascorbic acid : 15 to 18 g/day in ~4 doses
Lysine powder : ~6g / day
Proline capsules : 2g / day
Vit K2 : 300mcg/day
Vit E : 400iu/day
L-Carnitine : 1 to 2g/day
N-Acetyl-Cysteine : 1 to 2g/day
Other supplements:
Vit D3 : 2x2000iu / day
Zinc : 30mg(elemental) /day
Strong B complex (with methyl versions of B12 and folic acid)
Magnesium : 400mg elemental/day
Liposomal Alpha-lipoic acid : 600mg/day
Gastrodin (Tian Ma) extract : 250mg/day
Artichoke extract 2x500mg/day
Astaxanthin 12mg/day
Vegan EPA+DHA : 2x300mg /day
Pine bark extract : 2x100mg/day
Hydroxytyrosol (in olive leaf extract) : 50mg / day
Arginine and citruline powder: whenever I remember / can fit it in!
Aged garlic : 2x600mg/day
(Note: I have updated the above list in post #17)
I don't seem to have reached Bowel Tolerance (BT) level with my VC dose, but my stomach gurgles a lot and I pass enough wind to increase global warming by about 1 deg C.
I have now noticed an improvement in my gums and teeth since starting the PT.
However, strangley, I have found wound healing on the skin of my hands is slower.
Maybe I need more protein and zinc?
Recently (for 1 week now) I have started to apply a 50% solution of DMSO twice daily to my neck. I hope this is a good thing to be doing!
I will post updates as soon as I have anything of significance to report.
I will be seeking another ultrasound scan in about 3 or 4 months time to see if this protocol is making progress in removing the carotid blockage.
Any comments on the above protocal are welcome, thanks.
I'm a male, in my early 60's, and suffered a small stroke in mid-January 2020.
At first it was thought to be a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA), since I recovered after 30 minutes except for facial droop. An MRI brain scan showed a small area of damage, and a Ultrasound + CT scan showed a 63% blockage in the left carotid artery, at the branch point (presumed to be the culprit!). Their report stated "Given the size of some of the vertebral artery foramina this appears long-standing." No other concerns / blockages were found.
I was discharged from hospital after 1 week and put on Clopidogrel and Atorvastatin (which I immediately stopped taking when I got home and I replaced with 75mg daily aspirin). The doctors advised I should have a carotid endarterectomy, i.e. cut open the carotid and scrape out the blockage. I declined.
I don't smoke, have only the very occasional glass of wine, train with weights 3 times a week, not overweight and no other health issues. 2.5 years ago I went Vegan. I take B-complex, serrapeptase (250k iu/day) + other supplements and 2g Vitamin C (VC) every day. I thought I was protected!
So why did I get a stroke?
I think the reasons may have been:
(1) The blockage was probably formed over the 50+ years I was eating meat and diary products.
(2) I did not do enough cardiovascular exercise (I have a desk job).
(3) Doing weights (e.g. bench presses) might stress the neck arteries too much.
(4) Since going vegan, I tended to consume more salt, which damages the arteries.
(5) 2g Vit C on its own does not prevent or clear blockages - you need Lysine as well!
(6) I was taking buffered Vit C, which contained Calcium Ascorbate - probably a bad choice.
(7) I was taking on and off 50mg DHEA and pregnenolone - can't be sure they are to blame, however.
Were there any warning signs?
In retropect, possibly so. I was showing symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction (ED), having the occasional spell of dizziness,
seeing pulsating in the back of the eye when doing bench presses. I also noted my gums and teeth weren't doing so well. For at least 10 years I have had a small blind area in my left eye and tinnitus in my left ear - I can't be sure that these are connected, though.
So while in hospital I researched PT and arranged to have the ingredients posted home. At the time I read somewhere that VC and lysine should be in equal amounts, so when I got home I started taking 15g of VC and 15g (1) of lysine per day for two/three days, until I realised I should only be taking a max of 6g/day of lysine.
After a few days I got a very itchy rash on my upper back and chest and on my right wrist. It looked like measles. I have no idea if this was due to the excessive lysine, or whether it was a reaction to the iodine injection I had when they did my CT scan. The rash gradually disappeared over about 4 days.
Also I found my blood pressure was around 120/75 at home, while in hospital it was around 140/80. I don't know if this fall in pressure was due to the mega lysine dose or due to me using a different blood pressure monitor.
My PT regime is now:
Vit C as ascorbic acid : 15 to 18 g/day in ~4 doses
Lysine powder : ~6g / day
Proline capsules : 2g / day
Vit K2 : 300mcg/day
Vit E : 400iu/day
L-Carnitine : 1 to 2g/day
N-Acetyl-Cysteine : 1 to 2g/day
Other supplements:
Vit D3 : 2x2000iu / day
Zinc : 30mg(elemental) /day
Strong B complex (with methyl versions of B12 and folic acid)
Magnesium : 400mg elemental/day
Liposomal Alpha-lipoic acid : 600mg/day
Gastrodin (Tian Ma) extract : 250mg/day
Artichoke extract 2x500mg/day
Astaxanthin 12mg/day
Vegan EPA+DHA : 2x300mg /day
Pine bark extract : 2x100mg/day
Hydroxytyrosol (in olive leaf extract) : 50mg / day
Arginine and citruline powder: whenever I remember / can fit it in!
Aged garlic : 2x600mg/day
(Note: I have updated the above list in post #17)
I don't seem to have reached Bowel Tolerance (BT) level with my VC dose, but my stomach gurgles a lot and I pass enough wind to increase global warming by about 1 deg C.
I have now noticed an improvement in my gums and teeth since starting the PT.
However, strangley, I have found wound healing on the skin of my hands is slower.
Maybe I need more protein and zinc?
Recently (for 1 week now) I have started to apply a 50% solution of DMSO twice daily to my neck. I hope this is a good thing to be doing!
I will post updates as soon as I have anything of significance to report.
I will be seeking another ultrasound scan in about 3 or 4 months time to see if this protocol is making progress in removing the carotid blockage.
Any comments on the above protocal are welcome, thanks.