fell down from a flight stairs nearly 3 weeks ago which caused the back of his head to be pierced by a sharp rock. Although there was somewhat of a profuse bleeding, thankfully there were no broken body parts. He was taken to the ER.
X-rays were negative. Although CT scan was deemed normal, INITIALLY, we were told a 5-6 mm Hydrocephalus was present. Ironically he was at the same ER approximately one week earlier due to dizziness. He was diagnosed with Directional Vertigo at the time and released.
We were also told that a CT Scan at that time also showed a 2 mm Hydrocephalus but but it was not noted on the report for some reason and the attending physician did not report it.
The attending ER physician consulted with a neurosurgeon.The neuro did not seem to be concerned.
Six days later the patient was seen by his neurologist who looked at the ER reports and told us that there is no Hydrocephalus. However there was bleeding in the area between the brain and the skull. The neurologist thinks this is probably due to a blood vessel rupturing during the fall. He advised the patient to refrain from taking Plavix for at least four weeks. Another CT will be taken in mid March to make sure that the bleeding has stopped.
What were the results?
At this time the patient has not experienced any headaches, dizziness or vomiting at all. However he appears to be depressed at times and there is still quite a bit of muscular soreness in addition to episodes of low grade pain. This individual also suffers from spinal stenosis which may attribute to some of the discomfort.
He likely overextended the muscles and tendons in the fall and this will heal on its own.
Generally, he complains about weakness in the knee and areas below when he is walking. He does not feel confident in walking without a cane or walker. Thankfully he uses the walker sparingly as the strength of the muscles may have improved since the fall.
So far, we have been following this regimen:
1) 1/2 teaspoon of Bone and Joint Formula upon rising.
Three times daily works better.
2) One egg white in addition to Oatmeal with two packets of gelatin for breakfast.
3) The following supplements are taken after breakfast:
a) Magnesium Malate
b) CO-Q10
c) Butcher's broom
d) Zinc (50 mg)
e) GTF Chromium (for high cholesterol levels and very mildly elevated fasting blood sugar levels)
f) B12 (methylcobalamin) 1000 mcg
4) Two cod liver caps after lunch.
Cod liver oil is actually a blood thinner. Until you know there is no bleeding it would be best to avoid this.
5) 1/2 teaspoon of Memo-Reze (for short term memory impairment) with the following prostate formula in the afternoon:
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/OL042/ItemDetail
6) The following medications and supplements are taken after dinner:
a) Magnesium Malate
b) Butcher's broom
c) GTF Chromium
d) Plavix was discontinued until the results of CT is known.
e) Zocor
f) Norvasc
7) Lecithin Granules is taken 3 times daily.
The said individual apparently also suffers from Nocturia Polyuria. There does not seem to be any sign of urgency or frequent urination during the daytime hours. It seems that the OL prostate formula, at least for the time being, has reduced the nighttime rest room visits to one.
1) Would you add or delete anything from the above regimen?
Just the cod liver oil if there is bleeding. He also needs to be careful about using fish oils with drugs like Plavix.
2) Please state your opinion in the regards to the following formula for muscular pain and discomfort:
http://www.gaiaherbs.com/products/detail/30/Ginger-Supreme
The only drawback is that this also neutralizes the stomach acid, which can lead to a variety of problems.
3) Given the said individual is taking hypertension medication, is DLPA for long term use advisable?
DLPA only raises blood pressure in rare individuals.
4) Is there a possibility that the depression may be a result of trauma to the brain? Or perhaps is it just a natural byproduct of the muscular pain and discomfort? What can be done for this?
There are numerous causes of depression so it is hard to say what the likely culprit is in his case. Chronic pain though can be one cause or the use of some pain relievers known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
5) Since the individual has had no episodes of headaches, dizziness or vomiting in the span of three weeks since the fall, is it to safe to state that the dangers of subdural haematoma have passed?
Very likely. A continued increase of intercranial pressure would have presented with specific symptoms that he is not showing.
6) Is intake take of 1 scoop whey protein advisable for strengthening of leg muscles?
Simply taking protein will not strengthen the muscles. They really need to be exercised. Even something as simple as one of those "bicycle exercisers" that you use while sitting in your own chair.
7) Is it plausible to add Folic Acid into this regimen? If so, should rice bran be the source?
Rice bran or other high B vitamin sources would be best as B vitamins work best when taken together, not as isolates.
8) Please comment on Nocturia Polyuria.
Sterol sources and zinc work the best for this. He is already taking zinc. For sterols I recommend jiaogulan (Gynostemma), licorice root and yucca root. The last two are also steroidal anti-inflammatories to help with the pain and all support the adrenals to further reduce inflammation.
Please ask any further questions that you may have.
The only other thing that I would recommend off hand is the amino acid carnitine, which also helps with muscle strength including the heart muscle. Carnitine should be taken on an empty stomach or away from high protein sources.
There is actually very little that can be done until he is out of the hospital.
As to the bleeds they would have to have been very slow or the blood vessels reruptured. You mentioned earlier that he had been on Plavix. Had he resumed the Plavix based on the earlier scan results? Also, was he ever on Coumadin (Warfarin)? Either of these could have contributed to new or returning bleeds.
The night he fell down, we were advised to discontinue the Plavix by the ER doctor. We did. Later however, regrettably out of fear of a stroke, we advised him to take Plavix and he only did for one time. I don't know if that one instance was enough to start a new bleeder.
It is hard to say if this would have been part of the problem since it also has to be kept in mind that the blood may have still been thinned out from the previous use.
I also get irritated with doctors not paying attention to the fact that thinning the blood can also lead to strokes. I had a friend who died about a month ago this way. She had a stroke and was found three days later. When another friend and I went to visit her in the hospital I asked if they did any tests to determine what kind of stroke it was since the first stupid thing doctors will usually do is put the person on Coumadin (Warfarin), which can cause hemorrhagic stroke as I mentioned in this video:
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1656833#i
They never ran any tests and sure enough they had her on Coumadin. A week later she died in the hospital from a hemorrhagic stroke.
The only other potential blood thinners were 2 softgels of Cod Liver oil and one serving of Memo-reze which the ginko could have been troublesome (or was it???). He was also taking one serving of the Bone and Joint formula.
These formulas also contain coagulants balancing out the blood thinners. For example, the periwinkle in the Memor-Eze is a coagulant.
To answer your question, no, he was never on Warfarin.
Good, this is one of the most dangerous drugs ever to hit the market.
The concern right now is now six folds:
1) How to make sure the pneumonia does not return?
You mention a feeding tube below. If he is on a feeding tube then this would reduce the risk of reflux.
If still eating foods orally then really thick pureed foods are best and feed him slow with small spoonfuls at a time.
2) How to boost the immune function?
Here is an old post on the subject:
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1828600#i
3) How to improve the swallowing function?
See 1
4) How to halt or improve the dementia?
A lot of dementia is a result of medications. Therefore it is important to minimize medications as much as possible.
Herbs such as periwinkle, gotu kola, etc. help as well as lecithin and the fatty acids EPA/DHA (fish oil concentrate).
Video games can also help as they stimulate the mind and help to maintain brain, eye and hand coordination.
5) How to prevent strokes?
There are different types of strokes. One thing that can help with several forms though it to maintain vascular integrity primarily with silica and vitamin C sources.
6) How to get all the required nutrients through the feeding tube without difficulty and adverse effects?
Many herbs can be mixed in a thick fluid like mango nectar and put through a feeding tube. Water works as well, but it takes longer to waterlog the herbs so they will stay in solution instead of floating.
Just don't try to use resinous herbs to prevent possible plugging of the tube.
I know about your highly effective pneumonia formula, but as you stated chaparral is highly resinous. A local herb store has it in a tincture form, but I don't know how you feel about that.
I would not try to put it through a feeding tube.
Amla, nettle leaf, bee pollen and andrographis, I take it, are excellent immune boosters.
Yes, and the first three are also very nutritious as are alfalfa and seaweeds.
As for the dementia and dysphagia, my focus now is on Alpha GPC as it was shown to be highly effective for stroke patients with dementia in controlled randomized studies in Mexico and Italy with fairly large number of patients.
We will also focus on Magnesium malate, soy lecithin (if we can grind it down to a fine powder that can be thoroughly dissolved in liquids), and liquid form of CO-Q10.
You can run the liquid, herbs and lecithin in a blender all at once to make the nutritional fluid.
All this have to wait until he is released from the hospital.
Hv, please comment on the above and how to best get these substances through a feeding tube.
Thanks for the reply, Hv. See my responses below:
It is hard to say if this would have been part of the problem since it also has to be kept in mind that the blood may have still been thinned out from the previous use.
Yes, it very well would have been since he was prescribed Plavix on June 2011 and was taking it up to mid February 2012.
They never ran any tests and sure enough they had her on Coumadin. A week later she died in the hospital from a hemorrhagic stroke.
I'm very sorry to hear that. Please accept my condolensces.
I'm familiar with your video on Warfarin. I saw it last summer.
In your opinion, is thickening blood a major culprit in strokes? If so, what can safely be done about that?
These formulas also contain coagulants balancing out the blood thinners. For example, the periwinkle in the Memor-Eze is a coagulant.
That's good to hear. So can Memo-reze be safely given to such a patient via the feeding tube?
You mention a feeding tube below. If he is on a feeding tube then this would reduce the risk of reflux.
If still eating foods orally then really thick pureed foods are best and feed him slow with small spoonfuls at a time.
He will not be receiving food or drinks by mouth for at least 6 weeks.
A lot of dementia is a result of medications. Therefore it is important to minimize medications as much as possible.
I fully concur. I think the only medication that he will be on is the blood pressure medication Norvasc.
Herbs such as periwinkle, gotu kola, etc. help as well as lecithin and the fatty acids EPA/DHA (fish oil concentrate).
Yes, powdering the soy lecithins and putting it down the tube is being planned. I take it there are no problems with EPA/DHA in Memo-reze.
Video games can also help as they stimulate the mind and help to maintain brain, eye and hand coordination.
That's a good idea, one that I will seriously consider.
There are different types of strokes. One thing that can help with several forms though it to maintain vascular integrity primarily with silica and vitamin C sources.
Will do! How about Butcher's Broom? He was taking it orally for quite a while.
Many herbs can be mixed in a thick fluid like mango nectar and put through a feeding tube. Water works as well, but it takes longer to waterlog the herbs so they will stay in solution instead of floating.
Point well taken.
Just don't try to use resinous herbs to prevent possible plugging of the tube.
Will do!
Yes, and the first three are also very nutritious as are alfalfa and seaweeds.
Ditto!
You can run the liquid, herbs and lecithin in a blender all at once to make the nutritional fluid.
Excellent!
Here is an old post on the subject:
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1828600#i
Thanks, Hv. This is very helpful. So it appears that we are on track with nettle leaf, amla and bee pollen.
So here is the plan:
1) Upon rising: 900 mg of Alpha-GPC mixed in 4 oz mountain spring water and put down the tube. I know you are not a fan of isolated compounds, but the dementia has worsened after this ordeal to a degree that he does not know in which city or state he is. This was not a problem before the CVD. As this Mexican study illustrates:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12637119
It appears that this substance can be very helpful.
2) 10 minutes later: A mixture of nettle leaf, amla, bee pollen, androgrpahis and butcher's broom in nectar apple juice will be administered via the feeding tube. Is it viable to replace or add Memo-reze to this?
3) 20 minutes later: First meal of the day: 1 scoop whey protein mixed with spring water and banana. Magnesium malate, rice bran and soy lecithin and alfalafa will also be added to the blender, mixed and administered.
4) 20 minutes before second meal of the day: Mixture (2)
5) Second meal of the day: Soy protein or pea protein, banana, rice bran, soy lecithin, alfalfa and magnesium malate blended and administered.
6) (4)
7) Third meal of the day: Ensure high protein (http://ensure.com/products/ensure-high-protein) with soy lecithin, rice bran, alfalfa and magnesium malate.
Would it be advisable to add spirulina and chlorella to this mix? How about Extra Virgin Coconut Oil? This patient, as you may recall, has an artery that is 50% blocked in his neck.
If for some reason high quality food grade DE can not be obtained, is nettle leaf enough of a silica source?
If there is a reoccurance of pneumonia, will horseradish and thyme powders alone in nectar apple juice do? Given the severe dysphagia, how else can chaparral be safely administered? I know you are not a big fan of oil of oregano, but is 5-10 drops mixed in nectar juices acceptable?
Any other nutrient that can be added?
Please comment and advise on above questions and plans.
As always, thank you very much in advance, Hv.