SHARE WITH EVERYONE Anatomy of an Illness (C) C. Norman Shealy, M.D.,Ph.D. Three decades ago Norman Cousins wrote ANATOMY OF AN ILLNESS, first as an article in the New England Journal and then as a book. He developed a serious illness, probably rheumatoid spondylitis, with considerable pain after a trip to Russia, and he cured himself with IV vitamin C and laughter. Interestingly, when I met him some months later he appeared to have the fused spine of a patient with that disorder but his pain was controlled. Writing today about a recent problem, I would call all illnesses PsychoPhysiologicKarmic Anatomy of Illness. Loss of health is inevitably the result of cumulative karmic, chemical, electromagnetic, emotional and physical overload. In September, 2009, while on a three week trip by automobile, as we entered Washington, D.C., I felt as if I had been psychically attacked. My pulse, usually 62 at rest, jumped to upper 70's to mid-80's. I had a strong alarm reaction, as Selye would have termed it. This generalized feeling and reaction continued until November 1 when I suddenly developed an erratic, irregular pulse of 156. I phoned a cardiologist who asked me to go to an outpatient clinic to get and EKG---much faster than going to the hospital emergency ward! Atrial fibrillation being confirmed, I went to be admitted to the hospital. While waiting there I phoned a healer friend and the fibrillation ceased within 2 minutes, leaving a pulse of 100 which slowly came down to upper 70's. The cardiologist did his evaluation and the diagnosis was hyperthyroidism, with aTSH almost non-measurable and high T 3 and T 4. Out of hospital 2 days later I developed raging dysentery and bladder spasms. My pulse went up to just over 100 and I phoned an endocrinologist who advised a beta blocker (one of the top 3 categories of my most despised drugs). At least it brought my pulse down to 84. A marvelous Nurse Practitioner put me on what I call sludge and it stopped the diarrhea immediately. She also gave me enough herbal enzyes to choke several horses. And the urinary symptoms abated quickly with Utira-C, a non-antibiotic bladder sterilizer. Meanwhile the original healer told me that she could not produce another miracle of healing the hyperthyroidism, because it was caused by my anger at the government. When the endocrinologist completed testing, he decided that I had viral hyperthyroidism, mainly based on the fact that I had no Radioactive Iodine Uptake. This diagnosis falls in the category of IDIOPATHIC or WE DON'T KNOW! A few days later atrial fibfillation developed again and I wrote all my regular email friends that I would cease forwarding any government critiques. My fibrillation ceased within a few minutes. But it continued to recur about once a week and go away on its own. And overall my attitude towards government has never waivered. After all, THERE IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR THOSE WHO, IN THE FACE OF A GREAT MORAL DILEMMA, MAINTAIN NEUTRALITY! Three other intuitives and healers had no significant suggestions, two of them agreeing with me that my disgust with government was not the major cause of the hyperthyroidism. After about 6 weeks, my pulse went up to above 100 and I doubled the beta blocker to keep resting pulse at 84. I was fatigued, requiring my usual 8 hours of sleep and two 40 to 60 minutes naps daily. Conventional medicine had nothing else to offer except time. I declined going on recommended coumadin for the intermittent fibrillation (about once a week). I scheduled a trip to Florida to meet with Dr. Ed Carlson and healers he recommended. Ed is the creator of Heart Forgiveness and Core Health. My first day there I met for 2 1/2 hours with David Harris, a Grand Master Martial Arts expert. Among other things, David applied Qi Gong rod therapy, pounding for many minutes with a heavy drum stick on my shoulders (pain intensity 2 to 3 out of 10), plus cupping with at least a dozen cups, one area of which he lanced. Blood and gunk came out. Then I was off to spend 2 hours with the most remarkable body therapist I have met. Paul St. John is the creator of Integrative NeuroSomatic Therapy. He diagnosed a short left leg and short left hemipelvis, confirmed by X-Ray. He also diagnosed a rotation of the cervical axis and several cranial distortions and adjusted these. He spent the rest of the 2 hour visit mostly doing gentle massage of the muscles of my right neck where I have had two earlier anterior cervical fusions (surgically fused from C 4-T). These were the result of previous trauma and fifth chakra karma! The pain in the right neck muscles ranged from 2 to 8 out of 10. I broke out several times in total body sweat-probably lost 2 pounds--and developed atrial fibrillation which lasted 12 hours, the longest one yet. Incidentally, that was truly the crisis/lysis of this illness and there has been no fibrillation since then. I awoke the following morning with a pulse in the 70's. Each of the 3 days there I had sessions with Ed on forgiveness of everything imaginable from this and any other life. Day two I obtained a full left foot lift and a butt lift (properly called a pelvic lift) to use when sitting. For the first time in my life my shoulders are level. Paul worked on me again, with the pain not being above a 2 out of 10. Day 3 my pulse was 64 at rest and sometimes at 62--back to normal! Paul worked on me another 2 hours, with the neck muscles having minimal discomfort. Most of this day he did massage of all the abdominal organs, heart and lungs--one of the most unique experiences of my life! Overall, he thought my organs were in good shape. I flew home at the end of the third day. My pulse the first day home averaged 66 to low 70's. It took another month to wean me from the beta blocker. My thyroid tests are back to normal. My attitude toward government is no different. The bottom line is EVERY illness has multiple "causes" and it is the total stress which precipitates "maladaptation"--significant symptoms or disease. There are times when prescription meds can help. And alternative, complementary, holistic approaches, integrated with convenional medicine, are always the best. If you have not yet checked BOUNCE, do it now! And share with all your contacts! Click here to watch Dr. Shealy's Bounce video on You Tube. |
