Organ Recital

Past my best before date.
How I lived beyond my expiry date

I was advised in January 2021 by the cardiac team at Sunnybrook hospital that it was unlikely I would last the year . As is oft quoted from the Princess Bride, “My name is (Dr) Carlos Montoya, Prepare to die” I didn’t and I think I know why.

This is a very technical medical report. I include it because some of you may have a loved one with some of my co-morbidities. Read or pass

Dr Stephen Strum, adopted me medically last year after discovering some of my Jisei poems online. He has monitored my tests and clinical reports from all my specialists with meticulous care. He is a renowned oncology/hemocology specialist with a special expertise in prostate cancer. His book is considered the best book ever written on prostate cancer for patients (google Stephen Strum on Amazon for title) One of his recommendations was to follow the protocol used in a crataegus 1442 trial. (See attached case report). Essentially, half the research participants who took the study dose of crataeguss 1442 had increased exercise capacity, improved left ventricular ejection fraction( LVEF) and increased longevity. I realized crataegus 1224 was a Hawthorne extract, used for centuries for heart conditions. So I went to my local health food store and bought a recommended Hawthorne extract. I emailed Stephen with a photo of my purchase and was immediately reprimanded roundly. “Jerry , when I recommended crataegus 1442 I meant crataegus 1442 not some American shit know one knows what is in it. Crataegus 1442 is a superior German product and their approval system for drugs and supplements is far more rigorous than the FDA. Any serious research on hawthorns only uses the German product because of its consistent purity.” I started on it and two months later I noticed the difference in my exercise capacity and strength. ( see also SPRITE trial)

Dr strum espouses the theory of “inflamaging”. Eg inflammation is typical of aging. everywhere in the body. Everything is interconnected. His approach is truly holistic and he backs it up with research. In a chapter of his book he shows how prostate cancer just doesn’t exist in the prostate but affects other things in the body. For example he outlines the connection between prostate cancer and loss of bone density, as well as heart and neuro-degenerative changes. Two of my friends with prostate cancer read the chapter I sent them . ( let me know if you would like it) neither of their urologists ever mentioned the risk of loss of bone density. They are now both getting a bone density test.

One way to fight ‘inflamaging’ that Strum feels is important is to monitor omega 3 and 6 fatty acids in your blood , one good, one bad. He argues they play a huge role in regulating inflammation. He advised getting tested for all my fatty acids at the MAYO clinic(very expensive) or the EL lab in Florida. I tried both but neither will send kits in mail to Canada . But kinda by accident, I googled “omega 3 tests in Canada” and bingo! Life labs does a big part of it for $77 . I ordered it online, was given an online receipt and a requisition for my healthcare worker to sign. I took it to life labs on hwy 7 and got the result 2 weeks later. (see report below). It showed my
AA /EPA ratio at 18. But Strum says it needs to be below at least 4 for maximum protection. He cites that many Americans on a high fast foods diet ring in at over 40.
The report also notes that my ‘omega 3 whole blood score’ was 5.64%. But if between 6% -10%. There is an 80% lower risk of heart events! My ‘omega 3 index’ was 5.64 but a reading of 8%- 11%. offers the greatest protection from myocardial infarction . . . and in Stephen’s writings it affects a while range of inflammatory issues everywhere in the body. He thinks of it as a kinda inflammation “thermostat”. I asked the technician at the lab if many doctors prescribed this test. “Rarely” was the reply.

What he advised me was to take Vascepa as prescribed in the “Reduce-It” study. ( see link). He advised take it for a month then re-test my omega 3 acids. If it is not in the sweet spot adjust dosage. I have been taking Vascepa since this lab result below and will take the the test again in a month and hope I get into the sweet spot . Dr Strum argues that rebalancing these acids isn’t only heart healthy but affects inflammation everywhere in the body. My cardiac surgeon asked why I would take Vascepa because it only helps patients with congestive heart failure and I don’t have that. It illustrates vividly the difference in two methods of medical practice. My cardiologist sees everything in terms of connecting one dot to another dot. Dr strum connects on dot to a a hundred dots.
Vascepa was proven effective in the dramatic research in the REDUCE-IT study of 8000 patients with the half taking Vascepa showed a stunning result of a 28% reduction in heart events compared to the control group. There are far more heart benefits than my cardiologist suggested.
Read about it here
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/omega-3-fatty-acids-and-the-heart-new-evidence-more-questions-2021032422213

I’m convinced I have foiled my Sunnybrook medical prognostications by following Dr Strums advice. I have a new lease on life.

Crataegus 1442 study

1. Efficacy and safety of crataegus extract WS 1442 in comparison with placebo in patients with chronic stable New York Heart Association class-III heart failure
   Michael Tauchert, Prof Dr med Leverkusen, Germany
   Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate whether long-term therapy with crataegus extract WS 1442 is efficacious as add-on therapy to preexisting diuretic treatment in patients with heart failure with a more advanced stage of the disease (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III), whether effects are dose dependent, and whether the treat- ment is safe and well tolerated.
   Methods Exercise capacity was assessed by use of seated bicycle ergometry with incremental workloads. Scores for subjective symptoms and complaints made by the patients were analyzed. Efficacy and tolerability of the treatments were judged by both the patients and investigators. Safety was assessed by the documentation of adverse events and the safety laboratory.
   Results A total of 209 patients were randomized to treatment with 1800 mg of WS 1442, 900 mg of WS 1442, or with placebo. After 16 weeks of therapy with 1800 mg of WS 1442 per day, maximal tolerated workload during bicycle exercise showed a statistically significant increase in comparison with both placebo and 900 mg of WS 1442. Typical heart failure symptoms as rated by the patients were reduced to a greater extent by WS 1442 than by placebo. This dif- ference was significant for both doses of WS 1442. Both efficacy and tolerability were rated best for the 1800 mg of
   WS 1442 group by patients and investigators alike. The incidence of adverse events was lowest in the 1800 mg of WS 1442 group, particularly with respect to dizziness and vertigo.
   Conclusions The data from this study confirm that there is a dose-dependent effect of WS 1442 on the exercise ca- pacity of patients with heart failure and on typical heart failure–related clinical signs and symptoms. The drug was shown to be well tolerated and safe. (Am Heart J 2002;143:910-5.)

My omega 3 test report. Read the fine print here.