Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Ruth on 30/10/2007 20:39:35
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Does anyone know about this?
What about the energetic vitalisers that are available? Do they work ? They are very expensive.
I am sensitive to energy from some electrical appliances and batteries. I also feel worse under fluorescent lights and when travelling in the car. Lately the pc screen has been making me feel sick and a recent metallic taste gets worse. Symptoms include chronic fatigue, muscle pain and sore eyes.
Electrosensitivity is now recognised in Sweden and people are claiming disability benfit.
It is making some people very ill and there is an article in Daily Mail today - Sarah Dacre.
Regards,
Ruth.
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What about the energetic vitalisers that are available? Do they work ? They are very expensive.
Just be careful that you are not paying money for 'snake oil'.
There is a lot of rubbish for sale which has no real basis for its operation.
Whilst I know that there are some very successful alternative treatments, you are always at risk from charlatans when you go down that road.
Read as much as you can on fora like this one and take on board comments from people who have had experience of such treatment.
I should always be suspicious of any device that makes its claims on the basis of an engineering principle that is flawed. If it works, it will not be because of any aspect of engineering.
From my knowledge of Physics and Engineering, I should say that it is extremely unlikely that a passive device worn on the body is likely to affect, in any way, the electromagnetic fields around your body. Could you still use your mobile phone and listen to your portable radio whilst wearing it? The only way to eliminate em fields is to go into a double skinned copper room - that could make you feel bad for other reasons!
If you are not feeling so good these days, have you thought about diet and job / life stress? What does your Doctor have to say?
Your problems with flickering lights and motion are not likely to be due to 'electromagnetic radiation''.
Save your money.
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Ruth - can I ask you if you have a lot of dental fillings? Fairly old fillings perhaps?
What you describe (apart from EMF sensitivity) sounds awefully much like problems indirectly related to mercury or amalgate fillings to me. If you do have any of those - please do get them checked by your dentist and possibly replaced.
EMF sensitivities is a very interesting and highly controversial subject especially because reactions and remedies are so highly individualistic. I don't think there is much 'hard' research out there on the subject but in the 'alternative' sector there's plenty of literature. Do read up on it, and also on geopathic stress.
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I am not a (medical) doctor, however:
What about the energetic vitalisers that are available? Do they work ?
They are very expensive.
Sounds like snake-oil
I am sensitive to energy from some electrical appliances and batteries.
From a scientific/physics perspective, this sounds unlikely - please explain more specifically.
What appliances, what distances, what circumstances, what symptoms?
Some electric heaters will give off a slight dust-burning smell especially at the start of the season - usually harmless... unless you're unduely apprehensive about it. Some appliances may hum or buzz or whistle, but again this shouldn't disturb you too much.
I also feel worse under fluorescent lights
Some fluorescent lights flicker and all have a peculiar visible light spectrum which distorts and fades colours (makes the room and objects and people and food look "grey"/dusty and sickly). This much is scientifically measurable and explicable, although some people are more perceptually aware of the effects than others. Some studies indicate that women have a more finely tuned colour-perception than men, too. I doubt it's so generally-accepted but personally I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if this brings on or worsens any kind of depression symptoms - especially at this time of year as the availability of natural light decreases.
I'd recommend fitting ordinary old-fashioned incandescent bulbs (not "low-energy" or fluorescent) in your kitchen, living-room, and bedroom. A conventional incandescent Anglepoise/desk lamp on your desk at work may help too. If the light's not too harsh you might even try a miniature halogen desk-lamp.
I've worked on display-screens and measured lighting, and personally don't get on with fluorescent lamps; all these suggestions help me.
I'd suggest you get outside in daylight, especially in the mornings, whenever you can.
and when travelling in the car.
Car/motion sickness, plus any stuffy atmosphere, plus any stress from behaviour of other traffic could be making you feel nauseous and/or stressed. Too much hot-air to demist the windscreen can cause dry/tired eyes. Try opening the windows and/or applying a demisting duster/compound to the windscreen instead. Personally I prefer to keep the car temperature cool, and the windows ajar (unless you're doing high-speed/motorway driving). Getting too hot through wearing too many layers can also make me mentally-tense before I actually realise I'm physically too hot. Going for a brisk 15minute walk is always a good thing on a colder morning, I find.
Lately the pc screen has been making me feel sick
Spending too long at a screen, especially late into the night is never a good thing.
- Are you sleeping ok?
- if you have an old-style CRT screen it may be becoming blurry, which can cause eye-strains and headaches
- if you have a new screen, check the picture is clear and sharp (be sure to operate it at its native/optimum resolution) and that it's not too bright. Many LCD screens' default brightness is far too bright, especially after dark and/or now the days are getting gloomier.
and a recent metallic taste gets worse.
I don't know much about that, but if it persists for more than 5 days I'd suggest you consult your dentist - check no fillings/teeth have cracked.
Symptoms include chronic fatigue, muscle pain and sore eyes.
This could be consistent with most of the above.
The colder weather also tends to bring out any dormant muscle aches.
I'd also make sure your house isn't too warm/stuffy/humid - especially modern newbuilds. I may only be 32 years of age, but I'm from the old-school when it comes to a healthy change of air, and appreciate a little bit of a draught!
Electrosensitivity is now recognised in Sweden and people are claiming disability benefit.
That may be so, but there are few properly validated mechanisms or reliable measures of electrosensitivity. Many cases fail on double-blind testing.
There are also usually far simpler explanations, which are also easier to solve, for many of the symptoms.
If you are not feeling so good these days, have you thought about diet and job / life stress? What does your Doctor have to say?
I second that.
Are there any other ongoing problems/worries which are wearing you down?
Do you have a social life you're happy with?
It's easy to forget that "stress" is not just about being rushed off your feet, but can also arise from not having enough to do, not being appreciated for what you do, or from anxieties about (lack of) career/life progression or of where the future leads.
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Thanks for all the info.
My illness goes back to 1990 after I had 3 Hepatitis B vacs when I was nursing in a hospital dental dept.
I had had all my fillings changed by a mercury free dentist 7 yrs ago after my osteopath advised me that I had hypersensitity to toxic metals.
Have had pain & stiffness in both arms for 18 yrs (1990) which has recently completely gone.
A yr ago left one healed but rt one remained This was puzzling & had ultrasound, tiny elec shock treatments and laser light therapy on it. This mmade it much worse giving me severe searing, burning pain which took 6 moths to stop. Eventally, I tried removing my metal watch but this made no difference until I put it back on again which made my arm worse. I removed the watch permanently and the arm healed in a few months. I have since been told it would have most likely been the battery from the watch interfering with the healing process.
I know its all a bit hard to believe but after many yrs of trying to get well, I think that finally I am on to something. Trouble is, not sure what to do about it!!
(thiomersal) and also that this could have sensitised me. I also worked with mercury previous to this. It is this ingredient that is used in vaccines as a preservative and has caused all the publicity about autism. See www.iaomt.org - smoking teeth!!
Yes, I am happily married,3 lovely kids, live in country, nice job etc. I am not highly strung & certainly not depressed. I am not the sort of person to complain of psychosomatic symptoms.
Ruth.
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A yr ago left one healed but rt one remained This was puzzling & had ultrasound, tiny elec shock treatments and laser light therapy on it. This mmade it much worse giving me severe searing, burning pain which took 6 moths to stop. Eventally, I tried removing my metal watch but this made no difference until I put it back on again which made my arm worse. I removed the watch permanently and the arm healed in a few months. I have since been told it would have most likely been the battery from the watch interfering with the healing process.
Who told you that the watch battery had anything to do with anything?
I find it not unusual merely for the presence of a watch strap (especially if thicker) can by simple physical means press on muscles/nerves and cause/aggravate lower-arm aches and pains, including RSI-like symptoms. I sometimes experience this myself.
I repeat that I'm a physicist/technology geek (not medical/biology trained), but I think that a physical compression/pressure/restriction explanation is the more probable explanation for why removing the watch has helped you in the past.
Yes, I am happily married,3 lovely kids, live in country, nice job etc. I am not highly strung & certainly not depressed.
I am not the sort of person to complain of psychosomatic symptoms.
Forgive me!
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I know this is hard to believe. I would not have beleived it myself 20 yrs ago but there is definitely something going on here.
Some people are being made ill by computers & electrical appliances, lights etc and I am one of them. At work last week I wore a portable phone in a bag resting on my hip, I developed an ache on this hip, & felt very tired & heavy all afternoon not realising that it mnay have been the phone until later. Next day didnt wear the phone & it was fine. Will try it again.
I think some "sciences" happen without any explanation such as dowsing. My husbaand (engineer) did not believe in that until he was shown how to do it. Homeopathy is another one that seems to work on some people and I have seen very amazing results on my own dogs. That can't be in the mind can it?
Have to go - trying to limit my time on here.
I am also interested in geopathic stress since my symptoms worsened after moving to house in Cotswolds from Sussex 2 yrs ago.
Speak again.
Regards,
Ruth.
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I am not the sort of person to complain of psychosomatic symptoms.
I offer no comment one way or another about the origin of Ruth's problems. However, this defensiveness at the idea that symptoms might be psychosomatic, or that only people with otherwise unhappy lives can suffer from symptoms without a physical cause does no-one any favours. Sure, it may be more common among people with other problems in their lives, but it's really only a form of inverse placebo... if you expect a pill to make you better it's more likely that it will, if you expect a battery to make you ill, maybe that will too.
Some people do have symptoms which have no physical origin, and which will not be helped by physical intervention. Stigmatising that type of condition will only lead individuals to insist that their problem is physical and demand physical remedies which will do them no good.
That said, possible physical causes for illness should always be investigated fully etc etc.
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Thank you Alandriel for your advice.
I am very sceptical myself about these gadgets I have to say. Healthy House though do allow you to try them first and offer a refund if not satisfied.
I did not set out to test myself for these findings but discovered them quite by accident.
In fact you could say that I unintentionally have done my own "placebo tests"!
And dont worry Rosy, I have been thoroughly investigated over the last 18 years!!!
If there is anyone anyone reading this who knows about EMF and geopathic stress and health effects please let me know.
Thanks.
Ruth