[BenV]

So can we take that to mean "No, I haven't looked into or calculated the energy required, and I refuse to do so, because to me it's all obvious, and others should just accept it"?

[Andrew K Fletcher (OP)]

Ben you can take it how you want. Varicose veins go flat using IBT no surgery required! http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=9843.150
Check out those two photographs.

Now. Sophie, you and BC could answer a simple question for me. Imagine you all have varicose veins like Alun's and you are facing having synthetic foam injected into your legs to block veins, or having surgery to strip the veins. You wear a support stocking instead of wearing shorts on the beach. You have been told about all the associated risks involved with surgery and infection. You have all been told about the cost in the region of 3 thousand ponds and you have also been told that the surgery will inevitably fail and you will probably have to go through it all again. And I nearly forgot to mention all of the pain and discomfort while you are forced to walk several miles a day after surgery.

Now you have just read about my research as indeed Alun did. Given all of your "expert knowledge" would you opt for the surgery or would you put a couple of bricks under your bed and see if the veins would return to normal in a few months?

So can we take that to mean "No, I haven't looked into or calculated the energy required, and I refuse to do so, because to me it's all obvious, and others should just accept it"?

[RD]

... deflated the veins become used to being deflated and recover some resistance to pressure changes and become less incompetent as shown with Alun’s photographs.

Here is an alternative hypothesis…

Alun has vasculitis due a peculiarity of his immune system, and his vasculitis follows a relapsing-remitting course.

Repeated episodes of this inflammation has damaged some of the valves in his veins, (e.g. stuck open), causing varicose veins.

If at times his varicose veins do actually improve this could be explained by the vein valves returning to their correct position and becoming competent during remission when inflammation (valvulitis) subsides.

[BenV]

Ben you can take it how you want. Varicose veins go flat using IBT no surgery required!

Once again, I was not asking about IBT, I was not asking about varicose veins.  Separate the results you see from your hypothesis for a while.  The questions sophie  has asked, and I wish to see answered, are not about the results, they are about the hypothesis you use to explain them.  Do you not realise that, or are you intentionally avoiding it?

[Andrew K Fletcher (OP)]

Problem Wife and many others most definately do not have vasculitis any more than Alun does. Yet their veins also went flat and have not bulged since. This reminds me of a street full of birds found dead in the West midlands. The council said for the record they thought it was mass hysteria among the bird population that caused the deaths, not the huge chemical company right next to the street.

... deflated the veins become used to being deflated and recover some resistance to pressure changes and become less incompetent as shown with Alun’s photographs.

Here is an alternative hypothesis…

Alun has vasculitis due a peculiarity of his immune system, and his vasculitis follows a relapsing-remitting course.

Repeated episodes of this inflammation has damaged some of the valves in his veins, (e.g. stuck open), causing varicose veins.

If at times his varicose veins do actually improve this could be explained by the vein valves returning to their correct position and becoming competent during remission when inflammation (valvulitis) subsides.

[Andrew K Fletcher (OP)]

A hypothesis becomes a theory. A theory then makes a prediction, in this case varicose veins go flat on IBT. That prediction is now proven!

Ben you can take it how you want. Varicose veins go flat using IBT no surgery required!

Once again, I was not asking about IBT, I was not asking about varicose veins.  Separate the results you see from your hypothesis for a while.  The questions sophie  has asked, and I wish to see answered, are not about the results, they are about the hypothesis you use to explain them.  Do you not realise that, or are you intentionally avoiding it?

[BenV]

You have not adequately defended your hypothesis, and seem unwilling to do so by not answering sophie's questions.  If it were strong enough, it would really stand up to a simple question like that.

[RD]

Wife and many others most definately do not have vasculitis any more than Alun does.

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

[Andrew K Fletcher (OP)]

The photograph you have altered does not relate to Alun's true situation.
I mentioned vasculitis to Alun as you suggested. He added "what a load of old....!"

[RD]

The photograph you have altered does not relate to Alun's true situation.
I mentioned vasculitis to Alun as you suggested. He added "what a load of old....!"

If Alun, like yourself, is unfamiliar with the manifestations of vasculitis then he is not in a position to recognise it.

One possible manifestation of vasculitis is bleeding under the nails (finger & toe) called splinter hemorrhages ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

http://vasculitis.med.jhu.edu/typesof/polyangiitis.html

They are small enough to go unnoticed, Alun should keep an eye out for them when he trims his nails.
They are more likely to be present when he has increased numbers of the little red/purple spots on his skin.

[Andrew K Fletcher (OP)]

Vasculitis Treatments
Because vasculitis is caused in part by an overly active immune system, the treatment usually involves the use of medications that suppress parts of the immune system. The most common treatments of vasculitis are discussed below.
The vasculitic diseases are serious disorders, and often require potentially dangerous treatments. For our readers’ benefit, we discuss most of the potential side–effects of medications used in the treatment of vasculitis. All of the medicines have a frighteningly long list of possible side–effects, but we emphasize that many of the side–effects can be avoided through careful management by experienced physicians. The risk of some side–effects can be reduced by taking supplementary medications along with those specifically intended to treat vasculitis. Click below for more detailed information on each medication.
http://vasculitis.med.jhu.edu/treatments/treatments.html
From the same site you list.

If alun is as you say suffering from vasculitis, "which both Alun and I doubt is the case" Then the photographs of Alun's recovery must be even more impressive to you. And given the toxicity of the medication used in these cases, surely 2 blocks of wood would be safer and far more cost effective?

[RD]

As I have mentioned before, vasculitis can be relapsing-remitting. Spontaneous remissions, without treatment, are not unusual. Alun's improvement is not proof that IBT works.

Vasculitis can be allergen induced (e.g. food, drug), or by infection (e.g. virus, bacteria). In those cases it is a matter of stopping the food or drug which is triggering it, or treating the infection. Heavy-duty chemotherapy is only used when there is organ involvement and vasculitis causing severe disability or is life-threatening, in those cases the risks associated with immunosupression are justified.

If the vasculitis is limited to skin medication may not be necessary ...

Cutaneous vasculitis

In most cases general measures are all that is required to keep the patient comfortable until the rash spontaneously resolves.

Rest and elevate affected limb, simple analgesics
Protect fragile skin from injury
If an underlying cause is found, removing the trigger usually clears the rash.

Treat infection
Discontinue responsible medication

http://dermnetnz.org/vascular/vasculitis.html

I hope you do not deter Alun from seeking qualified medical advice on this matter by only telling him about the worst-case-scenario. If it is limited to his skin he will probably not require any medication, having it confirmed that it is vasculitis will prevent him from taking unnecessary medications, e.g. anti-fungal treatment for vasculitis mistaken for "ringworm".

[Andrew K Fletcher (OP)]

From 19 years of age to 33—Now 34 years of age he has had not a single remission from his varicose veins. A prediction has been made that his veins will go flat and the you have the audacity to suggest it was going to happen anyway and come up with a ridiculous explanation for varicose veins going flat after sleeping on an inclined bed by suggesting the valves somehow manage to start functioning themselves on not one but a fair number of people who have reported the same response with varicose veins and oedema. 
Never the less at least you have tried to discredit the results which is a darn site more than most people reading this information have done.

Hmm perhaps spontaneous recovery from varicose veins is more common that I had thought. Can you refer me to the sites you have visited to discover this hitherto unknown phenomenon?

A quick google using Results for spontaneous recovery from varicose veins = No results found (without quotes), I found this:

Varicose veins of the lower limbs are a slowly progressive,
non-lethal, increasingly disabling venous disease well known
to ancient surgeons; Hippocrates discussed their treatment at
considerable length about 2500 years ago. 1
Varicosities of the lower-limb veins constitute the most
common of all vascular disorders in the legs, and an effective
means of prevention and the perfect cure for this common
malady is not yet forthcoming. Contrary to popular belief,
fatal hemorrhage from varicose veins, though uncommon, IS
by no means rare.2-. We describe a case of spontaneous
hemorrhage following ulceration of varicose veins.

And this: What causes "varicose veins"?
The causes of varicose veins are unclear. However, some factors have been identified that may contribute to the development of varicose and spider veins: family history of varicose veins, female hormones (internally produced or taken by prescription), pregnancy, trauma, age, obesity, and prolonged standing. Extensive exposure to the sun may also cause spider veins on the face. Please visit Prevention for more information on the causes of “varicose veins”.
What can be done to prevent varicose veins?
Since the causes are still undetermined, prevention of varicose veins is debatable. However, maintaining a normal weight, walking, limiting the use of external female hormones, and wearing supportive stockings may help limit the disease's progression.
Damned if I can find a single case of spontaneous recovery from varicose veins other than using a correctly inclined bed of course.

[RD]

Valves do stick-open because of inflammation...

Blueprints Cardiology: A Problem-Oriented Approach - Google Books Resultby Molly Ware, Cathy Jeon - 2005 - Medical - 276 pages

More commonly, as the valvulitis heals, scarring, thickening, and adhesion of valve cusps and chordae occur and lead to valvular stenosis and/or regurgitation...

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=s3UBLYEWUxwC&pg=RA1-PA114&lpg=RA1-PA114

(This reference is to heart valves, but would also be true of the valves in veins)

If valves can stick-open it is not inconceivable that they could un-stick and return to normal position after the inflammation has spontaneously remitted.


BTW try Googling "varices" + "spontaneous" + "regression" ... www.google.co.uk

[Andrew K Fletcher (OP)]

Anyone good at maths here who can work out the odds of predicting a recovery from quite severe varicose veins in a person who is now 34 and has had them since he was 19 years and a severe painful condition in his knee which has troubled him since he was 4 years that has resolved along with other problems since his bed was tilted? I predict the odds are something like having a go on the European lottery and winning the main prize as the only winner.

RD Thank you for such a brave attempt to discredit my research and for failing miserably to do so.

[RD]

Tell Alun he owes me a big drink when his vasculitis diagnosis is confirmed: a bottle of single malt will do nicely.

[Andrew K Fletcher (OP)]

Tel him yourself he visits this website frequently.

 He owes me a pint of Newcastle Brown Ale for discovering "THE CURE FOR VARICOSE VEINS" “AND A METHOD OF PREVENTING VARICOSE VEINS” in 1994 and for persisting in the face of adversity, contempt, greed, selfishness, ignorance, hostility, pettiness, and a shameful lack of compassion shown by the medical profession, charities and the science community. How many more years must pass before this beautifully simple free therapy becomes mainstream?

While the medical profession refuses to replicate my findings and confirm them, despite the evidence being blatantly obvious for all to see with regards to varicose veins and oedema, people are being subjected to expensive unnecessary operations. Many of who will develop complications, some will lose limbs, some will require further surgery and some will prematurely lose their lives. I have been in a ward and watched people dying around me when simply tilting the bed by raising it six inches or fifteen cm's higher at the head end would restore normal circulation to their hands and feet within hours. I have seen my own Dying Fathers renal function restored when we were told this could not happen. For God’s sake all we did was tilted his bed. How complicated is setting up a simple study to show this? How much cost is involved in testing this? Did that man opposite my father really need to lose his foot then his leg and eventually his life for the sake of the hospital staff tilting his bed correctly to restore his circulation?

REDISCOVERED
15 years of my life have passed since re-discovering this simple yet powerful tool. Yes re-discovering is correct, because it turns out that the Ancient Egyptians were using a head up tilt of five degrees over 3 thousand years ago! The people in the Tudor period were dying like flies in a harsh winter from a strange sweating sickness. No over the counter drugs available in this time. This illness killed the fittest and saved the young and old. It crossed all classes and respected no one. Yet amid the panic it was realised that if a person developed the illness and lay down asleep he or she would be dead by the morning. So they placed guards at the bedside to prevent a person infected with the virus from laying down and they had a greater chance of surviving it. It has been used for many years to assist respiratory problems, hiatus hernia and acid reflux (GERD)

Alun went to see his consultant yesterday and took along photographs to show how much he has improved. The consultant refused to look at them.  Alun told her about tilting the bed, she said we have been doing this for many years to treat ulcers. “She referred to tilting the bed in the head down position and Legs raised position, not the Inclined Bed Therapy Position. Apparently she was also confused why Alun had been sent to her as the bulge in his groin had gone level with his skin and presented no visual evidence. Anyway, it is not an aneurysm for sure. Oddly enough she did not mention vasculitis either. Not surprising really considering he does not have and never has had vasculitis.

[RD]

In addition to kite/romboid red/purple markings, petechiae, and splinter hemorrhages, anyone with vasculitis is likely to have protein in their urine at times, (proteinuria), this would cause their urine to froth like detergent*,

So if Alun has vasculitis these are four signs he could monitor himself without having to pay "greedy" medics a penny, now that I have pointed them out.

Any single malt will do, but Glenlivet if possible.


[* there are other causes of frothy urine]

[RD]

If the markings you have observed are romboid or kite-shaped then the person has small-vessel vasculopathy,
(vasculitis or pseudovasculitis).  Such markings are pathognomic for small-vessel vasculopathy.

If it's pseudovasculitis (e.g. thrombophilia) i'll let you off with a half bottle.
 

[thrombophilia] may lead to long-term swelling and heaviness in a proportion of cases due to damage to valves in the veins.

http://www.answers.com/topic/thrombophilia

[Andrew K Fletcher (OP)]

How about a shandy instead?