So I had the procedure yesterday. In the morning they took blood and did the mini liposection. I was sedated without loss of consciousness. It was laparoscopic with two tiny incisions, filled with saline and epinepherine then fat cells were extracted. They wrapped my abdomen in a stiff binder and took me to the recovery room. After recovery, while the cells were processed, laser and enzyme activated and mixed with Platelet Rich Plasma, they gave me an infusion of mannose to open the blood brain barrier. Apparently they started this practice before having used the intranasal administration and found great improvement in neurological patients.
The cells came back in a mini IV bag of pink liquid and a group of syringes, one for each of the points we had selected and a catheter for the bladder (the only real painful procedure.) I prevailed upon him to stick me at St. 36 for stamina and he was already using Liver 3 for my toe that has been bursting through the cartilage since the Parkinson’s Walk two years ago.
The IV was somewhat curtailed since I have small veins. The nurse decided that I already had a few billion stem cells, so she drew it out of the IV tube into the syringe. I considered self-injection (and ought to have asked for the doctor to inject more into my chronically stiff neck. )
There is more and the staff was interested in how acupuncture can reduce scars and deal with neurological conditions. The medical director said she was told by a Chinese acupuncturist that acupuncture stimulates the activity of stem cells (albeit at a lower concentration.) Silberstein, M. (2009). The cutaneous intrinsic visceral afferent nervous system: A new model for acupuncture analgesia. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 261(4), 637–642. doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2009.09.008
Diseases and conditions where stem cell treatment is promising or emerging. (See Wikipedia:Stem cell#Treatments). Bone marrow transplantation is, as of 2009, the only established use of stem cells. Model: Mikael Häggström. To discuss image, please see Template talk:Häggström diagrams (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 6 years ago. I am working as an acupuncturist, herbalist and health writer, which all require a steady hand. I have been helping run free clinics since 9-11 and do a lot of public health education on Facebook and my blog Natural Health by Karen and teach as an adjunct professor at NY College for the Health Professions. My private practice specializes in complicated conditions which is rewarding but not lucrative. At best this is a breakeven proposition so my funding for treatment is limited. I have mastered the art of ambidextrous needling and the tremor only happens at rest but the tremor is starting to spread to the other side and it will eventually affect my ability to treat patients.
I have found a promising experimental stem cell trial by StemGenex in La Jolla, California that has a special affinity for Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases. Unlike most stem cell treatment centers they use an intranasal administration to get stem cells to the brain, either traversing or signalling beyond the blood brain barrier.The treatment was pioneered for Alzheimer’s and works for that disease. They do this along with intravenous and direct injections and their internal statistics on Parkinson’s patients are much better than others since getting the stem cells into the brain is difficult. I would like to participate in the trial for this promising procedure.
I have been pre-approved for treatment but insurance will not cover experimental procedures (and trials on procedures are not covered by drug companies!)
The cost of treatment is $15,900 plus air fare of $800 and $1000 for a course of hyperbaric treatment as aftercare.
I will write in detail about the experience, documenting it with video and making medical information available regardless of outcome. This will help others considering stem cell treatment. I will focus on what can be done to enhance the treatment, based on interviews with patients, doctors and my own experiences.
If you know someone with Parkinson’s, would like to advance the medicine, want to help me or just want to do a mitzvah, I would be very grateful. If you know someone else who might help please pass this on.
Thank you for reading this far. I must acknowledge that I am a bit bewildered by this new way of dealing with health care (and hope it doesn’t sound tacky to ask for help,) but I appreciate your interest.
Donations to Paypal at ksvaughan2@aol.com or Go Fund Me
