[Andrew Hall DC]

John,  so glad you are still doing so well.  Awesome!  Happy you had a good trip to France.  Steve, I started the Wei products about the same time you did.  I think there is some improvement with my cough, no change in my O2 levels but the laser has maintained that pretty high anyway.  Mostly I want to find if it will reduce the fibrous tissue as they claim it can.  I get another CT scan in a couple months and I”ll  be done with the 3 month protocol of taking the product. Will be interesting to see if there are any changes.

There is an IPF patient in the Netherlands that inhales ‘nano-nutrients’ just before a laser treatment and he swears by it.  When you think about it, it makes sense.  We need good nutrition in our lungs for them to heal and coupled with the ATP production in the lungs with the laser it gives the lungs a great opportunity to give them the nutrients to actually reverse the disease process.

Andy

 

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi Stephanie,

I can tell you that Melissa Ritter DC in Newport Beach would accept you as a patient.  May be a long way for you to travel but she is in the LA area.  I have known her for over 10 years and knows laser therapy as well as anyone in S. Cal.  She has credentialled other doctors, etc.  Her phone is 949-833-3472.

[Andrew Hall DC]

I used to breed quality German Wirehaired Pointers many years ago.  I went dogless for over 10 years after my breeding bitch died of old age.  When I got diagnosed the doctor said I would be on o2 in 4 years, and that’s when I got a new Wirehaired pup.  I said BS, watch me, I’ll be hunting behind my dog in 4 years and I won’t be dragging an oxygen bottle behind me!  Also got a Chocolate Lab (rescue) a year ago, and the dogs bring me a lot of joy.  Took them on a 3 mile hike yesterday, they help keep me active and I would never give them up.

[Andrew Hall DC]

I just got my results from my last PFT done on 4/10/19.  I am still better than when I had my first one on 8/26/14.  I am not on Ofev or Esbriet, gave up the inhaler as I found it was doing more harm than good, especially as far as the cough goes.  Still using laser once per week.

8/26/14   FVC 3.35   FEV 246   FEV1/FVC% 69

4/10/19   FVC 4.34   FEV 3.03  FEV1/FVC% 70

Andy

 

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi John, welcome to the forum.  You are in a good place……   I was diagnosed 4 1/2 years ago, and was advised to take Esbriet. My insurance wouldn’t cover it and at $9000/mo it was out of the question.  I also looked at the side effects, and I’ve always been sensitive to drugs.  The thought of not being in the sun bothered me, esp as a fair skinned guy that is prone to sunburn anyway.  I too have a bike, and could not imagine not riding my Road King.  In fact I’m taking a ride today……   maybe fishing in the boat on Friday.  I started laser therapy right after diagnosis, and honestly, my lifestyle has not changed at all.  I still do all the things I did before diagnosis and my pulmonologist in the beginning said I would be on O2 in 4 years and dead in 5 or 6.  My O2 levels maintain at 97,  a long way from needing O2.  I have found that the earlier you start laser therapy the better.  I would hate for you to look back with the ‘shoulda, woulda, coulda’.  You might want to give this some serious thought.  I would be happy to help guide you through finding a laser therapy provider, etc.

The last time I did a laser therapy conference in Fort Lauderdale, I went a day early and rented a Harley softtail, what a great day riding through the Keys.  One of the best riding days I’ve ever had.

Dr Andy Hall

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi Linda,

Actually ILD encompasses many lung diseases including IPF, HP, etc, etc.  So, it’s really non-specific.  But the answer is yes, laser would probably be helpful for you just as it has been for the vast majority of patients with one form of ILD or another.  I’m also getting reports of patients that have had positive changes using laser for COPD.  I wish you the best!

 

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi Jgohn,

You may be right, pulmonary hypertension could be a cause of what’s going on with David…….  I would love to know what it is that is making his stats change like that.

Andy

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi David,

I have never heard of this before where the O2 raises on one side and decreases on the other.  I think though that it is a good idea to try increasing the dose on the left side to see what happens.  Frankly, it’s a mystery to me why it would do that.  When is your next PFT?  It will be interesting to see what the FVC, etc is doing and if there are changes.

Andy

[Andrew Hall DC]

Leontis,

I have emailed the gentleman about the nano nutrients and asked all the questions, what is in them, how much, where to purchase and how do you inhale them. When I hear back I will let you know……..

Andy

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi Leontis,

I’m using the Lung Health formula Wei products.  It is a TCM (traditional chinese medicine) They are expensive, but if they do what the company claims it will be well worth it.  If you want to order some for Betty, give me a few days and I may be able to get you a discount.

Andy

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi Piet ( @Piet-Potgieter)

 

Sorry about the confusion.  ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) is increased with laser therapy.  It is the substance that our cells derive their energy from, but also is the substance that the cells use to heal with.  This is one reason why laser speeds the healing of all tissues in the body (skin, muscle, bone, nerve, etc)  The vast majority of laser therapy providers use laser for musculoskeltal and neurological conditions but if works well for other conditions as well including lung diseases like PF.  However, as you know we need good nutrition for the cells to heal with as that is what provides the ‘building blocks’.  What specifically the Dutchman uses in the nano-nutrition I don’t know, nor do I know the technique he uses to inhale them.  But not all nutrition needs to be through the stomach, just like someone needing an IV to deliver nutrition after GI surgery when the patient is unable to eat.  The nano nutrition is microscopic and delivers the nutrition right to the lungs where it is needed.  So, it makes sense to me that with the ATP production and having the ‘building blocks’ delivered right where they are needed at the right time (moments before laser therapy), this could be a big deal.

Andy

[Andrew Hall DC]

Thank goodness we all still have a sense of humor!  I have found that I cough at times with laughing too.  I can’t say I know how to deal with it, but my theory is that with a hearty kind of laugh we use our diaphragm muscle that we breath with, and with the short and quick contraction of it while laughing it probably disturbs some of the fibrous tissue that stimulates a cough reflex.  Don’t know if thats really the case but it makes sense to me.

So, giggles to everyone!!!

Andy

 

[Andrew Hall DC]

Steve,

The rumors are true!!!!  The internet extends all the way to the Philippines!

Been wondering how your flight went.  Also wondering how it felt to finally have your wife in your arms after all this time.  We want a full report!

Blessings Steve!

Andy

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi Linda ( @lwaldschmidt )

The local doctor with a cold laser has a Class III laser.  It doesn’t have the power to get through the chest wall and into the lungs.  I’ve done some searching for you and there are 2 providers, both some distance from Hays.  In Salina, Salina Chiropractic, 785-823-1060.   In Colby, Tubbs Chiropractic, 785-462-7236.

[Andrew Hall DC]

Marsha,  I too along with Charlene and everyone else am THRILLED with the positive changes you have had.  Wonderful to see no changes on your CT scan!  So glad you started laser therapy, and I hope we see more positive changes in the future.   Way to go girl!!!!

God Bless you!

Andy

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi Ron,

Yes, stable is good……..   How often do you have a PFT?  These look to be about 4 months apart.  When will you have the next one?  So please to hear you are feeling better, no matter what the reasons!

Andy

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi Ron,

I would have been nice to see more dramatic changes in your numbers, but as you said, in the world of IPF stable is good.  And the good thing is that even though not dramatic we do see improved numbers.

I will be in touch with the doctors today in regards to the protocol. One of them has been dealing with some serious health issues that has put things on hold. I can tell you that the protocol will be different for K-laser and Litecure lasers as you can’t get real specific with the modulation with a Litecure as you can with a K-laser. Yes, the spot size makes a difference, but the speed of the application doesn’t make a big difference unless it’s too slow as we don’t want to overheat the tissues.  10 watts is a recommended minimum, but it would be fine to use 25 watts.  The time of treatment will be reduced at 25 watts as more joules are produced at higher wattage.

Anyway, happy you are feeling better and that your numbers are stable!  I think that all of the things you are doing are working well for you……..

Andy

[Andrew Hall DC]

Wow John,  that is VERY impressive!  After 3 minutes your O2 was up to 98, how long did it stay that high?

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi Peter,

Dang, we are SO close, but it has been painfully slow for me working with doctors spread out all over.  One of them has had some serious health issues that has put things on hold.  I truly hope it is complete very soon. I will let everyone know as soon as it’s done.

Andy

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi David,

Your resting O2 is really pretty darned good, and you may not see it come up, maybe just a point or so.  Because you are starting laser early in the disease, you might not see a whole lot of positive change.  I started right after diagnosis and had some decrease in the cough, but like you I was still very physical and I maintained that.  My O2 levels were at 97 and that is pretty much where it is now.  Where I saw the big change was with the PFT’s.  As you can see be my post above, 4 3/4 years later my PFT is still better than my first one.  I still have the cough, just not nearly as bad as it was, and I need to take my time hiking uphill esp at higher elevations.

Your 6 minute walk test is still a good way to monitor your progress.  You may find that the O2 levels don’t fall as low as you continue with laser.  Again, I think that the main thing is that your disease does not progress.  If you can just arrest or even slow the progression you are way ahead of the game.

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi Charlene,

Yes, I think I’m really winning this battle with IPF.   The PFT’s are still better than when I was first diagnosed, and my resting O2 continues at 97.  So much for the pulmonologist’s prognosis that I would be on O2 by now.

I was on Symbicort, but the thing is that every time I used it I would end up with coughing fits for quite a while afterwards.  My doctor changed it to Bevespi (sp?) and the same thing happened.  I thought that this can’t be healthy, besides my skin has become fragile from it and I think it’s making my hair falling out faster.   Also, during the PFT, they would do a pre tx test and a post tx test, and I was worse after using the inhaler, though I know it wasn’t Symbicort, I found that not only subjectively was I not as good, but objectively as well.  I just seem to do better without an inhaler at all.  I was given a rescue inhaler on diagnosis, but have only really used it once when the smoke from the nearby forest fire was making it tough on my lungs.

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hello Betty,

There IS a lot of confusion about ‘cold lasers’, even among the doctors.  Most of the Class IV laser manufacturers don’t want their lasers described as ‘hot’.  And many go by cold laser.  Generally though, a Class III laser that is under 1/2 watt (500 miliwatts) is thought of a a ‘cold laser’.  But rarely will you see a Class IV laser referred to as a ‘hot’ laser.  They usually simply go by ‘Class IV laser’.

As you probably know, it really does require a Class IV laser with high wattage to get to the lung tissue.  If you keep that laser in one place it can get hot, but if the treatment is correctly applied, what you feel is just a nice healing warmth.

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hello Catherine, ( @ahoughton )

Were you able to get the information you needed?  If not, provide me your city and zip code and I will help you find a laser therapy provider near you for your husband.

Dr Andy Hall

[Andrew Hall DC]

Hi,

I would be happy to help you find a laser therapy provider near you.  Unfortunately, right now the site that I go to find providers is down.  Just provide your town and zip code.  To get on the fast track as far as learning about laser therapy, go to my website and click on IPF and you will see an article on therapeutic lasers and how it all works.

Go to:  summit-chiropractic.com

I will be back in touch tomorrow afternoon.

Blessings,

Dr Andy Hall