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Nitinol stents

Can the metal used in a stent, Nitinol, attract electromagnetic fields or interact with electrical appliances to cause headaches and if so, what is advised?
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Thank you for your kind comments.  Let me know how this works out for you.  
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Hey, that makes sense!   And people often blame the weather for their migraines.  You are so bright.  It's a shame that you couldn't get a university to get a grant to study it with you as a chief investigator.  I understand your previous statement that no university is interested.    Thanks so much again.  Sara
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The notice was on top of the screen last night and I had two minutes to form an answer before the site went down for maintenance.

Anyway, The reason for turning off the humidifier in the system is due to the increased concentration of water molecules that provide electrons the ability more freely associate in the environment.  A less humid environment is more negatively charged and hence static electricity is discharged when we touch something to ground.  I've noticed that increased humidity leads to more head pain.  A simple experiment anyone can do is to walk into a cigar shop that has a walk in humidor.  If one is prone to migraines, there is a increased chance they will also react in this type of environment.
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Thanks Eddie.  Not aware of the medhelp upgrade, but I'll forward to it.
Sara
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I'd try turning off the humidifier.  We have found it the stand alone systems to be a trigger.  I'll write more after the medhelp system upgrade because this needs more explanation.
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I understand your views after so much pain in your wife.  I also have severe migraine pain very often, and have chronic headaches 24/7 after my stroke.  They have disabled me enormously.  I can't physically exert much at all, even to walk very short distances.  I think that long ago, I inquired about your wife getting the nerve block, trigger point and Botox injections, Butrans patches, Petadolex, other daily preventative migraine meds and most recently the Namenda.  I get all of these treatments.   I get 300 units of the Botox injections every 10 weeks, and with the other injections, I get 15 of them every 4 weeks.  I really need them that often as they always wear off before the next time.  If it's old news, just ignore it.

But as far as the ventilation, yes, we do have a humidifier on the furnace that can be adjusted or turned off.  Should we continue using it?

Thanks so much.

Sara
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Avatar universal
Actually, it's a muse she and I discuss at times in light of the after effects of the surgery.  Don't get me wrong, we're glad the choice was available but after more then 2,500 headache days in the last 14 years that we have tracked her headaches, it is understandable for her to have these thoughts especially when your in the middle of a (#10 of a 1-10 scale) three day long migraine only to have another start after a short recovery.  She did have the choice of surgery or letting it be, but when that's your only choice, we as humans will choose to survive as we have since for eons and that was the choice she made on the fateful day.

A thought occurred to me today about your HVAC system.  By any chance do you have a humidification system attached to increase relative humidity in your home?  

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Avatar universal
Regarding your wife, I don't understand you saying, "The $64,000 question would be "was it worth it all especially in light of the consequences and lack of medical or societal support?"  If your wife's aneurysm was ruptured, wasn't it necessary?  Or are you comparing the coil vs. direct brain surgery?  The coil is a choice.
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Thanks so much.  That was very helpful.
Sara
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I'll answer both questions here.  With respect to her aneurysm it ruptured already and emergency surgery was done 19 years ago so we never knew how large it was.  In fact, it completely collapsed/ruptured as soon as the Neurosurgeon attached the clip - talk about timing.

As you describe the hills, the cell towers are not a likely trigger because from that distance the EMF fields would fade out.  If I were to do new construction today, I would use what are called wood laminated beams.  These can be stronger then steel but they must be used above ground because of potential insect damage.  You mention a vent system so I suppose you have a HVAC system conditioning your home.  The motors and system controls will give off EMF's especially when the motors start up.  You may have to be careful around these units especially with respect to how close you are to the motors when they are running.  Sadly, there might not be a solution around our homes' heating systems since no system would EMF free.  The best you can do is to minimize your exposure as best you can.  This is a challenge in our household and it really has made our life more complicated.      
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Avatar universal
Eddie,
Also in addition to my comment above, how large was your wife's aneurysm?  If it large enough, the chances of it rupturing go way up.  And once they rupture, it's usually death.  I have to have MRIs every 2 years to check on the size of my brain aneurysm.  I'm certainly glad that with mine being only 3 mm in size that I didn't take the strong recommendation of the first neurosurgeon at a respected university telling me to have the surgery ASAP.  So how large was your wife's aneurysm?
Sara
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Avatar universal
Eddie,
Oh I looked down in our basement and saw 2 large horizontal steel beams with 2 vertical steel beams in the new construction of our basement.  There's no ceiling to hide them.  Plus I see copper piping and two large ventilation pipes.  Wouldn't that be the case in any construction?   I don't see any other way that it could be done.  Is your house all one story without these beams?   Or would the beams need to be hidden in the walls?  What a predicament.

Fortunately we cannot see the satellite tower because there are huge hills in the way.  Not sure if we could see them that far away even without the hills. The tower is just over 2.5 miles away.  

Any other thoughts you have are appreciated, but if not, I understand.
Sara
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Avatar universal
Yes, I have no doubt.  Once we found the triggers (almost 14 years of searching) we were able to reduce the number of multi-day migraines by reconfiguring or minimizing exposure.  The major problem with this though is that while we were reducing the number of exposures, the government agencies and electrical product designers simultaneously expanded products and mandated more efficient components.  Unfortunately for patients having metallic implants, these decisions have had a net negative and serious impact on their health.  In this case, being efficient is not a good thing!  With respect to the aneurysm, it is neutralized forever but not without consequences.  The $64,000 question would be "was it worth it all especially in light of the consequences and lack of medical or societal support?
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Avatar universal
Hi Sara,

The steel posts have a magnetic field such as this example ((( I ))) generated by the vertical I.  Horizontal steel beams would be 90 degrees offset of the above example.  With the cell towers, generally go with "if you can see them you can feel them" If large buildings obscure your vision of them the effect by them will be reduced because the buildings will act as partial shield.

I've given up on the major University Medical Centers, they just don't have the funding, time, or inclination to pursue solutions.  The EEG biofeedback comes closest to analyzing the central nervous system because it is in fact a electrical system, so I'm excited for my wife to try this.  The only downside is if the electrodes cause a EMF interaction.    
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Avatar universal
thank you for your continued input on this technical issue. I was wondering, I noticed you stated your wife is 19 years post injury,  that is very good.  Do you believe or think minimizing the EMF's has contributed to the stability of her health condition, namely the aneurysm?
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Avatar universal
You can now disregard my question on another posting that asked what are magnetic devices. My question is, how far away from these magnetic sources do you need to be?   For example we have steel posts in another part of our house to hold up the old floors.  And the kitchen is a distance from where I spend MOST of my time.  

And can a radio/satellite tower 2 miles away be close enough to cause problems?   I never had my constant severe migraines until after a stroke, but that could have changed my brain enough to cause me to have problems from these devices.  

Has your wife ever been to Mayo Clinic to be evaluated?  That's what a friend of ours is strongly recommending me to go to after all the disability that I have had from my migraines.  They are being treated by 4 daily medications, nerve block, trigger point and Botox injections.

I also noticed your recommendation of the EEG feedback which I'm going to look into.  

Much much THANKS for your great postings.  They are much appreciated.
Sara
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Avatar universal
I have.  I went straight to the manufacturer of Alpha Labs for their Trifield Meter.  I bought the Natural EM Meter because of a specific need, however, the base EMF meter for $160 might be more useful for you.  With the meter I was able to delineate specific environmental triggers such as two cell towers and a radio station broadcast tower by triangulating and confirming signals with another device.  A second nearby radio tower was exonerated by my device  In so far as shielded clothing, save your money because magnetic fields easily ingress most shielding.

I would recommend purchasing window screening (aluminum screening) as it helps to minimize cell tower signal ingress through windows (if you are within eyesight of a tower.  How effective it is will be determined by the distance and signal strength.  Be advised, if you purchase a meter you will be astounded by how much radiation is emitted by everyday devices.
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Avatar universal
I notice there are EMF meters you can purchase on Amazon etc as well as personal shielding clothes.  Have you or your wife used any of these devices and found them effective? Your input is appreciated.
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At each and every accidental exposure such as going to retail stores that use TV monitors or computer screens hidden among clothing racks to advertise, incidental exposure to electrical transformers attached to electric poles or cell towers not to mention anything and I mean anything made of ferric metal such as steel shelving or furniture finish which now contain nano- sized ferric oxides for durability.  Everyday is a new scouting adventure as I need to walk ahead of her trying to locate triggers and reroute her.  If we can avoid these triggers she'll have a pain free day if not...

When exposed or triggered she needs to take a MAXALT MLT tablet ASAP.  She also takes Topamax 100mg daily but I personally think these are not helping.
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How often does yor wife experience headaches at this point and does she take any meds to help get rid of the pain?
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Thank you very much for the info. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.
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First understand one main concept: the human brain is an electric organ, it is how we sense pain, makes our heart beat, and allows us to sense our environment.  My wife is a 19 year survivor of a brain aneurysm rupture and she was clipped.  She has had headaches and migraines six months post-op that continue today. I discovered a few years ago quite by accident that her pain can be triggered by electrical devices.  Startled by this, I used my background in Engineering and Telecommunication to try and understand how this occurs and why "medical sciences" in general doesn't understand and sometimes doesn't care to understand why.  It's like a "Not Invented Here" mentality.  Despite this, I will defend medical sciences lack of understanding because it transcends what is taught and learned by Doctors.  They actually would need to have knowledge of metallurgy, and advanced concepts in Magnetic Theory and its application in human systems - who has time for that?

Well, I made time, but my circumstances are different.  I'm analytical by nature and I had the time.

In my opinion, there are two big offenders in most households:  Cable or Satellite TV decoder boxes, and printing devices like inkjet or laser printers.  To explain why would bore you to tears and I don't want to do that to you.  Keep in mind it takes very little energy to stimulate head pain in individuals with cranial implants.  Anything you could do to disable electrical devices when not in use will help you.  For example, pull the plug out of electrical sockets for items not in use.  This is because even if you switch off a device, it is still using using as much power as if it were on.  Keep far away from operating microwave ovens.  Sadly, if you live in an apartment complex or townhouse development  you won't have any control over what your neighbors are using, and the walls and ceilings if even if they are made of concrete or cast iron won't block electromagnetic fields generated by their devices.

What is most problematic are the magnetic fields as these are generated by items not connected to the electric grid.  These include steel beams, cast iron pans and even stainless steel kitchen utensils such as a wisk (especially if it is stored vertically like in a tall basket.

I hope this gives you some idea of the problem you and my wife are facing.
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thank you for replying.  This is a stent placed in the brain due to an aneurysm first last August and again last month.  Headaches are pronounced as it fatigue.  Can reducing the electromagnetic field help- like turning off things in the house?
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Nitinol is composed of roughly 50% Nickel and 50% of Titanium.  Nickel is ferromagnetic and titanium is not.  What this means is that nitinol can conduct electromagnetic fields.  If you can provide some additional background on how, where, and when the nitinol was installed, I will try to help you as best I can.  This is a complicated problem and I have done much research in this area as it relates to Neurologic interactions.    
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Any element is magnetic (or diamagnetic), to some degree. Furthermore, since iron is "strongly" magnetic, while stainless steel is very poorly magnetic, it may also depend on the alloy and on its "phase" (cubic, cubic centered, etc.)

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