| AUTHOR'S
INTERVIEW ON HER SICKNESS AND RECOVERY To:
Patricia Loofbourrow, MD
Re: Interview with Phyllis Taber-Greenberg, author
of "Discover Wellness." Dear Patricia,
Thank
you for your interest in my book and story. I am pleased to give you this interview
and you have my permission to use it as you see fit, including news letters, web
sites, your own book, etc.
The only request I have is that wherever you use
it you give the information on purchasing the book through the publisher's web
site, http://www.phyllismiracles.com, and the publisher's toll free telephone
number, 1-866-859-3230. Thank you. Your questions
are as follows: 1). WHAT MEDICAL PROBLEMS DID
YOU HAVE?
Debilitating fatigue, mental confusion, emotional ups and downs,
migraine headaches, and upper respiratory problems. 2).
HOW WERE YOUR MEDICAL PROBLEMS DIAGNOSED?
This was a major problem. Initial
diagnoses came in 1992 but I started getting ill in 1987, about a year after we
moved into our dream home. When we moved into the house, in 1986 I was healthy
and active. I had spent the decade of my 20's as a dancer and owner of an Arthur
Murray Dance Studio; the decade of my 30's as owner of a large health spa; the
decade of my 40's in the horse racing business and real estate. My life prior
to 1987 was active, healthy. Looking back, with the knowledge of 12 years research,
trial and error, acting as a guinea pig, I can explain what happened. Apparently
"the straw that broke the camel's back" was the poison that I was inhaling
from the sprinkling system. Our new house is located on a lake and canal system
in south Florida. On the other side of the water is a golf course. We watered
our lawn from the water in the canal/lake behind our house. Since we moved into
the house in December, the weather was beautiful and I had my windows open 24
hours a day well into May. When the sprinkling system would go on it would be
on for one hour (4 zones 15 min. each) three times a week. I didn't know it then
but the water in the canal/lake was filled with pesticides and other toxic chemicals
from the golf course runoff. When I sprinkled those toxins became air born and
entered my open windows and I breathed them into my body. Proof was revealed in
a hair analysis showing high amounts of various poisons including arsenic. I also
had a private laboratory do a chemical analysis of the canal/lake water (which
then prompted the EPA to do one) and a multitude of poisons were found in the
water. Arsenic, the biggest offender was way above allowable limits. Hair
analysis also showed high levels of mercury from mercury/silver amalgam dental
fillings. I had been storing mercury for years and it was doing a slow, silent
job of breaking down my immune system. My theory is when the toxins from the sprinkling
system entered my body, toxic levels reached overload and I became symptomatic. The
illness was insidious. By the end of the first year in the new house I became
aware of feeling constantly tired and confused. By 1987, I was parading symptoms
to various medical doctors and had tests for thyroid, hypoglycemia and diabetes,
all of which came back normal. Standard medical doctors couldn't give me a diagnosis.
There was no name for my aliment but I was becoming more and more symptomatic.
Tired turned to debilitating fatigue with increased mental distortion, emotional
problems, and upper respiratory illnesses lasting 10 days to 3 weeks, and horrid
migraines lasting for days. The pressure and pain in my head was so severe, pain
pills didn't work. The frustration of not knowing the cause or the cure was as
unbearable a frustration as the migraine itself.
Many years later, I "discovered" that some antihistamines could eliminate
the pain. Much later, with Alcat allergy testing, I discovered the root cause.
Within 24 hours of eliminating certain foods the migraines disappeared. I have
not had another attack since. The critical
diagnosis came in 1992 when I went for chelation therapy. The doctor, an internist
who practiced holistic medicine diagnosed me as EI, Environmentally Intolerant
(common label today is MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities). However, there was
no cure. No one knew anything about the illness or how to treat it holistically
or traditionally. Each practitioner had individual modalities; chelation, toxic
cleansing of body and brain and eliminating of mercury from the system as in mercury/silver
dental fillings. I tried most of them. Some worked and helped, some did not. But
NO ONE had the definitive cure. 3.) HOW LONG
WERE YOU SICK?
I started feeling symptoms in 1987. I spent several years going
back and forth with medical tests. I then had my first hair analysis in 1990 and
went alternative. I tried a lot of supplements and started detoxing mercury with
Dr. Huggins supplements in 1991. Also, in 1991, I changed my bed, mattress, bedding,
etc. to organic, and cleaned house. I put the Quantum devices for electro magnetic
fields into the house in 1991, purchased whole house water system in 1992, removed
mercury/silver dental amalgam fillings in 1992, had chelation in 1992 (that was
when the doctor finally gave me a name for the illness and told me it was incurable),
purchased whole house air purifying system in 1994 and had the lab reports done
on the lake/canal water in 1996, which resulted in a change to city water for
sprinkling. I really started to improve in 1992 after the mercury removal and
chelation. I continued testing and trying things, and was slowly getting better.
Each new thing that worked improved my health. There were so many new avenues
to try and it took time to find them and experiment. No one gave me a list of
things to investigate. I had to find them. It took 9 years before I declared myself
healthy but I continued to learn and add healing techniques. In 1999 with further
knowledge of antihistamines, Nasal Crom, how to travel, and Alcat allergy tests,
I was both informed and well, vital and energetic, and totally cured. If I knew
then what I know now, and what I know now I have fully divulged in my book "Discover
Wellness," I could have accomplished getting well in one year!!! 4.)
WHAT LIMITATIONS/PROBLEMS DID YOU FACE BECAUSE OF YOUR ILLNESS? WERE YOU ABLE
TO WORK AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, OR DID YOU NEED HELP?
I was not able to
work, but I did take care of myself. I spent a lot of time on the couch drowning
in fatigue. The limitations were extreme and destroyed the joy of living. As the
illness grew, so did my intolerance for every day surroundings. Many things in
my total environment, including my home, were adding to my illness. It took years
and years to "discover" them all. There were no web sites to search.
I gave up on traditional medicine and started reading, researching, I literally
read thousands of books, papers, scientific papers, manufacturer's reports, interviewed
numerous authorities, etc. I spent thousands and thousands of hours over the years
researching and testing.
At the time, I was always sick but did not know what
was causing it. I started with the belief that all illness has a cause. Once the
immune system breaks down, one will become ill in the weakest part of their body
(ie.later determined to be predisposed by genes). I believe that if one will eliminate
ALL of the things causing the immune system's breakdown, then the immune system
can heal itself. If there is anything left, just one thing, that still effects
the immune system in such a manner as to keep it "broken down" then
illness will hang on. This was my premise and it worked for me. After
years of researching I finally had discovered the things in my home that could
break down the immune system and cause illness. Examples are:
Electro magnetic
fields, plastics, pesticided food, mold in A/C systems, pesticides and cancer
causing chlorine in drinking, bathing, and laundering water, toxic cleaning chemicals,
toxic and cancer causing chemicals in bedding, furniture, carpets and padding,
paint, stuffing in furniture, sheets, pillowcases and towels, mattresses, pillows,
microwaved foods, fluorescent lights, pesticides used in homes and yards, particle
boards and plywood, clothing, and much more. It is all in my book. But, that only
cleaned up my house. I could not go to the mall, because the air was saturated
with toxic chemicals that are used in clothing and off gas into the air. I got
violently ill every time I tried to go to the mall, or any enclosed store. What
a bummer. What woman doesn't like to shop? Travel
was a nightmare. I never took a trip that I did not get violently ill. Needless
to say, my marriage suffered tremendously. We use to take several vacations a
year, but each one ended with illness and fights. I could not control the off
gassing of the carpets, furniture; chlorine laced drinking water etc. that hotels
offered. Also I did not know then that vinyl as in car seats was one of the most
toxic elements I could breathe. I would start getting sick within 20 minuets of
renting a car with vinyl seats, but did not know about vinyl then, or why I was
getting sick, as there was no information available to tell me. Now I travel and
rent cars with leather seats, and there are no more problems. Cloth car seats
are laced with stain resistant chemicals, also carcinogenic and would make me
sick. Even restaurants either here at home or on a trip were a problem, due to
the carpets, cleaning supplies used, smoke from smoking sections being to close,
etc. I also could not go to friend's homes, as most of them had some of the same
problems that I had to correct in my home. And since my career was in real estate,
I had to quit, as I could not go into homes because of the toxins in the homes.
I slowly became very reclusive and did not venture out for many years. If I had
to fly, I would become terrified, because perfume and hairspray on the passenger
sitting next to me could put me in a 10-day upper respiratory attack and migraine
headache. Life was hell. It was easier and necessary to stay at home to stay symptom
free. I literally became a hermit. 5.) HOW
DID YOU GET WELL? PLEASE GIVE AS MUCH DETAIL AS YOU CAN.
I got well by doing
everything that I wrote in my book "Discover Wellness." When I realized
the thousands of hours of reading and researching, the endless trials and testing
of various modalities, I realized that few people could ever accomplish gathering
the information that is necessary to get and stay well. The process of discovery
and healing took 12 years. Some of the most important improvements include the
following. I had the mercury/silver fillings
removed from my mouth and had blood tests taken to identify the safe porcelain
compounds I could replace them with. I threw out all the bendable plastics in
my house, my microwave, all cleaning supplies, all clothes that were made with
synthetics, all bedding, towels, furniture that had synthetic filling or covering.
I changed the fluorescent lights to regular incandescent bulbs and fixtures, had
furniture made with organic fillings and coverings, bought organic mattresses,
sheets, pillows, towels. I purchased and installed ozone air purifiers that kill
mold and mildew in the air conditioner coils and ducts, researched and purchased
a whole house water purifier that kills virus, bacteria, and eliminates pesticides
and chlorine, purchased a quantum device to "quiet" the electro magnetic
fields from the electricity in the entire house, and a special device for my computer.
I ate only organic foods, used organic toiletries for make-up, deodorant, shampoo,
soap and toothpaste. I measured all electric fields in the house and moved all
electric appliances so that I was out of their field, such as the TV while I am
watching it, alarm clocks by the bed, etc. I turned my yard totally organic and
stopped watering from the lake/canal, which meant that we had to hook up and water
from the city. Started walking with a visor and no sunglasses, letting the full
spectrum sunlight enter my pupils. Traced down all of the heavy metals shown in
my hair analysis and disposed of the items causing the exposure and replaced/avoided
them. Detoxed my body, brain, liver, etc. several times with different modalities
as explained in my book. Took supplements that I thought would help.
6.)
WHAT IS YOUR HEALTH LIKE TODAY?
I am full of joy, energy, and a love of life.
I am totally healthy; do not take anything but supplements. A medical doctor that
I recently went to in 2002 gave me a wonderful complement. He said" I want
to congratulate you on the wonderful job you have done in taking care of your
health." My last physical and blood tests showed everything normal and healthy.
7.)
WHAT DO YOUR DOCTORS SAY ABOUT YOUR STORY?
I do not have one doctor that has
followed my case through all of this. I have used multiple doctors over the years
for different modalities but no one was the gatekeeper. 8.)
DESCRIBE YOUR LIFE AS IT IS NOW. HOW DID YOUR HEALING PROCESS CHANGE THE WAY YOU
LOOK AT LIFE?
I walk on the beach for 2 miles four mornings a week, I play
golf the fifth morning, I volunteer at the humane society in the puppy pen for
the sixth morning, I walk on my treadmill for a half hour 3 or 4 times a week,
I work out 2 to 3 times a week on my total gym, I take two vacations a year with
NO illness at all, (see in "Discover Wellness" topic # 68, Travel, How
to Stay Healthy), I go to the golf range and hit balls at least once per week,
go out to dinner usually twice per week, and just stopped snow skiing in the Rockies
year before last. I go ballroom dancing occasionally and feel better now than
I have in the past 20 years. I can also shop at any mall or store and go into
any one's house to visit. I have also resumed my real estate career. Life
is so precious. Each day is a gift and it is our job to fill it with happiness
and joy. I feel blessed and thankful for the excellent health that is now mine.
I take nothing for granted and realize that I am the creator of my life. My choices
today will design and create my future tomorrows. If I avoid the things that will
break down my immune system today, my tomorrows will be healthy. That is why knowledge
is so important. 9.) WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU
HAVE FOR SOMEONE WITH A MEDICAL PROBLEM THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO HELP?
Read
my book and learn about the toxic dangers in your environment and how to eliminate
them. Having robust health and the joyous life that good health brings was my
goal. I refused to live the few short years that I was going to have on this planet
with out vibrant energy and the happiness good health can bring. Never believe
what a so-called expert tells you without doing some of your own research. Didn't
the cigarette industry tell you that smoking would not harm your health? Faith
and hope go a long way in healing. Open your mind to other possibilities and try
everything. Consider "unconventional" methods, they might work. Take
responsibility for your life and your body and make your own choices. I would
start with a hair analysis and then determine where all of the toxins are coming
from and correct them. I would then do all of the things that I did which are
answered in your question #5. They are universal.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR Dr. LOOFBOURROW'S INTERVIEW
1.)
HOW DID YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF GOING TO THE MALL, PEOPLE'S HOMES, ETC.? DO YOU
USE ONE OF THOSE PERSONAL AIR FILTERS, OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE YOU DO? I
was not able to go to the mall or people's houses for many years as I did not
have the knowledge of how to do it and not become symptomatic. There was not a
list being handed out by anyone of the do's and don'ts and how to. That is why
I wrote my book. My book is the only book in print that does give the do's, don'ts,
and how to. The turning point came in 1992 with amalgam removal and chelation.
Around that time, still researching and reading thousands of documents, I "discovered"
a small ozone generator that is worn around the neck (it is listed in the resource
section of my book) and that helped. Years later I "discovered" Nasal
Crom and that really helped. Now I don't have to use anything, but that is only
after doing all of the things that I disclosed in your question # 5. 2.)
WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS THE TURNING POINT IN YOUR HEALTH? THE CHELATION? THE DISCOVERY
OF THE WATER PROBLEM? THE ALLERGY TESTING? OR WAS IT SOMETHING ELSE? OR WAS IT
JUST A GRADUALTHING? I would say the turning
point was in 1992 with the removal of the mercury/silver dental amalgams. That
stopped the 24 hour/365 day leaking and consequent storing in my body of mercury
from the dental fillings (mercury is the second most toxic metal on planet earth,
lead is the first). That stopped the dumping of huge amounts of toxins into my
body. Then the chelation and other detoxing methods of body and brain that I used
to remove the mercury and other toxins and poisons from my body actually allowed
my body to gradually recover and the immune system to rebuild. Then as I continued
reading and researching, the "discovery" of the toxic lake/canal water,
and years later of the hidden allergy as revealed only by Alcat testing, continued
my recovery. As I said in the interview, had I known everything that I learned
over 12 years of researching and testing in the beginning, I would have been healthy
in one year. That is the advantage readers of my book have. 3.)
HOW DID YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE ALL YOU TAKE IS SUPPLEMENTS? THERE SEEMS TO
BE A GAP IN THE STORY. WAS IT A GRADUAL THING, OR IS THERE SOMETHING SPECIFIC
THAT HAPPENED? This question is answered in
# 5 of the interview. Doing all of that is how I got to the point I am at today,
healthy and only taking supplements. Getting well is like peeling an onion. Pretend
that wellness is the core of the onion, and to get there you must peel away all
of the layers, one by one.
The layers are the toxins in your environment causing
the immune system to break down. Those toxins are all named in # 5 of your interview.
They must all be found and corrected in each person's personal life. Everybody's
source of exposure will be different. Accomplishing the detective work of researching
to find everything in my book, and then finding the way to correct it, took 12
years. I was the creator of the path. There were no directions or lists for me
to follow. For example, after I had the mercury/silver
amalgams removed I expected to be well instantly. It did not happen. I was better,
but not well. I continued researching and next "discovered" chelation.
I did that and then again expected to be well instantly. It did not happen. I
was better, but not well. That scenario continued through all of the elements
I mention in interview question # 5. Obviously putting the air and water purifying
systems into my home were huge steps forward and I would still be contaminating
myself had I not "discovered" the toxic water in the canal/lake that
we were using to sprinkle our yard. Of course, curing the "sick house"
as explained in my book, is paramount. There is no magic pill or easy way. But
at least with the knowledge contained in my book, people have "lists"
to go by and a resource section to use for corrections.
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Discover Wellness Contents Read
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the Author Book Description Questions
for Talk Show Hosts Live
Radio Interview 4/19/03 Author's
Interview on Her Sickness and Recovery
Testimonials
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