Recovering from my Gardasil Nightmare
OCTOBER 29, 2015
By Lisa Pipella, from Spokane WA
My Gardasil Nightmare is Nearly Over
When I originally wrote my Gardasil story as a cautionary tale for others, I thought the worst was over. I had battled for almost six years and was left with only periodic numbness/tingling in my hands to deal with at that point. I believed the worst was over and I could begin to get on with my life. That was in October of 2013.
In 2014, the roller coaster ride began again. My hands became worse; the tingling and numbness traveled to my legs. I would have moments of paralysis forcing me to rely on crutches to get around for a few days each month. My sleep patterns became irregular. I would stay awake for 4 days straight before collapsing from sheer exhaustion and physical weakness. The numbness and tingling I previously had in my hands progressed to tremors that never stopped, even when I was sleeping. Tremors so bad they stopped me from successful photography, hindering my ability to complete my home-based projects or even use everyday tools.
So, I began a new journey visiting more doctors, doing more tests. After some careful observation, we were able to pinpoint the exact time frame during which my symptoms got worse and I would lose normal function of my hands and feet along with the annoying hot pins and needles feelings. It was around the time of my menstrual cycle.
After determining this, I went to see a chiropracter for the first time where I was given some good lifestyle advice. I started on some new detox programs and parasite cleanses in hopes of seeing some improvement. I had been eating clean organic foods but my blood sugar would still peak and dip causing moments of confusion, mood swings, the shakes and weakness. I was able to correct these problems through a new diet that cut out all sugars. It was a great feeling to eliminate those symptoms once my blood sugar was corrected.
Shortly after, I was able to meet with a new doctor about my symptoms to try and gain a different perspective. She gave me a clinical diagnosis of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Believe it or not, it was somewhat of a relief to have a diagnosis that would explain the majority of my limb symptoms including why my hands were stuck in a claw position.
Next, I went to get a full blood panel to see what that would tell me. Almost everything came back normal. This was my 3rd blood panel in the years since my Gardasil injections. It only revealed that I was low in B6 and D3. So, for the first time in my life, I started taking supplements. They did nothing for me and none of us could figure out why.
I bought several books and spoke to several amazing Gardasil-injured girls who found healing using different methods. But, none of the methods would work for me. I was growing tired of visiting so many doctors and having to explain everything over and over again. But, I was not going to give up.
I spent all of 2014 seeking answers only to end up having a major life-threatening stroke in January of 2015. I was sitting on the couch and felt a really bad throbbing ache behind my left eye. Then, all of a sudden, I had a ”bursting” sensation. I screamed for my husband and he sat with me. I was unable to speak or even understand where I was at. I was screaming in pain as I felt a traveling sensation go up and over my left ear, resting at the base of my skull. I ended up going to bed because the pain exhausted my entire body.
I woke up in the middle of the night from the lingering pain and experienced a stroke. My left eye was fully dilated and everything was confusing. I immediately went and got an MRI. It came back ”unremarkable.”
Then, I got my eyes checked to see if anything was wrong. Those tests also came back normal.
I felt like I had come to another dead end. What if I did not survive my next stroke? My children would be motherless.
So, I set out on another research adventure and put the doctors aside. They were not finding anything and I was not healing.
Is the answer in your Methylation Cycle?
I work with many parents in the autism community and entered into a conversation with some of them about genetics and genetic mutations. I was absolutely fascinated.
They were talking about MTHFR genetic mutations which were identified by the Human Genome Project in 2003. MTHFR stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. This mutation is thought to be a key to all disease, autoimmune disease, and neurological issues in addition to making people more susceptible to adverse reactions to vaccines, medications and supplements.
If we look at immunogenetics and adversomics we can begin to understand why certain people have adverse reactions to vaccines. Vaccines are causing genetic expression. The methylation cycle is very important in the human body. It also dictates how the immune system functions.
After a few months researching, I ended up ordering a test from 23andme.com. I sent my spit test in and the results came back. Guess what? I have the MTHFR C667T mutation along with other mutations that contribute to stroke (Val12Met) and cancer (BRCA). I also have the ’Fragile X’ gene (FMR1). The results were overwhelming.
I immediately sought out additional information on this and joined a MTHFR group. I started out by trying a B12 supplement tailored to my genetic mutation(s). It was called Methylcobalamin. The first time I took it, it knocked me out flat. I was wiped out for several days – almost as if I was in an alcoholic stupor. The fatigue was terrible. I felt betrayed.
But then I switched to taking it before bed, and what do you know, I slept the entire night! So I was taking this every night because research says you must be on it regularly to keep in in your system. Every day was a new milestone for me. My hands unclenched from their claw positions. My legs stopped tingling. I could feel my feet for the first time in a long time. My hands were able to feel again. My tremors, paralysis, burning, tingling, pins and needles sensations dissipated a little each night until they were no more. It was almost unbelievable. I cried tears of joy!
After regulating my methylation cycle with the B12, I decided to try the supplements again. I started taking chlorella, selenium, vitamin D3, Lithium Orotate and probiotics. It was as if every single supplement kicked in all at once.
I was happy again. I could keep up with my children. I finally have my life back!
My Gardasil injections were in 2007. This is the first time in 8 years I can finally say I feel ”normal” again. So far, it has been three entire months of being healed. I believe my Gardasil Nightmare is finally over.
I would like to take a moment to thank the autism community and particularly The Thinking Mom’s Revolution. Without them I would have never known the importance of the methylation cycle, MTHFR, and glutathione.
Please understand that what works for one Gardasil-injured girl may not work for another. Sometimes you have to take very slow steps when introducing new healing methods in order to avoid further injury. It was a very long and slow, trial and error process discovering which methods would work for me. The amount of detoxing I did through the past year set the stage for further healing.
I highly recommend genetic testing as a good place to start. It gave me a blueprint to go by; maybe it will do the same for you!