Today I realized it has been close to one year since I first heard of
CCSVI on CTV. I clearly remember my thoughts and feelings like they were
yesterday. I also remember hearing that some neuros were saying that
CCSVI was only another sham treatment and would soon fade away. It has
been twelve months and CCSVI has not died. Close to 4000 MS sufferers,
globally, have been treated for blocked veins and the number continues
to rise.
CCSVI advocacy groups have popped up all across Canada,
largely in part through social media. The MS Society has fumbled
themselves into a deep dark corner throughout this entire time. I would
have to say that this is one of the largest PR screw ups in history! I
cant foresee them pulling out of this debacle unscathed.
After
care seems to be a very grey area in Canada. Some Gp's and neuros have
been reluctant to offer referrals to vascular specialists when a person
returns home from their medical tourism. I have already heard a
disturbing story of emergency after care being denied to a young man and
his resulting death. I am told Avis Favarro is looking into this story.
The
attitude towords CCSVI by the majority of the neurological community
has been hostile at best. WHY this is, one can only speculate. Some say
they will lose lucrative funding and kick backs from Big Pharma as
people choose to go off their ineffective and often dangerous MS drug
therapies after having angioplasty. It is true that Big Pharma stands to
lose billions. I have often wondered if pharmaceutical companies were
allowed to advertise on Canadian TV, CCSVI might not have received the
media coverage it has. The US allows Big Pharma to advertise. Every
other commercial is an add for some kind of drug. Notice the blackout on
US television when it comes to CCSVI. Makes you wonder.
Both
Ashton Embry of Direct-MS and Dr. Zamboni has been doing their best to
dispel the lies that have been circulating throughout many governments
and their health care systems. I laughed out load when each of them
wrote to our health care people and point by point shot down their
position statement on why we are not allowed to have angio.
Our
Canadian Government has been willingly duped by the naysayers into
believing that treating an MS sufferer for blocked veins is unethical
and dangerous. Any other tax paying Canadian citizen can have
angioplasty on their blocked jugulars and it is covered by Provincial
Health Care. Kidney dialysis patients suffer from collapsing jugulars as
a result of their treatments and they are allowed angio to unblock
them. Victims of car and motorcycle collisions also are eligible for
angio.
Currently some well meaning politicians have pushed for
funding for clinical trials in Canada. The sad truth of the matter is
this is just a waste of money and time. Enough research is already going
on all around the world. Why would we waste precious time and money
like this? The naysayers want to see this happen so they can conduct the
studies themselves and prove CCSVI doesn't help MS. This is all just a
great big stall tactic that benefits our current health care system. Can
you imagine if they okayed scanning and treatment tomorrow? I think our
government is scared shitless of what this would do to our already
overloaded system. Our current Global Health Care system would fall
apart. Time for a better system anyway!
Despite all the
roadblocks being thrown at us by naysayers folks are continually opting
to have the treatment through medical tourism. On average a person
spends around $10,000.00 and that money is not going into our own
economy, unfortunately. Although, if we did do the treatment here and
had to pay out of pocket for it, estimates of $1,500.00 to $2,000.00 CAD
is a more realistic figure for our country. The US is doing the
procedure and taking Canadians money. Just think how much money Canada
could generate if we offered this treatment too? Just think how many
thousands of tax paying MS sufferers could have a shot at a better
quality life?
No more trials or studies. CCSVI is a vascular
condition. Whether it is related to MS is neither here nor there.
Blocked veins are unhealthy. Kidney dialysis patients arent told to rely
on their collateral veins when their jugulars collapse. Why are we? It
is unethical and inhumane to withhold this treatment from us any longer.
http://iamsickofms.blogspot.com/2010/11/12-months-of-hope-and-lies.html