April 11, 2011

Dear Government of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Collage of Physicians & Surgeons,

I would like to know where we are with treating CCSVI in Canadians who have been given the label of Multiple Sclerosis.

I had the pleasure of hearing a doctor speak on the subject of angioplasty for occluded veins in people with the neurologically owned symptom known as MS who has himself been treated for CCSVI. This doctor compared MS symptoms to that of having a slow stroke.

 I want you to think about the slow stroke comparison. A stroke is caused by a blocked artery leading to a lack of oxygen to the brain which then causes cells to die quickly. Occluded, or stenosed, veins cause a reflux of deoxygenated blood to remain in the brain without being refreshed.  This causes the ‘slow death’ of cells.

Why is this easily corrected venous abnormality not being treated in people, who have been given the diagnoses of the so-called, once upon a time, autoimmune disorder known as MS? 

Canada, our Health Care system is playing with MS sufferer’s lives by disallowing a simple venoplasty

procedure that can correct a venous abnormality. I pray that someone with the label of MS does not have a stroke and go to the hospital only to be turned away due to doctors thinking they are just having an onset of so-called MS symptoms.

Health Canada and the doctors that are holding the reins of Interventional Radiologists who could help those suffering with MS symptoms, I would like you to really think about the slow stroke example.

It can take years for someone with the label of MS to slowly lose their bodily functions.

Someone who suffers a stroke can lose their bodily functions immediately.

Canada, the clock is ticking for those with the label of MS.    

Why will Canada treat a rapid stroke victim and not a slow stroke victim? 

It is not a matter if Canada will start treating CCSVI, it is when. The sooner those whom are suffering from this slow moving stroke get treated the less brain damage will occur.

It is the same with all stroke victims - the quicker they receive treatment the less likely there will be permanent damage. 

Canada, we have seen what the results of treating CCSVI can bring to those with the label of MS.  If there are any neurologists in Canada that have not seen any positive results from their patients who have going abroad for treatment or from the few that were treated in Canada you must not have any patients.

   Sincerely Husband of a former slow stroke sufferer,

Lorin Powell

Nanaimo BC

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