On this podcast, we interview patients, medical professionals, and industry insiders having important discussions regarding the all too commonly experienced, but lesser-identified symptoms of hypersensitivity to metals contained in implanted medical and dental hardware. These metals often cause a variety of dysfunctional immune responses, chronic pain, and other syndromes. We discuss ideas for managing symptoms, share personal lifestyle modifications, and talk about how to advocate with and educate providers pre and post-surgery. Music provided by Brian Young.
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EP47 - MCAS, Histamine & The Nickel Allergy Connection w/Dr. Laura Duzett, DO, NTP
Saison 3 · Épisode 47
jeudi 28 mai 2026 • Durée 57:41
In this episode of the Heavily Metalled Podcast, Shari sits down with returning guest Dr. Laura Duzett — physician, pathology resident, nutritional therapy practitioner, and author of The Low Nickel Diet Cookbook — for a conversation about systemic nickel allergy, mast cell activation, histamine pathways, and the immune mechanisms behind chronic symptoms in sensitive patients.
Together, they explain why nickel hypersensitivity is far more complex than the typical “jewelry rash” many physicians learn about in medical school. Dr. Laura breaks down three forms of nickel allergy: contact dermatitis on the skin, allergic contact mucositis in the digestive tract and mucosal tissues, and systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS), where immune sensitization extends beyond local tissues and begins affecting the body systemically.
The discussion explores how nickel exposure — from diet, implants, or the environment — may contribute to symptoms far beyond the skin, including flushing, itching, gut dysfunction, headaches, sleep disruption, mast cell activation, histamine intolerance, fibromyalgia-like symptoms, and chronic inflammation. Dr. Laura explains how nickel may activate mast cells, increase histamine sensitivity, impair DAO function, increase intestinal permeability, and potentially create a self-perpetuating inflammatory cycle.
One of the most fascinating sections focuses on Dr. Laura’s newly developed Nickel-Histamine Pathway Chart, which maps ways nickel may influence histamine production and mast cell activity through allergic and biochemical pathways involving estrogen receptors, inflammatory cytokines, DAO suppression, oxidative stress, and histamine receptor upregulation.
Shari and Dr. Laura also discuss nickel allergy testing, including patch testing, oral mucosal testing, and lymphocyte transformation testing (LTT). They explain that no single test captures the full picture of systemic nickel hypersensitivity and stress the importance of evaluating symptoms and clinical response alongside testing.
The episode also offers practical strategies for listeners who feel overwhelmed. Dr. Laura explains why focusing on gut health, reducing dietary nickel exposure, improving sleep, calming mast cells, and lowering inflammation may help improve quality of life, even before or without implant revision surgery.
In This Episode You Will Learn:
• The 3 forms of nickel allergy and why they require different testing approaches.
• How mast cells, histamine, gut permeability, and nickel exposure may contribute to a vicious inflammatory cycle.
Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8
***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***
EP46 - Breast Cancer, Surgical Clips, Metal Allergies & Systemic Illness: Before & After Metal Clip Removal - Val’s Story
Saison 3 · Épisode 46
vendredi 15 mai 2026 • Durée 01:31:04
After surviving breast cancer, Val Johnson believed she was finally moving into healing and recovery. Instead, what followed was years of escalating neurological symptoms, muscle spasms, severe pain, heart rhythm abnormalities, inflammation, weight loss, nervous system dysfunction, and repeated medical dismissal — all while breast and abdominal surgical clips and biopsy markers remained inside her body.
In this deeply emotional and eye-opening episode of Heavily Metalled, Val shares her lifelong history of metal sensitivity and the terrifying health decline that began after breast cancer treatment, reconstructive surgery, abdominal surgical clips, and retained breast biopsy markers.
What makes Val’s story especially powerful is that she knew from childhood that her body reacted to metal. Earrings caused reactions. Dental metal caused pain. Yet despite repeatedly warning doctors that something felt wrong after surgery, she was continually told her symptoms “couldn’t” be related to the clips left inside her body.
As her health spiraled, Val began experiencing widespread systemic symptoms that mimicked serious neurological disease — muscle atrophy, spasms, numbness, heart rhythm changes, swallowing difficulties, dysautonomia-like symptoms, severe inflammation, and debilitating pain. Multiple specialists, scans, emergency room visits, and even Mayo Clinic failed to provide answers.
This conversation also touches on the growing concerns surrounding cumulative metal exposure in medicine. Val discusses learning later that certain chemotherapy agents contain platinum-based metals, while many MRI contrast agents contain gadolinium — a rare earth metal known to retain in the body in varying amounts. The episode explores the difficult questions many chronically ill patients are beginning to ask about total toxic burden, immune dysregulation, and why some individuals appear more sensitive than others.
Eventually, Val found a surgeon willing to remove the breast and abdominal surgical clips and biopsy markers that had been dismissed for years and is making huge strides in her recovery with many symptoms subsequently disappearing after explant.
EP37 - Dr. Selene Parekh - Metal Allergy Relief - 3D Printed Metal-Free Foot & Ankle Implants
Saison 2 · Épisode 37
mardi 20 mai 2025 • Durée 46:37
In this groundbreaking episode of Heavily Metalled, we're joined by renowned orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Selene Parekh to explore the revolutionary development of the metal-free 3D-printed Talus implant. As systemic metal hypersensitivity gains wider recognition, this innovation offers new hope to patients who may be allergic to traditional metal orthopedic implants or wish to avoid metal altogether.
Dr. Parekh, known as the "Fantasy Doctor" for his sports injury analysis and as a trailblazer in orthopedic innovation, discusses how this polymer-based Talus implant mimics the function and durability of bone without introducing reactive materials into the body. We delve into the technology behind the implant, compare it to metal-based alternatives, and discuss the implications for long-term biocompatibility, joint preservation, and quality of life—especially for patients with previously limited options.
We also explore important questions around informed consent and screening for metal allergies in surgical planning. Does Dr. Parekh routinely pre-screen his patients? How is the orthopedic field evolving to meet the needs of this underserved group? And what’s next for 3D printing in other joints?
Don’t miss this episode if you or someone you love is navigating life with chronic pain or facing decisions about orthopedic surgery—it could change the way you think about implants forever;.
In this episode you will learn:
How metal-free 3D-printed Talus implants are changing ankle surgery.
The benefits of biocompatible, non-metal implant materials.
What to ask your surgeon about metal allergies and implants.
EP 36 - Crippled By Hip Replacement - Cobalt Poisoning Nightmare - Tracey's Story
Saison 2 · Épisode 36
mercredi 7 mai 2025 • Durée 01:09:46
Tracey O’Neill was at the pinnacle of health as a fitness instructor and in the prime of her active life prior to bi-lateral hip replacement surgery due to a sudden diagnosis of a previously undiagnosed condition: congenital hip dysplasia.
Tracey went from her idyllic life to fully disabled, in massive amounts of pain, and able to walk with only the assistance of dual walking sticks, only to find out that she was being poisoned by severe cobalt debris from her bilateral implants.
As Tracey’s condition continued to degrade, and she was gaslit by many medical professionals, she experienced a growing litany of debilitating symptoms such as swelling, pain, redness, memory loss, shortness of breath and swelling, eventually finding out that her cobalt levels were seven times normal.
Tracey has bravely endured two brutal revision surgeries to date and that was only on the first hip, with the second still to come.Tracey is now a tireless advocate running an online support group for hip revision patients with chronic pain and cobalt toxicity from hip implants.
In this episode you will learn:
How cobalt poisoning from hip implants can mimic other chronic illnesses and go undiagnosed.
The importance of trusting your body—even when doctors don’t.
What kinds of symptoms may be linked to metal toxicity from implants.
Where you can get support for your hip replacement & implant pain.
~Links and Resources~
~ Find Tracey’s Hip Replacement Chronic Pain Support & Cobalt Poisoning Facebook group HERE.
~
~To read Tracey’s Article in the Daily Telegraph click HERE.
~
~To see the images that accompany this episode click .
EP35 - Betrayal Medicine with Megan Nichols LCSW
Saison 2 · Épisode 32
jeudi 17 avril 2025 • Durée 57:31
EP35 - Betrayal Medicine with Megan Nichols LCSW
With the recent headlines regarding spinal and chronic pain patient Luigi Mangioni, and the brutal murder of a United Healthcare insurance executive, our attention is drawn to the plight of chronically ill patients and our broken healthcare system. Our guest today, Therapist Megan Nichols, LCSW, helps us unpack medical trauma, gaslighting and PTSD. We discuss what is happening within the current constructs of our overtaxed and un-individualized healthcare system, how we got here and the difficult emotions that we often encounter on our journey to be heard, seen and understood. We discuss ways to more effectively accomplish our goals regarding caring for ourselves mentally and physically as we navigate chronic conditions and seek for better quality of life.
In this episode you will learn:
What defines trauma in a medical setting and how it is different for each of us.
What is medical gaslighting and how does it sound different when a provider is dismissing versus just not understanding.
What EMDR therapy is and how it can help your body resolve trauma.
Tools for mental health care with or without insurance.
~Links and Resources~
~If you are experiencing mental distress and need help NOW call: 2-1-1, 9-8-8 OR Text “Hello” or “Hola” 24/7 to 741741.
~To obtain the “No Bad Parts” book by Richard Schrwartz click HERE.
~
EP34 - From Wealth to Wrecked - Gaslighting, Psych Wards & Metal Allergies - Barry’s Story
Saison 3 · Épisode 30
jeudi 3 avril 2025 • Durée 01:17:47
Our guest today, Barry Walsh, has an incredible story about allergies to an IV filter, as well as spinal fusion hardware implanted after a 40 foot fall at a construction site. Prior to surgery Barry was a wealthy & successful construction contractor in New York City to many big name celebrities and organizations. After his fall he became homeless, gaslit, dismissed by medical professionals, locked up in psych wards repeatedly and lived in his car until a hero surgeon believed him and started removing his metal.
In this episode you will learn:
What an IV filter is an how it can be dangerous to your health.
How metal allergies can be mistaken for mental illness.
Just how much health can be restored when metal is removed.
How to better advocate for yourself with metal allergies.
~Links and Resources~
~To make a comment or petition to the FDA, click HERE.
EP33 - Gadolinium Toxicity with Debbie Heist Lambert
Saison 2 · Épisode 33
vendredi 7 mars 2025 • Durée 01:14:28
Our guest today, Debbie Heist Lambert is the author of the new book “Gadolinium Deposition and Toxicity: Humanizing a Life-Changing Event", as well as head honcho over at Living with Gadolinium, LLC. Debbie is a huge advocate for all medically injured patients. She is enthusiastic about ensuring that informed consent, truth and transparency become the gold standard for all things healthcare after her own life changed dramatically following the first, and then multiple injections of a GBCA (gadolinium based contrast agent), a toxic rare-earth metal retained in everyone. Debbie found a passion and purpose in learning and applying the new knowledge to help herself and to provide support and help for others. Debbie gives all glory to God for his love, support, and ongoing guidance.
In this episode you will learn:
What Gadolinium is and why it’s used.
Where to find support if you believe you have been injured by Gadolinium.
How to best test to find out if you have toxic stored amounts of Gadolinium.
About safe detox options to help rid the body of stored gadolinium.
~Links and Resources~
~
~ Debbie’s Book: “Gadolinium Deposition & Toxicity: Humanizing a Life-Changing Event” - Get it HERE.
~
~ Living With Gadolinium, LLC on Facebook - Go HERE.
Our guest today, Shannon, has a remarkable story about allergies to an iliac vein stent (two actually) that she received after a May Thurner syndrome diagnosis. Prior to surgery to place the stent she had even informed the surgeon about her severe nickel allergy, complete with LTT test results, and woke from surgery to find out that she had received not only one but TWO nitinol stents instead!!!Nitinol is often comprised of nearly equal amounts of nickel and titanium and causes severe symptoms in the nickel-allergic patient population. You will hear about the severe health challenges that ensued for Shannon and her brave fight to have these stents removed, which may require a very risky open surgery.
In this episode you will learn:
How merely mentioning your nickel allergy to your surgeon may not be enough.
Options available for stenting those allergic to nickel and other metals.
How metal allergies can be genetic and run in families.
How to best preserve your mental stability through a health crisis.
~Links and Resources~
~To make a comment or petition to the FDA, click HERE.
EP31 - Sensiband Metal Allergy Test Kit w/Spine Surgeon & Inventor Mitch Reiter
Saison 2 · Épisode 31
jeudi 2 janvier 2025 • Durée 01:15:55
EP31 - Sensiband Metal Allergy Test Kit w/Spine Surgeon & Inventor Mitch Reiter
In this episode of Heavily Metalled, we’re diving deep into the Sensiband metal allergy test kit with inventor and renowned spine surgeon Dr. Mitchell Reiter. Sensiband is FDA Class 1 medical device and a groundbreaking tool designed to help individuals identify sensitivities to metals that could be causing systemic pain and other health issues.Dr. Reiter discusses his background and why metal allergies and allergies in general play an important role in his personal life. In practice Dr. Reiter and his inventor/partner Dr. Mark Drzala started noticing some of their surgical patients with sensitivities were experiencing poor surgical outcomes. Dr. Drzala had his own experience with metal allergy and toxicity after reacting to mercury in his dental hardware so their minds turned towards helping these patients and moving them towards a better quality of life. This episode not only delves into all things Sensiband, but also addresses some prominent questions regarding surgical implants, metal allergies, alternative materials, pre-screening customs, and how to combine multiple testing modalities for the most up to date and accurate information regarding a particular patient and that patient’s unique hypersensitivities. We also discuss current stigmas and attitudes in the medical and device industries towards metal allergies and how the tides may be starting to shift in favor of those with documented metal hypersensitivity. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!
In this episode you will learn:
What the Sensiband test is and how it works.
Real-life stories of patients who have made dramatic recoveries when their surgical hardware was removed.
Why you might consider NOT removing metal hardware you are allergic to and when you should.
How this test empowers patients and practitioners to make informed decisions about their health.
~Links and Resources~
~ Check out the Sensiband website and order your test HERE.
EP30 - Knee Replacement Allergy w/Julene
Saison 2 · Épisode 30
vendredi 20 décembre 2024 • Durée 01:45:20
Our guest today, Julene, joins us in the middle of her knee replacement journey.After going early on for a relatively routine meniscus repair, working through physical therapy and all the things to recover, she wound up in an extreme amount of pain that wasn’t normal. Saw a new doctor in follow-up who advised a total knee replacement. Julene received three surgical opinions and all were in agreement. Julene chose the surgeon that asked about prior reactions to metal. About a month after surgery Julene began to develop one symptom after another. So bad she could barely make a glass of water. Acute pain. Flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and allergy symptoms. Her cries to her doctor fell on deaf ears and she sought a second opinion. Julene received an LTT Blood test for metal allergies, which came back showing her off-the-charts allergic to nickel. Julene eventually obtained a knee revision and her symptoms resolved rapidly. She felt stable on her new titanium knee….and then it all began to unravel…again. Here about the continuation of her journey, her huge success on the low-nickel diet and then about the connections she made with her metallic dental work. You won’t believe the surprise ending to the story. Well…it’s not the end, it’s actually the middle, as another revision is in Julene’s future.
In this episode you will learn:
How to better advocate for yourself, trusting your body when you have metal hypersensitivity.
The importance of a low-nickel diet in managing symptoms.
The importance of double & triple checking surgeons and device manufacturers when it comes to the metal compositions and devices recommended for implant.
More about common signs, symptoms and co-morbidities of metal hypersensitivity.
~Links and Resources~
~ To see the images that accompany this episode click HERE.
~
~ To read the PubMed article mentioned on a completely metal-free knee click HERE.
In This Episode you will learn:
How retained breast and abdominal surgical clips may trigger systemic symptoms in sensitive patients
Why metal hypersensitivity can mimic neurological and autoimmune disease
The hidden metal exposures many patients never realize occur during cancer treatment and imaging
How chronic illness, trauma, and nervous system dysregulation can become deeply intertwined
~Links and Resources~
~To make a comment or petition to the FDA, click HERE.
Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8
***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***
~
~To see Dr. Parekh’s interview on this implant with CBS News click HERE.
~.
~To make a comment or petition to the FDA, click HERE.
Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8
***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***
Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8
***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***
Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8
***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***
~
Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8
***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***
Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8
***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***
Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8
***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***
~
~To make a comment or petition to the FDA, click HERE.
Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8
***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***
Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8
***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***
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