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 va
After a devastating accident cost Nikita her eye and left her facing extensive facial reconstruction, she thought surgery would be the beginning of her recovery.Instead, it became the beginning of another nightmare. Surgeons used metal implants and surgical clips to reconstruct her face and jaw. But when Nikita began experiencing reactions she believed were connected to the implanted metal, the very materials intended to help restore her life became another source of suffering. An at-home patch test showed a positive reaction to nickel, although Nikita has not undergone Lymphocyte…
In this episode of Heavily Metalled, I sit down with Fort Worth neurosurgeon Dr. Gregory Smith, DO for an important conversation about spinal hardware, metal hypersensitivity, and what happens when implanted hardware may be contributing to a patient’s symptoms. Dr. Smith has removed spinal hardware for me personally, as well as for many other patients, and he takes metal allergy testing seriously when evaluating these complex cases. We discuss LTT blood testing, the role it can play alongside a patient’s clinical history, and the often-overlooked fact that manufacturers may recommend removal…
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…
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…
In this episode of Heavily Metalled, Shari sits down with Keslie to share a striking parallel in their journeys with Tarlov Cyst Disease and metal hypersensitivity. Both women underwent surgery with Dr. Rudolph Schrot M.D., Chief of Neurosurgery in Sacramento, CA—one of the few neurosurgeons in the U.S. specializing in Tarlov cysts—where metal craniofacial microplates and screws were used to close the exposed sacral bone where it was exposed and used to access the sacral nerves. What followed within 3-4 months was a cascade of systemic symptoms that were cautiously expected, due to the known…
What happens when one of the world’s leading educators on metal hypersensitivity becomes the patient? In this deeply personal and groundbreaking episode, Dr. Scott Schroeder, DPM, FACFAS—an internationally recognized foot and ankle surgeon with over 30 years of experience—shares the journey that changed everything. After decades of observing unexplained post-surgical symptoms in his own patients, Dr. Schroeder began asking questions few were willing to explore. What he discovered would not only reshape his clinical perspective… it would ultimately become his own reality. Despite clearly…
Madelung’s deformity is a rare congenital condition affecting the forearm, often treated with surgical implants. But for some patients, implanted hardware can trigger far more than a structural issue. In this episode, I’m joined by Stacey Parkinson, a young woman from England who underwent arm and wrist surgery for Madelung’s deformity—and soon after developed a range of alarming symptoms, including severe eczema, heart rate irregularities, chest pain and blood pressure instability. Less than a year post-surgery, Stacey reached a breaking point and advocated for the removal of her arm and…
Travel with Dewayne to North Texas where after 20 years of intractable pain due to metal allergy, he gets a DOUBLE HARDWARE REMOVAL (Lumbar and Cervical Spine) for his birthday! In a groundbreaking first for the Heavily Metalled Podcast, Dewayne comes to my hometown in DFW, and has this life-changing surgery with MY incredible neurosurgeon, Dr. Gregory Smith, D.O. I am with him, chronicling his journey every step of the way! When I met Dewayne, he was about to give up on life. I said “No way! “I was captivated by our spinal x-rays, which showed that we had endured FOUR of the same surgeries…
In this episode, I sit down and bring you up to speed on Shari’s world. I have now had my 48th surgery and in TWO short years have two new chronic diagnoses. Ugh! We are going to talk about how Tarlov Cyst Disease, which you may or may not know about, Lipedema (mainly women) and other connective tissue disorders like Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS/hEDS) and others are very commonly seen with systemic metal hypersensitivities. You’re going to learn about why I’ve slowed down (and that I’m still alive and moving forward!), about my two new diagnoses and what they could mean for you, your family…
In this episode, we sit down with the team behind OSSIO Fiber , a new class of bio-integrative fixation technology designed to offer surgeons an alternative to traditional metal implants. Instead of leaving permanent hardware behind, OSSIO Fiber is engineered to provide strong, stable fixation while gradually integrating into the patient’s natural bone over time. We explore the science behind the material, the motivation for developing a metal-free solution, and how this technology is shaping decisions in orthopedic care today. Whether you’re a surgeon, a med-tech professional, or simply…
Our guest in this episode, Jen, suffers from Chiari Malformation - A syndrome where brain tissue extends into the spinal canal, estimated to affect approximately 1 in 1000 people. Jen bravely underwent Chiari Decompression surgery to relieve pressure on the brainstem, cerebellum and spinal cord, but immediately knew something was wrong due to a litany of pain and symptoms following her surgery and the implantation of titanium mesh hardware. After much research and many tests, Jen was able to confirm an allergy to nickel, a trace element not required to be listed in commercially pure titanium…
Welcome to our Heavily Metalled Season 3 Opener and a Heavily Metalled FIRST! In this episode the renowned metal allergy expert Dr. Scott Schroeder takes metal allergy questions, along with Linda Nelson, CEO of MELISA Diagnostics, on our first ever community Q&A recorded LIVE, along with many questions sent in by our Metalhead audience! We’ve got questions about implants, surgeries, testing, diet, pre-operative preparation and much, MUCH more! In this episode you will learn: How you can experience TREMENDOUS relief from pain and symptoms by following a low-nickel diet. Do trace amounts of…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
This episode is just what the patient ordered! You are about to learn all the want-to-know essentials about hardware & composition such as how to find surgical support documents that dictate implanted hardware and the surgical procedure, how to reach the reps for medical & hardware device manufactures, how to determine the metal alloy components of your surgical hardware and how to file your own adverse event report with the FDA, both electronically and via hard copy. Metal allergy expert Dr. Scott Schroeder, also re-joins the podcast to weigh in and educate more about hardware and the…
The Low Nickel Diet and template for eating well with metal allergies is quickly gaining popularity among those sensitive to metals. Join us today for this episode with Gilda Capraro, the brawn and brains behind the super-helpful Low Nickel Diet & Lifestyle Facebook group. This episode is jam-packed with information to help you with all things diet and lifestyle as you navigate your nickel allergy and all that goes with it. Much of this information will be applicable to those who are also cross-reactive to other metals. Learn about how systemic metal allergies show up, how a Type IV allergy…
EP27 - Metal LTT Blood Testing ORTHOPEDIC ANALYSIS Walkthrough, Q&A + Implant Composition FAQ Join me today for a complete video walkthrough on ordering, drawing & shipping the Orthopedic Analysis blood Metal LTT Lymphocyte Transformation Test. You’ll get to see results of my new OA test and learn all about the valuable resources on the OA website. Additionally you will hear again from OA C.F.O., Dr. Marco Caicedo on not only some of my surprising results with the recent test, but also some experiences and common questions from some in the metal-allergic community regarding OA testing.…
This episode details relevant personal updates regarding Shari’s health status, surgeries, death of a prominent family member and an official statement regarding MELISA Diagnostics inability to currently provide metal LTT testing to US residents, as well as where to find alternative testing in the meantime. This episode also makes statements responding to serious allegations leveled at Shari regarding the production and agenda of the Heavily Metalled Podcast. Also the new YouTube Medical Misinformation policy is summarized. Podcast agendas & goals for the future are detailed. In this episode…
Emily, is working on her Bachelor’s Degree in Nutritional Science and is looking forward to completing a PhD in the same field a few years after graduation. Emily has been sensitive to metals her whole life, starting with a severe allergy to earrings and other jewelry as a child. In early 2019 she was talked into getting her nose pierced by a friend and was SUPER excited. Even picking out cute nose rings. Within months of that nose piercing Emily developed multiple autoimmune diseases and suffered with the debilitating effects of Trigeminal Neuralgia, a syndrome nicknamed “The Suicide…
Come learn about why YOU need to have the chronic infection & virus component on YOUR radar if you are dealing with systemic metal hypersensitivity and other chronic issues. Many with metal hypersensitivity could be dealing with Lyme Disease, Bartonella, HHV6 or EBV, worsening all systemic symptoms & immune status with NO idea. Systemic metal allergies are driven by antigens and T-cells, which put your immune system into rebellion and overdrive. With a compromised immune system so inflamed by metals, it can’t work as hard to fight off chronic infections and viruses that healthy people can…
Maria Lappin, our guest from Michigan, is our incredible Season 2 opener. Her episode discusses a prominent lesion on the tip of her nose, diagnosed by multiple specialists, as aggressive metastatic melanoma. The lesion was, in fact, caused by a systemic reaction to surgical clips placed inside her body without her knowledge, her permission or being pre-screened for metal hypersensitivity, during surgery to remove her lymph nodes in conjunction with the Melanoma diagnoses. Her brave saga will leave you stunned and speechless.We will follow Maria on her overwhelming 10-YEAR journey as a…
EP22 - Beyond the Metal: Holistic Dental Care with Dr. Michelle Jorgensen, DDS, FAGD, TNC, CNAS Dr. Michelle Jorgensen has a passion for not just the mouth but how it connects to the entire body, and beyond that, how the connects to the world! We discuss Dr. Michelle’s personal journey with metal toxicity to mercury amalgam, and how she almost became unable to practice dentistry, and had to put her practice up for sale. She tells us how she detoxed and how she uncovered her own MTHFR genetic mutation that can make detox more difficult. Dr. Michelle found a new way to practice, and shocked…
Christian hails from Michigan and is a young Italian man, working as an engineer, who has a passion for soccer, being Italian and heavy metal music.. He describes himself as a formerly “happy-go-lucky” guy until spine surgery and metal allergies turned his life upside down. After the sudden onset of back trouble and searing pain, Christian worked through the traditional medical routes, until it was decided that he would need a spinal fusion.After surgery, Christian knew immediately that something wasn’t right, waking with searing, intractable pain and a litany of symptoms: rashes, insomnia,…
OB/GYN Dr. Julio Novoa, who not only provides excellence in women’s health care but is renowned for his minimally invasive techniques, joins the HMP to discuss all things foreign body reactions, metal hypersensitivity, ASIA syndrome and beyond. Not only a OB/GYN, Dr. Novoa also specializes in cosmetic gynecology but might just shine as the brightest light in his concern for women’s safety and advocacy, who agrees more with a patient-centric model for healthcare as opposed to approaching medicine strictly from a business perspective. Seeing a trend towards unnecessary medical procedures and…
About Heavily Metalled
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 va
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