He is now a refugee, not running from a natural hazard, or a diabolical tribe, but rather electromagnetism and chemicals, which now pervade his environment.
Once a successful software engineer, he was forced to leave his livelihood after he could no longer tolerate sitting in front of a computer. Clinching chest pains, tinnitus and a horrid feeling when around computers did his career in.
He now resides in Califon, NJ, where he has volunteered at a local organic farm, is a student of classical guitar, tentatively preparing to tutor math, and is making every effort to survive in a world of ever increasing electro pollution.
His aspiration is to start a self sufficient community, where a person such as himself can pursue happiness without being irradiated by EMF. The community is envisioned to be centered around an organic farm, yet close enough to civilization where isolation is not an issue.
He started this website, ahappyhabitat, to fill the mamouth void of information about EHS.
Case Study
The following is a chronology of events which ultimately lead to his collapse. It apparently was caused by a pre-disposition to chemical sensitivity and a multitude of incitements in the environment and work, including injury from a large CRT monitor, use of a cell phone and blasted by perfume.
For 6 years he worked in the chemical oil and gas industries, working on site at various plants throughout the country. Many a time he felt sick and nausea from the chemical exposure. He often suffered from tremors after spending time at the Texaco oil refinery at New Castle, DE. He now gets the same tremors after prolonged exposure to EMF.
The first signs of Electro Sensitivity began in 2001 after buying a monstrous NEC 19" MultiSync CRT monitor and matriculated in a Microsoft Windows programming course at Boston University. Endless hours were spent using computers both on the job at the Foxboro Co. and at home. Visual Display Units (VDT) are clearly a leading trigger for EHS sufferers.
For years he had headaches from the stale air in the Cocasset building where he worked. Fumes from printers and copy machines bothered him. The building was renovated, a leading cause of sick building syndrome.
His amateur dentist botched up a large amalgam filling in a cracked molar. The job required two visits and at least three attempts, all the while poisoning him with mercury.
He started to get an ill feeling while watching TV at home, but somehow managed to survive at work. It was especially uncomfortable when two computers were running in his cubicle. Certain CRT monitors caused pain, particularly an NEC model. His Dell trinitron was the most tolerable, used at a distance.
His condition declined further after buying an HP "Live Strong" laptop computer. Somehow the laptop caused troublesome symptoms that weren't felt with his work computer.
His decline accelerated after he received an NEC 17" LCD monitor at work. It caused discomfort from the start, but somehow withstood it.
He got a cell phone, which was used for all long distance calls. He felt as if he was coming down with a flu, suffering from fibromyalgic arm and leg pain in the evenings. He had trouble sleeping, getting just a few hours a night. Chronic fatigue plagued him. He didn't know at the time that the cell phone was causing harm.
A new tennant moved in below at his apartment in Mansfield, MA. A strong perfume odor began to permeate into his apartment. Soon the exhaust from the laundry room became offensive. His chemical sensitivity was peaking.
He changed the spark plug wires on his car from the stock resistive type to solid copper core. The car ran better, but it was a dire error to his health condition.
He finally got a Trifield meter and discovered that the apartment had a particularly high magnetic field. He was sleeping for 10 years in 1.5 milli gauss. There was a transformer within a few feet of his head. The main power lines for the building went through his ceiling.
After years of searchimg to put a name to his ailment, he discovered FEB Sweden, and read "Black on White". He came to the revelation that he was not alone. Others around the world also experienced tinnitus and felt ill from computers. He was injured by CRT monitors, the cell phone and intoxicated with mercury and arsenic.
On the week of February 7, 2006 his immune system was in decline. A power outage in the office, unbeknownst to hime, turned on the second computer in his cubicle. His ears were fiercely ringing, and piercing chest pains pounded him within just a few seconds of exposure to a computer, particularly LCD monitors.
He saw his doctor who threw up his arms and prescribed an anti-depressant. which made Eli bug-eyed, nauseous and suicidal. He ultimately had a raging panick attack and fled.
His career as a principal software engineer in a research and development group was over, and left his job and livelihood in Massachusetts.
After residing several years in New Jersey, his condition has deteriorated. All it took was a visit to a Harbor Freight Tool store in Saddle Brook, NJ. He felt horrible symptoms, but waited in a long line anyway. Even the cashier had a terrible headache and knew the building was sick. Ever since then he has chronic headaches, has a choking sensation, and his chest pains become unbearable, even when not exposed to EMF. Such a story shows how vulnerable we are, and precaution is essential. Eli, like so many others need a Refuge,
Recovery
There are four cornerstones to recovery: strengthen the immune system, detoxification, positive imagery and avoidance of EMF.
- he exercises
- regularly takes a sauna, with 400 milligrams of Niacin.
-injects himself weekly with preservative free methyl B-12.
-takes vitamins and anti-oxidents.
- limits alcohol use.
- limits sugar intake,
- diet includes organic foods and vegetables. A daily nutritive shake is essential. The following ingredients are blended in a Vita-Mix 5200: Shake Ingredients include an apple, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, a banana, blueberries or strawberries (Trader Joe's), vitamin C, Jay Robb egg white protein Dr. Ben Kim Greens and water. You'll end up with a highy nutritive organic shake
- avoids EMF as much as possible,
- never watches TV (except for an occasional movie on a 7 inch portable DVD player running on it's battery.,
- rarely uses a cell phone, except for an occasional text message, or for very short sessions using an air-tube headset.
- drives a car with a low magnetic field (Chevy Silverado) as little as possible, and avoids roads with heavy magnetic fields.
- Avoids establishments with TVs, fluorescent lights or RF, elevated magnetic fields.
- Keeps computer sessions to a very short time - while using either his modified computer Low Emission Computer or an HP L2005 running on it's battery, set at minimal power management, about 7 feet away using a screen magnifier.
- occasionally imagines himself in an safe, electromagnetic free environment.
His condition seems to have improved since moving from a condo to a detached house in rural America where cell towers are not as dense, and he is no longer provoked by the neighbor's TV and eight wireless routers. The key to survival with EHS is knowing your limitations, otherwise face further illness. The prospect of returning to corporate America is extremely dim. Chances for a full recovery are limited.