Welcome to the very first episode of the Heavily Metalled podcast! I'm so excited to have you join me on this journey deep into the hot-button topic of metal allergies. In this episode, I’ll be sharing my journey uncovering the hidden dangers of implanted medical hardware. Metal allergies often fly under the radar of medical professionals and symptoms can include systemic pain, neurological issues, autoimmune diseases, and more. Metal hypersensitivity reactions are type IV, cell-mediated delayed hypersensitivity reactions that occur in response to exposure to a foreign substance, such as a metal. These reactions are antigen driven and characterized by a delayed onset, typically occurring days, weeks or months after exposure. I found out I had a metal allergy after a series of surgeries and life events, after which I endured eight years of chronic illness, 3 completely bedridden, before finally finding the correct diagnosis and treatment. I am now greatly recovered! "Many patients are unaware that during routine surgeries and tests such as colonoscopies, appendectomies, hysterectomies, thyroid and gallbladder surgeries, biopsies and more, that metal clips, staples, and biopsy markers, just to name a few, are routinely left inside them without their knowledge.” In this episode, you will learn the following: How a metal allergy can present as systemic pain, neurological issues, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, autoimmune diseases, fibromyalgia and so much more. The intricacies of a type IV cell-mediated delayed hypersensitivity reaction to metal alloys. What happens when medical hardware causes an immune reaction, even when no allergy is present. How diet & environment play a huge roll in recovery from metal allergies. ~Links and Resources~ To see images that accompany this episode click HERE. ~ To learn more visit heavilymetalled.com. ~ Check out the “Heavily Metalled” resource page: https://www.heavilymetalled.com/p/patient-resources/ ~ Follow Heavily Metalled on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeavilyMetalled ~ Follow Heavily Metalled on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heavilymetalled/ ~ Subscribe to heavily Metalled on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HeavilyMetalled ~ Check out melisa.org ***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!***