Oh No! The Real Life Blue Man has passed. =(

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Real-life 'Blue Man' dies after heart attack, stroke

This is sad, but what angers me though, is this:

Karason started turning blue about 15 years ago after he began using a special silver-based preparation to treat a skin condition. He also had been drinking colloidal silver, a product consisting of silver particles suspended in liquid.
In 2008, Karason emerged from his reclusive life to appear on TODAY to discuss his condition, known as argyria, which is caused by the use of dietary supplements....

It continued to be used in some over-the-counter medicines until 1999, when the FDA banned it because it causes argyria, which is a result of the silver reacting with light the same way it does in photography. The silver collects in the skin and other organs and does not dissipate.
Where in the heck was the FDA before 1999, before this happened to this poor man?

Terra
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Other side of the (silver) coin is on sites promoting use of the silver...

    Silver Edge

    The FDA banned it only if it's described in a certain way. It was being sold as a product to fight infection and now it can only be sold as a "mineral supplement". Not sure how much good that ban did as search for colloidal silver brings up multiple pages of google results.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      Other side of the (silver) coin is on sites promoting use of the silver...

      Silver Edge

      The FDA banned it only if it's described in a certain way. It was being sold as a product to fight infection and now it can only be sold as a "mineral supplement". Not sure how much good that ban did as search for colloidal silver brings up multiple pages of google results.
      Okay, I'm going to go completely out of character here and wish I was a hacker!

      If I was, I would take the picture of the poor real life Blue Man and post it on these sites as their poster boy!

      Wait, I really couldn't do that either because it would be so disrespectful to his family. <sigh>

      Dang it!

      Anyway, I'm just dismayed about the whole thing. Oh and that hefty disclaimer didn't evade my eyes either. Hopefully that will cause people to avoid his products like the plague. Seriously, I can't imagine being turned blue and having to be that way for the rest of my living days. Talk about destroying a life!

      Terra
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      • Profile picture of the author AprilCT
        That is a sad story. Perhaps he never found a dermatologist that could treat him.

        A former co-worker's mom had a horrible, deforming form of arthritis and her doctor gave her gold shots. Her family blames the gold shots for developing serious heart problems. I have no idea how she is doing now as that was around maybe 8-10 years ago.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Silver is bio-cumulative. A little bit won't turn you colors - it's continued use that does it. Nobody should take ANYTHING that isn't food for long periods of time. Coriander seeds can help move the metal out of the body, and there's a few other herbs that leach metals out of the system, too. From the sounds of it, this guy was munching on way too much of the stuff and nothing to get rid of the accumulation.
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    Sal
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

    Where in the heck was the FDA before 1999, before this happened to this poor man?
    In much the same place as now, I think - having very little power and enormous public criticism from conspiracy theorists and others. Argyria's actually a very common side-effect of silver toxicity, even from quite small quantities. And silver is a very toxic heavy metal, just like mercury is and for biochemically very similar reasons.

    But there you go - it all depends on your perspective: one person's "heavy metal toxin" is another person's "trace element".

    There are plenty of references and sources here: http://www.warriorforum.com/off-topi...ml#post6005133
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Thanks Lexy!

      I had forgotten about that thread.

      When Ephedra hit the all natural scene, people started taking too much of it and were actually dying from it, so it was outlawed, I understand that.

      But when someone is permanently, physically marred from abusing something else, (turning blue for life), but actually still breathing, they don't. I don't get it. In my thinking, being permanently blue leads to the death of many things, albeit not the death that leads to six feet under, but debilitating to life nonetheless.

      I guess I'll just have to chalk that up to yet another thing I just can't understand or come to grips with. Alas...

      Terra
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

        Thanks Lexy!

        I had forgotten about that thread.

        When Ephedra hit the all natural scene, people started taking too much of it and were actually dying from it, so it was outlawed, I understand that.

        But when someone is permanently, physically marred from abusing something else, (turning blue for life), but actually still breathing, they don't. I don't get it. In my thinking, being permanently blue leads to the death of many things, albeit not the death that leads to six feet under, but debilitating to life nonetheless.

        I guess I'll just have to chalk that up to yet another thing I just can't understand or come to grips with. Alas...

        Terra
        Well, I don't know if you could say that silver is actually toxic. Most kids, at least in the US, at least prior to the 1980s and likely later, were effectively FORCED to take silver and most never knew! HECK, many ADULTS were too! They put it on cakes. It was effectively TRADITION to put it on wedding cakes. Some donuts too. YUMMM! SERIOUSLY, the product that eventually had a warning(on the package almost NOBODY ever saw) that said it was NOT edible was sold in places with food, and mostly SUGAR! How DID I see the warning? I read a box of them in the supermarket.

        This guy may, ironically, have even thought the skin condition could be cured with more silver, or the effect could simply have been delayed so that he didn't see the blue until later. blue IS an advanced stage. As I recall, it starts out more of a grayish color. The article said he used a commercial preparation and augmented that with his own. MANY claim you have to do things just so, so he may have, after seeing the start, simply cut HIS version out.

        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author natebunger
    Same here. I don't get it too. Being blue for the rest of your life is surely something alarming. It's definitely a sign that something is wrong. I know precious metals have good health benefits but the intake of them for long periods of time is surely plain wrong. It is very true that we should not take anything that is not food for long periods of time. Even the prolong use of medications have adverse effects let alone metals..
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    I still can't get over laughing (to keep from crying) every time I hear an advertisement on TV - with the newish disclosure laws.

    Got hiccups? Take ABC OTC!

    may cause hemorhage, stroke, heart attack or death

    implied: (but we guarantee you won't have hiccups!)
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    • Profile picture of the author HeySal
      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

      I still can't get over laughing (to keep from crying) every time I hear an advertisement on TV - with the newish disclosure laws.

      Got hiccups? Take ABC OTC!

      may cause hemorhage, stroke, heart attack or death

      implied: (but we guarantee you won't have hiccups!)

      Organic raw apple cider vinegar cures hiccups pretty fast. Ever seen an advertisement for that one? You never will. It's just food.

      I'd rather see herbal remedies than our pharmeceutical chemical cocktails any day of the week. I just wish people would get their heads out of their butts and realize that if it isn't FOOD, it's not for daily consumption. For god's sakes cassia cinnamon can be a problem if eaten daily and that's just a spice.

      So between naturals, which rarely hurt people, but can when abused - and the pharmaceuticals which maim and kill on a grand scale - I think we should tackle the major problem of pharms for profit before we worry so much about low risk items. And I SURE don't want the US gov in charge of naturals - somehow, they WILL find a way to make them toxic to the extremes.

      Of course, we could also do something like grand scale education, too -- it seems on both issues, pharms and naturals, the basic problem is that people are stupid.
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      Sal
      When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
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      • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
        Originally Posted by HeySal View Post


        Of course, we could also do something like grand scale education, too -- it seems on both issues, pharms and naturals, the basic problem is that people are stupid.
        This unfortunately is the problem, some/most? people are stupid when it comes to all natural. They think that if it is natural, it must be safe, no matter the dosage. I'd like to see massive education in that arena. Natural cures, that is.

        However, I do have to regress and say without all the meds I'm on now for this pneumonia, I'm afraid I'd be toast.

        Anyway, I go back for another check tomorrow at 2 to determine whether they're going to hospitalize me. I've got to have a better ox/sat level than 94% or I have to. Wish me well!

        Oh, by the way, I love my Organic raw apple cider vinegar!

        Terra
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        • Profile picture of the author HeySal
          Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

          This unfortunately is the problem, some/most? people are stupid when it comes to all natural. They think that if it is natural, it must be safe, no matter the dosage. I'd like to see massive education in that arena. Natural cures, that is.

          However, I do have to regress and say without all the meds I'm on now for this pneumonia, I'm afraid I'd be toast.

          Anyway, I go back for another check tomorrow at 2 to determine whether they're going to hospitalize me. I've got to have a better ox/sat level than 94% or I have to. Wish me well!

          Oh, by the way, I love my Organic raw apple cider vinegar!

          Terra

          Sorry to hear you are sick again, Terra -- um......exposing yourself to the allergens you have in that house is NOT doing you any favors. You NEED to get out of there or nothing is going to help for very long.

          As far as pneumonia - sorry to disagree with you, but I was under continual exposure to allergens when I lived in MI, too -- used to get pneumonia twice a year like clockwork (at the minimum). And it didn't stop until I started to use NATURALS, and extricated myself from the constant onslaught of the things that made me get so sick.

          That's just the way life is. You can pharm yourself, and hospitalize yourself 24/7 - but until you remove yourself from those allergens, you are not going to get well.
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          Sal
          When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
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          • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
            Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

            Sorry to hear you are sick again, Terra -- um......exposing yourself to the allergens you have in that house is NOT doing you any favors. You NEED to get out of there or nothing is going to help for very long.

            As far as pneumonia - sorry to disagree with you, but I was under continual exposure to allergens when I lived in MI, too -- used to get pneumonia twice a year like clockwork (at the minimum). And it didn't stop until I started to use NATURALS, and extricated myself from the constant onslaught of the things that made me get so sick.

            That's just the way life is. You can pharm yourself, and hospitalize yourself 24/7 - but until you remove yourself from those allergens, you are not going to get well.
            I love you too Sweetheart!

            Uh, this time, on top of getting my seasonal allergies, hubby picked up something nasty at work, brought it home and gave it to me. They both hit at the same time and knocked me off my can! I guess my body couldn't handle the double whammy onslaught.

            I've had walking pneumonia before, but never full fledged pneumonia and I got it this time in the medial portion of my right lung and it sucks!!

            I honestly wondered when I laid down to take a nap Friday, between the chills and hots and chest pain and laborious breaths and tachycardia, along with the dizziness and lightheadedness if I would even wake up and at that moment, I didn't care if I did or not. I know that sounds horrible, but that is what I felt like. Just being honest.

            I'm so hopped up on steroid stuff right now, I can't even form correct sentences when I try to talk, it isn't funny. I decided I was done with the steroids and skipped a dose and a couple of hours later, I swear it felt like someone unplugged me and I collapsed. So, I decided I better take the dang things and get better so I can then do the things I need to do.

            And yes, we're looking again, but it is easier said than done.

            So that's where I'm at right now. But hey, at least I'm not permanently blue. :p

            Terra
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            • Profile picture of the author HeySal
              Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

              I love you too Sweetheart!

              Uh, this time, on top of getting my seasonal allergies, hubby picked up something nasty at work, brought it home and gave it to me. They both hit at the same time and knocked me off my can! I guess my body couldn't handle the double whammy onslaught.

              I've had walking pneumonia before, but never full fledged pneumonia and I got it this time in the medial portion of my right lung and it sucks!!

              I honestly wondered when I laid down to take a nap Friday, between the chills and hots and chest pain and laborious breaths and tachycardia, along with the dizziness and lightheadedness if I would even wake up and at that moment, I didn't care if I did or not. I know that sounds horrible, but that is what I felt like. Just being honest.

              I'm so hopped up on steroid stuff right now, I can't even form correct sentences when I try to talk, it isn't funny. I decided I was done with the steroids and skipped a dose and a couple of hours later, I swear it felt like someone unplugged me and I collapsed. So, I decided I better take the dang things and get better so I can then do the things I need to do.

              And yes, we're looking again, but it is easier said than done.

              So that's where I'm at right now. But hey, at least I'm not permanently blue. :p

              Terra
              I know I sound gruff, but trust me, it's because I care. Remember - I went through it and was NOT expected to survive through it. I hammer because I know what is going on and am really worried that if you don't get out of that situation very quickly, it's going to come as close to destroying you as it did to killing me.

              I know what it's like - I worked 8 hours a day in stuff out here even after moving to more climate friendly areas that was making me so sick that by the time I got out of that place I couldn't lift 5 pounds without it putting me off my feet. Once the resistance goes - it doesn't come back. For God's sakes if you have to go live with one of your kids til you can get out of there, you HAVE to do it. Steroids will kill you just as easy as the pneumonia if you let it.

              On the up side - get yourself a vaporizor or tea kettle ASAP and get some salt water with a little clove in it boiling and inhale that for awhile. Serious. I know the steam goes against the idea of dry for asthma - but that salt will pull the swelling and infection out faster than anything they can perscribe you and the clove will reduce the swelling - and for god's sakes get the windows open in that house -- I don't care how cold it is out. Cover up with a blanket and run your hairdryer for heat if you're cold.
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              Sal
              When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
              Beyond the Path

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              • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
                Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

                I know I sound gruff, but trust me, it's because I care.
                I know that ya big lug, that is why I said I love you too, lol!!


                Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

                Remember - I went through it and was NOT expected to survive through it. I hammer because I know what is going on and am really worried that if you don't get out of that situation very quickly, it's going to come as close to destroying you as it did to killing me.
                Okay, that is down right scary!

                Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

                I know what it's like - I worked 8 hours a day in stuff out here even after moving to more climate friendly areas that was making me so sick that by the time I got out of that place I couldn't lift 5 pounds without it putting me off my feet. Once the resistance goes - it doesn't come back. For God's sakes if you have to go live with one of your kids til you can get out of there, you HAVE to do it. Steroids will kill you just as easy as the pneumonia if you let it.
                My one daughter has two cats, my mother-in-law just around the corner has a cat too. My other daughter doesn't have any pets, she's the one I nannied for, and I know she would let me, but I don't want to be a burden on her. They are house hunting themselves right now. All other family members have cats and as you know, I am anaphylactic allergic to cats now.

                Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

                On the up side - get yourself a vaporizor or tea kettle ASAP and get some salt water with a little clove in it boiling and inhale that for awhile. Serious. I know the steam goes against the idea of dry for asthma - but that salt will pull the swelling and infection out faster than anything they can perscribe you and the clove will reduce the swelling - and for god's sakes get the windows open in that house -- I don't care how cold it is out. Cover up with a blanket and run your hairdryer for heat if you're cold.
                Thanks, I will do that, get some clove I mean, I have the rest, while I'm out tomorrow for my recheck. Actually, it has been in the mid sixties and lower 70's and I have been outside on my pink lounge chair all wrapped up in my pink blankies and have been out in the sun. I feel better out there in the sun, actually. I do have 2 of the 4 door walls open in the great room now and have a standing room heater next to me. By the way, my blow dryer makes my toes feel great, lol!

                Thanks, Sal!

                Terra
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