January, 2005
Wellness Achiever, Greg Farcas
My
name is Greg Farkas. It’s been almost seven years since my
life changed in a dramatic and unexpected way.
On September 20, 1997, I awoke in excruciating pain. My chest, ribs,
and back hurt in ways I previously couldn’t imagine. I crawled
out of bed, called my girlfriend for assistance and she took me
to a local medical clinic. The clinic staff said my symptoms suggested
a heart attack or other cardiac problem, but the various tests and
X-rays they performed showed nothing. Once they were satisfied that
my heart was okay, they sent me on my way.
Until that September day, I had been athletic my entire life. I
was an avid runner, cyclist and held a black belt in Shotokan karate.
I had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes about fifteen years earlier,
but it had always been under control. I am a non-smoker, have no
dental cavities, and no personal or family history of broken bones
or osteoporosis. I served as Finance Director for Lifeguard, a health-maintenance
organization based in the San Francisco Bay area. In short, my health
was good and my life was incredibly active. What happened to me
came from out of the blue. I had no warning before waking up in
pain that day, nor any warning about the events that were to follow.
Although my trip to the hospital on September 20 showed my heart
was fine, the pain never stopped. I continued to try to exercise,
work, and go about my life, hoping the pain would pass, but the
next few months brought only minor improvements. The pain continued
nonstop. Simple physical activities often taken for granted, such
as sitting up at work, descending stairs, or simply stepping off
the sidewalk became more and more excruciating. I began a long journey
of seeing many doctors—and just as many blank faces. No one
had a single clue about my condition.
Finally, after one doctor diagnosed my problem as shingles, I became
furious and challenged him. What could shingles possibly have to
do with my condition? He agreed to look further. I underwent multiple
medical tests and MRI scans that later revealed what had happened
that morning: I had apparently developed three vertebral fractures,
simply by turning over in bed. These fractures were not impact-
or trauma-related. Although my bone density was normal, the doctors
still had no idea what caused my fractures or what to do about it.
As a result of the ongoing pain, I was forced to leave work on disability
on May 15, 1998. I suffered two seizures shortly thereafter. The
first seizure (June 20) hospitalized me for a weekend. Ultimately,
doctors attributed it to unknown causes, possibly a virus. The increased
pain, stress and limited mobility produced soaring glucose levels.
About two weeks later, an insulin reaction to this caused convulsions,
leaving me now with a total of five fractured vertebrae. With no
obvious cause, diagnosis, or end in sight, I continued to face this
painful ordeal.
My body began breaking down before my eyes. Within a few months
of the seizures, I began developing kyphoscoliosis. In this condition
my upper and lower spine twisted 23 degrees in opposite directions
and my spine collapsed 50 degrees forward.
I also developed hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (abnormal low testosterone),
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), elevated cholesterol levels, as
well as a number of other complications and digestive disorders.
I developed Dupuytren’s contracture, which is the swelling
and knotting of tendons in the palms so that they rise up like ropes
buried in the flesh. My height collapsed from 6 feet, 1-3⁄4
inches to 5 feet, 11-1⁄2 inches.
I consulted various bone and endocrine specialists at Stanford and
the University of California at San Francisco Medical Centers. After
undergoing numerous tests, they found I suffered from a rare IGF-1
(Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1) growth hormone deficiency. Oddly
enough, I did not fit the medical profiles of typical IGF-1 patients.
IGF-1 deficiency is typically seen only in children (as a form of
childhood dwarfism) and post-menopausal osteoporotic women. IGF-1
deficiency in middle-aged men is usually only associated with specific
type of tumors of the endocrine system, which I did not have. Unfortunately,
this hormone deficiency has no known cause, cure or treatment.
Unable to heal the fractures or support my body weight, I was in
intense pain every waking moment. I could only carry out the smallest
activities for very short periods of time and then had to lie down
for a few hours. Doing simple things like washing dishes, cooking
dinner, or grocery shopping were incredibly painful and exhausting.
Driving over speed bumps was excruciating and I made great efforts
to avoid them. I memorized every pothole in the streets I traveled.
As a result of the intense pain, my doctor prescribed transdermal
patches of Fentanyl. This narcotic analgesic is used in combination
with other drugs before, during, or following surgery and for chronic
pain management. It is a morphine derivative, the strongest painkiller
in clinical use in the United States. I also tried hypnotherapy,
biofeedback and other unconventional methods for coping with the
incredible pain, but nothing made a dent in it.
The weakness of my bone structure required that I wear a rigid Copes
brace (specifically molded for my body) to help support my weight
and correct my spinal curvature problems. I also had incredible
amounts of unrelenting pain from severe muscle cramping and scar
tissue associated with my back injuries and other disorders. This
pain frequently kept me awake most of the night and did not respond
well to any treatment. Eventually even the brace caused too much
pain to endure.
As a result of all this and the CFS, I frequently could not get
out of bed until almost noon, no matter how hard I tried. I also
had to lie down frequently during the day just to get the weight
off my feet. I took a two- or three-hour nap every afternoon and
was exhausted from the mildest exertion. I was unable to stand erect
or still for more than a few minutes and had to constantly squat
in line at grocery stores. If I stood in line for more than just
a moment, I had to kneel while people stared at the man on the floor.
I was unable to sit upright for more than an hour or two at my personal
computer without extreme discomfort. I could only walk for four
or five minutes; then I’d need to stop to kneel down to take
the weight off my spine.
I have been to many doctors, noted specialists, chiropractors, nutritionists
and other alternative healthcare practitioners with limited results.
I spent $400 to $600 a month on a multitude of supplements, taking
in excess of 85 tablets per day. At the rate I was going, I figured
I would be dead of old age before I made any significant improvements.
Indeed, considering that my life showed no chance of improvement,
the thought of living this way made suicide an attractive option.
In December 2003, Myron Cheshaek (an acupuncturist) basically dragged
me to a presentation by Dr. Chris Morris. If I had to sit upright
for more than a few minutes to hear him, I thought, he’d better
say something good. He did.
I started using the Ziquin system that day. The results were astonishing—so
good that I wasn’t sure I could trust them to last. I just
couldn’t believe the number of improvements that soon followed.
Within four or five days, I awoke with a tremendous reduction
in the incredible cramping that had been my constant companion.
When I put my shoes on, I was able to do so without the intense
pain that always accompanied it. I was so elated that I called my
girlfriend to come and watch me bend and move easily. I was so happy
and yet afraid this improvement was just a momentary blip, so I’d
bend over every hour or two during the day just to see if the pain
was still gone.
After four weeks on the Ziquin Rejuvenation program, I
was able to get up in the morning at 9:30 a.m. on a regular basis.
My need for afternoon naps evaporated and I was able to start more
active physical therapy sessions as well. Just five months later
in May 2003, I rode my bike over a hilly road course for two hours.
Prior to taking the Ziquin program, I’d carry my belongings
around in a backpack like the school kids use. While it only consisted
of a wallet, several checkbooks, a personal digital assistant (PDA)
and a few other small items, this weight was too heavy for me to
carry on my back for more than one or two minutes. I had to carry
it by the handle instead. By June, I was squatting with 95 pounds
and riding my bike 20 minutes each way to physical therapy—with
that same pack on my back!
As an athlete, the satisfaction and enjoyment that I could finally
do a squat (let alone with 95 pounds) was a tremendous morale boost.
While my bone condition still limits me, I am now able to lead a
nearly normal life. The pain level has dropped by 80 percent from
what it once was. For the first time in years, I finally believe
there’s light at the end of this long tunnel. I hope to return
to work sometime in the near future.
In all candor I have not even been a hundred percent conscientious
in using all the products. I’ve been spotty with the essential
oils and the mineral supplements. However, I have been religious
in my consumption of the Energy Endo Biotics, the All Xymatic Relief
and the Mind and Body Tonic. Despite this, my results have been
incredible.
Because of my athletic background, I have pushed myself to aggressively
pursue more challenging physical therapy to make up for lost time.
While my hormone levels have increased for the first time in years,
I still have more progress to make. I have doubled my dosage levels
of the Ziquin. The results and physical improvements I have made
are remarkable. By the time you read this—nine months later—I’ve experienced enough improvement to go through
the physical demand, effort and preparation for my wedding ceremony
and celebration in September 2004.
As medically bizarre and unusual as this story is, the simple truth
is that the Ziquin Rejuvenation Program worked wonders for me when
numerous doctors, medicines and painkillers could not. It is the
real deal. I want others to know what it did for me. I want them
to know what it might do for them.
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