Open Letter to Meredith Chaiken-Weiss South Florida Sun-Sentinel

First, for your letter that appeared on on April 18....

Overlooked aspect of Schiavo case

Meredith
Chaiken-Weiss Lighthouse point

April 18, 2005

With the passing of Terri Schiavo, many have focusd on the importance of drafting living wills. However, one other very important lesson has been lost: Eating disorders and image issues with young girls/women.

Terri reportedly suffered from bulimia nervosa (binging then purging), which weakens the heart and can lead to heart attacks. Terri had a heart attack and her brain was deprived of oxygen for too long.

I am disappointed that the National Eating Disorder Association is not taking advantage of a great opportunity to educate this country even further on the dangers of such disorders and the warning signs for parents and friends. Such an effort would also show that at least one positive came from this sad situation.

My response:

I am asking you for proof from Terri's medical records, dental records and/or hospitalization records from the admission to the Hospital after her collapse that Terri had a heart attack caused by bulimia. I have read much of the hospital discharge notes, and other records that were available, and I find her cardiac enzymes were NOT elevated. Her Toxicology screen showed no drugs in her system. Her potassium was a LITTLE low... she did not have any heart attack.

There was also no mention of any eating disorder that would cause her collapse. So where, besides SOME of the media and Mr Schiavo, is this information coming from?

Where are her dental records that would SHOW the damage to her teeth that comes from binging and purging? (I am an RDH, as well as a nurse.... so show me!) Where are the marks on her fingers that often accompany the constant forced vomiting?

I am looking for her discharge notes from Northside Humana online, but have lost the url for them, but rest assured, if I find them, I will be pointing out those areas that indicate that there was no heart attack directly from them.

UNTIL then, I asked Cheryl Ford, RN about the allegations that have been repeatedly made re: heart attack and bulimia. Cheryl has graciously given me permission to quote her response to me here, and I am printing it nearly in entirety. Anything left out of the original email is personal information not having any bearing on this discussion:


(WICatholic),
You are unable to find bulimia because there isn't a place in the records that say Terri was medically diagnosed as a bulimic. Michael diagnosed her with bulimia himself when he decided he wanted her dead... (and not before he was awarded 1.7 million dollars). None of this is rocket scientist material.

(WICatholic), my husband is a Dentist, and as you know, I am a nurse and a former paramedic EMT. When a patient has bulimia, there are many exhibited signs prior to their hearts having problems. People just don't fall over and not have previous symptoms or warnings. Besides that, it states right in Terri's admitting records she had no elevated cardiac enzymes. In any case, here are a few warning signs and symptoms that TRUE bulimic experience..

* Amenorrhea (the absence of at least 3 consecutive periods) is common in bulimics and anorexics as a result of disrupted hormonal function. Poor nutrition and low body weight are associated with a reduced estrogen level and an increased risk for premature osteoporosis (bone loss).

* There is lethargy before cardiac problems..Terri was far from lethargic.

* The skin often dry and has a yellow tinge. According to her family, Terri had beautiful skin and it certainly was not yellow.

* Bulimics may have scars on the backs of their fingers where their front teeth scrape the skin during self-induced vomiting, tooth decay, erosion of tooth enamel, and extreme tooth sensititivity to hot and cold. She did not have any problems with that!.

* Eating disorder patients often complain of cold intolerance, dizziness, constipation, abdominal discomfort, and bloating. Bobby lived in same complex with Terri. They were incredibly close to each other. Bobby said nothing like that was ever wrong with his sister and she told him everything.

* Edema (swelling) may occur, usually in the legs, as a result of an electrolyte imbalance caused by starvation or excessive vomiting. Terri did not have muscle cramping or edema in her legs.

* Later physical symptoms include hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure), potassium deficiency in the blood, and hair loss. Terri's hair was beautiful.


Point being (WICatholic), there is a list of symptoms that occur in bullimics before they have coronary issues (Note: WI CATHOLIC EMPHASIS). People just don't become bullimic and fall over. It takes time. If you read Michael's 1992 affidavit (BELOW) he also testifies to her not having any problems.

Psychiatric disorders that may be associated with starvation or purging include conversion disorder (loss or change in voluntary motor or sensory function that is not caused by a physical disorder), schizophrenia, and mood disorders (e.g., depression).

Indications There are many signs that indicate a risk for an eating disorder. Health care providers, are trained and licensed to observe for the following symptoms.

Weight that is 15% below normal that is not due to an underlying medical condition ...eating in secret (bulimia)

* vomiting after eating (bulimia)
* using medications, laxatives, or diet pills to control weight (bulimia)
* chewing and then spitting out food (an eating disorder that resembles bulimia but is not classified as such according to the DSM-IV)
* experiencing amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) that is not due to an underlying medical condition
* weighing oneself often
* experiencing a mood change after eating or after weighing oneself
* feeling dissatisfied with body weight or shape
* feeling fat even though they are assured that they are thin
* feeling a loss of control when eating
* having a fear of gaining weight uncontrollably
* being uncomfortable eating in front of others
* being uncomfortable with comments from others regarding weight or eating

Terri was normally happy and vivacious from everything her family and friends reports. Even (Michael Schiavo) himself and his brother on the news reported when they were KILLING her, what a great gal she was and how she was ALWAYS smiling and laughing. Bulimic are usually not like that!

Terri was upset because of Michael and that is why she was crying the afternoon before her trauma occurred. Michael made her unhappy to the point of where she was going to leave him.

(see his med mal statements below)
Note: WI CATHOLIC " Medical Malpractice Statements"

and also note that all this color in were Cheryl's highlights, not mine:


p.44 of MS Depo Med Mal Pt 2 07-27-92.pdf

1 A '87. '87 we came here.

2 Q '87. Okay.

3 A April, '87.

4 Q Okay. After you were married on November 10,

5 1984, up to the time you came to Florida in April of

6 '87, did you note any abnormal eating habits as far as

7 your wife was concerned?

8 A Not that I can recall, no.

9 Q Did you notice any -- I mean, did she seem to

10 eat balanced meals?

11 A As far as I can tell.

12 Q What kind of --

13 MR. WOODWORTH: Are we talking now the entire

14 marriage or just until we came to Florida?

15 Q (By Mr. Deacon) No. I'm restricting these

16 questions, and thank you, you know, for that, I'm

17 restricting these questions from November, '84 until

18 April, '87, which is about a two and a half year period

19 of time.

20 A Before I came to Florida?

21 Q Before you came to Florida.

22 A She ate normally.

23 Q Was she employed during that time?

24 A Yes, she was.

25 Q What did she do?

___

p.45 of MS Depo Med Mal Pt 2 072792.pdf

1 A She worked for Prudential.

2 Q And from -- and for what period of time?

3 A She started five months before we got

4 married, so that would be '84.

5 Q And she worked there all during the time up

6 to the time you left?

7 A Right. She transferred.

8 Q Did she complain of any food intolerance at

9 that time, from the time you were married until the

10 time you came to Florida?

11 A Not that I can recall.

12 Q She was seeing a doctor now and then; was she

13 not?

14 A Which doctor?

15 Q Dr. Winer and Werther?

16 A As far as I can tell. I'm -- when we were

17 married?

18 Q Yes.

19 A No, she didn't see them when we were married.

20 Q Okay.

21 A We were only up there a year when we got

22 married.

23 Q Did her weight remain normal for those two

24 and a half years?

25 A Fluctuated up and down a little bit, not

___

p.46 of MS Depo Med Mal Pt 2 072792.pdf

1 much; basically the same.

2 Q Can you give me a weight range, if you're

3 able to?

4 A No, I can't

5 Q About the same as when you met her, which is

6 about 145 before?

7 A Fluctuated, like I said, up and down a little

8 bit.

9 Q Was she on any particular diets?

10 A No.

11 Q Did you note that your wife, during this

12 time, between November, 1984 and April of 1987, was

13 drinking any kind of large quantities of iced tea or

14 other liquids?

15 A She was -- used to drink a lot of Coke.

16 Q What do you mean by a lot?

17 A I can't give you an estimate, but it was a

18 good amount.

19 Q From just your observation, how many Cokes a

20 day?

21 A Five.

22 Q What about iced tea?

23 A Not that I can recall, no.

24 MR. WOODWORTH: We're still talking '84 to

25 '87?

___

p.47 of MS Depo Med Mal Pt 2 072792.pdf

1 MR. DEACON: Same time, right. The same time

2 period.

3 MR. WOODWORTH: Okay.

4 Q (By Mr. Deacon) Was she on a diet at that

5 time?

6 A No.

7 Q During that time, did she complain of any

8 physical problems that you can recall, any illnesses,

9 headaches, upset stomachs?

10 A Not that I can recall.

11 Q Now, you mentioned your wife was working at

12 Prudential; what were her hours at Prudential?

13 A Back then it was, I think, eight to four.

14 Q Eight a.m. to four p.m., right?

15 A Yeah.

16 Q Okay. Were you working at that time?

17 A Yes.

18 Q And where were you working?

19 A At McDonald's.

20 Q And what were you doing there?

21 A Manager.

22 Q And your hours?

23 A Fluctuated from five in the morning to one,

24 or ten to six, or four to close.

25 Q So you had fluctuating hours?

___

p.48 of MS Depo Med Mal Pt 2 072792.pdf

1 A Yeah. Basically closing.

2 Q If you worked at closing, it would be four to

3 close; is that right?

4 A Right.

5 Q Okay. During this period of time, did you

6 notice your wife having any -- did you notice your wife

7 having any menstrual periods during this -- I mean,

8 any -- I'm sorry, any menstrual problems during this

9 time?

10 A Not that I can recall.

11 Q Did her periods seem to be regular?

12 A As far as I can tell.

13 Q Did she ever say anything to you, Mike, I'm

14 concerned about the fact that I'm not getting a period,

15 or my periods aren't coming regularly, during that

16 time?

17 A Before we moved here?

18 Q Yes, sir.

19 A No, not that I can recall.

20 Q Okay. Do you recall her seeing the doctor at

21 all for irregular periods during that time?

22 A No, I don't recall.

23 Q Was there a time when she thought she was

24 pregnant before you got here?

25 A I really don't recall.

___

Fight4Terri @aol.com

Theresa Marie Schindler December 3, 1963 ~ March 31, 2005 Light a candle For Terri at her online Memorial Website Memory-of.com - Memorial website in memory of Theresa Schindler (1963-2005) http://theresa-schindler.memory-of.com/about.aspx

Visit: www.fight4terri.blogspot.com

Visit Terri's site: www.terrisfight.org

Cheryl Ford, RN (Fight4Terri@aol.com) is not affiliated with any other group and works to protect the rights of the disabled community.