My uncle, a very conservative doctor, now deceased, met Dr Patten years ago, before I even had symptoms, and immediately told me to get checked out neurologically. I had no idea at the time what he was talking about. They were both old men at the time, and it wasn't easy to earn my uncle's respect, especially with something as far-out as this was,so that his respect for Dr Patten was remarkable. Of course, I didn't believe him; I thought I was fine. As I developed joint aches and pains, muscle pains, frank neuropathy, dry eyes, immune rashes. I didn't believe anything was really wrong until I was very ill, in 1999. And despite all you've heard about my health issues since then, I know I'm much better than I would have been had I not had them out.