Heavily Metalled

About Heavily Metalled

On this podcast, we interview patients, medical professionals, and industry insiders having important discussions regarding the all too commonly experienced, but lesser-identified symptoms of hypersensitivity to metals contained in implanted medical and dental hardware. These metals often cause a variety of dysfunctional immune responses, chronic pain, and other syndromes. We discuss ideas for managing symptoms, share personal lifestyle modifications, and talk about how to advocate with and educate providers pre and post-surgery. Music provided by Brian Young.

Publisher

Heavily Metalled

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Feb 2023

Latest episode

9 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

49 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Sept 2026

   EP48 - SEASON 4 PREMIER: Dr. Gregory Smith DO; Hardware Removal - The Neurosurgeon Who Said YES!

   In this episode of Heavily Metalled, I sit down with Fort Worth neurosurgeon Dr. Gregory Smith, DO for an important conversation about spinal hardware, metal hypersensitivity, and what happens when implanted hardware may be contributing to a patient’s symptoms. Dr. Smith has removed spinal hardware for me personally, as well as for many other patients, and he takes metal allergy testing seriously when evaluating these complex cases. We discuss LTT blood testing, the role it can play alongside a patient’s clinical history, and the often-overlooked fact that manufacturers may recommend removal of certain spinal hardware after the bone has successfully healed and the hardware is no longer needed for stabilization. We also take a deep dive into my own case, including my history with multiple spinal surgeries, metal hypersensitivity, hardware removal, and the possibility that metal allergy could have contributed to a spinal non-union. Dr. Smith is careful to point out that proving such a connection would require scientific studies specifically designed to investigate it, but we discuss why it is a biologically plausible theory and why questions like this deserve further research rather than automatic dismissal. Our conversation highlights just how much remains unknown about the interaction between implanted metals, immune responses, bone healing, and individual patient outcomes. Perhaps most importantly, we talk about something that should be fundamental to medicine: listening to the patient. Dr. Smith discusses the importance of developing a personal connection with patients, hearing their entire story, and considering information that may not fit neatly into a standard diagnostic box. We also tackle medical gaslighting and what happens when patients with complicated histories are dismissed instead of investigated. This episode is both a highly personal look at my own surgical journey and a broader conversation about curiosity, evidence, informed decision-making, and why patients deserve physicians who are willing to truly listen. In This Episode you will learn: When spinal hardware removal may be appropriate. How LTT testing can identify metal hypersensitivity. Why listening to patients matters. How metal allergy may affect bone healing. ~Links and Resources~~Check out the images that accompany this episode HERE (https://tinyurl.com/6v9yvcp6). ~ ~To make a comment or petition to the FDA, click HERE (https://www.regulations.gov/#!home). ~ ~To follow Heavily Metalled on RUMBLE click HERE (https://rumble.com/c/HeavilyMetalledPC). ~ ~To read the YouTube medical misinformation policy click HERE (https://tinyurl.com/454t8umm). ~ ~Get the Low Nickel Diet cookbook HERE (http://thelownickeldiet.com). ~ ~To learn more visit ⁠HeavilyMetalled.com⁠ (https://www.heavilymetalled.com). ~ Check out the “Heavily Metalled” resource page: ⁠https://www.heavilymetalled.com/resources⁠ (https://www.heavilymetalled.com/resources) ~ Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com (https://heavilymetalled.com) & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8 (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGJxaW84WGZONXNveUczajg3NnJaR1dFRUdKZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttOGVhRVVvamVsTjJVaDRUZ1NpeWZ6UXRja1lCV0tOWTJCSnlSVU5JVEhYNnFSNHJBRS1Xcjg0SjNxTEV2TW0xeU05dmR6RU16QXFHSm9CQnYtRC0yMGljUVhBNUhhNWtaRnJXZDV0alJOQlhCRlQ0MA&q=http%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2F29458ea8&v=KRi5jFN5n3U) ~ Follow Heavily Metalled on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HeavilyMetalled⁠ (https://www.facebook.com/HeavilyMetalled) ~ Follow Heavily Metalled on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/heavilymetalled/⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/heavilymetalled/) ~ Subscribe to Heavily Metalled on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HeavilyMetalled⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/@HeavilyMetalled) ~ Check out our sponsor ⁠https://melisa.org⁠ (https://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!***

2. 

   28 May 2026

   EP47 - MCAS, Histamine & The Nickel Allergy Connection w/Dr. Laura Duzett, DO, NTP

   In this episode of the Heavily Metalled Podcast, Shari sits down with returning guest Dr. Laura Duzett — physician, pathology resident, nutritional therapy practitioner, and author of The Low Nickel Diet Cookbook — for a conversation about systemic nickel allergy, mast cell activation, histamine pathways, and the immune mechanisms behind chronic symptoms in sensitive patients. Together, they explain why nickel hypersensitivity is far more complex than the typical “jewelry rash” many physicians learn about in medical school. Dr. Laura breaks down three forms of nickel allergy: contact dermatitis on the skin, allergic contact mucositis in the digestive tract and mucosal tissues, and systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS), where immune sensitization extends beyond local tissues and begins affecting the body systemically. The discussion explores how nickel exposure — from diet, implants, or the environment — may contribute to symptoms far beyond the skin, including flushing, itching, gut dysfunction, headaches, sleep disruption, mast cell activation, histamine intolerance, fibromyalgia-like symptoms, and chronic inflammation. Dr. Laura explains how nickel may activate mast cells, increase histamine sensitivity, impair DAO function, increase intestinal permeability, and potentially create a self-perpetuating inflammatory cycle. One of the most fascinating sections focuses on Dr. Laura’s newly developed Nickel-Histamine Pathway Chart, which maps ways nickel may influence histamine production and mast cell activity through allergic and biochemical pathways involving estrogen receptors, inflammatory cytokines, DAO suppression, oxidative stress, and histamine receptor upregulation. Shari and Dr. Laura also discuss nickel allergy testing, including patch testing, oral mucosal testing, and lymphocyte transformation testing (LTT). They explain that no single test captures the full picture of systemic nickel hypersensitivity and stress the importance of evaluating symptoms and clinical response alongside testing. The episode also offers practical strategies for listeners who feel overwhelmed. Dr. Laura explains why focusing on gut health, reducing dietary nickel exposure, improving sleep, calming mast cells, and lowering inflammation may help improve quality of life, even before or without implant revision surgery. In This Episode You Will Learn: • The 3 forms of nickel allergy and why they require different testing approaches. • How mast cells, histamine, gut permeability, and nickel exposure may contribute to a vicious inflammatory cycle. ~Links and Resources~ ~ Check out Dr. Laura Duzett’s Website HERE (http://www.thelownickeldiet.com). ~ ~ Join Dr. Laura’s Low Nickel Restart Community HERE (https://the-low-nickel-diet.circle.so/checkout/low-nickel-restart). ~ ~ Check out Dr. Laura’s Low Nickel Diet Facebook Page HERE (https://www.facebook.com/thelownickeldiet). ~ ~To follow Heavily Metalled on RUMBLE click HERE (https://rumble.com/c/HeavilyMetalledPC). ~ ~To read the YouTube medical misinformation policy click HERE (https://tinyurl.com/454t8umm). ~ ~Get the Low Nickel Diet cookbook HERE (http://thelownickeldiet.com). ~ ~To learn more visit ⁠HeavilyMetalled.com⁠ (https://www.heavilymetalled.com). ~ Check out the “Heavily Metalled” resource page: ⁠https://www.heavilymetalled.com/resources⁠ (https://www.heavilymetalled.com/resources) ~ Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com (https://heavilymetalled.com) & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8 (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGJxaW84WGZONXNveUczajg3NnJaR1dFRUdKZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttOGVhRVVvamVsTjJVaDRUZ1NpeWZ6UXRja1lCV0tOWTJCSnlSVU5JVEhYNnFSNHJBRS1Xcjg0SjNxTEV2TW0xeU05dmR6RU16QXFHSm9CQnYtRC0yMGljUVhBNUhhNWtaRnJXZDV0alJOQlhCRlQ0MA&q=http%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2F29458ea8&v=KRi5jFN5n3U) ~ Follow Heavily Metalled on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HeavilyMetalled⁠ (https://www.facebook.com/HeavilyMetalled) ~ Follow Heavily Metalled on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/heavilymetalled/⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/heavilymetalled/) ~ Subscribe to Heavily Metalled on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HeavilyMetalled⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/@HeavilyMetalled) ~ Check out our sponsor ⁠https://melisa.org⁠ (https://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!***

3. 

   15 May 2026

   EP46 - Breast Cancer, Surgical Clips, Metal Allergies & Systemic Illness: Before & After Metal Clip Removal - Val’s Story

   After surviving breast cancer, Val Johnson believed she was finally moving into healing and recovery. Instead, what followed was years of escalating neurological symptoms, muscle spasms, severe pain, heart rhythm abnormalities, inflammation, weight loss, nervous system dysfunction, and repeated medical dismissal — all while breast and abdominal surgical clips and biopsy markers remained inside her body. In this deeply emotional and eye-opening episode of Heavily Metalled, Val shares her lifelong history of metal sensitivity and the terrifying health decline that began after breast cancer treatment, reconstructive surgery, abdominal surgical clips, and retained breast biopsy markers. What makes Val’s story especially powerful is that she knew from childhood that her body reacted to metal. Earrings caused reactions. Dental metal caused pain. Yet despite repeatedly warning doctors that something felt wrong after surgery, she was continually told her symptoms “couldn’t” be related to the clips left inside her body. As her health spiraled, Val began experiencing widespread systemic symptoms that mimicked serious neurological disease — muscle atrophy, spasms, numbness, heart rhythm changes, swallowing difficulties, dysautonomia-like symptoms, severe inflammation, and debilitating pain. Multiple specialists, scans, emergency room visits, and even Mayo Clinic failed to provide answers. This conversation also touches on the growing concerns surrounding cumulative metal exposure in medicine. Val discusses learning later that certain chemotherapy agents contain platinum-based metals, while many MRI contrast agents contain gadolinium — a rare earth metal known to retain in the body in varying amounts. The episode explores the difficult questions many chronically ill patients are beginning to ask about total toxic burden, immune dysregulation, and why some individuals appear more sensitive than others. Eventually, Val found a surgeon willing to remove the breast and abdominal surgical clips and biopsy markers that had been dismissed for years and is making huge strides in her recovery with many symptoms subsequently disappearing after explant. In This Episode you will learn: How retained breast and abdominal surgical clips may trigger systemic symptoms in sensitive patients Why metal hypersensitivity can mimic neurological and autoimmune disease The hidden metal exposures many patients never realize occur during cancer treatment and imaging How chronic illness, trauma, and nervous system dysregulation can become deeply intertwined ~Links and Resources~ ~To make a comment or petition to the FDA, click HERE (https://www.regulations.gov/#!home). ~ ~To follow Heavily Metalled on RUMBLE click HERE (https://rumble.com/c/HeavilyMetalledPC). ~ ~To read the YouTube medical misinformation policy click HERE (https://tinyurl.com/454t8umm). ~ ~Get the Low Nickel Diet cookbook HERE (http://thelownickeldiet.com). ~ ~To learn more visit ⁠HeavilyMetalled.com⁠ (https://www.heavilymetalled.com). ~ Check out the “Heavily Metalled” resource page: ⁠https://www.heavilymetalled.com/resources⁠ (https://www.heavilymetalled.com/resources) ~ Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com (https://heavilymetalled.com) & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8 (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGJxaW84WGZONXNveUczajg3NnJaR1dFRUdKZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttOGVhRVVvamVsTjJVaDRUZ1NpeWZ6UXRja1lCV0tOWTJCSnlSVU5JVEhYNnFSNHJBRS1Xcjg0SjNxTEV2TW0xeU05dmR6RU16QXFHSm9CQnYtRC0yMGljUVhBNUhhNWtaRnJXZDV0alJOQlhCRlQ0MA&q=http%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2F29458ea8&v=KRi5jFN5n3U) ~ Follow Heavily Metalled on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HeavilyMetalled⁠ (https://www.facebook.com/HeavilyMetalled) ~ Follow Heavily Metalled on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/heavilymetalled/⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/heavilymetalled/) ~ Subscribe to Heavily Metalled on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HeavilyMetalled⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/@HeavilyMetalled) ~ Check out our sponsor ⁠https://melisa.org⁠ (https://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!***

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

76,553

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Spotify

4.4 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 64 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

49

Social presence

94

YouTube

76

Engagement

77