How I became my own investigative journalist

My last newsletter had more responses than any email I've ever sent out. It was fantastic, and I took it as very specific feedback that the way that I wrote that newsletter invited better reader follow-up than just throwing links at the bottom of the page like I had previously done.

Now I'll take you on a short (apparent) divergence from where my thought was headed to give you a little bit of background on how we got here:

I knew that I wanted to be a chiropractor at age 16; my chiropractor had finally given me relief from unrelenting back pain after a year. I'd had countless tests, been on a prescription of Vioxx for 6 months before it was pulled off the market for causing several heart issues in patients (despite having already passed the rigorous FDA approval testing, by the way), and had seen a variety of specialists; all of them told me they couldn't find anything "wrong" with me and that I was too young for back pain.

After seeing my 5'2" chiropractor confidently tell me she could help me (the first doctor with the audacity to say such a thing), and then breaking my high school's record in the 300m hurdles, the very race I'd collapsed across the finish line in the year prior due to back pain, I truly realized how impactful chiropractic care had been for me. I chose my career path.

But then I went to college, was playing volleyball, majoring in Biology, and minoring in partying. My full caseload of bio, chemistry, labs, and calculus looked like it was going to be too much. I had knee surgery resulting from a track injury I'd sustained in high school, transferred schools, and switched my major to Broadcast Journalism.

The London bombing in 2007 changed my path. I was working at a TV station that summer and saw a reporter standing on the rubble left behind from one of the bombs. I realized that that specific reporter was not able to help anyone in the aftermath. I concluded in an instant that I didn't want the helpless feeling that this bright-eyed young reporter was clearly displaying despite her calm demeanor.

I knew I still wanted to be a chiropractor, even though school was likely going to be overwhelming. I switched my major to English. I know that doesn't seem to make sense, but I didn't want to lose credits that I'd had from my journalism stint, found out that I could take the remainder of my science-based prerequisites for admission into chiropractic college as electives, and could actually graduate a semester early.

And now, 10 years after graduating with my doctorate, you can better understand my love of words, interest in diving deep into subjects and investigating them, and underlying determination to help my patients, community, and the world be a better and healthier place.

Forty-five minutes ago, I had no idea what I was going to write to you. But then I read this article on the effectiveness of the available shots and how it's differed (lessened) over time, which led me down a rabbit hole that I would hope most journalists would follow, but unfortunately don't see happening frequently.

I started thinking about testing and variants, so I started digging.

Despite some clever memes and speculation online about whether or not the Delta variant can be identified via testing, it actually CAN be found by genomic sequencing. This means that after taking a PCR test, if it's positive, the genetic material can be "read" to determine if the sequence follows that of others, or presents a new variant. The most short and simple description I could find is in this Government Accountability Office article. The NIH also has a Fact Sheet on it, but it was a little more in-depth and not c-_-d specific.

Interestingly, that GAO article also points out the safety concerns of genomic sequencing. It seems to me that not many people are as concerned about privacy as I am (it's part of the reason I've been using a flip phone for the past 4 years), but I think our health data ought to be shared with only those whom we have hired and trusted to be part of our healthcare team.

Additionally, the very short article, which I've now linked three times for you and therefore am obviously encouraging you to read, points out that if this information fell into the wrong hands, people could use it with gene editing technology to modify pathogens for biological warfare. (Yikes!)

Forms submitted for genomic sequencing testing here in NC do not require patient consent. I searched. I searched again. I pulled up everything I could and did a Ctrl +f search for "consent" and came up with zilch, zip, nada.

I did find a NC DHHS memo updated in June of this year, where it states, "Because SARS-CoV-2 variant analysis is currently not a CLIA approved assay, sequencing is for surveillance purposes only. Results will be reported to the NC DPH Communicable Disease Branch and not communicated back to the provider" (emphasis mine because I think it's super weird that they wouldn't tell your doctor).

The forms required for submitting an antigen or PCR test for genomic sequencing are these two: here and here, and neither includes patient contact information or consent. Again, I found this super weird.

If you read that NC DHHS memo, you'll note that specimens can only be sent if their cycle threshold (Ct) is less than or equal to 30. If you want to know more about that, I learned a ton from this Dark Horse podcast a few months ago. The whole podcast was great, but the link will take you directly to some information about the PCR test and how it works (and its shortcomings).

If you already understand the PCR test, then skip to 31:15 of that video where Heather Heying, PhD, points out that the CDC updated their clinical guidance for PCR testing and cycle threshold in May, meaning there's now a difference in how they test those who have been v___nated and those who have not.

And now we have an apples to oranges situation, my friend.

If you haven't been clicking the links at the bottom of my newsletters that I've been sending since July, I urge you to go back and do this. My most recent previous newsletters are found at the link below my signature at the bottom of these emails, and you can actually read through the past several years of newsletters here when you login using the password "newsletter".

I don't think I should be your source of news (this was communicated to me by several people after my last newsletter), but I am grateful to be able to share information with you. It takes time, effort, and energy to dig into these things, but I've been here for only an hour and I've uncovered a lot. You can do this if you want to. I know you can.

Normally I would say it's okay if you don't want to, but at this point in time, I don't think it's okay to not be informed (and I do NOT mean scrolling headlines!).

If you have no idea where to start, here's a step-by-step description of what I did this morning until I got cut off at 5 minutes, but it should give you an idea.

One more thing that I came across this week (in a similar format to how I discovered the above) is this letter to the president regarding his recent mandates from 24 state Attorneys General.

This wraps up my official news of the day, but if you're looking for a laugh, know that I gave my husband the least shitty early birthday present I could this weekend. (I mean that literally, and that link is an affiliate link, so use it if you're as ridiculous as I am and want to buy one.)

I also want to make sure that I tell you how much I've been loving Beautycounter's new priming serum. I really love Beautycounter's foundation, but hardly wear it, so I wasn't sure if I would really get much use out of a priming serum.

But I actually use it for just a hint of glimmer on my makeup-free face and love the effect. Give it a try and let me know if you love the subtle glow as much as I do.

As a reminder, LIVE Postpartum Rehab starts next month. Click below to reserve your spot.

I'll be back in your inbox soon with whatever rabbit holes I head down!

xox
Lindsay