The infrabed

[Keyhole]

For Jennifer's birthday I decided to build a frame (with the help of my dad) that could be used as a sort of substitute for the infrabed. It doesn't come close to the one made at the Chateau, but since I have zero expertise with electronics and low funds, I thought this would do for the time being. We have been using IR and UV lights for maybe a year or so now, but it has been difficult to position the lights so that they reach different parts of the body. So here are the pictures of what I built:

It was basically just a 6 ft 6" length of timber with legs and struts on either side. We used a bit of glue for the wood and screwed it all together. I then used two cupboard handles and screwed them on the top of the frame so that the lights could be clipped on. Then sanded it all down and varnished it.

As you can see, the set up we are using in the above pictures is Near IR (850nm) CCTV camera light positioned at the head piece of the frame to target the face, head, and neck (thyroid area). This can be moved along the frame though to reach any point of the body. It is around 8-12 inches away from the body (depending on whether we elevate ourselves using pillows).

We also have two UV lightbulbs screwed in - one is positioned slightly lower down the body around the top of the chest/bottom of the face, and the second one shines on the lower torso/genitals. We are using reptile lamps containing UVA/UVB/IR.

I usually use this setup around 3-5pm after I get home from work, or around midday on weekends. Then if I am only aiming to get the IR/red light, I can switch the UV light bulbs for IR ones and use it later in the evening.

So overall, its not the best piece of equipment. But it is 10x better than what we were using before :D. It is located in the bedroom at the side of the bed, and we use it as a nice opportunity to listen to a podcast. I also use it as a time to get some studying done.

 

[worldbridger]

Ok, just want to report a little "accident"...

I fell asleep with my 20mW/cm2 (20x15cm) NIR 850 nm surveillance unit a 6-8 weeks ago, don't know for how long, but maybe 3-6 hours. Didn't feel anything the next morning or the following days.

A week or so later a friend of my noticed my back and asked what happened, I didn't know what she was talking about.

She took some pictures and showed me. I didn't looked that bad then and I thought that it might disappear after a while.

Now she took some new pictures, and it look kind of worse, I think.

Sent a question to Dr. Hamblin, just to see if he might have some scientific explanation, we'll see.

So, a little warning. Don't go to bed with an object you fully don't understand.

My back:

 

[worldbridger]

Hmm, How do I add a picture? Format?

 

[Laura]

Hmm, How do I add a picture? Format?

At the bottom, under the writing field of a post, there is a cross with "Attachments and other options". Click that.

Go to "Attach" and browse for your file on your harddrive. Select.
You can add a second image by clicking "(more attachments)" which will open the browse thing again.

Make sure that it is one of the file types listed below. Also make sure it is relatively smaller... like no more than 800 pixels wide and tall or thereabouts.

Then just click "Post".

 

[worldbridger]

Ok, don't know if it fulfills the pixel requirement, don't know how to change it anyway.

 

[worldbridger]

It worked, thanks.

 

[Gaby]

No problems with the urine or any weird symptoms since this accident?

 

[Laura]

So that's 6 to 8 weeks LATER? Does it hurt in any way? How do you feel otherwise and in general?

My skin gets exactly like that in the sauna sometimes. It's like major circulation at the surface is activated.

I hope that you got a timer to plug the thing into. And everybody should keep this in mind and run it with a timer.

 

[worldbridger]

Well, I've been taking acupuncture the last 8-10 weeks and it helps some, but 4 weeks ago she told me I have to drink more water, I maybe drink 0.5 liter a day. I just don't like to drink a lot of fluids, don't know why, always been like that.

So I started to drink 2 liters of water/herbal teas and Chinese herbs according to her diagnosis and I noticed that my pain in the middle of my back/groins got worse and worse, and sometimes even my testicles a few times, especially after a session.

I thought it might have to do with the increase of fluids and/or the herbs/needles.

She said that I should have a talk with my doctor to check my kidneys or if I have kidneys stones etc.

My doctor didn't think it was a big deal since he is determined that I have a "neurological disorder" of sorts, which means I get strange symptoms and that's the way it is. But he agreed to run some blood tests to see if I have some kidney or prostate problems.

The only symptoms for kidney (stone) problems that match are the areas where I feel pain. No blood in the urine, pain when urinating etc. CT scans have previously revealed a cyst on my left kidney/renal cortex (not sure about the term). They said it is quite normal. Other than that, all my tests/exams are normal.

I don't have any prostate symptoms at all, as far as I know.

 

[worldbridger]

So that's 6 to 8 weeks LATER? Does it hurt in any way? How do you feel otherwise and in general?

My skin gets exactly like that in the sauna sometimes. It's like major circulation at the surface is activated.

I hope that you got a timer to plug the thing into. And everybody should keep this in mind and run it with a timer.

I think I got the spots from the unit right away, but they've become darker.

Well, the skin doesn't hurt and in general, see my response to Gaby. In short, my problem areas are worse, not just in that area.

My skin reacts the same way after doing the sauna, but they disappear after a short while. These seem permanent.. If (seldom) I get a sunburn the skin just comes off after a week or so. This does not.

I normally used the unit during the day and used a clock, but I thought I would try it before going to bed since I don't fall asleep right away. That night I did.

I exceeded the optimal deep tissue dose for sure!

 

[worldbridger]

Another thing, I'm not sure it is the testicles themselves that hurt. It is also the muscles or nerves around the pelvic area/groins and lower back, she says the most painful points are mainly on the kidney meridian.

 

[Galaxia2002]

That injury seems to be called Erythema Ab igne. In pubmed there are some articles related at the use of heat sources as infrared, heat pads, and specially laptops.

Here there are the pictures, which fits well:

https://www.google.co.ve/search?q=erythema+ab+igne&client=firefox-b-ab&dcr=0&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjp-tzgs63XAhVMKyYKHe23Cv4Q_AUICigB&biw=1088&bih=451

Prognosis

_https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1087535-overview#a2

The prognosis is good, except those cases associated with internal disease or metastatic malignancy. Early changes, such as erythema and little or no hyperpigmentation, may resolve within several months. Chronic and repeated exposure to heat may result in permanent changes such as hyperpigmentation and atrophy. In addition, thermal keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma in situ, and squamous cell carcinoma have been reported within the lesions of erythema ab igne.

http://www.aocd.org/page/ErythemaAbIgne

Erythema ab igne is an uncommon condition manifesting in a reticulated, or fishnet-like, pattern of hyperpigmentation on the skin resulting from chronic exposure to low-levels of heat or infrared radiation. The name comes from Latin and can be translated ‘redness from fire’. These lesions are usually asymptomatic, but can be associated with pain, burning and itching. Historically, erythema ab igne would occur in individuals repeatedly exposed to heat such as bakers, metalworkers or individuals spending long periods next to fires. As the availability of central heating increased, the incidence of erythema ab igne has decreased in developed countries. However, cases of erythema ab igne are now being reported from exposure to space heaters, laptop computers batteries, heating pads and heated seats in cars.

Initially, lesions start as mottling or mildly pink patches and progress to the classic reddish or violaceous to brown reticulated pattern. Multiple stages of the lesions are usually present at the same time. The hyperpigmentation and lace-like patterns develop from repeated injuries to superficial vascular networks and the outer layers of skin after extended exposure to heat. Cellular changes in the skin resemble that of chronic sun exposure with mild cellular atypia and increased elastic tissue in the dermis.

This condition can look very similar to a vascular condition called livedo reticularis, which can be associated with a serious underlying disease such as lupus. Expert consultation with a dermatologist should be sought to make an accurate diagnosis. The mainstay of treatment of erythema ab igne is removal of the offending heat source. Mild cases will resolve over the course of months while more advanced cases can persist for years or remain permanently. If lesions are visually disturbing, treatment with 5-fluorouracil, tretinoin or laser therapy may improve appearance. In rare cases, cancer has been reported to arise from erythema ab igne, thus consultation with a dermatologist for monitoring and possible biopsy is recommended for long-lasting lesions.

There is a case cured using mesoglycan 50 mg/day by two months, and a topical gel (glycosaminoglycan, flavonoids, antioxidants, saponins, etc.) with a vascular action to be applied twice daily.

Anyway it is good IMO to be checked by a dermatologist and in the while take a good antioxidant.

 

[worldbridger]

Thanks Galaxia2002.

 

[Konstantin]

I had the same skin condition last year on my right leg. At my workplace, I have one small quartz electrical heater.
Something like this:

_http://www.globalsources.com/si/AS/Zhejiang-Suoai/6008842708458/pdtl/Quartz-Heater-halogen-Heater-oil-Heater-ptc-Fan-Heater/1060511735.htm

It is very small and it cant heat the whole office so I bring that heater at abour40-50 cm from my right leg. And it was in that position for whole winter. One day I noticed the same patches on the leg where the heater was directly pointed.
I suspected that it was from the IR rays from the heater but I was not sure. Now I am sure it is from the heater IR rays. And I have got those patches through the thick pants fabric( jeans ). After weather became warmer and I stopped using the heater I had those patches for a few more months, and after that they slowly disappeared.

 

[Chad]

A few years ago I had exactly the same kind of rash after a year or so of using a hot water bottle to relieve the pain in my lower back. It went away after i stopped using the hot water bottle and i didn't experience any other problems. I read that it was related to heat and that it would appear more quickly on older people since it may also be related to circulation issues - i think it was nick-named 'radiator rash' since it would appear if they sat close to a heat source for long periods. For me, i don't think it was age related but i believe there may be something to the idea of circulation issues. Since using the infrabed (for 30 minutes a few times a week for a few months now) or the sauna blanket nothing like that has occurred. Though i have noticed something fainter and more temporary on my legs when in a sauna.