Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[Rachel--24]

I thought that this was a pretty good article....

Open Original Shared Link

Mercury and Lyme Disease: partners in the destruction of your health

Mercury should be given utmost respect and requires entirely different approaches for removal than do other fat-soluble toxins. Mercury detoxification is a subject that deserves great attention in its own right, and it cannot be overlooked as part of a book on Lyme Disease therapies because the two conditions are often linked. Although not everyone with Lyme Disease has mercury toxicity, evidence has repeatedly shown that having Lyme Disease increases the probability of becoming mercury-toxic. This is the case even when a significant mercury exposure has not been identified―as we have said, mercury is in our everyday environment so a singular point of exposure is not necessary to accumulate mercury in the body.

Why does mercury toxicity often accompany Lyme Disease? Below we will examine possible reasons why Lyme Disease and mercury poisoning frequently go hand-in-hand. We

[Rachel--24]

Rachel, my blog is the same as Scott's but with my LN screen name at the beginning.

Yup....I've been reading the blog...I'm so excited for you!

I just couldnt get to your myspace....thanx for the email!

Overall though, I'm feeling really good more consistently. Previously I would have to be on heavy abx to supress the Lyme this much, so this is excellent!

MOST excellent Carla!!

Its great to hear that you're feeling good over there.....and more consistenty!

I met S last night! Nice guy. I told him I knew you, Rachel and he said you were a friend of his. I said that we knew each other for over two years but had never met.

I was sitting in the hall loading pics onto myspace when he got here .... I introduced myself as Carla and he shook my hand, but when I told him my LN screen name, I got a hug.

Yes....he is a very nice guy.

I'm thinking of both of you and wishing for the best outcome....restored health!

It must be like LymeNET central over at those apartments! How FUN is that!

I did tell him that my friend Carla was over there....but I dont think I mentioned your LN username. Thats cute that he gave you a hug once he found out who you were.

LITTLE!!!!! Welcome!!! I miss you! I'm so glad you started posting here, I knew you'd have a lot in common with Rachel.

Carla.....but did you KNOW that me and Little also have the SAME doctors!! How cool is that!

Thanks for "introducing" us. Its nice to share experiences....we do have alot in common....AND we have the SAME doctors....oh did I mention that part already??!!

EDIT:

Did anyone else notice that emoticons have been restricted even more??? I think emoticon useage may have been cut in HALF!

This is very bad news for me...it was hard enough BEFORE this newer restriction. Sorry Carla.....but I had to "steal" some of your emoticons for this post.

[confused]

mslee,

I will look into the meds u described for colitsis.

rachel.

Interesting info on the lyme and mercury. Im betting u got mercury then lyme, since your mom had fillings.

Carla.

Im so glad you are doing so great. When do you come back?

Donna,

Ill be thinking about you on tuesday ( i had to edit, i had put monday lol)

Im so excited, i get to carve pumpkins with my mom and the kids today. I havent carved pumpkins with my mom for years lmao. I feel terrible, but im going to grin and bear it, cause i want those pumpkin seeds lol.

paula

[CarlaB]

It must be like LymeNET central over at those apartments! How FUN is that!

It IS like that! LOL! But now there are a lot of computer users all sharing one connection!

I did tell him that my friend Carla was over there....but I dont think I mentioned your LN username. Thats cute that he gave you a hug once he found out who you were.

Yeah, it was funny! I've emailed with him before, so I guess he didn't know who the heck he was emailing, LOL!

Carla.....but did you KNOW that me and Little also have the SAME doctors!! How cool is that!

Thanks for "introducing" us. Its nice to share experiences....we do have alot in common....AND we have the SAME doctors....oh did I mention that part already??!!

Well, I knew you were in the same area seeing the same type of doctor, but I wasn't sure it was the same one .... I certainly expected that they were though. I kept telling her about this thread and that you were just like her, couldn't eat anything.

No problem in the emoticons ..... everyone saw them in my original post.

Carla.

Im so glad you are doing so great. When do you come back?

Saturday.

I'm feeling good still. I'm not totally symptom-free, but I'm clearly doing better. I think I need to address coinfections, but maybe I just need time to heal ... after all, people take a couple weeks sometimes to heal with the flu, so it's bound to take time to get back to normal. The Lyme fatigue is mostly gone, but I'll have hypoglycemic problems sometimes .... also a few aches, but not enough for painkillers like before I came.

[littlelymie19]

Hi LittleLymie,

I'm pretty sure alot of metals are excreted via stool....so you definately dont want to be consitpated and trying to detox metals.

Have you ever been tested for things like chlorella, modifilan or activated charcoal....they can bind with the metals in the gut to help avoid redistribution. You have to be "going" though...because with these binders the metals are excreted primarily in the stool.

If you're dumping metals because of the improved methylation...then it can definately be redistributed if you cant excrete it.

I personally dont handle c. enemas very well.....but alot of people benefit from them. I havent had problems with constipation lately but in the past it has been a huge issue for me....so I can definately relate to your frusterations with that.

I agree that the stickiness is most likely from mucous. I've experienced alot of that from food intolerances in the past....but I'm sure that there are other reasons for it. I'm not sure if it would be from metals though.

I usually only go once a day (if I'm lucky) and I really think that for a person who's detoxing metals...it would probably be better to go more frequently than that. I know....its easier said than done. I struggle with this too.

Thanks for replying Rachel....I just can't believe how much we're alike!!! I don't handle coffee enemas well, or enemas in general really. I'll spare you all the details of what happens after coffee enemas (lol), but regular enemas don't seem to work either because my problem seems to be "higher up". A colonic would probably be ideal, but I'm too weak for that at the moment.

Unfortunately I have been tested for charcoal and clay, and both tested poorly (see? SO much alike Rachel...we react to everything and test poorly for *almost* everything lol). I'm thinking of bringing up zeolite and chlorella next time I see Dr. T. Unfortunately I couldn't get in to see her until the beginning of December though

Do you see her, or Dr. P again soon?

Rachel, my blog is the same as Scott's but with my LN screen name at the beginning.

LITTLE!!!!! Welcome!!! I miss you! I'm so glad you started posting here, I knew you'd have a lot in common with Rachel.

Six!!!!!!!!!

I miss you!!!!!!!

But I'm SO excited to hear that things are going well. I think your name comes up almost every night in chat (and boy do we miss you there!). We all can't wait for your updates! I really can't reiterate how happy I am to hear though that your updates are positive.

Isn't that wild about Rachel and I seeing the same doctors???? She JUST switched to my doctors and had the same testing done that I had done...I was hoping that you'd catch the posts where I finally stopped being such a lurker and came out and told her about my own experience and my own results. lol. I knew you'd appreciate and understand the type of testing we were talking about. It's right up your alley!

I also talked to Kass for a bit, another person I have a lot in common with So thanks for introducing me to everyone!

I hope all is continuing to go well.... <3

[aprilh]

I'm worried that all of the metals are being dumped into my digestive system, sitting there, then getting reabsorbed. I noticed about a week ago when I actually had 4 good days in a row (this is when my methylation was apparently working better, when I wasn't in my monthly herx) that I had a good bowel movement in size one day, and it was extremely extremely sticky. I thought that could be metals. But I haven't noticed anything since, especially now that my monthly herx began. I have a sneaky suspicion that I stopped methylating as well...

!

Reabsorption can definately be an issue. Anytime I try to detox I get Constipated - and that's not helpful!

C.Enemas, epsom salt baths, magnesium supplements, vitamin C - are all helpful ways to help your body eliminate. The epsom baths help take some of the burden off the liver and kidneys to excrete via the skin.

Extra magnesium helps me stay regular when I am having these problems. I never had much luck with the C.enema but I know many people do. It could be that the metals possibly being redistributed could have "clogged" up the methylation cycle again.

[Rachel--24]

Yeah, it was funny! I've emailed with him before, so I guess he didn't know who the heck he was emailing, LOL!

LOL.....he corresponds with so many people I'm sure its hard to remember all the names.....AND he does have Lyme as a valid excuse for confusion!

I'm glad you are still noticing improvement and no Lyme fatigue...YAY!

Thanks for replying Rachel....I just can't believe how much we're alike!!! I don't handle coffee enemas well, or enemas in general really.

What happens with me is that I end up reacting (same way I react to chemicals, foods, perfumes, etc.). I think because it stirs things up and as usual my immune system freaks out when things are on the move. I guess I just cant move anything through because of blocked pathways....particularly with the coffee. Yes....its good for detox.....but what if you just cant detox well enough to benefit from it...I think thats my problem with everything. I'm sure I'm also reacting to the coffee/caffeine in my system as well.

Unfortunately I have been tested for charcoal and clay, and both tested poorly (see? SO much alike Rachel...we react to everything and test poorly for *almost* everything lol). I'm thinking of bringing up zeolite and chlorella next time I see Dr. T. Unfortunately I couldn't get in to see her until the beginning of December though

Charcoal tested well for me at one point....but I was using it quite a bit and now I have problems with it. My body HATES chlorella....it has never tested well for me. I tried it anyway (over a year ago) and I ended up feeling REALLY toxic. I actually started throwing up .....and thats never happened before....and it hasnt happened since. So I guess its true that my body really does hate chlorella.

I'm curious about how how zeolite would test for me. I used it a few months back and didnt have any major problems with it.

Do you see her, or Dr. P again soon?

I have nothing set up with her right now....but I will be seeing Dr. P. on Wed. to go over the latest test results, talk about my visit with Dr. T, etc.

He was wanting to start me on treatment for whatever he found in the test results.....but I dont know if thats even a possibility now that Dr. T. is telling him that I dont tolerate ANYTHING. I just really function MUCH better when I'm not taking anything. When I was seeing Dr. Amy she would say that for me "less is more".....because basically my body doesnt accept anything right now.....and if it says "yes" to anything....its in VERY small amounts.

Have you had any of the genetic testing done?

[littlelymie19]

Hi Littlelymie, I know with DMPS, most mercury is excreted in urine, some in stool. Sounds like mucous in your stool. I also have motility problems. GFSF helped some. SCD has helped a lot.

What helps me the most with detox is what is known around here as ecoffee. I do a c. enema after I go on my own. Other people with lyme disease also report it helps. Apparently it stimulates the release of bile (metals into the digestive tract) and glutathione (detox), then helps move things out (at least in the lower GI). My doc told me to do this along with a number of other detox measures, this one helps the most by far for me.

You mentioned a limited diet. What are you eating?

Sherry

I'm so sorry Sherry, I missed your post! Thank you for responding. I wish I could do "ecoffee", in theory it'd be perfect! But like Rachel, I don't seem to do well with it. I'm really glad that you've found it to be helpful though! It's always great when you can find one or two things that you can really rely on to help.

Reabsorption can definately be an issue. Anytime I try to detox I get Constipated - and that's not helpful!

C.Enemas, epsom salt baths, magnesium supplements, vitamin C - are all helpful ways to help your body eliminate. The epsom baths help take some of the burden off the liver and kidneys to excrete via the skin.

Extra magnesium helps me stay regular when I am having these problems. I never had much luck with the C.enema but I know many people do. It could be that the metals possibly being redistributed could have "clogged" up the methylation cycle again.

I'm really relieved to hear that you believe epsom salt baths help! Do you think they actually draw out metals? I'm no longer able to lay in the bath tub because I blacked out last time (my blood pressure dipped too low), but I make really hot epsom salt and baking soda foot baths, and soak my feet in them for a really long time every night. I hope that's working for me! I use the same amount of baking soda and epsom salt that I'd use in the whole bath tub, so it's really concentrated in my little foot bath.

I'm curious about how how zeolite would test for me. I used it a few months back and didnt have any major problems with it.

I have nothing set up with her right now....but I will be seeing Dr. P. on Wed. to go over the latest test results, talk about my visit with Dr. T, etc.

He was wanting to start me on treatment for whatever he found in the test results.....but I dont know if thats even a possibility now that Dr. T. is telling him that I dont tolerate ANYTHING. I just really function MUCH better when I'm not taking anything. When I was seeing Dr. Amy she would say that for me "less is more".....because basically my body doesnt accept anything right now.....and if it says "yes" to anything....its in VERY small amounts.

Have you had any of the genetic testing done?

Hmm...I'm really curious about zeolite now. I've heard that charcoals and clays can be really constipating, do you think zeolite is similar in that sense?

Oh I'm excited to hear about how things go then on Wednesday! I've gone to him numerous times now with test results that show that I don't test well for anything. He'll have some ideas. Dr. T definitely believes that "less is more", but Dr. P tends to push a little harder. He'll definitely understand though if you don't feel comfortable with something, or if you want to go slower.

I haven't had any genetic testing done. Have you? Does Dr. P do that? He's never brought it up with me. He's done a ton of amino acid based tests to check my methylation, with a few other tests for things like metals, immune function, adrenal function, lyme, and things of that sort. In your opinion, do you think genetic testing is helpful?

[Rachel--24]

Hmm...I'm really curious about zeolite now. I've heard that charcoals and clays can be really constipating, do you think zeolite is similar in that sense?

I'm not sure....I'm thinking no...but anything is possible since we're all so different. Tabasco (Lisa) knows alot about zeolite so maybe if she posts she can let us know.

Oh I'm excited to hear about how things go then on Wednesday! I've gone to him numerous times now with test results that show that I don't test well for anything. He'll have some ideas. Dr. T definitely believes that "less is more", but Dr. P tends to push a little harder. He'll definitely understand though if you don't feel comfortable with something, or if you want to go slower.

I hope he does have some ideas and I'm actually happy that he'll push a little...but I would definately back off of anything that didnt feel right to me. I could tell that Dr. T. is looking at how my body is responding and thinking that "more" of anything isnt going to go over very well.....she's thinking in terms of baby steps..and from personal experience I would have to agree with her on that.

I haven't had any genetic testing done. Have you? Does Dr. P do that? He's never brought it up with me. He's done a ton of amino acid based tests to check my methylation, with a few other tests for things like metals, immune function, adrenal function, lyme, and things of that sort. In your opinion, do you think genetic testing is helpful?

The genetic testing is something thats come up a few times and I had discussed it with Dr. Amy when I was seeing her. She felt that it could be helpful and was one of 4 tests that she felt would be beneficial for me to take...but she also said that cost was a concern because it is expensive and sometimes they just dont get anything out of it. Also, the genetic testing is in its infancy....so they dont understand what it all means yet. It was just something to consider at that time....but we kind of put it on the backburner.

Dr. P. did order a section of the genetic testing for me....but I cant remember if he had brought it up in discussion or if I did. He did say that since its expensive he has been using the urine amino acids, organic acid testing and things like that instead of the genetic testing....and these tests are less expensive and can provide him with info. about methylation.

He wanted to check one particular gene.....however we looked to see if it could be done that way and it couldnt....you have to order a whole panel so thats what we ended up doing.

He was reluctant because of cost ($400) so at first he said we'll hold off on it for now and maybe do it later if necessary. I told him I was willing to do it now if he felt that it could be helpful if anything showed up. His answer was that he felt it might help us to have this info....so I went ahead with the test.

This is one of two tests I had taken that day and those are the results we'll go over on Wednesday.

I mentioned it to Dr. T. and I asked her if the genetic testing ever provides enough information to be really useful. She said it definately can and sometimes it can provide us with a way "in"....sometimes it can identify something that will allow them to open everything up.

Personally, I feel that genetics plays a HUGE role in all of this....but I dont know if having the testing will give me any answers at all. I'll see what he says on Wednesday though.

[mftnchn]

Rachel, I'd love the link to Scott's blog. I pm'd my email address to you.

Sherry

[Rachel--24]

Sherry,

You forgot to include your email address in the pm.....I'm gonna send you the link via pm...so hopefully you get it that way.

[mftnchn]

Sorry, lyme brain LOL!

[mftnchn]

Mslee, glad the diet seems to be helping!

[mftnchn]

Rachel, on Scott's blog, there is a link to another blog on the photon treatment. Read the second post about the use of photon treatment and unblocking mercury. Little, this might interest you too.

[Rachel--24]

Rachel, on Scott's blog, there is a link to another blog on the photon treatment. Read the second post about the use of photon treatment and unblocking mercury. Little, this might interest you too.

Thanks Sherry....I'll look at that blog.

I didnt know that he was put on a gluten-free diet until I read his blogs! Looks like he gets to indulge during his "vacation" though. He had McDonalds!!!!

I am sooooo jealous!

EDIT:

I read that blog Sherry.....and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Lots of good info. there.

I want to be in GERMANY!!!

[mftnchn]

Yes, I liked the thorough review of the treatment.

[Rachel--24]

For anyone who is interested in the genetic stuff here is some info.

In the case of autism, the recently published research by S. Jill James and coworkers showed that there were abnormalities in several of the substances involved with the methionine cycle (also called the methylation cycle) and the transsulfuration pathway in children with autism.

These are important in the synthesis of glutathione, which was found to be about 80% depleted in children with autism. Accordingly, Dr. James and coworkers investigated SNPs in these children in various enzymes and other proteins associated with this cycle and pathway, and they found abnormally high prevalences of SNPs in the genes coding for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), transcobalamin II, and glutathione S-transferase M1.

1. The enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase catalyzes one of the reactions that breaks down epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). A mutation in this enzyme that slows the rate of this reaction would have the effect of allowing epinephrine to rise to higher concentrations and to have a longer lifetime. Since epinephrine has been found in animal experiments to decrease the rate of production of glutathione in the liver as well as to decrease the rate of chemical reduction (recycling) of oxidized glutathione, it seems likely that a COMT SNP would tend to deplete glutathione.

2. Transcobalamin II is the principal protein that binds vitamin B12 after it is absorbed in the small intestine, and carries it in the blood to the various tissues in the body for their use. A mutation in this protein could decrease the transport of vitamin B12, which is used in the methionine cycle to convert homocysteine to methionine. This could also perturb the synthesis of glutathione.

3. The enzyme glutathione S-transferase M1 is one of a family of enzymes that conjugates (links) glutathione to particular toxins to make them more water-soluble, so they can be removed from the body. This is part of Phase II detoxification. T he M1 enzyme has been found in a German study to be more highly mutated in people who are sensitive to thimerosol, which is the mercury-containing preservative used in some vaccines. Thus, a mutation in this enzyme might make it more difficult for a person to use glutathione to remove mercury from their body, and thus make them more susceptible to mercury toxicity.

The significance of all this for CFS, in my opinion, is that since glutathione is known to be depleted in many PWCs, and many are found to be elevated in mercury, it is possible that they may have SNPs in one or more of these same proteins. There are several reasons to suspect that there is a genetic susceptibility in many cases of CFS, and such SNPs may account for it.

Here is the link to the article. Open Original Shared Link

On the page it says that Great Smokies (now Genova) is planning on offering tests for single SNP's.....instead of doing them in panels....in order to make it more cost efficient for anyone just wanting to look at one particular SNP.

They havent done this yet because I did have to order the whole detoxification panel....which is actually fine with me because it gives us a better picture. Dr. P. was mainly interested in "glutathione S-transferase" because I do have alot of problems with gluathione and I definately am needing it.

I can see possibly having a problem with any one of these enzymes. One is having to do with epinephrine and the other with B12 transport.....and both of those things have shown up for me in previous testing. My OAT results indicated a functional problem with B12 transport and I also have a block in methionine synthesis.

It will be interesting to see if anything showed up in the genetic testing but I'm not sure which SNP's were tested....other than glutathione S-transferase.

It looks like a mutation in any of these enzymes will have an impact on glutathione synthesis....which would impair detoxification.

[tabasco32]

[quote name='littlelymie19' date='Oct 26 2008, 12:57 PM' post='47

Hmm...I'm really curious about zeolite now. I've heard that charcoals and clays can be really constipating, do you think zeolite is similar in that sense?

Oh I'm excited to hear about how things go then on Wednesday! I've gone to him numerous times now with test results that show that I don't test well for anything. He'll have some ideas. Dr. T definitely believes that "less is more", but Dr. P tends to push a little harder. He'll definitely understand though if you don't feel comfortable with something, or if you want to go slower.

I haven't had any genetic testing done. Have you? Does Dr. P do that? He's never brought it up with me. He's done a ton of amino acid based tests to check my methylation, with a few other tests for things like metals, immune function, adrenal function, lyme, and things of that sort. In your opinion, do you think genetic testing is helpf

[Rachel--24]

It seems like Dr. W. is saying the same thing as Dr. K and many of the other doctors......the Lyme is where the metals are. Lyme and mercury go hand-in-hand.

I do think that it makes perfect sense.....it would be much harder for Lyme to get a foothold without the presence of mercury. Its a very strong immunosuppressant and this creates the perfect environment for the infections.

It looks like Americans are carrying heavier loads of mercury than the Germans. The Germans are recovering from their infections much quicker than we are.

These bugs werent causing me any noticeable problems until I got hit with a big load of mercury. Even if they were impairing my ability to detoxify....it wasnt noticeable...I had ZERO sensitivities prior to the mercury exposure. I could eat whatever I wanted and I wore perfume everyday without being the slightest bit bothered by it. I had never experienced a reaction to ANY chemical until all AFTER the exposure to mercury.

The only sensitivity I had noticed was the skin sensitivity to metals....but it was nothing like it is now.

[tabasco32]

It seems like Dr. W. is saying the same thing as Dr. K and many of the other doctors......the Lyme is where the metals are. Lyme and mercury go hand-in-hand.

I do think that it makes perfect sense.....it would be much harder for Lyme to get a foothold without the presence of mercury. Its a very strong immunosuppressant and this creates the perfect environment for the infections.

It looks like Americans are carrying heavier loads of mercury than the Germans. The Germans are recovering from their infections much quicker than we are.

These bugs werent causing me any noticeable problems until I got hit with a big load of mercury. Even if they were impairing my ability to detoxify....it wasnt noticeable...I had ZERO sensitivities prior to the mercury exposure. I could eat whatever I wanted and I wore perfume everyday without being the slightest bit bothered by it. I had never experienced a reaction to ANY chemical until all AFTER the exposure to mercury.

The only sensitivity I had noticed was the skin sensitivity to metals....but it was nothing like it is now.

Yeah, I was the same way. I only got sick after this dentist lady took out one mercury filling. Then it was all downhill from there. Then I got four replaced by a so called biological dentist which I don't believe he was at all. He would dump the mercury in a sink next to me so that cant be good.

It makes me so mad that I could have picked a better dentist and not be as toxic as I am right now.

What is a skin sensitivity to metals??

[Rachel--24]

It makes me so mad that I could have picked a better dentist and not be as toxic as I am right now.

Yeah Lisa.....I know exactly how you feel. If I would have known what I know now I dont think I would have ever gotten sick.

What is a skin sensitivity to metals??

the only metal I can wear is 14 kt. gold....otherwise any other metal that touches my skin (like on belt buckle, anklets, bracelets, etc) makes me break out in a rash and/or turns my skin black. This was already noticeable a few years before I got sick....but I could wear some cheap jewelery for a few days before my skin would break out....now I cant wear it at all.

[mftnchn]

It looks like Americans are carrying heavier loads of mercury than the Germans. The Germans are recovering from their infections much quicker than we are.

European strains of borrelia are different, right? Maybe co-infections too.

[CarlaB]

It seems like Dr. W. is saying the same thing as Dr. K and many of the other doctors......the Lyme is where the metals are. Lyme and mercury go hand-in-hand.

Where did you here this? Just curious. He hasn't talked at all about metals to me. I guess he mentioned to someone else here that Americans have more of a problem with them than Germans, but I haven't heard him say more than that.

edit - ah, I see, Scott's blog.

[nora-n]

Now mercury tooth fillings are outlawed here, but we got a new porblem worldwide: cheap electricity-saving fluorescent lightbulbs.

Here in this country the old-fashioned lightbulbs make more sense, since we heat with electricity which is form water power and less lightbulbs mean the thermostats will go on more.....lots of fluorescent lightbulbs just go into the landfills.

In the old days they used to smash the fluorescent tubes, at least now they arrange to take them back.

How much mercury is spread through this?

nora

[ShadowSwallow]

Hi Everyone,

Just thought it was time for a bit of an update. I've been doing a lot better lately, even with cutting down on the abx a bit. However, the sulfates in the abx are really doing a number on me.

Also, last Wednesday I went to the dentist (not biological). I don't have any fillings or need anything drilled, but they did put sealants on my teeth (plastic, basically) and then there was fluoride in the paste (I refuse the fluoride rinse). Plus, the hygienist was wearing latex gloves.

Before I went I was tolerating a lot more things, but now... not so much. I'm also very suspicious of the sealants due to the random boughts of nausea I've been having. Ah well.

I have another LED today, and will report back asap.

Also, my prayers are with Donna today.