Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[AndreaB]

I also really miss our queen Julie. Anybody know how she's doing?

I need to write her. I haven't heard from her for about 3 weeks. She had just moved and was going through another outbreak, probably due to the stress of packing, moving, unpacking etc.

I miss her too. I always know when she doesn't feel as well since I don't hear from her as much.

[Mtndog]

Carla- I want chips!!!!!!!!!!! My CBC always shows low sodium too but I know that the lay's make me sick. I made my own a few weeks ago- time intensive but yummy!!!!!!!!!! I have no appetite these days either.

OMG- a new Rrachelville expression- Carla it! i can't Carla anything- esp NOT peanut butter, chips or chocolate. I must RACHEL everything. I am an obsessive racheler

I miss Richard too (Tricticus Toxicum)- he's so funny! And Julie- where did she go? She was/is a sweetie!!!!!

I had a creepy thought last night regarding mercury. I was born in 1967- vaccinated for everything God- I don't even want to go there. I have had two filling, but they're white (porcelain?) and braces.

Donna- That is such a cool dream!!!!!!!!!!!

My glutened BM DEFINITELY smell like skunk- dead skunk YUCKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CarlaB]

Bev, have you tried Lay's Stax? I can only eat the plain ones, but that's okay, I only LIKE the plain ones! I also have no trouble with Ruffles (I buy the natural ones ... they taste better).

I got all those vaccines, too ... born in 1963 ... but I chelated back in 1991 ... still a little lingering mercury.

I'm supposed to chelate again but can't start until I can tolerate the amoxy. I was supposed to ramp up over four days, but yesterday I went back to one three times per day and I'm doing better today. I don't know if it's the cold or the amoxy, but I'm not going to two pills until next week. Instead of four days, I'll take four weeks ... or longer if I need it.

We're doing a light chelation because my main problem is lead and my heavy metals aren't as bad as they normally see. I would guess that's why I'm not as sensitive as so many here ... so they're using Detoxamin. They use something stronger when mercury is the problem.

They're also having me take NAC and Alpha Lipoic Acid to detox the metals. I'm already taking those two things. I thought it made sense to be ready for the chelator. The NAC chelates, too.

Well, Adam, Morgan and I are going to Skyline Chili for lunch. Yum. Morgan got her dental appliance ... the one I complained about last summer ... she's in pain. She's getting braces this summer, too. Her TMJ wasn't as bad as mine, but it's better to have it fixed before more damage is done.

I worked out for 30 minutes today!! I can tell the herx is soon though ... I've got a really bad attitude ... everything is bothering me today.

[Rachel--24]

I think we have a skewed definition of lucky on this thread... somehow, I'm guessing most of my friends wouldn't consider being able to eat a bag of plain potato chips that lucky

Good point...

Umm, I can. Remember last summer? I wasn't supposed to have sugar, so I ate 1/4 of a gluten free donut every Sunday?

It was totally beyond my comprehension and still is.

[Rachel--24]

I see the hair analysis as either a metal you are not detoxing or something you have absolutely no problems with. The urine challenge would clear up what metals were the problem.

The urine challenge doesnt clear things up in every case. I could just as well test low for mercury in urine...for the same reason I tested low in hair. It depends if the body is ready to let go of these metals or not...the detox pathways also need to be open. There needs to be adequate minerlas in the body in order for the body to release metals.

I read somewhere that the body does better with some metals than with no metals at all...if you dont have the necessary minerals your body might hold onto the mercury or other metals.

In reading some of the cases having to do with chelation and autism. I've seen that in alot of cases these kids are truelly mercury toxic and yet not excreting anything in challenge tests. They are not letting go of the metals at all. They test very LOW in a DMPS challenge.

In this case most parents dismiss mercury as a cause...or they start chelation...see no improvement and stop.

Some parents have stuck with this in conjunction with other treatments...mineral support, diet, candida treatment, etc....eventually these kids can go from having NO elevated mercury in their urine....to suddenly dumping all kinds of mercury that had been stored. It happens all of a sudden...after months...or even after more than a year of chelation....changes occurring in the body finally allow for the release of those metals.

Remember that BioSET patient who was going through chelation for like 5 years with Dr. S and not getting better?? Then went and had BioSET treatments for like 8 months...pathways wide open...then finally successfully chelates the mercury in 6 months time.

So yeah...the urine challenge is better than the hair analysis...because it is a "provoked" challenge test....there is a chelator involved...but it certainly cant clear everything up if the body isnt able to excrete the metal for whatever reason. None of these tests are 100%.

I considered it a good sign that Lisa's challenge test indicated very high levels of mercury...she was able to excrete it.

[GRUMP 1]

I'll be waiting to see what your initial impression is.....

Grump,

We are just south of you in Kalama. So now I know we get pretty much the same weather. We had actually wanted to move to Eastern Washington (NW part) but there aren't alot of jobs over there.

We are from the Olympia/Rochester area originally (about an hour north).

Hey! That's great! I hope you find a suitable kitchen soon.

AndreaB, Do you folks ever shop at the Gluten free store in Vancouver? Here is some information on it if you are not familiar with it. Lingonberries Market, 6300 ne 117th ave., Suite B-5. They are open M-S 9-7 & Sun. 12-6. If you have not shopped there they are a great place to go.

[AndreaB]

Well, Adam, Morgan and I are going to Skyline Chili for lunch. Yum. Morgan got her dental appliance ... the one I complained about last summer ... she's in pain. She's getting braces this summer, too. Her TMJ wasn't as bad as mine, but it's better to have it fixed before more damage is done.

I worked out for 30 minutes today!! I can tell the herx is soon though ... I've got a really bad attitude ... everything is bothering me today.

Hope you enjoyed your lunch. Poor Morgan. Is she going to go through some things of the lyme protocal and she is she sees any improvements?

Hope this herx is better than your last one.

The urine challenge doesnt clear things up in every case. I could just as well test low for mercury in urine...for the same reason I tested low in hair. It depends if the body is ready to let go of these metals or not...the detox pathways also need to be open. There needs to be adequate minerlas in the body in order for the body to release metals.

I read somewhere that the body does better with some metals than with no metals at all...if you dont have the necessary minerals your body might hold onto the mercury or other metals.

Thanks for clearing that up Rachel.

My doctor uses the hair analysis for the minerals......don't know if he does blood work with those or not. He won't chelate until the numbers are where he wants them to make sure the body doesn't become critically deficient in anything and cause problems.

AndreaB, Do you folks ever shop at the Gluten free store in Vancouver?

Yep. Love that place! We also shop at Wild Oats and Fred Meyer, oh and Country Village in Longview.

[gluless]

Hi everyone!! Dingo, I SEE YOU YA NUT, LOL. You called me a lunatic, I am hurt, lol. Well, since there is no way on earth I can possibly get caught up with this TOME, I will just skim and see what is going on with you all!! I guess it is Lyme. I had tests and was negative, not sure what tests, I think Western Blot. I am doing pretty good though. Just the joint pain and some fatigue still, but am trying some new things that it is too soon to have a theory on yet. D has left me as long as I stay gluten-free,df,sf, so that is GREAT to me. Eyes are calm as long as I stay strict with rest, diet, sunglasses.

I am hopeful about several things I am trying to get some energy, and will decide after two weeks if I see improvement. Just started some things today. Beef is one issue and I am thinking it is because I don't buy organic all the time. I still use sea salt and take vitamin C -just in case, and if the new things don't work, I am going to try the herbal remedies that Scratch recommends on DS that his naturapath prescribed. Even if I had Lyme, I can't tolerate antibiotics, so that is the way I would go anyway.

I hope you are all at least on the road to improvement and finding what works for you and getting to enjoy life. Love you guys!!

OMG, I FORGOT TO SAY, THIS IS ROBBIN!! LOL

[jerseyangel]

Robbin!!

Glad to see you popped over! Yep, this thread has reached epic proportions! I think we may be famous

I hope you'll visit more often--you are missed

[dlp252]

I know, I miss him.......I also really miss our queen Julie. Anybody know how she's doing?

I miss her too...Andrea, if you do email or talk to her tell her I say hello!

Excellent dream story, Donna. I have MINI SERIES, epic dreams, they are SO MUCH fun - - -on adn on and on and on for HOURS, many celebrities, events, parties, colors, jewelry, love, fun, drama - - - I sometimes awake exhausted and have to lie there for 20 minutes just processing what all happenend....they are SO much more exciting than my tiny, mundane life....

Yep, mine are quite epic at times...I really hate waking up in the middle of a really good one. Mine involve lots of drama, suspense...spy stuff. Sometimes romance, but not nearly as often...

OMG- a new Rrachelville expression- Carla it! i can't Carla anything- esp NOT peanut butter, chips or chocolate. I must RACHEL everything. I am an obsessive racheler

I do not believe I carla anything. Truly

OMG, I FORGOT TO SAY, THIS IS ROBBIN!! LOL

Hi Robbin!!! Good to see you! Well, if you were tested for lyme by a regular doctor they probably didn't use the correct lab. Somewhere down the line you may want to get retested from a lyme doctor who will use Igenix.

[CarlaB]

Hi Robbin! It's funny, I read the whole post and thought "This sounds like someone who knows us, but she only has three posts!"

Glad you are feeling somewhat better. I take NT Factor (it's natural, Google it), available only through doctors (maybe naturopaths, too, but don't know). It helps with the fatigue.

I guess you know Western Blots are often negative, especially if they're not IGeneX ... plus, most docs don't know how to read them ...

I always thought I didn't tolerate antibiotics very well, but ends up that it was because it stirs up the Lyme, so I'm on a boatload of them now ... but there are many ways to deal with Lyme. This seems to be working for me.

Buhner has a book called Healing Lyme, which has a good herbal protocol.

Andrea, Morgan is unwilling to stop eating sugar and drinking alcohol (yeah, I know she does ... she's in college ... I think it's better to let her be honest about it so that we can set some "rules" .... I had NO tolerance of it in HS and she never drank then). So, there's really no point in any Lyme protocol for her. If she has it and is anything like me, it probably won't hurt her too much to hide her head in the sand until she gets out of college.

[AndreaB]

I guess it is Lyme. I had tests and was negative, not sure what tests, I think Western Blot. I am doing pretty good though. Just the joint pain and some fatigue still, but am trying some new things that it is too soon to have a theory on yet.

I knew who you were but forgot that you weren't gluless over here.

Did you get a copy of your lyme test. Please get one and post if you didn't. We'd all like to see them.

We do hope you'll become a regular again.

I hope you'll visit more often--you are missed

Yes, Yes, Yes!!!

[DingoGirl]

A ROBBIN SIGHTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You ARE a lunatic! Come and see us as often as you can, goofball. Um.....I am confused....how cna she have only three posts? what was the member name before? hasn't she always been gluless? so confused......

[AndreaB]

Um.....I am confused....how cna she have only three posts? what was the member name before? hasn't she always been gluless? so confused......

She's always been gluless on D/S but she used to be Robbin here.

[jerseyangel]

She's always been gluless on D/S but she used to be Robbin here.

Yes--I had to think about that for a minute, myself! Then I remembered she was Robbin on here.

[rinne]

....

My daughter is on a tear again........she starts the mornings out nice.....doesn't last too long.

I hope the day gets calmer.

I know, I miss him.......I also really miss our queen Julie. Anybody know how she's doing?

....

My exact thought, thanks for the update Andrea.

....

OMG- a new Rrachelville expression- Carla it! i can't Carla anything- esp NOT peanut butter, chips or chocolate. I must RACHEL everything. I am an obsessive racheler

...

What did I dingo? Must go back.

[Yenni]

...I think my big problem is that we have like no money for doctors. We have a bunch of health related bills that we are paying right now. I can't go see a doctor for a while if it isn't an emergency.

It is also hard to find specialized doctors up here in Alaska it seems. Maybe I should look for a homeopathic doctor..?

I was bit by the Tics in Sweden. Never had any redness and I removed them while they were tiny. Sweden is FULL of tics by the way. When we went for a walk with the dog we removed several Tics on him (that hadn't bit yet) every time we got home. We always had pants and socks over them or high boots and checked our skin all over when we got home. Terrible. It is a big problem over there and they give vaccines for one of the diseases that Tics can give you now.

My brother got an infection after a Tic a couple of years ago and got antibiotics for it right away. It went away.

I guess I should add on that my life has been VERY stressy and hard the last 4-5 years for many different reasons. I am thinking my stomach is bad often because of this too.

Seems there are so many things to figure out when it comes to ones health. Hard to find doctors that are good too. I am feeling very overwhelmed. Not knowing where to start.

[rinne]

.....

I worked out for 30 minutes today!! I can tell the herx is soon though ... I've got a really bad attitude ... everything is bothering me today.

I've been cranky all day too and when my sweetie asked how I was feeling I snapped, said something about it being OBVIOUS. Fortunately I laugh more than I snap.

......

OMG, I FORGOT TO SAY, THIS IS ROBBIN!! LOL

I've been thinking about you so often lately, I'm really glad you posted and that you are doing better. That is great news. I think Dingo Girl best expressed my feelings. Don't be a stranger.

A ROBBIN SIGHTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You ARE a lunatic! Come and see us as often as you can, goofball. Um.....I am confused....how cna she have only three posts? what was the member name before? hasn't she always been gluless? so confused......

And as for you wild dream women, I have none to share I don't think I dream or at least rarely but by the sounds of yours I wish I did.

[AndreaB]

...I think my big problem is that we have like no money for doctors. We have a bunch of health related bills that we are paying right now. I can't go see a doctor for a while if it isn't an emergency.

It is also hard to find specialized doctors up here in Alaska it seems. Maybe I should look for a homeopathic doctor..?

I guess I should add on that my life has been VERY stressy and hard the last 4-5 years for many different reasons. I am thinking my stomach is bad often because of this too.

Seems there are so many things to figure out when it comes to ones health. Hard to find doctors that are good too. I am feeling very overwhelmed. Not knowing where to start.

Just do what you can when you can. Get your current bills worked down and in the meantime try to find a good doctor that can run a whole bunch of different tests when the time comes. I holistic/naturopath would be a good option.

Stress can do many things to a person so that needs to be worked on as well. I know you mentioned your living situation and I imagine that carries enough stress on it's own, on top of financial worries......everything adds up and can make you very sick.

It's also easy to feel overwhelmed.

Start by trying to reduce your stress load, however you can do that. Eat as clean (organic, I don't remember if you said you already eat organic), and simple as you can. Rachel has become more functional due to her diet restrictions these last two years. She took her foods down to just 5 main foods while still trying different foods once in awhile. With her, she eats what gives her the least reactions.

Money is a tough one and we are in that same boat. You can only do what you can do. Take care of everything you can that doesn't require a doctors visit and as you can put some money aside for future testing.

I know I've repeated myself.......

[rinne]

....

Seems there are so many things to figure out when it comes to ones health. Hard to find doctors that are good too. I am feeling very overwhelmed. Not knowing where to start.

You could start by keeping a food journal, it really helps to begin to make connections.

The salt/C treatment is very cheap, about ten dollars a month I think.

[dlp252]

Well, I've got LIME GREEN TOES. !! First coat looked kind of sickly...second coat is looking much better...I DO think I'll need a third coat to work better with my skin tone.

AND, GOOD NEWS (I think)! I've got another appointment next week Thursday. I went in today for my allergy shot and I happened to get the really FANTASTIC nurse. I haven't had her in months, so I told her about my reactions and my symptoms (or actually lack thereof), and she said "well, you may not need them anymore...you should make an appointment with the doctor to discuss that."

Stupid other nurse who told me I'd have to have shots for life...same stupid nurse who left me in the exam room for 45 minutes a few months back and never told the doctor I was there. Haven't seen her around since then actually.

So, anyway, I go in next Thursday to talk to the doctor about that.

Seems there are so many things to figure out when it comes to ones health. Hard to find doctors that are good too. I am feeling very overwhelmed. Not knowing where to start.

You could start by keeping a food journal, it really helps to begin to make connections.

It really IS overwhelming!!! I'm really struggling financially lately because of all the medical expenses and bills. I just had all my amalgams out in November and January and that was a HUGE chunk of out of pocket expense for me.

I'm just trying to prioritize right now...trying to find the most problematic things and taking care of them. I'm doing what I can diet-wise, like following an anti-candida diet and tring to stay away from foods which have been identified as intolerant items.

Keeping a journal is a great idea. I DO keep one, but it's main focus has been on fitness...I DO write down what I eat and all the nutritional stuff like calories, fat, protein, carbs, fiber, but haven't been good until the last few months with trying to write down reactions and stuff like that. Rachel has kept a VERY detailed journal and I know she has referred to it a lot on this thread in order to narrow down stuff.

I don't think I dream or at least rarely but by the sounds of yours I wish I did.

Yes, mine can be quite exciting at times.

[Rachel--24]

Stuff about mercury...

In 1991, the World Health Organization released information on the sources of mercury in the general population. They found that up to 17 micrograms of mercury were being absorbed per day through five important sources in this order:

[Rachel--24]

About the challenge test...

Without the challenge test, you might not have an accurate picture of the mercury in your system.

The full name of DMPS is 2,3-Dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate. In Russia it is called Unithiol and in Germany, Dimaval. (In fact, using this chemical to treat mercury poisoning has been accepted practice in Europe for nearly 30 years.)

DMPS is injected into your body where it seeks out mercury and other heavy metals, such as Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, Antimony, Cobalt, others. It then binds with the metal and is excreted through your urine and feces. (About 20% is excreted in the urine and 80% in feces; however the research standard is for urine testing.) With this in mind, you are better able to understand the function of a challenge test.

As mentioned before, mercury in your system isn't always readily detectable. A much more accurate picture of how much is there is created by using DMPS in a challenge test.

First, you are given an orange jug (oh no...not the orange jug! ) and instructions on how to catch and store a 24-hour urine specimen. Your doctor will then send it to a lab that will test it for heavy metals, among other things. A report is sent back to your doctor. It might show a significant amount of mercury or copper or other metal in your system, or it might show just a little. Don't be satisfied if it shows no mercury at all. Make sure you complete the challenge test before coming to conclusions.

Then, you are given your first injection of DMPS.

About 50 mg of the chemical is injected into a vein in your hand over a period of 20 minutes. Most patients report experiencing no pain, although some say it tingles, or itches for a little while afterward.

Again you go home with a little orange jug and repeat the 24-hour urine catch process. Again it goes to the lab. Now your doctor can compare the "pre-challenge" results with the "post-challenge" results and have a much better idea of just what is going on.

[Rachel--24]

Sources of mercury...

[AndreaB]

Sources of mercury...