Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[dlp252]

Hey Donna,

The Dr. said its a double whammy for us here in the Bay Area....we have more mercury in the environment. He said mercury is a BIG issue here....even if you never had a cavity in your life.

He said if you were to look at the world and map out the levels of mercury in the environment....theres this big red spot over the Bay Area.

He said its from old gold mines in this area. So not counting all the dozens of mines up and down the Sierras...but there are 8 sites that drain into the Bay Area that are just old mercury mines.

So yeah...we get more exposure he said.

Oh sheesh!!!! I swear, we just get it all here don't we?! Scarey!

[tom]

.... . . there are 8 sites that drain into the Bay Area that are just old mercury mines.

You've probably both heard of the big SJ park 12mi from downtown, in Almaden.

Yes *that* one!!!

Very popular park built on mercury mining area, it's Open Original Shared Link

[happygirl]

Mia,

Just wanted to say that I'm sorry you weren't able to make it on your trip, honey. I really understand, and don't blame you. The food issue/planning is enough to make it tough to go on, let alone everything else. Let's hope that next year will be a better time for a trip!

I hope you feel a sigh of relief---and I'm proud of you for doing what is best for you, even if its not the "funnest" choice for everyone else.

Love,

L

[CarlaB]

Mia, ditto what Laura said. This trip was hard on me. I flared the day after I arrived and the day I got home. I was staying at my grandmother's house in the mountains in NC ... so food was not a problem, and there was lots of fresh air (it's polluted where I live, too). It's always worth it to see my grandmother as she's in her mid-80's and I wouldn't skip a year for anything, but it was hard on me physically.

The good news is, this year I got around better than she did. Last year I was so sick I couldn't keep up with her. She's doing the same as she was last year, it's that I'm doing better.

We went out to eat one day ... it was a buffet ... I ate some gluten for the first time since Dec. 2005. I had no reaction! I think gluten is a poison that pushes me over the edge ... I'll still be avoiding it just the same as I avoid sugar, yeast, and alcohol, but I don't think it's a big problem for me anymore.

I agree with what everyone says about dairy. However, I still like it in my lattes. I still like my cheese, too. I read something a few years back about whey ... it was very positive and written by someone who feels the same way about dairy being unnecessary ... I know where I read it, but I'm not going to get it tonight ... too wiped out from traveling.

[happygirl]

Welcome back, Carla. Hope you get some good rest, and happy to hear your trip went well!!!

[NoGluGirl]

Dear Rachel,

I had heard something about the dairy connection to Diabetes. It kind of popped up here and there. A lot of it was not in detail, though. I think lactose has something to with it. Afterall, it is a sugar.

I am so glad you can tolerate the hemp seeds! I heard they make you feel great, too! Since I cannot smoke a joint, those might be worth a try! They probably can cause trouble like poppyseeds. This is a marijuana plant.

That was hilarious about you opening that freezer when everyone else could not make the door budge! Your boss probably will not say anything ever again! Dynamite comes in small packages!

I am only 5"1. Stupid Celiac Disease! I thought I had half a chance with Dad being 6'2.

Thanks for the links. Dr. Cowden's protocol for Lyme was interesting. I had to copy and paste so much into Word today! All of the information you had posted was important. I wanted to make sure I have an arsenal of stuff to heal me! I will have it thanks to you!

Dear Donna,

It sounds like you have everything planned out for the cruise! That is terrific! The less there is to worry about, the more fun you can have! I would not risk the buffet, either. You have to be as safe as possible for your system. Packing that food will serve you well.

My strength is bad on my upper half, and always has been. I am pear-shaped as well. I have lost weight, but guess where I lost it? Today, after taking a shower, I noticed my bra seemed to have stretched out, or my boobs shrunk. Sadly, I lost weight in the wrong body parts! My hips need the slimming and my thighs!

I think the epsom salt baths could drain you. It is wise to not overdo them. Too many toxins mobilized at once is bad. This will bring you down. Ten minutes is something I would stick with.

Dear Andrea,

I have not gotten to celebrate my anniversary from yesterday. I could not think of anything to do. I have cake, but my pan needs cleaned. It also needs icing. I do not have any of that, either. I have confectioner's sugar, but I do not know if Schnuck's brand is safe.

I did not know there were any natural sources of BHT. That was surprising to me. Cocoa seems to do alright with me. I try not to overdo it. I feel better when I eat candy, though. Like Carla said, it is probably magnesium that is in there that my body needs.

Dear NaomiL,

Welcome to the thread! Yes, msg does not do well with a lot of people here. I can eat it, but a lot of others cannot. I try not to eat it often, though. No one should really take it in. My mother, brother, and grandfather get very sick from it.

It was wise of you to skip the other pages! Your eyes would have fallen out! We are a chatty bunch! Sometimes we have a lot of pages for a single day. If you have questions about anything, just ask!

Dear Claire,

Chi is amazing. I know they practice Q'i Gong here. I spoke to a martial arts instructor here. I want to learn Kung Fu. Maybe I will finally get to!

I am much more confident in Chinese Medicine than in Western Medicine. The spiritual element is important, but typically neglected. This is tragic. Energies surrounding the soul can be wounding. They may impact the body. Thank you for posting about this, because I wanted to find out more!

I will keep the book you mentioned in mind. "Hands of Light" sounds like a worthwhile read. I am going to have it on my wish list. Maybe I could get it for Christmas. I want so many books!

There is nothing I can really say about chlorella. I have heard good things about SunChlorella, like Donna mentioned. I have not taken it, however. We all have our threshold. Some people do well with it, some do not.

Dear tom,

The Jazz Fest will be great! Plus, you might be meeting some people from Rachelville there, too!

Now that will be neat! You guys should take a pic together! I wish I could come, too!

It is difficult for women. One thing I am glad I do not have is a bust, because I have friends that get stared at for that reason alone. Then, there are the guys that pretend to be looking at your face, but they are looking down at your chest. My friends were actually jealous of me that I got complimented on my hair and things like that instead. They only got compliments on the size of their bust. The back pain is no fun, either.

Magicpuncture would be helpful to all, I think! I would love to try it and Q'i Gong. The Q'i Gong is something I know they do around here. Until Claire mentioned it, I had no idea that everyone who goes to the hospital in China receives it. That is so cool!

Dear Patti,

I do not think dairy is good for anyone, either. It clogs your colon, can cause acne, and all kinds of other problems. I do not think people were ever supposed to eat cow's milk. I am not sure grain was really meant to be consumed. Did you know there were not reports of obesity or heart disease until grain began being cultivated?

Dear Mia,

I know how that feels. You feel guilty if you do not go, but know you physically and emotionally cannot take it. I am tired of being surrounded by selfish people who do not care about my illness. Sometimes I wonder if they keep me ill on purpose, so I cannot leave. I hate my family.

Just the other day, I got in yet another argument with my step-grandmother.

I thought she was understanding about the disease because she used to be a nurse, but I was wrong. I should have known better. I told her, there were things I have dealt with that are too personal to mention, and my anger is justified. I told her I am tired of everyone thinking I am this spoiled, lazy brat that gets things handed to me. I work my a** off. I always have.

So, in knowing your pain, here is what I will tell you. Do not break this Commandment of Thyself. "Thou shalt not feel guilty about things that are not thy fault". You deserve better. You are taking care of your needs. Others' desires are not important now.

Dear Laura,

Hello, how are you? You look so pretty in your new avatar! When was that taken? Even if you do not feel well, you look great! I know I feel better when I have my make-up on. There is just something about looking good that makes us feel good!

Dear Carla,

I am so glad you enjoyed your trip! I bet your grandmother is wonderful! My grandfather seems to get along better than me, despite his age! I can hardly go see him, due to my step-grandmother being such a biznotch! She is so cold.

Travel is hard on everyone, but when you are unwell physically, it definitely takes a heavier toll on you. I do not like the idea of travel right now. If I were well, that would be a different story. Regardless, flying sounds much more appealing. Sitting in a car for hours drives me nuts!

Sincerely,

Jin

[Rachel--24]

I am so glad you can tolerate the hemp seeds! I heard they make you feel great, too! Since I cannot smoke a joint, those might be worth a try! They probably can cause trouble like poppyseeds. This is a marijuana plant.

Well it certainly doesnt seem to have the same effect as the marijuana plant I remember from back in the day.

Nope....nothing like that....this tastes like ground up nuts and I dont get the "munchies" after I eat the Hemp seeds either. I guess that would be a good thing though ....who KNOWS what would happen if Rachel...queen of racheling were to get a serious attack of the munchies!

[AndreaB]

Welcome back, Carla. Hope you get some good rest, and happy to hear your trip went well!!!

Ditto.

Love your new picture Laura!

I've had a raging headache most of the day and am not very chatty......not that I usually am.....just quieter than normal......still reading along though.

[Judyin Philly]

I have a whole bottle of Dead Sea Bath Salts--and I'm afraid to use them After reading your account, I am definately limiting my bath to 10 minutes. When I take it.

Patti and Donna(I think) i can't find the post about the dead sea bath salts..why are you afraid to use them Patti?

do you use in conjunction with the epsom salts...like 1-1 equal?

thanks guys

Rachel, i'm trying to follow you>>>

thanks to any one who can point me to the discussion on why they are bad.

judy

[tom]

I think the gut-in-motion feeling is your chi moving. Chi is energy, also called your life force. There is more and more medical research being done on acupuncture and Chinese medicine. It's fascinating!

Ahhhhh of course! Chi!

I totally forgot.

Back to western medicine researching the origins of the meridians... When we are embryos, we start off as a cell, then a ball of cells, then a bigger ball of cells. At some point, the ball of cells differentiate into your different organ systems, central nervous system, etc. How the ball of cells divides into those different organ systems are the lines along where your meridians are. This is from the book "The Infertility Cure":

I've wondered about this origin of meridians stuff. Never heard an actual concept to explain it. This is great.

Just saw part of a Nova on epigenomes, which they recently found control the cells' differentiation.

An amazing 15sec graphic on how genes get turned off in 2 separate ways.

Wish I had a link to it.

[covsooze]

On the back of Judy's question...is it just the salts that cause the detox and hence make you feel bad, or the actual bath itself? I don't put anything in my bath, as everything seems to irritate me, but if I spend more than 10 minutes in the bath (and I like them hot) I do feel rough. Is it a detox thing then? I've read about having showers where you shower in hot water for 30 secs then alternate to cold and back again. Anyone tried that?

Susie x

[miamia]

again just want to say thanks to everyone for there helpful words and ideas.

I have til tuesday to decide but i pretty much know it is not such a good idea for me to go(sad face)

Rachel-

hemp seeds are good i used to make my own cereal combo(becasue all the regular ones have too much jusk in them) with hemp seeds, puffed millet, cocunut and seomthing else- they are really tasty. And yes so good for you. They even make hemp seed butter - which is expensive and not that good honestly but its still cool that they make it and maybe it is something you could have. Its funny that you metnioned it though becasue i always keep a list of things i want to retry and thats on the list right now.I think youve inspired me to move it to the top.

Donna-

The way you feel about the epsom baths is interesting i feel the same way i can sit in a hot bath but when i add the epsom i do feel not quite right when i get out- so idon't add them right now. I also have stopped with the castor oil packs for the same reason i feel like I am able to move around the toxins but not necessarily eliminate them and this is not good so now its just me and my hot water bottle (I swear this is my baby i have it on my bellly right now) I sleep with it too and sit with it all morning - it is so comforting!!!!

Laura-

thanks for your kind words - like always- i keep wanting to PM you but have been so out of it. How ar eyou feeling? How was your weekend away?

Carla-

i am glad your trip went well. I have recently wondered what would happen if i tried gluten but i am a chicken. I don't feel like its something i would eat i am just so curious as to what would happen if i ate it.

IT seems like its going to be another busy week today i ahve physical therapy . Tomorrow I am doing the iv of the minerals and vitamins instead of the chelation and i have a few other appointments. I am really curious how my body witll respond to the iv.

Oh and i think i am going to be moving which i really want to write about but i think i just ran out of steam so that will have to come later. But i think it could be a really really good thing for me.

Miamia

[jerseyangel]

Hi Judy and Susie

Judy--the reason I'm scared to use the salts has more to do with my anxiety about trying new things than the salts themselves. I tend to high blood pressure, and I always wonder if bathing in salt is a good idea, or if it has nothing to do with it. I get so confused sometimes.

Susie--I feel odd after a warm bath, too. I take strictly showers--and not too warm at that. I hate to be hot or to sweat. I was thinking if I try the salt bath, it will be lukewarm, and not more than 10 minutes.

I don't know if you can actually "feel" the detox going on with a salt bath. Does anyone know ?

I'm overthinking again

[dlp252]

You've probably both heard of the big SJ park 12mi from downtown, in Almaden.

Yes *that* one!!!

Very popular park built on mercury mining area, it's Open Original Shared Link

Ah yes, grew up not horribly far from that, and when I was a teenager used to drive out around there frequently.

It sounds like you have everything planned out for the cruise! That is terrific! The less there is to worry about, the more fun you can have! I would not risk the buffet, either. You have to be as safe as possible for your system. Packing that food will serve you well.

My strength is bad on my upper half, and always has been. I am pear-shaped as well. I have lost weight, but guess where I lost it? Today, after taking a shower, I noticed my bra seemed to have stretched out, or my boobs shrunk. Sadly, I lost weight in the wrong body parts! My hips need the slimming and my thighs!

Yes, less worry is better, lol. I started having anxiety attacks a couple of days ago over my solo this weekend...I have decided that I will NEVER do another solo again.

who KNOWS what would happen if Rachel...queen of racheling were to get a serious attack of the munchies!

Small children and mothers would run screaming from their local snack aisles.

I've had a raging headache most of the day and am not very chatty......not that I usually am.....just quieter than normal......still reading along though.

Aw, hope it's better today!

Patti and Donna(I think) i can't find the post about the dead sea bath salts..why are you afraid to use them Patti?

do you use in conjunction with the epsom salts...like 1-1 equal?

I don't think they're bad...I think it's just the body's ability to detox well that may be at issue with me. One of the main concerns for my doctor (and one reason why we haven't started treating any of my issues) is that I don't detox well...so I think my body can handle around 10 minutes in a magnesium soak, but after that I mobilize or absorb too much which isn't detoxed well. It sounded like from what you said before that you handle these baths well.

On the back of Judy's question...is it just the salts that cause the detox and hence make you feel bad, or the actual bath itself? I don't put anything in my bath, as everything seems to irritate me, but if I spend more than 10 minutes in the bath (and I like them hot) I do feel rough. Is it a detox thing then? I've read about having showers where you shower in hot water for 30 secs then alternate to cold and back again. Anyone tried that?

Well, yeah, extreme heat will make me feel bad too, so it could be a combo of the epsom salts and the heat....I think for me it's purely my body's ability to detox well that is the issue...(see my answer to Judy directly above)

I've tried the hot/cold shower, in combination with dry skin brushing before. I didn't try it for long though because I just don't have that much time in the mornings, lol. I did it when I was trying a detox diet several years ago...this was part of the detox. After the shower, I did the dry brushing, then jumped into a warm bed for half an hour. I couldn't do that on a regular basis because of my work schedule, but I do think it was beneficial. I suppose the hot/cold shower would be good for a lot of things.

Donna-

The way you feel about the epsom baths is interesting i feel the same way i can sit in a hot bath but when i add the epsom i do feel not quite right when i get out- so idon't add them right now. I also have stopped with the castor oil packs for the same reason i feel like I am able to move around the toxins but not necessarily eliminate them and this is not good so now its just me and my hot water bottle (I swear this is my baby i have it on my bellly right now) I sleep with it too and sit with it all morning - it is so comforting!!!!

Hot water bottle sounds very good right now. I ate the entire box of enjoy life cookies yesterday. As SUsie said...no sympathy expected, lol. Anyway, yeah, as long as I keep the baths at around 10 minutes I'm okay. I haven't tried the caster oil packs yet...

[dlp252]

Welcome back to Carla!

Hi Laura, great new pic!!

I don't know if you can actually "feel" the detox going on with a salt bath. Does anyone know ?

I'm overthinking again

I overthink a lot, lol. I don't think I really feel any detox happening unless I go over my 10 minutes. I don't think that means there ISN'T detox happening in the first 10 mintues...I think there is, but I really think it's because for me after 10 minutes there is too much detox and the feeling is not good. Does that make sense?

[jerseyangel]

I overthink a lot, lol. I don't think I really feel any detox happening unless I go over my 10 minutes. I don't think that means there ISN'T detox happening in the first 10 mintues...I think there is, but I really think it's because for me after 10 minutes there is too much detox and the feeling is not good. Does that make sense?

Yea--it actually does make sense

I know you're anxious about your solo--I think that you've just had too much time to think about it from the time it was planned to when you will perform it. Really, I know it's going to be great, and you will feel so much relief when it's over! My experience with these types of things is that they are never 1/2 as bad as we imagine them to be "We" being overthinkers

I know I'm forgetting, but when is your cruise?

[dlp252]

Ha, yes, I've had nothing but time to think about that stupid solo, lol!!!

The cruise is at the end of October. We'll be on the ship for Halloween! (But I'm not dressing up, I'm scarey enough! )

[jerseyangel]

The cruise is at the end of October. We'll be on the ship for Halloween! (But I'm not dressing up, I'm scarey enough! )

O-oh--Halloween! That should be fun!

And stop that about looking scary! Remember how cute you looked in your Mickey Mouse ears and sparkly sunglasses

[CarlaB]

Charlie, I see you reading along and it reminded me that I still wanted to address what you said.

When I first started abx, I was so disabled from this disease that I didn't feel worse from them. But, now that I'm feeling somewhat better, when they switch me from one to another, I get that same effect you describe ... I get worse on that abx, usually until the first herx cycle. I'm thinking that some of my ups and downs are because I've still not been back on the amoxy for very long, just about two weeks.

I've read about having showers where you shower in hot water for 30 secs then alternate to cold and back again. Anyone tried that?

Susie x

I did some version of that years ago when I was really into detoxing. I couldn't take the cold though, so stopped. I've recently started using my body brush again after my shower.

Carla-

i am glad your trip went well. I have recently wondered what would happen if i tried gluten but i am a chicken. I don't feel like its something i would eat i am just so curious as to what would happen if i ate it.

I have been chicken, too. When I found out I had the bacterial infection in my intestines and that it's causing all these GI symptoms, that is when I got really curious what would happen. I guess back when I got off gluten I saw improvement because it was one fewer toxin off my system.

I'm thinking it will be like peanut butter/fruit juice/other moldy foods ... I'll probably be able to eat it once in a while but not all the time. For now, I'm staying off all these foods my system finds even a little bit toxic ... I have enough toxins to worry about! But at least I don't have to be so obsessive about eating out now. I'll still order gluten-free, but I won't worry so much about places with no gluten-free menu.

Donna, my grandparents went on an Alaskan cruise years ago. They had a costume party, but my grandparents hadn't brought a costume, so they took their sheets off their beds and went as icebergs! They won the competition!

[jerseyangel]

I love Halloween--such good memories. I got engaged on Halloween--after Mark and I had taken my little sister out Trick or Treating!

Years ago, on my senior trip, I went to Austria. The little pub in the town we were staying in had a costume night. None of us had anything to dress up in, just the things we brought for the trip.

Anyway, my girlfriend and I decided to wear our bathrobes ..Of course, we were fully dressed underneath...

One of my fondest memories was waltzing to The Blue Danube, in Salzberg, Austria, in a little pub with a young man from Sweden--in my bathrobe

[tom]

. . ... For now, I'm staying off all these foods my system finds even a little bit toxic ...

Ah I *do* like hearing this.

I have a theory that the 'tolerables' have an impact well beyond the relatively minor symptoms on the day a 'tolerable' food is consumed.

Some sort of cumulative effect that prevents a bump up to a whole new level of feeling good.

It seems possible that even just a once-a-week 'treat' can prevent a quantum LEAP in overall goodness.

I think I could correlate "consecutive days w/out 'tolerables'" to how much I was capable of doing - brain-wise, energy-wise, mood-wise etc. (Pre-noSoy)

And Carla, you *are* feeling better than in quite a while aren't you? (Even tho the primary reason is something else)

[nikki-uk]

One of my fondest memories was waltzing to The Blue Danube, in Salzberg, Austria, in a little pub with a young man from Sweden--in my bathrobe

Patti!!!

Dancing with strange foreign men (in your dressing gown) in a pub......TSK!!!

Great memory though

[CarlaB]

Ah I *do* like hearing this.

I have a theory that the 'tolerables' have an impact well beyond the relatively minor symptoms on the day a 'tolerable' food is consumed.

Some sort of cumulative effect that prevents a bump up to a whole new level of feeling good.

It seems possible that even just a once-a-week 'treat' can prevent a quantum LEAP in overall goodness.

I think I could correlate "consecutive days w/out 'tolerables'" to how much I was capable of doing - brain-wise, energy-wise, mood-wise etc. (Pre-noSoy)

And Carla, you *are* feeling better than in quite a while aren't you? (Even tho the primary reason is something else)

Yes, I agree that our systems have a lot to detox day to day even when we're healthy. Anything toxic contributes to an overload on the system.

For years I was into eating a detox diet, for much of that time I even juiced. I did this for years because I felt better. I think it helped with keeping the Lyme symptoms to a minimum, too. I really think this is what's helping me heal so quickly ... my body has no problem detoxing.

Interestingly, I felt great back then ... and I ate a lot of gluten. I ate a lot of raw fruits and veggies, some protein and whole grains ... no GI issues at all (but I did have them before then, and always worse when I was having Lyme symptoms).

Just like I avoid peanut butter and bottled fruit juice because I know they are hard on me (I found out from an elimination diet years ago, but did not find wheat to be a problem back then), I will continue to avoid gluten as well ...

When I was healthy, I did eat peanut butter and drink fruit juice occassionally, but I don't now ... gluten will be added to that list. It is nice knowing there is a Big Mac in my future, but I also will know that it's junk food ... and it won't be often at all.

[AndreaB]

On the back of Judy's question...is it just the salts that cause the detox and hence make you feel bad, or the actual bath itself? I don't put anything in my bath, as everything seems to irritate me, but if I spend more than 10 minutes in the bath (and I like them hot) I do feel rough. Is it a detox thing then? I've read about having showers where you shower in hot water for 30 secs then alternate to cold and back again. Anyone tried that?

Susie x

I haven't actually done that but I've heard lots of good things about doing that.

IT seems like its going to be another busy week today i ahve physical therapy . Tomorrow I am doing the iv of the minerals and vitamins instead of the chelation and i have a few other appointments. I am really curious how my body witll respond to the iv.

Oh and i think i am going to be moving which i really want to write about but i think i just ran out of steam so that will have to come later. But i think it could be a really really good thing for me.

Hope all goes well with your appointments this week. I'll look forward to your moving update and appointment updates as you're able.

Yes, less worry is better, lol. I started having anxiety attacks a couple of days ago over my solo this weekend...I have decided that I will NEVER do another solo again.

You may surprise yourself and find you don't mind it so much once you get through it. Hang in there!

Hot water bottle sounds very good right now. I ate the entire box of enjoy life cookies yesterday. As SUsie said...no sympathy expected, lol.

Those cookies are so small, a box would be easy to consume. Cookies were our lunch yesterday as we were out during lunch time.

I love Halloween--such good memories. I got engaged on Halloween--after Mark and I had taken my little sister out Trick or Treating!

Years ago, on my senior trip, I went to Austria. The little pub in the town we were staying in had a costume night. None of us had anything to dress up in, just the things we brought for the trip.

Anyway, my girlfriend and I decided to wear our bathrobes ..Of course, we were fully dressed underneath...

One of my fondest memories was waltzing to The Blue Danube, in Salzberg, Austria, in a little pub with a young man from Sweden--in my bathrobe

Great memories.

[CarlaB]

You may surprise yourself and find you don't mind it so much once you get through it. Hang in there!

It took me quite a while before I didn't get the anxiety from the solos. I took that homeopathic stuff for stage fright and it helped immensely. Morgan took it for scholarship interviews, too.

I don't get nervous very often anymore ... except when my braces have been adjusted and I'm worried about getting out a good sound.

You'll do fine. Like Andrea said, you may find you like it.