Re: Started ALA - Nervous about dosage I'm taking

[Guest guest]

Where does Andy's book say DMSA can make autoimmune conditions worse?

That would be worrying... for me... I'm gradually losing my hearing,

and it could be autoimmune... or it could be mercury (I have - or had

- a ton of neurological symptoms).

It's virtually impossible to confirm either diagnosis.

I've been assuming that mercury is at least part of the problem,

because of the reaction I have to DMSA.

However... Am I reacting due to moving mercury around? Or do I not

have mercury issues, and the reaction is due to DMSA making an

autoimmune condition worse!?

What a minefield.

> taking the LA (during my off days)? I don't have any DMSA, and don't

> know if I will use it because I have an autoimmune problem (Sjogrens)

> and Andy's book claims that DMSA can make autoimmune problems worse.

[Guest guest]

Where does Andy's book say DMSA can make autoimmune conditions worse?

That would be worrying... for me... I'm gradually losing my hearing,

and it could be autoimmune... or it could be mercury (I have - or had

- a ton of neurological symptoms).

It's virtually impossible to confirm either diagnosis.

I've been assuming that mercury is at least part of the problem,

because of the reaction I have to DMSA.

However... Am I reacting due to moving mercury around? Or do I not

have mercury issues, and the reaction is due to DMSA making an

autoimmune condition worse!?

What a minefield.

> taking the LA (during my off days)? I don't have any DMSA, and don't

> know if I will use it because I have an autoimmune problem (Sjogrens)

> and Andy's book claims that DMSA can make autoimmune problems worse.

[Guest guest]

Where does Andy's book say DMSA can make autoimmune conditions worse?

That would be worrying... for me... I'm gradually losing my hearing,

and it could be autoimmune... or it could be mercury (I have - or had

- a ton of neurological symptoms).

It's virtually impossible to confirm either diagnosis.

I've been assuming that mercury is at least part of the problem,

because of the reaction I have to DMSA.

However... Am I reacting due to moving mercury around? Or do I not

have mercury issues, and the reaction is due to DMSA making an

autoimmune condition worse!?

What a minefield.

> taking the LA (during my off days)? I don't have any DMSA, and don't

> know if I will use it because I have an autoimmune problem (Sjogrens)

> and Andy's book claims that DMSA can make autoimmune problems worse.

[Guest guest]

Hi . I just read it yesterday - so let me check after the middle

of book. I'm checking........BTW - I tested positive to Lupus ANA and

further antibody tests found me positive for these two weird

antibodies for Sjogrens. I'd never heard of it. My body attacks

my saliva glands and my tear glands. I always have a dry mouth -

always thirsty.

OK, I found it. See page 109 - left column, last sentence of first

paragraph. " A few physicians believe DMSA and perhaps DMPS may

exacerbate autoimmune disease " . I would never have found it, if

I hadn't circled it. I wrote all over the place taking notes while

reading it again. Still don't understand 1/2 of it, though.

BTW - I also saw a study on the net a few years ago, Tulane

University in New Orleans. Tested a group of FMS people for

autoimmune antibodies and found that 78$ of them had the

freak antibodies that women get who have had silicone breast

implants. Now that is really strange. I have alot of ear

involvement (left mostly). I put vodka in my ears after taking

a shower - just to help dry out canal. I get pain and pressure

deep in my ear on and off. When it is really bad, I will then

have a vertigo for a while until it clears. I had horrible

vertigo for months before I had my mercury messed up teeth

yanked out!

Doris

>

> Where does Andy's book say DMSA can make autoimmune conditions worse?

>

>>

>

>

> > taking the LA (during my off days)? I don't have any DMSA, and

don't

> > know if I will use it because I have an autoimmune problem

(Sjogrens)

> > and Andy's book claims that DMSA can make autoimmune problems worse.

>

[Guest guest]

, what type of reaction did you have to DMSA? how long had your

amalgams been removed before you began taking it? What dosage did

you begin with, and for how many days on?

Thanks, Doris

>

> Where does Andy's book say DMSA can make autoimmune conditions

worse?

>

> That would be worrying... for me... I'm gradually losing my

hearing,

> and it could be autoimmune... or it could be mercury (I have - or

had

> - a ton of neurological symptoms).

>

> It's virtually impossible to confirm either diagnosis.

>

> I've been assuming that mercury is at least part of the problem,

> because of the reaction I have to DMSA.

>

> However... Am I reacting due to moving mercury around? Or do I not

> have mercury issues, and the reaction is due to DMSA making an

> autoimmune condition worse!?

>

> What a minefield.

>

>

>

>

> > taking the LA (during my off days)? I don't have any DMSA, and

don't

> > know if I will use it because I have an autoimmune problem

(Sjogrens)

> > and Andy's book claims that DMSA can make autoimmune problems

worse.

>

[Guest guest]

> I only have 250 mg capsules that I got from some Hulda site a year

> or so ago. I only took 1/2 of the capsule for the first two doses.

> Since then, I've taken the entire capsule. What symptoms should I be

> having? I've only noticed increased anxiety (wired), red neck, and more

> shortness of breath. I have had some very strange sensations here and

The most important thing you need to do is stop taking such a high

dose of ALA. Your symptoms will only get worse. You need to start

with maybe 12.5 mg per dose and take it every 3 hours or more often.

--

[Guest guest]

Hi Doris,

Cod liver oil isn't the easiest thing to take. You are better off with

plain fish oil - e.g. Nordic naturals omega 3. If you want omega 6 too

then get the NN omega complete. Never buy fish oil capsules as they

are much more expensive and the oil is almost always rancid.

Zinc is a core supplement you should take every day.

Chromium is useful to use if you ever get any blood sugar issues.

The on-round symptoms you describe are typical mercury/chelation

symptoms. You *are* making a mistake starting off that high. You

should order the smallest dose ALA you can find (e.g. 50mg one from

vitaminshoppe), then quarter it. Start off at the lowest dose you can

- e.g. 12.5mg. TK always goes on about this and he is right.

Symptoms kick in during rounds as well as at the end of a round. If

symptoms are unbearable during a round then you are taking too much.

I don't know about the dmsa/dmps autoimmune link. All I know is that

ultimately autoimmune issues are caused by mercury and getting rid of

the mercury is the main thing. Most of us need to take dmsa/dmps to

accomplish this. I personally have gotten exacerbation of dry mouth

(Sjogren's?) from taking ala - so I think its down to the mercury

rather than the chelator.

Don't worry about not understanding everything in Andy's book. Its

more of a reference book, and the really important section (the bit on

actually chelating) is quite short. The rest of it is really reference

material for all the things mercury does and all the things that can

go wrong. Obviously you should read and understand most of it at some

stage, but there's no hurry.

I'm interested in your dry mouth / Sjogren's experience as this has

been a major problem for me in the past. I don't know anyone else who

has had a severe a problem as me.

.

" Doris " wrote:

>

>

> Hello everyone. I just recently joined this group. I bought Andy's

> book over one year ago because it was recommended in the Lyme/Rife book

> I purchased. I want to keep this as short as possible - but I'm so very

> prone to rambling. I have no one that is the least bit interested in my

> health saga - except my mother. She is a great supportive listener, but

> isn't knowledgeable about my Lyme and Mercury issues. My husband thinks

> I'm a total kook, and my kids think I'm nothing but a hypochondriac -

> even though I was DX'd with fibromyalgia and Sjogren's Syndrome in about

> 1998 (via a Rheumatologist). I can't now even remember my health

> history - I don't even know when any of my strange symptoms began

> appearing. I must have been pretty much OK up until 1993, which is when

> I graduated from college (youngest child was 14). I just remember that

> my mother (who is a nurse, and who cured herself of met cancer to the

> liver after a colon CA transection in 1988) is the one that first DX me

> with FMS. I had never heard of FMS, and I can't remember the year she

> told me she thought I had it. Long medical saga since cira 1995 - most

> recent DX was in April 2005 - Lyme. Referred to a Lyme doctor (8 hour

> drive one way) who I saw and who did many tests (don't even know what).

> He claims I need hormones, testosterone, DHEA, etc. He is pretty much

> total allopathic - lots of various antibiotics and nystatin. I couldn't

> tolerate the Doxycycline he prescribed, and I turned to Vit C/Salt for

> Lyme and a Rife machine. I didn't stick with either very long because I

> wasn't doing either protocol as I should and suffered many major healing

> herx's (crisis). I did have my teeth extracted in SEP-02 (most of them

> - another long, horrible health saga) because I had so many huge amalgam

> fillings and 7 root canals, and many crowns. I didn't want to replace

> my fillings - also had too many molars missing anyway - just wanted all

> of it out of my mouth. I had read too much about mercury poisoning, and

> since I'm allergic to metal even touching my skin - I wanted all of the

> metal out of my mouth. Due to many family troubles, I just haven't

> taken the time to concentrate on what I perceive to be my underlying

> health problem (mercury) since the fall of 2003. Like I said above, I

> began to address my Lyme in the spring of 2005 - but haven't been able

> to fully concentrate on it for many months now. On July 4th, I had to

> be rushed to ER and spend a couple of days in hospital due to a new

> development - Atrial Fibrillation. I knew that the Lyme bug (or one of

> the co-infections, such as Babesia) were probably attacking my heart,

> probably along with a lot of mercury!). Now I had to get serious about

> me - and not my son or anyone else's problems.

>

> Question: I began supplementing with most of the supplements

> recommended by Andy (which I had done before re-reading his book) on

> July 11th. I haven't added any flax, borage, or fish oil yet. I

> ordered some cod liver oil capsules - but I can't tolerate them. I

> taste them and burp them up all day. I haven't added any Zinc or

> chromium yet. I began taking Lipoic acid at 4 PM on Saturday afternoon.

> I only have 250 mg capsules that I got from some Hulda site a year

> or so ago. I only took 1/2 of the capsule for the first two doses.

> Since then, I've taken the entire capsule. What symptoms should I be

> having? I've only noticed increased anxiety (wired), red neck, and more

> shortness of breath. I have had some very strange sensations here and

> there. One was like I had a sliver in my left index finger. I have

> felt tingling in my left foot, right chest area and right upper back

> area. I seem to be more emotional today. Am I making a huge mistake

> taking too much? Will I not have a lot of symptoms until after I quit

> taking the LA (during my off days)? I don't have any DMSA, and don't

> know if I will use it because I have an autoimmune problem (Sjogrens)

> and Andy's book claims that DMSA can make autoimmune problems worse. I

> need to order some LA with a lower mg. I've been taking LA every 3

> hours during the day and every 4 hours at night. I think I'll continue

> until Tuesday at 4 PM, and then stop for 4 days. Also, I have read

> Andy's book twice now and can't understand so much of it - especially

> can't retain new info well at this time. I just get so overwhelmed and

> anxious while reading it. I see my doctor in about three weeks. I'm

> going to beg her to read it and help me do this protocol. In a way,

> having no symptoms (or so very few mild ones), makes me think I don't

> have mercury poisoning. I figured I'd be safe in taking LA at this time

> - since it's been over 3 years since I got all of my teeth extracted

> that had amalgams, root canals, and crowns. I now have dentures - but

> I've read somewhere that the pink color in the dentures might have

> mercury??? How would I get this tested for? I just hate having to be

> responsible for so many things that I don't have the education or

> intelligence to handle!! I can't trust dentists or doctors. You guys

> are all I've got. I'm sure many of you feel the same way I do. I am so

> weary of fighting these battles. I don't trust doctors that charge mega

> bucks for their services (such as my Lyme doctor). Even if I am

> fortunate to have enough money for their services - I don't feel right.

> There are so many others in the same position that I find myself in, and

> they don't the money to go to these robbers. It makes me question how

> authentic or ethical can these doctors be - those that rape people with

> their exorbanant charges. That's why I trust the Salt/Vit C protocol.

> Anyone can do this. No one is making any money off of my health

> dilemmas and misery.

>

> Thanks, Doris

>

> (I wrote for 3 hours and had to erase it. No one would have the desire

> or time to read my sob story)

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Where does Andy's book say DMSA can make autoimmune conditions

worse?

>

> That would be worrying... for me... I'm gradually losing my

hearing,

> and it could be autoimmune... or it could be mercury (I have - or

had

> - a ton of neurological symptoms).

>

> It's virtually impossible to confirm either diagnosis.

>

> I've been assuming that mercury is at least part of the problem,

> because of the reaction I have to DMSA.

>

> However... Am I reacting due to moving mercury around? Or do I not

> have mercury issues, and the reaction is due to DMSA making an

> autoimmune condition worse!?

>

> What a minefield.

>

>

>

>

> > taking the LA (during my off days)? I don't have any DMSA, and

don't

> > know if I will use it because I have an autoimmune problem

(Sjogrens)

> > and Andy's book claims that DMSA can make autoimmune problems

worse.

>

Im new here and was about to use DMSA, but i have underactive

thyroid, and that is an autoimmune disease, so if the book is true,

no-one with thyroid issues should take DMSA. IM confused!

[Guest guest]

>

> Where does Andy's book say DMSA can make autoimmune conditions

worse?

>

> That would be worrying... for me... I'm gradually losing my

hearing,

> and it could be autoimmune... or it could be mercury (I have - or

had

> - a ton of neurological symptoms).

>

> It's virtually impossible to confirm either diagnosis.

>

> I've been assuming that mercury is at least part of the problem,

> because of the reaction I have to DMSA.

>

> However... Am I reacting due to moving mercury around? Or do I not

> have mercury issues, and the reaction is due to DMSA making an

> autoimmune condition worse!?

>

> What a minefield.

>

>

>

>

> > taking the LA (during my off days)? I don't have any DMSA, and

don't

> > know if I will use it because I have an autoimmune problem

(Sjogrens)

> > and Andy's book claims that DMSA can make autoimmune problems

worse.

>

Im new here and was about to use DMSA, but i have underactive

thyroid, and that is an autoimmune disease, so if the book is true,

no-one with thyroid issues should take DMSA. IM confused!

[Guest guest]

>

> Where does Andy's book say DMSA can make autoimmune conditions

worse?

>

> That would be worrying... for me... I'm gradually losing my

hearing,

> and it could be autoimmune... or it could be mercury (I have - or

had

> - a ton of neurological symptoms).

>

> It's virtually impossible to confirm either diagnosis.

>

> I've been assuming that mercury is at least part of the problem,

> because of the reaction I have to DMSA.

>

> However... Am I reacting due to moving mercury around? Or do I not

> have mercury issues, and the reaction is due to DMSA making an

> autoimmune condition worse!?

>

> What a minefield.

>

>

>

>

> > taking the LA (during my off days)? I don't have any DMSA, and

don't

> > know if I will use it because I have an autoimmune problem

(Sjogrens)

> > and Andy's book claims that DMSA can make autoimmune problems

worse.

>

Im new here and was about to use DMSA, but i have underactive

thyroid, and that is an autoimmune disease, so if the book is true,

no-one with thyroid issues should take DMSA. IM confused!

[Guest guest]

> OK, I found it. See page 109 - left column, last sentence of first

> paragraph. " A few physicians believe DMSA and perhaps DMPS may

> exacerbate autoimmune disease " .

Note the wording: " a *FEW physicians BELIEVE DMSA and PERHAPS DMPS MAY

exacerbate autoimmune disease. "

The way it is worded it sounds like a remote possibility.

The majority of physicians use chelators inappropriately, use doses

that are way, way too high, so it's not surprising if they see

exacerbations of symptoms in their patients.

Chelation does exacerbate symptoms in general. I believe that is more

from the metals moving out than it is from the chelators themselves.

People with autoimmune disease will most likely need to chelate slowly

and take support supplements to minimize symptoms.

I have autoimmune problems too. DMSA and DMPS were both about the

same for me. I wouldn't be able to chelate without them.

J

> >

> > Where does Andy's book say DMSA can make autoimmune conditions worse?

> >

> >>

> >

> >

> > > taking the LA (during my off days)? I don't have any DMSA, and

> don't

> > > know if I will use it because I have an autoimmune problem

> (Sjogrens)

> > > and Andy's book claims that DMSA can make autoimmune problems worse.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi . I just read it yesterday - so let me check after the middle

> of book. I'm checking........BTW - I tested positive to Lupus ANA and

> further antibody tests found me positive for these two weird

> antibodies for Sjogrens. I'd never heard of it. My body attacks

> my saliva glands and my tear glands. I always have a dry mouth -

> always thirsty.

> OK, I found it. See page 109 - left column, last sentence of first

> paragraph. " A few physicians believe DMSA and perhaps DMPS may

> exacerbate autoimmune disease " .

I agree with 's comments about this, but want to add one point.

Andy sometimes states beliefs that are held by others, but does

not say he agrees or disagrees with these beliefs. I take this

to be providing information, but not an opinion.

I think he would agree that moving mercury from places where it

is causing autoimmune problems can tend to exacerbate those

problems until it is all gone. That's why we use low, frequent

doses to minimize exacerbation, while getting rid of the problem.

I think most of us have experienced that moving the metals tends

to exacerbate whatever problems they are causing whether it's

autoimmune, mental/emotional, neurological, etc.

Note that Andy mentions, in that same paragraph, a number of

possibilities to help reduce autoimmune symptoms.

--

[Guest guest]

Hi , just thought I'd mention that on page 67 of Andy's book, he

says " if you have autoimmune problems, take niacinimide 500 -1000 mg

with each meal and at bedtime, plus DHEA, plus borage oil, plus

forskolin.

You may already have read this, but sometime it's easy to miss things

in his book and thought I'd post it anyway.

Am I reacting due to moving mercury around? Or do I not

> have mercury issues, and the reaction is due to DMSA making an

> autoimmune condition worse!?

>

> What a minefield.

>

>

>

>

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi , just thought I'd mention that on page 67 of Andy's book, he

says " if you have autoimmune problems, take niacinimide 500 -1000 mg

with each meal and at bedtime, plus DHEA, plus borage oil, plus

forskolin.

You may already have read this, but sometime it's easy to miss things

in his book and thought I'd post it anyway.

Am I reacting due to moving mercury around? Or do I not

> have mercury issues, and the reaction is due to DMSA making an

> autoimmune condition worse!?

>

> What a minefield.

>

>

>

>

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi , just thought I'd mention that on page 67 of Andy's book, he

says " if you have autoimmune problems, take niacinimide 500 -1000 mg

with each meal and at bedtime, plus DHEA, plus borage oil, plus

forskolin.

You may already have read this, but sometime it's easy to miss things

in his book and thought I'd post it anyway.

Am I reacting due to moving mercury around? Or do I not

> have mercury issues, and the reaction is due to DMSA making an

> autoimmune condition worse!?

>

> What a minefield.

>

>

>

>

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi . I really appreciate your reply. I very seldom have vertigo

anymore - just a whisp of it every now & then for only a short

while. I had continual, horrible Vertigo from early Sep-02 until

just a week or so after my oral surgery that removed the rest of my

teeth and tori. I was taking all kinds of supplements after this -

probably some of them had ALA - who knows. However, it was like a

miracle - the vertigo just stopped. I had seen several docs prior to

getting my teeth ripped out about my vertigo - finally an ear doc.

He did all kinds of tests and said my hearing was fine. I have

extremely acute hearing,smell, and taste. I've always attributed

this to my vision problem - I'm almost legally blind w/o corrective

lenses. I do get Tinnitus - but luckily it comes and goes. I've not

yet had it last for more than a day or so. However, I have mouth

problems - sores, strange sensations - numb tip of tongue and lips. I

had oral Thrush horribly last year - but I quit all products with

aspartame in May-05, and it went away. Most of the sores did too -

but I still occassionally get strange bumps and sores inside my mouth

or around the outside of my mouth. I also relate to your sleeping

symptoms except that I never dream unless I'm having a Herx - then I

have nightmares. My sleep problems wax and wane. When I'm in a bad

sleep pattern - I don't have trouble getting to sleep, just can't

seem to stay asleep. Like you, I wake up and think I've slept for

hours and sometimes it has been only 30 minutes or less! I only have

6 teeth left - bottom front, as these are the only ones that have

never had any dental work done on them. Sometimes I wish that I had

just had them pulled as well. I love the feeling of having all of

the metal and toxic rot out of my mouth. It is just so liberating.

My mother thinks I'm nuts. I've told her that she has mecury toxic

problems - but she says she would rather die than have her teeth

extracted - and she is 80!! She hurts all over and bitches about the

same symptoms that I do. I need to quit bitching and get serious

about getting the mercury out of me. I thought that just having my

teeth yanked out would at least solve 1/2 of my problems - but

unfortunatly, it did not. That was quite a let down. I'm just a

coward - I don't want to do this alone. It scares the heck out of

me. I want someone to make all my decisions for me - all the right

ones. I seem to make very bad decisions. I can't trust myself.

Point of fact: My taking 250 Mg of ALA. I stopped taking ALA

yesterday morning. My BP was sky high! I am getting all of the

symptoms I was wondering about. I thought I would get the symptoms

while on ALA - no, I'm getting them now. I seldom every have

headaches anymore. Used to have horrible ones, but wonderful

menopause stopped all the headaches. I thought my head would explode

yesterday it hurt so bad. I had to take alot of Motrim - which I'm

not happy about taking. My stomach was a mess too. My head is much

better today - but it still isn't right, and the back of my neck

hurts as well as both jaw bones. It hurts to wear my dentures today -

my jaw bones just ache and feel like they are pounding with a heart

beat. I see my doctor on 8/22. I'm going to CRY big time and beg her

to read Andy's book and then explain it to me. I'm going to try and

put her on a huge guilt trip and see if she will Rx me some DMPS or

whatever the acronym is. (This could all back-fire on me - she may

think I need to be committed!) Actually, I'd love to be committed to

a mercury detox clinic - where the caregivers are following Andy's

protocol. No worries - they feed ya, medicate ya, and supplement

ya. I could just SLEEP and take lots of long walks (when able). I

think I want to take the DMPS for awhile, and then the other one

(DMSA ?) and ALA. I don't understand how you can open a 50 mg

capsule and divide it into 4ths. Do you just add the 1/4 powder to

water and drink it. It would be such a tiny amount to work with. I

don't want to try and fill 4 separate capsules with these tiny

amounts. That wouldn't be possible, would it?

I had my teeth extracted by the dentist that wrote, Tooth Truth, in

Indiana. What a let down he was - a JERK. Money grubbing. I never

paid him and never will. He knew I was allergic to epinephrine

(sp). I told him that my dentist instructed me tell any new dentist

that I could not have epiy added to my Novocaine. He told me he

would have not problems extracting my teeth with Novocaine alone.

LIAR. He could not get me numb enough. I told him to just pull and

not pay any attention to my screams - I just wanted the tooth out.

Without telling me, he put some epiy in one of my MANY injections for

this one tooth. He left the room and I began having a reaction. I

began sweating profusely and shaking all over. I had horrible SOB.

When he returned, I told him I was really sick all over. I thought

it might be from having so many Movocaine injections. I told him

maybe he would have to add just a tiny amount of epiy in an injection

and he said, " I all ready did " . I then knew my reaction was to the

epiy! Long story short - I began getting chest pain and pain down my

left arm. I told the doc I thought I was going to die. He called

the paramedics and my BP was 220/110. I don't remember much except

having a bunch of huge men in my tiny dental room, and then getting

rushed to the ER. The ER doc told me that my EKG was horrible. I

asked him to explain horrible - which of course he didn't. I'd never

had an EKG done before. He told me I had some type of heart damage

and needed to stay in the hospital. I told him I couldn't stay - I

had to return to my rented apartment to do my dental aftercare

stuff. He told me that he needed to take blood in 6 hours to see if

I had a MI. I guess it takes 6 hours for the body to circulate some

type of enzyme. I told him I would return in 6 hours for a blood

draw. He refused that idea and I told him that apparently he really

wasn't very interested whether I had a MI or not. By the way, Dr

Jerome told my mother, who was in the waiting room, that she had

better come to my exam room. He had not prepared her for what was

happening to me. She almost fainted. She thought I was really going

to die. She had just lost my brother to colon CA in DEC-01, and

thought I was a goner too. I heard the dentist tell her that I was

just having a panic attack. I started screaming at him, You are a

big fat liar. I've had so much toture done to my teeth that I can

fall asleep during a rool canal. I actually always loved to get my

teeth cleaned - the rougher the better. I had never had a panic

attack like I had in the dentist office. I've had a few in the past

10 years - but usually just couldn't get my breath right. No

screaming, shaking all over, chest pain, etc. Plus the ER doc said

my EKG was horrible. So I had to drive home (7-1/2 hours) the next

day with only part of my teeth extracted - one tooth broke and was

only 1/2 out! What a diaster. My oral surgeon at home wouldn't

touch me unless a cardiologist cleared me for surgery. Plus it cost

me a fortune to get the rest pulled - cause surgeon would only do in

the hospital (not his office) and my insurance wouldn't pay for it.

This cardiologist did a heart cath, stress test, radio-active stuff,

and it was discovered that I had conduction problems. No meds,

nothing. All that money - just to find out I had a heart conduction

problem that they didn't know how to treat?? Consequently, it cost

me so much for all of this crap - I refused to pay the dentist. I

told him to sue me. He never did. I had the rest of my teeth

extracted in the hospital under a general - plus a lot of bone

surgery on these tori bony growths in my mouth. He even had to

remove the roof of my mouth to remove tori there as well - couldn't

wear dentures with all these deformed bony growths in my mouth. I

was told that it would take 4 months to heal from this bone surgery

and that it would be horribly painful. I never had any pain - other

than extraction sites. Big deal - I've had to deal with these many

times before. The surgeon could have done a better job sewing the

roof of my mouth back together (huge rough scar) - but it doesn't

hurt. I followed the Hulda dental aftercare program and never

had any infection, etc. I healed up very fast only to find out I

needed more tori surgery in April. So I went without any teeth

except the 6 front lower from 9/17/02 until the last week in July

2003. I lost weight - that was good. I was swollen for a long time -

so you didn't even know I didn't have any top teeth unless I

smiled. I just covered my mouth when I smiled in public. I missed

several social engagements - but other than that, I still did all my

own shopping and errand running. However, my fatigue never improved -

my brain fog got a little better and my hypoglycemia improved after

the removal of my teeth. But still alot of stomach and colon

problems. Sometimes the pain in the top of my stomach is so bad -

nothing will abate it. I've tried everything. Activated charcoal

gives a little relief for a short while only. It seems to just have

to run its course and then quits on its own. Do you think this is

mercury or Lyme? Who the heck know? Many times I've wished that I

could go to sleep and never wake up. But I just need to get MAD

instead of SAD and become a soldier to FIGHT this syndrome. However,

I could use a really good general. I'm a good follower - take orders

well. I hate making decisions. If someone else would just make them

for me - I could just follow orders and do as I'm told. That would

take such a load off, wouldn't it?

Doris

>

> Hi Doris and all

>

> I had most of my amalgams removed about five years ago... only

> because they were old and my dentist felt they weren't in very

good

> shape.

>

> They weren't replaced using any particular protocol - just drilled

> out - but I don't honestly recall having any particular problems

> after they were replaced. If I did, it was subtle.

>

> The big problem started last May, following an abdominal sports

> injury. My digestion went haywire, I started getting incredibly

> tired, and I developed a subtle tinnitus in my right ear.

>

> The tinnitus and fatigue gradually became a whole lot worse, then

> just exploded in October last year, after being " diagnosed " with

CFS.

> I'd wake up in the middle of the night with airport-runway level

> tinnitus and hearing loss. ENTs were at a loss to explain it. I

also

> got vivid nightmares every time I fell asleep, and would wake up

> every couple of hours thinking I'd been out for five hours.

>

> Five months later, I had a swollen, burning tongue and mouth,

burning

> ears, tinnitus in both ears, fluctuating deafness, migraine-type

> " flashing lights " at night, and generally felt like death.

>

> I eventually remembered that my biggest amalgam had been left in

> place, because the dentist felt it was so big I might lose the

whole

> tooth if he took it out. The tooth had turned a medium grey

colour,

> and there was an obvious " tatoo " of the gum around the tooth.

>

> So I had it removed... badly. The sleep disturbances kicked off

> again, big time.

>

> However, some of the other symptoms did seem to level off a bit.

>

> It was about two weeks later i started trying the DMSA.

>

> At 12.5mg every 3.5 hours, I would get an intense tingling

sensation

> in both forarms, increased tinnitus, but a general " warm " feeling

of

> well-being.

>

> Then on ending a round all hell would break loose. Headache,

weakness...

>

> I didn't stay with the DMSA for very long, because every doc I saw

> insisted it couldn't possibly be mercury-related (and they could

yet

> be right).

>

> The tinnitus and hearing loss have been getting progressively

worse

> however. No identifiable cause despite lots of investigations.

>

> Recently I started giving the DMSA another go, on the thinking

that

> if it's not mercury it won't do any harm, but if it is, the sooner

I

> get on with it the better. I've done about three rounds.

>

> Oh, occasionally, I get a splitting headache 12-24 hours after

> starting a round, plus a real problem with bright lights. The

first

> instance landed me in emergency, where they thought I had a sub-

> arachnoid haematoma! (I didn't).

>

> The question I can never get an answer to is, if I have a reaction

to

> DMSA, does that mean I'm definitely mercury-poisoned? Can you get

a

> reaction to DMSA for any other reason? It's quite possible that my

> continued hearing loss is auto-immune in nature... although I

woudn't

> have thought that DMSA would have such an immediate effect on an

auto-

> immune condition. (i.e. <24hrs after starting a round, funny

things

> would happen to my ears).

>

> I should mention that I was also getting excruciating burning pain

in

> both ears accompanied by deafness ,back around March to May this

> year. It was so bad it would keep me awake all night. I honestly

> wanted to die... if I'd gone to sleep and not woken up again, that

> would have been just fine by me.

>

> What that was all about I'm not sure. Some say it's nerve pain,

> others suggested cochlear hydrops.

>

> If you're getting vertigo attacks I would find a really good ear

> specialist somewhere and get it carefully investigated.

>

> Does any of this sound familiar?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Fats: Thanks for the info. I printed out your post to below.

I made notes all over my book while re-reading it. I also started a

list for supplements I must add (if I can force anymore down). I

remember reading about the niacinimide - but didn't remember why my

brain knew that I needed it! I have DHEA and Pregnenolone on my list

and forskolin. I've never heard of the last one - will have to do some

studying on it. I think my husband would like to have me killed -

cause I'm costing him so much MONEY!! Sometimes I wish he really would.

Doris

>

> Hi , just thought I'd mention that on page 67 of Andy's book, he

> says " if you have autoimmune problems, take niacinimide 500 -1000 mg

> with each meal and at bedtime, plus DHEA, plus borage oil, plus

> forskolin.

>

> You may already have read this, but sometime it's easy to miss things

> in his book and thought I'd post it anyway.