Guest guest Posted October 31, 2003 Report Share Posted October 31, 2003 Hi all, Just wanted to let you all know after joining this group in mid July and listening, reading, researching and corresponding with several of you, I decided the route I wanted to pursue for my health was to see Dr. Mercola. I feel like a guinea pig for this group! If there are any others among you, please let me know! Just to brief you, I'm 51 and was DX with RA 23 years ago. I've never been on prednisone, but did try some of the DMARDS for short periods without any improvement until trying Azulfadine and Voltaren, which I was on for eight years. My ND told me my kidneys were being damaged and I needed to get off the meds soon, so he helped me wean off of them and with the help of diet, supplements (Fish oil being top on the list) and a relatively stress free life I went into remission for about four years (Neg. RA factor, no symptoms, Sedrate of 8, great labs!) That was 1998. The year 2002 brought on many major stresses, the removal of my fillings, a root canal, peri- menopause (hormone imbalance) and a change in my diet and supplements (I decided flax oil was cheaper...) By January of 2003 I was again experiencing major symptoms of RA, so I did a cleansing diet for a week only to begin experienceing various joints freezing for days and then moving around to another joint and freezing. That began my frantic attempt to get back to remission. My ND took me off grains and put me on a high fat, high protein and low carb diet. I continued to get worse and now my energy level was so low I felt like I'd hit a wall. We kept adding more supplements and even Bee Sting therapy--nothing helped. We added DHEA and natural glandulars. Still no improvement. Then one day in July I was in and Noble and saw the book, " Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Infection Connection " and began looking through it and came across several mentionings of Dr. Mercola. So I looked up his website and began reading. I found this group and began listening and corresponding. With the research I did and the experiences I'd already been through, I decided to make an appointment with Dr. Mercola. That was my best decision so far! I spent a week in Chicago the end of September and had various tests and procedures for five days. I'm going back in two weeks for more-- mainly a new procedure Dr. Mercola began implimenting three months ago called LAD (laser activated detoxification). As I suspected, I have a high mercury level, most likely due to having nine fillings removed (I didn't know at the time about the importance of how the fillings are removed). In case you're curious, no I'm not on AP. Dr. Mercola told me he uses it very rarely now and thought I would do great without it. (Yes, I was aware of this before I decided to see him.) The foundation of my treatment is the Metabolic Type Diet. I'm a Carbohydrate Type. That explains why I continued to feel soooo tired and exhausted on the high fat, high protein, low carb diet I had been trying. No more Salmon for me! Only light meats and small portions. Dr. Mercola said I'm one of the few who will do well on grains and he added back various ones. I immediately began regaining my energy as soon as I started eating right for me. (I also increased my vegetable juicing from 16 ounces a day to 32 ounces a day.) As all of you can imagine who are struggling with utter exhaustion, it is wonderful to have energy again! That alone gives me so much hope and the confidence that I'm finally on the right track. I recieved muscle testing to determine the right supplements for me. I went in with a LARGE igloo cooler filled with bottles and came away with only a handful! What a joy not to have to take all those pills that weren't doing me any good, not to mention the $$$avings each month now. I'm choosing to have more muscle testing done in November to fine tune my diet and recheck my supplements. Calcium was one of the supplements I was taken off of. Instead, my body needs magnesium. That's a paradigm shift for me since I have Osteoporosis and my Rheumy had me taking 1500mg of calcium daily--I refused to take Fosomax after reading how it works. (yes I was taking all the synergistic nutrients along with the ca.) I'll keep you posted on the Osteoporosis. I had a session of NST with Jeff and that is amazing. I've chosen to have three more sessions of NST done where I live. I also had a session of EFT which was most helpful and more informative than the EFT Manual. I continue to do that on my own and have incorporated it into my prayers. I've chosen to have another session at Dr. Mercola's in November. It has been most valuable for me in addressing trauma and it is wonderful for pain and stress management and anything else you can think to use it for--I've even used it for insomnia! I had the usual lab work done which was for the most part very good. My cholesterol was too low and Dr. Mercola said that was a factor in my hormone imbalance. It takes cholesterol to make hormones. So he has me temporarily taking Progesterone and upping my fat intake for a month or two to raise my cholesterol and then off the Progesterone. (Yes, hormones play a role in RA.) I also had a hair analysis done (high mercury level) and a Live Cell test. I'll get another Live Cell test in November and I'm hoping to see improvement due to my change in diet. I'll keep you posted. With the help of the DIET, EFT, NST, LAD, the BIBLE and GOD I'm on the road back! Health to you all, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 2, 2003 Report Share Posted November 2, 2003 A couple of questions - surely you can eat salmon now and then? Coming from Mr. Salmon himself (Dr. Mercola), I find it amazing he would say you couldn't have salmon. Did he put you on Vitamin K for your osteoporosis? (I bought it, only to find buried on his site later the small detail that it apparently only works for women). Why would an ND put you on a high fat diet? Doesn't sound too healthy, unless it was the healthy fats. Back to Mercola - did he explain why he didn't favor or find minocycline to be necessary any longer? What pray tell, did all of this cost and was any of it covered by insurance? Glad to hear that it is helping you, that's for sure - will be interested to hear more. I buy into some of Dr. Mercola's ideas and others are way out there (for me), so I'm curious to hear of your experiences. I do realize it does make a difference in one's health if one goes in with a positive attitude vs a creepy feeling that what you're about to get, isn't going to help you. Mark > No more Salmon for me! Only light meats and small > portions. Calcium was one of > the supplements I was taken off of. Instead, my body needs > magnesium. That's a paradigm shift for me since I have Osteoporosis > and my Rheumy had me taking 1500mg of calcium daily--I refused to > take Fosomax after reading how it works. (yes I was taking all the > synergistic nutrients along with the ca.) I'll keep you posted on > the Osteoporosis. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 2, 2003 Report Share Posted November 2, 2003 Hey, Mark! Sally here-probably Dr. M did not want her to eat salmon because of her mercury poisoning... Anyway, I wanted to ask you if you are doing the AP and the methotrexate? ette (e-mail address Warren Portnoy) e-mailed me a couple of wks ago about problems with the AP and said her posts weren't making it to the group. I think they are now, but I don't know. Computer whiz, I ain't!! Are you still in the B & B business there in Virginia? My hubby and I moved to Little Rock, Arkansas from the DC area-Lordy, I love living in the South and in the central time zone, close to my St. Louis relatives and in a sparsely populated city and state!! I only get on the computer once every couple of weeks but do let me know what you're taking & how you're doing. Thanks much! Sally in Little Rock rheumatic Re: Dr. Mercola's Patient > A couple of questions - surely you can eat salmon now and then? > Coming from Mr. Salmon himself (Dr. Mercola), I find it amazing he > would say you couldn't have salmon. Did he put you on Vitamin K for > your osteoporosis? (I bought it, only to find buried on his site > later the small detail that it apparently only works for women). > Why would an ND put you on a high fat diet? Doesn't sound too > healthy, unless it was the healthy fats. > > Back to Mercola - did he explain why he didn't favor or find > minocycline to be necessary any longer? What pray tell, did all of > this cost and was any of it covered by insurance? Glad to hear that > it is helping you, that's for sure - will be interested to hear > more. I buy into some of Dr. Mercola's ideas and others are way out > there (for me), so I'm curious to hear of your experiences. I do > realize it does make a difference in one's health if one goes in > with a positive attitude vs a creepy feeling that what you're about > to get, isn't going to help you. > > Mark > > > > > > No more Salmon for me! Only light meats and small > > portions. > > Calcium was one of > > the supplements I was taken off of. Instead, my body needs > > magnesium. That's a paradigm shift for me since I have > Osteoporosis > > and my Rheumy had me taking 1500mg of calcium daily--I refused to > > take Fosomax after reading how it works. (yes I was taking all the > > synergistic nutrients along with the ca.) I'll keep you posted on > > the Osteoporosis. > > > > > > > To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 2, 2003 Report Share Posted November 2, 2003 Dear Mark, See the info I've pasted in below from one of Dr. Mercola's newsletters. Ellen Dr. Mercola's Comment: Not only is it wise to avoid most all fish because of PCBs, but also because of the toxic mercury that contaminates even most ocean-raised fish. Some of you may believe that you will avoid this problem by eating farm-raised salmon. Unfortunately, nearly all farm fish have the same mercury and PCB problem and have much lower amounts of beneficial omega-3 than wild-caught salmon. Almost all fish served in restaurants is farm raised. Fortunately, you do have viable options for obtaining the nutritious benefits of fish, such as regularly consuming high-quality purified fish oil like the Carlson's brand of fish oil, and enjoying the absolutely delicious Alaskan wild red salmon] from the one source I discovered, through independent lab-testing my team coordinated, to be mercury- and PCB-free and safe. The diets of most Americans are dangerously low in omega-3, a fat essential to good health but only found in fish oil and a few other foods. I recommend, above almost any other addition to everyone's diet, fish oil and cod liver oil. I have researched and tried many fish oil brands but only recommend Carlson's brand fish oil and cod liver oil as I have found it to be the most superior available. It is purified to the highest standards to be free from mercury and other toxins and is made without chemical modification and processing. Additionally, early last year we did extensive testing on fish from a company, Vital Choice, that takes the salmon from the interior of Alaska and were surprised and delighted to find that the mercury levels were virtually undetectable. In addition to our test for mercury, Vital Choice has conducted numerous tests on the salmon and has never once detected PCBs. If you enjoy the delicious taste and immense health benefits of some of the world's finest salmon--Alaskan wild red--but you are concerned about the PCBs, mercury and other toxins now found in dangerous amounts in almost all fish, then please consider trying the Alaskan wild red salmon from Vital Choice that tested safe and is now available in our Web site store. Naturally, this is the only fish that I eat now. Related Articles: What You Must Know Before You Eat Fish Why Farmed Salmon Isn't Good for You Dangerous PCBs Found in Salmon Fish Farms Become Feedlots of the Sea Mercury-Contaminated Fish Poses Health Risks to Adults Fish Oil Can Improve Lupus Symptoms rheumatic Re: Dr. Mercola's Patient A couple of questions - surely you can eat salmon now and then? Coming from Mr. Salmon himself (Dr. Mercola), I find it amazing he would say you couldn't have salmon. Did he put you on Vitamin K for your osteoporosis? (I bought it, only to find buried on his site later the small detail that it apparently only works for women). Why would an ND put you on a high fat diet? Doesn't sound too healthy, unless it was the healthy fats. Back to Mercola - did he explain why he didn't favor or find minocycline to be necessary any longer? What pray tell, did all of this cost and was any of it covered by insurance? Glad to hear that it is helping you, that's for sure - will be interested to hear more. I buy into some of Dr. Mercola's ideas and others are way out there (for me), so I'm curious to hear of your experiences. I do realize it does make a difference in one's health if one goes in with a positive attitude vs a creepy feeling that what you're about to get, isn't going to help you. Mark > No more Salmon for me! Only light meats and small > portions. Calcium was one of > the supplements I was taken off of. Instead, my body needs > magnesium. That's a paradigm shift for me since I have Osteoporosis > and my Rheumy had me taking 1500mg of calcium daily--I refused to > take Fosomax after reading how it works. (yes I was taking all the > synergistic nutrients along with the ca.) I'll keep you posted on > the Osteoporosis. > To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2003 Report Share Posted November 5, 2003 Hi Mark, I answered your questions in a reply today, but evidentally it didn't get posted. Did you by any chance receive it personally? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2003 Report Share Posted November 6, 2003 > Hi Mark, > > I answered your questions in a reply today, but evidentally it didn't > get posted. Did you by any chance receive it personally? > > Yes, I did. For whatever reason, this group defaults to sending replies to the original sender, rather than the group. You have to specify the group in the drop down box. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2003 Report Share Posted November 6, 2003 Hi Mark, Ooohhh, duh! Thanks! > > Hi Mark, > > > > I answered your questions in a reply today, but evidentally it > didn't > > get posted. Did you by any chance receive it personally? > > > > > > Yes, I did. For whatever reason, this group defaults to sending > replies to the original sender, rather than the group. You have to > specify the group in the drop down box. > > Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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