Thanks Jackie and very helpful to know that you did so well with your LD treatment WHILE still having amalgams. Dr. R, in the link I provided sounds like he gives similar advice to yours - to deal with the LD and co-infections first, then if 6 or 8 months down the road things are not improving, he considers other issues including the amalgams.
I had a lot of 'silver' [mercury amalgam] fillings in my baby teeth and some adult teeth (mostly the big molars in the back), so getting them replaced was a big question. As the old 'silver' fillings have leaked and failed over time, they have been replaced with white (ceramic composite) fillings or crowns. So I've been down this road more than once.
My dentists over the years have said that when the 'silver' fillings are removed, the mercury gets released in your body, tho I have read recently that there are ways to lessen that, with special capture equipment to lessen not just crumbs of the 'silver' fillings but also the tiny particles released into the air (and absorbed by your body) as the drill does its work. I just search online for -- amalgam removal -- and got lots of information and photos, including ways to 'vacuum' up the cloud of amalgam that starts flying in microscopic bits as the drill does its work.
There are docs like your ND that are totally opposed to amalgam fillings and think they ought to be taken out immediately, while others replace them only as needed, to avoid releasing the mercury during removal.
I am getting mine replaced only as the old fillings fail, and I was treated successfully for Lyme. Given how much stress the body is under when you have Lyme and treating and getting over it, I personally would wait till after Lyme treatment was done before getting the old fillings replaced.
A dentist who is fixated on the mercury issues may not understand the burden the body is under from Lyme itself -- lots of medical people really don't understand Lyme, and there's no reason a dentist would necessarily be up to speed on the topic.
fwiw, imho.
Yes, that is frustrating! I've heard the pros and cons too so I'll be anxious to hear more from my LLND. I know that she did say it has to be done by a dentist that specializes in it. Anyway, thanks and let me know if you find out anything more. :)
I am researching this too. I have heard pros and cons. There is a FB group about it and one guy just got his removed but is very sick from all the gases.
I was also told that I will never get better if I still have them. Frustrating.
Found some interesting and helpful info on this subject. Here's one link that provides some info from a reliable LLMD on the subject.
http://www.treatlyme.net/treat-lyme-book/heavy-metals-lead-mercury-and-mitochondria.html