Lead Poisoning- Brain Lesions?

Back in the 1990's I lived in Antigua and the whole family was poisoned by lead. We were living on the deck of a boat downwind of a dump, where garbage was burned 2 to 3 times a week, including lead-based paint and marine batteries. This went on for more than a year and a half. While we were showing symptoms, the diagnosis was a fluke. I had fallen overboard 3 times and was extremely fatigued and losing weight and came to the States to stay with my parents and get a complete check up. Dr. couldn't find anything, but never considered lead poisoning.

My toddler son was overdue for a booster shot. The clinic ran lead filter paper tests as standard procedure. His level was over the top, so much so that they came to my parents' house with the results. By that time, I was back in Antigua with my son.

We will never know our peak levels, only levels months after exposure. Given the half life of lead and our test results, it is safe to infer that we were over toxic levels (>75 mg/dl).

Fast forward from 1992 to present. I have been having neurological symptoms now for more than 8 years. Brain MRI's show numerous (>12) lesions in the white matter of the brain that are not typical of MS in location or shape. They tend to be ellipsoidal in nature and range from 1 mm up to 7 mm.

I have DDD in both the L and C spine. This explains some of the numbness, tingling and weakness that I experience. I also have problems with headaches that can last for months, memory and language problems, fatigue, vison and balance problems and disrupted sleep patterns. My blood pressure goes all over the map; my normal used to be 110/60 but can get up to 162/129- I am underwieght and eat a low fat diet.

Could my past history of lead poisoning be contributing to my current problems as the lead stored in my bones is leaching into my bloodstream? I ended menses very early (age 43) and my symptoms started about a year later. I was dx'd with osteoporosis at age 50.

Audrey

[Audrey_M]

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[Audrey_M]

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