Aa
High ANA, multiple symptoms and tired of second hand treatment by doc!!!
I've been dealing with whatever this is for almost 2 years this January. Terrible headaches and joint pain which have progressed since June to other areas. I have been experiencing sweats, a positive ANA currently at 1:640 and speckled pattern and weight gain of 20 lbs in past two months. Started tanning in a tanning salon in June. I have pain up under my right rib cage (gall bladder removal last year) and am constantly fatigued. In the past week I have severe pain from my shin to my thigh and can barely walk. I'm 51 and feel like I'm 80!!!
I had pinpoint purple dots on my lower legs in July but they seemed to go away after a couple of months and now I have pencil eraser sized white spots on my lower legs. . Have also been experiencing what feels like a pressure on the lower part of my neck right above the breast bone- like someone is stepping on my throat. Sometimes hard to breathe. Was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with Raynaud's phenomenon and sent over to my rheumatologist since my ANA went up to 1:640 from 1:160. Have family history of Rheumatoid artheritis, Hypothyroidism, fybromyalgia and neuropathy. I was barely able to walk into his office and was treated like this is all in my head. Told me that I ought to go see an endocrinologist and " some stomach doctor" for the pain under my rib cage. Have had a thyroid test in the past that was negative. I'm just feeling so awful and frustrated that I keep getting passed off from one doctor to another. He did more bloodwork after I asked him to. Will see if that has changed. Regardless, I think I'm getting a different rheumatologist! Does any of this sound like anything to anyone out there??! A dear friend told me I ought to skip these doctors and just head up to Mayo, but I don't think they treat anyone that doesn't have a more concrete diagnosis do they? Anyway, let me know what you think.
I had pinpoint purple dots on my lower legs in July but they seemed to go away after a couple of months and now I have pencil eraser sized white spots on my lower legs. . Have also been experiencing what feels like a pressure on the lower part of my neck right above the breast bone- like someone is stepping on my throat. Sometimes hard to breathe. Was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with Raynaud's phenomenon and sent over to my rheumatologist since my ANA went up to 1:640 from 1:160. Have family history of Rheumatoid artheritis, Hypothyroidism, fybromyalgia and neuropathy. I was barely able to walk into his office and was treated like this is all in my head. Told me that I ought to go see an endocrinologist and " some stomach doctor" for the pain under my rib cage. Have had a thyroid test in the past that was negative. I'm just feeling so awful and frustrated that I keep getting passed off from one doctor to another. He did more bloodwork after I asked him to. Will see if that has changed. Regardless, I think I'm getting a different rheumatologist! Does any of this sound like anything to anyone out there??! A dear friend told me I ought to skip these doctors and just head up to Mayo, but I don't think they treat anyone that doesn't have a more concrete diagnosis do they? Anyway, let me know what you think.
Hey Cowboytom, it seems that your treatment is limited to only some symptom management.
Your diagnosis could very well be Recurring Cellulitis with Secondary Lymphedema, however, you understand that we cannot give a diagnosis
here.
Unfortunately the treatment may have lacked efficiency because of:
The inability to control the recurring cellulitis (suspicion) , the lack of any
prophylactic therapy, and the total absence of patient education in self- management of lymphedema.
My assumptions are based on your brief account of what has taken place In regards to your condition.
I'll post another time as I gtg soon.
Best wishes,
Niko
Your diagnosis could very well be Recurring Cellulitis with Secondary Lymphedema, however, you understand that we cannot give a diagnosis
here.
Unfortunately the treatment may have lacked efficiency because of:
The inability to control the recurring cellulitis (suspicion) , the lack of any
prophylactic therapy, and the total absence of patient education in self- management of lymphedema.
My assumptions are based on your brief account of what has taken place In regards to your condition.
I'll post another time as I gtg soon.
Best wishes,
Niko
I have had swelling in my lower from hip to toes with emphasis about 12 inches of above knee. My Va doctors take the easy way out and say CHF. And if I Do it started after strep to my right lower leg. I had no heart problems and my health was excellent till May 1st 2009 in which I I was close to death. The VA where I'm located is a hundred years in the past.. My opinion the VA is only out for them selves. It took me 36 years to get PTSD and then they only gave me 50 percent service connected and my family has lived though Heck. I should have got 70 percent , they were surposed to have rated me at discharge in 1979 but you know the Goverment.But now I can't get any help because they don't want to diagnose and I have to live the rest my life with a disease I don't even know what it is. Symptoms: swelled legs, there cure florsimide 40 to 160 mil grams.p--s it out don't fine out what caused it don't cure it. No Sickness but after first long hospital could not eat for weeks but nibble and I forced myself to that. Second long stay the same. Super dry skin below knees..Getting very depressed from no diagnosis and no cure.
Hello, I know it has been years since your helpful post. I sure hope that you are well, healthy and blessed. Like you back then I am having a lot of health problems without getting any help from any doctor. I would love to hear from you.
Another heavy metal culprit aside form mercury is iron and iron overload is very common. It is called hemochromatosis, and causes the same and many more symptoms and life-threatening complications as stated and described above.
You need ferritin, transferrin saturation, TIBC and serum iron tests.
You need ferritin, transferrin saturation, TIBC and serum iron tests.
wow.i thought i was the only one with info on mercury and ill health but the connection with yeast is awesome....another symptom i have constantly..you are a wonderful and smart person to figure all this out...cudos much appeciated!!!
check your mercury levels..go to an alternative doctor and get a collect urine for 24 hrs..heavy metals anf vitamin b and lysine for your ammun system.......road to recovery
I just read a post from you posted in 2008
and was wondering if you're still using it (Olive leaf) and
how you're doing with it and how you're feeling now.
I just found out I have ANA and haven't seen a specialist
yet about it and am trying to find out if there are things I
can do for myself in the interim until I can get an appointment.
I would love to hear from you & thanks for your time.
and was wondering if you're still using it (Olive leaf) and
how you're doing with it and how you're feeling now.
I just found out I have ANA and haven't seen a specialist
yet about it and am trying to find out if there are things I
can do for myself in the interim until I can get an appointment.
I would love to hear from you & thanks for your time.
PLEASE LOOK AT THIS.
I have Lupus for the past 2 years and I friend who had it for 15 years and now is in perfect condition told me to read about the CANDIDA DIET, she started the diet 3 weeks ago and today is pain free and is not longer taking her medications (prednizona, plaquenil etc); I have started the diet 5 days ago and my life have changed, the inflamation is gone and the pain is almost gone. Please reseach about this, try it and you will see the diferent, I promise you that we are intoxicated with fongus and diferents bacterias inside our sistem, that is why the immune system is going crazy and attacking all our orgnans etc. Please read and you will see that the simptoms are just like Lupus, that is why, after reading so many books and information, I have to accept that Lupus is nothing else than an infeccion that we keep feeding with what we eat. PLEASE READ ABOUT THIS, CANDIDA DIET.
I have Lupus for the past 2 years and I friend who had it for 15 years and now is in perfect condition told me to read about the CANDIDA DIET, she started the diet 3 weeks ago and today is pain free and is not longer taking her medications (prednizona, plaquenil etc); I have started the diet 5 days ago and my life have changed, the inflamation is gone and the pain is almost gone. Please reseach about this, try it and you will see the diferent, I promise you that we are intoxicated with fongus and diferents bacterias inside our sistem, that is why the immune system is going crazy and attacking all our orgnans etc. Please read and you will see that the simptoms are just like Lupus, that is why, after reading so many books and information, I have to accept that Lupus is nothing else than an infeccion that we keep feeding with what we eat. PLEASE READ ABOUT THIS, CANDIDA DIET.
Two weeks ago, I purchased Olive Leaf, Probiotics (refrigerated kind), Thisilyn, Bromelain, Adrenal Caps, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Pau D'Arco and Yeast Cleanse from my local Vitamin Shoppe. I have been taking everything in 2 capsules, 3 times a day and am feeling SO much better. The olive leaf, yeast cleanse and Pau D'Arco I take 30 minutes before a meal and everything else I take with my meal. I am also getting about 20-30 minutes of sun every day to help with my Vitamin D levels. The olive leaf has been helping my acne TREMENDOUSLY. I mean, it's like an overnight difference. I am also cooking with the coconut oil and rubbing it on my scalp at night. I have quit using shampoo and only use baking soda and conditioner to clean my hair. Sounds crazy, I know, but it is SO IMPORTANT that you eliminate toxins wherever you can and shampoo is loaded with them. Here's how to go no 'poo: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Go-No-Poo/. There are also alot of other things you need to do around your house and in your life to detoxify--cleaning agents, laundry detergent, perfumes, food and water choices...there are a lot of alternatives out there and you can find a wealth of info on the internet about the chemicals in everyday products and better choices you can make for yourself.
As far as the candida-heavy metal connection, it is important to note that candida alone can cause chronic fatigue. There is a great website that is dedicated to the candida-mercury-chronic fatigue relationship. You can find that here: http://www.cfspages.com/fire.html. Many times, when candida is being killed off, people will start to feel even worse than usual. Most people compare it to a flu-like feeling. This is a good thing because it means that your body is dumping toxins. The symptoms are actually called a "Herxheimer" reaction, which means the digestive enzymes I am taking are working. The Bromelain is supposed to help the die-off. I am also taking Juice Plus and Dr. Mercola's Whole Food Vitamins, Plus Minerals. This may be helping with the die off as well. It is important to take a good vitamin with minerals (only the whole foods kind--no synthetics!) because people with mercury overload are very mineral deficient.
True heavy metal/candida/chemical detoxification can take years to fully complete. It is no easy task, but unless you want to continue to get worse, it absolutely must be done. I have dedicated myself to it as I not only want to get better for myself, but I do not have any children yet and I want desperately to have them--and have them be healthy! I have read thousands of articles about this stuff and I still feel like I am just scratching the surface. There is so much info out there, it is really hard to wade through it all.
There are tests you can take at home for heavy metals, adrenals and Candida. They are the exact same tests that my doctor charged me a lot of money for. They're run by the same labs and everything! If you are interested, I can send you all the information. Also, please feel free to message me if you have any questions. God bless!
As far as the candida-heavy metal connection, it is important to note that candida alone can cause chronic fatigue. There is a great website that is dedicated to the candida-mercury-chronic fatigue relationship. You can find that here: http://www.cfspages.com/fire.html. Many times, when candida is being killed off, people will start to feel even worse than usual. Most people compare it to a flu-like feeling. This is a good thing because it means that your body is dumping toxins. The symptoms are actually called a "Herxheimer" reaction, which means the digestive enzymes I am taking are working. The Bromelain is supposed to help the die-off. I am also taking Juice Plus and Dr. Mercola's Whole Food Vitamins, Plus Minerals. This may be helping with the die off as well. It is important to take a good vitamin with minerals (only the whole foods kind--no synthetics!) because people with mercury overload are very mineral deficient.
True heavy metal/candida/chemical detoxification can take years to fully complete. It is no easy task, but unless you want to continue to get worse, it absolutely must be done. I have dedicated myself to it as I not only want to get better for myself, but I do not have any children yet and I want desperately to have them--and have them be healthy! I have read thousands of articles about this stuff and I still feel like I am just scratching the surface. There is so much info out there, it is really hard to wade through it all.
There are tests you can take at home for heavy metals, adrenals and Candida. They are the exact same tests that my doctor charged me a lot of money for. They're run by the same labs and everything! If you are interested, I can send you all the information. Also, please feel free to message me if you have any questions. God bless!
So why hasn't your dentist told you about the dangers of mercury amalgams? Two reasons: 1) they just don't know any better because the ADA is telling them the mercury fillings are safe (they have been duped just like you and me); and 2) if they do happen to know better (and some of them do), they are not allowed to suggest that you get your fillings removed for health purposes BECAUSE THEY CAN LOSE THEIR LICENSE! The ADA will, and has, taken the licenses of dentists who have spoken out about the dangers of mercury. In the absence of a defective filling, a dentist must wait for the patient to ask for his/her amalgams to be removed; they cannot suggest that you remove them!
There is a highly specialized way of removing amalgams that involves filters, oxygen/gas masks for the dentist, nurses and patient, full body covers, protective eyewear, heavy suction of mercury vapors, and more. Most dentists are not trained in this area and therefore, a Biological/Holistic/Environmental Dentist should be consulted. You can find a dentist trained in the specialized way to remove mercury fillings here: http://www.iaomt.org/patients/search.aspx. Even if one is getting a mercury filling out and having it replaced with a white composite for aesthetic reasons, this very specialized procedure needs to be followed. If not, you will most assuredly expose yourself to dangerous levels of mercury vapors and particulate that can cause massive damage to your system. The question that a lot of people have at this point is why one person can be affected by their mercury fillings while another person is not. The answer is relatively simple: it has to do with one's genetic make-up. Some people are just predisposed to mercury sensitivity. It seems that you and I are two of those people. My mother is also suffering from mercury toxicity. My father, however, had all his fillings drilled out and replaced over a year ago and doesn't seem to be suffering any ill-effects thus far. The problem is, even if someone does not feel badly because of mercury exposure, the Mercury is still at work in that person's body and will eventually affect them one way or the other--whether it be in the form of cancer, alzheimers, arthritis, a heart attack, etc. Unfortunately, while there is a growing amount of research that details mercury's terrible effects on the human body, there is still not enough awareness out there so that the average person would be made readily aware of it.
Anyway, after I had done all this research on mercury, I then began to discover a connection between mercury and the fungus, Candida. Candida is a nasty little form of yeast that actually feeds off the mercury and then reeks its own havoc throughout one's entire body. Dr. J. Trowbridge has written in his book "The Yeast Syndrome," that some doctors specializing in Candida treatment have reported to him that they have discovered clinically that 98% of their patients with chronic Candida also had mercury toxicity. As you can see, the relationship between these two things is highly symbiotic. Candida can be present, and often times is, in a person without mercury toxicity; however, if one has heavy metals in their body and does not detoxify themselves of these metals before killing off the Candida, the Candida is just going to grow back.
Candida causes a plethora of health problems and is very hard to diagnose because the symptoms vary from individual to individual. Many times, a person suffering from Candida will be told that their symptoms are "all in their head" or that they are "just getting older" and that it's just a part of life. There are many estimates that 84% of the population is suffering from Candida. Even if a person has no heavy metals present in their body, Candida should be considered as a cause of illness. To see a pretty comprehensive list of the symptoms Candida can cause, click here: http://www.stopcandida.com/candida-symptoms.htm.
After God began to open my eyes to what was going on with me, I went to an alternative health care practitioner in Tampa and asked that she check me out for heavy metals, Candida and some other things that I thought could be wrong with me. Around the middle of July, my lab work came back and I found out that I not only had very high levels of mercury in my body, I also had very high levels of lead! The fact that lead and mercury are present together means that they act in conjunction with each other to do 100 times worse damage to my system than if I just had one or the other alone. I was also highly positive for the Candida, being ranked a Class 5 out of a Class 6. The Candida was not only present in my stool, it was also in my blood.
The heavy metal poisoning, combined with the Candida, has caused my adrenal glands to fail. The adrenal glands regulate cortisol levels, which in turn stimulates conversion of proteins to carbohydrates, supports blood sugar levels, and promotes glycogen storage in the liver – thereby providing the body with the energy it needs to function well. Unbalanced adrenal glands can contribute to bad metabolic rate, a weak immune system, low energy levels, and abnormal sleep states. Most people with chronic fatigue have malfunctioning adrenals.
As I said above, because my adrenal glands are not working, I am not producing very much cortisol. My cortisol levels are so low that they couldn't even get a reading out of my nighttime urine test. Low cortisol levels have been observed in patients with different stress-related disorders such as Panic/Anxiety Disorders, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Low cortisol leads to enhanced stress sensitivity, pain and fatigue.
I also have primary hypothyroidism, which I suspected all along, but it took a full review of my medical charts to see the escalating trend in my TSH levels. My neurotransmitters are all over the place, which is also contributing to the anxiety, fatigue, poor mental function and muscle weakness. The combination of all of these things means that my body is just completely overwhelmed.
So now that I had figured out my problem, I needed a solution! Using the IAOMT website, I found a biological dentist that happens to be one of the front-runners of the mercury-free movement. He has been on talk shows and radio programs, written books, articles, etc. Two months ago, I had all my fillings removed and replaced with biocompatible materials.
My dentist, directed me to an "integrative medicine" M.D. who was going to help me remove the heavy metals from my system using oral chelation. Some doctors use IV chelation but this is very dangerous and has even caused deaths. Before attempting any form of chelation therapy, it is imperative that one have ALL of their mercury fillings removed. Otherwise, you can cause more mercury to leech out of your mouth and into your body. The oral chelation I was using was a combination of DMSA, EDTA, ALA, chlorella, garlic, etc. I also was using a spray called "Metal Free." After about a week on the program, however, I felt so on edge and unlike myself that I had to stop the therapy. I did some more research and saw that 1) you really should not start a detox program for several months after removing your fillings and 2) if you have thyroid and/or adrenal problems, you MUST support them first before starting any chelation. I also suspected that I could get a little physical relief by treating my candida, even though I know that there is research that shows candida may never truly be able to be eradicated as long as there are heavy metals present in one's body. This is because the candida feeds off the mercury in your gut so as long as it is present, candida has a reliable food source.
There is a highly specialized way of removing amalgams that involves filters, oxygen/gas masks for the dentist, nurses and patient, full body covers, protective eyewear, heavy suction of mercury vapors, and more. Most dentists are not trained in this area and therefore, a Biological/Holistic/Environmental Dentist should be consulted. You can find a dentist trained in the specialized way to remove mercury fillings here: http://www.iaomt.org/patients/search.aspx. Even if one is getting a mercury filling out and having it replaced with a white composite for aesthetic reasons, this very specialized procedure needs to be followed. If not, you will most assuredly expose yourself to dangerous levels of mercury vapors and particulate that can cause massive damage to your system. The question that a lot of people have at this point is why one person can be affected by their mercury fillings while another person is not. The answer is relatively simple: it has to do with one's genetic make-up. Some people are just predisposed to mercury sensitivity. It seems that you and I are two of those people. My mother is also suffering from mercury toxicity. My father, however, had all his fillings drilled out and replaced over a year ago and doesn't seem to be suffering any ill-effects thus far. The problem is, even if someone does not feel badly because of mercury exposure, the Mercury is still at work in that person's body and will eventually affect them one way or the other--whether it be in the form of cancer, alzheimers, arthritis, a heart attack, etc. Unfortunately, while there is a growing amount of research that details mercury's terrible effects on the human body, there is still not enough awareness out there so that the average person would be made readily aware of it.
Anyway, after I had done all this research on mercury, I then began to discover a connection between mercury and the fungus, Candida. Candida is a nasty little form of yeast that actually feeds off the mercury and then reeks its own havoc throughout one's entire body. Dr. J. Trowbridge has written in his book "The Yeast Syndrome," that some doctors specializing in Candida treatment have reported to him that they have discovered clinically that 98% of their patients with chronic Candida also had mercury toxicity. As you can see, the relationship between these two things is highly symbiotic. Candida can be present, and often times is, in a person without mercury toxicity; however, if one has heavy metals in their body and does not detoxify themselves of these metals before killing off the Candida, the Candida is just going to grow back.
Candida causes a plethora of health problems and is very hard to diagnose because the symptoms vary from individual to individual. Many times, a person suffering from Candida will be told that their symptoms are "all in their head" or that they are "just getting older" and that it's just a part of life. There are many estimates that 84% of the population is suffering from Candida. Even if a person has no heavy metals present in their body, Candida should be considered as a cause of illness. To see a pretty comprehensive list of the symptoms Candida can cause, click here: http://www.stopcandida.com/candida-symptoms.htm.
After God began to open my eyes to what was going on with me, I went to an alternative health care practitioner in Tampa and asked that she check me out for heavy metals, Candida and some other things that I thought could be wrong with me. Around the middle of July, my lab work came back and I found out that I not only had very high levels of mercury in my body, I also had very high levels of lead! The fact that lead and mercury are present together means that they act in conjunction with each other to do 100 times worse damage to my system than if I just had one or the other alone. I was also highly positive for the Candida, being ranked a Class 5 out of a Class 6. The Candida was not only present in my stool, it was also in my blood.
The heavy metal poisoning, combined with the Candida, has caused my adrenal glands to fail. The adrenal glands regulate cortisol levels, which in turn stimulates conversion of proteins to carbohydrates, supports blood sugar levels, and promotes glycogen storage in the liver – thereby providing the body with the energy it needs to function well. Unbalanced adrenal glands can contribute to bad metabolic rate, a weak immune system, low energy levels, and abnormal sleep states. Most people with chronic fatigue have malfunctioning adrenals.
As I said above, because my adrenal glands are not working, I am not producing very much cortisol. My cortisol levels are so low that they couldn't even get a reading out of my nighttime urine test. Low cortisol levels have been observed in patients with different stress-related disorders such as Panic/Anxiety Disorders, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Low cortisol leads to enhanced stress sensitivity, pain and fatigue.
I also have primary hypothyroidism, which I suspected all along, but it took a full review of my medical charts to see the escalating trend in my TSH levels. My neurotransmitters are all over the place, which is also contributing to the anxiety, fatigue, poor mental function and muscle weakness. The combination of all of these things means that my body is just completely overwhelmed.
So now that I had figured out my problem, I needed a solution! Using the IAOMT website, I found a biological dentist that happens to be one of the front-runners of the mercury-free movement. He has been on talk shows and radio programs, written books, articles, etc. Two months ago, I had all my fillings removed and replaced with biocompatible materials.
My dentist, directed me to an "integrative medicine" M.D. who was going to help me remove the heavy metals from my system using oral chelation. Some doctors use IV chelation but this is very dangerous and has even caused deaths. Before attempting any form of chelation therapy, it is imperative that one have ALL of their mercury fillings removed. Otherwise, you can cause more mercury to leech out of your mouth and into your body. The oral chelation I was using was a combination of DMSA, EDTA, ALA, chlorella, garlic, etc. I also was using a spray called "Metal Free." After about a week on the program, however, I felt so on edge and unlike myself that I had to stop the therapy. I did some more research and saw that 1) you really should not start a detox program for several months after removing your fillings and 2) if you have thyroid and/or adrenal problems, you MUST support them first before starting any chelation. I also suspected that I could get a little physical relief by treating my candida, even though I know that there is research that shows candida may never truly be able to be eradicated as long as there are heavy metals present in one's body. This is because the candida feeds off the mercury in your gut so as long as it is present, candida has a reliable food source.
I quickly learned that mercury is more poisonous than any other metal on earth except for plutonium. Although the safety of dental filling material containing mercury has been debated in dental circles since the 1800’s, the official opinion of the ADA is that when mercury is combined with other metals and used in dental amalgam fillings, the toxic properties of mercury are rendered harmless. However, there exists a growing awareness among health care practitioners and researchers that this is not the case and that a significant amount of mercury is released by these fillings to cause health problems, especially in susceptible individuals (like myself). Research has demonstrated that mercury vapor is continuously released from amalgam fillings in measurable quantities from the moment fillings are inserted into teeth. Mercury is inhaled, swallowed and absorbed directly in the mouth. I would urge everyone to watch this video when you can: http://iaomt.org/videos/
Studies have linked mercury exposure with a number and variety of illnesses including allergies, chronic fatigue, Fibromyalgia, MS, Lupus, Autism, Alzheimer's, depression, anxiety, GI disorders (such as IBS and Chron's), immune systems suppression, thyroid problems, periodontal disease, neurological problems, reproductive disorders, birth defects, kidney disease, heart problems, hypertension, respiratory disorders, skin disease, and the list goes on and on.
Mercury can interfere with any process or organ in the body, since it is poisonous to all cells, but it has a marked effect on the immune system. This has been shown by research indicating the presence of mercury amalgam fillings in the mouth reducing the immune system efficiency by one-third to one-half. If a person has a chronic health problem for which a cause has not be found and mercury fillings are present in the mouth, mercury toxicity may be a contributing factor. It is also important to note that while someone like me may be genetically predisposed to extreme mercury sensitivity, others may be toxic and not even know it. Somehow, someway though, if you are toxic, it will eventually catch up with you. Click here for a comprehensive list of mercury poisoning symptoms: http://curezone.com/dental/mercury_symptoms.asp
At this point, I must disclose to you that while the ADA still touts mercury amalgams as being safe, it seems that they have the most to gain by making this declaration because they are the ones that own two patents on the amalgams! Furthermore, in a recent development, the FDA has been forced (through legal action) to put up a disclaimer about the potential dangers of mercury amalgams in pregnant and/or lactating women and children. As soon as the FDA did this, the ADA removed any and all references to the FDA in all of their literature about the safety of dental amalgams.
Even if one does not have any silver fillings in their mouth, they are not necessarily in the clear with regard to mercury. One does not ever need to have had a mercury amalgam to have high levels of mercury in their system. Research shows that while we indeed get a steady stream of mercury from our amalgams, we get even more in our diet and just from the environment in general. What's more, people who once had amalgams, but have since had them removed (without using a biological dentist), can be almost positive that they have high levels of mercury toxicity.
Studies have linked mercury exposure with a number and variety of illnesses including allergies, chronic fatigue, Fibromyalgia, MS, Lupus, Autism, Alzheimer's, depression, anxiety, GI disorders (such as IBS and Chron's), immune systems suppression, thyroid problems, periodontal disease, neurological problems, reproductive disorders, birth defects, kidney disease, heart problems, hypertension, respiratory disorders, skin disease, and the list goes on and on.
Mercury can interfere with any process or organ in the body, since it is poisonous to all cells, but it has a marked effect on the immune system. This has been shown by research indicating the presence of mercury amalgam fillings in the mouth reducing the immune system efficiency by one-third to one-half. If a person has a chronic health problem for which a cause has not be found and mercury fillings are present in the mouth, mercury toxicity may be a contributing factor. It is also important to note that while someone like me may be genetically predisposed to extreme mercury sensitivity, others may be toxic and not even know it. Somehow, someway though, if you are toxic, it will eventually catch up with you. Click here for a comprehensive list of mercury poisoning symptoms: http://curezone.com/dental/mercury_symptoms.asp
At this point, I must disclose to you that while the ADA still touts mercury amalgams as being safe, it seems that they have the most to gain by making this declaration because they are the ones that own two patents on the amalgams! Furthermore, in a recent development, the FDA has been forced (through legal action) to put up a disclaimer about the potential dangers of mercury amalgams in pregnant and/or lactating women and children. As soon as the FDA did this, the ADA removed any and all references to the FDA in all of their literature about the safety of dental amalgams.
Even if one does not have any silver fillings in their mouth, they are not necessarily in the clear with regard to mercury. One does not ever need to have had a mercury amalgam to have high levels of mercury in their system. Research shows that while we indeed get a steady stream of mercury from our amalgams, we get even more in our diet and just from the environment in general. What's more, people who once had amalgams, but have since had them removed (without using a biological dentist), can be almost positive that they have high levels of mercury toxicity.
Hello! I think I might be able to help some or all of you. I will have to post this in several segments b/c it is so long. Here is my story:
I had not felt good for about 8 years, although my symptoms started off as vague ones and I was able to ignore them for a long time. I would complain to my doctor and she ran all kinds of tests but everything looked just fine. At that time, I was in law school and so she figured I must be totally stressed out. She told me I had anxiety and started to treat me for that. I didn't feel that that was the case, but she was the doctor and so I just went along with it. I never really felt any better though and so the only thing that happened was that any time I told someone I did not feel good, they thought it was all in my head. Little by little, I lost muscle strength and became more and more fatigued. My hair started falling out, I had some joint pain, etc. all my lab work kept coming back normal, however, so no one thought anything was really wrong with me.
This past January, I was under a tremendous amount of stress. I woke up one morning and could not get out of bed. I was experiencing all my symptoms 10 times worse than what they usually were. I felt like a new born baby--I could not sit up and had no muscle control. I was having internal and external tremors--sometimes it felt like I was leaning up against a generator and my body was being vibrated from the inside out; other times, I could actually see different parts of my body shaking but there was nothing I could do about it. My joints hurt terribly, I would bruise easily, I couldn't concentrate, was forgetful, my muscles twitched, I had headaches, acid reflux, dizziness, fatigue, weird sensory feelings like burning, tingling and numbness, my hair was falling out in droves, I was gaining weight, had cystic acne---it was not a pretty picture.
At that point, I started to research my symptoms online and everything pointed to an autoimmune disorder. I went to my doctor and asked that she test my ANA levels. Sure enough, it came back that I had elevated ANA levels with a 1:160 titre and a Nucleolar pattern. She was shocked. I was happy to know I may have had an actual answer as to what was going on with me! I immediately went to see a Rheumatologist, who did not believe my lab results because they were so "rare" and because he had had several patients that had come in over the last few months with that same pattern. To make a long story short, my labs came back for the second time just the same and he diagnosed me with Scleroderma and Lupus--two non-curable, chronic diseases. He told me things were only going to get worse and that besides putting me on steroids, there was nothing he could do for me. It was pretty depressing to be 30 years old and think that your life was pretty much over.
I felt terrible, but I was determined not to have to be put on steroids because I knew that they could do terrible things to your body. What's more, I did not have the hallmarks of either Scleroderma or Lupus (no hard skin, no mylar rash, no photo-sensitivity). Things did not quite fit together in my head or in my heart. I was praying a lot for direction (and because I felt so bad) and I started to research what other things might be caused by my "very specific" Nucleolar pattern. God was really good to me because he started to put medical journal articles in my path that I was able to freely access and actually understand!
One particular medical journal article that I was directed to was about rats that were exposed to low levels of mercury. These rats became sick with Lupus-like symptoms and started produce the very specific Nucleolar antibodies that I also display. 'Mercury?' I thought, 'Well, that's fine for the rats that were actually purposely exposed to it, but where would I have ever picked up something like that? Surely it couldn't be from the mercury fillings in my mouth that the American Dental Association (ADA) and FDA both says are completely safe!' At that point, I began to research metal fillings and their potential effects on people's health.
I found some very interesting information online with regard to Mercury poisoning. It was the very first time I have seen all of my symptoms described together. It is like I wrote it myself:
"...The primary symptoms of mercury-poisoning are vague psychic ones. Short-time memory deteriorates. You will find it difficult to concentrate on tasks which require attention and thinking. It is easier to execute tasks that are well known rather than to learn something new. You avoid social contacts which demand that you get out of your introvert behavior. You loose your temper easily and switch between different moods for no particular reason. Little by little, a more physical kind of exhaustion is added to the condition. More and more effort is required to initiate activities and you sometimes break things due to inability to co-ordinate your movements with your visual impressions (ataxia). Headaches, minor involuntary muscle spasms or ticks within groups of muscles can also appear. Hands and feet become easily cold, attacks of dizziness or vertigo can occur, and periodically you may find it difficult to focus your eyes and to see clearly. Joint and muscle pains, stiffness, lumbago (lower back pain) and similar symptoms often appear at an early stage. They can be caused or increased by low availability of the trace element selenium. Nervous heart, sometimes accompanied by a week pulse, sometimes by a hard pulse, creates a feeling of anxiety. You don't sleep well, you wake up stiff and never feel thoroughly rested. As a whole, you need more sleep than before, and you are constantly tired. Some individuals develop pronounced intestinal and stomach disturbances. Bloating is common and diarrhea can alternate with constipation. 50 to 200 micrograms of mercury from each amalgam can pass daily through the gastrointestinal tract. There is usually irritation where mercury first interacts with tissues. The upper respiratory tract easily becomes chronically inflamed and symptoms in mouth appear. The gums bleed when you brush your teeth, red and white irritations (lichen, leukoplakia) arise, blisters and sensitivity to certain nutritives develop, your teeth ache, the whole jaw can become more or less inflamed, and some persons develop sinusitis. Metal taste in your mouth is a direct sign of metal-poisoning (mercury, copper). The more poisoned you are, the more serious and chronic your problems become. The pituitary gland will be affected, which often leads to frequent urination. When the thyroid gland is affected, secondary effects on the metabolism can appear. Both glands accumulate mercury. Neurological symptoms such as numbness, hypersensitivity and paralysis exacerbate. It is often hard to determine if the cause is in the nervous or circulatory systems..."
I had not felt good for about 8 years, although my symptoms started off as vague ones and I was able to ignore them for a long time. I would complain to my doctor and she ran all kinds of tests but everything looked just fine. At that time, I was in law school and so she figured I must be totally stressed out. She told me I had anxiety and started to treat me for that. I didn't feel that that was the case, but she was the doctor and so I just went along with it. I never really felt any better though and so the only thing that happened was that any time I told someone I did not feel good, they thought it was all in my head. Little by little, I lost muscle strength and became more and more fatigued. My hair started falling out, I had some joint pain, etc. all my lab work kept coming back normal, however, so no one thought anything was really wrong with me.
This past January, I was under a tremendous amount of stress. I woke up one morning and could not get out of bed. I was experiencing all my symptoms 10 times worse than what they usually were. I felt like a new born baby--I could not sit up and had no muscle control. I was having internal and external tremors--sometimes it felt like I was leaning up against a generator and my body was being vibrated from the inside out; other times, I could actually see different parts of my body shaking but there was nothing I could do about it. My joints hurt terribly, I would bruise easily, I couldn't concentrate, was forgetful, my muscles twitched, I had headaches, acid reflux, dizziness, fatigue, weird sensory feelings like burning, tingling and numbness, my hair was falling out in droves, I was gaining weight, had cystic acne---it was not a pretty picture.
At that point, I started to research my symptoms online and everything pointed to an autoimmune disorder. I went to my doctor and asked that she test my ANA levels. Sure enough, it came back that I had elevated ANA levels with a 1:160 titre and a Nucleolar pattern. She was shocked. I was happy to know I may have had an actual answer as to what was going on with me! I immediately went to see a Rheumatologist, who did not believe my lab results because they were so "rare" and because he had had several patients that had come in over the last few months with that same pattern. To make a long story short, my labs came back for the second time just the same and he diagnosed me with Scleroderma and Lupus--two non-curable, chronic diseases. He told me things were only going to get worse and that besides putting me on steroids, there was nothing he could do for me. It was pretty depressing to be 30 years old and think that your life was pretty much over.
I felt terrible, but I was determined not to have to be put on steroids because I knew that they could do terrible things to your body. What's more, I did not have the hallmarks of either Scleroderma or Lupus (no hard skin, no mylar rash, no photo-sensitivity). Things did not quite fit together in my head or in my heart. I was praying a lot for direction (and because I felt so bad) and I started to research what other things might be caused by my "very specific" Nucleolar pattern. God was really good to me because he started to put medical journal articles in my path that I was able to freely access and actually understand!
One particular medical journal article that I was directed to was about rats that were exposed to low levels of mercury. These rats became sick with Lupus-like symptoms and started produce the very specific Nucleolar antibodies that I also display. 'Mercury?' I thought, 'Well, that's fine for the rats that were actually purposely exposed to it, but where would I have ever picked up something like that? Surely it couldn't be from the mercury fillings in my mouth that the American Dental Association (ADA) and FDA both says are completely safe!' At that point, I began to research metal fillings and their potential effects on people's health.
I found some very interesting information online with regard to Mercury poisoning. It was the very first time I have seen all of my symptoms described together. It is like I wrote it myself:
"...The primary symptoms of mercury-poisoning are vague psychic ones. Short-time memory deteriorates. You will find it difficult to concentrate on tasks which require attention and thinking. It is easier to execute tasks that are well known rather than to learn something new. You avoid social contacts which demand that you get out of your introvert behavior. You loose your temper easily and switch between different moods for no particular reason. Little by little, a more physical kind of exhaustion is added to the condition. More and more effort is required to initiate activities and you sometimes break things due to inability to co-ordinate your movements with your visual impressions (ataxia). Headaches, minor involuntary muscle spasms or ticks within groups of muscles can also appear. Hands and feet become easily cold, attacks of dizziness or vertigo can occur, and periodically you may find it difficult to focus your eyes and to see clearly. Joint and muscle pains, stiffness, lumbago (lower back pain) and similar symptoms often appear at an early stage. They can be caused or increased by low availability of the trace element selenium. Nervous heart, sometimes accompanied by a week pulse, sometimes by a hard pulse, creates a feeling of anxiety. You don't sleep well, you wake up stiff and never feel thoroughly rested. As a whole, you need more sleep than before, and you are constantly tired. Some individuals develop pronounced intestinal and stomach disturbances. Bloating is common and diarrhea can alternate with constipation. 50 to 200 micrograms of mercury from each amalgam can pass daily through the gastrointestinal tract. There is usually irritation where mercury first interacts with tissues. The upper respiratory tract easily becomes chronically inflamed and symptoms in mouth appear. The gums bleed when you brush your teeth, red and white irritations (lichen, leukoplakia) arise, blisters and sensitivity to certain nutritives develop, your teeth ache, the whole jaw can become more or less inflamed, and some persons develop sinusitis. Metal taste in your mouth is a direct sign of metal-poisoning (mercury, copper). The more poisoned you are, the more serious and chronic your problems become. The pituitary gland will be affected, which often leads to frequent urination. When the thyroid gland is affected, secondary effects on the metabolism can appear. Both glands accumulate mercury. Neurological symptoms such as numbness, hypersensitivity and paralysis exacerbate. It is often hard to determine if the cause is in the nervous or circulatory systems..."
Hi Cindy,
So sorry to hear that you are getting the run around by your rheumatologist. If you live near Little Rock, Arkansas I could recommend the one I'm seeing. She says she is "old fashion" in that she actually spends time with her patients. Only one time she seemed rushed...I think she had plans that night. Anyhoo, overall she is a keeper. Please don't be offended, but I've only found ONE "good" male dr. and that is my family dr. ALL of the others just don't seem to care. My gynecologist is a woman and I think she is wonderful. Very gentle and caring.
Yes, you can send me a message direct through the e-mail option. Through that you can give me your personal e-mail and we can mail direct that way.
God bless you Cindy,
Kara
So sorry to hear that you are getting the run around by your rheumatologist. If you live near Little Rock, Arkansas I could recommend the one I'm seeing. She says she is "old fashion" in that she actually spends time with her patients. Only one time she seemed rushed...I think she had plans that night. Anyhoo, overall she is a keeper. Please don't be offended, but I've only found ONE "good" male dr. and that is my family dr. ALL of the others just don't seem to care. My gynecologist is a woman and I think she is wonderful. Very gentle and caring.
Yes, you can send me a message direct through the e-mail option. Through that you can give me your personal e-mail and we can mail direct that way.
God bless you Cindy,
Kara
Just had a thought. In the news these days we're hearing about gov't and banks mis-spending so recklessly, so much bad news, what if there's some kind of conspiracy to treat all of us like this, because some madman hate thyroid, like some have hated the homeless. May call us "losers"? I'm not depressed. It's just that At all the forums you hear the same thing, like "Endo #11", etc. Just thought I'd ask what all of you think.
Hi Karajo,
I asked my pcp about it and they didn't think much of it, but when I checked into the purple spots online what they look like is petechiae which are symptomatic of low platelet count brought on by autoimmune disorders, mono, chemo, leukemia, blood poisoning, and RA. I had to find that on my own, but the pcp didn't think so. I had them for quite a while-months- until these white spots took over and they're gone. So by the time I got back to the rheumy he couldn't see the purple spots and didn't know what the white ones were. Of course he wasn't in there long enough to check me out anyway. I drove 2 hours to see him and he was in there for 6 minutes. Very discouraging to say the least.
As for the neurologist, he didn't seem to think my problems involved him anymore. He's the one who diagnosed the Raynaud's and told me since my ANA was up to 640 that I needed to get back with the rheumy. I am changing pcp. Will see a new doc next week; so am hoping this one will come up with some answers and point me in a new direction. Would appreciate prayers in this regard.
Thanks so much for your post.
Is there a way to post these responses directly on your page? When I go to each person's page it just says to post a note or hug, etc...Not sure how to do that.
Anyway, have a great day and hope you're doing okay.
cindy
I asked my pcp about it and they didn't think much of it, but when I checked into the purple spots online what they look like is petechiae which are symptomatic of low platelet count brought on by autoimmune disorders, mono, chemo, leukemia, blood poisoning, and RA. I had to find that on my own, but the pcp didn't think so. I had them for quite a while-months- until these white spots took over and they're gone. So by the time I got back to the rheumy he couldn't see the purple spots and didn't know what the white ones were. Of course he wasn't in there long enough to check me out anyway. I drove 2 hours to see him and he was in there for 6 minutes. Very discouraging to say the least.
As for the neurologist, he didn't seem to think my problems involved him anymore. He's the one who diagnosed the Raynaud's and told me since my ANA was up to 640 that I needed to get back with the rheumy. I am changing pcp. Will see a new doc next week; so am hoping this one will come up with some answers and point me in a new direction. Would appreciate prayers in this regard.
Thanks so much for your post.
Is there a way to post these responses directly on your page? When I go to each person's page it just says to post a note or hug, etc...Not sure how to do that.
Anyway, have a great day and hope you're doing okay.
cindy
Hi Cindy,
Your first post in this thread talked about purple dots on your leg. This could possibly be vasculitis. PLEASE do a search on internt - "images of vasculitis" and see if that is what is going on. I'm not familiar about the white spots though. If it looks like your purple spots, print out a copy and take to dr. and ask, could this be the same thing. Vasculitis is inflamation of the vascular system. The blood vessels are bursting.
How did the visit with Neurologist go?
God's blessing
Your first post in this thread talked about purple dots on your leg. This could possibly be vasculitis. PLEASE do a search on internt - "images of vasculitis" and see if that is what is going on. I'm not familiar about the white spots though. If it looks like your purple spots, print out a copy and take to dr. and ask, could this be the same thing. Vasculitis is inflamation of the vascular system. The blood vessels are bursting.
How did the visit with Neurologist go?
God's blessing
Hi Barbara,
I searched the internet for elevated Complement levels and this is what I came up with -
Complement activity varies throughout the body. For example, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, complement activity in the blood may be normal or higher-than-normal, but much lower-than-nomral in the joint fluid.
I also have right flank pain. Don't know if it is the hyydronephrosis in my right kidney or the Lupus. It seems to be better now that I'm on Plaquenil. My ANA levels have been all over the place. First it was 160, then 640, then negetive and two weeks later it was 2,560. I read on medhelp, someone said to spend some time in the sun before you lab work is drawn. I spent about 20 minutes in the sun. Getting out in the sun makes me feel bad, usually the next day. It also makes me get a rash looking thing on my face, neck and chest.
Hope this helps you out.
Kara
I searched the internet for elevated Complement levels and this is what I came up with -
Complement activity varies throughout the body. For example, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, complement activity in the blood may be normal or higher-than-normal, but much lower-than-nomral in the joint fluid.
I also have right flank pain. Don't know if it is the hyydronephrosis in my right kidney or the Lupus. It seems to be better now that I'm on Plaquenil. My ANA levels have been all over the place. First it was 160, then 640, then negetive and two weeks later it was 2,560. I read on medhelp, someone said to spend some time in the sun before you lab work is drawn. I spent about 20 minutes in the sun. Getting out in the sun makes me feel bad, usually the next day. It also makes me get a rash looking thing on my face, neck and chest.
Hope this helps you out.
Kara
Four years of run around! Wow! You're absolutely right. Why get into the medical field to help people if you don't really care? I'll sure be praying that SOMEONE can find out what's wrong with you and can get you the treatment you need and deserve. I've talked to so many people who have told me the same thing. That eventually the doctors look at us like we've created this in our minds. The bloodwork doesn't lie and I understand that a person can have a postive ANA and not have anything, but when all of the symptoms start showing up- then something's wrong physically! Just hold on okay? Eventually someone is going to be aggressive enough to figure out what's wrong with us! :)
Take care,
cindy
Take care,
cindy
i totally understand. you can see by my name here that i do. i was ignored by my doctor for over a year simply because i have been treated for depression. he decided that because of that i was making up all the things that are wrong with me. in that year he ignored an ovarian cyst, a broken bone in my foot, degenerative disc disease, severe b12 deficiency and numerous neurological problems that the neuro i finally got to see saw on his exam. after the pcp jerk told me it was all in my head i got a new doctor...he is no better, but i did get some referrals and have gotten some treatment and am working on some things now. its funny, all he had to do was look at the computer (medical care is thru VA...computers are all connected) when i was complaining that my hand was numb. the psychologist had drawn the blood in april to make sure my meds werent messing with my liver. the b12 deficiency was right there for him to see. as soon as i got in to see the neuro he told me about the problem and sent a nasty note to the new pcp and ordered him to begin some tests about it. i start muscular shots soon and maybe will actually have some energy in the future. then i got my records and was looking at them. i saw a neurologist last year for weekness in my arms. they had sent my pcp..the one ignoring me...a note telling him to check my b12 levels...which he never did. all of this has gone on for about 4 years. i have complained of severe muscle and joint pain. numbness and tingling. severe vision problems. weakness in my arms. so very tired. headaches almost every day. awful lower back pain. sudden left hand went numb. sudden at the same time locust or cricket sound in head. 4 years of positive ANA. how can you make your blood tests positive or low in something. it is absolutely ridiculous how those people treat us. what i wonder is why they get into the healthcare field at all. if they dont want to help people or make them better then they should choose a different line of work!
I hope you have some better luck. I will keep you ALL in my prayers. Hugs all around.
Amy
I hope you have some better luck. I will keep you ALL in my prayers. Hugs all around.
Amy
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