A little bit of detox goes a long way...

Last night I decided I was going to take a hot bath (sweat therapy) to help release some of the toxins in my body, and hopefully mostly my head since it was feeling very bogged down. After a good dry brushing, I hopped into the tub and spent a few minutes adjusting to the heat. Within about ten minutes, I could feel the perspiration start. I laid a washcloth across my forehead and settled in. After an hour and a half and three washcloth changes on my forehead later as well as several others to dry the rest of my face, the water cooled enough that I wasn't sweating anymore. I got out and went directly to the shower to wash the sweat out of my hair. I felt a little energized, weak, but energized, and my face was smooth and soft. Within an hour, however, I had a sharp pain begin in my left temple area that pretty much wiped me out for the rest of the night. I still have the head pain this morning, just not as intense. Otherwise, I do have short bits of feeling some energy as I sit here, almost like a rush, but only lasts for a minute or so and then my head starts hurting again. I imagine I'll be going back and forth between the two for awhile.

I can definitely tell you the head pain is NOT comfortable by any means, but it IS comforting to know that the bath was doing its job. I don't even want to think about how many toxins I left in that water or landed in the washcloths, but I'm thankful it means there's less in my body.

Yesterday I decided that I am going to try the detox foot patches. I read up on them and saw both pros and cons. The pros were from people who actually tried them, and the cons were from those who pretty much just wanted to give their opinion even though they have never put them on their feet. I figured I would just try it for myself since it's not something I ingest and it's all herbal ingredients. I purchased some Kinoki brand from ebay, and they should be here next week. I can't wait to try them just to see what happens and if I notice any difference. I don't expect them to be the only answer to my detox by any means, and I think the people who have dissed them (from what I've read) are people who expected them to do it all. For me it will only be a part of what I do, and if I get positive results it will just be one more thing in my arsenal that helped. If not, I got them for under $10, so I won't be out much and can say I tried them.

I just realized that I never mentioned again the cultured veggies I ordered awhile back. They did come in, a couple weeks later than anticipated, but I did get to try them. I have only tried them once to see if I like the taste, but since then my family has been a little busy and I actually haven't eaten them with a meal like I'm supposed to. So, the verdict is still out on it. As for the taste, they were okay. I still have a strong dislike of bitter-tasting foods, so it will take me a bit to get used to them, but I think overall they weren't bad. I imagine eating them with other foods will help a lot. I'll try to remember to post again about them after I've had them a few times.

An Encouraging Story...

I decided to do a little more reading this evening on more stories of people with mercury toxicity. This is Carol's story, one that is very encouraging. Do you have a story about your own struggle with being mercury poisoned? I would love to know about it, and how you are doing. Please share!

I also may have shared this website before, but it doesn't hurt to repeat because it's got great info.

8th day...

Today is day 8 since the last crown revision. I am feeling fatigued, off-balance, and dizzy, and have been having sharp pains in my lower right side when I sit. I just feel blah, and want to sleep for a week.

I'm sure the skeptics who will read my blog will say no, it wasn't the amalgams and I better go find out what else is wrong, but I do beg to differ. I am taking the slow detox method because I knew the symptoms of mercury poisoning would continue after the amalgams were gone. If you check in a month from now, you'll probably find that my symptoms are only slowly diminishing, or maybe even have gotten worse. It's to be expected. I've had amalgam seething through my body for over twenty years...it's going to take longer than a week or a month or even a year to get rid of it all. Because I'm choosing to do it naturally and slowly, it will take me even longer. Today I read a story from Russ Tanner of his struggles with amalgam toxicity and how he fared. He took the quicker route to detox and did well. With how sensitive I've become to everything I just know it's not an option for me, though, and so I will feel badly for a while longer than Russ did. His story is encouraging, however, and I understood his battle to feel well since I am battling, too. I encourage you to read his story when you have time. It's worth it.

Great informative website and an update...

Today an article in the news about a young man with health issues prompted me to see if there might be a link to his illness and possible mercury toxicity. I came across this website that was very informative and again was very helpful for me to read as I struggle some with the after-effects of having the last three crowns replaced. I then decided I should see what others have experienced after amalgam removal, and found this site...it had some videos (the third one is a must see) and links to things that helped this person. I found it quite interesting.

Since I last posted two days ago, I've still been feeling pretty rough. I've had some pretty strong headaches as well as feeling weak overall and very fatigued (I've also been experiencing chest pain due to indigestion from my stomach rolling up, but that is a separate issue). Thankfully I know that it's supposed to be doing all of this, no matter how bad it feels. The hardest part is just making it through it.

It's finally over....

The dentist appointment yesterday went well, as expected, but not as hoped for.

The top crown #14 was worked on first. Dr. C said that it did have amalgam, and it was decaying around the edges. It also had a fairly large filling that he had to clean out, so he's hoping that it will settle down nicely and will be okay for me. The other two crowns had some interesting (and gross!) things going on. The bigger one, #19, did not have amalgam that Dr. C could tell, but it was so corroded and full of black sediment he had no idea what was used for the binder. At one point he even needed to change his gloves because the sediment got on them and wouldn't come off and he didn't want to contaminate anything else. The third crown, #20, was a porcelain over gold crown (the others were porcelain over precious metal). He did not see any amalgam there, but there was a fair amount of decayed matter in there as well. I got to see the crowns, and they were NASTY, and smelled something horrific. To think, I've had them in my mouth for probably 10-15 years or more! EWWWWWWW!!!!

Today I am feeling pretty terrible, and not what I had hoped for at all. With what we found underneath the crowns, though, I am not surprised, just very bummed that I immediately went into detox mode. I took a 2 1/2 hour nap this morning because my head hurt so bad and I was more dizzy and off-balance than normal, and I just feel weak. The nap didn't seem to help a whole lot because I still feel pretty bad. I'm guessing it will take a little while for my system to get out the extra stuff that was introduced yesterday when the crowns were opened up. Dr. C used a dental dam and all of the precautions with lots of water and a positive air flow for me, but it still doesn't have a 100% guarantee of what goes into the bloodstream from the tooth itself, plus Dr. C had to give 4 novacaine shots on the bottom to try to get me numb. It never really happened and he had to drill with me feeling it because I refused to take anymore. The epinephrine in the novacaine was causing issues...I would start shaking uncontrollably and my heart would start pounding heavily with each shot.

So, it's done...I am amalgam free finally, and very relieved. I'm disappointed that I feel so lousy, but it was to be expected. Now the detoxing begins...I'll keep you posted.

Today is the big day!

Today I get the last three crowns out...I am quite excited and nervous at the same time. I've been waiting for this day since the first day I realized it could be my amalgams over two years ago. It's taken a long time to get this far, and I can't believe it is finally here. As I mentioned in my previous post, I go with some apprehension. I want today to be the day that my health immediately shows improvement. I know it's a tall order, and I may not notice a thing...or it could change my life instantly and I'll lose the headaches, the dizziness and off-balance feelings, and gain energy like I've never had.

Since this is my last revision, I want to share where I've been and where I am at now, so that I can compare again in a few months.

Here is where I was at in December:
-severe head and neck pain/achiness
-unexplained weight gain
-muscle aches/pain
-vision disturbances (off-balance feeling)
-dizzy spells(vertigo?)
-chronic fatigue
-hair loss
-occasional irritability (feels like finger nails across a chalkboard x3)
-occasional sensory overload (''feel'' words/sounds/sensitive to touch)
-frequent chills/cold (body temp below normal)
-neck sensitivity
-occasional indigestion
-occasional nausea
-poor memory
-brain fog/inability to concentrate
-mood swings
-motion sickness
-skin eruptions
-bad breath
-occasional extreme thirst, dry throat
-zinc deficiency
-anemia

Here's where I am now:
-head and neck pain/achiness
-frequent muscle aches/pain
-vision disturbances (off-balance feeling)
-dizzy spells(vertigo?)
-chronic fatigue
-occasional irritability (feels like finger nails across a chalkboard x3)
-neck sensitivity
-occasional indigestion
-poor short term memory (longterm has gotten very good)
-occasional brain fog/inability to concentrate
-motion sickness
-occasional skin eruptions
-bad breath
-zinc deficiency
-anemia

The list has gotten smaller, so I am very happy about that. To me that means that having the other amalgams removed has made a difference. I think just knowing that gives me more hope that the rest could very well disappear after today...maybe not right away, but as I detox and get the rest of the mercury out of my system.

As I reflect today on the last three years and how hard it's been...some days I wasn't even sure I'd make it...but I have learned so much. In that way I am thankful for the experience, because now I can know somewhat how it feels when people are going through rough times, and maybe even have some answers for people I encounter who have unexplained health issues and want to know what's going on with their bodies. I know I've said it several times in previous posts, but I know of so many who will only stop by here once and read maybe only one or two posts and move on, so I'm going to say it again. PLEASE DO NOT LET YOUR DENTIST PUT AMALGAM (silver) FILLINGS IN YOUR TEETH OR IN YOUR CHILDREN'S TEETH! IT'S MERCURY AND MERCURY IS POISON. IT WILL HARM YOU.

I had someone ask me the other day how I'm being affected by mercury so profoundly when others are not. I told this person that it could be a combination of things, genetic makeup, the amount of amalgam I had in my mouth, a previously poor diet...I don't know. I do know, however, that over 90% of the population is affected by mercury. Whether it be from fillings or vaccinations or food we eat (fish in particular), every person who has had some exposure to mercury does have or will have a reaction to it. It may be minor, or it could be major as in my case, but they will be affected. Mercury loves the brain, the liver, and the thyroid. It can affect so many other places in the body, too, and just knowing that can explain so many maladies. I posted a list at the beginning of my blog that has symptoms on it that have been helped by amalgam removal. If you have any of those symptoms on that list and you have amalgam fillings (or get flu shots regularly), you could be reacting to the mercury in your body. Please educate yourself and be specific with your dentist. Let him or her know that you know the dangers of amalgam and don't want them in your mouth.

Well I think that is enough said for today. I will post again soon to share how the dentist visit went.

Seven days and counting...

It's seven days today to my final revision. I'm getting really excited, but at the same time I'm nervous. I'm nervous because I've put so much stock into mercury being the cause for all of my symptoms, and I just don't want to be wrong. I want to be better when all is said and done, and not have to go through any more pain or suffering. I'm 99% sure mercury is the cause. I have to say I'm pretty confident, but it's that 1% of me that doesn't want to believe it is that's making me count these days with apprehension. With all of the research I've done and all of the people I've read about who have been helped by amalgam removal, I want to be in that number...I'm so tired of being sick and tired all of the time.

I did have roughly about a week of great days, and then I think I overdid it and went crazy and weeded my flowerbed one evening. By the next day I was in a lot of pain in my shoulders, neck, and head. Since then I've had a pretty much non-stop headache, even though I've had both my chiropractor and my doctor adjust me. Yesterday (Mother's Day of all days!) I woke up with a migraine that wouldn't quit. I was nauseous and dizzy and my head hurt something awful. I headed back to bed for a four and a half hour nap. When I woke up, my headache was 'normal' again, and the nausea was gone, but the dizziness has stayed at the stronger rate it was at. Even today I've noticed that the dizziness has been unrelenting, along with the headache. I can only hope that getting rid of the last amalgam will stop this insanity going on in my body.

WOW! And I'm not even done yet!

I apologize for not posting for a while. I've been busy because I've actually had almost a week so far of good days and taking advantage of it.

A week ago I went to the dentist so that he could replace some old composites that had been failing. I didn't think much of it since they were composites, and shouldn't have been causing any problems, but apparently I was reacting to these old composites in some way. The moment that Dr. C drilled them out, I could tell there were some slight changes in the way I felt. The day after, I felt energetic almost all day and the day after was even better. The third day I felt a little more fatigued in the afternoon, but overall it was a good day. I even packed those days tight with busy-ness and pushed myself harder than I had in a long time. The next day I still felt good, and pushed myself even more. About the only thing I felt during these days was some fatigue in the early evening, and a continued off-balance/dizzy feeling all day, but overall they've been great days compared to how I've usually been feeling.

The day for my final revision is getting closer, too, and I'm so excited. If I had this much change from some composite replacements that weren't supposed to be a drain on my system, I am so hoping for complete recovery once the three crowns have been changed out. I don't want to get my hopes up too high, but this last week has been so encouraging. I can't even begin to explain the difference I've been feeling and how wonderful it's been. I almost feel like a different person. 11 days and counting!!!