posted
I did the test before I was actually diagnosed with Lyme. it was no big deal. i had no side affects from it.
I have very elevated mercury and also elevated lead, nickel and aluminum.
Have not started chelation because adrenals, liver function etc.. is poor.
There are so many things that can also cause brain fog that I figure I need to get them all straightened out but it is a stressor on the body.
Posts: 10 | From Central Florida | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I've done this challenge test 2x now and haven't had a problem. My mercury was off the chart and lead high as well. After chelating my mercury dropped to half what it was! I'm going to take another challenge test soon. Good luck! Karen
Posts: 82 | From east hampton ny | Registered: Jun 2006
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
Mercury was slightly elevated, lead was high. I had foggy brain for quite awhile afterwards. Still has not returned to normal but I started heavy abx protocol after that so my guess is that is why I still have some brain fog.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
No problem with the test but interesting that my GP says all results from Doctor's Data are unbelievably high. I don't know why he doubts the results, but he does not seem to trust Doctor's Data, which is the one my LLMD used for my test.
ESG
Posts: 424 | From Connecticut, USA | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
I did the challange test and thought I was going to die for months. It was total hell. Some people do it with no problem. My merc was off the chart. My Dr stopped using it after my experience.
Posts: 905 | From Santa Cruz,Calif | Registered: Aug 2005
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
Assuming you don't have any amalgams in your mouth? and that you are not severely gut toxic and mineral deficient (see below)?
The DMSA challenge test causes no problem if your doctor is timing it right and doing it right. In other words, if you have not done some cleanup work in the gut and colon and are very toxic in that area, it is not a good idea to do a challenge that will bring down added toxins from further up in the system. It's wise to do a little prep work toward that end. www.DrNatura.com -- etc.
Here is some info that you might want to have. Also be aware that there is now Dr. LC's LED (Laser Energetic Detoxification) which I think, as others do, is really one of the best things ever happening. I wish I had that available when I was going through metal detox. Please research it - it's worth your while, and makes things a lot simpler and a lot quicker depending on your toxic levels. I have posted about it several times.
There is an Explore article from last year that explains LED very well. Maybe you can find it. We are trying to get permission to copy it here.
There are MD's and naturopathic practitioners that are trained in LED.
But here is some info on mercury you might not be aware of:
Mercury Toxicity Symptoms
The overt clinical effects resulting from toxic exposure to mercury have been clearly described.17,18 The scientific literature shows that amalgam fillings have been associated with a variety of problems such as autoimmunity,19,20,21 kidney dysfunction,22 and interference with the immune system as measured by the T-lymphocyte count.23,24 Patients with many amalgam fillings will also have an increase in the prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria.25
Subclinical neuropsychological and motor control effects were also observed in dentists who had documented high mercury exposure levels.26,27 Amalgam use may also be related to fatigue, poor memory and certain psychological disorders.28 The presence of infertility has increased from 8 to 15% over the past two decades, which may be related to mercury exposure.29 Heavy metals induce modifications of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system and impair the pulsatile hypothalamic release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone.30
Dental assistants were found to have half the conception rate compared to women without mercury exposure.31 Removing the mercury seems to be associated with an improved fertility rate.32 There is also an increased rate of hormonal disorders among women exposed to mercury. Polycystic ovary syndrome as a result of mercury exposure has also been described.33
The earliest symptoms of long term, low level mercury poisoning are subclinical and eurological. Subsequently, due to their subtlety, these symptoms are easily misdiagnosed.
Intracellular mercury can cause chronic fatigue, cancer and learning disabilities. Extracellular symptoms of mercury toxicity include: CNS irritability, anxiety, nervousness, fearfulness, emotional instability, loss of self-confidence and shyness. In adolescents, these symptoms are particularly damaging as they impair one's normal social development.
Additional symptoms may include: loss of memory, especially room-to-room memory, impaired concentration, and insomnia. It is well documented that lead and cadmium can cause hypo or hyperthryoidism.34. Mercury toxicity will also tend to cause hypothyroidism. The most frequent cause of hypoglycemia is excessive sugar and grain consumption. However, it can also be exacerbated by mercury toxicity.
Mercury toxicity can also increase food allergies.35
Detoxification of mercury will frequently improve these allergies.
Additionally, fibromyalgia pain, which is frequently experienced as areas of numb and burning pain, is improved with mercury detoxification.
Mercury and Chronic Infections
As referenced above, mercury clearly has a variety of detrimental impacts on the immune system. Many practitioners have long observed that patients diagnosed with chronic viral illnesses (EBV, CMV, HIV, herpes zoster and genital herpes, CFIDS, etc.), chronic fungal illnesses (Candidiasis and others), and recurrent episodes of bacterial infections (chronic sinusitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, bladder/prostate infections, HIV related infections) often have dramatic recoveries following an aggressive mercury/amalgam detoxification program.36This would support a general immune enhancing benefit of any effective mercury detoxification program.
It has also been shown that the presence of amalgam fillings conveys immunity to antibiotics to various bacteria and also impairs the body's own defense system.
Mercury is, therefore, the only substance ever shown that induces antibiotic resistance in bacteria, other than an antibiotic itself.78 It is known that bacteria cause periodontal disease and that the removal of amalgam fillings can often be curative.77 Unfortunately, there are no studies to date that have tested the mercury hypothesis in other infections, even though the clinical evidence is overwhelming. 5 Testing -- The Diagnostic Dilemma
It is important to note that prior to beginning any detoxification protocol one should perform a chemistry profile to test for kidney and liver function. Mercury, once it is released into the body, is quickly and firmly bound in the peripheral and central nervous system (brain, spinal chord, peripheral motor and sensory ganglia, autonomic ganglia).
Except for a short period after acute exposure, mercury's rapid transport to the nervous tissue dramatically limits its presence in the blood, hair, urine, feces, sweat or any other body fluids . Therefore, a regular trace-element analysis of any body compartment (hair, whole blood, or red cell) will generally not show any evidence of mercury toxicity unless the patient is activelydetoxifying mercury. However, there are three traditional tests used for mercury diagnosis.
1. Porphyrins. The most accepted test for metal toxicity in the traditional medical community is the determination of porphyrins in the urine.37 Certain porphyrins are elevated in blood and urine.
2. Hair analysis. One must use this test with caution though. One could have a result showing low levels of mercury yet have high levels in their tissues. One can do a hair analysis six weeks after starting a mercury detoxification program and it should be high in mercury, which suggests that the mercury is transferring from the tissues into the blood and being excreted into the hair follicles.
3. Challenge tests with complexing or chelating agents (administration of appropriate agents followed by mercury urinalysis). Chelation involves the incorporation of a metal/metalloid ion into a heterocyclic ring structure. A chelating agent forms a ring structure with a metal or metalloid. A metal complexing agent is a more general term, which includes a chelating agent. When used for treating heavy metal poisoning, the administration of the chelating agent results in the formation of a chelate structure. The chelating agent usually has a greater affinity for the metal ion than do endogenous ligands to which the offending metal is bound. The metal chelate usually has water solubility greater than that of the offending metal ion and thus increases it excretion by the kidney.
DMPS and DMSA Chelation Challenge Test
The use of a provocative or challenge test for estimating the body content or exposure to a heavy metal is well established in medicine. The challenge test may need to be performed before beginning amalgam removal for legal documentation. However, many clinicians' experiences have shown that when a patient is mineral deficient (especially sodium, calcium potassium or sulfur) the body is unable to mobilize toxic metals with a challenge test. The mineral status needs to be corrected prior to successful mobilization of mercury.
Chelation challenges are generally done with DMPS and DMSA, which are chelating or complexing agents. The first suggestion for the use of DMPS as a provocative or challenge test for mercury was made in 1981.38 It was first used in the western world in 1988.39 The patient is generally given a dose of one or the other immediately after emptying their bladder.
DMPS-stimulated excretion of all heavy metals reaches a maximum after 2-3 hours and decreases thereafter to return to baseline levels after 8 hours.40 So the urine is collected for and analyzed for mercury content. Most of the mercury will come out relatively quickly so many physicians will have the patient wait in the office or go out to lunch and then come back in 90 minutes after the chelation and collect the urine specimen.
It is important to remember that mercury is heavier than water. So when taking an aliquot from the urine sample, it is helpful to shake the sample first prior to pouring it into the container that will be sent to the lab for analysis.
If using the DMSA challenge, one should collect the urine for six hours. DMPS is more potent than DMSA, thus a significant urine level of mercury with DMPS would be above 50 mgs while with DMSA, 10 or more mgs would be considered a significant amount
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
I did this test with no problems. The doctor first tested me with a very small dose and monitored my blood pressure. Then the real test was done at home and shipped to Doctor's Data.
I was high in lead and mercury.
Luvs
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Doctor's Data is a reputable lab. Hubby has been tested by them at least half a dozen times. 1st test showed elevated mercury. Following chelation mercury levels dropped significantly (into "normal range").
Hubby's mercury toxicity problem preceded his tickborne illness. Before Lyme and coinfections were diagnosed he was retested many times ( all "normal") because both illnesses presented with similar symptoms -- nausea/vomiting/dry heaves and Parkinsonian tremor.
Just about every time hubby has been tested a different protocol has been used. He had only one bad experience -- with calcium EDTA as one of the chelators.
2000 mg of DMSA is a pretty high dose. When hubby took this during his chelation he took either 500 or 1000 mg daily. Usually gave him a headache for about an hour.
The chelator that hubby had the best luck with was DMPS (IV push). Not sure this is available any more. The IV push would stop nausea/vomiting and tremors usually within 15 minutes.
Would suggest you do the detox challenge test from Great Smokies Lab (Genova is their new name I think) first. You may need some support with the methylation pathway. I remember hubby's docs put him on SAM-e and supplements including chlorella as part of his chelation protocol.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Foggy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
I had no problem with several tests but limited my DMSA to 1500 mgs.
Posts: 2451 | From Lyme Central | Registered: Aug 2001
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
Yes, I agree, 2000mg DMSA is high. I am sorry I missed that. Trying to find some more info in my files, but since Dr. K. does not use DMSA in the early stages at all, but rather toward the end of treatment when the masses have already been removed, I can't really come up with a number for the challenge. I am glad Bea noticed that and Foggy mentioned her challenge. Even then, it varies greatly from one patient to the next and/or from doctor to doctor.
It is being treated by several M.D.s with 100-200 mg DMSA every few days only, rather longterm, along with all the supporting agents and other modalities necessary, and that is a pretty good indication that 2000mg could be to much for some people.
Hope you have a doctor you feel comfortable with.
Take care.
[ 05. June 2007, 11:34 PM: Message edited by: GiGi ]
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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