I have read a number of posts which indicate that anyone with a mercury problem needs magnesium supplements and also possibly B12. I noticed over a year ago after ending up in the Emergency that magnesium helped the heart arrythmia. Also, I go numb quite often. Magnesium seemed to help that too, but I am finding I need more and more. Perhaps I need B12 also. Oh, CoQ10 helps the heart too.
My question is, I have noticed a number of people say that the symptoms of Lyme are similar. But, I wonder, do people with Lyme need extra magnesium, B12 or CoQ10?

Where abouts do you go numb? Does this happen when you are doing something or when you are inacitve i.e. get a numb bum or leg if you are sitting watching tv? Or when you wake up in the morning? How good is your circulation? Poor circulation can cause numb. So too I think can carpel tunnel syndrome in the hands.

Dallas,

I don't know the direct answer to your question but here is some info you may find useful.

- Mercury blocks the utilization of magnesium so mercury toxic people need a lot more (but you already knew that).

- Mercury blocks the methylation of B-12. Methylated B-12 utilizes homocysteine and is a precursor to glutathione production. Because of this, (1) homocysteine levels rise causing heart disease and the myriad of other issues well-known and commonly-associated with elevated homocysteine, and (2) your ability to rid yourself of mercury is hindered because that (mercury detox) is a primary function of glutathione. It's like a bad positive-feedback cycle with bad side effects.

- Lymes recovery is hindered by various heavy metals and vaccine additives which may be why Lymes recovery is enhanced by B-12. CoQ10 can help reduce fatigue.


Here's and article I found that may be of interest...

Favorable Therapeutic Results with TOA-Free Cat?s Claw in Lyme Disease

A pilot study treated 28 patients with Advanced Chronic Lyme Disease with TOA-Free Uncaria tomentosa. Conventional cat?s claw contains TOA alkaloids that interfere with the desired immune modulation. The 14 person control group was given antibiotic therapy. At the study?s termination 85% of those receiving the cat?s claw preparation no longer had positive blood tests for Bb. All 28 persons had experienced a dramatic improvement in their clinical condition. No significant changes were seen in the control group.

Demi, I used to get numb in my legs when sitting down and standing used to relieve it. Now I get numb in one leg and foot a lot of the time, no matter what I do. Magnesium seems to help, but not as much as it used to. My arms go to sleep when I am sleeping. Funny thing, it is the arm that I am NOT laying on that gets numb. Also, my arms, and esp. hands (palms and fingers esp.) get numb at various times during the day. My arms and legs also twitch.
Russ, the reason I was wanting to know about whether or not people with Lyme need more magnesium is that I am trying to differentiate between Lyme and mercury poisoning, so I can make a better guess at which way to go re: treatment. If it is Lyme, I will certainly try the cat's claw. I wonder if the numbness is due to lack of vitamin B12. There seems to be some dispute as to whether B12 supplements are advisable, though.
Thank you both for your answers

Since my late childhood (around the time I started having fillings) I've often woken up with either pins and needles in my hand or numb. I sometimes get it in my legs if I am sitting, in my side if I lie on it, or numb thigh from sitting too long at a desk. It's not always the hand I am lying on that gets numb.

What is your weight like?

Some people with fillings get MS symptoms. It might be in your interest to get the fillings removed carefully (oxygen etc) just incase it's hitting your nerves. It seems to attack genetic weakness. In me I think it's done stuff to my brain to give me OCD, aswell as a tremor and other things. I have to admit I do a lot of computer work, and that's a big contribution in causing these types of problems. But I had the sleep thing for about 10 years before having a computer.

Dallas,

I'll give you my best guess. Based on your symptoms, I bet there's a better chance of mercury toxicity. Just my guess.

Demi, My weight now is 139, down from 170 or so. Three years ago, I finally found out I have celiac sprue. Because I also have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis my weight was hard to keep down even with medication. But with the celiac, I now eat no grains and absolutely no forms of sugar except fruit. I do eat nuts though. No grains or sugars bring the weight down. That is somewhat offset by the nuts, I guess. I have had on/off MS symptoms for thirty years now. Had an MRI which was clear.
What is OCD?

Thanks, Russ,
I guess I will be visiting a biological dentist soon.

Let us know how it goes. And err on the safe side if possible.

If your symptoms have lasted 30 years, then it's probably not a newly got disease, but ongoing problem (just my guess and I'm no doctor!). I've had mine 20 years. Did your problems start around the time you got fillings? Do you eat a lot of tuna or seafood?

OCD is obsessive-compulsive-disorder. It's what most people associate with those who constantly need to wash their hands. I never had that problem, but within a couple of years of having fillings, I was gripped with a multitude of compulsions i.e. had to touch things in certain way when leaving a room. I had panic attacks all day. Also my brain would count steps, movements involuntarily i.e if I scratched my head my brain would count how many times. I had not much control over this. Once I stopped having fillings and got my braces out, 90% of my condition went. I was pretty normal except that I had anxiety and multiple phobias. Also I would get compulsion to blink.

I am getting return of some symptoms, but not anywhere near as bad as when I was having the fillings on a regular basis (had about 10 put in between the ages of 9-15). Some of them are now decaying and I have a major problem root canal tooth. I'm hoping that if my condition improved last time my mercury exposure dropped that it will when I get the fillings out <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have problems with limbs going to sleep. I think it is all caused by the poor blood circulation or as my Dr. told me that I had low blood volume so that I just don't have enough to have good circulation. I drink lots of water, walk 2 miles most everyday and also take magnesium. Like you, I have recently found that I have to take even more to get the same results, but I think that for me it is because of the defoliant that they are spraying on the cotton fields where I live-everyone has problems during this time, not just us sick people! You might be getting exposed to something that is causing you to need even more (mg helps with detox pathway)

Also, magnesium helps with the twitching as that is a mild muscle spasm.

Because I know that many fungicides contain mercury, I was intrigued concerning your statement about people getting sick around the time defoliants are used on the cotton fields. I searched for a while and came across this interesting paragraph:

"Less well known is that mercury is a psychiatric toxin that because its neurotoxicity affects behavior. Mercury is a residue in gold and silver. Those who lust after gold and silver not only have been selectively self-poisoned, they have turned to the use of violence to accomplish their goals of acquisition. Historically this has entailed the the use of gunpowder. What do you suppose is involved in the manufacture of gunpowder? Mercury. DuPont family. Mercury is a necessary ingredient of plastics manufacture. The new car smell that so tantalizes wealth-seekers is....mercury. The gray fog on the inside of windshields of newer cars is....mercury. Mercury is a very cheap preservative used in products as diverse as vaccines and commercial fertilizer. Defoliant used prior to cotton harvest contains mercury. Read Q-tips, cotton swabs, as well as cotton clothing. We wear mercury in our mouths, in our jewelry, on our bodies, spray it on our heads, breathe it from our computers, TV sets, carpets....coal and other fuels....mercury."