Hello

I've been suffering for the past year with what my doctors and I thought were a bizarre array of symptoms but after reading the posts here, I don't think I'm alone! Many of my symptoms are shared by several of you (tremors/tingling throughout my body, especially extremities; fatigue; muscle cramps and weakness; crawling skin; foggy thinking; irritability and crying spells; heart palpitations; hot spots/burning sensations esp. in abdominal area; headaches; difficulty breathing; "metal taste in mouth"; etc.; etc...sigh <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />)
My question is about amalgam removal while breastfeeding. I'm supposed to have weaned my baby by now so that tests could be run to try to determine the cause of my symptoms. However, I've been struggling to wean her and frankly lack motivation and the ability to deal with a fussy crying baby - she hates a bottle - I've tried everything. Should I wait until she's weaned to remove my fillings? Is it safe to even be nursing her? How long would it take after removal for the major detox to take place? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
One more question. I have also had problems with horrible, inflamed acne recently - just around my mouth. As aresult, my lymph nodes under my chin and on my neck swell up and get sore. Could this also be a symptom of mercury poisoning that may be relieved by the removal of my fillings?

I live near Portland Oregon. Any recommendations for Dentists here?

Thank you in advance for any help and advice!
Ellie

Ellie, whatever toxins are in us, go via the breast milk to the baby. But, don't get frightened. I have nursed 7 while toxic (not knowing my illnesses were from toxins - esp mercury) and they are all doing pretty well, although a few have some relatively minor toxic issues - nothing like autism etc. You know, at least, to avoid vaccines and mercury amalgams for her. I didn't. Toxins will be difficult to avoid on this planet. We are toxic, cows' milk is toxic, etc. and soy milk has problems all its own. Perhaps wean her, and then detox. If you get pregnant again - after detox., you won't have these same worries. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

your signs or toxicity, do not necessarily point to you poisoning your child anymore than a mother not showing the signs of toxicity. Any Mother with amalgams is exposing their baby to mercury, regardless of the mother being healthy or showing toxicity.

You can't really avoid that, the baby gets it right from the womb, not your fault and yes it goes into the breast milk. But many children are drinking mercury in the breast milk and cope. I had it and was very ill and had to be taken off breast milk. I never deveped a healthy immune system, becuase I was removed from breast milk and put on a formula. My brother? Though born with abnormalities, had breast milk and ended up with a stronger immune system than I did. Sadly, my obvious sensitivity to mercury was why I could not drink it.

It's a difficult situation, because the baby needs the breast milk in order to develop the proper gut and immune system, the very things it will need to gain better protection from the mercury itself. So if I were you? I would keep breast feeding that child and don't feel bad that you can't wean him/her, as the longer you breast feed, the better.

But as your baby has been exposed to mercury, you can't do much about that at all. But at least it will be getting the good from the other side of the breast milk.

What you could do is take algin. It can act as a sponge for mercury, therefore it's not likely to stir more up or mobilise it.

I don't know if it would be wise to remove your amalgams yet. YOu will be exposed to more mercury in the process, plus once the last amalgam has been removed, the body begins to dump it's storage of mercury, so more could end up in your milk, as it does in the blood stream, fillings it back up.

Just make sure at this point, you are eating as healthy as you can. Avoid sugar, avoid things that hinder your immune system and you gut like gluten grains (e.g.wheat, rye, barley, oats can be contaminated with gluten, etc) Also, wheat is treated with fungicides and can contain mercury in itself. And try and not eat yeast if you can because sugar, gluten and yeast, feed candida in the body which is present in someone with immuen deficiency and/or mercury toxicity and simply makes you more toxic and less able to cope with the mercury at the sametime and you won't be able to release the mercury properly.

Make sure you simply eat healthy, don't eat any fish (of course because of the mercury)

When you do get your amalgams replaced, never do it when you are pregnant or nursing (apparently) nor get any dental work done in that time. But when you get your amalgams replaced, the major dumping stage begins to occur around 6 months after the last amalgam removal (or later). But you can help this by using chelating/detox agents to grab the mercury and start pulling it out faster and reducing your blood/tissue levels quicker and more thoroughly than if you left your body to do it on it's own (which often times it doesn't do too well when it's too poisoned anyway).

Hope that helps a little. For now? You could take things like a little selenium (not too much as it can be toxic), because selenium acts as a protectant against mercury, and that could help your baby too (so long as the selenium is kept at a dose that is not going to be toxic - 50 mcg - 100 mcg a day). And vitamin C, vitamin E possibly too.

Just some thoughts.

Hi there, also make sure you check with a health professional who understands breastfeeding babies because I have no idea about what is ok for you to take (supplement wise) and I would be guilty if I said "take this and take that" and didn't know that one or more supplements might be toxic to a baby. So I wanted to just say this in case (I have NO experience with pregnancy or breast feeding).

You should wait until you wean your child before having your amalgams out.

I also had cystic acne mostly on the lower part of my face and along the lymph glands in my neck. I was taking calcium at the time (which I later found out to be bad for mercury toxic people because of low magnesium levels) and also on a high sodium diet (by dr.) to try and retain fluids because I was so dehydrated. I finally learned that the acne was my body tring to get rid of the excess calcium and sodium that it didn't want and was already over loaded in trying to detox because of the mercury.

Pay close attention to what you eat and drink lots of water to help flush out the unwanted toxins. Your skin takes over if your kidneys, liver and colon become over loaded.

Thank you for all of your advice.

I just ordered the algin and I'm anxious to start using it. I have cut out most grains already because I thought it would help my complexion. Well, it actually has helped it. (Unfortunately last week my in-laws came over with donuts and I <sigh> had one...wish I wouldn't have - my skin has been horribly inflamed and sore ever since...). So I'm doubly determined to keep grains out of my diet. Sugar is harder and I do like my coffee, being from the NW... I love fish and hadn't thought of giving it up but it sounds like that will have to go for awhile... I will take the selenium (I believe it is fine for breastfeeding but I'll doublecheck) and Vit. C and discontinue the calcium that I've been taking. I am already taking Cod Liver Oil - Carlson's brand which is supposed to be one of the best. Do you think that is ok? (BTW, I do have an ND that I love and she knows alot but she *was* having me take Chlorella and has never mentioned Algin sooo I just think that I need to inform myself as much as possible and not go solely on what she says.) She did tell me the saying "Dilution is the Solution to Pollution". so, I've been trying to drink alot of water. (another aside - I could write a book guys - I also have extremely high arsenic levels and found out our well water is just above the bureaucraticly-accepted limit and way above the scientifically-acepted limit soo it's been bottled water - I wonder if that's safe?!?! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />)

Dallas, this baby is my 7th as well <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> and I have wondered how much mercury might be in all of my children's bodies. I gave my first 2 children vaccines and my 3rd has amalgam fillings. My firstborn is showing signs of bipolar or something similar and my 3rd had an extreme personality change right after having his fillings put in - enough so that I called his dentist in a panic and she calmly and mockingly reassured me that "it CAN NOT be the fillings sweetie". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Well, I decided no other children of mine would receive those kind of fillings and I want to have my sons replaced someday. Is it safe to give him algin as well? Are there any restrictions with algin?

I am so thankful to find people who understand what I'm going through. My primary care doctor thought I was crazy and it was "all in my head" Well, how right he was! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I've seen a hemotologist, a neurologist, a radiologist...I've had soooo many scans and xrays. I've seen a chiropractor. I've been to OHSU several times and they were more understanding and helpful than the primary-care doctor. But not as much as my Naturopathic Doctor. She is awesome and has opened up the door to finding out more about what's really ailing me.

I just want to feel better so I can be there for my children!

Oh Missy, did you have your fillings removed and did that help your complexion improve? I'm really hoping for this because it makes me not want to see anyone or go anywhere when my face looks bad... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Hi Ellie, fish on its own can cause mercury poisoning, even without amalgams. Carlsons cod liver oil "was" said to be mercury free, but someone on another forum got severe poisoning symptoms from it and had to stop taking the stuff, so evidentally it does indeed contain mercury and obviously enough to give someone I know an attack.

So it's a case of sometimes having to give up things that might be risky, evne if you enjoy them. Sugar is one of the worst things you can be eating and it's the hardest to give up (I should know, I am a sugar addict and had to get it out of my diet).

But if you want to feel better? You might want to get tough and try eliminating it (but again, it's up to you).

Whatever you do, I wish you well and hope you can gain some further health or stength in the meantime.

Oh boy, I hate to hear that about the Cod Liver Oil. I'm actually taking it to thin my blood as I had Deep Vein Thrombosis 2 weeks postpartum and need an alternative to the blood thinning medicine. Cod Liver Oil has been working well for that. What to do?!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
BTW, when I was in the hospital for the DVT, the hospitalists decide to have a Vena Cava Filter inserted in order to prevent a pulmonary embolism . Later, my OHSU hemotogist shook her head and sighed and said to have it removed - it should never have been put in in the first place! I did have it removed, but the damage was already done. I was actually experiencing electrical impulses in my chest while the filter was in and something during the time of those two surgeries and having the filter in did some kind of damage that triggered all of this trouble I've been having. I never did like having that metal filter in my body. I wonder if it caused something OR it could have been the surgery that overloaded my system with Manganese from the contrast agents..... Oh, brother! I despise our disjointed medical system!

Bex, I do want to feel better so will try to further improve my diet. Thank you again for the advice. I'm just soaking all of this new information in and trying to process it all. I *am* excited to be getting some answers - finally!!

That was my (Ellie's) post above...

Ellie, I'm not sure about the algin - someone else needs to answer that one. But re: cod liver oil: I have been taking Nordic Naturals cod liver oil and have had no noticeable problem. They are supposed to be the top notch specialists in mercury-free cod liver oil, but now I wonder, because Carlson's was supposed to be really good too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

HI there, I can't say for sure Carlson's is bad because it's probably one of the better ones that some of them! But obviousy it does contain trace amounts which might be enought o self off more sensitive people. At any rate, you could just be extra safe and try a brand like Nordic Naturals as Dallas mentioned or a brand called Blue Ice. As I hear these are thoroughly tested.

Yeah it's hard to try and do everything I know. Even diet alone, just knocking off sugar or something can be very hard because your body becomes used to it and addicted and when you stop using it, you go into detox and you can feel worse and start craving like crazy because the yeasts want you to keep feeding them and if they don't get what they want, they begin to weaken and die off and will try and get you to eat sugar! Plus as they starve to death, they release their own toxins into your bloodstream for a time, which can make a person feel temporarily worse, but improvement comes after it and sometimes it's tremendous for some people.

but don't feel bad if you find it too much, it's there if you feel like giving it a go. Not everybody wants to do it, but if you really feel horrific? It "might" be a key in improving your health.

I see no reason why Algin could not be taken by children...it's just a fiber source...as long as they can swallow the capsules. Another member of this forum was giving it to her 9 year-old to help with mercury poisoning from vaccinations.

If they can't swallow capsules, you could try opening the capsules and adding a little of the Algin powder to applesauce or juice, etc. You'll have to experiment, because Algin is quite a thickening substance...it doesn't take much to end up with a thick gel.

Ellie, you can use vitamin E for its blood thinning properties. It will also protect you from the toxic effects of mercury. Try to get a brand which contains several natural forms of vitamin E.

Ellie,

I felt the same way. Mine cleared up before I had my amalgams removed once I stopped the high sodium intake and the calcium supplements (I actually now do a very low sodium diet and don't do very much dairy). Now I only get a break out if I eat out or someone elses cooking where I might get too much sodium.

Here's the form of vitamin E I use. It contains all 8 components of vitamin E that occur naturally:

Vitamin E Complete with Selenium

Thank you Laura. I'll look into the vit. E as well. And my child who needs Algin the most is able to swallow capsules so that's good... Ellie

Be careful of any selenium supplementation. Although it is recommended for mercury protection, some react very bad to it. It has a direct affinity to hg so causing a reaction to take place which some cannot tolerate if they are heavy poisoned. Vitamin C in small doses, vitamin E, magnesium and some protein from meat appear to be quite safe to take.

Hi, yeah you're right. selenium can indeed provoke reactions in some people, because of it's action in the body with mercury. For some it can help them improve and encourage detox from mercury, for me, nowadays, I don't tolerate it. Others can. I used to be able to use selenium and it helped improve me from mercury toxicity once years ago and it worked VERY well. I used only vitamin C powder, selenium and vitamin E and they worked very good together at that time. I do not know how exactly because it does nt directly chelate mercury, but I have no doubts it can encourage a person in detoxing it or mobilising it.

Laura,

I ordered and received the Amalgam Illness book and noticed that he doesn't mention algin in there at all. Then I visited the frequent chelation yahoo site and asked about algin and it sounds like they don't recommend it (or any other greens supplements at all). Any insite? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
I'm getting so confused and frustrated. It seems like I can hardly eat/take anything because of potential reactions or side effects....


Ellie

Ellie, you could try emailing Andy cutler himself and tell him the position you're in . as for the frequent dose group, I wonder if they are getting algin confused with algae and thinking it's like chlorella or spirulina....

It doesn't mobilise mercury like they do, it just acts as a kind of sponge as it goes through the body/digestion. That's what I thought anyway.

Here is Andy's email if you want to try emailing him. Let him know about the breast feeding and your concerns AndyCutler@aol.com

Good idea, Bex. I'm going to do that. I think my situation may be somewhat unique. Thank you for the advice and for Mr. Cutler's email. I'lll let the forum know what I find out just in case it can help someone else in the future.
Ellie

Surprisingly, Algin often isn't mentioned on other sites and Cutler apparently isn't familiar with it either. We found out about Algin because of the research I was doing and we decided to try it. It worked so well for us that we suggested others try it and see if it helped them.

Many people recommend various fiber sources with their chelation protocols, and since research shows that Algin is a dietary fiber and it has an affinity for heavy metals, it made sense to us to use Algin.

Also, Algin is definitely not the same thing as algae. Algin is derived from kelp, a brown seaweed.

The reason there are so many different chelation/detox programs available is that there is no single program that works for everyone. As Russ likes to say (and I agree with him), mercury detox is more of an art than a science. There are too many variables at work with mercury detox for there to be 1 "right" way of detoxing. You have to do your research first, then try a few things and see what works best for you.

It's also important to keep in mind that people have different priorities. A working mother of 2 may not be in a position to physically or financially afford to follow a rigorous detox protocol that may include feeling sick from the side-effects of aggressive mercury detox. Other people who are already so sick they can't function correctly, may decide to forge ahead and go through whatever chelation is necessary in order to more quickly lower their mercury body burden so they can function once again.

You have to choose which path is right for you. For me, aggressive detox wasn't going to work. I also think a lot of people find aggressively detoxing too much for them. Thus, I share what worked for me. It may not be the fastest road to recovery, but it has certainly allowed me to function while seeing slow but steady improvement in symptoms that didn't disappear just from having my amalgams removed.

For those of you who suffer from more severe mental or emotional problems stemming from mercury poisoning, I encourage you to at least keep doing something, anything to help put more of the odds in your favor. Every little bit you do will help, even if it doesn't seem to be making a difference. For people in such a position, there is no quick and easy fix. It will take time and patience and most likely, some degree of trial and error.

Hang in there and don't give up! There are a lot of great people on this forum with good suggestions that we can all benefit from. I encourage everyone to participate and share what's worked for you. Perhaps something you share that may seem insignificant to you will bring a renewed hope to someone else!