Hey guys,

I just want to add that what might work well for one person might not for someone else. Some people thrive with DMPS, or DMSA, or EDTA...whereas it might make some people quite ill and won't help them. Others do great with chlorella, etc. And I know there are probably "best" practices and some great general guidelines to follow for chelation that can be helpful for most people (it seems like most people favor Andy Cutler's protocol), but it can be unique to the person too. And I think part of it is because we all have very unique health pictures, even if we are all affected by mercury. That's why I wouldn't undertake this sort of task (chelation/detox) without the guidance of an alternative practitioner. And I know that's not possible for everyone - I had to go 2 years without treatment because I had no health insurance. And some others might not have a natural practitioner in their area. So I totally understand that. But if you do and have the means, I would definitely go that route.

I just went to the doctor after flailing about myself for the past two months after my amalgams were removed (because he was so booked up during that time). We decided to go back to the "basics" and put my chelation on hold for now, until we can strengthen a couple of other things in my body (my thyroid and adrenal glands). So for me, that might help me when I do go into an intensive chelation in a couple of months...and doing such an intensive chelation before strengthening those issues might have been disasterous for me. But that's just me, and that's just what my doctor feels is best. While we both understand that I cannot completely heal my thyroid and adrenals until the mercury is gone, I can at least greatly strengthen them, which we feel will help with my detox. He has just had many patients who struggled with chelation/detox because they didn't treat side issues at the same time or else strengthen them before going super intense with the chelation.

Not saying this is the case for any of you, but just possibilities of why I personally feel I need the guidance of an alternative practitioner. All I know is that I struggled on my own, without the help of a doctor for the past 3 years or so, and I wish I had gone to a doctor for guidance with this long ago. I couldn't because I didn't have the resources, but I think it would have saved me a lot of frustration in the long run. And back then I was only doing a candida treatment, and not mercury (until recently). I just thought I would share my experience, and my opinion of caution on going it alone, because mercury detox can be dangerous if not done properly. Hell, it can be rough even doing it "properly" - lol!

Take care,
~Tia

PS - This post wasn't meant to take away from forums like this either. They can be a wonderful source of both knowledge and support, which is why I continue to look for answers on here even though I go to a doctor for this. In fact, I drive my doctor nuts with questions, and my referencing research and things I've heard on here, etc, because I also feel responsible for my own health, and learned in the past that I can't just blindly accept what doctor's tell me.

PPS - I totally understand where you're coming from for asking for some proof or reassurance that some people have gotten better or improved from detox!! I wanted the same thing on the candida forum I was previously on, and I hope to find that on here as well. I do know that Russ and Laura got well from chelation, and a few people on here have talked about some major improvements so far. Some people will stick around forums to help out, discuss the issue, and share what worked for them once they are well. But most people seem to move on. So I think the majority of us on in the stage where we are looking for answers and trying to get well...therefore, still pretty sick! I know that after years of struggling with this I have a hard time being optimistic (and I'm always a skeptic until I research things myself), but I feel there is hope in getting well through chelation!