I figured I would start a journal on here of the process. It may be helpful for others, and may help me to stick to the regimen as well. I'm just going to keep editing and adding to the post. I don't have a ton of time, but I will be sure to put in the details that are necessary.

For starters I'm 28 yo Male. This started when I was about 26-27. I did a bunch of cleanses and finished off with a heavy metal cleanse. Had my amalgums removed via safe protocol, however I made a large error. The regimen the Dentist suggested I didn't follow, I went and got a prepackaged set that included cilantro, ala, etc. The regimen the dentist suggested would only have cleared out the free mercury in my system before removing the amalgams, the products I took were pulling mercury into my system at a very fast rate. I was also not eating any meat during this time (anothe big no-no) It was a nightmare, severe emotional disturbances, tiredness etc. This was a very difficult time for me anyway, which I won't get into, but I know that post tramautic stress is included in my current systems, not just the mercury. I ended up having a small nervous break down, and about a year after that I now have Fibromylgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I'm also not completely well yet emotionally (but better) The doctor put me on Wellbutrin to cope with the Chronic Fatigue and it has helped immensely, but I know that there is an underlying problem. All of these problems occured simultaneously with the Mercury detox and it wasn't until later on that I realized what mistake I had made (using such strong chelators with mercury still in my mouth) The biggest motivation for this for me is my girlfriend. We have something very special, Romeo and Juliet kind of love, without the stupidity of suicide <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I don't think it is often that people are fortunate enough to find their soulmate, and I was. She means everything to me, and she has always been there for me. I want to be better for her...and myself. To break down the symptoms I'm suffering from

Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Depression
Losing weight
Stressing out easily
Overly emotional

I didn't used to be like this. Some would say I'm handsome, (cuz I am <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> confident, energetic, fun, charming...now I'm timid, tired and drained.

The protocol I will be following is Andy Cutlers. I have already tried Cilanto/Chlorella and it made things much worse for me. I actually found this site while trying to find another way to chelate besides that because it was just unbearable. Along with the Chlorella/cilantro I started having other strange sides, my nose started growing, specifically the cartilidge at the tip. I went to several doctors to find out what was wrong and they all said that my nose was just growing again and that it would stop at some point. It stopped when I discontinued Chlorella. There was also another body change that was happening with the Chlorella that I don't want to get into. I can't confirm that Chlorella was the cause but they both started and stopped with the Chlorella. (this happened 2x) It works well for a lot of people, it just wasn't tolerable for me. I will represent only my own opinion in this thread, and how Andy's protocol works for me, that doesn't mean it will work for you or that my experience will be the same as yours. If there is anything you would like me to include in this thread feel free to post it and I will do what I can. As for where I am merc toxicity wise, I haven't been to an MD for lack of insurance, and certainty about my problem, but looking at the symptoms, I would say I'm pretty heavily poisoned.

As for supplements, I'm taking 900 mg of Algin between meals, and before bed. 150mg of wellbutrin xr daily, Source of life vitamins which are very high in B's 4x daily. Selenium 200 mcg 4x daily, 700iu vit E, 1g vit c 4x Daily, 500mg magnesium 4 x daily. 10mg DHEA each morning and 50mg 5-htp and 1 tsp of cod liver oil (merc free) I will add the mineral support when it comes in.

My diet consists of much raw fruits and vegetables, I just started incorporating eggs and meats again. Whole grains, and breads. I have always eaten very clean.

Week 1 - I did 25 mg of DMSA every 4 hours for 12 hours. Did 3 doses and felt fine, good actually, so I upped it to 50mg for the rest of the 72 hours. At 50mg I started noticing some rapid mood swings. It was nothing uncontrollable, only slightly unpleasant, and fleeting, non-disruptive. I would be sad for about 2 minutes and then happy as heck for 10. Then I would be mad for 5 minutes and happy again for 10. At the end of Day 2 I felt so good I went for a run. I noticed each morning that I was pretty tired and drained, more than usual but not intolerable. The getting up at night had something to do with it as well as the detox. By the end of Day 3 I was happy to get a full nights rest again. Overall I would say the DMSA made me feel better, not worse. The cil/ch combo made me exhausted, depressed and down. That wasn't the case with the dmsa for me. I'm going to take 4 days off and start again next week. What I would like to do eventually is work up to 4 days on, 3 off, but I'm going to play it by ear and see what happens. My plan is to use DMSA for 4 -6 weeks and then add ALA.

Started second round of Chelation yesterday, 25mg DMSA and 25MG ALA every 3 hours. I decided to try this because it has been 1.5 years since amalgam removal and I tolerated the DMSA pretty well. 7 doses so far and only light side effects. I had a pretty massive headache upon starting, but that went away. Today I've been good, still some rapid emotional cycling, since adding the ALA it's a bit different, a little more anxiety, fear and insecurity included this time. I'm worrying about stupid things, thinking everyting is going to fall apart, and then I will have some moments of total well-being. It's been tolerable and if it continues like this I will probably up the dosage. It's still early, all could fall apart at anytime. I'm sure the supplement support has a lot to do with it. Will ammend more to this once I've finished round 2.

Thanks for sharing your story, it is too bad they make those heavy metal cleanses without warning people not to do them with a heavy burden of mercury or amalgams still in their mouth. To do any serious chelation all sources should be removed first.

Keep up the diligence and hard work, you are very lucky to have a partner that is so supportive.

Best luck!!!

Sandi
xoxo

Finished round 3 a few days ago. This round went considerably different so I waited to share the effects as I wanted a complete picture of the round.
Went 3 days of 75MG DMSA and 150MG of ALA. At the beginning I was steady every 3 hours, but towards the end I started not waking up to my alarm sometimes, I would sleep though to 4 hour intervals, the longest one was 4h 15m. Day one and two were fine, day 3 I started to feel weird. Spacy, and detached. A little depressed but not intolerable. I would just look at people as they talked to me and I was able to communicate and converse (no one knew I felt weird) but their head movements would make me a bit dizzy. It was also harder to carry on the conversation. I stopped after day 3 and things continued the same way. The dizziness with peoples head movements got worse, and the depression got a little worse as well. I'm now on the third day off and the dizziness is gone, I am slightly depressed and very tired. Another very strange side was something I've never had happen before. I was headed to my Aunts house for a graduation party and I got lost, very, very lost. I don't go to her house all the time, but I've never gotten lost on the way there, I usually can remember the turns as I drive them. Well, I got myself I don't know where, and could not, as hard as I tried, could not get to her house. I wasn't lost per se, as when I traveled to the end of some roads I knew where I was, but getting to her house was completely impossible. Someone had to talk me there. Once I got there, I went to go in the house and saw some people I didn't know leaving...puzzled I announced to them that I was at the wrong house. I turned around and started walking up the street as I had already parked and didn't want to lose that spot. I walked up and down the street and could not find the house, it was baffling. It turns out, it was the house I went to orginally and it was just some neighbors who were leaving. Everyone teased be for a while but it was a very strange experience. There are a number of variables that could have contributed to this state, perhaps as I go on chelating I will be able to narrow it down to which one was the culprit.
1. Done 3 rounds so far so I'm a bit sleep deprived. Also evidenced by the fact that I was sleeping through my alarm. However, I've lived much of my life in a sleep deprived state and never experienced this before. Normally my sense of direction is uncanny.

2. Not dosing every 3 hours steadily, the sides I was getting didn't kick in until I started dosing every 4 involuntarily. Not only did I do that at night but most of day 3 I wasn't able to make it every 3 hours.

3. Could be just upping the dose

4. I have a cilantro tincture that I took 2 drops of on the third day, just to see what would happen. The sides started that night, so I will avoid that in the future.

5. Could be completely unrelated to the chelation

Up until this point the DMSA and ALA combo has made me feel great. I plan to start again tomorrow (I'm taking equal time on and off) but back to the 50/100 dosage that I was doing before. I will try to systematically eliminate the cause...right now I would guess that it was the two drops of Cilantro, but I'll start back at the lower dose and see if it makes me feel good again, then keep at that dose for a bit, no sense in ruining a good thing.

Claythrow, one thing you might want to consider is switching to DMPS. The dosing schedule is every 8 hours and much easier to manage. Or lowering your DMSA and ALA dosage. Remember, its better to go slow than go to fast and sabotage your efforts.

Also, you can buy a pocket size alarm device to help you take your meds at a very reasonable price at: www.invisibleclock.com. It works fantastic.

I have been using it since March and you can set it to beep or vibrate and up to I think 20 different alarm times. I use it to remind me of my meds and supplements.

Gabriella

Hi Gabriella, I don't know if they'd be much point in Claythrow going on DMPS. I know it's great that DMPS can be taken every 8 hours, which allows for a full night's sleep, but he's on ALA now which means he has to dose every 3 hours for that alone. So he may as well stick with DMSA.

Claythrow, those effects sure are unusual but may have been from redistribution. Which could be from the cilantro or extending the every 3 hours to every 4 hour dosing of ALA as you said. If I was you, I would go back to what you were doing as you're going to do and then later, up the dose of ALA and see if it happens again. If not, then it was obviously the 4 hour dosing that was the problem or the cilantro.

You could try doing it 4 hourly again once you improve, to see if it was that... but again is there any point in taking a risk? Cilantro I would not touch in your condition. You will still have a lot of mercury and cilantro can in some cases really muck people up. Others do great, but you're not going to know how it will effect you and ifyou're already taking a chelator that chelates the brain, you won't need cilantro anyway.

Bex, I thought you could take ALA at 4 hour and 8 hour intervals? That's how I interpreted general dosing schedule on the AC website. Can you point me to where the info says that ALA should be done every 4 hours? For the past several weeks I have only take it with the DMPS. Many thanks, Gabriella

Hi Glancia, Andy has always stated ALA must be taken every 3-4 hours around the clock, just like DMSA (preferably every 3 hours). It's in his book, on everything bit of info I have read.. DMPS however does not have to be taken every 3-4 hours, but instead about every 6-8 hours. But if you use it with the ALA, that changes things apparently. Here is a link that outlines Andy's protocol.
http://home.earthlink.net/~moriam/Andy_dose_sched.html

That link explains it. The only thing I am wondering is, I cannot see why DMPS has to be taken on every ALA dose. I wonder if someone can take it like this -
e.g. DMPS and ALA at 4 pm, then ALA alone at 7 pm, then DMPS and ALA together at 10 pm, then ALA alone at 1 am, then DMPS and ALA together at 4 am etc etc. That way you are taking them both as they should be taken, but not unnecessarily wasting the DMPS in the process. Not sure why on that link it says you must dose DMPS the same as ALA if taken together. It does not make sense, as DMPS will still be remaining in the blood after 6-8 hours, so I dont believe it needs to be taken on every ALA dose.

That's just my opinion though.

I understand that it is important to take additional minerals whilst chelating. Does anyone know which minerals in particular? Just a mineral complex formula ? Or are there some minerals in a complex formula that shouldn't be taken. Also, is it best to take the minerals on the days off or everyday including the DMSA chelating days?

Sorry, one last question, does DMSA need to be taken with food?

Cheers from Rachie

Bex I just had a quick glance at the Andy Cutler link that you recently posted. I don't understand why he talks about 'reasonable options' being 3 days on, 4 days off, OR 3 days on 11 days off. Why is there such a difference? Why 4 days off or 11 days off? Why not 6 days or 8 days off for example...?

Rachie

Hi Rachie, according to Andy's protocol, the vitamins and minerals that can be taken are vitamin C, vitamin E, B complex, zinc, magnesium (I believe calcium should be used also in the same amount), milk thistle to help support the liver.

He says that the b complex, vitamin C , milk thistle and magnesium should be taken 3 or even 4 times a day to be effective. They are to be taken all the time, during chelation and inbetween. You can take DMSA no matter what, whether eating or not eating.

As for the timing of the chelators? He is giving examples. Like if you take DMSA for 3 days, you can take as much time off as you need. But it is not wise to only take say 1 day off and get back into it. It is best to take about the same amount of time off that you spent on OR longer! E.g. some might chelate for 3 days and then take two weeks off if they need it.

You can chelate for 6 days and have 10 days off. It doesn't matter, so long as you're having the same or more days off that you spent on.

He should have made that clear, but instead it gets confusing because one gets the wrong impression.

Aha. Now I get it. Thanks so much Bex for making that clear to me. It really is amazing just how much there is to learn about mercury poisoning and chelating etc. I guess that due to it's widespread detriment on the body it causes numerous ailments. I also find it amazing that when I was studying natural medicine (finished about 5 years ago) they didn't even touch upon mercury as a subject. I vaguely recall them mentioning something about chelation therapy for people with acute heavy metal poisoning. I don't recall mercury being singled out.

I have written down those vitamins and minerals that you mentioned on the inside cover of my Amalgam Illness book. By the way, I did end up using that Vivagen website that you posted to purchase my DMSA as I found out recently that my doctor who specialises in mercury detoxing etc does not sell DMSA. Go figure? I guess it must be a legislation thing. I didn't really feel like discussing it with him at the time.

Rachie

Hi Rachie, you're welcome. It took me a while to get the hang of this protocol becuase at first it seemed very strange to me and I HATED waking up at night to take doses. I thought what is the point? But when I tried doing it another way, I really copped it even worse. So I realised the necessity of frequent dosing, at least in my respect at that time.

I also feel that diet is essential and Andy does not really go into that as such. But so many mercury toxic people desperately need to get some control of yeast by getting off sugars etc. It really can be that bad. The body is already under massive strain and poisoning and the yeast that may already be more than usual because of the metals, grows far beyond that from sugars and the body gets completely overwhelmed, so far from candida being "protective" in mercury toxicity, it can instead become a huge problem nad sometimes worse than the mercury itself.

I wish he'd mention that but he doesn't much if at all. He talks about using antifungals, but I believe diet is the first and best place to start. Antifungals can be too aggressive and can kill yeast in high numbers at onetime making hte person very toxic and very ill. It does not allow the body to gradually reduce yeast safely by itself from proper diet or really allw the body to heal. The diet is not just for candida, it is for anybody who wants to improve their immunity.

As for supplements, I'm taking 900 mg of Algin between meals, and before bed. 150mg of wellbutrin xr daily, Source of life vitamins which are very high in B's 4x daily. Selenium 200 mcg 4x daily, 700iu vit E, 1g vit c 4x Daily, 500mg magnesium 4 x daily. 10mg DHEA each morning and 50mg 5-htp and 1 tsp of cod liver oil (merc free) I will add the mineral support when it comes in.


That is far too much Selenium (800 mcg/day). Unlike many other supplements, Selenium has a very thin margin between beneficial and toxic dose. For adults the safe maximum dose is 400 mcg.

Bex, thanks so much for the detailsd response. Felt a little stupid, but hey, I was feeling better this last month even though I took the ALA at the same intervals as the DMPS. Today I switched to every 3 hours with the ALA, so good to go. Yes, it is a pain in the heiny to take it every 3 hours round the clock...but gotta make the sacrifice. I also appreciate the info on the other supplements, as I was only taking the milk thistle 2x's day.

This forum makes me appreciate helping one another.

Many thanks!

Gabriella <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hi Gabriella, no worries <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> and oh yeah it is a pain in the rear to take it every 3 hours. I didn't realise how bad it would be and I found myself desperate after waking up just when I had gotten into a deep sleep.

I am just glad the other dosing didn't cause anything horrendous with you. But yeah it is better to be on the safe side and do it properly, evne if you got away with the other.

No don't feel stupid at all, I have done similar and I think most have and mercury toxic people often do this as well. Being poisoned you read something or hear something and sometimes you actually comprehend it differently to what it is, and that is something mercury toxic people get a lot.

That's why I find I have to read something over and over and even then sometimes I cannot absorb it no matter what.

Round 4 complete with 4 days of rest. I begin round 5 tomorrow.

Round 4 went much better. Took 50MG DMSA and 100MG ALA every 3 hours. Only once I slipped and dosed 4.5 hours later. I did have the rapid mood swings again, sadness and elation, but nothing like the sides I had last round. I will stay at this dose for a while. The day after I completed, make that the 2nd day I felt amazing, it was like a fog was lifted. I felt like that before the previous round, and it seems like I overdid things and let a fog settle in again. This last round seems to have removed that last layer and I feel clearer, more in touch with people and my emotions, more in control of things. It's like someone peeled a layer of depression and detachment off of me, it's a great feeling. I went for a 3 mile run for the first time in a couple years. I've done 4 rounds of chelation via cutler's protocol and I already have noticed a huge difference in almost all aspects of my life. I'm putting some weight back on as well, the weight is not just from eating protein again as I have experimented for a number of years with my diet and know how I respond to things. I feel a certain level of strength again that I attribute to the D-ribose. The other day I gave someone a hand shake and for the firs time in a long time I felt strength surging through my grip. Round 5 begins tomorrow, we'll see how it goes.

This is great, keep it up. This is the kind of thing that people need to hear to see the progress actually happening. Sounds to me like this protocol is working wonderfully for you and hope it keeps on like this.

Finished round 5 a few days ago. Same as previous rounds, I'm starting to notice a bit more depression and detachment as I go through the round. It lifts a couple days afterward and I feel like a million bucks, very in tune, energetic, happy. I did develop an intense soar throat this last round, that I still have. Don't know what that is caused by but I've never had a soar throat like this, nor for this long (a week now) in fact, it just keeps getting worse. Other than that all is well and this protocol is working out well for me. I can't believe the improvement that has occured in just a matter of weeks. My goal is to do 66 rounds of chelation, which would take me a little over a year, but if this does remove .5% of Mercury each day you follow it that would bring me to 100% (in theory) I think I will try to bump up the dose of ALA a little in round 10

Finished round 5 a few days ago. Same as previous rounds, I'm starting to notice a bit more depression and detachment ...

Hi Claythrow, I'd like to join you in reporting progress with weekly DMSA chelation:

1st: < 12.5 mg DMSA every 3 hrs for 3 days (200 mg total)
Slight dull headache near base of neck.

2nd: 12.5 mg DMSA every 3 hr for 3 days (300 mg total)
Slight dull headache near base of neck.

3rd: 12.5 mg DMSA every 3 hr for 3 days (300 mg total)
No much headache be definite feeling of being dizzy/drunk.

I was doing my DMSA/ALA formula for a good couple months, not as heavily as you Claythrow, and during/after much IV chelation (probably much stronger than the DMSA/ALA combo). It is good stuff, helped me enormously.

Now though I have pretty much switched to just cilantro/garlic (I make pesto mainly with it the past couple weeks because the pesto is really tasty and I love to eat it all day long, never get tired of it, it's mixed with a ton of good for you basil, some lemon juice, the cilantro, a good amount of garlic, olive oil, flax seed, I've been throwing in some walnut oil too) Anyway... I really like how clear the cilantro makes my head feel, the DMSA formula alone was not doing that for me... and I really really need a clear head to do my best intricate meticulous work...

I have sort of left the DMSA formula on the shelf in the fridge for now, I might pop one or two capsules twice a week in the evening at most. I thought it would be a good idea to lay off the DMSA a bit since the cilantro is seems to be working so well (I am eating a LOT of it, maybe 1-2 cups per day, after being minced, I consider that a lot). I seem to be holding steady, I think my system may be well cleared of high heavy metal loads is why though I am aware I still have heavy metal load because if I stop doing anything, whether cilantro or DMSA, I feeling slighty yucky and start getting fog head/headache again within 48 hours. I am down to 6 medium-small amalgams now, not counting the two behind my front teeth which I cannot remove without imminent danger of loss of those teeth unfortunately.

I was wondering what were your thoughts on adding ALA alone without DMSA to this (cilantro/garlic) routine... do I need to take DMSA with the ALA to bind or does ALA work ok alone? I know in the past when I tried it alone it did help release lots of metals (could smell it in the bathroom very strong) but it made me feel awful overall (big big foghead especially). But, I was not doing the cilantro back then and I think my toxic load may have been quite a bit higher then also. I don't really want to experiment with it again like that without informed opinions, it (ALA) made me feel extremely bad last time I used it alone. Though of course one could say, that is what it feels like when you are chelating which I know is true also.

No depression or mood swings with cilantro for me btw. Quite the opposite which is why I like it so much. I cannot recall my head ever being this clear, even when I was in my twenties my head did not feel this good, plus I have a lot of energy. However my cilantro is quite fresh and truly organic, picked 10 minutes previous to eating from my garden. I don't think I would delve as confidently into this routine with store bought cilantro, even if it were 'certified organic'. I have also been laying off massive amounts of supplements (still taking some just not as much, Vitamin C 1500 mgs still on my list daily, the others I am still taking just less) to give my kidneys a break on that end too.

-also, i have been gouing in regularly for colonics every 2-3 weeks to help clear colon paralyzing residues from my gut, also extremely helpful.

I don't know what to tell you, cilantro does very bad things for me.

I wonder a couple things,

I'm not sure what eating cilantro in that manner is doing. From what I have read and understand, Cilantro will release metals, but does not really attach to escort them out, which is why people usually combine it with Chlorella or another binding agent. The mistake I made the first time around was using a cilantro tincture (very strong) that was too much for the chlorella to bind and excrete. Had a nervous breakdown, severe depression, got Fibro and CFS. Thats what cilantro does to me, even with a binding agent.

But hey, if it makes you feel better thats all that counts. Each time I do a round of DMSA and ALA the sides are tolerable, and when its over I feel like a layer of crud has been lifted off of me, mentally, emotionally, physically, so thats what I'm going to stick with. I haven't felt this good, hmmm, ever. I'm working full time again w/no problems (very physical work), still have the fibro pain but it seems to be getting better, far less depressed, no anxiety, its unreal. Cilantro is just not for me.

Personally, if you are feeling good, I would just stick with whats working.

I agree but I think the ALA pulls mercury/metals from certain places, the cilantro reaches certain places etc. I simply remember that strong metal smell and feel it's worth investigating.

I am not sure about the exact chemistry but I've researched it a bit and there's some relation between the cilantro and garlic which is why I am apparently not needing the DMSA as badly. We're talking several cloves of garlic to a couple cupfuls of my pesto mix, quite a bit of garlic, about half the bulb per. Really all I know is, it does work. I will research it more maybe can find a clearer answer to the reason why.

I will give it a try tomorrow, just one ALA 60 mg is my cap size when I eat my pesto lunch. Will let you know. I can always take a couple DMSA tabs if I feel like I am going to go off the deep end.

HI, cilantro wasn'tgood for me. I tried it and even tried using DMSA to bind it up. The cilantro definitely must have moved metals because I could taste it and I felt wired, but not good.

I did that for a while with DMSA and though I got mobilisation, I have had no improvement, so I won't be doing that again. But I'm sure it works for others.

I think my problem is different toxins right now, which some might be metal (but not all) and I think this is why I cannot seem to get results, though I get mobilising. Something is up beause even DMSA doesn't seem to be helping this time....though I may try it again Andy style and force myself to go for a few days.

May try it with the ALA every 3-4 hours. I'm tired of this, but this is what happens to peple like me when they smoke a load of cigarettes in a few days. I cannot handle any toxin intake and my body hangs onto it. Even one cigarette has been known to make me sick for about 5-6 days following, so I have to wonder why I was idiotic enough to smoke a whole packet! I forget too easily when I'm feeling more stronger about my weaknesses.

Yes, Cilantro moves mercury from deep stores, primarily neurological, into "shallow" stores that are more easily reachable with simple chelators like chlorella. So, never take cilantro without another chelator, like Chlorella and, as always, make sure you're taking the big 3 for protection against free mobilized mercury:

Citrus Bioflavonoids (Vitamin C)

Vitamin E with Selenium

Algin

The chlorella is good, I am just in low supply of it at the moment. Lots of reading I've done claims that garlic will also bind and help excrete so just exploring various options, seems true so far since I haven't had any adverse reactions. I think ideally though chlorella is the choice but with garlic also. I am kind of wondering also about the chlorella (powdery fine stuff) remaining in my gut somewhat... I have noticed by doing the colonics that it doesn't seem to all flush out naturally on it's own, maybe because it's loaded with mercury and at least in me seems to cling in my colon. So for right now I am keeping the chlorella, what's left in the jar anyway, on the shelf to compare to my efforts without it. It's still there if I need it.

Interestingly enough Russ, after a couple weeks of heavy duty cilantro I have noticed quite vividly the same mobilization sensations from the cilantro/garlic that I get from a DMPS IV, and that's a good thing far as I am concerned. I can actually feel the mercury moving out, feels like a cold drippy sensation. I get that in my head and my legs exactly like after a DMPS shot so it's definitely working.

I think the cilantro garlic routine is also much kinder to my kidneys but I am not as toxic as I was before either so a couple things going on there.

The quite noticable cold drippy sensations I have had today, doesn't hurt or give me headaches or anything, I can simply feel it (which means my nerves are working well I guess) will make me reach for my DMSA formula before bed tonight as a precautionary measure.

I used to wake every morning with numb tingly hands and that seems to even have disappeared for the most part. I think there is a lot of heavy metal in one of my feet though (toes get crampy, has done that for years, shows up every couple weeks for a day or so), any suggestions for quickly relieving that? I actually had a sort of grey looking patch on one ankle for several years, never knew what it was, it disappeared with the chelating imagine that. Probably lead.

Russ, also, what are your thoughts on the ALA? Does it require an additional binder like DMSA?

There is a lot of controversy on ALA. I've read research that demonstrates how important it is and beneficial to the brain, and how well it expels mercury. On the other hand, I've read research that says that mercury redistribution is an issue, but the context of these studies always assumed there was no other chelator present—at least none was mentioned.

So...

I believe ALA is excellent for the brain and a powerful antioxidant, however, I would only use it in mercury chelation when another binding agent is present and only after the lower body has been at least somewhat detoxed.

That's how I boil down all the info I've encountered.

So what I did... I added a 60mg ALA to 3 25mg DMSA formula capsules... which already have an equivalant amount of ALA in there suposedly... but I took some extra chlorella and ate garlic at dinner.

That was a couple days ago, woke up feeling great. I guess since I have been liking the cilantro w/garlic/basil so much, and since the cilantro seems so good at clearing out my head (and who knows what else, I have not had that lower spine ache in 2-3 weeks) I thought the ALA might be a extra good thing now and then to get the metal out of other possible places the cilantro may not be reaching.

I am a bit low on cilantro so need something to stagger my efforts with until the new batch of cilantro is ready to eat in a couple weeks. I do have some of the first batch of cilantro yet and ate a pesto snack just a few hours ago.. and already I feel that cold metal sensation, this time in my left hand where i have never felt it before. So it is definitely working. I took a couple DMSA tabs to hopefully help bind what I feel moving in there. And extra antioxidants.

... Whatever I can do to keep myself out of the doctor's office for a bit. So far, so very good.

I read somewhere last week that DMSA works really well in conjunction with B vitamins.

My fingernails look great btw. They looked like heck before (my thumbs) and I know for sure it was due to the metals.

Just finished round 6. 3.5 days 50mg dmsa and 50mg ala. I waited longer to start this round as I was feeling fatigued. I feel like 3 days on 3 off is not enough catch up time for me sleepwise. I end up being up late and getting up early anyway, so 5 hours of sleep is normal for me, but add in 3 straight days of no deep sleep (I get at least a little with 5 hours) I just get too tired. I waited about 8 days to start round 6 and almost instantly felt good when I started. Better energy, better outlook, handled stress better. After the little sleep I'm more physically tired but felt good other than that. I stopped at noon today and am feeling fantastic right now. I usually feel best the 3rd day afterwards. I would have continued throughout today but I missed a dose and 5 hours had passed before I realized it so I stopped then. I did get a couple of the doses in at 4 hours but didn't have any problems with it, though I do shoot for 3. I'm pretty sure that it was the Cilantro tincture that fudged me up that last round. I'm never touching that stuff again. It's unbelievable to me how much better I feel since doing this protocol. I've been paying careful attention to everything, and noting the steady changes. I steadily feel better and better, mentally, physically, emotionally. Over a year and a half of my life was hell on earth, being depressed/suicidal, disconnected, crying all the time, tired and lost. But each passing phase of this detox leaves me more free, and more how I used to be. Actually, most of the time now, I feel better than I ever have in my life. (can't really explain that one) This is not a euphoric rant (though it may sound like one) but I feel better all the time. It's almost like I forgot what being normal was supposed to feel like.

Claythrow, that is amazing. Thank you so much for posting your progress. It is really giving hope to me and I'm sure many others. I am so glad to hear how much better you are feeling.

Andrea

I think cilantro fudges everyone up the first time, did it to me too when I first ate a whole lot. Maybe it reaches into hitherto unreached places.

I never used a tincture though, just fresh cilantro, cooked and uncooked.

Still top of my list, cilantro (w/garlic).

I am glad to here your able to chelate - I am not at the point yet where I can even put a dose of dmsa into me - swollen glands, inflammation, hyper sensitivity and still have 4 amalgams

Your also lucky by the sounds of it do not have any liver issues - a lot of mercury toxic people have this problem too.

I ordered a deep breathing cd - was sure a big help. Helps to deal with anxiety/pain. Its amazing how we take breathing for granted, but most of us are doing it way wrong. How can your body heal with not enough oxygen? - http://store.soundstrue.com/aw00445d.html

I am going to wait 1 month to let system settle down and get amalgams out. Tried pectin and algin and got a reaction- I think my elimination is not working yet - liver, lymph. Before doing dmsa why not try pectin and algin - once you get through this, then try dmsa when your stronger and feeling better.

1. amalgams out - replaced with CEREC porcelain inlays
2. 6 week intense liver detox - and start 2000mgs of wild fish oil with food and plant based digestive enzyme - make sure the fish oil capsule is entreric coated or the omega 3 will die in your gut from stomach acid in about 5 seconds (from what I read from the New England Journal of Medicine) They have most of the supplements you need here: http://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML
3. orange peel and lemon - yeast and bacteria killer - 2 months
here they have something called REFLUX - call them
http://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML
4. Then start acidophilous/bif - probiotic with NO FOS - use this for the entire duration of your cleanse - 12-24 months http://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML
5. slowly start to introduce zinc-tin, selenium, manganese in divided doses thoughout the day (I also have high copper - medium mercury). Its possible that copper is causing my probem, not sure. When your adrenals are burned for a very long time - 10 years+ certain enzymes are not produced to remove/balance copper. http://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML I take goatein protein powder for calcium and himalayan salt for magnesium and 80 trace elements. And a simple greens for vitamins. Berry Greens from New Chapter http://www.newchapter.info/
6. Beta 1,6 glucan - immune support http://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML
7. Vitamin D3 - transdermal ( can start this with #1 - 1/4 teaspoon on arm daily) Not in pills because can accumulate in liver.http://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML
8. vitamin b12 under tongue - 1000mgshttp://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML
9. folic acid, b6 - low <a href="dosehttp://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML" target="_blank">dosehttp://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML</a>
10. pectin and algin to remove mercury - start 1/2 dose
http://econugenics.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,53/category_id,15/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,57/
11. glutithione - enteric coated capsule <a href="onlyhttp://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML" target="_blank">onlyhttp://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML</a>
12. cysteine - NAC - with 250 mgs vit <a href="chttp://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML" target="_blank">chttp://www.krippspharmacy.com/CONTACT.HTML</a>

Get hair tests every 3 months to see how you are doing - I dont believe in urine tests - tried 3 and says NO metals - but never used a chelator like DMSA or DMPS before the test. A blood microscopy is good - they put your blood under a microscope up to 9000 resolution and shows things like yeast, heavy metals (brown around the cell), bacteria and microbes. Your cells should not be stuck together (roleau)
http://www.pacificholistic.com/blood.htm

You probably would want to speak with your naturalpath about this program - everybody is different. Introduce everything slowly - each month - if dont feel good slow it down or take a few days off, and then start again - its going to be tough - Breath deep - listen to the CD every day

Round 7 Results- I upped the ALA dose to 150mg every 3 hours. This round I had a bit more ups and downs for the first two days. Aggravation, elation, sadness etc. I had tons of energy despite lack of sleep the whole time. I did 4.5 days as I was feeling so good as of the end of day 2 and it lasted till day 4.5 when I stopped. I had a headache for the first day. I did notice a head rush early on Day 2. Not blood rushing, almost like a silent siren (ie no sound but I could feel my head resonating from it) that lasted about 6 seconds and then stopped. It seemed to lower the noise threshold of my head from then on, like my thinking was less noisy, or pressure was relieved from my head(I realize that may not make sense but I'm trying to explain a very weird feeling) THere was nothing bad about it, even when it was happening. I notice that Algin seems to help with symptom control, less ups and downs when I use it. Since ending it I've felt not as good as I did when I was on, but in general feeling pretty good. I've been running regularly and working hard, which is aiding in my overall good feeling I think. I'm at about 10% of my goal for chelation, hopefully I can see this through

I too have a very long story of trials and errors.
I tried to avoid to spent too much time time reading depressing post.
Since I decided to follow Andy's ONLY protocol I feel much better than 2 years ago.
I have seem much of the people that goes by the low frequents steady protocol that Andy's recommended get better.
Right now I'm doing much much better than before thanks to Andy Cutler.

Here is rounds 8 and 9. After round 7 I started feeling crappy. Fatigued and more down than had been the trend. This is what happened last time I upped the dose, so I dropped back down and I'm going to stay down. For round 10 I may even try 25 and 50. During the rounds I feel amazing. After these last few I drop off and start to feel tired again when the round is over. Not sure what the cause of that is. Perhaps I'm doing too much too fast. I never would have understood chronic fatigue syndrome had I not experienced it. You just don't have it in you, and the last couple cycles (post cycle technically) I've been managing, but been more tired than I have been since starting the chelation. I'll start round 10 soon and post again. I do think its odd that I feel so good when doing the cleanse. I may try to incorporate some ALA into my daily regiment, against the cutler protocol, but if it makes me feel that good I may run with it. Not every 3 hours, but some daily.

I can just here Andy Cutler's reply to what you said. "Every 3 hours or not at all!" He does know his stuff, I would be pretty careful about doing the once a day route. Its your body though, you have a good idea of what helps and what doesn't.

-Colin

if you don't take ALA every 3 hours you will move mercury i n the brain.

I did rounds 10 and 11 at 25mg DMSA and 50 MG ala. I started to get progressively better. Stopping the rounds didn't have a big let down at the end. I went on vacation for a while and havn't chelated in a couple weeks and I've been feeling good (as good as I can feel) Started round 12 today and will post results. So far, I'm super emotional ;(

Anybody knows what happened to claythrow? Did he get well? Seems he is not updating his chelation journal anymore.

Yes, I'm doing better and better with each round.

I haven't been around for a while as I'm getting married soon, a friend just past away and I'm helping his wife with the affairs, and my business is growing faster than I can keep up with it, I simply haven't had the time to be on line.

The chlation rounds are the same each time. First day or two I feel crappy and emotional as the mercury gets roused. I have disturbing thoughts and feelings, self esteem and confidence issues arise, but then I start to feel good. I started stretching the rounds to 5-6 days or as long as I can manage to wake up during the night. I've lost track of the rounds, but I've chelated for 45 days total, like 14 rounds total. My goal is 100 days of chelation, then I will probably take a long break. According to cutler you remove from .5 up to a full 1% of mercury with each day of chelation (24 hours) so if I was doing a full 1% than 100 days would be sufficient... and I'll see how it goes from there. I'm back up to 50mg dmsa and 100mg ala with no problems. The improvements are continuing and I'm a different person than I was before I started this, I feel much closer to the real me.

As a side note, I tried NDF recently and can't handle it. Even 3 drops a day makes me VERY tired and depressed, for some reason I just can't handle chlorella I guess.