I wonder if anyone has any ideas about what's happening to me, if it's normal, if I seem to be making good choices?

Brief story: I had no amalgams in my adult teeth until about three years ago, and then I got four all at once. Two months later I developed clinical depression quite suddenly, and have had it ever since. I tried all sorts of things to deal with it, none worked. For quite a while now I've been thinking it's an issue with my lifestyle, needing to go out to work this autumn when my daughter goes to school, get more of a life back for myself. But I also wondered whether the amalgam fillings and the depression could be connected, and decided to get them out.

I had them removed over a period of 2 weeks by a dentist who did not take precautions. It was either this, or leave the removal for a year or more, until we had some funds. I took a risk, not one that I would recommend, because I know for sure that the procedure added to my body's mercury burden, whether or not it was causing the depression.

During the removal process I had a constant upset stomach, brain fog, intensification of the depression, etc. I continued to take my supplements, including massive doses of vitamin C, and was able to take Algin on the last day of removal.

The intensity of the stomach problems eased after that. A couple of days after the last removal I started a supplement called Detoxica, which contains glutathione precursors. I've continued with the Algin. I also discovered an interesting product called Heavy Metal Detox. This is one available here in Europe, and a study was done with it and a variety of other chelators that sang its praises. Here is some info: http://mercuryexposure.org/index.php?article_id=648

It is a liquid containing chlorella growth factor, energised chlorella homaccord, and coriandrum sativum. Essentially these are preparations made from chlorella and cilantro (coriander), one of them homeopathic. You have 40 drops in a drink 3 times a day before food.

The people in the study reported no side effects apart from slight headache, but then they weren't necessarily at the point of being sick from heavy metal exposure.

While I've been taking it I've experienced the continued intensification of the depressive symptoms, fatigue (resulting in the strong need for at least a brief nap mid-afternoon), constant low-level headache, brain fog, loss of appetite, low level upset stomach. Physical symptoms don't really matter to me, but depressive ones can be hard to cope with. Especially after 3 years of them. However, in a way I suppose that makes it just par for the course, I've been here before, I know the drill and it doesn't scare me. It just makes day to day life, especially looking after a child, difficult at times.

I thought at first I was going through a healing crisis, but I think now it's just plain chelation. I took the HMD for 6 days and am having a rest today. Maybe I'll need several days' rest, I don't know. My mind does feel more clear, the headache isn't there, and neither is the jaw pain and tooth sensitivity I've been experiencing. I'm still pretty low and fatigued though. If mercury is a culprit there, then I suppose the only thing I can do is keep chelating to get rid of it.

I eat quite a lot of sulphurous foods too. Last night I made homemade bolognaise sauce with onions, garlic, and basil. I felt quite anxious afterward, but a bit of Algin seemed to help.

I know there's a lot of debate about the effects of cilantro. My hunch is that this HMD preparation works for me, I think I can probably put up with the symptoms long term if I know that I'm getting better. It's just all such a lot of guesswork, as I've said before. I think if I were really harming myself, I'd know.

I think I need to get things moving through my colon a bit faster BTW. No doctors are involved here so I can't nip over to the clinic for an irrigation. I already take magnesium, would take more but it's mega-expensive here. I thought I might try several teaspoons of ground flaxseed during the day, see if that helps.

I'd love to be able to sweat it out but unfortunately I am also dealing with some damage done to me by an antidepressant I discontinued last year. If I do more than a walk, or if I get hot, I get sick. I'm sure those things aren't going to sabotage my body's detox efforts though, just have to try to work around them.

Any thoughts? It is taking some faith that the HMD-induced crappy feeling will lead to feeling better in the long run. But I think (hope) that may be the case.

Linda.