Hi peacesoul!

It's good to see you here. I recognize you from Yeast Connection.

Just wanted to let you know that I have Lyme Disease. I've removed all my amalgams and root canaled tooth a couple of years ago. I was sick with Lyme at the time but didn't know it and, therefore, had no diagnosis. I have not begun any formal chelation.

From all the reading I did prior to my amalgam removal, I learned that there is really no truly reliable method for testing mercury. I recall reading that the only true way to evaluate mercury levels in a person was by autopsy. Mercury accumulates in the tissues and organs and it very hard to pick up either by blood and/or urine. So testing for mercury can be as difficult as testing of Lyme in many cases.

There are some urine tests out there that try to evaluate mercury load. The DMSA provocation test is one. The other is very new (at least to the USA) -- anyway, it's called the urinary porphryns test. It only became available last Spring here. That test is not a provocation test.

What you said really hit home with me though. When you're being treated for Lyme it's impossible to know what else is giving you trouble. Therefore, it's really hard to gauge one's reaction to new remedies and treatments (i.e., chlorella). I'm terribly allergic to chlorella myself.

Another way of trying to test for mercury and metals in your body is by applied kinesiology or autonomic response testing and also electrodermal testing via a computer. Again, it can help give someone an idea of what's going on. I'm not ready to say it's definitive by any stretch of the imagination simply because of the issue of possible human error. I just bring these methods up in case you might be interested.

Dr. Klinghardt does alot of chelation and also is familiar with Lyme issues as well. I have found his approach to make a great deal of sense. You can read more at neuraltherapy.com.

My LLMD said that the issue of heavy metal detox came up quite a bit at the ILADS conference this past fall. Many of the leading docs are indicating that they found their patients were able to get their Lyme and co-infections into remission more effectively once detox and heavy metal detox were undertaken. I don't know whether it's possible to get hold of the minutes from that section of the conference, or to get hold of videos or what. But I offer the info in case it might be help.

By the way, I've forgotten whether Dr. B mentions heavy metals in his treatment guidelines. But I know the Cowden Protocol addresses the metal issue a bit with the use of the parsely tincture.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and let you know that I'm in the same situation. How the heck can Lymies chelate when there is already such a war going on in their bodies?

I don't know about you, by this illness has brought me to my knees.

Hugs,
SomedaySoon (Sharon)