Hi everybody. I had to register in order to ask your advice. The members of this board are so knowledgeable. My story:

It started with Grave's Disease (overactive thyroid). Before doctors figured out what was wrong with me, but during the most severe hyperthyroid symptoms, I coincidentally has 2 mercury fillings removed from my molars without any protection whatsoever. I cringe at the memory, now. I spit some out with a normal rinse during the procedure, but all the powder was swallowed and/or inhaled during the drilling. Of course, the hypermetabolism I was dealing with at the time pushed it through my body even faster. That was 2003. In 2005 I added further poison to my body by having Radioactive Iodine Ablation of my thyroid... completely destroying it. Within 3 months I lost 75% of my thick, curly hair.

I am on complete replacement of thyroid hormones (210 mg Armour Thyroid) but haven't ever recovered my hair. In the meantime, over the past 3 years I have developed gluten intolerance that causes increased hair loss when I ingest and a candida problem that I have only addressed with coconut oil (has been a quick fix, but not really a cure).

I had a reaction to Iodide, also, but was able to build up a tolerance starting with very low doses of Iodoral and slowly increasing (as I had poor Iodine saturation, too). I don't know where I stand now, and can't tell if Iodine is helping or not.

I know I must have mercury in my system as I swallowed it for an hour! It's the only thing I can think of that might be preventing me from regrowing my hair. I'm afraid to chelate as I am a novice to this topic, and after reading many posts on this board I see that I can expect issues with mercury release if I detox candida. Am I correct that I would also expect issues with candida detox while I chelate mercury?

The thyroid, mercury, candida, food/intestinal wall/leaky gut (gluten) sensitivity all seem to be connected, but how? And finally, how do I start to heal myself from here? I am currently eating gluten-free.

Thank you for all opinions and suggestions.

Tracy