I need some more evidence as to whether mercury is a problem for me or not. I'd been chelating hard for 7 months on DMSA and ALA, but with no noticeable benefits. These past 5 months or so, I've stopped chelating and have been working on supporting adrenals and thyroid. I was even thinking that maybe the DMSA had been doing nothing more than forcing my adrenals to work. But Since I stopped chelation I've been flatlining, just feeling generally bad -- still depressed, still emotionally numb.

I've had a hair test, done last January, showing no mercury. I have to say, I'm just not sure what to do. I tried taking a 200mg cap of ALA this morning to see if I had a reaction, but there was none apart from my adrenals being strained for a while. I wonder if I should try taking a DMSA dose and also wait and see if there's a reaction? Maybe 100mg? I need to know before I spend the time and money on chelation again when it might just be another blind alley.

Any ideas are welcome, thanks,
Linda.

Hi Linda, So you would only judge from the challenge how you react? I'm pretty in tune with my body but wouldn't do well with that personally. I just realized with you saying what you did, actually, that one of the symptoms that scared me off of chelating was how it was affecting my adrenals! I felt like a freight train that couldn't be stopped.

Are you peri-menopausal yet? I'm dealing with that right now along with all the other issues. I know I don't have my mercury out.

Anyway - not much help, but I hope you feel better. Maybe, too, you are more sensitive that you want to be to the rather contentious tone that tends to be on here sometimes. Take care and let us know how you do. Jeanie

Hi Jeanie,

I used to talk on the mercury forum fairly regularly but I stopped chelating last February while I worked on treating my adrenals and thyroid. And to be honest I don't like the format changes that Russ has made; I found it more user-friendly the way things were before.

I belong to a couple of other forums where I can go to ask about these things and I've had differing advice. On one, I've been told that my Armour dose still isn't very high and that I probably have other hormones out of balance too (I'm seeing an endocrinologist in a week). Other advice is that a negative hair test can still mean I have mercury, and I've also been told that the heavy DMSA/ALA chelation I was doing could have mobilised mercury too much, including into my brain. I don't know.

Looking at evidence isn't a game I play in the evolution/creationism forum, it's a way to judge reality, and it can be hard when the evidence seems to weigh fairly equally.

Evidence for mercury being my problem:
-- the symptoms I've had for 4 years, some of which can be characteristic of mercury poisoning
-- feeling better when I was chelating than I do now
-- my symptoms starting 2 months after getting 4 amalgams put in when previously I had none
-- negative hair test (which can mean I am not excreting mercury)

Evidence for mercury not being an issue:
-- negative hair test (which can also mean I really am clear of mercury)
-- childbirth and the subsequent stressful months might alone have done the final damage to my endocrine system
-- chelating hard for months without results, and feeling so bad when I missed a single dose, that I never had a break from it -- suggests maybe the DMSA was simply propping up weak adrenals
-- no swings in mood or symptoms, they've been pretty flat depending on what I've been doing to treat myself
-- 4 amalgams, then 2 months later I get ill -- seems rather extreme
-- no signs of allergies or other autoimmune problems, which are common in mercury poisoning

At the moment I'm thinking I ought to just continue to treat my adrenals and thyroid. Andy Cutler says that even when mercury is the underlying problem, these symptoms should be greatly helped with the right treatment. I've just had a very anxious day today and I think my last Armour raise was too hard on my adrenals; it's got me into the frame of mind again where I'm worrying that I'm not going to get well. I've got this stack of planning that needs to be done for school at the end of the month and it's hard to address it in this condition.

Definitely though, chelation is hard on the adrenals. I would recommend finding out what state yours are in and treating them as needed, then you can chelate again. For some people this simply means taking something like liquorice extract or ginseng.

I'm 36 so I'm not menopausal yet. I've got other problems there, probably related to hypothyroidism (i.e. very heavy periods). I'm sure my hormones are out of whack and the problem was made significantly worse by an antidepressant I took. I've been off it over 2 years but the things it did to me have so far not been put right.

Welcome to the wonderful world of illness, LOL. I haven't been reading in this particular forum for a long time so I'm afraid I've missed anything you might have said about yourself. I take it that you suspect you have a problem with mercury? How long did you chelate for, and did you get any positive results?

Hey Linda, so you know I didn't think you looked in your 40s...which is why i asked. (I am...48). My thinking is a little jumbled today so hopefully I'm not too hard to follow. I judge timeframes by where we've lived and we've been here 5 years after being in Alaska 6...so I got all my amalgams out at least 7 years ago. (Don't remember exactly). I did try chelating at that point here and there but didn't feel quite up to it and the reactions scared me. I did cleanses all the time till about the 2nd year we were in AK. (Have been into natural health since I was in college so for about 25 years). I waited a while till I got the metal underneath caps removed after getting out amalgams, as well, upon Andy Cutler's advice personally. I use to be on Adult-Metal-Chelation and then frequent dose.... At first I realized i might have FMS (was then positively DX'd) and started researching that on the web where I found the mercury connection. I have actually played with the stuff..beside having several fillings. Anyway - kind of going backwards. I finally found an MD from Anchorage who came up to Fairbanks who did a challenge test. I had one done before I knew about Cutler's protocol. He shot me with DMPS and I gave him a urine sample. My results went off the charts and I also tested positive for other metals but not as highly. I heard after that challenge tests aren't necessarily indicative of your body load, but I'm sure I have a lot. I think my health habits have helped me not be so sick...Anyway - the MD wanted to start me on a random chelation dosing schedule and then from researching I learned about Cutler's before I started that - thank goodness. This guy ended up being a crook, really, too. (Let's just say unethical...) But he did help me find out what my problem was. I'm sure my adrenals have been taxed for a long long time. I've also been hypoglycemic for years. I tried to get pregnant in 2001. In fact, right before 9/11 I miscarried. I was 41...very traumatic because it was my last big try to have another baby with my back problems but wasn't meant to be. My thyroid had been teetering for several years at that point and I kept telling the Doctors I wanted to control it naturally and I did! It showed up with labwork. However, after the miscarriage I think that was too much strain (as pregnancies are) and I couldn't get to feeling better. I asked my Dr. to order a thyroid test and it was way out of whack. For a while it showed both hypo and hyper...then a few months later it crashed and was very low. (But still showed high, too - didn't get tests normalized for a few years till I started seeing an Endocrinologist here who I love! He listens to me - even asks me questions about mercury. I believe from my symptoms that I have mercury in my pituitary and hypothalamus as well. My sleeping is really messed up. Makes sense, too. When I first starting taking Armour Thyroid (Doctors made me try synthroid, but luckily it really did give me hives : ) I read that you needed to also supplement the adrenals. I overdid that. (Used adrenal glandulars). My Endo found out I was heading for the adrenal condition where they are over active (Cushings? I get them mixed up) which may explain why I felt like I was a freight train out of control while chelating....). I will use deglyizerised (sp?) licorice from now on for that...or the other one you mentioned. I just got some b-complex, too. That always helps both mentally and with energy.

Anyway - the reason I came on this forum was to get motivated to take more control over my health again cause I haven't as much since moving to Georgia. I am insulin resistant now, too.

You mentioned it being in your brain. Have you tried just using ALA alone? Same round the clock dosing schedule. (Is that the dosing schedule you've used?) ALA is supposed to be the only chelator that pulls it out of the brain. I may try that for a while. I think I did too much too soon in too big of doses when I did do it. ALA helps with blood sugar, too, though. My husband just brought me home some dark chocolate and I feel alive again!!!

I suffer with depression off and on myself but it is hormonal as well as situational. It has been a rough period the past few years. But I don't like anti-depressants either. I was on elavil over 2 years when I first hurt my back in 1991 and it took me a year just to get off of it. I didn't even start it for depression - it was for dealing with chronic pain and to sleep, but I sure had mental issues after getting off it! Took a while to stabilize chemically. Have you tried 5-HTP? I used that in Alaska due to the lack of sunlight. Living in England that couldn't be helping. I still use it. We have plenty of sunlight here, but it just seems to help still. If you aren't an O blood type, (its not good for us - not me - have tried it - didn't agree - and according to studies not for O's period) St. John's Wort maybe. I'm sure you know about that. I didn't like the lack of feeling I had on anti-depressants. I'd rather feel...even if its sadness. Sometimes you need to work through even negative emotions. But if your thyroid is off....just fixing that will help. Sounds like you may not have enough. If you don't and if the Docs refuse to prescribe, of course you can use natural glandulars to also use to get where you need to be. There is a company I use to order from where they use cows from New Zealand - healthy ones - Nutri+Meds. Sorry this is so discombobulated...I'm hot and likely releasing or something. We have a storm brewing...very humid. Do you take the Algin or any kind of seaweed? It would be slow, but it nourishes the thyroid. What is your Armour dose by the way?

Regarding your comment about the evo/creation site, I don't think you play games. I can see it as being confusing. Maybe it would help to remove yourself from it for a while. There is a lot of either self righteousness on there at times or sarcasm and finger pointing. It tends to get to you....does me. We need to be more supportive of each other in my opinion.

I have to admit as far as emotions, I am not very interested in sex this last couple of months.... Not sure what is going on there. I feel good about myself - not feeling ugly. Just not much drive. Maybe its my age..or the idea of it. Life is ever changing. I'm in between waiting for grand babies.... Right now I feel like part of my purpose is over or at least changing. I need to be needed. its why I am thinking of going into special ed. Having new babies is pretty danged taxing, too. Maybe you have post partum depression and are just exhausted?? You had a baby older.... It does get harder on us.

Have you been taking iodine for any of your symptoms? It sounds like it could be very important from what you described.

Which you will get from kelp....

Linda - I'm not making total sense with my ramblings... I said that was why I asked (your age) but could've sworn I did. i was thinking it at least~! : )

Linda, I assume you have done some parasite cleanses just to rule out parasites(even though they are typically associated with allergic symptoms, and sometimes also with digestive problems)? Imo if you had no reaction to a 200 mg dose of ALA, then you probably do not have mercury poisoning now. Since you have been chelating for quite a while with DMSA, you should probably rule out lead toxicity or other heavy metal toxicity. I guess you have been taking many mineral supplements, the issue is whether your body is absorbing them properly(does you stomach make enough hydrochloric acid for proper mineral absorbtion? Perhaps you might have an endocrine problem or be deficient in some enzymes? Are you eating a good diet?

Hi Jeanie,

You yourself look quite young for your age, judging from your picture

Thanks for sharing your story here. I've always wanted to see Alaska, it must be beautiful. But the dark winters would kill me. They are hard enough here in the UK. I'm glad I'm sorting things out for myself now because I've had 4 horrid winters of SAD and it starts getting to the point where you have a morbid fear of that time of year approaching. I used to love the autumn.

Sounds like you've really done a lot to try to get yourself well. I'm just looking back into mercury issues myself, and they are so complex. I've asked for my January hair test to be interpreted but apparently if you have poor mineral absorption (as I seem to), it's an indicator of mercury.

What's more, I said I'd had no reaction to the ALA I took, but I didn't realte it to the unusual panicky anxiety I was feeling yesterday and today. I thought it was from my last Armour raise. Then I decided to take 12.5mg of DMSA this morning and it appears to be helping. I'm going to do a round like this and then probably add ALA in. I've got all this stuff, I brought loads of DMSA back from the US last Christmas, so I may as well give it a try.

Any Cutler has told me on the frequent dose list that "foolish people" can make themselves worse with high chelation doses. Apparently the info in his book is 10 years out of date, and most people are saying they get by better on lower doses. I'm wondering why I was never told this and I'm also wondering what was happening to me during all those months of chelation, were they wasted? I don't know. Anyway, I'm going to go with this and probably end up on 25mg each of DMSA and ALA. I did feel better when I was taking them, and life has been much more of a struggle since then.

By the way, liquorice extract for adrenals . . . what it does is extend the "life" of cortisol in your body. I got a lot of help from it before I went on the serious meds. It needs to be the glycyrrhized kind though, as this is the substance that works on the cortisol, and you need to take occasional breaks from it (every 3 weeks I think) or it starts to lose its effect.

I've done all sorts of things for the depression, but I think what's going to help me most is continuing to support my adrenals and thyroid while I chelate. I got burned by that antidepressant and I want to stay well away from anything like that. St. John's wort made me feel spacey and gave me painful stomach cramps, and 5-HTP made me feel spacey and sleepy. Especially now that I've been on an AD, my serotonin receptors need to heal and I can't be taking anything else that's going to artificially perk them up.

And about the evo/creation site . . . it can be an interesting topic of discussion, and I've learned a lot from doing it. But it appears to be growing big and turning a bit nasty, especially with some new posters who seem to want to fight each other tooth and nail. Yes I've got my own health issues to address, and I've got that school work, as well as my daughter to look after. When you're ill it's easier to curl up into a shell and sit on the computer typing stuff. When I'm feeling better I'll probably be conspicuous by my absence there, LOL.

I don't doubt that childbirth contributed to my ill health. I wanted to do it all naturally. Didn't have a clue at the time about how to eat properly -- I didn't eat junk food, but I was pretty far away from the Paleolithic diet I aim for now. I had a failed induction and a caesarian. Dr. Peatfield said to me, "you women should never have babies. You're never 'right' after that." He was being tongue-in-cheek, but it's a testament to how many women see him with thyroid and adrenal problems after having babies.

Speaking of which, I ought to rest now and also spend some time with my little girl. Too much time on the computer is bad for the adrenals, and the DMSA is already taxing them today.

take care Jeanie,
Linda.

I didn't know that about how Licorice works, Linda. Thanks. I understand the glyzerhized (I'm actually good at spelling normally - have photographic memory to a point, but can't get that one in my head) can affect BP so will just have to watch it. I use to take it religiously. It did help. I just used it for hypoglycemia then.

Little ones are demanding but so precious. I miss those days. Mine just talk my head off now and need $$$ : ) I loved nursing and cuddling. I'm starting to deal with the whole empty nest issue, but still have my baby (17) at home.

You take care too, Linda. Let us know how things go. I still have a bunch of DMSA and ALA, too. Don't know why I'm so scared of doing it. I should just delve in..... I am not getting any younger and need my brain back. : )

Perhaps at least part of SAD may be a vitamin D deficiency? Do you take plenty of vitamin D supplements, especially in the winter?

Do you still belong to the frequent dose chelation list? They're very good with technical matters and I imagine they'd support you well.

Yes, my little girl (age 5) was really cute and sweet tonight. And so very, very headstrong. Now she's saying that she doesn't want to be called "Shelly" anymore. She asked me if she could change her name. Then I reminded her that her actual name is Michelle and she likes that. Dad is OK with calling her that but I am having a very hard time doing it myself! She can't even spell it yet, LOL. She asked me to write it down on a piece of paper and she stuck the paper in the pocket of her shorts.

Oh BTW, the liquorice extract -- you said sometimes your cortisol is up as well as down? Relora is a powerful herbal supplement for bringing it down, but you have to be careful to judge your symptoms correctly. I've taken it before when my cortisol was low rather than high and it knocked me out pretty well. Of course you wouldn't want glyz(whatever -- I can't spell it either) liquorice root if your cortisol is high. It might be an idea for you to get a slaiva cortisol test done, then you'll know for sure where you stand.

My adrenals have had a hard time with the DMSA today. I've taken 5 doses of 12.5mg. In a way I think I feel better but I felt a little rough too, not sure what that means exactly. I'm still frightened myself that this is not the correct way forward, especially since I'm trying to heal my adrenals. I'm waiting for an analysis of my hair test from January and hopefully someone will be able to give me more definite information then. I know I have poor mineral absorption and that's claimed to be a symptom of mercury poisoning, but I know that it can also be caused by lack of stomach acid from hypothyroidism, which may or may not be caused by mercury.

There rarely seem to be easy answers for us.

I've just realised tonight that I've got 3 weeks to plan for 9 classes this autumn . . . I'm quaking in my boots and it's not helping my adrenals. It was the only way the school would renew my temporary contract, if I agreed to teach a heavier timetable than I wanted -- and every single class I teach is shared with someone else, so it means loads of planning for things I've never taught before. I made a start tonight but it's really scary. I'm already thinking toward Christmas, when I'll be allowed to drop back down to half a timetable.

I need sleep too but I'm not sure how to get it right now

Thanks for the ideas JK98. I do take D3 when it's not summertime -- 2000mg a day. I do have some kind of endocrine problem because I'm hypothyroid, but I'm ramping up on Armour for that. I'm supporting my adrenals with a steroid called medrol. And I see an endocrinologist in a week who will hopefully be willing to test various hormones.

I did become quite anxious yesterday and today and thought it might be from the ALA I took. My symptoms always seem to be emotional/mental. So as you've probably seen, I decided to start chelating again today. I'll watch how I go with this.

I did a parasite cleanse a few months back and have herbs waiting for when I'm ready to do a kidney cleanse. I wanted to get my diet clean and I was still "using" sugar, though my main meals in the day have always been good Paleo ones with meat, veg and healthy fat (wouldn't have it any other way). I've managed to stay "clean" for several days now and when I trust myself to stay that way, I'll start the cleanse. My ultimate goal is to be able to do a series of liver flushes, but all this other stuff has to be done first.

Like I said, never any easy answers, but thanks for your support

Hey Linda,

I am still technically on the frequent dose forum but haven't been on in some time. You end up hearing the same info over and over and I guess I'm more social...get bored with technicalities after a while.

I've got a strong willed one myself : ) I'd say one is strong willed and the other is head strong. The strong willed one is now married, though. Is your youngest (do you have two?) a girl too? You have a baby, right? I wanted a boy so bad but love my girls and wouldn't have it any other way anymore. I'm excited to have a son-in-law now, though. They are coming home for Christmas. I haven't been around him much at all and am looking forward to that. He loves my daughter very much so I love him : ) I can't wait for grandbabies.

I'll have to look into the Relora. (Thank you!) I think my Endo is mostly concerned about my lipids right now cause they are out of whack. I'm about 5-10 pounds over what my normal was...so not really that overweight. I think its mostly genetics...but want to look into the B-12 issue I just learned about with that. Just bought some B-50 capsules. I can't stand B complex in other than capsules. The tablets make me feel sick to my stomach. Anyway - I need to discuss all this with my Dr. He is pretty progressive. He tests my female hormones with saliva testing. At least people here, though, don't seem to know how to DX adrenal issues very well. He's good, though. I think I side track him. I wonder if I'm ADD sometimes : )

Our schools here start this week!!! I may have a job as the 9th grade Principals secretary, but if not, am intending to still sub. I use to work for Doctors, etc. but started subbing so I'd be on the schedule with my kids when I finally sent them both to school and got bored at home. Kids need supervision as much if not more at this age IMO. In other ways... Mine have been good, though. No real problems. Got the youngest driving good now... THAT was a nightmare teaching them to drive!! Especially here in this area. Anyway, I discovered I love helping special needs kids. I love the truly handicapped ones, but am particularly drawn to kids that have behavioral issues and just need someone to care half the time. But I'm also a little leery of actually going back to school to become a real teacher at this stage. I believe that is what I'm going to do, though. (Become a special Ed. teacher). I have 5 years college, but didn't concentrate on anything or kept changing. I don't know how much stamina I have for working and that, though. I just really love working with kids. And there is an energy there at school I seem to draw from. They keep you young as I'm sure you know...(and other days...not so much). I would have to deal with case loads, though, as special ed. But I love psychology and think that would be my way of finally getting to do that in a concrete way. I feel your pain, though. Sounds daunting. I don't have to do that as a sub. I use to be half afraid of teenagers, too. I've seen a couple of teachers with posters of Garfield the cat saying "You don't scare me, I'm a teacher!" (So true!) Are you working in a collaborative situation with special ed teachers? Not sure how different it works over there vs. here with team teaching. I have to say...I would imagine as an English teacher you would probably be appalled at the grammar commonly used here in the south : ) Not everyone...but its just kind of how they talk. My grammar has gone down the tubes being here I have to admit. I catch myself sometimes.

I was up almost all night last night. Hope I sleep tonight. Hope you do too.

Hi Jeanie,

Do your schools there not have summer holidays anymore? Don't know what I'd do without this time to plan. I've got 3 weeks to prepare 9 classes, which works out to maybe a couple of days or so on each . . . not a lot if you want to develop worksheets and other resources too.

I think it's wonderful that you want to do special ed. There's no way I could do it myself and I respect people who can. I had a class for 2 years at my previous school which was a bottom set consisting mostly of white working-class boys who hated English, and the syllabus (which is national) dictated that they write Shakespeare essays. The head of special needs team taught that class with me but they were very hard work and it was probably the most unpleasant teaching experience of my life.

I'm hoping tha after Christmas, when my schedule changes, I'll be able to go into a couple of classes and support and tema-teach with some of the new teachers. The head of department suggested this but it's a matter of whether the school is willing to pay. I don't know where the special needs teachers go in that school but we get very few of them in lessons. People who teach bottom sets don't always even get them, and I had a very needy group last year who didn't get regular support either. I'd be rushing around to help as many as I could, and often they would just stop working and waste time when I couldn't get to them straight away.

Team teaching is fantastic, if you're in a school willing to pay to have 2 teachers in one classroom. Before I really got ill, I was very enthusiastic to get back into teaching; I missed the kids and I missed the creativity of planning lessons. I didn't miss the work load, and working evenings and weekends as well (planning, marking, etc). Best of luck with what you do. I'm sure you'll be a great help to the kids even if you are not teaching as such. You seem like a very compassionate person.

I can't imagine what my daughter will be like when she's grown up. I hope she won't want to go away too far, I would miss her. She's our only child. We wanted to have 2 and it would be nice for her to have a brother or sister to play with, but it can't happen. I got ill when she was 1 1/2 and have been trying to put it right ever since. No way could I look after a baby in this state. What's more, I need to work, because we weren't making it on one income. We managed to save enough so that I could spend 5 years at home; we both thought it was important for one of us to have that time with her. We won't be able to do it again and personally I wouldn't want to drop my little baby off at childcare during the week, I wouldn't want to be separated like that when he/she was so young.

Adrenal issues . . . I've just fessed up on the adrenal/thyroid list that I'm doing a chelation round, despite the fact that the moderator there recommends that adrenals be completely healed before anyone does this. I'm waiting to get a telling-off. It has to be said, if my body doesn't adjust to the strain, I won't be able to keep it up because I'm having to stress dose a lot and you don't want to be doing that indefinitely.

Stay cool over there Dare I look at what's happening on the creation/evolution list? It's sapping my time and some rather unpleasant people are there. Maybe I can get some self-discipline together and not post there so much.

Hi Linda,

Here they have collaborative teachers to team teach (or just help the ones who need it) in class when there are "special" kids in the classes. Not sure how many there has to be....not that far into the system, but many times they are ADHD, autistic, or even just apathetic so behind often just due to issues at home. I have subbed in those classes (and for Regular Ed) for about 4 years now and love it all cause I love kids, but do seem to be able to reach these kids. I had 2 months straight subbing for one teacher who worked with other teachers in Collab and resource (smaller classes with only the more needy kids) the last of the past school year and did get a dyslexic kid to finally try...and did help a few others in ways that were measurable. I think its my niche. I don't imagine, though, that it will always be easy if I commit to it full time. I tend to zoom in, though, on the kids who are branded. Tend to be able to see through how they act on the surface. But have also gotten kids who literally don't talk to communicate with me. Not sure what it is. Other than that, though, I don't have a particular passion for teaching to be honest. I would go into counseling if not this, but think you spend more time with the kids this way. The way things are going, too, there is a pretty strong need for special ed help so it seems there is job security with it. I have also worked in medical situations in homes for "retarded men and boys." (Before they phased out that word...due to the mean way its used sometimes). That is when I first learned I have a special love for special people. We had full grown adults literally infant level all the way up to men who just couldn't take full care of themselves who went out and worked menial type jobs in the day. They are so loving....most of the time : ) I was younger then, but sometimes literally had to chase one boy down. One man with mental retardation and schizophrenia hurt a nurse once - threw her into a wall. (I was gentle with him - not the bossy type but can get tough if I have to and do in classes). He was kind of funny. He use to say either "I want to be like satan, I do" and take on an evil personna and then other days "I want to be like Jesus, I do." We had several Down's kids. One had Cerebral Palsy and just couldn't talk or walk well and needed help with daily care. He was smart, though! He could beat anyone at checkers. I don't think other than for special ed., unless its a large class or with Kindergartners that they use 2 teachers as a rule. Does England have a public school system? We were supposed to go to the band for the S.H.A.P.E. headquarters in Belgium and heard the kids could go to really good schools there. Not sure how that would've worked, he got bumped and it changed to Atlanta, but I imagine your educational system is - perhaps better... We've pretty much decided that my husband is going to look into becoming certified as a music teacher, too, so he can retire from the military. I have mixed feelings...haven't committed quite yet. But I'm heading that way unless I can find a good job in a medical setting. I want something with retirement, though.

We have a short summer break - from the end of May to early August. In trade they've been giving more breaks through the year which is kind of nice. You seem to get some time off just when you need a break. We get Thanksgiving week breaks, Christmas, of course, then winter, then spring....kind of nice.

I should likely check into a site on adrenal/thyroid issues, but school starts tomorrow! I can't believe it. You don't normally start working really the first week cause teachers kind of need to be there...but it does happen so I could be working. I'm not really ready...

I feel strong about staying home with our babies, too. I had to work with my first but it was very part time till she was 18 months old and he babysat most of the time. I even managed to still breast feed that whole time. (Only went 14 months with my second but couldn't figure out how to get the first to stop...) I hated leaving her. John started teaching guitar and gigging after that so I could stay with them. I needed to work, really, but we managed. Now I really do need to, though. The economy is getting crazy.

Good luck with the pressures you're under. I have to pray to be able to focus anymore. And use a little chocolate... : )

Hi Jeanie,

You've got a gift with those needy children and adults that I don't have, but I admire it in others. They need people like you to help them. Good luck with whatever you choose to do

I hope things are going well for you at school. Our summer break starts in mid-July and ends at the end of August. We've got 3 weeks left. This is the third day I've spent planning a particular book I'm going to teach, and I've planned in more detail than ever before for a variety of reasons. I've got 8 more classes to plan after that, and 3 weeks left. I'm just constantly stressed. I've never been in a school where I've been expected to teach so much in such a short space of time. The way they have structured the curriculum, none of the kids will have time to read a complete novel in class until they get to the age where they have to write about one in an exam, which is 14-16 years old. Seems pretty daft to me. We are also expected to plan all these dynamic lesson "starters" so I've structured some grammar teaching for that and need to write some resources. I swear, I just want to sit down and cry. Right now I'd willingly go wait tables, empty people's bins, anything apart from this pressure.

I'm not sure about the chelation either. I'm back to the conundrum of why I feel better on DMSA, but if I miss a single dose (let alone a few days off), I feel worse. I'm thinking I might be having some sort of reaction to the DMSA which is non-mercury related. I'd be OK to keep up with it just to see, but it's hitting my adrenals very hard and they are already in poor shape. I tried dropping the dose from 12.5mg to 6mg last night and woke up this morning feeling totally train-wrecked. Stupidly, at lunchtime I tried one more 12.5mg dose. With the mucking around I've done I need to just stop for now, and in a few days try another round and see. Again, I'm in utter confusion as to what to do. I don't know when I'm going to get a hair test interpretation, if at all; I'm waiting to see on the frequent dose chelation list but sometimes things take days to come through there.

If I tried to each chocolate myself, I'd hoover up the whole box This is my sixth sugar-free day and I've been sorely tempted to have some today, but I keep telling myself it won't help anything. The cravings stopped being physical quite a while back, but the mental cravings can still be bad, it's been my "crutch" for so long.

Sorry this is a bit downbeat. Hopefully I will be feeling better in a few days and can write something more positive.

Ta for now,
Linda.

Hi Linda,

It sounds like you're under tremendous pressure right when you're least up to it. I'm no expert, but if DMSA helps you feel better, that may be saying something there about mercury! I'm leery, though, of chelating. I may try Bio-chelate. Have you looked into that online? Its supposed to be much more gentle but effective without any side effects. I think I will try that route. I need to be able to handle my life, personally, but still do something about it. I'm afraid the chocolate is to give me a boost, but its an artificial one and I will crash. I guess that is partly the dependence. I should go take my b-complex. I slept horribly last night partly cause my husband did and partly cause of not knowing if I'm working. That is one thing I hate about subbing. Sometimes they don't call you in till morning and its a major rush. We have a new sub system, too, which you can now check online along with getting called in. Not sure how that is going to work. We also have a new assistant principal over subs and this one doesn't know me. The other would call me at home. I don't want to add other schools to my list but might need to depending on whether they use me enough. It was doubtful I'd be called the first day and may not this week at all, but it has happened before. I'm not quite ready, though. Have to pull my bag together and get my hours straightened out. That doesn't usually happen, though, till I'm forced. I will inevitably take a nap today.

Honestly I worry about the level of responsibility I'd have actually being responsible for teaching and the prep cause I don't know what I'm doing that way even though I did homeschool, (but I used whatever curriculum I wanted - I guess I did plan....)but figure that is what school will be for. They apparently trust your ability to give you that much. Just sounds like its hitting at a rough time. Are you taking lots of B-complex? I need to do that for the real energy I need. And cut out any sugar. I know from what you've said you may be feeling kind of out of touch, but when I pray for focus it helps. Personally I have trouble focusing sometimes. Not sure, either, if you have access to Bach Flower Remedies over there, but they really do work. My daughter had some strange anxieties - OCD type stuff - when we lived in AK and a friend helped me put together a formula for her. It helped! I've used it too. I can sometimes get in emotional funks when I just want to cry from hormones, likely sugar (dumb...) and grief from losing my brother and the Rescue Remedy really does help me stop. I even carry around a spray bottle for times at school when I feel overly stressed. Its basically flower essences that this guy, Bach, discovered helps emotions.

Are you sleeping? I really hope you feel better soon. I know with me if I put off things that are bugging me that I know I need to do I can't relax. I'm afraid I'm a procrastinator.

Thanks for the encouragement about helping kids. Finishing school won't be fun. Its kind of neat...generally I end up subbing where I'm really needed. I pray about getting the right jobs and it does work out. I need to do that and not worry about it myself right now.

You probably ought to back off from chelating for a while. I'm sure the group you're on will tell you that. (The adrenal one : ) It could take a little while to come out of the initial stage afterward, but it would likely help once you're "on" with school. You can only judge there, though.

I really think I'll try the bio-chelate...

I couldn't find if you answered my question about iodine. Its the most important nutrient for the thyroid and very very important for the adrenals and all of the organs.

http://forum.noblerealms.org/viewtopic.php?id=6298