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.