"I tried some ALA one round, but read a scary study about it redistributing metals into organs, so I haven't used it again."

Taking ALA without DMSA can cause severe side effects. Taking ALA with DMSA gives much fewer side effects. In any event, I suggest that you first get to tolerate DMSA alone for several weeks before adding ALA. DMSA will not chelate mercury from the brain. ALA is needed for that. Finishing a round of ALA+DMSA with a few doses of DMSA alone will help minimize redistribution.

Perhaps you could try taking the DMSA every 4 hours on an empty stomach with 8 ounces of water. Are you taking molybdenum supplements? Imo those are very helpful for those who are sensitive to aldehydes(perfumes, diesel fumes, etc.).

When I was running low body temperatures, I took 50 mg a day of iodine. After around 2 months of that, the low temperatures stopped and I stopped taking the iodine.