Chelation and hubby Update

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Chelation and hubby Update
10
Tue, 07-25-2006 - 12:04am

I did it. I approached DH about the chelation thing with the idea that the kids may have had lead poisoning in MA and he is for at least having them tested to find out levels of metals in thier bodies. He is also considering and sounds positive about giving chelation a try for them. I had an article out of a alternative medicine type magazine that showed the usefullness and history of chelation over all and it made more sense to both of us and how it might work for the kids.

DH still doesn't think that immunizations are the cause of the problems and in a way I agree because I think it is more than that. We both think that there is some validation to the fact that ASD kids don't get rid of heavy metals from thier bodies effectively and we also agree that toxins and such in our environment very likely have alot to do with it.

So next step is try to get our ped to order lead blood tests and insurance to pay or to get DH to agree to pay for hair tests. He wants the blood tests done but blood tests currently are traumatic for both kids.

At least a step.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Tue, 07-25-2006 - 10:12am

That's great but of course I hope you don't find any heavy metal problems. You may find this post about lead blood tests insightful http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Autism-Mercury/message/179816 It held true for us.

Samantha

Samantha
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Registered: 05-02-2003
Tue, 07-25-2006 - 10:47am

I think you are doing the right thing. Our environment definately has to contribute to the increase in all disorders. In the past year I have switched our family to natural and organically based products. Everything from what we as a family eats to the detergents we use. Did you know that most detergents are made from petroleum based products. Since I switched detergents I think that the new detergent cleans the clothes better than when I used Era.

The immunization thing I am not too sure of either. It is definatly hard to pinpoint exactly what the cause is, but the environment has to one of the causes.

Good luck.

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 07-25-2006 - 12:55pm

We have done the same thing. Switched to organic and natural products for everything. I have been using Melaleuca for most of my cleaning and laundry and I find everything gets cleaner. I also tend to use alot of vinegar and baking soda when cleaning.

It has helped us alot here I do believe. I know my kids are rarely sick anymore and that is a plus. There are some other benefits as well.

Of course if yuo need a quick meal out it is a pain in the tush. There are McDonald's on every corner but it is hard as heck to find somewhere that offers fast, kid friendly food that is healthy and organic. Panera is pretty good. We will do In and Out burger or Subway in a pinch because at least the food is fresh.

Usually I just pack but with loads of activities this summer this has been an issue more than once. It is amazing how convient fast food is and how hard it is to just grab something to eat when you don't eat that, lol. Jamba juice and natural grocery stores for some fruit and cheese are our friends.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 07-25-2006 - 12:59pm

Thanks for the link Samantha.

Do you know of anyway to show lead from years ago? DH says that lead stays in the body which is does. I am worried to about lead exposure that could have happened as much as 10 years ago. Is there anyway to know that? Would it still show up in thier hair?

If they did have lead exposure 10 years ago would chelation help them now. DH's thinking is that if it stays in the body then getting it out is good. I have to agree but is it even able to be expelled this late in the game.

Thanks,

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Tue, 07-25-2006 - 7:34pm

I'm not sure I can answer you question. I can ask over at the A-M board and try to find out. I know dd hadn't bathed in our lead tub for a couple months and it showed up on her hair test. Ok, I re-read that post about blood tests and it said the hair test would show lead from the previous 3 months. I'm guessing she might have had one bath in the 3 months prior. She'd taken to showering even before we found out about the lead tub. I believe the body can excrete the lead untill it settles in the bones. I have seen pictures of X-rays where you could see lead in the bones. I do believe if they have heavy metals, no matter which ones, that chelation now would help. If you want to read up more on lead you can search the A-M board archives at www (dot) onibasu (dot) com

Sorry this wasn't much help. I'm tired from helping my sister paint her dd's room today. I'll look more into it tomorrow.
Samantha




Edited 7/25/2006 7:41 pm ET by mamahh
Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2006
Tue, 07-25-2006 - 8:39pm

That's great!!!
IF your are wondering about the cost with insurance goto this website. I found out that there may be a way of writing this off for taxes at the end of the year.

www.abord.org

In the right hand colum, there are articles I have found useful

Keep us posted

nora

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 1:02pm

Renee,

This is what the "Amalgam Illness diagnosis and Treatment" book says about lead:

Arsenic and lead are synergistic poisons with mercury. They may complicate mercury poisoning, and may lead to serious intoxications when none of the individual toxins are present at levels where they would individually cause overt illness.

Symptoms or history may suggest any of these toxins be considered.

There are a variety of laboratory tests for the metabolic effects of lead. In addition, certain changes observed in a blood count are typical of lead and not of the other toxins. Lead levels in hair, urine and blood are representative of body burden. Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin, zinc protoporphyrin and urinary aminolevulinic acid are specific tests for lead intoxication.

Coexistence of gout is diagnostic for lead.

Wrist or ankle drop is diagnostic for lead.

Chronic mercury intoxication can be difficult to diagnose because large quantities of mercury can be sequestered in the internal organs yet most of the mercury in the extra cellular compartment may have been excreted long ago. Thus a "low" mercury excretion may mean someone is fine, or it may mean someone was poisoned to the gills so long ago it is no longer apparent by measuring excretion. Unlike mercury, lead has a long excretion half life, so lead excretion will be indefinitely elevated if lead poisoning has occurred and no chelation treatment has been given in the meantime.

Elevated uric acid, hair lead, urinary lead or basophilic stippling of blood cells suggests lead. This can be checked by a blood test for ALAD, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin and zinc protoporphyrin, or a urine test for aminolevulinic acid. Lead is synergistic with mercury and other heavy metals, so lead or lead marker levels that would not otherwise be considered quite high enough to be clinically significant should be viewed with great suspicion if there is evidence of significant levels of other heavy metal toxins.

Also I asked on the A-M list and got this reply:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Autism-Mercury/message/180271
editing to add this reply: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Autism-Mercury/message/180292

Samantha who wished this all was easier!




Edited 7/26/2006 5:34 pm ET by mamahh
Samantha
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 5:59pm

Thanks for the reply Samantha. It is very confusing. I have ordered the hair testing kit from greatplains and I think I will at least give that a try to see what we have going on.

I am going back to the doc on august 2nd and I think I will ask her about taking Cait on as a patient too. I can't get into see the neuro and would at least like SOMEONE doing her bloodlevels for her trileptal and perhaps we can do some of this with her. I am unwilling to do it without guidance because of her meds though.

I am hoping to at least have the hair tests here and sent in by then. How long does it take to get the results? I didn't see anything about that when I ordered them.

Renee

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Registered: 03-28-2003
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 6:38pm

Lead is synergist with calcium. It shares the same pathway. If there is enough calcium, it will block lead. This is why when you buy calcium pills, you need to be completely sure of the brand. Citrucal is lead free. If it doesn't say lead free, I wouldn't buy it because it is so synergistic with lead. Calcium dysregulation poses a problem since many ASD kids have calcium dysregulation. My daughter for example, has too much calcium floating around, but it's all going to the wrong places and too high of a rate. Still researching why this is so with the calcium. Ironically, she is low calcium despite so much of it floating around. The problem is not the calcium, it's the excess glutamine. She is too high in glutamates and glutamates basically signal receptors of how much calcium is needed to flow into a nerve cell.

It's interesting how much we are like computers. Postive ions, negative ions. Ones and zeros.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Thu, 07-27-2006 - 9:54am

You ordered from great plians? I don't know long they take and you cant use the counting rules to interpret a grain plains test. But if your just looking for lead that shouldn't matter. I ordered dd's through DLS on 6/13 and had the results 6/27.

Samantha

Samantha