Test results are back...

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Test results are back...
3
Wed, 03-01-2006 - 6:46pm

Hi all,

Well today was the day we have been looking forward to since we started the quest to find out if my gut feelings were correct about mercury being the possible cause behind my twins' PDD-NOS diagnosis when they were 4. We started seeing a DAN! Dr. a month ago, and today we found out the results of one of the twin's blood, hair & urine tests.

I was devastated but relieved to find out that Gareth has all of the biochemical markers of mercury poisoning. He was fully vaccinated at a time when babies and chidlren were receiving the highest known amounts of Thimerisol (mercury) vaccines -- he was born in '98. Knowing these results, we can now move on to the Treatment Phase. We were sent home w/ a big bag of supplements, and have a prescription to fill for B-12 shots.

We can also set his twin up for an appointment knowing that he is genetically identical, although his sypmtoms are not as severe. He suffers from anxiety and depression more than his twin's more noticable social inappropriateness and behavioral issues.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... I cried most of the hour-long ride home today, I just couldn't hold it in anymore! I just think of all the time gone by that we have all been living in this hell -- "What's WRONG with them? Why do they act this way? "They are ruining our family!"

These are terrible thoughts, but this journey has truly been sort of a nightmare. We have 2 other children who have had to sacrifice so much because of the twins' issues. And why, because they were injected with mercury by the very community that we trust to keep our children healthy.

Just wanted to share the news, more to come later I am sure...

Meg

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Thu, 03-02-2006 - 8:06am

Dear Meg,

I am short on time now, but just wanted to send you hugs and let you know I am thinking of you. Even though this is something you suspected all along, to have the proof must be so upsetting and I cannot imagine your emotions. I am sure they are mixed.

I have just started to learn about DAN protocol and am going to my first mini-DAN conference this weekend(several DAN doctors coming here to speak, not an "official" conference).

Although I have no reason to suspect mercury, in my case, my son was born in 2002, he does appear to have the "regressive" form, although it is not clear cut. I do think he has GI problems and vaccine or not, it is possible his body does not rid itself of toxins correctly. Plus he was adopted at birth and his two siblings also have ASD, so I am of the genetic tendancy, environmental trigger theory, in our case. I just don't know the trigger!

What is interesting to me is that all three kids were vaccinated. The 8 year old has the mildest problems, more ADHD. The 5 year old is considered HF, but did not get early intervention, in fact, was not diagnosed or treated until age 5. He appeared at first to be more moderately affected (more than his brother) But he is responding nicely to treatment and doing well. My son is in the middle of the two in terms of severity, with a PDD-NOS dx, had all the advantages of early intervention, and is doing well, but it has taken a lot of work on our part. Nature, nuture? Who knows, both probably.

Anyway, I hope this treatment will give you peace and help your children. I know it is a hard road to walk.

Katherine

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Thu, 03-02-2006 - 11:12am

Dear Katherine,

Wow, you have your plate full... if you suspect metal(s) as a trigger for your childrens' issues, I would encourage you to have some tests done (if you haven't already...?) Data is showing that children who have a genetic susceptability to ASD and have environmental insults at early ages, their Metalothionene is impaired - the process needed for metal detoxing. Non-ASD children are able to excreet large amounts of mercury for example. I suspect Thimerisol for many reasons, on top of the fact that my twins have never eaten tuna, swordfish, etc. I know there are other ways to become toxic, but having mercury directly injected into their bloodstream in LARGE amounts is DEFINITELY an avenue worth considering for us. They were fully vax'ed, and in adding up their totals of mercury, they recieved over 200 times the daily "safe amount given by the EPA for ADULTS!! :(

GL at the conference, we are planning to go to the DAN conference in D.C. in April...

Take care, and thanks for your post,
Meg

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Thu, 03-02-2006 - 11:49am

Hi again,

I just wanted to clarify, we have an open adoption and although we are in touch with Eric's birth family and 2 brothers, only Eric was adopted by us and lives with us. (He is almost 4). In fact, I feel Eric's dx was part of the reason the other boys were diagnosed. His bmom just wasn't as aware of the signs, no fault of her own, and the older two missed out on early intervention bc the pediatrician, like many, gave her the "wait and see" line. She just did not have the resources to go further.

I need to learn more. I am not sure if metals are the trigger, I know Eric's sibs had vaccines with thermerisol. At the time, our ped SAID that there was none in ours, (it was 2003, so in theory, unless she had old stock, possible) but I have not taken the step to ask her to check the serial number. I feel the damage is done. But I do wonder about Eric's levels. The thing I do know for sure is that Eric's GI troubles are linked to when we started to introduce milk and solid foods. Like any American mom I gave him mac 'n cheese and chicken nuggets and didn't get the connection until later. So our success with GFCF tells us something.

I may consider going in April. We have relatives in the area and if I can work it out to be a cheap trip I'll go. Thought I'd check out the one here, the speakers are: Jane El-Dahr from Tulane, Jeff Bradstreet from ICDRC, Tim Buie from Harvard, and Doreen Greenpesshesh who founded CARD. They're all pretty well known and I think I'll learn a lot. One of the speakers in April is David Berger who is a DAN in our state that I am considering taking Eric to see. I saw him talk at a free ASA talk. If you get to hear him in April, he's a great guy. Very warm and smart too.

Thanks for your input. Just didn't want you to think I'm caring for 3 little guys, but sometimes my one seems like 3!

Katherine