RE: [SPAM]RE: [SPAM]RE: [SPAM]Re: detox pathway and my own problems

[Guest guest]

Immunologist seen at Duke 2 years ago was

worried about my elevated herpes varicella and recurrent shingles which has

lessened today, and my chronically low red and white blood counts and low

platelets. When I was having recurrent miscarriages, an immunologist who

specialized on that did extensive testing and at the time w/o any other

symptoms was told I showed signs of having “an immune condition”. I

tested skin test positive for mold allergies and specific molds by name and

have lived “a mold free” life ever since. I dealt with MRSA as well

as vancomycin resistant type MRSA but haven’t had any problems. Worried

that the stomach tube being put in on 22nd of Sept could start

infection again. It is after surgery of most kinds that MRSA is a culturable

issue for me. Like my son’s birth via c-section and a “gallon”

of liquid and pus came out of my incision 5 days post op; same problem after

breast reduction 6 years before that…..My portacatheter has stayed unaffected

and recent sores from a fall healed nicely.

Dr. treated me in Durham for 2

years ala Shoemaker because at the time I had many of the markers Shoemaker was

looking for on his VCS test (had worst results Dr. had ever seen), very

low MSH 12, and other local scores. Interesting to me is seeing blood work such

as CRP, SED rate, ANA, C3 and C4, Rheumatoid Factor and other type tests are

all much more likely to be normal then they were 2 years ago.

From: infections [mailto:infections ] On Behalf Of Penny Houle

Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008

12:48 PM

infections

Subject: [sPAM]RE: [sPAM]RE:

[sPAM]Re: [infections] detox pathway and my own problems

Yeah, well I'm pretty skeptical in general of tests

by these so-called " specialty labs " like Great Smokies. I was

thinking along the lines of seeing an immunologist. There's still no

guarantee you'd get absolute answers, but at least the tests would be

considered valid and could foster further investigation by docs. My

extensive experience with the alternative type labs is mostly money down the

drain and information that no one takes seriously, at least no one

in the system who can potentially advocate for us when we need it. As hard as

it is to swallow, we have to learn to use the existing system to our

advantage if we want to have access to the most complete range of care.

That means getting whatever testing is available to us that is

considered valid by mainstream docs, etc.

I just saw an allergist/immunologist who said

he felt pretty hopeless about my daily migraines and chronic sinus

infection until I tested positve for mold allergy. Interestingly,

that's the ONLY thing I'm allergic to. Now he thinks there's a chance

for successful treatment. I have no grand illusions about him being right re:

treatment I've already failed at in the past, but at least

he's engaged and I now have another piece of solid information that I

didn't have before. And I can share that info with other docs

confidently because it's from a maintstream doc. In the meantime, I can also

use that information to do my own research, like revisiting Dr.

Shoemaker's theories on mold and chronic infection, which I haven't looked at

for a while. See if he's made any progress on that front and

whether any of it might apply to me personally. So while I know we mostly

have to fight this battle alone and take responsibility for our own health,

since no one else will, we can do it in a way that gives us the most

opportunity for mainstream help when the opportunity presents itself.

penny

--- On Sat, 9/13/08, Levitt <knightshotter >

wrote:

From: Levitt

<knightshotter >

Subject: RE: [sPAM]RE: [sPAM]Re: [infections] detox

pathway and my own problems

infections

Date: Saturday, September 13, 2008, 8:32 AM

Yes I would have to say I have had lots of both western and

eastern and holistic type testing of my immune system. Most of the tests are

inexpensive, not covered by ins., and quickly disregarded.

From: InfectionAndInflamm

ation2@grou ps.com [mailto: InfectionAndInflamm ation2@grou ps.com

] On Behalf Of Penny Houle

Sent: Saturday, September 13,

2008 9:56 AM

InfectionAndInflamm

ation2@grou ps.com

Subject: [sPAM]RE: [sPAM]Re:

[infectionAndInflam mation2] detox pathway and my own problems

I

really don't know. I was just wondering if you've had any testing

to evaluate the status of your immune system Wish I could help, but

if I knew how to fix all these things we pwc deal with, I'd be some

kind of genius, not to mention rich and famous. :-)

penny

--- On Sat, 9/13/08, Levitt <knightshotter>

wrote:

From:

Levitt <knightshotter>

Subject: RE: [sPAM]Re: [infectionAndInflam mation2] detox pathway and my

own problems

InfectionAndInflamm ation2@grou ps.com

Date: Saturday, September 13, 2008, 1:54 AM

We’ve done a lot of testing…What

specific immunological testing are you referring to? I’ve had tons of

IGE testing and such but not sure what immunological testing

means…..I have not specifically had the P4560 pathway test done by

Smokies but others say it isn’t worth doing. Either way, I’ve

sort of exhausted the thousands and thousands of dollars on unreimbursed

alternative lab work that only one or two doctors would pay attention

to….so don’t plan to do anymore smokies tests for ex when no

doc pays a thread of interest in any of them…

From: InfectionAndInflamm

ation2@grou ps.com [mailto: InfectionAndInflamm ation2@grou

ps.com ] On Behalf Of Penny

Houle

Sent: Saturday, September 06,

2008 12:44 AM

InfectionAndInflamm

ation2@grou ps.com

Subject: [sPAM]Re:

[infectionAndInflam mation2] detox pathway and my own problems

Hi

,

I

really don't know what to say specifically about dealing with all

these issues. It's definitely a shame that you've had to suffer so

much and aren't getting better care. Maybe someone else here will have

some ideas.

I

do know that mercury doesn't normally stay in your system more than

several years, although who knows in your case living right on top of it

like that? I used to play with mercury as a child (really dumb teacher

allowed it, and it WAS definitely fun) so I was really worried

later on about that and whether it was an issue in my own health

troubles. I was happy to learn that it should not be an issue so

many years later. Whether constant proximity like you

experienced could load you up more than normal and somehow get

embedded in your tissues or actually damage your ability to

detox, is another story. Or is it possible that all

that mercury damaged your immune system? Have any of your docs

suggested immunological testing? Or has there been any effort to

ascertain if your P450 pathways (detox pathways) have been

damaged?

penny

--- On Fri, 9/5/08, Levitt <knightshotter>

wrote:

From:

Levitt knightshotter@

Subject: [infectionAndInflam mation2] detox pathway and my own problems

InfectionAndInflamm ation2@grou ps.com

Date: Friday, September 5, 2008, 4:44 PM

I believe

strongly that I have a detox pathway problem leading to why I get so sick

when any chelation is done/ As a child, I grew up directly next door and down the river

about 200 feet from a mercury mine. You can google the Gambonini mine, Tomales for more

information. I had moved from that area 8 years before the Superfund came

in to do the cleanup.

I don’t know if

that is the reason I have very high mercury levels despite numerous

attempts by doctors, naturopaths and myself to go through comprehensive

detox programs or whether it is due to a fungal situation. As I became

very ill, I also became very chemically sensitive (MCS) to a wide variety

of products in the home and office and sensitive to many different types

of foods. I am now severely underweight (lost 160 lbs since 1994 and now

at 101. A normal good weight would be about 130 per my doc. I am looking

for some help and what my status might be because of these experiences. I

am allergic to many medications, primarily involving severe anaphylaxis

to antibx including pcn, sulfa, cipro, levaquin, tetracycline,

erthyomycin, and other meds including raglan, steroid induced

psychosis,asprin, NSAIDs, etc. I am also severely allergic or sensitive

to a wide range of foods that result in asthma, throat swelling, severe

apthous ulcers and swelling in mouth, throat, and stomach including foods

like dairy (except goat), wheat; any type of gluten, buckwheat, millet

and a variety of cleaning products.

From a medical point

of view, in the past 5 years, my health has worsened substantially and I

had to end a lucrative career in marketing and business development for

Cisco at age 46 due to my illness. Diseases that I have been diagnosed by

my doctor include multiple sclerosis, lupus, inflammatory arthritis,

osteoarthritis, osteperosis, asthma, COPD etc. I have not responded to

traditional medical treatment for these named diseases and/or there are

contraindications in prescribing one med because I have already been

diagnosed with another disease.

The biggest issue that

is apparent is that my detox pathways are screwed up and do not work

properly. Even the most basic detox methods do not work for me and result

in hospital admissions often to ICU. Most doctors run when they see me or

just shake their head. Medicare is particularly good at this and

hospitals in the United

States do a poor job of managing the

care of the chronically ill like me.

I look forward to your

response.