DDI hair analysis - comment please

[Guest guest]

I would welcome comments about my hair analysis and that of my son.

http://www.livingnetwork.co.za/healingnetwork/hairtest.html

We are numbers 89 and 90.

Brief history:

I became sick 3 years ago after unprotected dental work. I had 13

amalgams for 30 years and a big tuna fish habit (no longer). I was

diagnosed with Gilberts syndrome and hypothyroid when I first became

sick. My first hair analysis showed high mercury, high calcium,

thyroid problems and crashed adrenals (low sodium and potassium).

Since then I have had all my amalgams out ( complete a year ago), and

have done about 12 rounds of DMSA (8mg), no ALA yet. No big

improvement, but I have lost some symptoms. My biggest problems are

adrenals, blood sugar, candida, skewed hormones and associated PMS,

and massive fatigue. My diet is very restricted - meat, eggs, non-

starchy vegetables, some nuts, absolutely no sugar, dairy, gluten,

alcohol etc etc.

Every day I take:

6.5mg prednisolone

2 grains Armour

20mg DHEA

200mcg Florinef

milk thistle x3 /day

Vit C 3-4 grams / day

1000mg taurine

Vit B complex - 2/day

about 1600mg magnesium in glycinate and malate forms - doesn't seem

to be working much!

Vit E - standard daily dose - is it 400mcg?

omega 3 and 6 capsules

zinc - when I remember

100mcg selenium

Natures Biotics - soil based probiotics

I tried going up to 3 grains of Armour, and got even more fatigued,

so I backed down. I also supplement with estrogel on days 5-15 of my

cycle.

My son was born just under 3 years before I became sick - he is

nearly six now. Hormone tests have confirmed he is hypothyroid, and

his adrenals are very weak. His main problem is slurry speech (due

to the high aluminium?), for which he is having speech therapy. I

have Andy's hair analysis book, and according to that he doesn't meet

any counting rules, but I think he MUST be affected by the mercury.

He gets more tired than I think is normal for a five year old, is

very skinny, has poor immunity - always coming down with chest

infections - poor digestion, and has dark rings under his eyes. Why

else would he have thyroid and adrenal problems?

The big question is whether to chelate him - I am nervous of this. I

look at him and see a mercury toxic child - everyone else looks at

him and sees a 'normal' little boy. How many mercury toxic children

are there out there?!

He currently takes

3/4 grain Armour

1 multivit / mineral

cod liver oil

probiotics

I want to keep him off HC, but may have to consider other forms of

adrenal support.

We live in Belgium. Your thoughts on all this are welcome.

Nicola

[Guest guest]

>

> I would welcome comments about my hair analysis and that of my son.

>

>

> http://www.livingnetwork.co.za/healingnetwork/hairtest.html

>

> We are numbers 89 and 90.

>

> Brief history:

> I became sick 3 years ago after unprotected dental work. I had 13

> amalgams for 30 years and a big tuna fish habit (no longer). I was

> diagnosed with Gilberts syndrome and hypothyroid when I first became

> sick. My first hair analysis showed high mercury, high calcium,

> thyroid problems and crashed adrenals (low sodium and potassium).

> Since then I have had all my amalgams out ( complete a year ago), and

> have done about 12 rounds of DMSA (8mg), no ALA yet. No big

How are you doing with the DMSA? If you have been comfortable

with the 8 mg dose for awhile, you may want to increase it. I

would try to work up the DMSA dose before adding ALA - but you

don't want to delay too long before adding the ALA, either.

Maybe see what works better for you, adding some ALA or increasing

the DMSA.

> improvement, but I have lost some symptoms. My biggest problems are

> adrenals, blood sugar, candida, skewed hormones and associated PMS,

> and massive fatigue. My diet is very restricted - meat, eggs, non-

> starchy vegetables, some nuts, absolutely no sugar, dairy, gluten,

> alcohol etc etc.

>

> Every day I take:

>

> 6.5mg prednisolone

> 2 grains Armour

> 20mg DHEA

> 200mcg Florinef

> milk thistle x3 /day

> Vit C 3-4 grams / day

Be sure you are splitting the vit C into 3-4 doses across the day.

> 1000mg taurine

Take magnesium, taurine, and B6 at the same time. Should help

you absorb and retain magnesium.

> Vit B complex - 2/day

You might want to try this 3-4 times per day.

> about 1600mg magnesium in glycinate and malate forms - doesn't seem

> to be working much!

Are you taking it between meals? Better absorption that way.

I have trouble getting enough magnesium, too. I think taking with

taurine and B6 helps. Basically I just have to eat Mg like candy.

If I don't do that, I get low again. I also use other products,

Magnelevures and Gammadyn Mg, which seem to help. Might also try

the citrate form.

> Vit E - standard daily dose - is it 400mcg?

400 IU is the minimum per Andy's recommendations in the book.

> omega 3 and 6 capsules

> zinc - when I remember

This can be very important. Helps immune function, among other

things. I know your hair zinc is right smack in the middle, but

it may not be trustworthy. Consider remembering this more often.

> 100mcg selenium

> Natures Biotics - soil based probiotics

>

> I tried going up to 3 grains of Armour, and got even more fatigued,

> so I backed down. I also supplement with estrogel on days 5-15 of my

> cycle.

Any progesterone cream? Many women find it helpful and it is usually

not a good idea to take estrogen without progesterone.

Your hair test does not meet the counting rules, but 6 over is

suspicious. It is very much an " all low " test and not normal

looking. Trying to improve your level of stomach acid is a good

idea, either with supplemental betaine hcl, or possibly by taking

cider vinegar before meals.

Your Ca/Mg says you have a problem with blood sugar regulation.

You know this, I believe, since I remember you posted about it

before. I'm sorry I didn't think to post at that time about

the taurine/B6/magnesium combo. (Sometimes I just can't think

well and don't remember important facts. I really need to fix

my brain.)

K/Ca is at the low end. Looks like you could benefit from iodine

to help your thyroid function. I would start with some kelp and

see how you do with that amount of iodine.

Low Na/Mg suggests some tyrosine or phenylalanine might help.

Tyrosine does nothing for me, but I have been trying phenylalanine

just for the past few days and I think it is helping me stay off

the couch and get a few things done.

You may want to consider whether a small amount of supplemental

manganese would be helpful.

With adrenal and thyroid problems, you likely do have low stomach

acid and could be overall low in minerals. A general mineral

supplement could be helpful.

Your lead is pretty high in the green. Although this is not

significant, the hair level of lead does not always reflect your

true lead situation. I would stick with DMSA and ALA for awhile,

just to be sure you get the lead out.

I'm going to reply to your son's test in a separate posting,

mostly because I am pooped out and have to take a little lie-down

on the couch

--

[Guest guest]

> Your hair test does not meet the counting rules, but 6 over is

> suspicious. It is very much an " all low " test and not normal

> looking. Trying to improve your level of stomach acid is a good

> idea, either with supplemental betaine hcl, or possibly by taking

> cider vinegar before meals.

Hi Nicola.

I believe that you do in fact fulfill counting rule number 5 - (6 above the

50th percentile and 3 in the red).

Apart from that you have all the suspicious markers of mercury - low lithium

and calcium greater than 1150.

And you JUST get 6 above the middle line.

Certainly absorption problems are at play, general all-low and a low

manganese (seems to be a trademark of all-low tests).

I am finding the ALCAT food sensitivity test to be helpful for all-low

readings.

Also take vitamin C and Betaine and digestive enzymes with each meal.

Mercury toxicity at play for sure and your body is battling to get it out as

indicated by the lowish hair mercury.

Also and all-low test means the toxic levels could be a lot higher.

Thanks,

Dean