Need help interpreting tests

[Guest guest]

I am a newish list member and have been reading old posts to catch up.

I appreciate all the discussion and the knowledgeable input of so

many listers. It is encouraging to me.

I am following the Cutler protocol. DDI Hair test (done some months

after supplemental and nutritional interventions by acupuncturist and

after beginning Cutler recommended supplements) met counting rule #2.

DDI hair test from 1999 (who would know that might be useful?) met

counting rule #1, and #3. (All low presentation?) Had amalgams out

beginning Sept. 2006, finishing in November 2006. I've been chelating

ever since with DMSA on the four hour protocol with equal days of

breaks in between. I started out slow at 12.5 mg. Then I added 50%

more for a few rounds and now am on my third round of 25 mg. I have

fallen into a five day round although I am thinking of reducing to

four day rounds.

I pretty much have been following my instincts and the way my body

feels to dose on supplements etc. I have been on Cutler recommended

supplements starting before I began amalgam removal in August 2006. I

had lots of help from acupuncturist in helping with health issues and

building my body up... liver, kidneys, Candida etc... before starting

the whole process. I have had some pretty crazy mental symptoms with

amalgam removal and was very sick debilitated during that phase. I

used a IMAOT dentist with all the bells and whistles. Even so, I got

very sick. Glad that is over.

I have added a whole adrenal glandular plus isocort to my regimen. I

think it helps but maybe not enough. I took Armour thyroid for years

but quit about three or four years ago because it didn't feel right.

Now I am spaced out and feel immobilized, unable to think or function

much of the time. Sometimes I have panic, heart racing, trouble

sleeping from 2 to 4 am or from 3 to 5 am., dizzy and floating head,

depression. Added vinpocetine, gotu kola, forskolin, ginko. It seems

to help me think better. I am still tweaking the dosages, by feel,

not sure what I am doing.

I avoid sulfur foods. My diet is mostly meat and vegetables. Never

drank coffee in my entire life. I quit wheat a while ago. Few carbs.

Gave up herbal and green teas that I used to have occasionally. I have

been remarkably faithful to the diet restrictions. I have fallen off

the wagon a few times. I just pick myself up and start again. I do

the best I can.

I am trying to decide what to do about my adrenal/thyroid issues. My

free T4 was 0.75 ng/dl. TSH was 5.96 uIU/ml. These measures were

last year (2006) before beginning the mass quantities of supplements

and amalgam removal. My TSH in 2004 was 3.68 IU/ml. No free T4 was

done in 2004.

There is absolutely a difference in my body's needs between chelation

and non chelation times. For example, I crave more magnesium while

chelating.

Before I figured out a lot of stuff, I had an ND give me a push test

with IV DMPS. That was early last summer and it surely caused a heap

of problems. But it opened my eyes and I began looking for

information about mercury toxicity which led me to the Cutler

protocol. (Thank goodness!) Here is a list of the tests I have had:

24 hour urine toxic metals test, blood plasma element analysis -

Erythrocyte, HORMEST - a 24 hour urine collection with measures of a

bunch of hormones, CBC (20 different measures), Hepatic liver panel,

Basic Metalbolic Panel, Free T4 and TSH (previously mentioned).

Mainly I am looking for help in figuring out the adrenal/ thyroid

issue. Should I try adding Armour thyroid to my adrenal glandular and

isocort supplementation? I take 2 isocort pellets in the morning, 2

at noon. I take 1 Thorne adrenal glandular capsule in the morning. I

did the saliva test back in 1999. I haven't done it now as I am

pretty low on funds after all the dental work and being unfit to work

in a regular job. I have come to realize I am rather disabled by all

of this.

Finally, I need to say that I am doing so much better now after

chelating for three months using the Cutler protocol than I was all of

last year. I am driving again. My psychiatric symptoms are much

improved. I am contemplating trying to add some ALA pretty soon. But

I would like to get the adrenal/thyroid issue on more solid ground.

Thanks in advance for your help.