Re: ALA Dosage & Symptoms Question

[Guest guest]

TK--- It is too subjective - One how much are you using ? I would

recommend using enough that your side effects are not limiting you

from chelating or other daily activities you need to do.

>

> Is there a good 'rule of thumb' for knowing what level of symptoms

are

> reasonable or should be targeted while taking ALA/DMSA or ALA alone?

>

> The symptoms this past round were at a level about identical with

how

> I felt in the last 8-10 years while my fillings were still in, and

> with my blood & hair mercury levels down for the last couple years

> post amalgam removal, that represents a worsening of many symptoms

> (concentration/focus, incoordination/'dropsies', physical weakness,

> memory problems, loss of appetite, depressed sense perceptions,

> sudden 'jolts' in limbs, wide awake very late at night & sleeping

> late, exhaustion with minimal physical exertion, etc.). These

things

> worsen on their own randomly & unexpectedly without chelation, too,

> but weeks can pass without it happening.

>

> I do want to know I'm taking enough of the ALA to keep progressing

and

> don't expect to be able to chelate without symptoms, especially

since

> I'm not using DMPS. It would be helpful to have symptom guidelines

> for determining how much is too much, or not enough, while frequent

> dosing, even though I know it's subjective.

>

> Thanks,

> Joanne

>

[Guest guest]

TK--- It is too subjective - One how much are you using ? I would

recommend using enough that your side effects are not limiting you

from chelating or other daily activities you need to do.

>

> Is there a good 'rule of thumb' for knowing what level of symptoms

are

> reasonable or should be targeted while taking ALA/DMSA or ALA alone?

>

> The symptoms this past round were at a level about identical with

how

> I felt in the last 8-10 years while my fillings were still in, and

> with my blood & hair mercury levels down for the last couple years

> post amalgam removal, that represents a worsening of many symptoms

> (concentration/focus, incoordination/'dropsies', physical weakness,

> memory problems, loss of appetite, depressed sense perceptions,

> sudden 'jolts' in limbs, wide awake very late at night & sleeping

> late, exhaustion with minimal physical exertion, etc.). These

things

> worsen on their own randomly & unexpectedly without chelation, too,

> but weeks can pass without it happening.

>

> I do want to know I'm taking enough of the ALA to keep progressing

and

> don't expect to be able to chelate without symptoms, especially

since

> I'm not using DMPS. It would be helpful to have symptom guidelines

> for determining how much is too much, or not enough, while frequent

> dosing, even though I know it's subjective.

>

> Thanks,

> Joanne

>

[Guest guest]

TK--- It is too subjective - One how much are you using ? I would

recommend using enough that your side effects are not limiting you

from chelating or other daily activities you need to do.

>

> Is there a good 'rule of thumb' for knowing what level of symptoms

are

> reasonable or should be targeted while taking ALA/DMSA or ALA alone?

>

> The symptoms this past round were at a level about identical with

how

> I felt in the last 8-10 years while my fillings were still in, and

> with my blood & hair mercury levels down for the last couple years

> post amalgam removal, that represents a worsening of many symptoms

> (concentration/focus, incoordination/'dropsies', physical weakness,

> memory problems, loss of appetite, depressed sense perceptions,

> sudden 'jolts' in limbs, wide awake very late at night & sleeping

> late, exhaustion with minimal physical exertion, etc.). These

things

> worsen on their own randomly & unexpectedly without chelation, too,

> but weeks can pass without it happening.

>

> I do want to know I'm taking enough of the ALA to keep progressing

and

> don't expect to be able to chelate without symptoms, especially

since

> I'm not using DMPS. It would be helpful to have symptom guidelines

> for determining how much is too much, or not enough, while frequent

> dosing, even though I know it's subjective.

>

> Thanks,

> Joanne

>

[Guest guest]

I'm at 50 mg DMSA & 12 mg ALA (divided 25 mg Kirkman capsules). I

feel better on DMSA alone, while ALA worsens symptoms. I didn't

tolerate ALA alone at all, so for now keep DMSA proportionately higher

to help compensate. On ALA days, I'm always backtracking (lack of

focus/concentration), indecisive, & physically slower, so there's only

a few productive hours. I'm usually not working and have some

flexibility with that as necessary, but chelation is definitely

delaying some volunteer commitments & takes away any enthusiasm for

people & things that I normally would have. My inclination is to cut

back on commitments, take the time needed, & get chelation behind

me...but that means a return to a lot of isolation and could get

pretty depressing. I've known life to be far worse than the chelation

symptoms, when there was also severe dementia & multiple systemic

infections; I just don't like going back through any of this stuff and

want to maintain an optimal balance of symptoms versus making actual

progress.

Joanne

> >

> > Is there a good 'rule of thumb' for knowing what level of symptoms

> are

> > reasonable or should be targeted while taking ALA/DMSA or ALA

alone?

[Guest guest]

I'm at 50 mg DMSA & 12 mg ALA (divided 25 mg Kirkman capsules). I

feel better on DMSA alone, while ALA worsens symptoms. I didn't

tolerate ALA alone at all, so for now keep DMSA proportionately higher

to help compensate. On ALA days, I'm always backtracking (lack of

focus/concentration), indecisive, & physically slower, so there's only

a few productive hours. I'm usually not working and have some

flexibility with that as necessary, but chelation is definitely

delaying some volunteer commitments & takes away any enthusiasm for

people & things that I normally would have. My inclination is to cut

back on commitments, take the time needed, & get chelation behind

me...but that means a return to a lot of isolation and could get

pretty depressing. I've known life to be far worse than the chelation

symptoms, when there was also severe dementia & multiple systemic

infections; I just don't like going back through any of this stuff and

want to maintain an optimal balance of symptoms versus making actual

progress.

Joanne

> >

> > Is there a good 'rule of thumb' for knowing what level of symptoms

> are

> > reasonable or should be targeted while taking ALA/DMSA or ALA

alone?

[Guest guest]

>

> Is there a good 'rule of thumb' for knowing what level of symptoms are

> reasonable or should be targeted while taking ALA/DMSA or ALA alone?

> The symptoms this past round were at a level about identical with how

> I felt in the last 8-10 years while my fillings were still in, and

> with my blood & hair mercury levels down for the last couple years

> post amalgam removal, that represents a worsening of many symptoms

> (concentration/focus, incoordination/'dropsies', physical weakness,

> memory problems, loss of appetite, depressed sense perceptions,

> sudden 'jolts' in limbs, wide awake very late at night & sleeping

> late, exhaustion with minimal physical exertion, etc.). These things

> worsen on their own randomly & unexpectedly without chelation, too,

> but weeks can pass without it happening.

I'm a bit unclear what you are saying.

If you are saying your average level of symptoms has worsened since

starting chelation, I would say it is worth trying to find ways to

address those symptoms. Keep your dose very low, or try some DMSA

first, until you are sure of yourself.

In particular, a lot of this sounds adrenal. If you are already

on adrenal support, you may want to consider increasing, and if you

are not on it, *definitely* look into it.

I do think it is very important to get properly diagnosed for some

problems and to try to address what is going wrong in your body.

Chelation does stir up symptoms unless you are very, very careful,

and even then it may be hard to avoid some worsening.

> I do want to know I'm taking enough of the ALA to keep progressing and

> don't expect to be able to chelate without symptoms, especially since

> I'm not using DMPS. It would be helpful to have symptom guidelines

DMSA can also help to reduce symptoms.

> for determining how much is too much, or not enough, while frequent

> dosing, even though I know it's subjective.

Any dose you take will lead to progress. Better to go a little

slower than you need to than so fast that you cause significant

problems.

You or someone close to you will be the best judge. I suggest

thinking about and re-evaluating the dose question on a regular

basis.

--

> Thanks,

> Joanne

>

[Guest guest]

--- Joanne, are your adrenals well supported? These symptoms sound

very adrenal.

In frequent-dose-chelation , " Joanne "

wrote:

>

> Is there a good 'rule of thumb' for knowing what level of symptoms are

> reasonable or should be targeted while taking ALA/DMSA or ALA alone?

>

> The symptoms this past round were at a level about identical with how

> I felt in the last 8-10 years while my fillings were still in, and

> with my blood & hair mercury levels down for the last couple years

> post amalgam removal, that represents a worsening of many symptoms

> (concentration/focus, incoordination/'dropsies', physical weakness,

> memory problems, loss of appetite, depressed sense perceptions,

> sudden 'jolts' in limbs, wide awake very late at night & sleeping

> late, exhaustion with minimal physical exertion, etc.). These things

> worsen on their own randomly & unexpectedly without chelation, too,

> but weeks can pass without it happening.

>

>

> Joanne

>

[Guest guest]

Joanne, consider dropping the ALA for a while. I cannot tolerate it

all even at 5 mg. It took a while for my daughter to tolerate it too.

Some people depending on body burden, need to do many dmsa rounds to

lower body burden before adding in ALA. If you do a dmsa only round

and still have to many side effects, lower the dmsa dose. Andy talks

about this in his book. Your symptoms might indicate that either you

have metal in your mouth still, or your blood levels of Hg are too

high still to take ala. Not sure what round your on, but if you

haven't been at this very long, it's possible it's too soon to use the

ALA for you.

>

> I'm at 50 mg DMSA & 12 mg ALA (divided 25 mg Kirkman capsules). I

> feel better on DMSA alone, while ALA worsens symptoms. I didn't

> tolerate ALA alone at all,