Re: Andy - Gadolinium heavy metal contrast agent for MRI - toxicity & chelatio

[Guest guest]

I can only tell you what my experiences have been, and what I have

picked up from reading and following chelation groups.

I was having some serious problems in 1991. At the time the two major

possibilities the doctors wanted to rule out were MS or a tumor on the

spine. If I had a tumor on the spine, it could have been removed

surgically, so I saw the MRI as being a good thing. I had an MRI at

that time using gadolinium for contrast. The MRI showed one lesion,

that they knew was active at the time because it was gadolinium

enhancing, and there was swelling around it. I would say that the

piece of mind I got from knowing that there wasn't a tumor on my spine

made the MRI and gadolinium worthwhile. Knowing that the swelling was

likely causing most of my symptoms, and that the swelling would likely

go down, made me feel better too.

Since then I have had at least 3 more MRIs. For each one I have

allowed gadolinium injections. I have not had any reactions to the

gadolinium. On my hair tests, which were taken after having at least

3 MRIs, maybe more (I've had so many I forget), gadolinium was not

significant.

If I remember correctly Andy has a section on gadolinium in his " Hair

Test Interpretation " book. Reading that may be helpful. He probably

says there how to get gadolinium out of the body.

I know several people who have had tumors on their spine or brain

tumors removed successfully and have gone on to lead normal lives.

Some of these people are friends, relatives, acquaintances, and some I

meet when I hang out in hospital waiting rooms.

If the MRI does show MS, you will at least know that you are on the

right track with chelation. I know that metal poisoning is a cause of

MS and I know that MS can be cured with chelation.

Kidney damage occurs with acute mercury poisoning and with improper

chelation methods (like DMPS IVs, once a day DMSA, etc). Andy's

chelation protocol is the gentlest possible way to get heavy metals

out of the body and will therefore be the mildest on the kidneys. I

am actually quite happy that the mercury is attached to DMPS when it

is going through my kidneys because I know the DMPS will hold on

tighter than anything else would (and by taking the DMPS at 6-8 h

intervals I know the mercury keeps moving). ALA takes mercury out

mainly through the feces, bypassing the kidneys.

J

>

> (also posted to adult metal chelation group)

>

> I was recently surprised to find see that my pupils are consistently

different sizes and

> although both responsive to light, one is less so, and also that I

have no reflexes in my

> extremeties. My neuro-opthalmologist says that this can be a result

of heavy metals

> poisoning (most likely lead, which I am attempting to remove using

DMSA + ALA), certain

> B vitamin deficiencies (most likely connected with or causitive in

my neurological

> problems), as well as the super scary options like a brain tumor or

multiple sclerosis

> where the first plaque can be in the brain. He recommended me for a

MRI of my head and

> eye orbits, as well as future MRI's throughout the system that goes

from head down to

> toes and back, as any disruption that system can lead to both the

lack of reflexes as well

> as the different pupil responsiveness. That's a lot of MRI, which I

thought was fine until I

> heard that it would involve an injection of heavy metals.

>

> The day before the MRI they told me I'd have to have Gadolinium (a

heavy metal from the

> Lanthanide series of the periodic table). My understanding is that

in people with kidney

> impairment that dose of the Gadolinium can essentially ruin your

kidneys, but " normal "

> people are OK - not that comforting to anyone even if kidneys are OK

(I'm sure they get

> damaged at least a little, and the effects are less obvious because

most have excess

> kidney capacity). I am going to have my kidneys tested before I go

to be sure that it won't

> be the end of them, but still there are other side effects they

listed on the consent form,

> like " aggravated migraine " (migraines are bad enough and I've had

them - I can't imagine

> what an aggravated one feels like), nose bleed, nausea, dizziness,

chest pain, fever, hot

> flushes, pain, rigors, syncope(?), vasodilation, convulsions,

abnormal coordination, tremor,

> abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, ringing of the ears, and some

other more minor ones.

> I don't know if those are supposed to be temporary or permanent.

>

> The problem is that I already know I have metals retention problems

and don't know what

> this will mean in my body, since I'm already a borderline Asperger's

person (with an

> autistic daughter depending on me). I'm not sure I can put it off

too long to see if the

> chelation is working to reverse the pupil problem thereby proving

it's heavy metals, since

> in case it's a tumor, it'll be important to go in early and while

it's small. My doctor wants

> me to take a contrast agent and thinks there is too much missed

without it. I am worried

> what will happen as far as adding Gadolinium poisoning on top of

lead/mercury poisoning.

>

> After this and future MRIs, how can I get the Gadolinium out and

using what agent (DMPS?

> DMSA?ALA? etc.) Should I wait like we do with mercury until it's

excreted slowly and for

> how long before chelating? I'm worried it'll damage my kidneys (if

carried out by DMPS) or

> liver (if carried out by DMSA/ALA) more if I take chelating agents

which might " speed up "

> passage through these organs and overwhelm them, then again the

brain and other nerves

> may get damaged if the Gadolinium settles there instead of going out

through feces or

> urine quickly. At first I thought I'd jump on chelating quickly to

bind up the metals to do

> less damage, then wonder if I'll damage things more. I remember

hearing that a woman

> permanently damaged her kidneys using heavy-handed chelation

following a suicide

> attempt when she ate mercury from thermometers (it was in a risk

factors from mercury or

> chelation), probably because it came out rapidly. I heard

gadolinium-edta is a common

> form, so in a way it's in with a chelator already, I'm not sure what

the ramifications of that

> are.

>

> I am exploring other contrast agents, such as iron, they are all

heavy metals and can

> accumulate in the body. How is chelating " Lanthanide " " inner

transition " elements

> different from chelating any others?

>

> I have done at least a dozen rounds of oral ALA only and only two

rounds of DMSA + ALA.

> How long before I might expect a change in my pupils or reflexes

back to normal or at

> least something that direction? Perhaps I can put off the MRI to

continue chelating.

>

> Please Andy and/or others, tell me what you know, as soon as you can.

>