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

[Guest guest]

>

> (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.

They use the same amount regardless of whether they do all of you or just your

toenail.

> 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.

You may see discussion of this in the relevant section (entitled " gadolinium " )

in my book

Hair Test Interpretation: Finding Hidden Toxicities.

www.noamalgam.com/hairtestbook.html

I am not sure if this is a risk, or if so how much of one.

> After this and future MRIs,

Take it one step at a time. Do THIS MRI, based on the results, and those of

chelation,

decide whether a future MRI is indicated or not.

The MRI's are of no use if they don't help you make a treatment decision that

you can't

make by trial and error without them - ask the neuro about this. Once a tumor

is ruled

out (as it usually is) the likelihood that future MRI's are useful is much less

than for the

first one.

> how can I get the Gadolinium out and using what agent (DMPS?

> DMSA?ALA? etc.)

Mostly it comes out on its own and doesn't seem to be a particular problem at

the levels

used, but of course I'm VERY suspicious of mainstream assurances on this

point....

> Should I wait like we do with mercury until it's excreted slowly and for

> how long before chelating?

No, it is OK to go ahead shortly.

>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?

They mostly respond to things like EDTA, not to thiol chelators which are much

less

selective for them than for main transition series elements.

> 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?

A year.

>Perhaps I can put off the MRI to continue chelating.

Up to you. It is a hard decision. Anything suggesting there truly IS a brain

tumor, instead

of the neuro doesn't know what else it could be and is practicing CYA forensic

medicine,

should lead you to getting the MRI.

Most people with mercury problems do end up at some point being suspected of

having a

pituitary tumor when they don't.

>

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

>