Even a fool may be wise after the event. -- Homer said it well -- and maybe someone wiser than me will read this and not make the same mistake I did!
I had a terrible experience this week:
I was making my lunch on Wednesday later in the afternoon around 3 pm, cutting leeks for a stir fry. It was a day of great accomplishment for me and I felt pretty good about it. But I was slicing fairly quickly and with some force, when I sliced right through the top 1/6th of my fingernail and well into the flesh! Immediately it began to bleed and immediately I pressed the two pieces of flesh together and prayed severely for a couple of seconds. I grabbed a paper towel and thought about what I should do ... no one was home (my husband was overseas for his work) and I needed two hands to put on a bandage. I suppose I COULD have managed on my own (and now I wish I had), but for some strange and stupid reason I wanted someone besides me, to help me.
I didn't know where the nearest medical clinic was so I got out the phone book and found a one not far from where I live. I had not noticed it during the last four years we'd lived in the area ... I got in my car and drove up to find someone to help me put a bandage on my finger.
I had to wait, but time passed quickly because I was reading about the quality of food served in university kitchens. (Most of it is, shamefully, of bad quality but Guelph University (my Alma Mater) has come out near the top with great healthy meals and they even have a vegan eatery!)
Back to my story: I was called into a little room, a doctor came in and looked at the wound and said because it was right through the nail, no stitches could be made. That was ok with me. And then she asked if my "tetanus shot was up to date". Regretfully but truthfully, I said "no".
(The last time I'd heard the word 'tetanus', my son had cut his baby fingernail clean off while working on a construction site this past summer and I took him to the hospital to get it bandaged. While he was there the nurse told him he should have a tetanus shot and he flatly refused - he hates needles - so the nurse called in the doctor who explained the whole story of how ugly it could get if he didn't have a tetanus shot. He refused again. The nurse came back and reiterated how important it was to get a tetanus shot and at that point, I was ready to take it for him! their stories were so scary. But he was 20 years old and needed to make up his own mind - I held my peace. He still refused, and he's fine, and now I really admire him for it.)
Back to my story: The doctor sent in the receptionist who I'd told that I was not allergic to anything (not wanting to get into the details of being sensitive to about 30 compounds I found out through my mercury-related dental visits). The receptionist (really a nurse in nurse's garb) pulled out this smaller-than-business-card size package and broke out a little needle (which I refused to look at, remembering the horrid huge needles shoved into our arms and legs in public school) and she did her thing. "Wow, that was painless," I thought. It wasn't as bad as I remembered.
I felt ok for the rest of the day.
The next day however, I began to feel a familiar feeling - the feeling I used to get when I was overworked and stressed and my period was about to come on. The feeling you have when you KNOW if you don't sleep right NOW, something will get you. I had planned to have tea with a friend that evening, so I did a little clean up, drove my daughter to school (it was pouring) and quickly laid down for a nap, 35 minutes before my friend was to arrive. Next thing I knew, the doorbell rang and my friend was here for tea.
When she arrived, I immediately began coughing and gagging and sniffling and feeling horrible. (Note that since I had started taking those good vitamin supplements over a year ago, I had not had to deal with any cold or flu symptoms at all, so this was very strange for me.) This was definitely a reaction to the tetanus shot. So while I was making tea, I took some extra supplements but I was feeling very cold. I also had a very hard time thinking, I was so distracted with the symptoms, or, was my brain also affected by the tetanus shot? It felt like it. That evening I had to do some more driving; picking up both kids from the Mumford Road bus terminal (because it was really really pouring), and after my friend left, I took some more vitamins and went to bed.
Although I was tired, I had a hard time sleeping and I sweated so much that I thoroughly wet my nightgown and bed sheets. The next day was a challenge as well, fighting cold symptoms and a bad headache, but doing my work as usual and taking extra vitamin C and anti-oxidants. The next night my daughter challenged me to go to bed early and I did - 9 pm. At 2 pm I woke up soaked again with sweat, so I got up, took some more antioxidants, changed my night clothes, changed my sheets, got a warm fuzzy blanket to cover me, took another sleeping pill and slept until 6:45 in the morning.
Went to the market with my daughter who did a little research on-line and found this site that states mercury is used in tetanus shots (http://www.vaccinetruth.org/page_8.htm). When she read me the info I was MAD at myself for taking that tetanus shot!!! I was furious because I had been doing my best to rid my body of as much mercury as possible.
ARGHHH!!! It's like spending the summer getting all the weeds out of your garden and then calling in a specialist who proceeds to throw a handful of tiny weed seeds over it.
Here is an excerpt from the doctor's essay I mentioned:
_________________________________________________________
"Tetanus occurs when a wound is not properly cleaned and the germ is trapped in the wound and cut off from oxygen. Typically this would be a puncture wound where the skin would close up quickly leaving infection underneath as with a rusty nail. Wounds that bleed will never result in tetanus because the tetanus bacillus is anaerobic. ...
It is an article of faith, widely accepted by doctors and patients alike, that tetanus is almost invariably fatal, especially if the person is not vaccinated. This fear is so deeply entrenched that I have personally seen patients dutifully wait in a busy emergency department for hours to get a tetanus shot because they had sustained a superficial cut while washing dishes.
Before I knew better, and because the "standard of care" dictates that every cut gets a tetanus shot, I handed these shots out like candy, believing it was better to "over protect" than to risk the development of a "fatal" case of tetanus.
Discovering that most people recover from an acute bout of tetanus was unexpected, but it was disconcerting to find that many of the reported cases of tetanus were in "fully vaccinated" people. ...
Therefore, routinely vaccinating every 10 years, as the journal article suggests, simply to maintain "adequate antibody levels" is uncalled for and may not only provide the person with a false sense of security, it may actually cause harm. Tetanus vaccines haven't gotten the "bad press" many of the other vaccines have recently received. In the zeal to protect from this "deadly disease," it is imagined that the risk of infection far exceeds the potential risk of the vaccine. What harm could it do? I thought the vaccine only contained inactivated tetanus toxin and sterile water. I am convinced that is the perception of nearly all physicians. IT WAS DISTURBING TO LEARN OF THE OTHER INGREDIENTS THAT ARE IN THE TETANUS TOXOID VACCINE: FORMALDEHYDE; SODIUM PHOSPHATE MONOBASIC; SODIUM PHOSPHATE DIBASIC, (AN EYE AND SKIN IRRITANT THAT MAY BE HARMFUL IF INGESTED); GLYCINE, ALUMINUM, AND 25 ug. OF THIMEROSOL (MERCURY). There is obviously more to the tetanus vaccine than inactivated toxoid! In the Emergency Department, if the tetanus status of a patient is "unknown," an additional shot is routinely given, because it is thought to be harmless. However, this is simply bad medicine. If the person doesn't need the tetanus booster, the vaccine can cause a severe allergic reaction referred to as an Arthus type, Type III hypersensitivity reaction. This side effect is defined as "an acute inflammatory reaction caused by deposition of antigen -- antibody complexes into the tissues."
The "Arthus type" variation classically causes a reaction only at the injection site, but the result is an acute necrotizing vasculitis and localized necrosis (death) of the tissues. The reaction starts 2 -- 8 hours after a tetanus toxiod injection and occurs if the person has very high serum antitoxin antibodies due to overly frequent injections. In addition to the local reaction, severe systemic reactions can occur. A partial list of adverse events includes headache; nausea; vomiting; arthralgias; tachycardia; syncope (fainting); cranial nerve paralysis; and a variety of neurological complications including EEG disturbances, seizures and encephalopathy; anaphylaxis and Gullian-Barre' syndrome. RECOMMENDING "ROUTINE" TETANUS BOOSTERS BASED ON MATHEMATICAL MODELS OF ANTIBODY DEGRADATION CAN RESULT IN SEVERE COMPLICATIONS AND IS RISKY BUSINESS, INDEED."
____________________________________________________
Now, I may not have had the reactions they're talking about but one thing I do know is that I was well able to ward off all cold and flu symptoms for over a year - up until I got the tetanus shot. I was not expecting a reaction but I got as sick as a dog and there seems to be no other explanation for the weakness in my body over those few days.
I admit, I was ignorant (it's not the first time) but I was also in a vulnerable position. I didn't know I was allowing mercury to be needled into my body and that's why I was so angry. I think I'll get a little medic alert bracelet that tells the medical profession I'm allergic to their drugs.
The lesson today is; do some research about vaccinations before you blindly go and get them for yourself or your children.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Sunday, June 11, 2006
10. An interesting video
It's been a while since I've taken the time to make an entry. For five weeks I was working for Statistics Canada on the 2006 Census - very time consuming work.
Last week my ND forwarded a video that I found extremely interesting. You should have a look at it, it's only a few minutes long. It shows (under a microscope) the effects of a small amount of mercury on a stem cell - effects that are not caused by even aluminum, lead or cadmium.
___________________________________
On May 7th, my husband and I went back up to St. John to get my teeth looked at because the chewing on one side of my mouth was a little painful. I was surprised when all it took was a bit of grinding - with no needle or numbing gel! Anyway, it was a good time to travel to St. John because we left Halifax in the cool rain and found New Brunswick warm and sunny; a nice break from the rainy weather we've been having.
• more health improvements that I'd like to mention here:
The most wonderful being that I've had hardly any PMS before my periods! (Ask my husband how wonderful that is!) I'll have my third period soon and I can hardly tell it's that time of the month. There were a few times that I took some Vc15 (did I tell you about that? - the nutritionist I saw in Fredericton told me about it. It's a great herbal remedy made by Rekeweg that helps sleep and pre-menstrual symptoms), and I'm not going through the bottle anywhere near as fast as I was before.
I'm really enjoying waking up in the mornings now - I feel like my body has really rested and is willing to get up and go.
Do you remember when I mentioned that I lost 2 pounds when I had the mercury removed? Well, normally when I lose weight that fast, I'll gain it right back. But I wasn't able to chew hard things so I've been having a lot of soups and smoothies over the last couple of months. I've lost more than 6 pounds now, and I'm not feeling hungry or like I've been missing something.
My daughter and I have been watching, "You Are What You Eat" as often as possible. If you haven't seen it, it's a 1/2 hour show about a Doctor/Nutritionist, Dr. Gillian McKeith, who finds willing and food-challenged individuals to go through an eight week program with totally new eating habits. These people are most often VERY overweight and through new choices of food and exercise, on average they lose around 28 pounds - in eight weeks! By the time Gillian is finished with them they've lost their food cravings, they feel GREAT and want to continue their new lifestyle.
There's a lot of good information in these programs (unfortunately the season has ended, hopefully they'll continue in the fall!). Dr. Gillian talked about ways to improve the digestive system with food combining. My digestive system has been screwed up for a while (another symptom of mercury poisoning but maybe too also part of the menopausal process) so I got her cook book and started using the food combining she recommended.
In the morning I eat fruit by itself, on an empty stomach. I usually make a smoothie with 4 or 5 different fruits. For lunch and supper, I make sure to never have protein and carbohydrates together. I can have protein with vegetables (green leafy, not starchy veggies) or I can have carbohydrates (ie grains, rice, bread, potatoes) with vegetables (green leafy, not starchy). If you want more information about this, just go online and type in "food combining". It took me a while to adjust to it and I don't always get it right, but it has massively helped my digestive system. There are many days when I have absolutely no bloating or gas. I praise God for it because that problem is extremely uncomfortable.
So it seems that if I continue to eat by this food combining system, maybe I'll just continue to lose weight until I'm normal. Right now I'm ten pounds heavier than I was when I got married - in 1980. Mercury poisoning can be the cause of weight gain (or the inability to lose weight) and weight loss, so I'll just blame this one on mercury poisoning too! I couldn't have anything to do with a lack of self control, could it?
Finally, I believe that it's rarely one thing that causes all our problems or one thing that makes them all better. Regarding health, I believe it's an overall healthy lifestyle that is necessary - regular exercise and a healthy diet with lots of fruit and veggies and good quality supplements (do your research). When we've done all we know to do, and still need help, we keep praying and researching.
I think there's always something we can do to improve our situations so we always can have hope for a healthier and brighter future.
Last week my ND forwarded a video that I found extremely interesting. You should have a look at it, it's only a few minutes long. It shows (under a microscope) the effects of a small amount of mercury on a stem cell - effects that are not caused by even aluminum, lead or cadmium.
___________________________________
On May 7th, my husband and I went back up to St. John to get my teeth looked at because the chewing on one side of my mouth was a little painful. I was surprised when all it took was a bit of grinding - with no needle or numbing gel! Anyway, it was a good time to travel to St. John because we left Halifax in the cool rain and found New Brunswick warm and sunny; a nice break from the rainy weather we've been having.
• more health improvements that I'd like to mention here:
The most wonderful being that I've had hardly any PMS before my periods! (Ask my husband how wonderful that is!) I'll have my third period soon and I can hardly tell it's that time of the month. There were a few times that I took some Vc15 (did I tell you about that? - the nutritionist I saw in Fredericton told me about it. It's a great herbal remedy made by Rekeweg that helps sleep and pre-menstrual symptoms), and I'm not going through the bottle anywhere near as fast as I was before.
I'm really enjoying waking up in the mornings now - I feel like my body has really rested and is willing to get up and go.
Do you remember when I mentioned that I lost 2 pounds when I had the mercury removed? Well, normally when I lose weight that fast, I'll gain it right back. But I wasn't able to chew hard things so I've been having a lot of soups and smoothies over the last couple of months. I've lost more than 6 pounds now, and I'm not feeling hungry or like I've been missing something.
My daughter and I have been watching, "You Are What You Eat" as often as possible. If you haven't seen it, it's a 1/2 hour show about a Doctor/Nutritionist, Dr. Gillian McKeith, who finds willing and food-challenged individuals to go through an eight week program with totally new eating habits. These people are most often VERY overweight and through new choices of food and exercise, on average they lose around 28 pounds - in eight weeks! By the time Gillian is finished with them they've lost their food cravings, they feel GREAT and want to continue their new lifestyle.
There's a lot of good information in these programs (unfortunately the season has ended, hopefully they'll continue in the fall!). Dr. Gillian talked about ways to improve the digestive system with food combining. My digestive system has been screwed up for a while (another symptom of mercury poisoning but maybe too also part of the menopausal process) so I got her cook book and started using the food combining she recommended.
In the morning I eat fruit by itself, on an empty stomach. I usually make a smoothie with 4 or 5 different fruits. For lunch and supper, I make sure to never have protein and carbohydrates together. I can have protein with vegetables (green leafy, not starchy veggies) or I can have carbohydrates (ie grains, rice, bread, potatoes) with vegetables (green leafy, not starchy). If you want more information about this, just go online and type in "food combining". It took me a while to adjust to it and I don't always get it right, but it has massively helped my digestive system. There are many days when I have absolutely no bloating or gas. I praise God for it because that problem is extremely uncomfortable.
So it seems that if I continue to eat by this food combining system, maybe I'll just continue to lose weight until I'm normal. Right now I'm ten pounds heavier than I was when I got married - in 1980. Mercury poisoning can be the cause of weight gain (or the inability to lose weight) and weight loss, so I'll just blame this one on mercury poisoning too! I couldn't have anything to do with a lack of self control, could it?
Finally, I believe that it's rarely one thing that causes all our problems or one thing that makes them all better. Regarding health, I believe it's an overall healthy lifestyle that is necessary - regular exercise and a healthy diet with lots of fruit and veggies and good quality supplements (do your research). When we've done all we know to do, and still need help, we keep praying and researching.
I think there's always something we can do to improve our situations so we always can have hope for a healthier and brighter future.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
9. More improvements, and some rebuttal . . .
I have to mention that I got our taxes out the door on Friday! (hallelujah chorus). I certainly felt more mentally and emotionally able to tackle our taxes than in previous years. I don't know if the mercury removal did that, but I sure feel more mentally alert, more "crisp" and less foggy.
When it comes to the actual physical aspects of my health, THAT'S easier to prove:
The latest thing I've noticed is less light-headedness when I do the "half moon" pose in yoga. This is where we stand tall with our hands clasped above our heads in the steeple formation and, squeezing our leg muscles and buttocks we lean to one side in the shape of a 1/2 moon (sort of) and hold the pose for several seconds. I used to have to lower one hand because my breath was panting and I thought I might faint if I didn't lower a hand on my waist. Now I hold the pose as long as I want. I wonder if my blood pressure has improved? I'll check it out and let you know.
Another improved pose is the "pigeon". We're sitting straight up on the floor with one knee pointing forward and one leg straight out behind us. Our hands are on the floor on either side of our front knee. To get a good back stretch/bend in that pose, we have the option of clasping our hands behind our backs and lifting our torso higher while grounding our tail bone deeper. It's a bit of a balancing pose and that's why I could never do it. But today, I did it! - with both sides for as long as I wanted!!
I haven't noticed any improvement in my balance with standing poses yet. I have that to look forward to and I believe it will eventually improve.
On another note:
Unfortunately, there was a news report this past week on the subject of children and mercury fillings. The studies cited were supposedly showing that mercury was still alright to use as dental filling material. Can you believe that! (It just goes to show; one thing we learn by studying history is that we don't learn anything by studying history.)
Here's what I have to say in response to that report:
My children are NEVER getting any more amalgam fillings (the ones they had were in their baby teeth and are gone now. And my grandchildren will never get any mercury fillings. I will also encourage my son's future wife to have any mercury amalgams removed properly before they even think about conceiving and if that's not possible, I will encourage her to not have any mercury put in or removed while pregnant or gestating.
The studies talked about in these latest articles were done over a 5 - 7 year period and I think they are ignoring the long term effects of mercury accumulation in the body. The New England trial followed 534 children who were randomly assigned fillings containing either mercury or a resin composite. That means the unfortunate 265 received the mercury fillings.
The same thing happened in Lisbon, Portugal. They chose (maybe half?) out of 507 children ages eight to 10 to receive either mercury-based fillings or resin-based fillings. They were followed for seven years and the researchers reported no measurable differences between the treatment groups. I wonder what they were measuring?
The New England study found significantly higher mean urine mercury levels in the amalgam group but, and I quote, "the increased mercury exposure was still 'well within established background population levels' said one doctor". Was he saying that the background population has acceptable levels that have been established? Um, but --------- NO LEVEL OF MERCURY IS SAFE!
They did find that urine levels of mercury were found to be higher in the group that received mercury fillings. Actually, that's a lot of mercury when NO LEVEL OF MERCURY IS SAFE!
Some one pointed out that the urinary concentrations "leveled off to approximately 1.0?g/g over time" and averages were well within normal background levels. I wonder, what are the "normal background levels"? MERCURY IS TOXIC, SO WE ARE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO TOUCH IT - WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH IT IN OUR MOUTHS?
One doctor said that there is no reason to discontinue use of mercury amalgam as the standard of care for caries in posterior teeth. This is ABSURD! Parents, please hear this: MERCURY IS MANY TIMES MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVEN ARSENIC OR LEAD.
It also upsets me that they DARE TO USE CHILDREN AS GUINEA PIGS! WHERE WILL THAT DENTIST BE 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN CHRONIC DISEASE HAS SET IN? WHO WILL PAY FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE POISON?
I know I'm repeating myself, but remember that in 1991 Sweden declared mercury amalgam TOXIC and unsuitable for use. And in 1992 Germany, Norway and Great Britain stopped allowing the use of mercury fillings in pregnant women. In 2001 California introduced a bill to eliminate all mercury for use in teeth by 2006.
Here's a quote from the article: "Chief limitations of the studies were that they can not detect the effects of toxic exposure that may occur later in life, and they were not statistically powered to detect subtle effects that may have occurred in vulnerable subgroups, such as those with a genetic vulnerability to mercury poisoning,"
It seems to me that every human being IS VULNERABLE TO POISONS LIKE LEAD, ARSENIC AND MERCURY.
More quotes from the article: "Given the numbers of children exposed to dental amalgam, it is critical that further rigorous studies examine the molecular effects of the toxicant at appropriate doses (APPROPRIATE DOSES OF TOXICANTS?), measure exposure as precisely as possible, and explore the important question of vulnerability factors," Dr. Needleman said. (FINALLY, A RAY OF HOPE!) "It is predictable that some outside interests will expand the modest conclusions of these studies to assert that use of mercury amalgam in dentistry is risk free," he cautioned. "This conclusion would be unfortunate and unscientific."
I agree completely with this man - it would definitely be unfortunate and unscientific for anyone to feel good about putting mercury into childrens' - or anyone's - mouths!
When it comes to the actual physical aspects of my health, THAT'S easier to prove:
The latest thing I've noticed is less light-headedness when I do the "half moon" pose in yoga. This is where we stand tall with our hands clasped above our heads in the steeple formation and, squeezing our leg muscles and buttocks we lean to one side in the shape of a 1/2 moon (sort of) and hold the pose for several seconds. I used to have to lower one hand because my breath was panting and I thought I might faint if I didn't lower a hand on my waist. Now I hold the pose as long as I want. I wonder if my blood pressure has improved? I'll check it out and let you know.
Another improved pose is the "pigeon". We're sitting straight up on the floor with one knee pointing forward and one leg straight out behind us. Our hands are on the floor on either side of our front knee. To get a good back stretch/bend in that pose, we have the option of clasping our hands behind our backs and lifting our torso higher while grounding our tail bone deeper. It's a bit of a balancing pose and that's why I could never do it. But today, I did it! - with both sides for as long as I wanted!!
I haven't noticed any improvement in my balance with standing poses yet. I have that to look forward to and I believe it will eventually improve.
On another note:
Unfortunately, there was a news report this past week on the subject of children and mercury fillings. The studies cited were supposedly showing that mercury was still alright to use as dental filling material. Can you believe that! (It just goes to show; one thing we learn by studying history is that we don't learn anything by studying history.)
Here's what I have to say in response to that report:
My children are NEVER getting any more amalgam fillings (the ones they had were in their baby teeth and are gone now. And my grandchildren will never get any mercury fillings. I will also encourage my son's future wife to have any mercury amalgams removed properly before they even think about conceiving and if that's not possible, I will encourage her to not have any mercury put in or removed while pregnant or gestating.
The studies talked about in these latest articles were done over a 5 - 7 year period and I think they are ignoring the long term effects of mercury accumulation in the body. The New England trial followed 534 children who were randomly assigned fillings containing either mercury or a resin composite. That means the unfortunate 265 received the mercury fillings.
The same thing happened in Lisbon, Portugal. They chose (maybe half?) out of 507 children ages eight to 10 to receive either mercury-based fillings or resin-based fillings. They were followed for seven years and the researchers reported no measurable differences between the treatment groups. I wonder what they were measuring?
The New England study found significantly higher mean urine mercury levels in the amalgam group but, and I quote, "the increased mercury exposure was still 'well within established background population levels' said one doctor". Was he saying that the background population has acceptable levels that have been established? Um, but --------- NO LEVEL OF MERCURY IS SAFE!
They did find that urine levels of mercury were found to be higher in the group that received mercury fillings. Actually, that's a lot of mercury when NO LEVEL OF MERCURY IS SAFE!
Some one pointed out that the urinary concentrations "leveled off to approximately 1.0?g/g over time" and averages were well within normal background levels. I wonder, what are the "normal background levels"? MERCURY IS TOXIC, SO WE ARE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO TOUCH IT - WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH IT IN OUR MOUTHS?
One doctor said that there is no reason to discontinue use of mercury amalgam as the standard of care for caries in posterior teeth. This is ABSURD! Parents, please hear this: MERCURY IS MANY TIMES MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVEN ARSENIC OR LEAD.
It also upsets me that they DARE TO USE CHILDREN AS GUINEA PIGS! WHERE WILL THAT DENTIST BE 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN CHRONIC DISEASE HAS SET IN? WHO WILL PAY FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE POISON?
I know I'm repeating myself, but remember that in 1991 Sweden declared mercury amalgam TOXIC and unsuitable for use. And in 1992 Germany, Norway and Great Britain stopped allowing the use of mercury fillings in pregnant women. In 2001 California introduced a bill to eliminate all mercury for use in teeth by 2006.
Here's a quote from the article: "Chief limitations of the studies were that they can not detect the effects of toxic exposure that may occur later in life, and they were not statistically powered to detect subtle effects that may have occurred in vulnerable subgroups, such as those with a genetic vulnerability to mercury poisoning,"
It seems to me that every human being IS VULNERABLE TO POISONS LIKE LEAD, ARSENIC AND MERCURY.
More quotes from the article: "Given the numbers of children exposed to dental amalgam, it is critical that further rigorous studies examine the molecular effects of the toxicant at appropriate doses (APPROPRIATE DOSES OF TOXICANTS?), measure exposure as precisely as possible, and explore the important question of vulnerability factors," Dr. Needleman said. (FINALLY, A RAY OF HOPE!) "It is predictable that some outside interests will expand the modest conclusions of these studies to assert that use of mercury amalgam in dentistry is risk free," he cautioned. "This conclusion would be unfortunate and unscientific."
I agree completely with this man - it would definitely be unfortunate and unscientific for anyone to feel good about putting mercury into childrens' - or anyone's - mouths!
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
8. Would you let a dentist dump toxic waste into your child's mouth?
I can't believe that some people are still saying that mercury fillings can be safe! Why would they do that? MERCURY FILLINGS ARE NOT SAFE!!!! There are so many studies available and so much scientific evidence... How much proof do we need?
Think of it this way: What would YOU pay for your house? A hundred thousand dollars? Maybe. 3 million dollars? Maybe. Would you give the life of your child for a house? Never! Would you give the health of a thousand people for a house? Never!
It's inconceivable that a normal human being would trade another person's life or health for material possessions. One person getting sick due to mercury poisoning is enough evidence for us not to use it anymore (period). How many more people have to get sick? ... and why, because some dentist wants a new car?????
"In 1991, Sweden declared mercury amalgam to be toxic material "unsuitable for use" and announced the imposition of an outright ban on amalgam fillings."
"Any exposure to mercury—no matter how small—may prove harmful to sensitive individuals."
These are more quotes from Dr. Wentz's book called "A Mouthful of Poison" and I'll be quoting more from this book below:
(If you'd like more info concerning the studies Dr. Wentz has quoted from, you can purchase the book. I have a link on the left side of this web page that will help you find it.)
"A formal judgement was passed in 2003 requiring all dental offices in California to post the following warning: "Dental amalgam, used in many dental offices causes exposure to mercury, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.""
"California has introduced a bill to outlaw the use of amalgam fillings after 2006: this act is based on the scientific evidence of bioaccummulation of mercury in the fetus and nursing child through maternal placental transmission and breast milk."
"... Of greatest concern is mercury's well documented ability to cause genetic mutations leading to birth defects and learning disabilities. Exposure of the fetus to mercury can also cause serious disruption in brain development involving a reduction in total brain mass, loss of neurons, and developmental imbalances. The consequences include attention deficit disorder (ADD), behavioral disorders, a lowering of the intelligence quotient (IQ) and mental retardation. ..."
"Autism, a complex developmental disability that typically appears duing the first three years of life, may have a direct connection with early exposure to mercury. Some researchers suggest that amalgam fillings could be a large part of the reason for the explosions of learning problems, including autism and attention deficit disorder (ADD) since World War II — a time corresponding to the wide spread use of mercury amalgam."
"INTERESTINGLY, A RECENT GERMAN STUDY HAS RECORDED A MARKED DECREASE IN THE OVERALL BODY BURDEN OF MERCURY IN CHILDREN OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, A CONSEQUENCE ATTRIBUTED TO THE MANDATED DECLINE IN THE USE OF MERCURY AMALGAMS IN THAT COUNTRY."
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My dentist in St. John was basically forced by her own health problems to become mercury-free. "Strangely", she improved practicing mercury free and now she takes great precautions when helping other people to get rid of their mercury. When I was at her office, not only did she remove the mercury properly (with a slow drill so as to chunk the amalgam filling), I had a continual external oxygen supply, she used a high power vacuum, and both she and her assistant used gas masks when removing the mercury from my teeth. How many other dentists out there are not well and don't realize that it's because of the mercury they are continually being exposed to?
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"It is well known that blood levels of mercury, while an important measure of transient mercury exposure, are a poor indicator of its cumulative body burden. It is the level of mercury in the tissues—not the blood—that prescribes the progression of disease."
"US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) classifies discarded dental amalgams as toxic waste."
---------
HMM... IF IT'S CONSIDERED TOXIC WASTE, WHY IS IT ALLOWED TO BE PUT IN OUR MOUTHS AND WHY DO WE ALLOW IT TO BE PUT INTO OUR CHILDREN'S MOUTHS???
---------
"The NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), WHO (World Health Organization) and the US Centers for Disease Control all acknowledge that practically speaking, there is no safe level of mercury exposure."
"... while the amount of mercury absorbed from exposure to various environmental and occupational sources can be substantial, it pales when compared to the amount of mercury absorbed from amalgam fillings. Simply put, if you are walking around with mercury in your mouth, you are your own primary exposure risk to mercury — and you will have to live with it every day until you do something about it."
----------
I'm SO glad I did something about it!
You can also choose to live a healthier and happier life!
Think of it this way: What would YOU pay for your house? A hundred thousand dollars? Maybe. 3 million dollars? Maybe. Would you give the life of your child for a house? Never! Would you give the health of a thousand people for a house? Never!
It's inconceivable that a normal human being would trade another person's life or health for material possessions. One person getting sick due to mercury poisoning is enough evidence for us not to use it anymore (period). How many more people have to get sick? ... and why, because some dentist wants a new car?????
"In 1991, Sweden declared mercury amalgam to be toxic material "unsuitable for use" and announced the imposition of an outright ban on amalgam fillings."
"Any exposure to mercury—no matter how small—may prove harmful to sensitive individuals."
These are more quotes from Dr. Wentz's book called "A Mouthful of Poison" and I'll be quoting more from this book below:
(If you'd like more info concerning the studies Dr. Wentz has quoted from, you can purchase the book. I have a link on the left side of this web page that will help you find it.)
"A formal judgement was passed in 2003 requiring all dental offices in California to post the following warning: "Dental amalgam, used in many dental offices causes exposure to mercury, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.""
"California has introduced a bill to outlaw the use of amalgam fillings after 2006: this act is based on the scientific evidence of bioaccummulation of mercury in the fetus and nursing child through maternal placental transmission and breast milk."
"... Of greatest concern is mercury's well documented ability to cause genetic mutations leading to birth defects and learning disabilities. Exposure of the fetus to mercury can also cause serious disruption in brain development involving a reduction in total brain mass, loss of neurons, and developmental imbalances. The consequences include attention deficit disorder (ADD), behavioral disorders, a lowering of the intelligence quotient (IQ) and mental retardation. ..."
"Autism, a complex developmental disability that typically appears duing the first three years of life, may have a direct connection with early exposure to mercury. Some researchers suggest that amalgam fillings could be a large part of the reason for the explosions of learning problems, including autism and attention deficit disorder (ADD) since World War II — a time corresponding to the wide spread use of mercury amalgam."
"INTERESTINGLY, A RECENT GERMAN STUDY HAS RECORDED A MARKED DECREASE IN THE OVERALL BODY BURDEN OF MERCURY IN CHILDREN OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, A CONSEQUENCE ATTRIBUTED TO THE MANDATED DECLINE IN THE USE OF MERCURY AMALGAMS IN THAT COUNTRY."
---------
My dentist in St. John was basically forced by her own health problems to become mercury-free. "Strangely", she improved practicing mercury free and now she takes great precautions when helping other people to get rid of their mercury. When I was at her office, not only did she remove the mercury properly (with a slow drill so as to chunk the amalgam filling), I had a continual external oxygen supply, she used a high power vacuum, and both she and her assistant used gas masks when removing the mercury from my teeth. How many other dentists out there are not well and don't realize that it's because of the mercury they are continually being exposed to?
---------
"It is well known that blood levels of mercury, while an important measure of transient mercury exposure, are a poor indicator of its cumulative body burden. It is the level of mercury in the tissues—not the blood—that prescribes the progression of disease."
"US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) classifies discarded dental amalgams as toxic waste."
---------
HMM... IF IT'S CONSIDERED TOXIC WASTE, WHY IS IT ALLOWED TO BE PUT IN OUR MOUTHS AND WHY DO WE ALLOW IT TO BE PUT INTO OUR CHILDREN'S MOUTHS???
---------
"The NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), WHO (World Health Organization) and the US Centers for Disease Control all acknowledge that practically speaking, there is no safe level of mercury exposure."
"... while the amount of mercury absorbed from exposure to various environmental and occupational sources can be substantial, it pales when compared to the amount of mercury absorbed from amalgam fillings. Simply put, if you are walking around with mercury in your mouth, you are your own primary exposure risk to mercury — and you will have to live with it every day until you do something about it."
----------
I'm SO glad I did something about it!
You can also choose to live a healthier and happier life!
7. Energy remaining high with some other news bits
The time has passed so quickly because I've gotten busier than usual. I've tried to reinstate my naptimes on weekends because my husband thinks I should not try to push myself too much. That's wise, I know, but on weekdays I'm going strong - happy if I get a cat nap.
There are three changes in particular I'd like to mention today. I waited until now to make sure it was not my imagination, or a passing thing.
1. Over the last few years I'd trained myself to sleep straight like a soldier, with both my arms down by my side because in any other position the numbness in my arms would become too painful and wake me up. A few days after my mercury removal I found myself waking up with my arms above my head! That's the way I like to sleep but I'd not been able to for a long time. Since then I've been sleeping on my side with one arm under my pillow as well! (these little things excite me so much!)
2. The ringing in my ears has become less, and has changed. It used to be a very high pitched, up-and-down ringing. There were many variations in the ringing, and it's very hard to describe, but now all I hear when I plug my ears, is an extremely high and much more quiet ringing with no up and down variations.
3. Last night at my yoga class we did this pose: It was an 'active pose' where we were sitting with our legs in the 'wheel of life' formation, swinging or rocking back and forth until we could lift our legs off the floor one at a time and then we'd swing our back leg forward while clapping our hands underneath that leg. (I hope I explained that correctly!) I USED to just continue the rocking motion while others in the class lifted their legs and then proceeded to the clapping extension - but, last night I even managed to clap my hands under my leg! (My legs didn't go very high, but I DID lift them.)
Well, that's it for now. Good health is available and I can say with confidence that the cost in effort, time and money is well worth it. Actually, it would be better if you never had to go down the road I did. Get rid of any dark fillings in your teeth, eat healthy food, get regular exercise, take good nutritional supplements and you'll probably save yourself a lot of money, effort and sorrow. (And there's even more juicy health info to come in future posts!)
There IS hope for a healthier and happier life!
There are three changes in particular I'd like to mention today. I waited until now to make sure it was not my imagination, or a passing thing.
1. Over the last few years I'd trained myself to sleep straight like a soldier, with both my arms down by my side because in any other position the numbness in my arms would become too painful and wake me up. A few days after my mercury removal I found myself waking up with my arms above my head! That's the way I like to sleep but I'd not been able to for a long time. Since then I've been sleeping on my side with one arm under my pillow as well! (these little things excite me so much!)
2. The ringing in my ears has become less, and has changed. It used to be a very high pitched, up-and-down ringing. There were many variations in the ringing, and it's very hard to describe, but now all I hear when I plug my ears, is an extremely high and much more quiet ringing with no up and down variations.
3. Last night at my yoga class we did this pose: It was an 'active pose' where we were sitting with our legs in the 'wheel of life' formation, swinging or rocking back and forth until we could lift our legs off the floor one at a time and then we'd swing our back leg forward while clapping our hands underneath that leg. (I hope I explained that correctly!) I USED to just continue the rocking motion while others in the class lifted their legs and then proceeded to the clapping extension - but, last night I even managed to clap my hands under my leg! (My legs didn't go very high, but I DID lift them.)
Well, that's it for now. Good health is available and I can say with confidence that the cost in effort, time and money is well worth it. Actually, it would be better if you never had to go down the road I did. Get rid of any dark fillings in your teeth, eat healthy food, get regular exercise, take good nutritional supplements and you'll probably save yourself a lot of money, effort and sorrow. (And there's even more juicy health info to come in future posts!)
There IS hope for a healthier and happier life!
Thursday, April 13, 2006
6. Hopefully not the placebo effect:
It's been six days since I've had the mercury taken out of my teeth; I felt great on the weekend and I still feel GREAT! It feels as though I've lost 30 pounds and I find myself walking with a skip in my step. (I still have some pain in my gums and jaws, but I know that will go away quickly.)
The biggest change is in my energy levels. It amazes me that I'm suddenly doing things that I would normally procrastinate over; I've put off doing so many things around the house, that I'll be busy for the next year catching up.
Two days ago I decided that I shouldn't have a nap (as I had been forcing myself to do over the past year because otherwise the day would be too long for me.) So, instead of my two hour afternoon nap/rest, I drove to our new church location and did some gardening (actually weeding) for almost 2 hours. Then I hurried home to make some soup for supper and at 7 pm I went to my VERY rigourous cardio class. I particularly noticed that my legs were not as tired as before. I was still not able to do all of the leg movements the others were doing, but the muscle tiredness was minimal. After my gym class, I did some grocery shopping and drove home around 9pm. I watched some TV for an hour and was in bed around 10:30! Now that may sound like a normal day for you, but for me, that was NOT a normal day. I couldn't believe I had actually done all those things in one day!
The energy continues:
The next day I separated my sweaters for winter storage (a job I didn't do the year before), cleaned out some closets and did some laundry. And then, so I wouldn't have to get rid of them yet, I dyed some not-so-white-anymore white clothes. I did 2 colours and 4 batches and it was several hours worth of work. I decided to have a small nap, but it was only about 20 minutes and I woke up and got right out of bed with an awake feeling. Then I did some errands, had supper and went to church where we spent the evening moving stuff; I packed boxes, carried some boxes, swept and chatted. I drove home around 9:15 and went to bed by 11:00pm.
What? what? what?
And, this morning I felt awake shortly after I woke up! That means that the waking up process was not as looooong as usual. Normally, when my husband jumps out of bed in the morning, I'll laze around and try to wake my body up - sometimes for about 1/2 hour. But I didn't feel I had to do that this morning.
I would go on, but I'm off to pick my son up from work.
more later:
The biggest change is in my energy levels. It amazes me that I'm suddenly doing things that I would normally procrastinate over; I've put off doing so many things around the house, that I'll be busy for the next year catching up.
Two days ago I decided that I shouldn't have a nap (as I had been forcing myself to do over the past year because otherwise the day would be too long for me.) So, instead of my two hour afternoon nap/rest, I drove to our new church location and did some gardening (actually weeding) for almost 2 hours. Then I hurried home to make some soup for supper and at 7 pm I went to my VERY rigourous cardio class. I particularly noticed that my legs were not as tired as before. I was still not able to do all of the leg movements the others were doing, but the muscle tiredness was minimal. After my gym class, I did some grocery shopping and drove home around 9pm. I watched some TV for an hour and was in bed around 10:30! Now that may sound like a normal day for you, but for me, that was NOT a normal day. I couldn't believe I had actually done all those things in one day!
The energy continues:
The next day I separated my sweaters for winter storage (a job I didn't do the year before), cleaned out some closets and did some laundry. And then, so I wouldn't have to get rid of them yet, I dyed some not-so-white-anymore white clothes. I did 2 colours and 4 batches and it was several hours worth of work. I decided to have a small nap, but it was only about 20 minutes and I woke up and got right out of bed with an awake feeling. Then I did some errands, had supper and went to church where we spent the evening moving stuff; I packed boxes, carried some boxes, swept and chatted. I drove home around 9:15 and went to bed by 11:00pm.
What? what? what?
And, this morning I felt awake shortly after I woke up! That means that the waking up process was not as looooong as usual. Normally, when my husband jumps out of bed in the morning, I'll laze around and try to wake my body up - sometimes for about 1/2 hour. But I didn't feel I had to do that this morning.
I would go on, but I'm off to pick my son up from work.
more later:
Saturday, April 08, 2006
5. Mercury removal: Done and Done!
Here's the story of my mercury removal day:
My husband Michael and I drove up to St. Stephen the day before and had a lovely evening with our friends, Amanda, Ray, and their two children who were 2 and 1 years old. They were a joy to be with — and I got my baby fix at the same time, yay!
The next morning we got up at 5 am, had breakfast, put our stuff in the car, left at 6:15, drove a few miles, realized I forgot my reading glasses, drove back to get them and left at 6:30 am. All was well because we got to Duke Street in St. John by 7:50 and I was in the dentist's chair by 8:00 am.
I had a great time that day - because I knew I was doing something good for myself, but I must say that the dentist and her assistants were very pleasant and there were 5 or so large plants in front of my chair, in front of a couple of big windows looking out to a huge tree just outside the office building. And of course, how wonderful to be rid of that harmful poison that has been plaguing my body for almost 30 years! The dentist was listed on Dr. Wentz's website as "mercury-free", so I knew she was doing the removal process properly.
I was given oxygen through a tube that went over my nose (for a whole 8+ hours!), and the dentists even wore gas masks themselves during the slow-drill removal of my mercury amalgams. I had also taken everything recommended to me (by Dr. Debbie Hansen) regarding supplements for mercury detox. My appointment lasted until 4:30 pm and the dentist spent the last 1 and 3/4 hours trying to extract that tooth where I'd had a mercury filling and a root canal infection for maybe 5 or 6 years. (I have very big bones and my teeth have very big roots and they were very strong and that's why it took a very long time.)
So, after signing off on our credit card, we left for Halifax around 5:00 pm and the bleeding finally stopped after about 2 and 1/2 hours. I dozed off for a couple of minutes in the car, but that night, I had the best sleep I'd had in a long time and I felt great on the weekend!
I'm supposed to continue taking the mercury detox supplementation (that I got from the nutritionist in Fredericton) for at least 4 more weeks. Dr. Wentz says in his book that symptoms of mercury poisoning can linger for a while after removal because the body takes a while to get rid of all its metal.
Oh . . . and I lost 2 pounds (whoohoo!), probably because of my liquid diet, eh?
bye for now,
Praise God, there IS hope for a healthier and happier life.
My husband Michael and I drove up to St. Stephen the day before and had a lovely evening with our friends, Amanda, Ray, and their two children who were 2 and 1 years old. They were a joy to be with — and I got my baby fix at the same time, yay!
The next morning we got up at 5 am, had breakfast, put our stuff in the car, left at 6:15, drove a few miles, realized I forgot my reading glasses, drove back to get them and left at 6:30 am. All was well because we got to Duke Street in St. John by 7:50 and I was in the dentist's chair by 8:00 am.
I had a great time that day - because I knew I was doing something good for myself, but I must say that the dentist and her assistants were very pleasant and there were 5 or so large plants in front of my chair, in front of a couple of big windows looking out to a huge tree just outside the office building. And of course, how wonderful to be rid of that harmful poison that has been plaguing my body for almost 30 years! The dentist was listed on Dr. Wentz's website as "mercury-free", so I knew she was doing the removal process properly.
I was given oxygen through a tube that went over my nose (for a whole 8+ hours!), and the dentists even wore gas masks themselves during the slow-drill removal of my mercury amalgams. I had also taken everything recommended to me (by Dr. Debbie Hansen) regarding supplements for mercury detox. My appointment lasted until 4:30 pm and the dentist spent the last 1 and 3/4 hours trying to extract that tooth where I'd had a mercury filling and a root canal infection for maybe 5 or 6 years. (I have very big bones and my teeth have very big roots and they were very strong and that's why it took a very long time.)
So, after signing off on our credit card, we left for Halifax around 5:00 pm and the bleeding finally stopped after about 2 and 1/2 hours. I dozed off for a couple of minutes in the car, but that night, I had the best sleep I'd had in a long time and I felt great on the weekend!
I'm supposed to continue taking the mercury detox supplementation (that I got from the nutritionist in Fredericton) for at least 4 more weeks. Dr. Wentz says in his book that symptoms of mercury poisoning can linger for a while after removal because the body takes a while to get rid of all its metal.
Oh . . . and I lost 2 pounds (whoohoo!), probably because of my liquid diet, eh?
bye for now,
Praise God, there IS hope for a healthier and happier life.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
4. Mercury: way more poisonous than Arsenic
You've really got to get this book if your wondering at all about Mercury poisoning and you. Not only does the book state that mercury is many more times poisonous than arsenic, lead or cadmium, it says ... well, here's a quote from the book, A Mouthful of Poison - The Truth About Mercury Amalgam Fillings - by Dr. Myron Wentz:
"Mercury poisoning can result in serious pathological challenges, including: renal failure, cardiovascular disturbances, dementia, neurological dysfunctions, liver and digestive disorders, immune disfunctions, allergic responses, hormonal imbalances, and learning disorders—to name but a few. The elemental form of mercury can be converted in the body to it's more toxic form and can cause visual disturbances, ataxia, hearing loss, general mental deterioration, and muscle tremors. With acute exposure, organic mercury intoxication can lead to kidney failure, paralysis and death."
"A potent neurotoxin, mercury targets the brain, including: the cerebral cortex, motor and sensory centres, the temporal cortex (hearing), and the cerebellum (muscle coordination). Evidence also suggests that cumulative mercury toxicity may be added to the growing roster of maladies associated with autoimmune diseases. At least 100 symptoms are believed to be directly or indeirectly related to mercury poisoning; the number and severity are dependent on a variety of factors. None of the symptoms of chronic mercury poisoning are unique—other toxins and physiological disturbances can mimic these symptoms and frustrate a positive diagnosis of mercury toxicity."
"The only way that anyone, including a health professional, can be certain that mercury did not cause or contribute to a particular symptom is to know difinitively that the victim has not been exposed to mercury. For example, mercury certainly is not the only thing that causes headaches; however, chronic exposure to mercury can make headaches more frequent and severe."
"Common Symptoms of Chronic Mercury Poisoning:
Emotions: Aggressiveness, Anger, Anxiety, Confusion, Depression, Fear (Recurrent), Hallucinations
Muscles and Joints: Cramping, Joint Pain, Muscle Pain, Weakness
Neurological and Mental: Tremors, Lack of Concentration, Learning Disorder, Memory Loss, Numbness, Slurred Speech
Oral/Throat: Bad Breath, Burning Sensation, Chronic Cough, Gingivitis/Bleeding Gums, Leukoplakia (White Patches), Metallic Taste, Sore Throat, Ulcers of Oral Cavity
Nose: Inflammation, Sinusitis, Stuffy Nose, Excessive Mucus Formation
Head: Dizziness, Faintness, Headaches (Recurrent) Ringing in Ears
Digestive System: Colitis, Loss of Appetite, Weight Loss, Nausea/Vomitting
Energy Levels: Apathy, Chronic Fatigue, Restlessness
Heart: Anemia, Chest Pain, Rapid or Irregular Heartbeat
Lungs: Asthma, Bronchitis, Chest Congestion, Shortness of Breath
Other: Allergies, Anorexia, Excessive Blushing, Genital Discharge, Gland Swelling, Hair Loss, Illnesses (Recurrent), Insomnia, Loss of Sense of Smell, Perspiration (Excessive), Kidney Failure, Skin Cold and Clammy, Skin Problems, Vision Problems (Tunnel Vision), Edema (Water Retention)"
Diseases RELATED to Mercury Poisoning
Acrodynia, Alzheimer's, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Asthma, Arthritis, Autism, Candida, Cardiovascular Disease, Chron's Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Developmetal Defects, Diabetes, Eczema, Emphysema, Fibromyalgia, Hormonal Dysfunction, Intestinal Dysfunction, Immune System Disorders, Kidney Disease, Learning Disorders, Liver Disorders, Metabolic Encephalopathy, Multiple Sclerosis, Reproductive Disorders, Parkinson's Senile Dementia, Thyroid Disease
Diseases AGGRAVATED by allergy to metals:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Crohn's Disease
Diabetes Melitus
Excema and Psoriasis
Food Allergies (unexplained)
Fibromyalgia
Immune Mediated Pathologies
Lupus Erythemotosus
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Multiple Sclerosis
Myalgic Encephalitis
Oral Burning and Itching
Oral Lichen Planus
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scleroderma
Sjogren's Syndrome"
______________________________
Well last week, I had a check up at my holistic dentist in St. John, New Brunswick (Dr. McKnight). She discovered that I had an infection in my upper right gum area. It was caused by a metal post that was inserted to support a crown. So, not only have I been battling the more serious symptoms of MS over these last 10 years, I've also been living with an infection for who knows, maybe 4 or 5 years. Hmm . . .
I also saw Dr. Debby Hansen in Fredericton (a nutritionist who works in conjunction with Dr. McKnight) - she discovered that apparently, my body has many allergies to a variety of substances that dentists use - even some of the newer substances that have been developed for fillings. (Is that the cause of Mercury poisoning I wonder?) Thankfully, there are still some substances which the dentist can use to make my fillings.
My big appointment is this Friday morning at 8:00 am in St. John. We get to stay overnight at a friend's place in St. Stephen, that will be fun. And I will report back as soon as I can.
Don't give up, there IS hope for a better and healthier life! We just have to go and get it ourselves, it won't fall on us like cherries off a tree! Health care is self care.
"Mercury poisoning can result in serious pathological challenges, including: renal failure, cardiovascular disturbances, dementia, neurological dysfunctions, liver and digestive disorders, immune disfunctions, allergic responses, hormonal imbalances, and learning disorders—to name but a few. The elemental form of mercury can be converted in the body to it's more toxic form and can cause visual disturbances, ataxia, hearing loss, general mental deterioration, and muscle tremors. With acute exposure, organic mercury intoxication can lead to kidney failure, paralysis and death."
"A potent neurotoxin, mercury targets the brain, including: the cerebral cortex, motor and sensory centres, the temporal cortex (hearing), and the cerebellum (muscle coordination). Evidence also suggests that cumulative mercury toxicity may be added to the growing roster of maladies associated with autoimmune diseases. At least 100 symptoms are believed to be directly or indeirectly related to mercury poisoning; the number and severity are dependent on a variety of factors. None of the symptoms of chronic mercury poisoning are unique—other toxins and physiological disturbances can mimic these symptoms and frustrate a positive diagnosis of mercury toxicity."
"The only way that anyone, including a health professional, can be certain that mercury did not cause or contribute to a particular symptom is to know difinitively that the victim has not been exposed to mercury. For example, mercury certainly is not the only thing that causes headaches; however, chronic exposure to mercury can make headaches more frequent and severe."
"Common Symptoms of Chronic Mercury Poisoning:
Emotions: Aggressiveness, Anger, Anxiety, Confusion, Depression, Fear (Recurrent), Hallucinations
Muscles and Joints: Cramping, Joint Pain, Muscle Pain, Weakness
Neurological and Mental: Tremors, Lack of Concentration, Learning Disorder, Memory Loss, Numbness, Slurred Speech
Oral/Throat: Bad Breath, Burning Sensation, Chronic Cough, Gingivitis/Bleeding Gums, Leukoplakia (White Patches), Metallic Taste, Sore Throat, Ulcers of Oral Cavity
Nose: Inflammation, Sinusitis, Stuffy Nose, Excessive Mucus Formation
Head: Dizziness, Faintness, Headaches (Recurrent) Ringing in Ears
Digestive System: Colitis, Loss of Appetite, Weight Loss, Nausea/Vomitting
Energy Levels: Apathy, Chronic Fatigue, Restlessness
Heart: Anemia, Chest Pain, Rapid or Irregular Heartbeat
Lungs: Asthma, Bronchitis, Chest Congestion, Shortness of Breath
Other: Allergies, Anorexia, Excessive Blushing, Genital Discharge, Gland Swelling, Hair Loss, Illnesses (Recurrent), Insomnia, Loss of Sense of Smell, Perspiration (Excessive), Kidney Failure, Skin Cold and Clammy, Skin Problems, Vision Problems (Tunnel Vision), Edema (Water Retention)"
Diseases RELATED to Mercury Poisoning
Acrodynia, Alzheimer's, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Asthma, Arthritis, Autism, Candida, Cardiovascular Disease, Chron's Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Developmetal Defects, Diabetes, Eczema, Emphysema, Fibromyalgia, Hormonal Dysfunction, Intestinal Dysfunction, Immune System Disorders, Kidney Disease, Learning Disorders, Liver Disorders, Metabolic Encephalopathy, Multiple Sclerosis, Reproductive Disorders, Parkinson's Senile Dementia, Thyroid Disease
Diseases AGGRAVATED by allergy to metals:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Crohn's Disease
Diabetes Melitus
Excema and Psoriasis
Food Allergies (unexplained)
Fibromyalgia
Immune Mediated Pathologies
Lupus Erythemotosus
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Multiple Sclerosis
Myalgic Encephalitis
Oral Burning and Itching
Oral Lichen Planus
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scleroderma
Sjogren's Syndrome"
______________________________
Well last week, I had a check up at my holistic dentist in St. John, New Brunswick (Dr. McKnight). She discovered that I had an infection in my upper right gum area. It was caused by a metal post that was inserted to support a crown. So, not only have I been battling the more serious symptoms of MS over these last 10 years, I've also been living with an infection for who knows, maybe 4 or 5 years. Hmm . . .
I also saw Dr. Debby Hansen in Fredericton (a nutritionist who works in conjunction with Dr. McKnight) - she discovered that apparently, my body has many allergies to a variety of substances that dentists use - even some of the newer substances that have been developed for fillings. (Is that the cause of Mercury poisoning I wonder?) Thankfully, there are still some substances which the dentist can use to make my fillings.
My big appointment is this Friday morning at 8:00 am in St. John. We get to stay overnight at a friend's place in St. Stephen, that will be fun. And I will report back as soon as I can.
Don't give up, there IS hope for a better and healthier life! We just have to go and get it ourselves, it won't fall on us like cherries off a tree! Health care is self care.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
3. More about Mercury and Me
As I was reading through the history of dentistry and the problems with mercury throughout the last two centuries (in the book by Dr. Myron Wentz), I began to make connections with my own dental history. I was very surprised to be relating to some of the symptoms of mercury poisoning and I mentally started to correlate my dental visits with the MS symptoms I'd been experiencing over the years. Here's my line of thinking:
I was diagnosed with MS around 1978/9 after a long period of strange symptoms. After I'd seen a neurologist, gone to Hamilton for an EEG scan and Toronto for a brain scan - in the large tube, ctually, my family doctor told me that I "probably" had MS. She told me there was nothing she could really do and gave me some sort of medication which gave me a killer headache, I thought I was dying, so I flushed them.
In 1976 I had graduated from highschool and during my last year there, I visited the dentist regularly, gradually getting somewhere between 15 and 20 mercury amalgam fillings (grr). Dr. Wentz mentioned in his book that sometimes mercury poisoning doesn't show up for a year or two or even more. The older your fillings are, the more dangerous they can be.
Since I still needed help and the doctors confessed they could do nothing, I turned to God - he made me, I supposed he could fix me. And this is how I managed to live a fairly normal life. I didn't have many bouts with symptoms over the next 10 or so years (we had no dental plan - turned out to be a blessing in disguise, eh?).
But in 1990 we moved to Nova Scotia because my husband got a job at NSCAD. NOW we had a dental plan! To make a long story short, around 1996 I had the whole bottom left side of my teeth refilled. The dentist ground out the old mercury amalgams and refilled with white plastic. Dr. Wentz writes that there is a constant release of mercury from all mercury amalgams during the best of times, but during amalgam removal a person is exposed to 1000 times the poisonous mercury vapour - yikes!
THE BIG CONNECTION
It was ALSO in 1996 that I began to have very serious bouts with MS symptoms. Some stayed, some only lasted a couple weeks. I'll list some of them here:
• numbness (creeping into my body seemingly from the toes up over a period of months and years)
• extreme skin sensitivity (to the point of pain) when in the shower
• inability to walk properly - loss of balance
• inability to talk properly because the right side of my face had gone numb (short term)
• inability to write by hand - even typing and moving the mouse on my computer were a challenge (short term)
• recurring headaches, and one major one that brought me to my knees groping for non existent medicine in my bathroom (short term)
• almost complete blindness in one eye (short term)
• severe hearing loss in one ear (short term)
• loss of bladder control (varying in degrees over the years)
• an extreme case of vertigo, where every micro movement made me want to throw up - and I did (short term)
And then there are the some of the minor symptoms that I learned to live with: (these were all mentioned as a result of mercury poisoning)
• ringing in the ears
• muscle tremors and weakness
• cramping
• joint pain
• digestive problems
• recurring headaches (though less severe since proper nutritional supplements)
• low energy levels (though less severe since proper nutritional supplements)
• bleeding gums when I floss
• itchy nose
• blurred vision (though less severe since proper nutritional supplements)
• skin problems (though less severe since proper nutritional supplements)
• occasional mental confusion (gradually getting worse over the years)
• genital discharge (every day of the month, year in year out)
• lack of concentration (gradually getting worse over the years)
• insomnia
• depression (for a few days monthly)
• dizziness (getting out of bed especially)
My! that list is a little embarrassing, but I write this is for purposes of being able to notice the improvements which I expect to see in the future.
Next time I'm going to quote a bit directly from the book, "A Mouthful of Poison".
By the way, I have a link on the left side bar under the heading "BOOKS TO READ" that will link you to a site where you can order this book. It was published in 2004 and I haven't seen it anywhere else - but I have purchased many of them through that site to give away.
Remember there's hope for a healthier and happier life!
I was diagnosed with MS around 1978/9 after a long period of strange symptoms. After I'd seen a neurologist, gone to Hamilton for an EEG scan and Toronto for a brain scan - in the large tube, ctually, my family doctor told me that I "probably" had MS. She told me there was nothing she could really do and gave me some sort of medication which gave me a killer headache, I thought I was dying, so I flushed them.
In 1976 I had graduated from highschool and during my last year there, I visited the dentist regularly, gradually getting somewhere between 15 and 20 mercury amalgam fillings (grr). Dr. Wentz mentioned in his book that sometimes mercury poisoning doesn't show up for a year or two or even more. The older your fillings are, the more dangerous they can be.
Since I still needed help and the doctors confessed they could do nothing, I turned to God - he made me, I supposed he could fix me. And this is how I managed to live a fairly normal life. I didn't have many bouts with symptoms over the next 10 or so years (we had no dental plan - turned out to be a blessing in disguise, eh?).
But in 1990 we moved to Nova Scotia because my husband got a job at NSCAD. NOW we had a dental plan! To make a long story short, around 1996 I had the whole bottom left side of my teeth refilled. The dentist ground out the old mercury amalgams and refilled with white plastic. Dr. Wentz writes that there is a constant release of mercury from all mercury amalgams during the best of times, but during amalgam removal a person is exposed to 1000 times the poisonous mercury vapour - yikes!
THE BIG CONNECTION
It was ALSO in 1996 that I began to have very serious bouts with MS symptoms. Some stayed, some only lasted a couple weeks. I'll list some of them here:
• numbness (creeping into my body seemingly from the toes up over a period of months and years)
• extreme skin sensitivity (to the point of pain) when in the shower
• inability to walk properly - loss of balance
• inability to talk properly because the right side of my face had gone numb (short term)
• inability to write by hand - even typing and moving the mouse on my computer were a challenge (short term)
• recurring headaches, and one major one that brought me to my knees groping for non existent medicine in my bathroom (short term)
• almost complete blindness in one eye (short term)
• severe hearing loss in one ear (short term)
• loss of bladder control (varying in degrees over the years)
• an extreme case of vertigo, where every micro movement made me want to throw up - and I did (short term)
And then there are the some of the minor symptoms that I learned to live with: (these were all mentioned as a result of mercury poisoning)
• ringing in the ears
• muscle tremors and weakness
• cramping
• joint pain
• digestive problems
• recurring headaches (though less severe since proper nutritional supplements)
• low energy levels (though less severe since proper nutritional supplements)
• bleeding gums when I floss
• itchy nose
• blurred vision (though less severe since proper nutritional supplements)
• skin problems (though less severe since proper nutritional supplements)
• occasional mental confusion (gradually getting worse over the years)
• genital discharge (every day of the month, year in year out)
• lack of concentration (gradually getting worse over the years)
• insomnia
• depression (for a few days monthly)
• dizziness (getting out of bed especially)
My! that list is a little embarrassing, but I write this is for purposes of being able to notice the improvements which I expect to see in the future.
Next time I'm going to quote a bit directly from the book, "A Mouthful of Poison".
By the way, I have a link on the left side bar under the heading "BOOKS TO READ" that will link you to a site where you can order this book. It was published in 2004 and I haven't seen it anywhere else - but I have purchased many of them through that site to give away.
Remember there's hope for a healthier and happier life!
Monday, March 27, 2006
2. An interesting discovery
Today is March 27, 2006 and the improvement of my health (in major areas) seems to have leveled off. I am feeling great and am more confident of my health, but am still dealing with some "lesser" symptoms that over the last 25 or more years, I have just learned to lived with. They had become so much a part of my life that I began to think they were normal - UNTIL I started doing some research on mercury amalgams. Besides websites and life examples, I got a lot of information about mercury poisoning from this book; "A Mouth Full of Poison" written by Dr. Myron Wentz (if you have mercury amalgams in your teeth, this book is a must read). Dr. Myron Wentz is the developer of the nutritional supplements that helped me to get out from under my body and needless to say, he already had my respect.
One of the most interesting facts I learned is that around 1848, the American Dental Association did NOT allow mercury to be put into people's teeth because of the dangerous nature of the substance. However, barbers also did dental work in those days and had no qualms about using mercury in fillings since it was so cheap and so easy to work with. Well, you guessed it; because the barber shops were taking business away from dentists and the dentists were losing money, the dental Association at that time disbanded and another was established that allowed mercury to be put into people's teeth.
So, they looked the other way and ignored their previous moral stand - to do no harm.
Most dental amalgams are close to 50% mercury and your dentist will tell you that mercury becomes stable when it's mixed with other metals. THEY BELIEVE IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN TOLD. It's not true. It is now a proven, documented fact that mercury is constantly being released from dental fillings and it's more poisonous than arsenic, lead or cadmium. Actually, a number of European countries banned mercury over ten years ago and have seen positive results - for one, fewer children with certain medical problems. Yes, some people are more prone to the dangers of the poison because their immune system is weak; they're particularly sensitive to mercury - but it's still a POISON. If you're pregnant, please don't have any mercury fillings put in or removed from your teeth (do it later).
As I read through Dr. Wentz's book, I began to realize there WAS a correlation between the times I had dental work done and the times I experienced serious MS symptoms - and I was not pleased! I'm going to be writing more on my discovery of mercury poisoning and it's affects on human bodies - particularly, my body. I have an appointment in St. John NB (at the closest Mercury-Free dentist to Halifax) on April 7th to have all my mercury amalgams removed - there are 12 or 13 large ones left in my teeth. It will take all day and it will be expensive, but I'm positive there will be additional significant improvement in my health.
Next time, I'm going to give you a list of symptoms that I experienced and how they came "sneekily" just months after my dental appointments. I'm also going to make a list of symptoms that I expect to change in the months following my mercury amalgam removal.
Again, I want everyone to know that sicknesses and diseases can be beaten - there is hope for a healthier and happier life!
Dorothea
One of the most interesting facts I learned is that around 1848, the American Dental Association did NOT allow mercury to be put into people's teeth because of the dangerous nature of the substance. However, barbers also did dental work in those days and had no qualms about using mercury in fillings since it was so cheap and so easy to work with. Well, you guessed it; because the barber shops were taking business away from dentists and the dentists were losing money, the dental Association at that time disbanded and another was established that allowed mercury to be put into people's teeth.
So, they looked the other way and ignored their previous moral stand - to do no harm.
Most dental amalgams are close to 50% mercury and your dentist will tell you that mercury becomes stable when it's mixed with other metals. THEY BELIEVE IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN TOLD. It's not true. It is now a proven, documented fact that mercury is constantly being released from dental fillings and it's more poisonous than arsenic, lead or cadmium. Actually, a number of European countries banned mercury over ten years ago and have seen positive results - for one, fewer children with certain medical problems. Yes, some people are more prone to the dangers of the poison because their immune system is weak; they're particularly sensitive to mercury - but it's still a POISON. If you're pregnant, please don't have any mercury fillings put in or removed from your teeth (do it later).
As I read through Dr. Wentz's book, I began to realize there WAS a correlation between the times I had dental work done and the times I experienced serious MS symptoms - and I was not pleased! I'm going to be writing more on my discovery of mercury poisoning and it's affects on human bodies - particularly, my body. I have an appointment in St. John NB (at the closest Mercury-Free dentist to Halifax) on April 7th to have all my mercury amalgams removed - there are 12 or 13 large ones left in my teeth. It will take all day and it will be expensive, but I'm positive there will be additional significant improvement in my health.
Next time, I'm going to give you a list of symptoms that I experienced and how they came "sneekily" just months after my dental appointments. I'm also going to make a list of symptoms that I expect to change in the months following my mercury amalgam removal.
Again, I want everyone to know that sicknesses and diseases can be beaten - there is hope for a healthier and happier life!
Dorothea
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