Chelating Heavy Metals When You're Broke

CONCERNING MERCURY:

** Symptoms of mercury mimic some of the symptoms of bartonella and lyme. Such as: heart palpitations, Angina/heart pain, heart racing, migraines located on top or front of head, pain behind eyes, brain fog, memory and cognitive problems. ** This means if you have lyme + bartonella + mercury, these symptoms will likely be intensified.

I thought this would be an important topic to cover considering how expensive IV chelation is for removing mercury, lead, and other toxic heavy metals. LLMDs debate whether there is any difference in effectiveness between IV DMSA/DMPS and EDTA or using the oral versions of DMSA and EDTA. I'm still not sure myself. I've used both methods. Since many of us lymies are pretty financially strapped already with treating lyme + co-infections, we may not be able to afford $180/session IV chealtion each week. So really, it doesn't come down to effectiveness, but what can we afford to keep moving forward and getting well. Some of us want to get the ball rolling towards reducing metals while saving for IV chelation further down the road.

I know Dr. Klinghardt insists on removing heavy metals and mercury with chelation, DMSA, DMPS or DMSO, and EDTA for lead, in the very beginning of treating patients for lyme and co-infections. But I have to say, in my experience with fighting lyme and bartonella, I'm not sure I could have handled heavy metal chelation that early on.

For one thing, while treating my lyme and bartonella with my GB4000, after having it misdiagnosed for about 3+ years, I was really, really sick at that point. It was so bad that for a few months on and off the bartonella would cause VERY strong liver, kidney, and heart pain when it was being killed off by my GB4000 in those areas. Sometimes so much so that I felt like going to the emergency room only to be told my liver, kidneys, and heart were all perfectly normal.

For another thing, detoxing the lyme + co's die-off along with getting my candida load under control was already hard enough on my low-glutathione producing liver and detoxing system.

So under the guidance of my gentle care LLMD, this is what we decided to do at the beginning to help gently lower the mercury and heavy metals in my system without adding to the burden on my liver and kidneys.

1) For the first 7 months until the herxing was less intense and easier on my liver and kidneys:

- R-Lipoic Acid (pure form thioctic acid) alternating with regular Alpha Lipoic Acid when money was tight. 100-200mg, must be taken daily every 3-4 hours to chelate mercury properly. It isn't as thorough a chelator as DMSA/DMPS/DMSO/EDTA, but it helps lower the overall load, gently as well as being a good antioxidant.

2) After the herxing became more manageable and my liver and kindeys were happier and able to tolerate the die-off without discomfort, I purchased Dr Cutler's Mercury Chelation Protocol and began taking:

- DMSA capsules starting with 25mg every 3-4 hours consistently throughout the night, for 3 days straight, then take 11 day break, repeat cycle. To save money, I got my DMSA capsules via an online site that did not require a prescription found HERE.

I bypassed the prescription route because it was more expensive. I chose to spend the extra money on periodic metabolic tests so my LLMD could keep an eye on my liver and kidneys while chelating, for safety.


* Where to get Dr Cutler's Mercury Protocol Book:

http://livingnetwork.co.za/zencart2/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=1

* Where to get non-prescription DMSA and free explination of Dr Cutler's Chelation Protocol:

http://home.earthlink.net/~moriam/HOW_TO_buy_DMSA.html



CONCERNING LEAD:


EDTA is the main chelator used for removing lead. These days, the most popular form other than a $180 IV session for EDTA, is buying EDTA in a liposome solution (thought to increase the chelating ability of the EDTA). It is thought by most LLMDs that IV EDTA is the most effective way to chelate lead and liquid oral EDTA is less effective. But for anyone who cannot afford an LLMD, oral EDTA, in my opinion, is far better than nothing!


The standard protocol for EDTA use that my LLMD told me to do: 1-2 ounces taken with water or juice, 1-2 times per week. Can take breaks from EDTA if needed.

Sources to find liposomal EDTA for lead chelation:

1. Allergy Research Group LipoPhos EDTA

2. LipoFlow Liquid EDTA

Both products can be found at http://organicpharmacy.org

Much love,
Athena

Lauricidin: Does it work against Bartonella and Lyme?

Lauricidin: www.lauricidin.com


About 2 months ago, I decided to add Lauricidin to my daily regimen of bug killers. It took me a while to get around to trying this product mainly because I was still experimenting with other natural antibiotics and herxing enough from them.

Since I've used coconut oil for most of my life (thanks to a health-nut Mom and Dad), I knew about its strong anti-candida, anti-viral, anti-parasite, and anti-bacterial properties due to the lauric acid in coconut oil. But supplementing coconut oil daily wasn't always so easy for me because candida sequesters mercury (lyme/bart biofilms also sequester heavy metals, btw) and releases it when taking candida killers on top of dealing with the lyme/candida die-off. So I felt sick on top of sick.

My solution was to supplement Alpha Lipoic Acid and R(-) Lipoic Acid daily while doing anything that killed lyme and candida, taking it every 3 hours (except when sleeping) so that the mercury symptoms would be lessened. The ALA and R-LA stay in your system for only 3 hours, so to continually remove released mercury, it needs to be supplemented on a 3 hr basis. R-LA is more expensive than ALA because it is more efficient, so I would alternate them with my finances. Doing this for 6+ months really helped minimized my daily heart palpitations, headaches, and heart issues from mercury. Bartonella causes these symptoms too, btw.

Now, back to Lauricidin and lyme and bartonella. I wasn't sure what to expect after starting 1 pellet of Lauricidin daily. But after using it for 2 months now, I am certain of a couple very important realizations:

1) Lauricidin crosses the blood brain barrier, so it does reach the bugs hiding out in the brain/head.

2) It kills bartonella. Might not reach every single place it is hiding in the body, but it kills what it reaches.

3) It kills lyme spirochetes. And as above, it may not be able to reach everywhere, but kills what it can reach. Not sure if it causes encysting, although I don't think that matters much, to be honest. And also as for above, it is not a magic bullet, but it is a big help in the fight.

4) It kills parasites, candida, strep, and a host of other nasty critters we should get rid of anyway to make beating lyme/bartonella easier on our immune systems.

5) It is very potent. Start with 1 pellet and work up as your body can handle it. It seemed important to try and use it as consistently as possible, breaks only if you need to for detoxing/cleansing from die-off overload.



10 Important Things To Know About Lauricidin:

1. An active ingredient found in Mother’s milk, Saw Palmetto and other natural products: since it’s a natural product, it is nourishing and immune supportive.

2. An essential, concentrated 100% nontoxic pure nutrient for wellness- being non-toxic it causes no harm to our bodies

3. Helps maintain proper immune function- which is very important to fight diseases

4. Promotes healthy bowel function

5. Inactivates laboratory bacteria, viruses and fungi/yeast, parasites, and bad bacteria.

6. Does not destroy the body’s friendly bacteria- Lauricidin just attacks and inactivates the harmful disease causing bacteria.

7. Biochemicaly balances the body for best possible health

8. Can be taken with other medications- if you are on other medication, you don’t need to worry about any reactions, lauricidin can be safely taken with other medications.


Much love,
Athena

Activated Charcoal: My Secret Weapon and Best Friend

Since my main form of bug killing is my GB4000 rife machine, it makes me herx every time I use it, every week like clock-work. Usually tolerably, but as I can handle it, I must also increase the time and frequencies bit by bit to up my herxing; trying to keep that balance between herxing enough to be moving forward, but not so much that I'm stuck in bed for days herxing my ass off, that's too awful and depressing!

Activated charcoal has been, for a long time, my secret weapon to having functional days. For me, when I take the optimal amount within 1 hour after every rife session, I will feel at least a 70% reduction in herxing severity within 30 minutes after taking the Activated Charcoal. Which to me is huge. Without it, I would be herxing my butt off and too swimmy in my head to do a day of errands or running around, or pulling off my part-time job the day after rifing- aka, the day the herxing is usually the worst. Most of the time it cuts the herxing intensity by 70% sometimes more, sometimes a little less, especially if I get a mysterious strong herx that comes out of the blue. But enough to function through the day.

I've learned something important after talking to others using Activated Charcoal, and I feel I need to talk about this because it makes a world of difference with HOW MUCH YOU TAKE, and I've learned most people don't take NEARLY enough to mop up Lyme die-off toxins.

After each rife session, I take 6-8 capsules of Activated Charcoal. Sometimes 10 if I really must herx as absolutely minimally as possible that day and the next. Not 1 or 2 or 3. But at least 6, all in one dose, down the hatch with a glass of water or whatever, within 30 minutes after finishing my rife session. Make sure to wash them all the way down because they are terribly uncomfortable when they expand and they're not washed down completely!

I follow the charcoal with taking a few of my favorite fiber supplement capsules, they work like a DREAM, unlike some! I've tried dozens of kinds. Click HERE for my favorite fiber supplement.

Things to know about Activated Charcoal:
1) Activated Charcoal is completely non-toxic. It cannot hurt you and the only possible negative affect from it is needing to increase your daily fiber intake while using it because it can cause you to be a little "stopped up". (Sorry if tmi, lol, but I have to cover these things! :P)

2) Most people have an incorrect idea of what a reasonable amount of Activated Charcoal is when you need it to soak up toxins, lyme die-off, etc. Usually you need more than just 1-3 capsules to really soak up the toxins.


WHAT I DO TO SAVE MONEY ON ACTIVATED CHARCOAL:

Since buying Nature's Way Activated Charcoal capsules, 100 caps for $10-$12, can add up in change when you take 6 capsules 3-4 times a week, I found a great product that saves me money.

Vitamin Research Products EnteraKlenz Drink Mix. It is a powder mix of 80% activated charcoal and 20% pure bentonite clay. It is completely sugar-free and safe. You get 528 grams for only $39! That's like 10 bottles of Nature's Way Charcoal caps for half the cost!

The drink mix does taste yucky I'm afraid, even with the sugar-free chocolate flavoring added. If it's too ick, another option is this:

1) Buy empty gelatin capsules. Many places to get them, I personally buy them from www.vitacost.com since they're the most affordable. I use "OO" size.

2) Then, buy a mini capsule filling machine for "OO" size capsules from HERE for $10

3) And buy a packet of silica moisture absorbing packs from HERE. For the capsule machine.

I always store my empty capsules in a gallon size sealed zip lock bag with 1-2 silica packs inside. If I don't, the empty capsules absorb moisture and expand too much to fit into the machine.



And tada! In 2 minutes you've got 25 pre-filled capsules of activated charcoal.

Nebulized Glutathione, A Huge Piece of The Puzzle

Lyme + co's + mercury/heavy metals = lots of herxing = tons of die-off toxins = major need to detoxify = making herxes much harsher/longer = get liver working/detoxing at its best = using nebulized glutathione.

Nebulized glutathione = detoxing properly = liver detoxing at its best = less severe herx reactions = less brain fog = more energy = feeling better.



Some time ago, my LLMD tested my liver's production of glutathione. Turns out my liver does not produce enough glutathione. Add to this research showing that Lyme Disease causes a person's body to produce even less than normal levels of glutathione and you've got quite a pickle!

Because doc visits and lyme treatment costs so much, for quite a while, I remained stubborn and stuck with tablet form glutathione. I then tried tablet reduced glutathione like Source Naturals Glutathione. Then I switched to lipceutical glutathione because I thought it would be better. And guess what? I didn't feel anything from trying these for a total of 8 months.

Nebulized glutathione (inhaled diffused glutathione) is the only worthwhile method for supplementing glutathione and having it be properly absorbed. I learned this the hard way. Either that or get IV glutathione treatments from your LLMD for $180 a pop, too pricey for me! With the nebulized form, it makes me feel better, clearer headed, and less bogged down soon after using it. Don't get me wrong, I still herx, and sometimes I still get sucky days, but now I can feel I'm detoxing properly. And being able to feel a supplement actually working is such a good feeling!! Without enough glutathione, my liver simply cannot detox lyme die-off toxins, mercury, heavy metals, environmental toxins, chemicals, alcohol, you name it.

For most late-stage lyme disease sufferers supplementing with nebulized glutathione makes a huge difference in the way that they feel. Instead of feeling like sludge with your brain in a deep foggy soup while trying to detox lyme and co die-offs as well as chelating metals, you're mind is clearer and your body feels less sludgy.

For me it made a tremendous difference.

I had to get a prescription for nebulized glutathion from my LLMD and purchased a hand-held nebulizer from an online site. The prescription costs me $100 every 2 months, and the nebulizer machine was about $100. I know it sounds like a lot, which is why I put it off for a year before adding it to my regimen. I wish I hadn't done that and did it sooner because it is so important to even being able to detox all the junk!

I think this might be a big reason why some people always have horrible herxes even with a year or two of treatment, the stuff isn't being detoxed properly because your poor liver doesn't have enough glutathione to get it out! Especially since Lyme spirochetes sequester mercury for whatever reason, I was getting a double whammy with my herxes, no wonder they were so horrid!

I take 1 gram liquid glutathione in a nebulizer 2 times a day, every day. Sometimes a little more after rife days.

The picture at the top is my portable, hand-held nebulizer (about the size of my hand too). Many nebulizers are big a bulky and NOT portable which is why I purchased this one. The pharmacy I get my nebulized glutathione from gives it to me in a good sized bottle. I add 1 ml to the nebulizer with a measuring syringe they gave me and breath in the cloud emitted for 5 mins until it runs out. I bought the model package that came with a wall-plug in and also a car/cigarette lighter plug in as well as a ion battery, so I could take it and use it wherever I needed to.

I bought it from:

http://www.medelusa.com/pagproducts.asp?codice=91200



Much love,
Athena

Enzymes, Biofilm, Fibrin. What's the deal?

It was time to refresh my blog by giving it a nice new face. Struggling with managing a p/t job in between herxing, rifing, supplement protocols, detoxing, and occasionally keeping up with new research and info forums, can be a real juggling act! And squeezing in some fun too, as much as I possibly can. Low-key fun of course like taking a long stroll along the river bank, renting a new movie, playing with my snuggle bun Max, taking a long drive, or seeing friends. Anything that will make me feel uplifted, I try to do as often as possible.


~ Enzymes ~

Nattokinase, Serrapeptase, Lumbrokinase, Trevinol, Wobenzyme.

Click the enzyme name to see where I buy these little suckers.


Now about the title of this post; unfortunately it always takes me a long time to get around to posting about new things I'm doing, supplements I've added into my regimen, and what not. I'm very sorry about that! I began taking enzymes religiously a few years back, specifically digestive enzymes with each meal as well as bromelain and papain capsules. I've since stopped the digestive enzymes because I was adding in more important supplements and had to make room. One can only swallow so much crap in a given day, ya know! I think us Lymies are champions at this anyway, hah.

About 10 months ago, I came across research regarding biofilms and fibrin and how systemic enzymes Serrapeptase, Nattokinase, and Lumbrokinase, all worked to break down fibrin and remove biofilms, very important for us! Since then, on and off, I've been alternating and rotating these enzymes along with 2 systemic enzyme supplements: Wobenzyme and Trevinol. Systemic enzymes I think are invaluable in any lyme treatment.

Some systemic enzymes can be a little pricey, but they're worth it. I personally started with 1 capsule and worked up to 2-4 per day in divided doses, but I try to only take 2 kinds at a time. Why? Because Serrapeptase, Nattokinase, and Lumbrokinase also have some blood thinning properties. This can be helpful for Lymies with heart issues or thick blood issues thanks to Lyme. But for women, if your period gets really overly heavy or you get a cut that takes some time to stop bleeding, cut back on the amount you're taking. I personally have not had this problem so far, thank goodness.

I've heard that Lumbrokinase and Nattokinase are the top choices, but I try them all because why not. One thing I've learned with Lyme is that it's always good to mix things up a bit.

About Trevinol and Wobenzyme, these supplements are not cheap, but- they contain multiple enzymes and in my opinion can save money. Trevinol is specifically designed for fibrin removal, it contains both nattokinase, lumbrokinase and other enzymes, and comes in a large bottle! I feel that Trevinol is superior to Wobenzyme if you had to pick 1, but they work well taken together.


~ Biofilm and Fibrin ~


If you don't know about biofilm and fibrin and how they are connected with Lyme Disease, read HERE and HERE.



Much love,
Athy

Why We Love Our Men..

* Because they talk less than women, so we girls can actually talk all we want.

* Because they are not complicated.

* Because most men are logical, so they are easy to figure out.

* Because they warm up our beds without having to spend money on electric
blankets.

* Because every now and again they surprise us with flowers, dinners or just
hanging up new kitchen cabinets!

* Because we can count on them.

* Because they are not worried about diets, so they do not drink your diet
drinks or finish your Special K.

* Because they rarely lie about their age or clothing size.

* Because they behave like little boys when they are hurt or happy.

* Because they are not afraid of the dark, spiders, bugs, or anything that
crawls and happily take care of them for you.

* Because we always know what they are thinking.

* Because they are easily tamed.

* Because they take the rubbish out.

* Because they make your house a home.

* Because they walk the dog for you when is minus 20 outdoors.

* Because they don't cry. They only get red watery eyes and pretend to be tough.

* Because they look sexy in jeans and interesting in suits.

* Because they spoil us rotten when we are pregnant.

* Because they let us have 80% of the wardrobe space and they sleep on the edge
of the bed while we spread out.

* Because they let us hog the blankets.

* Because he would wear that tartan jacket that you bought him for Christmas.

* Because they do not complain when you make a boring dinner for the third
time in the week.

* Because they seduce us, making us feel sexy and wanted.

* Because they like our bodies even if we do not.

* Because they will bring you breakfast in bed just to keep you in bed for a
little bit longer.

* Because they cannot fake orgasms.

* Because they give great hugs.

* Because they smell good.

* Because they make us laugh.

* Because they are comfortable to sleep on. They have that snugly bit between
shoulder and neck where you can bury your nose in until you fall sleep.

* Because there is nothing better than waking up in the arms of a man and
feeling loved, small, and vulnerable against his strong body.

* Because they are strong but they can be fragile at the same time.

* Because of the pleasure they give us.

* Because if they say I love you, they generally DO mean I love you.

* Because they whisper sweet words to us.

* Because they make us melt when they tell us "I love you" staring right into
our eyes.

* Because they think you still look cute when you have a cold, and love you
when you look your worst.

Should I?

No, not that. Are you crazy?! I'm not going to strap myself to a stunt plane going 200+ miles per hour, sheesh. Lol.


But in some ways I feel like that guy with how my life seems to be sweeping me along with a bit more than I can handle along with treating Lyme. I decided to start filling my life again with new friends, a new apartment with a new roommate, and work. And I'm trying to keep up. It's taking a lot of guts for me to work again before I'm actually ready. Oh, did I tell you about that yet?


I've been steadily progressing with my rife treatments over the past year +, but I still get strong herx days that come out of nowhere and run me over. Last week I added 1 new frequency for Bartonella (since I was positive for Bartonella) and the herx as lasted strongly for the past 3 days. Usually, they dissipate after a day if I balance the time/codes and detox just right. But sometimes it just kills a bunch randomly I guess.

This month I decided to add another big challenge to the soup- a part-time job after being unable to work for 3.5+ years. Am I just insane? Or too determined for my own good maybe? I feel like the guy in that picture above, jumping in head first, hoping I can pull it off, not sure if I can honestly. Part of me feels I can pull it off if I'm really diligent with detoxing daily, saunas, and not increasing rife times/frequencies too soon. I don't know. The other part of me is pretty worried about hitting unexpected herx days and trying to fake not herxing while at work. When the herxs are bad, that would be like trying to fake you're not massively drunk or on acid, lol. My brain just doesn't remember normally when I'm herxing, even with plenty of detox to get the lyme die-off ammonia and neurotoxins out.

I hope in a lot of ways working part-time will help me fill my days with more focus on the future and getting better instead of being stuck in the reality of being a "sick person". Before I had no choice but to be sick, because well, I was really really sick :P.

I'm planning to upgrade using a Doug Coil Machine which is much more powerful than my current GB4000 machine. Ask me how I plan on working that around my p/t job, I have no idea. But I'm going to have to. What is there to lose, really? Worst case I'll get fired down the road, but at least I gave it a shot!

The hardest thing for me to still be patient with is the mental aspect of Lyme Disease. The Lyme hit me severely when I was only 19 and it's been in various phases of remission and severe periods of taking control since then, the past 3 years being the longest and worst period of Lyme ever, but partly because I'm treating diligently. So I have no college degree to speak of. And I'm still waiting for my brain smarts to come back enough to do college classes.. even just one. I'm still too forgetful from the herxs and Lyme to be able to remember homework or studying to pass terms and exams. Week to week I wouldn't remember what I had studied the week before. I long for the day when I can go back to school though, I think that kills me more than the physical and dietary limitations of Lyme Disease. I love to learn, love knowledge, love school, loved being smart. I'm now 27 with no college degree, still treating Lyme, but with the RIGHT STUFF unlike in my early 20s. There are still moments when that reality is very hard for me to swallow without feeling like I will choke up. Dreams put on hold for years and years, still waiting.

I try to just be thankful for the improvements I'm seeing in my energy, endurance, lessening herxing, thinking more clearly, and hope that another year or so from now I will be even closer to 100%. I pray that will be true!

Last Friday I tried the Auto Channel mode on my GB4000, I had heard it intensifies the herx reaction for frequencies. And yes, it really does! I have to be very careful with this or my head will be totally wishy-washy from herxing for days. Today is one of those wishy-washy herx days. They always make me feel blue, so I take St Johns Wort to help counter the herx blues.

Hope you're having a better day today!

- Athy