Comments and Spam

I recently posted a comment from someone because I thought it was a legitimate comment. However, it contained a link and ever since I posted it, I've been getting a lot of spam.  If you're reading this and it was your comment, I'm sorry I had to delete it. I can no longer post any comments that contain any links that seem suspicious or cannot be identified as legitimate web pages that will not produce spam traffic.

Thank you!

MetalloClear Week 2, Day 4

I started Day 11 of my heavy metal detox today and wanted to post an update because I've been experiencing some strange symptoms. I've noticed since I increased my dosage on Wednesday to 2 supplements in the morning and 2 at night, that I started feeling off mentally. I can't fully explain it, but it's almost like something outside of my external circumstances in altering my mood. I have felt more cranky, depressed-like and wanting to cry.  

I should note that I am the full time caregiver for my 97 year old grandma who lives with me and my husband and have been feeling a bit burned out lately by all the care she needs, but I don't think that's the cause of all these emotions.

Just to be on the safe side I sent my doctor an email and she advised me to decrease my dosage back to 2 in the morning and 1 at night, to increase my water intake (I was already drinking about 67 ounces a day) and to see if the symptoms ease up.  She said it could possibly be from the detox, but I guess we don't know for sure.  

Thank the Lord I have His truth to stand upon to get me through these negative feelings that I know are not reality!  I have a lot to be thankful for and am incredibly blessed to have a supportive family and attentive doctor.

MetalloClear Week 2

I debated whether or not to blog about my experience using MetalloClear for heavy metal detox. Ultimately I thought that if it would benefit others going through a similar situation, then maybe giving weekly updates (or whenever I can) would be a positive thing to do. 

I'm starting week 2 today and so far I have not experienced any ill effects. As far as I know, you're not really supposed to suffer any side effects with this particular detox, but everyone's body is different. My doctor did tell me to listen to my body and pay attention to how I'm feeling, if my dizziness gets worse, etc., and if so, to decrease my dosage according. I started the first week taking 1 supplement in the morning and 1 at night.  I did that for 3 days and then moved on to 2 in the morning and 1 at night. Tonight starts another increase to 2 in the morning and 2 at night, working my way up to the full dose of 3 in the morning and 3 at night.   This is my doctor's plan for me.  I'm not saying this is the way everyone should do it, but rather this is the way I was advised to do it.  She told me it's not a race and this can be taken as slowly (or quickly) as my body can handle it. I've had a few days of feeling slightly off but the weather has been bad and my head always gets funny when it's raining and/or the pressure is changing. I'm also drinking one shake per day (Ultra Clear Renew Medical Food) along with the detox supplements.  

It may be worth noting that the first several days of starting the supplements and shakes, my mouth was really, really abnormally dry. I know it wasn't from being dehydrated because I've been drinking tons of water. I have no idea if the dry mouth was from the supplements, shakes or just a coincidence, but it did subside and is no longer an issue.  

As I go into week 2, I'm trusting in the Lord and thankful for all of my friends who are lifting me up in prayer.

Heavy Metal Detox with MetalloClear

It's been a while since I posted the game plan for my healing and now that I'm on to Phase 2, I wanted to post an update. I have been faithfully taking all my supplements and probiotics for a few months now and can honestly say that I have been feeling better.   I still have my ocular flutter and vestibular imbalance, but I'm handling it much better and my energy levels have been much higher.  In addition, my digestion plumbing is top notch (without getting too personal) and for the past two months my menstrual cycle has finally regulated, along with non-existent cramps and bloating.  My doctor said these are all signs of the gut beginning to heal and it's good. (Of course these issues are not my main problem, but according to my doctor, there are layers of healing and it starts with the gut and optimizing your body's ability to deal with tackling the bigger issues. This is yet another test in patience!  I want to dive right in and fix my dizziness, but in reality, that will be the last thing to resolve.)  Another thing I noticed is how much better I feel in the mornings. I used to have a very difficult time getting out of bed because of the level changes.  After laying down all night, it took a few hours each morning for my head to get used to being upright.  I just felt off and had to move slowly, but not so much anymore.  I've had a day or two here and there where I'm off again, but overall there has been a huge improvement.

I've been eating very clean as directed, with lots of protein (meat, eggs, chicken, beans, etc), tons and tons of vegetables, fruits, nuts/seeds and lots of healthy fats and oils.  It wasn't too hard to give up sugar like I thought.  I did it slowly and now that I've been eating this way, I don't even have cravings anymore.  My head feels clearer too.  I am doing so much better on a higher healthy fat diet.  I should note that I made one mistake a few weeks ago and popped ONE dark chocolate Hershey Kiss into my mouth while baking cookies for my grandma's friend and within 10 minutes I felt very sick, off balance, my positional vertigo came back and I developed a migraine.  It had to be related to what I ate because I had been doing so well before and ever since that incident.  What the heck are Hershey Kisses really made of!? Scary stuff!

My doctor talked about several things related to my health that we may explore in the future (possibly Lyme's, mold exposure, sinus issues), but the big problem we're dealing with first now that my gut has been healing is the mercury and lead toxicity. I started a 60 day treatment to detox from heavy metals today with supplements called MetalloClear.  Instead of traditional chelation therapy, which my doctor does not use, she has me on this natural protocol.  You can read more about it, but basically I'm taking "super food" supplements which will increase my body's own ability to detox metals for itself.  It's supposed to be a slower, safer and more gentle approach. Along with the supplements, I am drinking one nutritional support shake per day to help replenish any good things lost from my body in the process. This is a process that must be done slowly and I will update again to let you know how I'm doing. In addition to this heavy metal detox plan and the supplements I mentioned I was taking in my last blog post, my doctor also added some iron and iodine to my treatment plan. 

My doctor believes this plan will eliminate my neurological issues and I'm praying the Lord will allow it to be so!

The Game Plan

In my last post I mentioned that I was seeing a functional medicine doctor to see if she can help with my vestibular disorder and ocular flutter.  I did receive some preliminary test results that I will share for those who are following the story and curious about their own struggles with the same issue.

 

My blood panel revealed low levels of Vitamin D and some minerals and a homozygous gene mutation (MTHFR C677T - see here for more information).  The stool sample revealed a condition called dysbiosis, a microbial imbalance in my digestive tract.  I have lots of bad bacteria thriving and none of the good.  My urine test revealed high levels of mercury.

 

 

The game plan is for me to take the following supplements:

• Vitamin D3
• Complete Mineral Complex
• Methyl Protect (for the gene mutation)
• Pre & probitoics

I also need to take an antibiotic that will kill the bad bacteria in my stomach before starting the pre and probiotics. I was told this antibiotic does not get absorbed into the blood stream but directly deals with the digestive tract so it won't cause any further issues.  This is just part 1 of the game plan since the biggest issue I need to tackle is the mercury toxicity.  My body is not in the healthiest position right now to be able to detox properly, so the above supplements are meant to get me there. 

 

I will update again after my follow up visit and let you know how my treatment is going, if it helps me feel better, and what will be done about the mercury toxicity.

 

The One Year Mark

Today marks my one year anniversary of getting sick with my mysterious vestibular disorder and ocular flutter.  It was 1/31/14 that I experienced the abrupt onset of symptoms and have lived with them every day since then.  I call last year my worst year physically, but my best year spiritually.  Funny how that can be so true!  I really want to hate 2014, but I can't.  It was the year the Lord brought so much spiritual healing and growth into my life, that I can't help but look back and be more grateful than I've ever been.  I know Him more, I have a deeper understanding of His word, I call upon His truth in the face of fear whereas before, I'd let anxiety overwhelm me, I feel His presence and grace in my life on a daily basis and continuously walk by His power in my weakness (2 Cor 12:9). 

Since my last blog post I've just been living life to the best of my ability (and quite well for the most part, thank you Lord!), with episodes here and there that have kept me in bed for the day.  Thankfully, those are fewer and further between.  I've been exercising most days of the week, which is a huge blessing and something I've missed, getting all my chores and shopping done and caring for my grandmother who is still living with us.  Every day is a daily surrender to the Lord's strength and every day He gets me through.

I did start seeing a functional medicine doctor who is looking into things like heavy metal toxicity, nutritional deficiencies, mold exposure, gut bacteria and more, so I will update if any answers come from this new round of testing.  In the meantime, I just take each day as it comes, as I wait for my healing that the Lord promised.  I don't know if it will be through this new doctor I am seeing, or by His own miraculous power, but either way I know it will be in His perfect time.
 

Vestibular update and my latest diagnosis

I haven't written a post in a while, mostly because I haven't felt led by the Lord to share anything. Some things have changed the past month and I wanted to at least share my latest diagnosis for those who may be following my vestibular disorder journey.

 

My vestibular rehabilitation ended on September 11th after 6 months of therapy. My therapist appealed to my insurance company to pay for more visits. They kept giving us the run around for almost a month.  One representative would tell us I'm not allowed anymore visits and another representative would say the visits were unlimited.  I had to make a choice.  I had reached a point of complete and total weariness in even wanting to do the exercises anymore.  I had stopped doing them for the month that my insurance company was making their decision and since I hadn't gotten any worse and the therapy wasn't helping me get any better, my husband and I decided that I would not return.  In the meantime, my grandmother told us that she was ready to move in with us (we had been praying for months for her to make this decision). I don't believe it was a coincidence that my therapy ended after six months and grandmother suddenly decided to move in!  She could have decided to move in sooner, while I was still in therapy, but she didn't. My treadmill was in the space where she would now be living so we had to sell it. I couldn't use it anymore for therapy so it was clear with this new direction that the Lord was leading us in, that deciding not to go back was the right decision.  The door is always open if I need it!  However, she would become my therapy by keeping me all kinds of busy! ;)

I was a bit concerned because of my illness, hoping it would not interfere with caring for her. I knew the Lord was at work and that He would equip me with everything I needed to make sure my grandma was taken care of, despite my own condition.  About two weeks before she moved in I reached that place of desperation where I cried out to the Lord with the admission that I simply could not go on like this anymore in my own strength. If He wanted me to continue this way, then He would have to provide everything I needed to go on. Of course, being our great and awesome God, He did just that and more.  I know that He does His greatest work in our place of surrender and although I've needed Him to get me through each and every day since this all started in January, this sense of need was different.  It was rock bottom, mostly emotionally, and when you're at the bottom there is no where to go but up!  More on that to follow...

 

As for my new diagnosis, I had made an appointment to see a neuro-ophthalmologist and waited 6 weeks to see him.  I just had that visit about 2 weeks ago.  Ever since this illness started, I have suffered with this strange illusion of the objects in my environment moving slightly back and forth just about 24/7.  When I'm moving or watching movement, I don't notice it, it's only when I'm completely still.  I knew this wasn't typical of labyrinthitis or MAV and I was curious to see if it was something wrong with my brain or eyes.  The doctor confirmed that I have a rare condition called "ocular flutter".  He could see with one of his tools that my eyes make fast back and forth jerking movements when trying to focus on objects.  It's not detectable with the naked eye, but it's happening and is the reason why I've had this illusion of movement. He said it's normally caused by neurological disease but since my MRI was normal, he ruled that out. He basically called me a case study! He said he would present my case to other specialists he confers with to see if they have any theories as to why this is happening.  Since there is no "cure", this is just another road that leads back to the Lord healing me by His own divine hand.

As I mentioned earlier, when I reached my place of surrender with the Lord, He gave me all I needed to go on in His power. I can't fully explain how that moment changed everything, but ever since that day it has been like living a fully healed life although I am not yet healed. I know that sounds strange and may not even make sense, but it's the only way I know how to explain it. I didn't think I'd ever not despair being in this condition and yet He's given me joy, perseverance, hope, encouragement, peace, strength and more. I didn't know how I'd care for my grandma and yet her being here has been therapeutic for me. She keeps me going and not focused on the illness.  The less I focus on it, the less I even notice it. Don't get me wrong, it's still difficult and I have my moments of fear, but I truly know now what it's like to live in the Lord's power and not my own strength. 

 

I believe I will be healed; He promised I would be.  Now I know for sure He won't be using doctors or medicine.  How awesome to anticipate the God of the universe healing a physical ailment with His own divine power.  What a great day that will be when He gets all the glory.