help me decide on the right tests?

[julia24]

Tics have been subsided lately (even though I hate to say that....feel like it's asking for trouble), but I have had MAJOR brain fog for about 2 months. Sometimes to the point of not feeling like I should drive. Also way increased chemical sensitivities, so say I'm in a room next to a room cleaned with bleach, tics will increase until I leave the area.

 

My first thought was candida since I've struggled with it my whole life. Our summer has been hot & humid for the past 2 months, perfect for yeast growth, plus I've overindulged in watermelon & ice cream.

 

I did some quick research on the candida diet so I could figure out what symptoms to expect with die-off. One thing that caught my eye was that if you have heavy metals, the yeast overgrowth could be your body's way of protecting itself from the metals. So the symptoms you would chalk up to "die-off" might actually be the heavy metals that have now become exposed when you've killed off the yeast. Anyone else heard of this? Of course, symptoms have been getting worse since I started trying to kill the yeast.

 

After a m/c last October, I had a blood test for mercury ordered by OB & paid for by insurance. It was negative. Should I trust a blood test? Would another type of test be more accurate? It looks like I can order a urine or hair test from labdirect, but I'm not sure which type of test is best. Also, money is a huge issue, so I'm kicking around adding in chlorella & doing some epsom salt baths just to see what happens. Maybe that's a bad idea?

 

I'm also looking for sites that list the low-tech tests you can do, similar to the spit test for candida. And, as always, I could be pregnant at any time, so even low-tech oral chelation (such as with chlorella & epsom salts) would bring about its own concerns with possible pregnancy.

 

So, I'm stuck now. I'm always tempted to leave low tics alone, but this brain fog is KILLING me. Any advice on testing appreciated.

 

-Julie

[kim]

Julia 24,

 

Since you mention brain fog and miscarriage and I think you have mentioned mood issues in the past (?), I'm wondering if you have ever looked into vit B12 deficiency?

 

You can find some good info here. Rose has a B12 site...you can find the link under her signature

 

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=49

 

Did your Dr. do a standard blood profile when he did the mercury blood test?

 

Can I ask you if you have any problems wiith acid reflux or bleeding, as in nose bleeds, wounds bleeding longer than expected? Have you ever noticed tingling in your hands or feet? Do you eat meat?

 

After a m/c last October, I had a blood test for mercury ordered by OB & paid for by insurance. It was negative. Should I trust a blood test?

 

I don't believe that would be the most accurate way to test for mercury body burden (if only it were that easy!). A hair test would probably be the safest, since you are trying to conceive, but finding a good Dr. to interpret the results, may be a little costly. A hair test can show high mercury, which may be good or bad (good..indicating that you are excreting or Bad... showing high exposure ) or low (Good..meaning you have had low exposure or BAD because you are NOT excreting). My understanding is that you are looking for skewed mineral results. This is the way I understand it, as explained by Andy Cutler. I think Carolyn has some info, on another way to read hair mercury results.