Pyoluria testing results

[Jennifer_M]

I called Direct HealthCare Lab today and got the results of the KP Analysis. My sons count was 8.5. She said the urine specimine wasn't frozen when received. I did use dry ice. She said to allow a 27% error since not frozen. That would put his count at almost 11. I will hear from my doctor soon on the treatment suggested, if any.

 

Justed wanted to let others know.

 

Jennifer M.

[Claire]

Hi Jennifer,

 

Thanks so much for filling us in. Wow, that sounds normal to me, even allowing for the error, he would be so low in the borderline area. Mine was 8.5 and she said it wasn't frozen but it was still cold, so it was fine. Hmmm....

 

Obviously you and your doctor need to decide, but this doesn't sound like an issue to me. Unless he is under a ton of stress sometime and very symptomatic--it might be okay to check again then. My son had a 12, then later a 60+, but again, it was 2 different labs. So much for thinking that the light sensitivity would have a common underlying cause with the pyroluria...though it still could be mercury.

 

Claire

[Jennifer_M]

Claire,

Thanks for listing all of the different types of tests and what they are for. When you read through the links as a beginner, all of the vocabulary is confusing and what test is for what.

 

I did call a DAN doctor today and talked to someone in the office. She is going to send me a list of tests they do and the price, etc. She said this doctor would do phone cosultations/e-mails, but did like to meet with the parents for a second meeting(with or without the treatments) to review tests/treatment. We are about 2.5 hours away and will need to consider this more.

 

This is probably in the links, but did you do mercury testing through your DAN doctor or own your own at a lab with a signature? I the treatment for high levels of mercury complicated?

 

Thanks!

[Claire]

Jennifer,

 

There is a blood test for mercury and a hair analysis. Both require the practioner's signature. I THINK that the hair analysis can be done by someone without an actual MD, e.g. a naturopath and the blood test requires the MD signature.

 

Neither test is perfect, apparently a tissue test is the only way to know for sure, but those are RARELY used. The children with starving brains book and the Pfeiffer clinic links say that the hair analysis can show low mercury when the child's mercury is high, simply because they are retaining it vs excreting it as they should. So anyway, our DAN doctor wanted the blood test.

 

There are some pretty major treatments for mercury, e.g. DMSA, which are pretty controversial, even within the DAN community Our doctor (and Pfeiffer, from what I understand) prefer antioxidants--since this is the way the body would naturally detox. This is why our doctor ran the spectracell vitamin/antioxidant test. If certain antioxidants are low, then you know which ones to supplement. They are like B vitamins, some are needed for others to work right. I am very happy with this method. Our neighbor did DMSA and woke up the next day with major yeast issues (a gray tongue). This is fairly common--if the gut isn't healthy, then the DMSA just moves the mercury to the gut, since the gut can't deal with it. Even in Children with Starving Brains, she says you must stop and heal the gut (e.g. yeast first). That is why I discuss the saliva test.

 

Heather uncovered NDF for mercury, which takes it out through the urine and avoids the gastrointestinal system. Chemar used chlorella.

 

Claire

[Jennifer_M]

Thanks Claire, for the response.

 

There is one Naturopath in my area listed in the telephone book, as well as one homeopath. Does anyone know what the differences are in the two?

 

Thanks!

Jennifer M.

[Claire]

Heather had great luck with a naturopath. Jean uses a naturopath who uses some homeopathy.

 

To each her own, but my bias: I can't get comfortable with homeopathy because from what I have heard, they don't always tell you what is in the solutions they give. I want to know it and study it.

 

But I am not sure that anyone here uses a homeopath to show another point of view.

 

I would interview the naturopath over the phone--he/she could be great.

 

Another idea: Pfeiffer has outreach clinics. Other Jennifer just signed up for one, and so did I. Perhaps call to see if they have them in your area? (e.g. they come to your town).

 

Claire

[Guest Susanna]

I am currently using a Homeopath for my son. She is, however, a traditional pediatrician as well, which was an important factor for me in choosing her. We did do a homeopathic treatment, however she is also open minded to the "alternative" testing I have learned about on this board and is willing to learn about them, consult with other alternative doctors, and then give me her recommendations as to where to start. Although this is probably going a lot more slowly than it would with a naturopath or DAN doctor who deals with this on a regular basis, we are moving forward. A few weeks ago we did the blood test for food allergies from Immunolabs (still waiting for results) And just this morning I took a urine sample for the Organic Acid Test from Great Plains. I am really convinced that my son's tics are somehow allergy related since he has other allergy issues (eczema as an infant, asthma brought on by seasonal allergies)

 

My sons tics are virtually non-existent these days so it is somewhat easier dealing with the slowness of this process. What do I attribute to my son's virtual tic-free state these days? According to the (not very open-minded) neurologist we followed up with in June, it's just the natural waxing and waning of TS....he predicts an increase in tics after school starts (which would also coincide with fall allergy season when he usually has an asthma flare-up...hmmm ). The homeopath believes that her treatment is working and contributing to his tic-free state. My husband and I see a correlation between the tics and the consumption of "junk" (artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and high fructose corn syrup which seems to be the biggest trigger), so we try to avoid those as best we can, although it's not 100% avoidance. My son also had elevated strep titers when he first started ticcing and was treated with antibiotics. Most likely it's a combination of all of the above.

 

Bottom line, based on my experience, if you can't find a naturopath you are comfortable with, a homeopath who is open and willing to learn would be a great alternative, especially if the homeopath also happens to be a traditional doctor.

 

HTH

Susanna

[Claire]

Susanna, thanks. I hope you know that my own reasons for not using a homeopath is more to do with my personal need to research everything than with any negative view on their actual qualifications or approach. By definition, I am doing 'alternative treatment' and would be the last person to judge someone else's alternative treatment!

 

Glad you are having success with your practioner. But I thought after the strep treatment that your son was 100% better, so no further work was needed?

 

Claire

[Guest Susanna]

Claire

 

We all have our reasons for choosing the practicioners that we do. Sometimes it's just a matter of who we find in our area and what we are comfortable with. Quite honestly I did not set out to treat with a homeopath...was always quite skeptical of them...but I think divine intervention sent me to her and at this point am content with my choice. Perhaps if my son wasn't doing as well as he is I would think differently since, as I mentioned before, things such as testing are going a bit slow due to the learning curve. Her being a "traditional" pediatrician is the big thing....for me. I know having an MD is not necessary in order to get successful treatment as others on this board can attest...but for me it was important....that and of course being willing to learn with me and guide me. We all know there are plenty of MD's out there that are unwilling to believe that there are any alternative treatment options other then meds.

 

Although my son significantly improved after the antibitoics treatment for strep, he does occasionally exhibit some minor tics....not anywhere nearly as bad as when he first started and we ended up in the ER. Most people would probably not even notice most of them but my husband and I are very tuned into them...these days they are mostly a sniffling tic, usually made worse by "junk" He still does however exhibit rage at times which is much more of an issue for us right now than the tics. We're hoping that through testing we can uncover some underlying cause/imbalance and then try to fix that imbalance.

 

Although I haven't posted here in a while, I do read this board religiously. It was such a source of hope when we started on this journey in April. Every time I come here I learn more (or learn that I need to learn more ) And it was your list of recommended tests, Claire, that I took with me to the intial visit with the homeopath. That gave us a starting point and I'll be forever thankful for all the help I found here.