For the last 2 days my sister needed me to watch her son for a few hours. I used to cringe when she'd ask me because I was always concerned if I could get through the day. My nephew is really behaved quite well for a 5 year old and he is very laid back and easygoing. Any time I watched him and did not feel good he was very understanding. I know adults who are less understanding than my nephew! HA!
It has been very warm lately and of course I was concerned about my heat intolerance. Can I even stand up outside let alone play with him? Yikes. On bad days just walking to the car would make me feel as if I were going to die.
Well it turned out that I not only could stand up outside, but we were playing tag! We sprinted, yes SPRINTED around the yard playing tag for about 30 minutes or so. I'm happy to report he got tired before me and wanted to go in for a drink of water. :) You can not even believe how excited and happy I am about all of this. It was 83 degrees with very high humidity outside so something is going on with me. Am I cured? Nope, but there is a big enough difference that I have noticed. I have a long ways to go, but this is giving me so much hope and optimism. It is actually a little scary! I was afraid to hit POST on this one. Will I jinx it?!
Last night (after watching my nephew for two days and going on walks at the park afterward, cleaning, making dinner, any other normal duties that need done in my house etc) I did have a headache, but it was gone when I woke up this morning. YAY! I have no post exertional malaise today, although that has never been a big issue for me in the past. It is not quite as warm today, but the humidity is very high. That's usually all I need to feel sick and I am doing well.
Like I said, I am NOT cured by any means, but this is very interesting. I just hope I keep getting better and it doesn't stop here.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Making Progress with DMPS
I am convinced now that DMPS is what people need to use to feel better. I have talked about it before, but the few people who were "following" Dr. Cutler's FDC who got significantly better ALL used DMPS at some point or another.
Only a few members of FDC even use DMPS because so many of them are fearful of the drug even though Dr. Cutler says it is safe and recommended here, here and here. They refuse to find a doctor to prescribe it, which makes me believe you can't really be that sick! They are afraid it is not FDA approved, which is once again just another excuse to stay sick. (Alert: Amalgams were FDA approved!) Those who use DMPS have less side effects and symptoms and actually seem to legitimately feel better much faster.
Others using DMPS not strictly following FDC who got better as well:
MercuryLife Blog. Read the entire story!
MS - Ten years bedridden - cured by Amalgam removal
Woman was bedridden with CFS
Another person with CFS Cured
Another woman with CFS finally getting better with chelation
DMPS is the common link in all of these stories. Some of them have done other things alongside it too. However these people should not be considered "lucky" or less toxic. When you start looking at stories of those who got truly better, they all used DMPS in some form or another (oral or IV) at some point in time during their journey.
I'm not really following FDC and taking DMPS every 8 hours. I take it when I get up in the AM, mid-day and then at bedtime, so I don't have to interrupt my sleep at all. With an odd circadian rhythm, even at every 8 hours sometimes the doses would fall while I was sleeping. I had enough of that and just decided to take it at bedtime regardless of what time it was. Sometimes it was at 10 or 11 hours out from my previous dose. I don't think it really matters at all and you could probably take it on any schedule and still see some improvements (my opinion only not based on any scientific evidence).
If you are following Dr. Cutler's protocol and have completed double digit rounds of DMSA or ALA and not feeling or seeing improvements, then consider finding a doctor who will prescribe DMPS. It may be the difference of getting your life back. Isn't that the most important?!
The doctor who prescribed me DMPS NEVER PRESCRIBED IT BEFORE TO ANYONE. I am his FIRST patient and my husband is his SECOND, so please do not try to use "well I don't know if my doctor would do that" as an excuse to keep staying sick. If you really want to use DMPS, then you will find a doctor or beg a doctor who is open-minded enough to use it. I actually had to fax my doctor some information that talked about using oral DMPS and after reading it all he had no issues with me trying it out.
In 5 rounds of DMPS I am feeling the best I've felt in 11 years. I am not over exaggerating or making this up at all. Some people may say that it is placebo, but how could a POTS patient make their heart rates not climb as high while standing? ... How could I have less heat intolerance? ...
Is it all good? NO! The hives are still problematic as evident from my last post and I am concerned about it and SJS. The latest set of hives were focused more around my joints (knees, elbows, wrists and ankles) and thankfully I did not have any hives on my neck at all. This made me very happy because I knew I was not going to have any issues with my throat swelling up.
Outside of the hives I have zero symptoms on and off round. Not many can say that about ALA or DMSA and I really don't understand why someone would continue to take something that is terrible at chelating metals... Dr. Buttar says that it is dangerous to use DMSA. Dr. Cutler's followers had a discussion about this in 2009 and rather than scientifically disproving it is dangerous, they just called the doctor an idiot, he doesn't know what he's talking about and he is promoting his own chelation protocol. Um..And how is Dr. Cutler any different? Dr. Cutler sells consultations too...
And to put it into further perspective at least 2 people in this thread are still sick on FDC. I guess your own irrational fear and advice is not working out for you. Stop drinking the Cutler kool aid!
Many people have become fearful of DMPS due to the fearmongering website, DMPSbackfire. For years I thought it was the devil and was harmful because "Dr. Cutler says so". However since DMSA did not do anything for me at all and may even be dangerous itself, I started to question all of that. Now that I'm taking DMPS and feeling better I realize how stupid it was to have an irrational fear of it. The stories on that website really should just be called "when stupid doctors strike" because they were doing terribly stupid things with DMPS like chelating people WITH amalgams STILL in their mouths! How could any doctor even think that would be a good idea?
If DMPS IV's are too scary for you, then you can use it orally too just like DMSA. That's what I am doing for the time being.
I gave my doctor a PDF from this website. I have no idea what this doctor recommends with chelation, but I found the clinical trial of interest and that is what I showed my doctor.
If you are following FDC, let me know what you think about this theory that DMPS is the key!
Disclaimer: As always these are my opinions on things. I am not a doctor and are simply telling you of my experiences and relaying data/materials I have found online over the years. Everyone with a chronic illness should be following up with a doctor and if you are not, then start today.
Only a few members of FDC even use DMPS because so many of them are fearful of the drug even though Dr. Cutler says it is safe and recommended here, here and here. They refuse to find a doctor to prescribe it, which makes me believe you can't really be that sick! They are afraid it is not FDA approved, which is once again just another excuse to stay sick. (Alert: Amalgams were FDA approved!) Those who use DMPS have less side effects and symptoms and actually seem to legitimately feel better much faster.
Others using DMPS not strictly following FDC who got better as well:
MercuryLife Blog. Read the entire story!
MS - Ten years bedridden - cured by Amalgam removal
Woman was bedridden with CFS
Another person with CFS Cured
Another woman with CFS finally getting better with chelation
DMPS is the common link in all of these stories. Some of them have done other things alongside it too. However these people should not be considered "lucky" or less toxic. When you start looking at stories of those who got truly better, they all used DMPS in some form or another (oral or IV) at some point in time during their journey.
I'm not really following FDC and taking DMPS every 8 hours. I take it when I get up in the AM, mid-day and then at bedtime, so I don't have to interrupt my sleep at all. With an odd circadian rhythm, even at every 8 hours sometimes the doses would fall while I was sleeping. I had enough of that and just decided to take it at bedtime regardless of what time it was. Sometimes it was at 10 or 11 hours out from my previous dose. I don't think it really matters at all and you could probably take it on any schedule and still see some improvements (my opinion only not based on any scientific evidence).
If you are following Dr. Cutler's protocol and have completed double digit rounds of DMSA or ALA and not feeling or seeing improvements, then consider finding a doctor who will prescribe DMPS. It may be the difference of getting your life back. Isn't that the most important?!
The doctor who prescribed me DMPS NEVER PRESCRIBED IT BEFORE TO ANYONE. I am his FIRST patient and my husband is his SECOND, so please do not try to use "well I don't know if my doctor would do that" as an excuse to keep staying sick. If you really want to use DMPS, then you will find a doctor or beg a doctor who is open-minded enough to use it. I actually had to fax my doctor some information that talked about using oral DMPS and after reading it all he had no issues with me trying it out.
In 5 rounds of DMPS I am feeling the best I've felt in 11 years. I am not over exaggerating or making this up at all. Some people may say that it is placebo, but how could a POTS patient make their heart rates not climb as high while standing? ... How could I have less heat intolerance? ...
Is it all good? NO! The hives are still problematic as evident from my last post and I am concerned about it and SJS. The latest set of hives were focused more around my joints (knees, elbows, wrists and ankles) and thankfully I did not have any hives on my neck at all. This made me very happy because I knew I was not going to have any issues with my throat swelling up.
Outside of the hives I have zero symptoms on and off round. Not many can say that about ALA or DMSA and I really don't understand why someone would continue to take something that is terrible at chelating metals... Dr. Buttar says that it is dangerous to use DMSA. Dr. Cutler's followers had a discussion about this in 2009 and rather than scientifically disproving it is dangerous, they just called the doctor an idiot, he doesn't know what he's talking about and he is promoting his own chelation protocol. Um..And how is Dr. Cutler any different? Dr. Cutler sells consultations too...
And to put it into further perspective at least 2 people in this thread are still sick on FDC. I guess your own irrational fear and advice is not working out for you. Stop drinking the Cutler kool aid!
Many people have become fearful of DMPS due to the fearmongering website, DMPSbackfire. For years I thought it was the devil and was harmful because "Dr. Cutler says so". However since DMSA did not do anything for me at all and may even be dangerous itself, I started to question all of that. Now that I'm taking DMPS and feeling better I realize how stupid it was to have an irrational fear of it. The stories on that website really should just be called "when stupid doctors strike" because they were doing terribly stupid things with DMPS like chelating people WITH amalgams STILL in their mouths! How could any doctor even think that would be a good idea?
If DMPS IV's are too scary for you, then you can use it orally too just like DMSA. That's what I am doing for the time being.
I gave my doctor a PDF from this website. I have no idea what this doctor recommends with chelation, but I found the clinical trial of interest and that is what I showed my doctor.
If you are following FDC, let me know what you think about this theory that DMPS is the key!
Disclaimer: As always these are my opinions on things. I am not a doctor and are simply telling you of my experiences and relaying data/materials I have found online over the years. Everyone with a chronic illness should be following up with a doctor and if you are not, then start today.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Mercury Hives: What Can I Do?
When I started chelating in 2008 with DMSA, I got hives and did not understand at that time what was going on. I thought I had just developed food allergies or something because they lasted for so long. I stopped chelating for about 2 years because I felt really sick and eventually the hives went away on their own. I had changed my diet and part of me thought that was why the hives went away.
Then I decided I needed to start back up on chelation and the hives came back full force.
I knew this was no a coincidence and the hives are indeed directly caused by chelation. In a desperate attempt, I decided to try DMPS to see if it was caused specifically by the DMSA. Much to my dismay, after 3 rounds of DMPS the hives started to show up once I went off-round. This time even more severe than before if you can even imagine that looking at some of the old pictures. In yet another desperate attempt to stop them, I went on Diflucan and took probiotics, but neither of those did anything to stop the hives. In my case they are NOT caused by a yeast flare up or anything like that.
What does this mean? What am I to do?
I sit here tonight with hives galore. They are so very itchy it is hard to concentrate on anything. Taking benedryl barely touches them and the only thing I feel is deliriousness and completely drugged out of my mind. The last time I had to get a dexamethasone injection and take prednisone for them to stop. Even still, the hives continued on for days while on 60mg of prednisone. This is a serious allergic reaction and I do not know where to go from here. I cannot keep doing this.
With DMPS there is a risk of developing a potentially fatal condition called, Stevens Johnson Syndrome.
"Signs and symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome include:
My next step is to take EDTA and see what happens. The Cutler folk will have you believe that I'm going to kill myself with EDTA, but at this point I need to see if the hives happen on EDTA as well. If they do, then I seriously have no idea what I'm going to do. With the amalgam tattoo gone, I thought this would stop. No such luck in my case.
I may start the EDTA tonight and see how I do.
Then I decided I needed to start back up on chelation and the hives came back full force.
I knew this was no a coincidence and the hives are indeed directly caused by chelation. In a desperate attempt, I decided to try DMPS to see if it was caused specifically by the DMSA. Much to my dismay, after 3 rounds of DMPS the hives started to show up once I went off-round. This time even more severe than before if you can even imagine that looking at some of the old pictures. In yet another desperate attempt to stop them, I went on Diflucan and took probiotics, but neither of those did anything to stop the hives. In my case they are NOT caused by a yeast flare up or anything like that.
What does this mean? What am I to do?
 |
| Hives caused by chelation |
With DMPS there is a risk of developing a potentially fatal condition called, Stevens Johnson Syndrome.
"Signs and symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome include:
- Facial swelling
- Tongue swelling
- Hives
- Skin pain
- A red or purple skin rash that spreads within hours to days
- Blisters on your skin and mucous membranes, especially in your mouth, nose and eyes
- Shedding (sloughing) of your skin"
My next step is to take EDTA and see what happens. The Cutler folk will have you believe that I'm going to kill myself with EDTA, but at this point I need to see if the hives happen on EDTA as well. If they do, then I seriously have no idea what I'm going to do. With the amalgam tattoo gone, I thought this would stop. No such luck in my case.
I may start the EDTA tonight and see how I do.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Update On Tooth
Well the weird pain I am getting is not from the tooth with the metal post. It seems that either 1)I have brushed my gums so hard in the past 2 months that I have caused gum recession or 2) getting the amalgam tattoo removed did indeed cause some gum recession or 3) chelation is doing something to the gums.
I guess it could be a combination of all of those things. I just find it SOO strange that my dentist used to say how GREAT my gums looked and now I have severe recession in the exact same area where the gray tooth and amalgam tattoo was removed.
I still have a metal post in that tooth that needs taken care of and that can only be resolved with a crown. That's $1200 I don't have.
I just keep on going I guess. I have hives tonight and it is NOT looking good. I feel no need to put more pictures of the hives on here because there's more than enough already. haha
I guess it could be a combination of all of those things. I just find it SOO strange that my dentist used to say how GREAT my gums looked and now I have severe recession in the exact same area where the gray tooth and amalgam tattoo was removed.
I still have a metal post in that tooth that needs taken care of and that can only be resolved with a crown. That's $1200 I don't have.
I just keep on going I guess. I have hives tonight and it is NOT looking good. I feel no need to put more pictures of the hives on here because there's more than enough already. haha
Heavy Metal Chelation Round 5: DMPS Ends
I went a little longer this time, (~6.5 days) but as soon as I noticed a hive, I stopped. I immediately started my "here comes the hives" supplement/medicine regime. I took a benedryl, zyrtec, 3 grams of Vitamin C and 2 grams of Quercetin before bed. I woke up and I was good. No hives and so far I haven't had any more develop. Last night I took more zyrtec, vitamin C, quercetin and half a benedryl. So far so good. I think I have a few mosquito bites though and it is hard to tell the difference between them and hives. haha
The good:
I think I am already seeing improvements on the DMPS. I hate even say this or type this because I don't think I've said these words on my blog, ever?
The good:
I think I am already seeing improvements on the DMPS. I hate even say this or type this because I don't think I've said these words on my blog, ever?
- My heat intolerance seems a tad better. 5% better
- My heart seems less aggravated at times. 3% better
- My vision is getting clearer again.
- Obviously the hives are bad. Hopefully they stay away.
- I think the DMPS is reacting with a metal post in one of my teeth.
Friday, June 10, 2011
People Are No Longer Open-Minded
Over the past 4 years I have realized that people in the alternative health community are no longer open minded. Each forum has their "go-to" way of doing things and if you question or stray from it, you get yelled at, screamed at, banned or told to go away because you are being disruptive. Well excuse me for asking questions about the treatment or protocol that you sit and defend for hours a day. I thought maybe you had something to back up your claims or perhaps you yourself are feeling better? Oh no you aren't feeling better?....Hmm Well then why would you defend something that has not made YOU feel better? I truly cannot understand it and would like an explanation.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Round 5: DMPS Begins
Well here we go again. I started Round 5 of my DMPS chelation around 11:45AM and will be going for at least 3 days. I may try to do longer rounds, but we will see. I have drastically lowered my dose to 10mg capsules every 8 hours to see if I still break out in hives. So far so good, but on round is never my problem...
Sunday, May 29, 2011
No Longer Trying to Come Off HC
This was likely my last experiment. I guess I have adrenal insufficiency of unknown origin and I need to be done with it. Lowering my dose caused major high DHEA symptoms and my emotional well-being started to deteriorate. I finally just went back up to 15mg and am just done with it all. I really wish my doctor had done the appropriate testing to see if I really had a problem because now I cannot come off of it to test. Thanks doc! There is really only 1 thing I can test for while on HC and that is 17OH progesterone. You have to test it first thing in the morning, BEFORE taking your HC for the day. You want to see if this is elevated in the AM because if so, then that's pretty telling the pathway is getting backed up.
Once I went back on the 15mg of HC, not taking DHEA gave me major depression. It took about 3 days for it to appear (probably the amount of time it took for all of that extra DHEA to go down) and I felt like dying.
Now I'm back on 12.5mg DHEA and my normal 15mg of HC. Glad the latest experiment is over with.
Once I went back on the 15mg of HC, not taking DHEA gave me major depression. It took about 3 days for it to appear (probably the amount of time it took for all of that extra DHEA to go down) and I felt like dying.
Now I'm back on 12.5mg DHEA and my normal 15mg of HC. Glad the latest experiment is over with.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Stopping the DHEA For Now
Ever since coming off the Pred, I decided to just keep going with the HC too. If I can get off of this then in a few weeks I can get the appropriate testing done for late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LOCAH) as well as looking into getting a stim test done.
For those who do not know what LOCAH is, basically your body has enzymes which are needed to convert your hormones into cortisol and aldosterone. You can look at this hormone pathway chart on this page to see every step takes an enzyme.
If you are deficient or missing one of those enzymes, then the step before it gets "backed up" and you are unable to create enough cortisol or aldosterone in the body. Your body starts dumping this extra hormone into DHEA and you grow extra hair on your body. Some have it so severe, the hair growth is very thick, their periods stop and some women (if they have it at a young age) have weird changes to their genitals due to the androgens. If I have this, mine is not severe as I did not have the really thick hair growth, but I am definitely more hairier than most women.
This testing I should have had done in the beginning. My natural doctor conveniently had no idea what he was doing when he said my 17 OH progesterone was normal even though it was slightly elevated during my follicular stage of my cycle.This should NEVER be elevated and I should have immediately been referred to an endo. A slight elevation means serious issues needs ruled out. There is no way around this and this doctor failed.
For those who do not know what LOCAH is, basically your body has enzymes which are needed to convert your hormones into cortisol and aldosterone. You can look at this hormone pathway chart on this page to see every step takes an enzyme.
If you are deficient or missing one of those enzymes, then the step before it gets "backed up" and you are unable to create enough cortisol or aldosterone in the body. Your body starts dumping this extra hormone into DHEA and you grow extra hair on your body. Some have it so severe, the hair growth is very thick, their periods stop and some women (if they have it at a young age) have weird changes to their genitals due to the androgens. If I have this, mine is not severe as I did not have the really thick hair growth, but I am definitely more hairier than most women.
This testing I should have had done in the beginning. My natural doctor conveniently had no idea what he was doing when he said my 17 OH progesterone was normal even though it was slightly elevated during my follicular stage of my cycle.This should NEVER be elevated and I should have immediately been referred to an endo. A slight elevation means serious issues needs ruled out. There is no way around this and this doctor failed.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Off the Prednisone
Well I am off the prednisone and back on my regular dose of hydrocortisone. I am soo glad. I think I am finally back at my baseline as far as symptoms go. It took a couple days to make sure I was getting enough HC in me from the transition. I tapered much quicker than originally intended because I knew I would just go back to my normal HC dose. It wasn't like I wasn't on steroids in the first place. My adrenals are already suppressed, so the risk of further suppression is not there.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
What It's Like to Be On 60mg of Pred... High Cortisol Hell
I think everyone (even some of those crazy hormone replacement doctors) would agree that 60mg of Prednisone is over replacement and is a pharmacological dose. 60mg of Prednisone is the equivalent of about 240mg of HC. I have never been on this much steroid before in my entire life. Add in that 10mg Decadron injection (about 600mg HC equivalent) and I am swimming in cortisol right now. This post is meant for those who are having trouble figuring out their current HC dose. However do not take anything I say as medical advice and before making any changes to your current medicines, be sure to bring it up with your doctor. Dosage changes in those with adrenal insufficiency is serious business and you should not be making changes based upon what someone says on a blog or forum.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Hives Got REAL Bad, REAL Quick
 |
| Hives from heavy metal chelation |
Yesterday the hives got really bad. Like I thought my life was in jeopardy because I started to have trouble swallowing and speaking. I went to the urgent care and was given a mega dose of Decadron (Dexamethasone) and told to take high doses of Prednisone for the next 15 days. Part of me was really worried about all of this and the injection, but I had little to no choice. My throat was starting to swell up on me and I was scared to go to sleep like that. Benedryl, zyrtec and some other type of antihistamine had no affect on the hives and I was freaking out.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Hives Are Not Fungal or Yeast
Now that I have been on the Diflucan and the hives have returned again (after stopping DMPS round), I think I can assume it is not from a fungal or yeast overgrowth. Right now they are not too bad, but we will see how the next few days go. I'm thinking longer rounds are the way to go for me since I have no symptoms while on round and the hives only start 2-3 days after I stop. Could it be metals resettling? I will never really know.
One weird thing I have noticed is in some areas of my body, my skin looks shiny. I have no idea what that is about. Maybe I'll try to take a picture, but I have a feeling it won't show up on my old camera.
One weird thing I have noticed is in some areas of my body, my skin looks shiny. I have no idea what that is about. Maybe I'll try to take a picture, but I have a feeling it won't show up on my old camera.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Round 4: DMPS Complete
Yesterday I finished up round 4 of DMPS and I feel good. No hives! haha Once I get some more money, I'll get another month's worth filled and just keep going.
My vision is definitely different right now. I think one of my contacts may now be too strong for me. It is odd as I am not seeing the same out of both eyes and at times I think it may be giving me a slight dull headache. I've been wearing my glasses more because I don't tend to notice it as much. My left eye is -5.25 and my right eye is -5.75. I'm thinking the left eye may be too strong and I'll have to dig around to see if I have an old contact somewhere that is -5.00. If I had extra money lying around, I'd go to the eye doctor. I am actually due for a new exam (just got the reminder card in the mail!), but since I don't have the extra money I will just keep wearing these contacts for now.
On my off days I make sure to replenish my nutrients and minerals. The one multi-vitamin that was not giving me heart palpitations has gluten in it. AHH! I cannot win, so I am trying to take individual minerals. Taking all of these pills can get quite annoying at times.
My vision is definitely different right now. I think one of my contacts may now be too strong for me. It is odd as I am not seeing the same out of both eyes and at times I think it may be giving me a slight dull headache. I've been wearing my glasses more because I don't tend to notice it as much. My left eye is -5.25 and my right eye is -5.75. I'm thinking the left eye may be too strong and I'll have to dig around to see if I have an old contact somewhere that is -5.00. If I had extra money lying around, I'd go to the eye doctor. I am actually due for a new exam (just got the reminder card in the mail!), but since I don't have the extra money I will just keep wearing these contacts for now.
On my off days I make sure to replenish my nutrients and minerals. The one multi-vitamin that was not giving me heart palpitations has gluten in it. AHH! I cannot win, so I am trying to take individual minerals. Taking all of these pills can get quite annoying at times.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Rant About Hydrocortisone Use in Adrenal Fatigue Patients
 |
| Hydrocortisone Use in Adrenal Fatigue: Is it really as good as "they" say? |
I have finally had enough of the nonsense and need to speak my mind.
When I started this blog, I was very naive and had no idea what I was getting myself into. When I did research about adrenal fatigue, all of the websites made it seem so easy. Just take some "adrenal support" and you'll be bouncing back like new in no time. Yippee! I can tell you first hand, they were quite WRONG. Over the years I have realized that these websites paint a very happy, cheerful journey, but in reality it is a long painful journey. They may not willingly know, but they have started a very scary movement of people, telling most to skip going to endos and simply seek a natural doctor who is willing to prescribe HC. Some of them even suggest self-treatment, which is a whole other topic.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Round 4: DMPS Begins
The hives are gone and I decided to start up on the DMPS again. This will be another 3 day round and then after this, I may take a slight break. I will be out of pills and will need to get the money together to order more.
I have had no improvements with the POTS, but my vision is definitely more clear. It is actually freaking me out a bit. In all of my years of life, my vision has never gotten better. Every 6 months I usually have to go back to the eye doctor and get a stronger prescription. About 2 months ago I started to notice my vision was losing its crispness and figured it was only a matter time until I would be heading in again.
Then one day out of no where I realized how amazing the trees and stones looked. I figured I was just going crazy or imaging things, but now it's been a few weeks and it has stayed. The glasses I use around the house are an old prescription. Before I could NOT drive with these on as road signs are blurry and I would not trust myself at all. Yesterday I tagged along to the post office was commenting over and over again how well I was seeing out of the glasses.
We will see if this continues. If my prescription has gone down, I will be speechless--as would my eye doctor.
I have had no improvements with the POTS, but my vision is definitely more clear. It is actually freaking me out a bit. In all of my years of life, my vision has never gotten better. Every 6 months I usually have to go back to the eye doctor and get a stronger prescription. About 2 months ago I started to notice my vision was losing its crispness and figured it was only a matter time until I would be heading in again.
Then one day out of no where I realized how amazing the trees and stones looked. I figured I was just going crazy or imaging things, but now it's been a few weeks and it has stayed. The glasses I use around the house are an old prescription. Before I could NOT drive with these on as road signs are blurry and I would not trust myself at all. Yesterday I tagged along to the post office was commenting over and over again how well I was seeing out of the glasses.
We will see if this continues. If my prescription has gone down, I will be speechless--as would my eye doctor.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Hives Have Calmed Down
The hives are better. The skin is still discolored where they were, but I'm not feeling itchy. Thank goodness.
I'll probably start chelating again tomorrow. I just want to give it another day. I am still taking the Diflucan and will continue to do so. It will be interesting to see if the hives come back. Did the Benedryl or the Diflucan help? I won't really know unless the hives show up again.
Update: Later in the day I had some more hives show up around my neck. Still keeping an eye on this.
I'll probably start chelating again tomorrow. I just want to give it another day. I am still taking the Diflucan and will continue to do so. It will be interesting to see if the hives come back. Did the Benedryl or the Diflucan help? I won't really know unless the hives show up again.
Update: Later in the day I had some more hives show up around my neck. Still keeping an eye on this.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Diflucan: Will It Stop This?
I woke up and immediately called my doctor and the message on his machine scared the hell out of me. It said he was going to be out of the office for a whole week. I nearly vomited when I heard this, but decided to leave a message any way. Thankfully I got a call from one of the receptionists/secretaries and she said she would contact the doctor and get back to me. I told her she was a lifesaver and was extremely thankful for this because the hives are getting to the point where I might have to see an urgent care soon for high dose predisone.
I got a call back a few hours later and my doctor agreed to have me try Diflucan. Since the hives are not responding to zyrtec, he thought it was a very good idea. I told her (the secretary) that this is my last attempt before I give in and go on prednisone. The hives are really getting that bad. This picture above is quite tame compared to the hives on my torso and lower abdomen, which you can see below.
As soon as I got word it was available at the pharmacy, we ran over there. I got the prescription and took my first one in the car. haha Now I wait and see what happens. I don't expect miracles because I may have already reached the point of no return. I don't want to go on high dose prednisone. I'm going to be out of my mind if I have to though and that scares me. I might need to buy a cage for my husband to lock me in...lol J/K!!! I really do not do well at all on large steroid doses...
Fingers crossed this works. I am not starting my round today obviously. I was due to start back up again, but I need to get these hives under control first.
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| Hives on neck-Monday night |
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| So itchy! |
Fingers crossed this works. I am not starting my round today obviously. I was due to start back up again, but I need to get these hives under control first.
Monday, April 4, 2011
And It Begins...Hives
Tonight out of the blue, with no other symptoms or issues I started to get hives everywhere. I do not know what to do now. DMSA and DMPS now both are causing hives? Here's the weird thing though...I am not on round. I quit late Thursday night, so it has been 3 days.
The hives were out of hand, so I took a zyrtec. I got some nice picture of the hives, so all of you can see what I go through now. I've got no idea what to do. The only things you can use to chelate cause me severe distress. I still find it odd that it took 3 rounds for it to show up.
Well I have to let this all soak in and see what I want to do from here. To say I am frustrated is a huge understatement.
Update: I woke up Monday morning and the hives are still here. Wow! I'm thinking this must be a candida/fungus flare up or some type. I also have tinea versicolor on my neck now and it is starting on my chest. You can see a spot of it (if you know what you are looking for) in the picture of my neck. I'm not sure what to do, but studies I've read suggest taking Diflucan to control the fungus. We will see what I want to do because I did not really want to do that right now. Blah...never dull when chelating!
Update 2: It is now Monday night I see no end with these hives. Zyrtec surprisingly isn't working. I don't know whether it is because my Zyrtec is 1 year past expiration (haha) or if these hives are just not responding. Ugh I really did not want to go on an anti-fungal, but I might have to give it a shot to see if it clears up.
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| Terrible Itchy Hives on Neck and Scalp |
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| Very large, hard hives near elbow |
Well I have to let this all soak in and see what I want to do from here. To say I am frustrated is a huge understatement.
Update: I woke up Monday morning and the hives are still here. Wow! I'm thinking this must be a candida/fungus flare up or some type. I also have tinea versicolor on my neck now and it is starting on my chest. You can see a spot of it (if you know what you are looking for) in the picture of my neck. I'm not sure what to do, but studies I've read suggest taking Diflucan to control the fungus. We will see what I want to do because I did not really want to do that right now. Blah...never dull when chelating!
Update 2: It is now Monday night I see no end with these hives. Zyrtec surprisingly isn't working. I don't know whether it is because my Zyrtec is 1 year past expiration (haha) or if these hives are just not responding. Ugh I really did not want to go on an anti-fungal, but I might have to give it a shot to see if it clears up.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Round 3: DMPS Complete
I am happy to say round 3 of DMPS is complete and I don't feel any symptoms still. As a reminder, I am taking 50mg of DMPS every 8 hours for 3 days. I don't know if I should be happy, worried or content. haha Is it doing anything? I should I be feeling something to know it is working?
I am not the type of person who has placebo effects...Today I felt like my vision was more clear like I got a new contact prescription. It was not particularly bright or sunny, so I don't think it had anything to do with lighting. We'll see in the next few days if this sticks around of if I am just imagining things. :) As we were driving around, I could see every twig and stick on trees. The rocks on the ground were more defined and it was just amazing overall. The floaters are still there, but the actual vision felt like it was better than 20/20. It was incredible.
That is all for now. I'm still working on getting my thoughts together for Part 2 of the Lyme discussion.
I am not the type of person who has placebo effects...Today I felt like my vision was more clear like I got a new contact prescription. It was not particularly bright or sunny, so I don't think it had anything to do with lighting. We'll see in the next few days if this sticks around of if I am just imagining things. :) As we were driving around, I could see every twig and stick on trees. The rocks on the ground were more defined and it was just amazing overall. The floaters are still there, but the actual vision felt like it was better than 20/20. It was incredible.
That is all for now. I'm still working on getting my thoughts together for Part 2 of the Lyme discussion.
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