Toxic Immune Syndrome

My daughter Dara became ill long before I did. She battled Crohn’s disease with fatigue for 15 years, but eventually managed to get through university, a testament to her indomitable spirit. She was 32 and it had been a struggle.

Shortly after graduating in autumn of 1996, she landed a teaching position in South Korea and left with trepidation. She had already begun yet another downward spiral. It was an all-too familiar path.

Looking back, my own body had been giving me warning signs for quite some time too. I had been healthy and fit my entire life and slipped into my 50s without missing a beat. All that was about to change.

It was 1992 while in Nepal that I came down with a bacterial infection: high fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Anxious to get out of Katmandu to trek in the mountains, I had no qualms about taking antibiotics. Three months later, I could not shake persistent diarrhea. Back home tests at the Medical Travel Clinic in Ottawa turned up parasites for which the prescribed treatment was Flagdyl. It was a mistake. Worse still was that I was moving up a blind alley, associating my problem with something I had picked up in Nepal.

Over the next three years I bounced up and down; got better, got worse. In the spring of 1995 I returned to Nepal as unofficial "tour guide" for my husband and a group of friends. The stress of arduous mountain hiking, coupled with a sense of responsibility for my group pushed me over the edge. I came home exhausted with diarrhea, my constant companion. I was treated by good doctors and bad doctors and reluctantly went through all the tests. I was offered prednisone and Prozac. I declined. I began to lose faith in allopathic medicine.

By 1996, my symptoms worsened. I was no longer able to work on a regular basis. I had spent 15 years building a reputable stained glass business but now the accumulation of dust in my studio was evidence of my declining health. I spent most of the day in bed, not even having the energy for daily routines. What was happening to me?

Comparing Notes

I took stock. I wrote down all my symptoms. On paper they seemed even more frightening. Fatigue and loss of energy topped the list. My appetite had decreased, with accompanying weight loss. I had constant ringing in my ears and an ever-present metallic taste in my mouth. Long-term bowel problems persisted. My muscles ached and I felt tired, even in bed, with migrating joint pain as an added extra. I bruised easily and suffered hypoglycemic reactions such as sweating, nausea, sudden weakness and jitteriness.

My memory and concentration were poor, with an inability to focus on even the simplest of tasks. I had significantly decreased strength and a tingling sensation in my hands and feet. At times I was confused and uncoordinated, tripping over my own feet. When asked a question, minutes would often glide by before I could process it and reply. I was dysfunctional most of the time.

I talked to my daughter Dara in Korea. She was not well, but still on her feet. We compared notes. Our symptoms were alarmingly similar. Could we possibly have the same problem with the same root cause? I started looking for answers and read everything I could related to chronic fatigue and bowel disease.

Dara had operated a small framing business out of my studio for three years. She often helped me finish stained glass projects when I was snowed under. We had no ventilation and did not wear masks. The possibility of lead being a factor soon became evident. At the same time, the name of an Ottawa doctor specializing in environmental medicine dropped into my lap. I made an appointment.

Metal Discovery

I had an immediate rapport with my new doctor, who was quite familiar with my symptoms. After extensive testing, 14 masked food allergies were uncovered, plus multiple chemical sensitivities. Furthermore, a hair analysis test (an indicator of body lead burden) showed abnormally high levels. Subsequent urinalysis confirmed the presence of many heavy metals in my system. Cadmium (found in the solder used in stained glass) was five times above the reference range, with lead close behind at four times the recommended maximums. Significantly elevated levels of nickel and aluminum were also present. The root cause of my illness was becoming more apparent. Under the guidance of my doctor, coupled with my own study of healing methods, I began a step-by-step recovery program.

I started by having all my mercury amalgam fillings removed. I rearranged my lifestyle to stop the flow of toxins into my body. I adjusted my diet to concentrate on "super" foods to strengthen the immune system. I took an oral treatment to flush all the parasites from my intestines. While supporting my system with biochemical and nutritional supplements, I did organ flushes, lymph drainage, colonics and exercise.

I also began chelation therapy, an intravenous solution of vitamins, minerals and EDTA (ethylene- diaminetetraceticacid, a synthetic amino acid). Chelation acts like a magnet, pulling metal ions out of the cells of the arterial walls. My lead and cadmium levels began to drop significantly, with marked improvement in my overall health.

Dara came home from Korea in August 1997 and met with my doctor. Testing confirmed high levels of lead, cadmium and nickel, although not as high as mine. She immediately embarked on the same treatment as me, including chelation twice weekly. By November she was feeling great and returned to Korea. I continued chelation until 1998, when my levels were reduced by 40 per cent.

The Last Puzzle Piece

But by the summer of 1998, I was losing ground. Fatigue had returned and joint pain moved around my body from hip to elbow to shoulder. Dara also experienced a setback and returned to Canada. We heard about a clinic in Calgary working in a field called energy medicine, using an electro-acupuncture device like a Mora machine–a computerized biofeedback system.

An assessment at the Calgary clinic showed mercury and palladium toxicity–the missing piece of the puzzle. Both of our circulation systems and livers were under oxidative stress, often seen with heavy metal toxicity.

Mercury was having a significant impact on our small intestines, kidneys and central nervous systems. Treatment at the clinic took three months. They cleaned out organs and cleared blockages, allowing our bodies to release and eliminate the buildup of harmful toxins. We then continued with a six-week dysbiosos therapy (herbal and homeopathic in content) to correct the imbalance in the digestive tract. Initially our condition worsened as our bodies began to detox, but then our symptoms began to disappear. The energy flowed! Neither of us had felt this well in years.

I began working in my studio again, using a high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter mask and an exhaust fan set up over my worktable. In the fall of 1999 I joined Dara in Japan. We tramped around Kyoto and rejoiced in the fact that almost a year had slipped by and we were still symptom free. We were well again!