Category Archives: Tests

My Visit to Mensah Medical

In July 2017 I flew to California where Mensah Medical had an outreach clinic. I had done enough research to want to consult with Dr Mensah. He said I could have gone to Australia but for a number of reasons I decided to see the man himself. I had also read the book ” Nutrient Power – Heal Your Biochemistry” which was quite educational and that answered a few long standing questions I had.

The most common imbalances are:

Elevated copper/zinc ratio. Overmethylation, Undermethylation, Pyrolles disorder (B6 Zinc), Heavy Metal Overload, Glucose Dyscontrol/Blood sugar issues, Malabsorbtion.

I can tick a few of those.

So with a consultation and accompanying lab tests, we can be prescribed the most ideal nutrient combination for our bio-type. These supplement combinations supposedly balance our biochemistry. It seems too good to be true and I’ll be finding out soon enough whether it improves my lot, or not. My history with high dose supplements hasn’t been very successful.

As you can see below, dosing is typically high. This just highlights why we shouldn’t try to do this stuff ourselves. I think I’d now rather take no supplements than try and guess what I need and accidentally over-dose in certain nutrients.

Nutrient overload causes more trouble than nutrient deficiencies. Better to eat as well as we can until we really now what imbalances we have.

Some of the testing included – Whole Blood Histamine (methylation status, high histamine = undermethylator & low histamine <40ng/mL is over-methylator), Thyroid, Copper Serum, Vitamin D, and Plasma Zinc, Pyroluria/Pyrolles, % Free Copper, Homocysteine. Trace Elements Hair test.

The histamine test confirmed to me why the gut healing anti-histamine Ketotifen didn’t work for me months ago. I can only assume that Low histamine plus taking an anti-histamine = even lower histamine = severe fatigue and low mood. Perhaps there is more to it but that makes sense. Histamine is a neuro-transmitter so that explains things.

An example of customized morning and evening nutrients/supplements following consultation and testing.

Other mandatory supplements can include: Evening Primrose Oil, N-Acetyl-Cysteine, a Cal/Mag combo and Lithium Orotate. GABA is an option for helping to relax.

Example of an over-methylator’s optimal diet: mainly folate rich veges, some protein, no soy. I need to research this more but it seems happy vegans and vegetarian could most likely be tending toward the over-methylator range – i.e low Whole Blood Histamine. They produce more than enough methyl so do not need so much high methionine foods – meat, eggs, fish.

They also produce high levels of some neuro-transmitters such as serotonin so taking serotonin enhancing medications like SSRI’s could lead to severely worse symptoms. To avoid this, doctors could have simply done a Whole Blood Histamine test so see what drug suited what patient. Instead, it’s experimental with sometimes disastrous outcomes.

On the other hand, under-methylators would most likely feel worse eating vegan/vegetarian because they are high histamine/low methyl people. Therefore these individuals may instead need high methyl foods such as meat. eggs, fish, chicken to feel well.

The only bio-type nutritionist I know is Samantha Gilbert (that’s Jhill-bear)

We’re born with our methylation status so the sooner we work this out the better if we want to feel our best.

According to Walsh Institute:

70% of population exhibits normal methylation. 22% are under methylated and 8% are over methylated.

Popular genetic testing for MTHFR, MS and SNP’s are limited in their ability to determine overall methyl status.

To be continued…I should have some answers in 2018

More info at:

https://www.walshinstitute.org/

http://www.mensahmedical.com/

 

Dr Bruce Jones – Melbourne – Detox Doctor

Dr Jones is in Melbourne, Australia. All the testing I did can be seen 2 or 3 posts ago, last month. Too many perhaps, but fascinating all the same. The stool test from Germany was very informative. But finding solutions is the tricky part.

The products he recommends are Cilantro, R-Lipoic Acid, EDTA, BioSil and Pecta-Sol C. Unfortunately not for me as far too aggressive.

Effective for mild cases of chronic toxicity but not mild to severe as I have found out.

Anyone who has a severe reaction to agents such as Cilantro, DMSA and R-Lipoic Acid should not continue with them as it’s very easy to do WAY MORE damage. The old adage ‘no pain no gain’ doesn’t work in this instance. Any pain actually means you’re going backwards and most likely damaging yourself.

Before doing any testing, I was advised to start on 240mg Super R-Lipoic Acid. Holy shit, NO WAY I thought at the time after previous disasters with Alpha Lipoic Acid. Since I was also taking the Ecoeugenics PectaSol-C binder I was advised that this will bind any toxins and I should be okay.

This was reckless advice. I compromised and started on about 10mg, so 1/25 of what I was advised. And boom, within days I was verging on being admitted to a mental hospital. 240mg might well have been a hospital dose because I may not have been conscious. For someone else it might be fine but we are all so different it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ situation. It’s potentially very dangerous.

It just shows that anyone has to be so careful with taking anything that mobilises toxins. No doctor or test will EVER know or show exactly what toxin levels, in what locations, are really inside you. Mobilising toxins is the easiest thing to do and it also causes the most damage. Getting the toxins OUT OF YOUR BODY is the most important thing. If they just keep recirculating around and around they can make you feel horrendous.

PectaSol-C is a great general detox product to be taken daily but in my opinion it’s not really a top notch and hard core binder. The charcoal and clay products I think do a better job. Something like Dr Shultz’s Intestinal Absorber #2 will definitely soak up some nasties. For sensitive people, these binders alone can actually have some mild side effects. One product at a time.

I hope Dr Jones can adapt his protocols for those of us who aren’t ready for the powerful detoxing agents. I am more than happy to help as I progress. The detox game is high risk for doctors so I do appreciate those who actually try to help those i need. It’s all pretty new so we just have to be careful and take things slowly.

Please see latest posts for updates

Normal Thyroid Results probably aren’t normal

After years of getting thyroid tests done which are always within the ‘healthy’ limits, I never questioned whether my thyroid was ever playing  a role in chronic illness.

My last test showed 3.5 TSH. Well within the upper limit of 4.5.

Except these lab ranges are obsolete and TSH should be around 1.2 but not higher than 1.5.

So it only took 15 years to work out I’m hypo-thyroid. Chronic Toxicity can disrupt the hormonal system and not enough thyroid hormone is getting to the thyroid. So we have to temporarily hack this in an effort to get stronger so the toxins can come out.

This done by taking a slow release NDT or Natural Dessicated Thyroid pill to give the thyroid what it needs. Brand names include Nature Throid and Armour but much more info is available at www.stopthethyroidmadness.com. Or search for ‘stop the thyroid madness’

Blood tests have to be done very few months to ensure that TSH level stays balanced around 1.2. The thyroid meds can be weaned of when detox is being completed. When the metals have gone, the thyroid should work fine just by itself.

This is just another example of mainstream medicine being wrong again. Imagine how many people come away with normal results but they feel like something is wrong. It really is madness.

However, I have not proved this myself but I am currently on Thiroyd with an i. I had to get it from overseas because my doctor won’t give me Nature Throid because my results are normal. This is typical and and frustrating but I don’t get too pissed off anymore as there are always solutions. So many people are in the same boat.

Dosing is very important. I started with very small amounts. My dosing is an 1/8 of a grain (approx 5mg) per day for 5 days, then increase to 1/4 grain etc. One grain is 60mgs.

I have to dissolve it in water and sip it throughout the day because it’s not slow release. Too much at once is too much for sensitive patients.

If I struggle with this then I will look at adding some adrenal cortex to get my cortisol levels down. It can be a juggling act but it’s common to balance the adrenals with cortex before moving on to the thyroid. But these glands are so important that this area of treatment must be done correctly.

This is part of the foundation work that has to be done before proper detoxing of the metals can occur. In some cases the toxins will come out naturally when we balance these glands and get the body working properly. The eventual ‘forced’ detox should be much easier.

For my thyroid test I just walked into a lab and got it done. I didn’t need to see my doctor. It was part of a Thyroid Panel test. TSH, FreeT4 and FreeT3.

There’s heaps more great info at the thyroid madness website. It might be worth getting a test done before jumping to any conclusions.

 

 

Recent Test Results & Diagnosis – Sept 2016

All 8 tests are back and and here’s what I need to do.

The stool test shows where the problems lie. Severe toxicity and imbalances – Cadmium, Cesium, Lead, Arsenic, Nickel, Thallium, Tin, Copper, Manganese, Strontium and Barium. All are far too high.

My liver test was one of the worst he had seen and therefore it’s not detoxing properly. The catch 22 is that the toxins are disrupting the enzymes that digest food that my liver needs to work properly. So somehow I have to get these metals out of my body, although my body is compromised.

The plan is to use different agents for different toxins. I was focusing on Mercury but no mercury showed up on tests; that’s not to say there’s not some hidden away somewhere but I need to focus on getting the cadmium, tin and thallium out. I’ll do this by taking a form of EDTA – mainly for Thallium. Also, Biosil and Cilantro will be used according to what I can tolerate. And possibly DMSA at some stage for the lead. A special type of Citrus Pectin will act as an absorber to ensure all these toxins don’t just keep swirling around.

To monitor progress and make adjustments to my program, a Stool re-test will be done after 10 weeks. This test give the most info about me and what channels are being used. For someone else, it might be the DMSA Urine test that gives clues, that’s why I had to do so many tests. It was to see what toxins are there and how they are being excreted. If I continued with something like chelation therapy and used DMPS or DMSA alone (compare urine tests below) then I wouldn’t make any progress because those aren’t my ideal channels for detox. Not only that, those chemicals would be tough on my already compromised liver. It’s a recipe for a lot more unnecessary suffering. It’s crucial to find out this information or else you’re flying blind.

Neurotransmitters – The high toxicity is also not allowing my body to produce the raw materials for neurotransmitters. No amount of pharma drugs will help much without some raw materials to work with.

Mauve test – as I excreted too much Zinc over the years, Cadmium has taken it’s place. That’s how our bodies adapt.

There are other imbalances that I will be working on but the main objective is to lessen the toxicity. As these levels decrease, other imbalances should start to normalise.

I’ll report back when I get some blood test results back from my other mainstream doctor. Iron came back high on the Urine test. Too much iron isn’t good. To keep it down, I steer clear of (enriched) foods such as cereal and breads. The wrong type of iron is added to these foods. Giving blood every few months is another great way to keep iron levels healthy. There are some informative videos online with Morley Robbins and Wendy Myers that are wroth a watch.

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis: View

Kryptopyrroles / Mauve Factor (B6 and Zinc imbalance): View

Amino Acid Profile (building blocks for basic functioning): View

Liver Detox Profile (ability of liver to recover from toxins): View

Neurotransmitter Profile: View

Mineral Analysis, Urine – Baseline: View

Mineral Analysis, Urine – Post DMSA, Biosil, Glycine Challenge test: View

Mineral Analysis – Stool: View

Not everyone has to the same tests, it depends on what your symptoms are and how your initial consultation goes. You can usually guess which ones you need because of how you feel though. The hair, urine and stool tests are standard for suspected toxicity.

 

 

Test – Liver Detoxification Profile

I’ve nearly completed this last round of testing. One or two to go…

These tests results were derived from a urine sample after taking some caffeine and paracetamol to see how efficiently my liver processed them. This test was ordered primarily to see how high much chelation (toxin absorbing chemicals) I could tolerate assuming they will be required for treatment. These results obviously look out of quilter so I will update this post when I hear from my Doc when he interprets it over the next week or two.

Liver Detox Profile

 

Neurotransmitter Test Results and the DMSA Mega-Dose…

After ordering another bunch of tests (according to my consultation and health history notes) here is the Extensive Neurotransmitter Profile results which were no surprise to me. This was a Urine only test and I have been sceptical of these in the past but this does match up with how I feel most of the time.

These tests are always fascinating and it makes me think that there must be solutions to fixing these imbalances. I’m sure there are; but it’s just finding someone who has the right answers. The amount of tests I’ve done over the years and someone says just take this and this – and I get no improvement. Very disappointing.

Hopefully this time is different.

Neuro

As you can see my results are way less than optimal. GABA is low at 135, should be over 600 and that explains why I can never relax properly. I’m always agitated to some degree. Perhaps a GABA supplement can help with this until we remove the underlying cause.

Heavy metal toxicity can play a role with blocking neurotransmitters so I look forward to getting my DMSA challenge test results back next month. This test involved taking 1500mg DMSA, Glycine for better DMSA absorption/toxin mobiliser and Biosil which is Choline-Stabilized Orthosilicic Acid (ch-OSA).  The Biosil mobilises different types of metals such as Tin and Thallium. A ‘Pre’ and ‘Post’ Urine sample was taken. This test should be way more indicative than the Hair Test in terms of what might be causing me issues. The info from all these tests combined should be enough to improve my healing program.

So 3 test results are still due: Amino Acid Profile, Liver Function Test and The DMSA challenge test.

After completing 45 rounds of Chelation Therapy (Andy Cutler style) and believing these DMSA challenge tests were a big NO NO, I was very reluctant to do this test. My Doc said I must or else we’d be ‘flying blind’, so I started to prepare, both mentally and physically.

During my days with Chelation, I could only ever manage a 5mg dose of DMSA every 3 hours for 3 days. So about 40mgs per day of DMSA. At the end of 3 days I was pretty exhausted. If I ramped up my dosage, even to 10mgs, I would really suffer and have to stop after 2 days. That’s ‘seized in bed’ suffering, not just a light headache. So can you imagine how I felt about swallowing 1500mg in one shot? I thought, ‘bloody hell, no way’. I had also been in contact with a ‘successful’ mercury poisoning healer in the States and she told me that I was crazy doing this. She said it was a ‘lawsuit’ dose and I risked organ damage or even death! That’s the last thing I needed to hear.

These differing views on the internet made a tough situation even tougher. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how to go about things. Who’s right?

I spent a couple more days doing research and then decided go through with it. The benefits outweighed the risks. I checked that my Will was up to date, warned those close to me what I was doing and then prepared for the ‘mega dose’.

Down the hatch they go – half a dozen DMSA, another half dozen Glycine and 40 drops of Biosil. A short prayer was said and I sat down. What happened?…..

NOTHING. I slept well, woke up relatively fine and took the wee sample. I thought ‘You gotta be kidding me!’  The closest I came to injuring myself was falling backwards when getting a whiff of my sulphur smelling urine. (DMSA)

These challenge tests are standard and have been used for years but my doctor and others get better results by adding the Glycine and Biosil. I proved that these big ‘one off’ doses are well tolerated by a compromised person when compared to frequent dosing. I think my underlying detox system is in bad shape and that’s why I couldn’t tolerate bigger frequent doses while chelating. My Kryptopyrroles Test showed a Vitamin B6 and Zinc imbalance so this will be part of it.

Hopefully all will be revealed over the next few weeks and I can recover more quickly on a more personalised program instead of a one size fits all approach, which frequent dose Chelation is really.

If you have any questions, just let me know.

Hair Test from Trace Elements

My first Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis came back as you can see below. These results from Trace Elements contain way more data for your practitioner to interpret. That means they get a better idea of what is wrong with you and how to improve your health.

I’ll wait until I speak to my Doc but I wasn’t surprised to see the 4 main minerals still quite low due to a relatively stressful few months. The first 4 – Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium should be higher. The toxic metal, Pb, or Lead, on the top right is higher – perhaps it’s starting to come out. I will add info here if anything important comes out of the the analysis. I hoping some clues come out of this – that’s the reason I did it. Not a definitive guide but one tool of many.

Trace Elements Hair Test

Kryptopyrrole Test / Mauve Factor

Improving my program involved getting some more tests done. You’ll see below that my Mauve Factor (HPL) is too high at nearly 34 when it should be under 10.

This imbalance has a few names such as Pyroluria, Kryptopyroluria, Kryptopyrole or Mauve disorder and most likely more.

Basically this neurotoxic chemical, HPL, is produced if we have been or are currently in a chronic stress situation. My situation was years ago but obviously the imbalance has not corrected. HPL binds ZINC and Vitamin B6 and excretes it therefore not allowing our body to use them.

Zinc and B6 are crucial for neurotransmitter production and may explain why neurological symptoms are so prevalent today. Chronic stress in many forms.

Supplementation with Zinc and/or B6 should improve the situation so hopefully this will improve my situation.

Mauve_Test

Symptoms can be:

  • constant inner tension and strain
  • anxiety and depression
  • inability to relax
  • poor stress tolerance
  • symptoms exacerbated by stress
  • joint or pain stiffness
  • immune issues
  • digestive issues
  • eczema or psoriasis
  • mood swings
  • poor short term memory
  • avoid social situations – too difficult / stressful