How was I tested for heavy metal toxicity?
My blood test for lead and mercury came out negative. From my understanding, in order to have a positive blood test for heavy metals, you have to be pretty acutely ill and most likely had a recent large exposure (like if you were a worker in construction around these metals very recently.)
I was tested by a Provoked Urine Test. I took a medication called DMSA, which helps to bring metals out into my urine and then I did a 6 hour urine collection. A sample was sent to a lab, and after ~4 weeks my results came back, which showed that I had "approximately 3 times the amount of lead" as I should. Sadly, this data is compared to data from an un-provoked urine test, which doesn't make sense to me (shouldn't it be compared to results of provoked urine tests?). I specifically asked my doctor about this and according to interviews from the Detox Summit (which she sent me but I cannot re-post them here), provoked urine tests show the chronic exposure of the body to heavy metals. This governmental website from Portland says that one should not rely on a provoked urine test because there is no data surrounding this.
So what now? I am going to attempt to release my need to control all things, and trust my doctor on this one.
What does heavy metal toxicity cause?
My doctor heavily recommended that I get tested for this because of my long history of infertility including a miscarriage, as well as the development of my autoimmune disease Hashimotos. This research article looked at a large sample of women with infertility and investigated their heavy metal levels as well as many other issues. Interestingly enough, the study claims that diagnosis and treatment of heavy metals improved spontaneous conception for women with infertility. Dr. Mark Hyman, who is well known in the alternative health world is very supportive of the treatment of heavy metals. This website gives a list of problems/diseases which can be associated with heavy metal toxicity.
What is the treatment for heavy metal toxicity?
My doctor is recommending two different types of treatment for heavy metal toxicity. Both of these treatments will be on top of my gut healing regimen for SIBO. See my prior article about this.
1) Taking some detox supplements, including milk thistle, pyrophyllite clay, and this Paleo Cleanse supplement (that is NOT Paleo because it contains pea protein.) She states that this will be a longer course of treatment, but she does see results with this.
2) A 10- week course of IV Chelation. IV Chelation is an intravenous way of giving high doses of agents that help to remove the Lead from the body. These agents are given with high doses of glutathione and other vitamins/minerals, which are needed to assist with detox and are also given because these may be further depleted from your body during the detox. This is the most expensive option. It will cost almost $3000!
My doctor states that she sees great results with this and her patients no longer have high heavy metals in their urine.
To further complicate things:
Besides receiving this diagnosis, I also got the results of my genetic testing from 23andme. This confirmed what my doctor suspected, that I have the CBS gene mutation (homozygous.)
This genetic mutation can disrupt the normal detoxifying pathways in our cells, making it difficult to get rid of toxins, such as lead and mercury. How am I presently supporting these detoxifying pathways? By eating my real food diet, primarily following an AIP diet, taking liposomal glutathione supplements, as well as the clay mentioned above, and working on the lifestyle piece of mindfulness.
Decisions, decisions around heavy metal detoxification:
I will continue researching what's best for me, meditate on this, pray, and comfort myself in that I am healing now.
Help
If you have experienced diagnosis or treatment of heavy metals, and have any advice or comments, please email me at RealFoodAlways@gmail.com.
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