Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[dlp252]

he wants to know if he can be the "speaker of the rachelville" hahahahaha he asked if i would ask you all that

Cool! I hate speaking, lol.

[dlp252]

Happy 2007 to you all!!

Someone mentioned a few pages ago that Lyme seemed to be very prevalent in Califonia lately. As I am going to the Lompoc area in April (Vandenberg, north of LA), is there anything I should be aware of?

Here in tick season, we all just wear long pants and hats. I would hate to think I am either naiive or paranoid. Also, I would not want to be wearing long pants in the spring if California if I can avoid it. Especially coming from the great white north.

Happy 2007 to you too! Can't help much with the tick thing, cuz most of us Californians are probably pretty clueless about it, which is why it's probably spreading so quickly, lol. I'd think as long as you aren't walking through brush or thickly wooded areas and don't come into contact with scraggly looking deer or pet any cute animals, you might be okay.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Also, why would Autism be increasing in frequency at such a steady rate?? Vaccines obviously play a role but havent they been around for years and years.....yet suddenly children (and adults) are having problems with the vaccines at higher rates??

Look up acrodynia: Open Original Shared Link

Symptoms are very similar to autism. It was diagnosed around the turn of the 1900 century in children who were given teething powders that contained--mercury. It disappeared as soon as they stopped manufacturing the teething powders.Nobody ever hears about it any more.

Vaccines were first given to the general population in the 1930's--and they contained thimerosal. Leo Kanner wrote his first papers about autistic patients (and coined the word "autism") in the early 1940's--about patients who were born and first inoculated int he 1930's.

In the 1960's, children were given maybe 5 inoculations in their whole childhood, and none as infants. Now infants are given as many as 4 vaccines on the day of birth, and upwards of 26 by the age of 15 months. The thimerosal was "taken out" of vaccines in 2001, I think--but physicians have been using up old stores of vaccines produced in 2001 and before. I think they have until 2008 to use them up.

Thimerosal was also used in contact lens solutions and other opthalmic solutions, until the 1980's, when it was banned in all over-the-counter products, but continued to be injected into infants' bloodstreams in "mandatory" vaccines.

Andrea and Ursula probably have even more and better info on this,

[dlp252]

I didn't get a flu shot this year because it contained thimerasol. The nurse said they get very few of them without it and I think they save them mostly for the pregnant ladies. So I took my chances this year.

Andrea - LOVE the new photo of the kids, they are PRECIOUS!!

[Fiddle-Faddle]

I didn't get a flu shot this year because it contained thimerasol. The nurse said they get very few of them without it and I think they save them mostly for the pregnant ladies. So I took my chances this year.

Andrea - LOVE the new photo of the kids, they are PRECIOUS!!

You'll probably be MUCH healthier this year! (Just remember to wash your hands a lot! Soap and hot water work WAY better than Purell and/or wipees.)

[CarlaB]

I dont know much about vaccines and such but I know I wouldnt want my child to have any thermisol based vaccine. Is this still a *must*....are they phasing it out??? What can a parent do in this situation.....if I'm ever so lucky as to become one??

Premature Post

I don't know if someone answered this, but you do not have to get your kids vaccinated. Just check the laws for your state ... almost every state has an "out". Here in Ohio it's a philosophical objection, in Indiana it was religious (my religion says you shouldn't deliberately harm your body ... see, it's subjective and they legally cannot ask for a note from your pastor -- but they might try!).

[CarlaB]

Eric and I have "partaken" in a great bottle of wine from the winery tour we took last year, some cranberry and vodka, and a great bottle of champagne.

Oh my! I would be sick for a WEEK!!! AT LEAST!!! LOL.

He may be the speaker ...

Happy New Year everyone!!

[AndreaB]

Good morning.....happy first day of 2007!

I'm sure I must be the only one going to work today.

Happy first day of the year to you too!

I also think you are the only one going to work today.

H A P P Y .... N E W .... Y E A R .... everyone! ! !

Thanks Patti, and to you as well. I made it until 9:00, lol. I DID wake up at 11:10, but fell back asleep before I saw midnight. In fact, last night was one of the best nights sleep I've had in a long time.

Can't do that here. Our neighbors always have fireworks going off at midnight. I had to stay up in case they woke Talitha up. She gets scared pretty easily and if she wakes up Micah gets him going as well. He's generally not as fearful as she is though. All the kids slept through it.

Carla,

Most states still have exemptions available for vaccination but some don't. They are moving more and more to medical reasons only which are very difficult to secure.

Alison,

For some reason I suspect either the DTaP or the Pnuemococcal for Seth's ecema outbreak. Pnuem because of the soy protein. Come to think of it it could have been the HepB as well. It seems he had a minor rash type thing on his forehead after he was a couple days old. That could have been something else as well though.

[Rachel--24]

In the 1960's, children were given maybe 5 inoculations in their whole childhood, and none as infants. Now infants are given as many as 4 vaccines on the day of birth, and upwards of 26 by the age of 15 months. The thimerosal was "taken out" of vaccines in 2001, I think--but physicians have been using up old stores of vaccines produced in 2001 and before. I think they have until 2008 to use them up.

I definately think that the vaccines with thimerosal are bad news. I'm someone who feels that mercury doesnt belong in our mouths...in our shots...in our vaccinnes...in our bodies....PERIOD.

I think about what my old Dr. said when I kept running my mouth about mercury getting me sick. He said that the *last* event to occur and finally tip the scales toward ill health usually gets the blame...because it *seems* to be the culprit. However...it ususally *isn't* the main cause of illness... just the straw that broke the camels back.

My new Dr. says the same thing. I believe them because of my own experience....because I didnt get sick from any shots or vaccines. I also didnt have a *ton* of shots like other people have had. Besides possibly getting the Tetanus shot...there was nothing else since early childhood. I've never had a flu shot and I only had 4 amalgams in my mouth....a small amount compared to what most healthy people have.

So one day I wake up with major fever and other flu-like symptoms...end up with some weird looking bite on me...shrug it off. Everything *seems* fine. Two years later I go to the dentist....get exposed to some mercury and within 2 months I cant even work anymore and nothings the same since.

I have to ask this....WHY ME?? I've always been in perfect health. Other people who are *not* in as good health get dental work done and they dont end up like this??

Some of these people may have mouthfuls of amalgam plus all the vaccines plus flu shots every year....and still.....not ending up sick. I've probably had less mercury exposure than the average person yet I became DISABLED.

Who knows what might have happened to me if I'd gotten a flu shot on top of all this.....would I even be able to be here typing this right now??

The BioSET lady warned me the first time I saw her....DO NOT get a flu shot....you might think you're bad off now....but a flu shot will make things a WHOLE lot worse for you.

What about these kids who are never the same after they've had their vaccines??? Why is it happening to THESE kids and not other kids?? And most importantly....why is this increasing quite steadily each year??

Why is it so common for the parents of the autistic children to have one or more autoimmune disease??

Many researchers and Dr.'s believe that autoimmune disease is caused by infection...either bacterial or viral. The immune system starts to attack its own tissue due to the presence of an infectious agent.

It makes sense that autoimmune problems would develop with a bacteria like Lyme living inside of our own cells and tissue....disguising itself so cleverly that it appears to *belong*....when obviously it doesnt.

Although Lyme was *identified* in the 70's....it was actually first seen in the late 1800's. Before anyone knew of Lyme there was Syphillus....the two "spirochetes" are very similar in nature.

These infectious diseases have been around for at least a century.....its plausible that the bacteria can also be transferred from mother to child for generations...we already know that it passes in utero.

Now that there are Dr.'s specializing it Lyme its well known that entire families can be affected by the disease. These Dr.'s see it all the time.

Could this be a reason for autoimmune disease running in families?? So far it does not run in my family. What if I never knew of Lyme and never did any research....just remained ill and started a family. What would happen to my children when they got their vaccines?? Would autoimmune disease start to run in my family in future generations.....all starting with me having Graves Disease??

I'm sure if I had a Celiac gene it would have been "triggered" at some point in the last 4 years. Thankfully I did NOT have a gene because I may have stopped looking for answers with that single diagnosis. Then my kids might also get Celiac...."triggered" by birth???

At this point there is so much more to learn about Lyme I can only specualte....basically just putting out my thoughts. Who knows if I even make any sense.

I makes me wonder though....if I can make sure I do not have Lyme passing to any future children...could I possibly stop autoimmune disease from developing in my family....or such things as Autism occurring after vaccinations??? Could it go in a whole other direction if I wasnt aware of Lyme?? Its kind of scary to think about.

I just think there is more to the story than just the mercury in the vaccines. For anyone who believes the vaccines are safe....maybe they are in *some* individuals....but how do we know which kids will fare well and which kids wont?? Who wants to take that kind of risk with their babies??? I know I dont.

Its a darn good thing they are phasing the thimerasol out because in my opinion if they dont.....with the way that Lyme is spreading....there are gonna be ALOT of kids not getting the start they deserve in life. The mercury is tipping the scales for these kids....I believe there is something that came *before* the vaccine though....and most likely it came from the mother.

MAN....I just rambled on for my whole lunch hour.

Gotta go.

[AndreaB]

Rachel,

Ramble away.

I forgot to tell you I copied over the lyme autism stuff. Thanks for the info. To be tucked away for future reference.

A lot of things have started to make more sense this year for our family and I'm open to learning more.

[happygirl]

We went out today and watched PSU beat UT and Auburn beat Nebraska. Yay!

[CarlaB]

Carla, don't worry, I didn't drink it all. Just some wine and a bit of champagne ... Eric had the cran/vodka so that he could still kiss me

Glad to hear it. Anymore, it seems even a glass or two has the potential to make me quite ill. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. I never see any pattern of why it bothers me at some times and not others, so I had to give it up completely ... a regular hangover is bad enough, but now, even a glass can make me feel bad like a glutening (or worse).

[Fiddle-Faddle]

I definately think that the vaccines with thimerosal are bad news. I'm someone who feels that mercury doesnt belong in our mouths...in our shots...in our vaccinnes...in our bodies....PERIOD.

According to my husband (a PhD chemist), ANYBODY who takes organic chemistry ought to agree with you. He says that ANY exposure to mercury can be deadly--that is what he was taught and what they practice in all the labs.

When one of the pediatricians tried to convince me that thimerasol was a different kind of mercury and therefore not a problem, my husband wondered how this guy passed his organic chemistry premed courses.

What about these kids who are never the same after they've had their vaccines??? Why is it happening to THESE kids and not other kids?? And most importantly....why is this increasing quite steadily each year??

It's increasing steadily because the number of vaccines (and therefore the mercury load) has been steadily increasing. I read a couple of years ago that the graphs of the two are nearly identical.

Now they are talking about adding a MANDATORY vaccine for 11-year-old girls agains HPV (venereal warts, which causes cervical cancer).

I agree with you that vaccines are not the entire story. I would guess that the mercury does the actual brain damage, but the leaky gut opens the door to the blood/brain barrier, and the autoimmune disorders, hmm, do they CAUSE the leaky gut? And the gluten/casein acts as an opiate to cause the brain fog.

Your Lyme theory does answer a lot of questions. I wonder, though-- with the unnecessary use of antibiotics to treat stupid things like ear infections and colds, why didn't that at least kill off the Lyme?

[CarlaB]

Your Lyme theory does answer a lot of questions. I wonder, though-- with the unnecessary use of antibiotics to treat stupid things like ear infections and colds, why didn't that at least kill off the Lyme?

It's probably because the person is not on them long enough, or isn't on the right ones. I know when I've been on antibiotics it takes me months to get back to normal. Now I think that is because the antibiotics cause me to herx.

[Eliza13]

I think I had an OMG I might be onto something moment today in that I think I have discovered another allergen/intolerance: Grapes!!!! Every once in a while my stomach becomes enormous and I get itchy ALL over. Can grapes do this and are any of you intolerant to grapes?

On the colds thing. I have had constant colds all of my life, with the exception of last winter. It was my first winter Gluten free!!! NOt a coincidence!

[dagreen]

Sorry, when I posted I only had read the first post. Therefore, I took my post out.

[Rachel--24]

Your Lyme theory does answer a lot of questions. I wonder, though-- with the unnecessary use of antibiotics to treat stupid things like ear infections and colds, why didn't that at least kill off the Lyme?

Its because...like Carla said...they are not on antibiotics long enough to touch the Lyme. Lyme isnt like other infections and it requires long term antibiotic treatment to get better....short rounds of antibiotics arent gonna touch it. It also depends on the type of antibiotics taken.

There are over 300 strains of Lyme bacteria and one persons infection might respond well to one type of antibiotic while another persons infection may require something different. Its a complicated disease for sure.

The bacteria get killed off during their growth cycle which occurs every 28 days....this is why 3 weeks of antibibiotics isnt sufficient. Chronic Lyme patients usually need to be on the antibiotics from several months to several years depending on the persons total spirochete load and other factors.

The Autistic kids do respond to antibiotics but are not kept on them long enough according to the article.

Recently there have been reports of short term antibiotic use to kill

clostridium and or AGBN's. Vancomycin was recently used, and reports are that

when on the antibiotic for thirty days, symptoms of autism decreased. The

Jarish Herxheimer reaction is seen when antibiotics are having a therapeutic

effect as well, as evidenced when the child is on the antibiotics. This often

scares off the weary parent of an autistic child, stopping the antibiotic for

fear it is contributing to their autism symptoms when in reality it was killing

lyme with mild to moderate reactions[/b]. Unfortunately, in these studies, the

children regressed back to autism symptoms as soon as they were removed after

thirty days. If the bacteria is not completely eliminated, the symptoms will

return. This tells us, I believe, that lyme is involved in their autism.

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a three week course of antibiotics, Dr. Jones-a pediatric lyme speclialist, has found that the bacteria that causes Lyme has

become increasingly hardy and even when the disease is caught early, it often

needs to be treated with an eight to twelve week course of antibiotics or

beyond.

So basically while on the antibiotics the symptoms of Autism decrease....but because the kids are Herxing (which means that the bacteria are being killed off) the parents are taking them off of the antibiotics. Its because Herxing can be a horrible thing to go through....as the bacteria die they release toxins which flood your system and make you very sick. The parents then witness their child suffering and choose to stop the antibiotics believing that the child is getting worse.

The fact is that most people herx when they are on antibiotics or other treatments for Lyme. You get worse before you get better....its a no pain no gain type of thing. It sucks but thats the way it is. You can try to minimize the reactions by lowering the dose but some people Herx on the tiniest amounts....everyones different.

The fact that the kids are Herxing indicates that *something* is dying off...most likely its the Lyme....but 30 days is not effective treatment. The article is saying after the antibiotic treatment is stopped all of the symtpoms of Autism return.

For these kids who are herxing.....more long term antibiotic treatment will likely clear up alot of symptoms. If a person is improving on antibiotics and then regresses after the treatment is stopped....this means the infection is still there and further treatment is required.

BUT....it doesnt stop there. Chelation of mercury and treatment for parasites, co-infections, yeasts, diet changes....etc all play a role in how much recovery will take place. With Lyme Disease there is no single answer.....unless you're lucky enough to get treated before the infection becomes chronic.

They did a study on MS and Lyme....to see if these two diseases are the same "geographically". They were almost identical. You can view the maps here.

Open Original Shared Link

It looks like they are doing something similar with Lyme and Autism....the study has not been completed yet.

Design of the Study :

This study is supported by the Wilton Lyme Disease Task Force. Based on the hypothesis that the prevalence of autism may be increased in Lyme endemic areas, the prevalence statistics for autism in the school districts of known hyperendemic areas in New Jersey and Connecticut will be compared to the prevalence statistics for autism in the school districts of areas without much Lyme Disease. The hyperendemic and non-endemic areas will be identified by categorizing rates of Lyme disease (in each area) into quantiles. Once the data has been collected and prevalence rates have been calculated for both autism and Lyme disease, an expected rate of autism will be calculated based on areas that have a low prevalence of Lyme Disease. From this rate, an expected number of cases will be determined (based on population size) and a calculation of the observed number of autism cases minus the expected number of autism cases will be made. From this calculation, graphical comparisons will be made to determine if observed values of autism more dramatically deviate from expected values in areas that have high rates of Lyme Disease. Prevalence rates will then be mapped in overlays to determine if Lyme hyperendemic areas overlap with high rates of autism. Arcview, a Geographic Information System (GIS) of which Columbia University is already in possession, will be used for all mapping purposes.

I seriously doubt Lyme is the *cause* for all Autism but I think they will find more cases of Autism in the Lyme endemic areas for sure. I think its playing a role....but who knows how big of a role its playing.

My Dr. says that mercury and Lyme both cause the same kind of things to occur in the body....they are both intracellular and they both will wreak havoc with all body systems. Both are VERY difficult to detect and determine as a cause of illness. A person can appear *perfect* in all traditional tests even though they may be extremely ill from Lyme, mercury or both. Unfortunally when Lyme is present...usually mercury is too....they go hand in hand. Like my Dr. said...they are buddies attached at the hip....they help each other out....making it that much harder for a person to recover.

I *think*....from my own personal experience that the mercury is bringing the Lyme out. The bacteria has already started creating a toxic environment in the host but maybe not enough for a person to be chronically ill. Then the mercury is introduced and this weakens the immune system enough to bring out the Lyme so that its now causing symptoms. The body is already toxic...the mercury adds to the total load and along with the Lyme it starts causing immune disregulation and a whole cacade of events will follow.

This is my "theory" anyway. Who knows.....I might change my mind tomorrow but right now I think it makes sense.

As far as mercury and Lyme in the body....seperate from each other my Dr. says its much worse to have Lyme. The BioSET lady agreed. In their opinion mercury plays a role but is not the *sole* cause for illness such as this. Mercury can be chelated from the body but it is alot harder to control a Lyme infection once its become chronic.

[miamia]

Hey all-

Rachel thanks for all the info you have been posting . In one thing they mention zinc iron deficiences its interesting becaus eall my levels for everything i have been tested for always come back normal except these two- I have low zinc high iron- I wonder if this means anything.

Tomorrow I have my first antiobiotic treatment I am alittle nervous becasue I already have not been feeling great, but I guess I'll just hope for the best and that it won't be that bad.

Miamia

[AndreaB]

Tomorrow I have my first antiobiotic treatment I am alittle nervous becasue I already have not been feeling great, but I guess I'll just hope for the best and that it won't be that bad.

Miamia

Mia,

Keep us posted if you will. How many antibiotic treatments do you need to go through? Are you going to get retested by Igenix? Is this for the urine test for lyme? Are you not feeling well due to an illness or is it the lyme doing it's normal thing?

Rachel,

Thanks for all the info. I'd be curious on how the lyme and autism study turns out.

[diamondheart]

Happy New Year everyone. I've been taking advantage of all this great snow in Colorado and brushing up on my cross country skiing the last three days. This is the first year I've done any for a couple of years. I am sadly out of shape. Must go to bed. I need a vacation from my vacation!

BTW, I have not resensitized to any of the foods I've been cleared of with the BioSET treatment so far. Peacenlove, thanks for the info on the triggers for resensitization. I wasn't aware of them. I'll have to ask my acu about it this Friday.

Claire

[AndreaB]

Sorry, when I posted I only had read the first post. Therefore, I took my post out.

Dagreen,

Don't know if you're coming back or not but it is ok to post about something from the beginning of the thread. If you have any questions about other food intolerances or whatnot, please ask. Also contribute anything you would like. That's how we learn.

[hiasun]

A product may be labeled as Gluten-free but it still could have MSG. MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in many processed foods. Open Original Shared Link is a good site that explains it.

Jamie

When I began eating Gluten Free, I avoided all canned and processed foods, after 2 years, I began to add some canned foods. I would read the labels carefully, but did not use a complete/accurate list when checking labels. In October of 2006, I began using canned chicken broth, and (some) progresso soups. My children and I began to experience symptoms again, after re-reading my Gluten-Free food list again I noticed MSG - Monosodium Glutamate. Sure enough, each of these canned items contained MSG. This is 2 1/2 months later and we are still experiencing the symptoms. My doctor recommended that we take a histamine blocker regularly for 3 to 4 months.

I have since learned that MSG - Monosodium Glutamate - Ajinamoto

A white, crystalline salt used to flavor food, especially in China and Japan.

The two raw materials used for the greater proportion of commercial production are wheat gluten and desugared beet-sugar molasses. (Source: Open Original Shared Link)

I didn't realize that MSG could be in other foods/items. Thank you for the link to Open Original Shared Link.

Sincerely,

Hiasun

[Rachel--24]

Tomorrow I have my first antiobiotic treatment I am alittle nervous becasue I already have not been feeling great, but I guess I'll just hope for the best and that it won't be that bad.

Miamia

Miamia....good luck today!! I'll be thinking about you and hoping that all goes well with the injections and the tests.

Does a person still have to take lots of probiotics when antibiotics are administered intraveneously??

[Rachel--24]

I think I had an OMG I might be onto something moment today in that I think I have discovered another allergen/intolerance: Grapes!!!! Every once in a while my stomach becomes enormous and I get itchy ALL over. Can grapes do this and are any of you intolerant to grapes?

Hi Eliza

You could be reacting to sulfites. Most grapes are sprayed with this preservative. It sounds like it might be something like that. Do you also get a similar reaction to red wine or dried fruits such as apricots?? That would indicate a sulfite sensitivity.

[Rachel--24]

You need a professional-sounding name, though--GFFLRT? (GlutenFreeForumLymeResearchTeam?) I bet somebody can come up with something better!

That was funny.

I was actually wondering if maybe I should change the sub-title of the thread...the part about eating dairy again. I was thinking it might be more helpful to people if they knew what the thread was about. But then again the topic never stays the same so I just dont know what would best describe the thread content??

Any ideas?? What do you guys think.....or should it just remain as is....or maybe no sub-title at all??