HI All,
Recently I have been experiencing a variety of symptoms and health problems with no real explanation from the medical community as to why they are occuring. I have had pain in the mid abdomen area and in the groin area. This has been occuring on and off for several months. I have a runny nose every morning this also has been occuring every morning for months. Several test have been done -- blood tests, scopes, x-rays, etc. The only true diagnosis was Prostatitis. I did take a course of antibiotics and it did relieve some of the pain in the groin area. But I still feel funny. Something does not feel like it is digesting correctly. It is very fustrating.
A friend of mine was reading about mercury poisoning from dental work. He feels that it is possible that I may have got mercury poisoning in some of my fillings and crowns. Now I have done a little reading on the matter and a lot of the people that have this problem do have "unexplained symptoms". My question, How does one know truly if they have mercury poisoning from dental work? You could just have simular symptoms after all. What about the testing for this -- could this be expensive? I guess I am having a difficult time believing this is possible -- wouldn't we see a lot of people having dental work removed? How come your regular doctor would identify this as a possibility? Are the symptoms for this that abstract? Is this REALLY POSSIBLE?
Doctors and dentists are not likely to talk about mercury poisoning because if they admit it, people are going to get scared, sue, and want their fillings removed with the government having to foot the bill. A lot of people, like me, had these fillings done as a child and never told any risk of poisoning.
Mercury Amalgam fillings are probably causing a lot of health problems, however, and have been banned in some countries like Sweden. I think I have it and am looking into getting all my mercury fillings removed. Since I started having these fillings at about nine, I've had increased anxiety that eventually lead to OCD by the time I was 12. By 21 I was also experiencing fertility problems. After another amalgam filling was put in 8 years ago, my periods have stopped almost completely. Doctors can find no reason. I've suffered from muscle pains and get pins and needles in the night.
I am very angry that mercury fillings were put in my mouth as a child. I might have had these problems anyway, but I'll never know.
Care has to be taken when removing the mercury fillings, though, as it causes high dose of mercury to enter the body, which can cause problems. A detoxification process needs to be carried out afterwards to rid the body of this poison.
I am only beginning to learn about mercury poisoning and what to do about it, but I defintely believe it exists, and think I might be a victim of it as I have a LOT of mercury fillings in my mouth, and that could explain the deterioration of my health over the years.
On the symptoms of mercury poisoning, the ones I've heard of are:
Depression
Anxiety disorder i.e. OCD
neurological problems - numbness, tingling etc
MS symptoms - degeneration of muscle strength, paralysis
Forgetfulness
Inability to concentrate
Fertility problems
Fatigue
allergies i.e. sneezes, running nose
metallic taste in the mouth
tics i.e. compulsion to move part of body, wink, blink etc
Behavioural problems in children
All these health problems can be caused by other things aswell, but a number of people have improved significantly when they've had their mercury fillings replaced (properly, with all due care).
The mercury poisoning can also pass to the unborn baby in the womb. This is another reason why I would like them removed. I didn't mention my age, I'm 29. This is far too young to have menopausal symptoms, which is what I have been having since I was 25. I haven't had a period for almost a year. I read about a woman with mercury poisoning who went into early menopause. I've had loads of tests done and they can find no reason for my problem. For years I've been to the doctor with fatigue and allergies that I can't find a source of, and muscle pains and pins and needles, aswell as anxiety. All this is documented. No one ever mentioned mercury poisoning, let alone looked into it.
Last time I went to a dentist for a filling they used the "tooth color" (don't know the proper name) filling and said they wanted to remove all the amalgam fillings I had and use that in place of it. I asked if that is because of the risk of mercury poisoning. I had looked up the symptoms previously and had a few of them so always wondered if that was the cause. The dentist said no, that she does not believe that they cause it, only wanted to use the other because of other reasons (can't remember the reasons she stated). She said the mercury in the fillings is far less then the mercury we end up absorbing into our system in our daily living. I don't know if that is true. They don't even do amalgam fillings there as far as I know. Anyway, I'm not saying I don't believe it could happen.
A lot of dentists will deny it. I went to my doctor today, she'd never heard of mercury poisoning. My advice is do the research yourself, never ever blindly believe what a doctor or dentist tells you, because they might not be in full possession of the facts, or they might just intentionally try to pass off their opinion as fact.
Unless someone can prove to me 100% that my problems have not been caused by the large amount of mercury fillings in my mouth, and they have never been able to find ANY explanation for my problems, then they can't say the mercury has not caused them. Until I had fillings, I was a very confident, happy, carefree child who loved life. A couple of years after I had fillings, I developed OCD, I became withdrawn, shy, had migraines, then fertility problems and a lot of physical pain which they said came from computer use, inexplicable allergies and fatigue.
I believe these fillings have ruined my life, and I would urge anyone to NEVER have a mercury filling and NEVER EVER let your children have one. It's better to err on the side of caution, because anyone with an ounce of sense would realise not to put one of the most toxic substances known to humans in the mouth.
This is just my opinion, of course, and dentists like yours are entitled to their opinion, but when it's MY health at stake, they had no right to put that stuff in my mouth as an innocent child who trusted them, when they knew there was some risk of poisoning.
I will never ever trust doctors or dentists to tell me the truth ever again.
I have an online friend that also believes that he may have it also. He sent some of his hair into a labratory in the US (he is in England) because I guess they can tell a lot from your hair. Have you heard of this? I certainly don't want to have any others put in my mouth and would like to get the ones I do have, out. I will never let them put them in my daughters mouth either. My husband has them and he's in the military so they will not give him a choice.
I haven't heard of the hair test. I've only really been looking into mercury poisoning for about a week. I've been shocked at what I've found out.
I'm sorry if I seemed a bit sharp, I am just REALLY stressed out about this. If I don't get a medical certificate to say they have been causing problems (which I don't really expect to get because, well, will they admit it?) then I'm going to have to pay a lot of money to have them removed. If I don't get them removed, I am worried about my long-term health. If I do get them removed, I'm worried about the vapour release.
This is a real nightmare. For a long time I've been trying to find a solution to my health problems that don't involve drugs. I've tried all kinds of supplements, but nothing helps me. Every time I go to the doctor about a problem, they look at me like I'm crazy and prescribe something. I want ANSWERS not drugs, something they don't seem to understand. I went for fertility problems, they offered me birth control. I wanted the cause, not drugs. It's so typical of the health profession today - treat the symptoms, not the cause.
Maybe I would have had these problems anyway, but the more I read, the more I believe the fillings haven't helped in any way. My mother had a filling put in while I was in the womb, that can cause problems initself. But until I started having fillings, I was a really well child. I remember that. I had nothing much wrong with me, except childhood complaints. It anger me that the suffering I've been through, and it has been immense, might have been caused by the fillings. On the other hand, there's somewhat relief too because if I can get them removed, them maybe I can get some of my health back.
My doctor is looking into what tests to run. I just hope they take this seriously, and not just write it off as another episode of hypochondria from me. I hate anything medical, real phobia for me, so I wouldn't go to the doctor about things unless I really had too.
Demererra, I hope they take it seriously also. I don't trust them anymore than you do, it sounds like. So, is your doctor actually going to do tests to see if it is in fact mercury causing your health problems? Is there one blood test they can do to tell? I wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of people walking around with symptoms they can't find the root cause of and this is it. I'd be interested in hearing what tests you end up having done if you feel like sharing.
Thank you for your interest I'm seeing my doctor in a couple of weeks about what tests to run. In the meantime I'm having hormone tests to see why I don't get periods. I've had these tests before, though, and a scan, and all came back "normal".
In the meantime, I'm looking up specialist clinics in my country that do mercury removals, tests, and help with detox advice. If the tests don't show anything up (and I'm told they might not necessary show up high mercury because it depends where in the body it is deposited) then I'm going to have to pay for the treatment. I've heard it can be quite costly, but no more than say one or two holidays, so if it's a case of doing without a vacation or two and getting my health back, it will be worth it
These are the complaints I've had since I was about 12 years old (2 years after they started to give me mercury fillings:
1. anxiety increasing to OCD (which I managed to get under control by force of will)
2. Migraines including visual disturbance, nausea, vomitting, profound headache
3. Short-sightedness
4. Shakes in my hands
5. Pins and needles or numbness sometimes when I sleep
6. Insomnia
7. Depression
8. Light sensitivity
9. Late starting periods
10. amenorrhea (up to 12 months with no period)
11. Muscle pains
12. Inexplicable allergies
13. Fatigue
14. Floaters in the eyes
15. Hair thinning
16. Skin hypersensitivity (like burn to be touched lightly)
17. Compulsion to blink
18. Morning lethargy
19. Low intest in sex
20. Shyness/lack of confidence
21. Night sweats
22. Lack of concentration
23. Mind fog
24. Forgetfulness
25. White tongue
The doctors never found reasons for all these, but they are all associated with mercury poisoning. It seem too much of a coincidence to me that I have them all. This would be because I have been exposed to the mercury for 20 years and during crucial years of child and teen development.
I will let you know what happens, what tests they run, which procedures I have done etc. The detox process can take a couple of years, I believe, so it might be a while before I know if it was for sure the mercury, but by the time I'm 35 I might have a lot of my health and fertility back (mercury interfers with menstruation), and that's still young enough to enjoy life to the full For so many years I've lived with anxiety and phobias, and all the other problems, that I've never had a relationship, for example, a full time job, much less think about having a baby. If I can get my health back, then there is so much to hope for. At times things seemed so hopeless, I just didn't want to go on with there being so much pain, mentally and physically.
But, if it is the mercury, I've been "lucky" to find this out. Some, like you say, might be dying or extremely ill because of their teeth. It's an absolute tragedy.
PS I have never smoked, done drugs or regularly drank alcohol (never got drunk, only drank a glass at special occasions) so these are in no way causing the problems. I have never been on birth control or medication, which can cause side-effects. I am a vegetarian, but I have had several tests to check my nutrition levels, and all were good as I take a supplement. I've been taking glucosamine for the muscle pains. I do a lot of computer work now, which I will freely admit must have contributed to the aches I get, but not the other symptoms which I had before I even had a typewriter! The light sensitivity started in primary school, so before I was 12, and about the time I had fillings and braces.
My experience of the doctors was that they would look at the problem I was seeing them about, but not look at my history. They wouldn't think she has this and this and this, which could equal "that". I had ear problem causing me to be so dizzy that I couldn't focus, like everything was spinning, which they said was labyrinthitis. The allergies I had they said they didn't know cause of, so just gave me pills. And so on etc.
PPS I read that the tests involve a hair sample and urine test.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kstari
Demererra, I hope they take it seriously also. I don't trust them anymore than you do, it sounds like. So, is your doctor actually going to do tests to see if it is in fact mercury causing your health problems? Is there one blood test they can do to tell? I wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of people walking around with symptoms they can't find the root cause of and this is it. I'd be interested in hearing what tests you end up having done if you feel like sharing.
I had literature today from my doctor which says that mercury in fillings "poses no significant health risk". Note how they phrase that "significant". They don't say poses "no health risk". They go on about environmental factors etc, but if that was so, eveyone where I live would have the problems. And I don't eat fish.
They talked about oestradiols in sealants (like Bisphenol A) and compoosites being linked to infertility in men and cancer in men and women. I think I have this in my teeth also, which would perhaps explain my high estrogen levels. I may aswell be on birth control pills.
Have you had your thyroid checked............propally? Alot of them symptoms look like thyroid symptoms! ps l had some big fillings l also swallowed a big filling ,my first experience that l had something wrong with me happened whilst in the dental chair approx 6/7 yrs ago and last year l was dxn with graves disease (hyper thyroidism!) ive heard/ read connections about mercury and thyroid problems hope you get sorted soon
Thanks! I've also heard that thyroid problems can be caused by mercury. The thing with mercury poisoning is that there are no specific set of symptoms, it depends on the individual, the amount of mercury and how sensitive the body is.
I've had several thyroid checks aswell as FBC, hormone tests, urine for diabetes (which runs in the family) aswell as ultrasound. All seem to be okay, except that my estrogen was on the "high side of normal".
I am convinced the problem is in my teeth, both from mercury and probably oestradiols (if they were put in the sealant I have - they told me they were "experimenting" on me to see if they helped prevent cavaties when I was about 10). I guess they leak oestrogen into the body if they are linked to infertility to men, so combined with the mercury it might be why I get very few periods i.e effectively acting like birth control pills (in the 60's estrogen was given to stop ovulation). I might evenbe ovulating but not menstruating. I have no idea what is going on. I might have to see a gynacologist. Today they give women shots and things to stop the menstruation, but this is not good because build up of the lining can cause uterine cancer, which is what I am concerned about if I am ovulating but not shedding the lining.
Because I have high estrogen, they didn't give me birth control pills, which is all they could suggest to give me regular periods. But, it wouldn't even be regular periods, it would be "false" periods so would just be disguising the problem while pumping me full of other hormones. I am not a fan of birth control pills. They hide information from women (i.e. might interfere with implantation) and just logically thinking as hormones have such an impact on general health and personality (i.e mood swings) pumping ourselves full of these pills every day just can't be good. Actually, one doctor was honest about this and said the pills would most likely cause more problem to me than solve any.
I really am disillusioned with the medical care of my country (Britain). I phoned up British Dental Foundation, as advised by my doctor, and one of the first things they said to me was "are you from the media?" I almost said "why, what do you have to hide?"! They misdiagnose people and just fill them full of drugs from birth control to viagra to anti-depressants - which they prescribed to my uncle once, he got addicted, had a lot of health problems after that, when the whole time he was suffering from diabetes which caused him anxiety etc.
I am very wary about what they prescribe these days, and my own approach is to find the cause, not treat the symptom, and to use as many natural methods for things as possible. My grandparents both lived until they were almost 90and had pretty good health - no strokes, heart attack, debiliating diseases - and they never used artificial birth control and had their teeth extracted very young and used dentures in public. My grandma always said to me "if you have a baby, you know what you're getting, not like with the things they give women these days". She had 8 babies. Unfortunately ninth was ectopic, but it was discovered in time, although she had to have a hysterectomy (but she was almost 50 at this time so would have been going through menopause anyway). She was a weighty woman and this is what caused her most problems later in life, but until her late 80's, she was very active, well, alert, did her own shopping, cooking, and my grandad too. He was very ill for the last 2 weeks of his life, but for years he was extremely fit and walked up to 2 miles a day in his 80's. They never had a lot of money, but they ate good fresh food that was home cooked.
I do think that taking care of our bodies and using natural things is so much better for us. It's been my approach to life for some years now, and just makes all this poison in my teeth even more ironic
When I was in my early 20s I worked in a lab where I handled a lot of mercury (Hg). My levels of Hg were monitored continuously as a preventative measure. Sure enough my Hg levels went through the roof. I forget the exact level I had, but they had categories of 1-200 nanomoles as normal, 200-500 was slightly elevated, 500-1000 was getting pretty serious, 1000-1500 was something else and > 1500 was immediate hospitalization. I was somewhere around 1200. I was told not to be anywhere near the Hg until levels came down. Your body will naturally flush out Hg on it's own. It passes in the urine. After about a month I was back to normal levels. And this is while I had a mouth full of Hg filings (and believe me I have lots). So if my body was able to bring the levels down to normal even with Hg fillings, I'm pretty sure having fillings by themselves would not raise the levels in ones body to dangerous levels.
I realise this is a controversial subject, but one thing the dental and medical community is not taking into consideration is that some people might be allergic or sensitive to the mercury in their teeth - like some might be to gold or porcelain or glass or resin etc. Although I'd say everyone is allergy to poison.
I was never tested for allergies or sensitivities before they put in the fillings, and I believe that the tests for mercury can show "normal" even though the body is actually overloaded with it. From what I've read, it deposits itself in various places, and this is why it's important to detox after mercury filling removal, otherwise it could stay in the body, just get moved from place to place, causing various problems where it settles. Symptoms might show up straight away, within months or even years.
All I know is that I have all the symptoms of mercury poisoning, and my brain chemical problems (OCD is thought to lie in chemical imbalance, lack or serotonin neurotransmitter which causes gliches in mental processes) started after I had mercury fillings. As other people with similar problems have made amazing recoveries after removal of theirs, I'm not convinced, without absolute proof, that these fillings are not responsible for my problems, or at least exaggerating them (something else that the dental/medical community is totally overlooking - that they may only be causing problems in people with certain disposition). For me, it's an avenue worth exploring, as all the medical community can offer me is drugs or therapist.
Mercury is highly toxic, and we all know that any toxin put into the body is not good for health, and will affect some people more than others i.e. not everyone who smokes will die of lung cancer at 45, but some will. Some studies say passive smoking doesn't kill, others say it does. It's all a question of who you believe and your own experience, and also, most importantly, what you are happy with. I won't be around someone who smokes, as I prefer to err on the side of caution. Using fillings that do not contain one of the most toxic substances known to human beings has got to be better for everyone's health.
The problem for me now is to decide what to replace the mercury with. All materials seem to carry a risk/problem, and I'm not happy with the composites with Bisphenol A in them as it's strange how my fertility problems got worse after I started having them and I had "high side of normal" estradiol levels.
This is a real problem for me to decide now what materials to use. I hope my dentist can help me and find out if it is the mercury that is making me sick. Diabetes runs in the family, perhaps it is that. I've asked for tests, they said I didn't need one as I have no hypergalecemic(sp) symptoms. And that is partly true. I have more symptoms of mercury poisoning.
I appreciate your comments. Only time will tell for me if it's the mercury., either poisoning or "intolerance". Although I may never know as the damage may already be done.
Another question that will always remain unanswered, though, is why I needed so many fillings as a child in the first place. I don't think I did. I've seen a few dentists over the years, and I was told by one I needed 4 fillings, by another I needed 2, and by another that I needed only 1. It's a money-making business, these dentists need to make a living, and I think finding one you can trust with your health is hard, but with that of your children's, extremely difficult. For a few years I avoided dentists altogether as I just couldn't trust them anymore, but all that resulted in was terrible toothache and a infection that swelled up my face and I had to have double dose of penicilin. Dentists are necessary, but so hard to trust them.
Been a while since I've visited the boards. I thought I would update on my situation, for those who were interested
I have been trying hard to find specialists in this area and it's been tough. One of the only ways of knowing if you are mercury toxic is to have a DMPS type challenge, which draws mercury out of the body. I've heard this is quite risky, so I decided not to have it. I managed to find a specialist in the end, who went through my symptoms, dental history etc, and it seems likely that I am suffering from chronic mercury poisoning from my amalgam fillings, possibly due to either sensitivity to mercury or being a slow excreter of mercury. I can have tests done for the sensitivity, but I'd have to pay for them and the treatment is going to cost enough as it is.
I am having all my fillings replaced with a composite, and I've been tested for compatibilty with the composite through a blood test (done at biolab, London). Then I am going on gentle herbal detox.
The worst thing about this is the non-help I am getting from the medical and dental community. They have diagnosed me with various health problems from PCOS to labyrinthitis but never once asked me what fillings I have. I totally think this is the wrong approach to health because our teeth are parts of our bodies.
I can only hope that my story helps someone else, otherwise my suffering since I have had the fillings 20 years ago, is in vain. These fillings are not safe, and should be banned. It's madness to put one of the most toxic substances known to humans in the mouth.
Mercury Poisoning in Dental Work 
I'm seeing my doctor in a couple of weeks about what tests to run. In the meantime I'm having hormone tests to see why I don't get periods. I've had these tests before, though, and a scan, and all came back "normal". 
