Autism, Mercury and the California Numbers

[Guest guest]

Hi Folks,

 

I'm not really back on my computer (and lists) yet ... but my issue has

been successfully diagnosed as a power supply issue (now to get that

fixed this week) ..

 

Anyway - I thought y'all might be interested in the following ...

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom - I'll be back by the weekend

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

 

 

<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/david-kirby/autism-mercur

y-and-the-c_4133.html> Autism, Mercury and the California Numbers

by

David Kirby

 

For months now, a mantra of the thimerosal defenders has been as

follows: " Mercury was removed from vaccines years ago, and we have not

seen a drop in autism rates. "

 

It looks like they might have to find a new slogan.

 

Freshly reported numbers out of California show that new cases entering

that state's disability system (children who are three-to-four years old

and newly diagnosed with autism) have indeed dropped since 2002, marking

the first decline in new autism cases since California began tracking

the mysterious disorder.

 

We now know that 2002 was the peak year for new autism diagnoses in the

state, with 3,259 cases. That number fell to 3,125 in 2003, and dropped

to 3,074 in 2004. For the first half of 2005, there were 1,470 new

cases, compared to 1,518 in the same period in 2004. A similar downward

tick has been reported in Indiana, and other states should begin

weighing in soon.

 

The Golden State, however, is said to operate the gold standard of

autism epidemiology, having always tracked " full-blown " autism only, as

defined by the DSM-IV manual. In other words, children with milder forms

of the disorder, such as PDD and Apserger Syndrome, need not apply for

services. This means that nearly two decades of rising cases in

California cannot be attributed to wider diagnostic criteria. The autism

epidemic is real.

 

So why is the drop in numbers such a potential bombshell? Because

children entering the system today were born in 2001 and 2002, soon

after the mercury-based preservative thimerosal began to be phased out

of pediatric vaccines in the United States.

 

In California, fewer children with full-blown autism entered the system

in 2003 than in 2002. Most of these kids would have been born in 1999 or

2000, when more mercury-free vaccines began their gradual penetration of

the market. In 2004, there was another decline, this time among kids

born largely in 2000 or 2001, when total average mercury burden from

vaccines presumably would have been reduced further. This year, we are

seeing kids born mostly in 2001 and 2002, when mercury levels declined

further still.

 

Is it too early to tell if this is a permanent and meaningful trend? Of

course. Could there be other explanations for the drop, such as a

budget-crunching reduction in services? Perhaps. But this very decline,

at this very moment, has long been predicted by supporters of the

thimerosal-autism theory. At the very least, the quivers of their

detractors have now been emptied of one arrow, for the time being

anyway.

 

Stay tuned. If the numbers in California and elsewhere continue to drop

- and that still is a big if -- the implication of thimerosal in the

autism epidemic will be practically undeniable.

 

David Kirby is author of " Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the

Autism Epidemic " (St. Martin's Press 2005) www.evidenceofharm.com

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Chris!

 

This spring (around his third birthday) my son, Tristan, was tested using

C.A.R.S. (The Childhood Autism Rating Scale) and found to be mild to

moderately autistic, with a score of 35.5. A score of 37 and up falls into

the 'severly autistic' range. He appears to be classically autistic, though

the district hasn't officially 'labeled' him yet.

 

The C.A.R.S. testing came about because we decided to have him screened by

the school district due to lack of communication skills & social skills.

We'd have had him screened earlier, but he has an older sibling who

'does/did' most everything for him. We figured he had 'Elder Bossy Sister

Syndrome. After all, *my* younger sister had it.

 

After his diagnosis, I started searching the 'net, hoping to become more

informed about ways to help understand what Tristan is dealing with. In my

research, I ran across plenty of print stating 'shots' may be what has been

causing autism. One of the symptoms of poisoning from 'shots' was said to be

bowel distress/trouble with digestion, which has troubled Tristan. He

self-weaned from the breast at 17 months, and since then has had maybe 3

solid stools.

 

When I talked our pediatrician about the connections between autism-mercury

poisoning-diarrhea, he poo-poo'd it. I convinced him that I wasn't on a

crusade to stop him from giving shots...I just wanted to help my son. If he

did indeed have heavy-metal poisoning, we could try chelation, etc. So, I

did talk him into testing, and he has been very cooperative in running

through a gamut of tests. (We want to find 'something' asap, rather than

wait, wishing we'd have tested earlier.)

 

So far, he's tested *low* (below norm) in heavy-metals. A voice in my head

whispers that just because he test's 'low' by 'standards' doesn't mean that

the levels are low enough to make him a normal socially healthy boy. Just

because we all have some heavy-metals in our blood doesn't mean it's a

*good* thing, right? At any rate, the doc denies mercury-poisoning, denies

autism, and denies bowel problems (he'll grow out of them). Yet, he's

letting us continue to test...I sometimes think just to cover his own butt.

 

I don't really have a 'point'. Just wanted to share part of my experience

with the subject.

 

Have a great day!

Lisa

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

> So far, he's tested *low* (below norm) in heavy-metals. A voice in

my head

> whispers that just because he test's 'low' by 'standards' doesn't

mean that

> the levels are low enough to make him a normal socially healthy

boy. Just

> because we all have some heavy-metals in our blood doesn't mean

it's a

> *good* thing, right? At any rate, the doc denies mercury-

poisoning, denies

> autism, and denies bowel problems (he'll grow out of them). Yet,

he's

> letting us continue to test...I sometimes think just to cover his

own butt.

>

>

> I don't really have a 'point'. Just wanted to share part of my

experience

> with the subject.

>

> Have a great day!

> Lisa

 

Lisa,

 

My son was dx with ASD more indicative of Asperger's. We had him

tested for heavy metals using a hair test. The following is what

I've read about blood tests taken from the autism-mercury

group:

 

This has been discussed before. There is consensus among researchers

and doctors who work with mercury toxic patients that blood tests are

not very useful;

The following is snipped from my annotated bibliography on mercury

exposure levels and health effects & result of detox. References can

be found by searching the web for

Windham AND amalgam or asking me for the paper off list.

 

There is only a weak correlation between blood and urine mercury

levels

or with body burden or level in a target organ

(36,157,183,278,11,etc.).

Mercury vapor passes through the blood rapidly(half-life in blood is

less than 10 seconds,#370) and accumulates in other parts of the body

such as the brain, kidneys, liver, thyroid gland, pituitary gland,

etc.

Thus blood test measures mostly recent exposure. As damage occurs to

kidneys over time, mercury is less efficiently eliminated

(11,36,57,183,

216,260), so urine tests are not reliable for body burden after long

term exposure. Some researchers suggest hair offers a better

indicator

of mercury body burden than blood or urine(279), and may be a better

indicator for organic mercury than inorganic. A study found a

significant positive correlation between maternal hair mercury and

mercury level in nursing infants. Hair mercury levels did not have a

significant correlation with urine mercury in one study(340) and did

not

have a significant correlation to number of

fillings(350). note Andy and I

posted before noting half life of methylmercury in the blood is

between

40 and 60 days.

 

Bernie

 

If you don't already belong to this group I suggest you join and

start reading the files/archives. There is so much there to help

your son recover. GL

 

Samantha

[Guest guest]

Lisa,

I went through the same exact thing with my oldest son. We went

round and round on the testing and diagnosis and miss diagnosis and

finally got a diagnosis by 2 psychiatrists who both agree that he is

autistic on the functional scale. I had tried to convince the dr's that

it had something to do with the mercury levels in the shots because I

noticed he got worse after each vaccination.

Anyway, unless I home school him the schools require that he be

vaccinated and I am not up to home schooling. So at this point he has

to get vaccinations but thankfully he is finished for a few years.

He's 15 now and since he's been going to the psychiatrists he's been

doing great!!

 

Veronica Davidson

<http://www.veronicaslavishlathers.com>

http://www.veronicaslavishlathers.com

<http://www.friendswithms.com> http://www.friendswithms.com

 

 

On Behalf Of Lisa Nelson, Head

Honcho of An Indigo Rose

Tuesday, August 16, 2005 4:15 PM

 

Re: Autism, Mercury and the California Numbers

 

Thanks, Chris!

 

This spring (around his third birthday) my son, Tristan, was tested

using

C.A.R.S. (The Childhood Autism Rating Scale) and found to be mild to

moderately autistic, with a score of 35.5. A score of 37 and up falls

into

the 'severly autistic' range. He appears to be classically autistic,

though

the district hasn't officially 'labeled' him yet.

 

The C.A.R.S. testing came about because we decided to have him screened

by

the school district due to lack of communication skills & social skills.

 

We'd have had him screened earlier, but he has an older sibling who

'does/did' most everything for him. We figured he had 'Elder Bossy

Sister

Syndrome. After all, *my* younger sister had it.

 

After his diagnosis, I started searching the 'net, hoping to become more

 

informed about ways to help understand what Tristan is dealing with. In

my

research, I ran across plenty of print stating 'shots' may be what has

been

causing autism. One of the symptoms of poisoning from 'shots' was said

to be

bowel distress/trouble with digestion, which has troubled Tristan. He

self-weaned from the breast at 17 months, and since then has had maybe 3

 

solid stools.

 

When I talked our pediatrician about the connections between

autism-mercury

poisoning-diarrhea, he poo-poo'd it. I convinced him that I wasn't on a

crusade to stop him from giving shots...I just wanted to help my son. If

he

did indeed have heavy-metal poisoning, we could try chelation, etc. So,

I

did talk him into testing, and he has been very cooperative in running

through a gamut of tests. (We want to find 'something' asap, rather than

 

wait, wishing we'd have tested earlier.)

 

So far, he's tested *low* (below norm) in heavy-metals. A voice in my

head

whispers that just because he test's 'low' by 'standards' doesn't mean

that

the levels are low enough to make him a normal socially healthy boy.

Just

because we all have some heavy-metals in our blood doesn't mean it's a

*good* thing, right? At any rate, the doc denies mercury-poisoning,

denies

autism, and denies bowel problems (he'll grow out of them). Yet, he's

letting us continue to test...I sometimes think just to cover his own

butt.

 

I don't really have a 'point'. Just wanted to share part of my

experience

with the subject.

 

Have a great day!

Lisa

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

> Lisa,

> I went through the same exact thing with my oldest son. We went

> round and round on the testing and diagnosis and miss diagnosis and

> finally got a diagnosis by 2 psychiatrists who both agree that he is

> autistic on the functional scale. I had tried to convince the dr's

that

> it had something to do with the mercury levels in the shots because I

> noticed he got worse after each vaccination.

> Anyway, unless I home school him the schools require that he be

> vaccinated and I am not up to home schooling. So at this point he

has

> to get vaccinations but thankfully he is finished for a few years.

 

Veronica,

 

you don't have to vaccinate and your son can still go to public

school.

http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/legally_avoid_shots.htm

http://www.909shot.com/state-site/Pennsylvania.htm

 

Samantha

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon,

 

> We had him tested for heavy metals using a hair test

 

May I ask what you found out? Had all three tests (blood, urine, hair) been

done, and results compared? I'm just curious.

 

When the results of Tristan's blood test came back, heavy-metals were low. I

let the doc know that I had read that a hair test would be more conclusive,

but he didn't seem to think it was necessary. Perhaps at our next consult

(after a visit to the Bariatric Specialist at Children's Hospital next

week), I'll ask again. From what I understand, if he *is* poisoned by

mercury, it's possible that some form of chelation can help move the metals

out of his body over time. At any rate, the only abnormality the blood test

showed was a slightly abnormal reading for organic acids (whatever that

means). Since I had read that it may be possible to chelate (over time)

using a topical application containing disodium EDTA, I was thinking that I

might just start using lotion on my boy...since I use disodium EDTA in my

lotion formulation.

 

> If you don't already belong to this group I suggest you join and start

reading the files/archives. There is so much there to help your son recover.

GL

 

Thank you! I will do that. I appreciate your time!

Lisa

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

> I had tried to convince the dr's that it had something to do with the

mercury levels in the shots

 

Yup, been there. Doc seems to think I'm hysterical, yet he approved most of

the testing so I'm going with the flow for now.

 

Have a great night!

Lisa

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Lisa,

 

Maybe this has already been asked--apologies if so--but: your doctor

denies that your son is autistic, even after the screening??? Or

simply denies that there's a link between that and the vaccinations?

 

-Josh

[Guest guest]

By the way, chlorella is great for dealing with mercury. The best

stuff on the market is Prime Chlorella:

http://www.primechlorella.com/ I stay away from other companies, as

many harvest from polluted waters and end up having to process the

chlorella to remove those impurities.

 

I wouldn't recommend capsules, and if you get the tablets be sure to

chew them. The powder is put in soups or sprinkled on food. Some

folks I know love the taste, I personally hate it. I chew the tablets

one at a time with almonds and fennel, and then swallow with water.

The almonds help mask some of the taste and keep it from sticking in

my teeth, the fennel covers up the rest of the taste.

 

-Josh

[Guest guest]

We had him tested for heavy metals using a hair test

 

May I ask what you found out? Had all three tests (blood, urine,

hair) been

done, and results compared? I'm just curious.

 

He was high in aluminum and met the counting rules for deranged

mineral transport indicative of mercury poisioning.

http://home.earthlink.net/~moriam/HOW_TO_hair_test.html

 

When the results of Tristan's blood test came back, heavy-metals

were low.

 

" Mercury vapor passes through the blood rapidly(half-life in blood is

less than 10 seconds,#370) and accumulates in other parts of the body

such as the brain, kidneys, liver, thyroid gland, pituitary gland,

etc.

Thus blood test measures mostly recent exposure. "

 

I let the doc know that I had read that a hair test would be more

conclusive,

but he didn't seem to think it was necessary.

 

You can order the hair test yourself. You don't need a Dr.

http://home.earthlink.net/~moriam/HOW_TO_hair_test.html

 

Perhaps at our next consult

(after a visit to the Bariatric Specialist at Children's Hospital

next

week), I'll ask again. From what I understand, if he *is* poisoned

by

mercury, it's possible that some form of chelation can help move

the metals

out of his body over time. At any rate, the only abnormality the

blood test

> showed was a slightly abnormal reading for organic acids (whatever

that

> means).

 

I don't know what that means either but I'm sure someone at autism-

mercury can help you with figure out what it means.

 

Since I had read that it may be possible to chelate (over time)

> using a topical application containing disodium EDTA, I was

thinking that I

> might just start using lotion on my boy...since I use disodium

EDTA in my

> lotion formulation.

 

We are using DMSA & ALA to get the metals out. There are people on

autism-mercury using transdermal EDTA. I'd read up on it before

trying it on your son.

 

Samantha

[Guest guest]

> your doctor denies that your son is autistic, even after the screening???

Or simply denies that there's a link between that and the vaccinations?

 

Both! He thinks Tristan is just a bit 'behind'. He hasn't lived with him,

nor has he been around him when he's had a meltdown. He feels that the

school district is just too happy to drop kids into the 'spectrum' to help

them qualify for services. If Tristan weren't in the 'spectrum', he would

not be eligible for the in-home visits and such. (That have helped Tristan,

and I, greatly!) I *have* let the workers know my doctor says Tristan is

*not* autistic, and they disagree, to the extent that he is eligible for SS,

and we may be eligible for some respite care (which would be a Godsend!).

<sigh> At any rate, Tristan is autistic, and we are learning how to help him

overcome some of the anti-social behaviors by teaching how to 'be' social,

as he doesn't seem to learn by example alone. He has started saying a few

words to people other than myself, now. A *big* thing, for me, was when I

recently came back from a 4-day trip, he *looked* at me. When I picked him

up, instead of the usual 'sack of potatoes', he actually patted me very,

very gently on the arm. I think he loves me!!

 

Have a great day, everyone!

Lisa