Heavy metals blood test results for Metal on Metal hip joint

Posted by tim11 @tim11, Nov 4, 2022

Results Received today:
Chromium 31.0 ng/mL
Cobalt 25.0 ng/mL
How do these values compare to the experience of others?

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@gardeningjunkie

I was scheduled for knee replacement but insisted upon testing for bone cement and metal allergies based on my allergic testing history to over a dozen elements. Medicare doesn't pay for testing for this pre-surgery metal allergy testing so I had to pay $600 and this blood test was shipped off to a lab in Chicago.
Results- positive allergies to 5 metals, but not titanium. However traces of other metals are in titanium. Surprisingly I wasn't allergic to bone cement although I'm currently allergic to acrylics used in many adhesives. My surgery was canceled because the surgeon said wear and tear on the implant caused sloughing of metals and the trace metals I was allergic to would enter my body.

Another topic- how to pull heavy metals out of your body at home.
Chelation can pull metals from your blood. This can be done faster by having your blood filtered by doctors. Heavy metals have been tied to Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Grover's Disease, GD ( a form of eczema). i have GD and GD has no cure, however I learned from blogging on this site about home chelation using blended cilantro, about 1/2 bunch daily, to pull out heavy metals. I did this for about 6 months. After one month it put my GD into remission. I was clear for about 3 years and it mildly started up again and I resumed the smoothies for a few weeks and it's controlled again. If you have metal implants with high levels of metals in your blood get medical chelation but levels are only at slightly higher levels of metals in you blood, in my layman's mind this seems like a good way to prevent higher metal build ups.
There are other herbs like oregano which can also be used, Google this topic. Those of us that experimented with fresh or fresh frozen cilantro to put our GD into remission found it helped about 50% of us, few that used cilantro oil or capsules found relief. So if trying to self-chelate your blood I recommend using fresh or fresh frozen blended with about 1/2 cup of water and chug it down like a tonic. If you put it in your morning smoothy it was ruin the taste of your smoothy.

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WOW! I appreciate that….I remember I saw “chelation” when I 1st started w/o during what was wrong w/me…I thought it was like dialysis or something! So I appreciate any advice anybody gives me. I’m on my own here.
Everybody thinks I’m crazy talking about metal poisoning…but there’s some things (if you’re aware of your body) you just know…w/out being told or having professional backing or support.
Which, technically I do…my GI Dr. gave me that info., which I , in hindsight appreciate totally.
She did tell me that “there’s not a Dr. in the world that would admit it”. Boy, was she right!

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@sgresham

3/2/22 Left THA anterior approach using Zimmer implant. Suffered an intraoperative femur fracture during the procedure and a single cable was used around the femur (originally told it was stainless steel then corrected to cobalt-chrome material). Besides 14 months of pain, I've had a strange taste in my mouth since the surgery and blurred vision (no eye problems detected), foggy head and severe fatigue. My blood tested positive for Nickel allergy back in June (MELISA - $500 sent to Germany). I've had numerous Xrays, ultrasounds, CTs, nerve test for possible ablation procedure, aspiration of fluid found (not infectious), another surgeon suggested possibly Illiopsoas tendon and I had an injection which didn't do anything to help, last was PT with Needling -- with no relief. Recent visit to Duke Medical confirmed probably the cerclage wire is causing the problems. After so much pain, anxiety and anguish, I'm now going to have the wire removed on May 23. Praying it is the source of all my problems as the hip looks perfectly placed and does not seem to be the issue.

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OMG! I can’t imagine..(I guess I can, sorta), but that’s horrible! Bad enough having new hip & breaking femur on top of that. I’m so sorry! I would MOST definitely conclude the cable was the culprit…I hope things go better after they remove that…in hindsight, the same happened to me, I never connected the dots, but it wasn’t long at all after my hip implant (1st) that my eyes got blurry & started wearing readers. I used to be an avid reader…it’s hard to read much anymore. I can’t read my phone, I do everything on my iPad for that reason.
Best wishes & prayers for your upcoming procedure . I hope things start looking up for you …God Bless

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@sickofbeinsick1

WOW! I appreciate that….I remember I saw “chelation” when I 1st started w/o during what was wrong w/me…I thought it was like dialysis or something! So I appreciate any advice anybody gives me. I’m on my own here.
Everybody thinks I’m crazy talking about metal poisoning…but there’s some things (if you’re aware of your body) you just know…w/out being told or having professional backing or support.
Which, technically I do…my GI Dr. gave me that info., which I , in hindsight appreciate totally.
She did tell me that “there’s not a Dr. in the world that would admit it”. Boy, was she right!

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You are not crazy, but I understand your feelings, because I've dealt with ignorance in the medical field if our issues don't fit the classic profile of a disease. I want to say I am grateful for our doctors; however, I've come to learn that they are not gods. They don't know everything. When we are miserable, we are forced to explore other options and blog with others who have the same of similar issues. I've learned helpful information not given to me by doctors. I've learned I am not crazy and there are others who experience similar issues. I have had several experiences from doctors and nurses who knew less about treatments for my issues than I did. After all they deal with hundreds of health issues, when we research a problem, we are focused on one. When I was suffering, I spent most my day on the internet searching for answers and what I learned gave me my life back.
I'll share one of my many experiences relating to this. I was seeing a gynecologist for itching in the female areas and was prescribed cortisone. Cortisone is a common treatment for a skin condition. My symptoms didn't improve, in fact became dramatically worse and I went back to the office for an exam. I was told to tough it out and keep using cortisone so it would get better. I did and was thoroughly miserable. Shortly after that I saw an allergist and had extensive allergy testing with the 5 Day Extended Patch Test and learned that among a dozen allergies, I am allergic to one class of steroids, the class that cortisone is in. After testing I called the nurse and I told her I was allergic and she firmly told me, "No one is allergic to cortisone". A simple Google search would have educated her. True this seasoned nurse may have never come across an allergic person like me, but to argue with me was truly ignorant. I sent her a letter with a copy of my test results and never heard back, subsequently I never went back to that office.
My advice is for you to learn all you can about metal allergies, metal poisoning and testing for these conditions. That said, you have few options to stop the cause because of your implant. However, ask your orthopedist for metal testing, or find another orthopedist who can refer to a facility for chelation or get a consultation with an allergist who can provide metal testing. In the meantime, start drinking a tonic of cilantro, blended in your blender. Other than the nasty taste, it won't hurt you and it does have vitamins in it.

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@gardeningjunkie

You are not crazy, but I understand your feelings, because I've dealt with ignorance in the medical field if our issues don't fit the classic profile of a disease. I want to say I am grateful for our doctors; however, I've come to learn that they are not gods. They don't know everything. When we are miserable, we are forced to explore other options and blog with others who have the same of similar issues. I've learned helpful information not given to me by doctors. I've learned I am not crazy and there are others who experience similar issues. I have had several experiences from doctors and nurses who knew less about treatments for my issues than I did. After all they deal with hundreds of health issues, when we research a problem, we are focused on one. When I was suffering, I spent most my day on the internet searching for answers and what I learned gave me my life back.
I'll share one of my many experiences relating to this. I was seeing a gynecologist for itching in the female areas and was prescribed cortisone. Cortisone is a common treatment for a skin condition. My symptoms didn't improve, in fact became dramatically worse and I went back to the office for an exam. I was told to tough it out and keep using cortisone so it would get better. I did and was thoroughly miserable. Shortly after that I saw an allergist and had extensive allergy testing with the 5 Day Extended Patch Test and learned that among a dozen allergies, I am allergic to one class of steroids, the class that cortisone is in. After testing I called the nurse and I told her I was allergic and she firmly told me, "No one is allergic to cortisone". A simple Google search would have educated her. True this seasoned nurse may have never come across an allergic person like me, but to argue with me was truly ignorant. I sent her a letter with a copy of my test results and never heard back, subsequently I never went back to that office.
My advice is for you to learn all you can about metal allergies, metal poisoning and testing for these conditions. That said, you have few options to stop the cause because of your implant. However, ask your orthopedist for metal testing, or find another orthopedist who can refer to a facility for chelation or get a consultation with an allergist who can provide metal testing. In the meantime, start drinking a tonic of cilantro, blended in your blender. Other than the nasty taste, it won't hurt you and it does have vitamins in it.

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I’m crying rite now…that’s exactly the boat I’m in….I’ve dealt with ignorance for so long, after a while, you (I) started to wonder if it was me! But, that’s when I’m down & in so much pain, I can’t bring myself to even try anymore. I’m not stupid, but I AM human..& it’s so frustrating! Even my husband thinks ….I don’t know…that I’m a drama Queen, or looking for attention? I’m not sure…but he’s an MD Anderson patient…maybe the dr’s there are better? On second thought…we had a tele-visit once, & I came up with suggestions that the surgeon was impressed with…so, I know they don’t know everything. Got cilantro today…gonna do it to it..
You have NO IDEA how much just that tip means to me.
Thank you, so much…you are my new best friend! JK…sorta
🥹

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Hope can lift the spirit! Without hope it's hard to hold on. You're issues are more complex than mine, but I so understand despair. I would lay in my sleepless bed at night, itching, stinging and in pain and plan my suicide. This would distract me for hours. Every scenario was considered. I didn't want to fail, have it hurt, make a mess for my husband to clean up and so on. That would get me though to morning when my day of searching for answers would begin again. Lack of sleep is a form of torture. Unless someone has lived with chronic pain they can't understand the despair and fatigue it causes. I hung in there basically because I couldn't do this to my husband. True, like yours, he could never understand the 24/7 aspect of misery it didn't help that I looked better than I felt. During the day I could distract myself, but at night without distractions all you feel is your body.
Speaking from experience- keep up hope and keep searching for answers.

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@gardeningjunkie

Hope can lift the spirit! Without hope it's hard to hold on. You're issues are more complex than mine, but I so understand despair. I would lay in my sleepless bed at night, itching, stinging and in pain and plan my suicide. This would distract me for hours. Every scenario was considered. I didn't want to fail, have it hurt, make a mess for my husband to clean up and so on. That would get me though to morning when my day of searching for answers would begin again. Lack of sleep is a form of torture. Unless someone has lived with chronic pain they can't understand the despair and fatigue it causes. I hung in there basically because I couldn't do this to my husband. True, like yours, he could never understand the 24/7 aspect of misery it didn't help that I looked better than I felt. During the day I could distract myself, but at night without distractions all you feel is your body.
Speaking from experience- keep up hope and keep searching for answers.

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I have never told anybody, but I’ve done the same…thought about suicide…LOTS, but I couldn’t do it for the same reason, plus my kids. The oldest moved out as soon as he could…he couldn’t stand watching the whole situation between me & his father. He had just turned 20…the thing is, he stopped talkin to me completely. That was heart breaking, I had no idea he’d even got an apartment. I miss him terribly. My18 yr old still lives w/ us…he’s the reason I’m still here.
He is so kind & gentle & understanding. He says next time I go to the Dr., he’s gonna speak for me…I’m not good at talking about my pains & ailments. I seem to forget all the things wrongs/ me when I’m Face to face. Being anonymous is different. I guess my mind comes & goes..there’s some texts here that I have NO recollection at all of writing. That’s distressing & scary! I haven’t cried so much in my life as in the past month or so…I told my son goodbye & I loved him…THIS SUCKS…I really thought I WAS dying a couple weeks or so ago. I thought my body wasgivinout, finally, my heart was pounding completely crazily, my gums were throbbing…that’s a new one! It was kinda scary, but I was ok w/ it..even ‘tho I wasn’t ready to leave my kids. Seems like I missed the last 5 to 7 years of their lives! That REALLY is the hardest. 😢

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You have reasons to keep trying; your son is a blessing.
I find I must bring in a list of my concerns and problems. My mother taught me that. Read your list to your doctor and don't be concerned about his feelings. He is there to treat you and if you don't share with him you make it more challenging for him to help you. You may even be having panic attacks trying to handle your failing heath. The doctor needs to know this.

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@gardeningjunkie

You have reasons to keep trying; your son is a blessing.
I find I must bring in a list of my concerns and problems. My mother taught me that. Read your list to your doctor and don't be concerned about his feelings. He is there to treat you and if you don't share with him you make it more challenging for him to help you. You may even be having panic attacks trying to handle your failing heath. The doctor needs to know this.

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I have never felt so close to death, and I can’t think!
I’m losing it

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@sickofbeinsick1

I have never felt so close to death, and I can’t think!
I’m losing it

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I’ve had a while to contemplate what’s going on, but I never did, of course, til I thought I was dying. I remembered why I HAD? to have my hip replaced in the 1st place…in hindsight, it seems ludicrous & completely unnecessary now. I had my motorcycle & broke my femur…was in the hospital in traction for a month, (as a teen, it was a lifetime), so 30 some odd yrs later, when I was pregnant w/ my 2nd, I had hip pain…to the point I couldn’t walk on it much. That’s when I went to Dr. To be honest, I don’t know that I went straight to an orthopedist or was referred. I guess it’s moot now. So, Ortho said I had AVN (avascular necrosis). He scheduled surgery 6 wks post c-section. I obviously assumed he knew more than me…which at the time, he did? Cut to the chase..I’m not sure a little necrotic bone requires such a MAJOR surgery! I guess everybody has 20/20 hindsight. I think if I’d waited til I lost the pregnancy weight, I’d probably not even needed the hip replacement

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@sickofbeinsick1

I’ve had a while to contemplate what’s going on, but I never did, of course, til I thought I was dying. I remembered why I HAD? to have my hip replaced in the 1st place…in hindsight, it seems ludicrous & completely unnecessary now. I had my motorcycle & broke my femur…was in the hospital in traction for a month, (as a teen, it was a lifetime), so 30 some odd yrs later, when I was pregnant w/ my 2nd, I had hip pain…to the point I couldn’t walk on it much. That’s when I went to Dr. To be honest, I don’t know that I went straight to an orthopedist or was referred. I guess it’s moot now. So, Ortho said I had AVN (avascular necrosis). He scheduled surgery 6 wks post c-section. I obviously assumed he knew more than me…which at the time, he did? Cut to the chase..I’m not sure a little necrotic bone requires such a MAJOR surgery! I guess everybody has 20/20 hindsight. I think if I’d waited til I lost the pregnancy weight, I’d probably not even needed the hip replacement

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Tina -
I know we always wonder, second guess ourselves and wish things were different. But as for whether "...a little necrotic bone requires such a MAJOR surgery..." here is what is known:
" With osteonecrosis, the healing process is usually ineffective and the bone tissues break down faster than the body can repair them. If left untreated, the disease progresses, and the bone may develop a crack whereby the bone can get compressed (collapse) together (similar to compressing a snowball). If this occurs at the end of the bone, it leads to an irregular joint surface, arthritic pain and loss of function of the affected areas." (https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/osteonecrosis/)
My nephew tried to ignore his osteonecrosis (convinced it would heal on its own) and ended up with a hugely complicated total hip replacement that is only done in two places in the country and required special treatment because the remaining femur could not support a normal implant.
So I truly believe that you were right in having it done.

I still would like to know whether the doctors have repeated the blood tests to see if there are still heavy metals in your body?

Sue

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