Further reflection on OAT/Ferritin

After some additional consideration, I am disappointed in my results.  Still no real smoking gun.  I was VIRTUALLY CERTAIN that the oxalates would be WAY over the top but that was not the case.

As for the yeast and fungal infections, neither one was extreme high and I have every confidence that with stronger probiotics, they will come down.  It's possible that they were not always high.  I took probiotics more regularly in the past and it did NOT solve my the sulfur issues or the sensitivity.  As for the low serotonin, the 5-HTP failed but I am pretty confident that improved gut health will also boost my serotonin.  I'm not even getting my test interpreted by a "real doctor"

In other news, my ferritin blood test results came back today and my number is 171, which is down 77 points from my high of 248 just 5 weeks ago.  Ideal is 50 so I've got a long way to go.  I doubt this is the smoking gun either.  I've read about cases that were over 1000.  It's certainly a good thing to get it down and I will keep striving for that objective.  IP-6 is no longer tolerated but it seems like Calcium citrate is not only tolerated but necessary at pretty high doses.  I'm going with that until the first of December.  If I don't see another significant drop, I will go through with blood donation.  Why the hesitation?  I'm leery because it can deplete other minerals.

Worst symptom:
If I take a pill that I cannot tolerate, what happens?  My whole body tightens up and both my energy and mood are tanked for the rest of the day, perhaps into the next day.  The ill-effects kick in almost instantly.  I'm talking about less than 60 seconds after taking the pill.  Would a mildly elevated yeast/fungal marker cause something like that?  Hell no!  How about a mild-moderately elevated Iron or ferritin?  Highly unlikely.

Tests to be considered:
-Genova Organix Comprehensive- Tests many of the same stuff as the OAT but this one tests sulfates.  My urinary sulfates are off the scale on the test strips but I have nothing in writing.  Based on everything that is going on, the evidence suggests that I don't have an excess at all.  Rather, I am wasting the sulfates in my urine just as was the case with Lithium last year.

-Ferritin re-test-  I want to a drop down to at least 125 by early December.

-Vitamin D- I found several articles on Google that have said this is "critical for sulfate metabolism."  The Accutane that I took is a toxic dose of Vitamin A, which is stored in the liver.  What gets depleted when you have an excess of Vitamin A?  The answer is D.

Treatments:
-5HTP- FAIL.  See the description above.

Whole Food C- FAIL.  See above.

Syntol- Stronger probiotic will be ordered.

Vitamin C as Ascorbic acid- May be okay in small doses but I can't tolerate anything over 500 mg.  I will take it only if it makes me feel better.  If it's ineffective but not a FAIL, I won't mess with it.

Calcium Citrate- looking like a winner and my best hope short of blood donation to lower ferritin.

Blood donation- Again, a last resort.  It will almost certainly lower ferritin but will it solve the sensitivity or sulfate metabolism?  Highly unlikely.

Vitamin D3- Many health practitioners shoot this down and suggest Magnesium instead.  My Magnesium has consistently tested at 5 in the HTMA and in the upper 5s in the RBC.  That's just south of optimal and CERTAINLY NOT the smoking gun.  Upping Mag is still a good idea and will be necessary if I take more D.  Based on what I've read, D could be my best hope to solve the sulfate metabolism.  Of course, I will test it to see if I really am deficient.  I've been wrong before.

What about depleting ceruloplasmin?
  To be honest, I'm not worried about that at all.  I felt BETTER when it was low.  However, if I find that ascorbic acid doesn't help or my D tests normal, I won't mess with either.