RECOVERING FROM THE IUD - Revisited
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It's now been almost five and a half years since I had my Paragard IUD removed and I have been greatly improved for the majority of that time. Still, there have been some issues that have either persisted or not been fully resolved until very recently! It feels like a great time to write a detailed update to my last “Recovering from the IUD Update” from so many years ago.
I had a copper Paragard IUD for a total of 10 months; so some of the things listed here are copper specific; however hormonal IUDs can cause copper imbalances and copper IUDs can cause hormonal imbalances. We have a lot more in common than what is different.
After spending more than five years administrating an IUD Side Effects Support Group on Facebook, I am completely convinced that even though we might get there by different paths, we all ultimately end up in the same general state of being out of balance.
Here’s a simple list of what I see as the easiest and most important things to do as soon as possible post removal of any kind of IUD.
SIMPLE THINGS
that are FREE and which CAN DO WONDERS:
DRINK lots of clean water,
TAKE SHORT RELAXING WALKS to get gentle exercise
AVOID most sugars and excess carbohydrates
Drink carrot juice instead.AVOID stimulants (like coffee) and alcohol
EAT PROBIOTIC FOOD
Such as raw sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir and beet kvass.EAT FOOD THAT HELPS
Avoid common allergens and eat clean simple foods.GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO REST & RECOVER
MINIMIZE STRESS & MULTI-TASKING
Ask friends and family for support and help with daily tasks for a while.RESTORATIVE YOGA (especially twists).
Too much exertion at the beginning can be harmful so keep it mellow and do poses laying on the ground.STIMULATE the LYMPH to move
Gentle exercise, skin brushing, skin scraping, and massage.START TRACKING YOUR CYCLES
An effective birth control method, but more importantly can provide a helpful window into what is going on with our hormones and body balance.
CHEAP or EASILY AFFORDABLE additions:
EAT ORGANIC
Especially lean meats, dairy and oils.TAKE ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID oils (daily)
Omega fish oil and either black currant oil or evening primrose oil.DRINK a half cup of ALOE JUICE with some good mineral or sea SALT in it each day
DO EPSOM SALT BATHS
Even just soaking feet in a tub.TRY ESSENTIAL OILS
Put on body or added to epsom salt bath.DO SAUNAS
Especially with a near infrared sauna. Build one yourself with heat lamps.DO COFFEE ENEMAS
Amazing but takes getting the equipment which is cheap: $8-$10.ORDER HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) with Lab Interpretation
GET TESTED for mutations in the gene that drives methylation (MTHFR)
If this long list seems overwhelming, remember that we can’t do everything.
We each need to find:
What is most drawing our attention
What we can actually follow through with on a regular basis,
What will be easy to incorporate into our lives.
Take one step.
Even just doing one simple thing can make a difference.
If it helps you feel better, then the next few steps will be even easier with an ever more visible path to follow back to yourself!
VISIT THE RECOVERY PAGE
to explore more articles, videos, podcasts and books about many of the topics mentioned here.
MORE EXPENSIVE additions.
They can cost a bit of money, but can really help.
FIND A REPUTABLE COUNSELOR to read HTMA results & recommend lifestyle, diet and supplement changes
PURCHASE and TAKE recommended SUPPLEMENTS (daily)
BUY a NEAR-INRARED SAUNA or find a public one that can be used regularly (daily or weekly)
WORK with an OSTEOPATH or NATUROPATH for specific guidance
GET Ayurvedic LYMPHATIC MASSAGE or other bodywork
(every few months if possible)DO “Netra Basti” EYE TREATMENT- soothes cranial nerve and helps detox eyes (every few months if possible)
Multiple Day “PANCHA KARMA” Ayurvedic Treatment
(one time & very expensive)
FACTORS AT WORK DURING & AFTER IUD USE
INFLAMMATION
All IUD's cause inflammation of our uterus and that is the main action that makes them work.
Our womb is linked to our pineal and pituitary glands; so an irritated or angry womb can lead to an irritated or angry mind.
Our body also reacts to inflammation on a systemic level much like it would react to a fire.
It‘s all about alarms going off and being in a state of emergency!
TOXICITY
IUDs are made mostly of a silicone/plastic material which can cause reactions in some people, referred to as “silicone toxicity”. Beyond that, hormonal IUDs also contain some barium so that they can detected by imaging devices.
The early IUDs which depended solely on the irritation they caused in the uterus did not work well enough for preventing pregnancy; so starting in the late 1970’s, changes were made to make them more effective. Adding copper to help kill sperm and create a “toxic” environment in the womb was an early alteration which can also result in a situation called “copper toxicity”.
HORMONE & MINERAL IMBALANCES
Hormonal IUDs are the most recently developed types, with the idea of using the IUD implant to administer similar hormones to those in the birth control pill. Taking hormones can obviously cause hormonal imbalances, but both copper & inflammation can also affect our hormone levels, which are interconnected with our mineral levels. It is all a very complicated and delicate system.
Hair Testing (HTMA) is good simple way to see exactly what is going on in our body as a result of these imbalances or toxicities. If a hair test read by a well trained and experienced person, it can indicate which specific things are out of balance and can give a personalized roadmap to what most needs to be done. Then, we can pinpoint the supplements and foods that our bodies most need to get back into balance. If we just take a blanket supplement, we might be moving in the wrong direction.
The most important example of where we can go wrong is with Zinc. Zinc is renowned as a balancing agent for copper; so it is commonly recommended for anyone dealing with copper to take zinc. However, through my hair test I discovered that I am one of a number of people who have copper toxicity but who are also simultaneously deficient in essential bio-available copper. My zinc levels were already a little high, so if I had taken zinc, then I would have been going the wrong way. Regular hair testing during balancing and detox can help avoid these "wrong turns".
COPPER
There are two distinct forms of copper:
Bio-available copper which is essential to our health and found in certain foods;
Bio-unavailable copper which is toxic and seen as an invader to our systems.
"The copper IUD triggers the release of prostaglandins in the uterus, which in turn effect hormone regulation including estrogen/progesterone balance. Since the prostaglandin production isn't consistent across women, and their interactions with hormone signaling are really complex and also dependent on other factors like diet and stress, it intuitively makes sense to me that the effects would vary a lot across women, from none to severe."
-posted on an IUD Side Effects support group
According to both Dr Wilson & Dr Malter, bio-unavailable copper is often absorbed and stashed away in our muscle tissue, liver & brain. This is what they say causes copper toxicity. They also talk about certain people that are already prone to being “copper personalities… in that their bodies don't release copper as easily as other people. Anyone can eventually build up enough copper to cause problems, but certain people are more easily & quickly affected.
ENERGETICS
Copper as a metal is very reactive, gives off a strong energy field and, when put inside our bodies, disrupts our own personal energy fields; which also throws everything out of balance.
Another viewpoint, which I learned from my friend Franchesca Duval (a Billings Method of Fertility Awareness Coach) is that our belly (or uterus) is our creative center and is directly related to our pituitary gland. If we plug up our uterus and disturb the flow of energy, then we can also lose our creative spark & motivation.
MTHFR MUTATIONS & METHYLATION
With the mapping of the human genome a decade or so ago, new revelations and understandings are emerging which back up Dr Wilson’s classification of some people being “copper personalities”. One of them is the identification of the gene called MTHFR, whose job it is to drive the methylation process in the body.
It was discovered early on that this gene commonly has mutations which appear to be linked with a large number of auto-immune disorders and health conditions. These mutations have an effect on the methylation process and therefore make it either harder or very difficult to detox heavy metals and toxins. They also make it difficult to process folic acid, which then acts more like a poison in the body. If the topic of MTHFR is put out on support group, there are always a number of responses from others saying that they also have one or two mutations in this particular gene. I suspect that having a certain mutations might be highly indicative of also having a higher risk of problems with an IUD. Wouldn’t it be amazing if something like this could be used to screen potential IUD users for higher risk?
Dr BEN Lynch was interviewed on the Fertility Friday Podcast Series..
The way to discover if you have a mutation in this gene is to get a genetic test done. Details are in the testing section. Determining which side of the gene the mutation occurs on is also important as they affect our bodies in different ways.
Several websites have popped up in the past few years which describe a recommended “MTHFR lifestyle” of avoiding toxins, avoiding birth control (namely IUDs), avoiding folic acid, and taking regular methylated forms of folate and B vitamins which can help the body move forward with the crucial methylation processes.
The most efficient way to explore this topic if you can afford it is to find a physician versed in the details to be your guide, but there is also a book called Dirty Genes by Dr Ben Lynch, ND which can give a lot of insight.
I personally discovered that I have one mutation on each side of the MTHFR gene, what they call “compound heterozygous”, and very strongly believe that this is a big part of why the copper IUD destroyed my health so quickly.
Even though I found out about the MTHFR mutations about a year after getting my IUD removed and avoided folic acid and toxins from the start, I did not start taking the methylated vitamins until a year and a half ago. Since I started taking a magnesium supplement along with a multivitamin containing methylated folate and methylated vitamin B’s, I have seen a tremendous change for the better!
IT SIMPLY FEELS LIKE MY BODY IS ACTUALLY WORKING AGAIN!!!!
The change was subtle at the beginning, but within a few months I could look back and see a perceptible difference! Due to Covid-19 restrictions, I have run out of that multivitamin two different times for a week or two and both times I could feel old problems such as edema, hot flashes, leg twitching and general puffiness start to return. Both times, I started the vitamins again and those issues fell away within a week; so I’m pretty convinced that it is making a big difference. I have also lost at least 25 or 30 pounds which is incredible after persistent weight gain being one of the most challenging problems that has held on even years after removal.
TOXIC DUMPING (Hormones & Copper)
We are in a state of crisis because we are carrying a very heavy load of something that our bodies do not want. These passengers have been constantly fighting with our bodies, keeping it in a state of stress which can cause our system to malfunction in different ways. After removal of the IUD our bodies are suddenly freed up to do what they were designed to do in trying to get rid of whatever they perceive to be a threat. If too much gets released too fast, especially into a system whose "exits" are blocked, then the result is that the copper or toxins are not completely purged, and instead get re-absorbed into the body somewhere else.
Our body has three main filtration systems or ways that unwanted materials can be made to exit the body:
LYMPH System (a.k.a. Immune System)
BLOOD (Spleen, Kidney & Liver)
SKIN (Sweat Glands and Pores)
Our lymph system is constantly grabbing and filtering whatever it can find, but can easily get clogged up. Cysts in our breasts and ovaries can be blockages in that system. Our blood is constantly being filtered through our spleen, kidney and liver. If those filters get too full, then they have trouble cleaning our blood. Our skin is our largest organ and is designed with sweat glands and small holes called pores which are ready made exit points. It is important to do things from the very beginning to support our body systems so that they can function better and help us out. If they are not functioning properly, we may experience more severe forms what people commonly call “The Mirena Crash” or “Copper Dumping”.
MUCH MORE still needs to be figured out and explained, but there is definitely a lot going on.
Each of us is dealing with our own unique situation and cluster of problems; so each of us will also need to try different techniques to discover what works best to help us recover.
DETAILS
This information is mixture of things from Dr Lawrence Wilson’s website, general internet research, my ayurvedic practitioners, my naturopaths, my osteopath, stories that I have seen posted repeatedly on the IUD Side Effects Support Group on Facebook and healing stories on other online forums. As usual, any feedback would be great if anyone else tries some of this stuff out… or has anything to add. Please comment below or send me a personal message.
REMOVAL
Listening to our bodies and removing the IUD is the first step towards recovery.
My body immediately calmed down very soon after removal and I felt like it heaved a huge sigh of relief before going right to work trying to rid itself of the toxins that it had been holding. My anxiety virtually disappeared within an hour of removal and by the time I left the clinic, I could already feel the black clouds parting, the sun had come out and I felt happy for the first time in many months! It was like a switch had been flipped and within the first week, my hair stopped falling out, I was able to start sleeping again, the ringing in my ears had dis-appeared, etc….
This kind of dramatic improvement after removal appears to be the most commonly discussed experience on support groups, but there are also other common post removal experiences:
A large number of people see dramatic improvement in many of the most obvious issues, but still have some things either stay the same or event get a little worse. Often there are one or two new issues which develop.
Some people see noticeable change in a few of their issues, but little or no change in others.
Some people see little change in anything immediately after removal; then report improvement only as time has passed.
Others report that some symptoms (like anxiety) either start or get much worse after removal. Please read the Anxiety, Depression and IUDs Blog if this sounds like you.
Most people report eventually seeing some improvement, but in any case we can all do things to help support our bodies in getting back in balance.
Even though I saw immediate dramatic improvement in my worst symptoms (anxiety, insomnia & hair loss), I also had some new issues develop (such as edema and hot flashes) and others that persisted for years (such as inflammation and weight gain).
TAKE IT SLOW
It can be tempting to try get rid of as much as possible as quickly as possible, but it is strongly recommended to avoid doing heavy detoxes, especially at the beginning. They can easily overwhelm a fragile system.
It’s best to take baby steps with everything and progress forward slowly and in small increments. Remember that our bodies have been through a traumatic experience that may have been building for years; so it may take some time to start seeing noticeable changes.
MILD DETOXES
Moving stuff out slowly but surely:
AVOID any kind of testing or detox protocol that includes CHELATION, which can be hard on the liver. Start with mild detoxes such as those listed here until feeling stronger; and then move to other stronger detox protocols if desired. The most commonly talked about detox protocol is on from a company called Standard Process. If considering a detox, do research first and ask for feedback on experiences from a support group.
EPSOM SALT BATHS
NEAR INFRARED SAUNA
SKIN SCRAPING in sauna (or at other times using oil) with a “gua shaw” (beveled piece of stone, horn or wood) which is rubbed back and forth on the skin starting at the extremities and moving towards the heart. Redness is common and means it's working.
DRY BRUSHING skin daily (this is just using normal hair brush & helps with skin detox).
DRINK a small amount of CARROT JUICE daily, sometimes with hibiscus concentrate in it
EAT cilantro, parsley & small amounts of healthy meat at every meal if possible, especially venison, buffalo, lamb, etc….
AVOID DEHYDRATION & MINERAL DEPLETION
DRINK tons of SPRING WATER or FILTERED WATER (avoiding heavy metals & chemicals that might be in other water)
TAKE KELP & MAGNESIUM daily
DRINK 1/2 tsp sea salt or mineral salt dissolved in 1/2 cup ALOE JUICE in the am & pm (salt can be adjusted to taste, should feel good and not too salty)
LIVER SUPPORT
TAKE MILK THISTLE daily (Gaia Brand with Silymarins)
FLUSH with a coffee/aloe juice ENEMA 1X-2X/day at first, then 1X every other day, then 1X each week, then 1X each month
STIMULATE LYMPH FLOW
DRY BRUSH (rubbing skin with brush) - daily
GUA SHAW (scraping skin with dull edge) - daily
DO EXERCISES that stimulate lymph flow such as Chi Gung, Breathwork, etc… - daily
“wake up” the lymph by bouncing lightly while standing and repeatedly tap the chest, armpits and lower back to also stimulate the kidneys
“pump” the lymph by swinging the arms when walking
practice a really simple movement called the “breath of joy”
COLD WATER (finish showers with cold water) - regularly also really good for hair as it stimulates hair follicles and brings blood to the whole area
Ayurvedic LYMPHATIC MASSAGE - periodically
(THIS IS SUPER, SUPER HELPFUL!!!!)
A nice slow version of the “Breath of Joy”
Details at tujawellness.com
My first 4 massages were truly awesome and pushed me a huge way forward. My uterus had become very inflamed and had gotten stuck inside my pelvis. The practitioner was able to pull it out & put it in the right place:) I also had a bunch of cysts under both of my armpits which were stopping up my lymph flow that were released! I had two large cysts in both breasts which needed to be worked regularly to eventually get them to drain. My organs were manipulated and released a lot of toxins & several areas on my body that were holding copper were released.
NOURISH, LUBRICATE & REDUCE INFLAMMATION
TAKE Vit D, Omega oils (Fish Oil) 3,000mg/day & Black Currant Oil (3,000 mg/day)
DON’T DRINK water before, during or after meals
TAKE TINCTURE OF HERBS to support uterus (such as motherwort, ashwaganda, oats, linden, gotu kola & red clover)
USE a peet bath of chamomile, yarrow & lemon balm to influence pelvic circulation (submerge pelvis in solution with legs over edge).
EAT lots of turmeric, good raw mineral salt, seaweed, nettle & asafetida sprinkle on food & putting Lecithin granules on all food.
EAT a healing combination diet (as much organic as possible) meat & veggies together or grain & veggies together
AVOID:
Processed or Cooked Salt (eat only raw sea salt or mineral salt put on food at the table)
Nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes & eggplant),
Wheat (except organic pasta is OK)
Pork (it can apparently be challenging to the system)
BALANCE with DIET (preferably mostly cooked with minimal raw food)
ROOTS - carrots, daikon, turnips, parsnips
VEGGIES - cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, fennel base
GREENS - bok choy, watercress, arugula, kale
PESTO - from pumpkin seeds, cilantro, fennel & basil
FRUITS - minimal - only in season, local sourish fruit (such as Fuji apples)
MEAT - Lamb, chicken & some lean beef is good, but avoid pork & large ocean fish that concentrate heavy metals, such as tuna. Very important! Dr Wilson says that it is impossible for someone to detox from copper on a vegetarian diet.
DAIRY - Small amount of dairy (like yoghurt) preferably raw and organic
SOUR FERMENTS - Such as raw sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir and beet kvass.
SWEET - raw honey, maple syrup in limited quantity
RAW ORGANIC OILS - olive oil, sesame oil, etc.... and GHEE (clarified butter)
REST & AVOID STRESS
REST from 2-4 each afternoon during the "kidney time"
AVOID STRESS - breathe deep, move slowly, don’t rush, move at relaxed pace, try not to worry and ask friends and family for support with tasks or responsibilities.
BE PATIENT, GIVE IT TIME and REMEMBER that recovery might be a bit of a roller coaster for a while.
For me personally, it helped a lot to look at the big picture and the general trend of improvement instead of worrying if I was feeling low. Even the worst day in my recovery was never even close to as bad as any day during the last 5 months that I had the IUD, which were unbearable and hard to survive. Even though I kept striving to improve, I would have been able to adapt and live life again even at the level of improvement I saw at a week or two after removal. Looking back, I can see how much I have improved since then, but at the time I had already come far enough to be out of that pit of despair. Ever since, I am grateful for where I am and strive to enjoy each and every day.
TRACK CYCLES
Keeping track of our cycles is an effective birth control method, but more importantly can provide a helpful window into what is going on with our hormones and body balance.
Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM) and Natural Family Planning (NFF) are two blanket terms used to describe a variety of different techniques for tracking our cycles in order to either prevent pregnancy or encourage conception, help us re-gain better balance after stopping birth control and gain deeper insight into our general health. Irregular cycles, heavy bleeding and cramps are indicators of imbalances somewhere in our bodies and regular tracking can give us a window into what might be causing those problems.
To get started, you need to decide on a method which feels doable and then start keeping track of your cycles in some form, either with paper charts or using some sort of App. If you are using an app, be sure that it is one that requires you to enter you personal data on a daily basis. Otherwise, it is simply a glorified calendar method, which will not be giving you personalized information.
WORK THROUGH EMOTIONS
Many of our experiences include a lot of time in our heads with old thoughts and assumptions that may need to be re-visited and worked through again and again.
There can be a strong sense of betrayal and anger, directed both at ourselves for having made the choice to get the IUD as well as at the medical system for having promoted them so heavily in the first place. We may have doctors who didn’t take our concerns seriously, told us our problems “could not” be related to the IUD and who delayed or prevented removal. We also may have said or done things to people in our lives that we now regret . We may have relationships that need to be repaired. These are all valid and predictable responses to trauma which can take some time to tease apart. Each of us needs to forge our unique path through this maze, but keeping in mind that we might be re-active and easily triggered can help us move through some of the more difficult parts.
I have found sharing my story in an honest and straightforward manner to be incredibly powerful. From the beginning I was determined to figure out how to warn other women and keep them from falling into the same trap. That desire quickly transformed into creation of IUD AWARENESS. I also became an admin of the IUD Side Effects Support Group on Facebook, which is where I found an incredible community who very much relate to what I went through and whom I still believe quite literally saved my life. Having this mission to direct my anger towards by actually trying to do something what had originally felt like an unstoppable tide has now become a huge part of my healing process:)
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL
For Hot Flashes
Generally recommended as a safe thing for all women which gives specific support to female systems. For many people it can also have a dramatic impact on frequency and severity of hot flashes. Take at least 1,000 mcg daily.
ICE BATHS
For Edema or Swollen Ankles
Soak feet and ankles in a pot full of ice water; then lay down with feet slightly raised above body and put ice packs on ankles.
CASTOR OIL PACKS
For Fibroids and Ovarian Cysts
(with or without Frankincense essential oil)
CASTOR OIL has a dramatic softening effect on body tissues. Adding a few drops of Frankincense essential oil is specifically indicated for helping shrink fibroids and ovarian cysts. Slather oil on belly, cover with a sheet of plastic, then hot water bottle or heated rock and lay back reclined on pillows for 45 minutes of relaxation / meditation / listening to soothing music. Repeat every few days or weeks.
EPSOM SALT BATHS
(with or without essential oils such as Marjoram, Frankincense, Clary Sage, etc….)
EPSOM SALT BATHS can be done daily using at least 1 cup of Epsom salts, but even weekly can really help. I like to use the Epsom Salts as a sort of skin scrub on my legs and arms which then ends up in the bath. If taking a whole bath is too much, then it can also be done as a foot bath, soaking feet in a small tub filled with Epsom Salt and water. They are high in magnesium which is soothing to muscles and especially helps with leg spasms.
Look for high quality ESSENTIAL OILS from a reputable source which are generally recommended to combat inflammation, relaxing muscles, etc…. Use essential oils sparingly as they can be drying to the constitution.
ENEMAS
The idea of doing an enema gives most people pause & that's how I felt at first, but it is really pretty simple, easy & painless. You can hardly feel it & lots of people believe that it is an essential part of the detox process.
Enemas are commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine as a nourishing treatment, but they use konbu (a kelp); not coffee. In the first few months after removal, I tried kelp enemas a few times and did not feel as much of a beneficial event as with coffee. The coffee enema in particular triggers our liver to dump its toxic load into the colon where it quickly leaves the body. It’s like a sponge that needs to be squeezed dry. If the liver isn't “cleansed” in this way, it is less effective at filtering our blood of the new toxins & metals that are being released; therefore, can have a lot of trouble doing its job, we feel sick and the detox process doesn't move forward.
I was advised to use the coffee enema as long as I felt I needed it, but not too much for too long as it could be eventually become depleting or drying to my dry constitution. Now that I am more stable I interchange using coffee one time and then konbu (which is nourishing instead of drying) another time.
As time as passed, my adherence to many of the practices detailed here has definitely ebbed and flowed depending on my health and what has been going on in my life. As I have gotten stronger, I have been able to focus less and less on recovery and now do what I can when it is convenient.
Sometime when I am stressed or overdo things, some symptoms will start to return and I will then focus on these practices more often, but for them most part do not have to think about it very much.
COFFEE ENEMA - USE WITH CAUTION!
If it is working for you, you will know right away.
If you are feeling emotional resistance, go slow and see what happens.
If it really feels bad or you feel jittery and overstimulated afterwards it either might not be what your body wants or you may need to start with less coffee for less time
PREP
GET AN ENEMA BUCKET with a soft tube (w/ small hole in end) is available at most drug stores.
USE ONLY 2 CUPS of good clean water.
START with 1/2 to 1 tsp of DARK ROAST ORGANIC COFFEE for the first few times; then work up to 2 tsp. The max amount of coffee to use is 1 Tablespoon. If you are feeling very fragile, start with 1/8 tsp coffee.
SIMMER COFFEE in water for 12 minutes, then strain through a coffee filter & cool until warm but not hot. You should be able to keep your finger submerged in the solution with no discomfort.
ADD 2 Tablespoons ALOE JUICE (optional but soothing & recommended).
DOING IT
If you have to go to the bathroom, do it before starting.
FILL THE TUBE with coffee solution by briefly releasing flow clip; then closing it to hold liquid in tube.
LUBRICATE THE TIP with oil, squat to insert it no more than 3" into anus; then lay flat on back on the bathroom floor with butt slightly raised by a folded towel. Laying in a bathtub can feel safer and any mess is easier to clean up.
GET SETTLED, breathe deep, relax, and then hold the bucket up with one hand, releasing the flow clip with the other. If the liquid is at the right temperature it will feel warm and soothing. If too cold, it can cause cramping. If too hot, it can be painful and dangerous.
CLOSE FLOW CLIP when liquid is gone, remove tube and relax. Relax and hold for as long as you can, up to 15 minutes.
OPTIONAL: Raise the buttocks up into bridge pose to help the liquid flow further up the colon. Roll to the right and lay on the side once or twice moves liquid to a different part of the colon.Then SIT ON TOILET and let it all go. Also when finished get up and move around for a few minutes then sit back on toilet as it seems there is usually one last flush. Sometimes there is another flush even later that urges you back to the toilet.
RINSE bucket and tube in hot water, drain and let dry thoroughly.
From the very beginning, the effect of the enema was really incredible and I always felt very good afterwards (and very happy to have that gross stuff out of my body); so I was sometimes doing them 2x/day. After a week or so, the effects became less dramatic; so I was doing them 1x/day or every other day depending on how I felt and how much time I had. I would notice that if I went two days that a sort of heavy toxic feeling would build up and then immediately disappear after the enema. After a few months I moved to doing them once every few weeks and now try to do them at least once a month or two.
The suggested order is: drink carrot juice, do sauna, do enema & then eat. Don’t do either the sauna or enema just after eating. Taking magnesium & kelp supplements are super important when doing this process to keep good minerals abundant.
TESTING
MTHFR GENETIC TEST
The way to discover if you have a mutation in the MTHFR gene is to get a genetic test done, very much like the ones offered by Ancestry.com and 23andMe. Some questions have been raised about the integrity of these companies related to selling or cataloging this kind of information, but finding a reputable place can be a fairly inexpensive way to get a genetic profile. If the company does not offer it, then there are also softwares which run the results through a health filter to help highlight any mutations on genes which commonly known to cause problems, such as the methylation gene, the sulfation gene, etc…. The more they discover, the more we understand the role each gene plays in keeping our bodies in balance. I got my MTHFR test ordered by my doctor and it was even covered by my insurance. It was not a test of the whole genome like is usually offered by private companies, but was instead a specific blood test looking at just the one gene.
HAIR TISSUE MINERAL ANALYSIS (HTMA)
Heavy metals such as copper accumulate in our brain, our liver and our hair. Testing the brain or liver directly is not really an option; so testing hair is the way to find it. Find a reputable place to get the test done and be sure to have an experienced person read the results as levels are not direct and instead depend on patterns and relationships between results.
My HTMA test showed "hidden copper" in my tissues but that I was also low on good bio-available copper. I was also low on all 4 of the critical minerals: Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium & Potassium, which they call an “All Four Low” Pattern. There is a lot that this test shows! I worked with one of Dr Wilson's counselors and really liked her. She interpreted it for me and gave me recommendations on what to do, which all seems to fit and make sense. The cost was pretty reasonable, with a flat fee (which varies slightly depending on the counselor) covering the initial consult, testing, analysis, recommendations and email followup until they recommend sending in another test to check progress. The fee for re-testing was much lower. There was also an option to order an interpretation booklet from the lab, which I found very helpful and would recommend for the first test.
BLOOD & URINE TESTS
Apparently regular blood and urine test don't work very well at testing for copper as our bodies consider it a toxin and stash it into our brain & liver as quickly as possible, but I did get my blood tested the day I got the IUD out: Results: Total Copper 109 (70-175 mcg/dL) & Ceruloplasmin 25 (18-53 mcg/dL), which are both in “normal” range. Even though everyone says that they don't show anything, I also did a 24 hour urine copper test and the results were also in the normal range.
IV CHELATION PROVOCATION TEST
Used to force metals out of the body so that levels can be tested in the urine. It is what the naturopath who had initially recommended the IUD wanted to do, but it felt like that process would have been WAY TOO MUCH for my liver to handle; so I didn’t do it. Dr Wilson warns strongly against all chelation and my ayurvedic practitioners agreed that my system was already being too challenged right after removal to handle a heavy chelation like that. My ayurvedic practitioners said that some more natural chelation as part of a follow-up detox could happen later on when my system was in better shape, but that a provocation test is just generally pretty invasive.
CBC (Complete Blood Count) TEST
My CBC was done just after the severe anxiety & depression started presenting itself strongly (about 5 months after getting the IUD) and before I had started any medications. Just by chance, my naturopath had also ordered some blood work almost exactly a year before (well before the IUD); so I had something to compare levels. The test on 5/21/2014 (pre IUD) had a White Blood Cell Count of 7.9 with a range of (3.8-10.8). The test on 5/1/2015 (during IUD) had a White Blood Cell Count of 10.2 with a range of (3.8-10.8).
So, it does appear that MY WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT HAD GONE UP quite a bit, not enough to be above the normal range, but if the doc had taken the time to compare the two, it seems like it was a noticeable enough change to look at. In his defense, he didn't have the first test as it was done by my naturopath, but I still feel like a number that close to the top of the range found in someone obviously in crisis, should be at least mentioned.
Here's my friend Madalyn's logic behind the idea, which makes lots of good sense:)
"Have you had blood tests done recently, measuring any immunological markers? The logic behind my question is as follows... Our bodies are programmed to respond to things that we don't recognize. This means that when our immune system recognizes a foreign body, it goes on alert. This process can cause inflammation and initially elevated white blood cell count among other things. Over time, if an immune system has been working hard it becomes weakened. If you are stressed this is exacerbated and more things begin to seem like threats. This is physical and can also be emotional; like with adrenal fatigue, the deep immunity gets wiped out. I guess I'm wondering if on some level this is a factor with the IUD? If peoples bodies are working so hard to expel it that they become depleted, inflamed, and ultimately folks experience the anxiety, depression, and paranoia that happen when our deep immunity is weakened and our bodies feel very vulnerable. I guess I’m wondering if this is showing up clinically or sub-clinically on peoples blood tests, like their white cell counts and cd57's. "
SYMPTOM IMPROVEMENT & CHALLENGES
My Story
In the first HOUR after removal:
my anxiety, depression & fear lessened tremendously within a half hour of removal. It was literally like the dark clouds had parted, the sun had come out and I felt like dancing with joy!
my agoraphobia completely disappeared! I even suggested that we stop at a crowded deli for lunch on the way home from the removal appointment where I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and had no problem with being around so many people.
In the first TWO DAYS after removal:
my hair completely stopped falling out! The day I went in for removal, I brushed my hair and my brush was clogged with hair in the first stroke, just like it had been for many months. Two days after removal, I brushed my whole head of hair and there were only one or two strands of hair in the brush! As my hair grew out, there was literally a visible line marking the day of removal. Everything about the line was thick and nice and everything below the line was thin and scraggly. It ended up looking a lot like a jellyfish right before I cut it all off.
my brain fog cleared a lot and I was able to start doing research on what to do to support recovery
I was able to sleep for many hours and felt rested when I awoke
In the first MONTH after removal:
my brain fog has almost completely cleared
I felt much more in my body.
I felt much more like myself again each and every day
I slept more and more deeply, awakening feeling more and more rested….. for the first time in 5 months:)
my eyes were no longer sore & red
I was able to start driving a car & actually do things.
I started going out, re-connecting with friends, socializing.
my ability to handle stress and breathe through excited conversations improved
the tinnitus (ringing in my ears) lessened, then became sporadic; then disappeared
the melody playing in my head for the previous 5 months gradually disappeared:)
my vision improved
I did not experience any bouts of BV (Bacterial Vaginosis), UTI’s or Yeast Infections which had been occurring in an almost constant rotation for most of the 10 months that I had the IUD; so it appears that the IUD was the cause.
I lost around 10 pounds
my mind raced a lot less, and when it did it is with positive ideas instead of dark thoughts
I had reduced my daily Paxil anti-depressant dose to a very low amount by cutting the amount in half each week until I felt a change. I went from ??? per day to ??? per day, at which level my body felt a little “gritty”; so I stayed at that level.
my period returned to its normal 4 day length (after bleeding 3 weeks of each month with the IUD) and was a nice normal red color instead of the dark brown stinky blood that had become “normal” for the last 5 months that I had the IUD.
I started giving presentations on IUD Awareness and speaking to large groups of people
In the first YEAR after removal:
I was able to get back to work and resume a fairly “normal” life
after 3 months, I was able to stop my already very low daily dose of Paxil (antidepressant) without noticing any withdrawl symptoms
complex thinking and multi-tasking became less & less difficult
my stamina began getting stronger and stronger; so was able to get more exercise
my gums became less and less problematic, my teeth started tightening up. Soon after removal, I went in for an overdue dental exam and cleaning and the staff commented that my gums were not in good shape and that my teeth seemed loose. When I went in for a cleaning a year later, they commented that things looked greatly improved. My gums were neither bleeding nor swollen and my teeth were much tighter!
my cycles were of a fairly normal 30 day length for the first 4 months, but then became more erratic with several 70-90 day long times between bleeding Have realized since that this erratic patten was due to Estrogen Dominance issues, but at the time it was very perplexing. Fortunately I was tracking my cycles by taking my temperature each morning and charting my cervical fluid; so I could easily see that I was not pregnant, but instead had simply not ovulated.
Thankfully still no problems of any kind with BV (Bacterial Vaginosis), UTI’s or Yeast Infections. Yay!
I started to gain weight again
I started to have periodic problems with swollen ankles (edema)
I started to have pretty intense and frequent Hot Flashes, which would get worse if I stopped taking Evening Primrose Oil
I started avoiding Folic Acid, which I found in a multivitamin that I had been taking
FIVE YEARS after removal:
I have been working and living a normal life
Stressful times do not feel overwhelming
Since starting to take a multivitamin that contains methylated folate and methylated vitamin B’s, i have lost a lot of weight, have not had any issues with swollen ankles (edema) in over a year, my general energy is much lighter. My body feels like is is working properly again.
I still have periodic hot flashes, but they are not as intense or frequent and even disappear sometimes for months at a time
March 6, 2023
Eat for Life Podcast