Case History of Karen Palmer

Filed Under: Health Issues, NaturalNews.com on June 21, 2010

This was received via email on June 18, 2010. This was in response to my Natural News article Mercury Dental Fillings: What the FDA and ADA are not Telling You (June 16, 2010). After a short email exchange, in which I got the gist of Karen’s story, she sent this synopsis of her ordeal at my request. I publish it here to act as both a record of the email and for easy Web-reference from other articles I will be writing on the subject.

My name is Karen Palmer and I was diagnosed with heavy metal toxicity to mercury and lead in May 2004 after a year of testing. Not only did I have “silver” mercury fillings in my mouth, (since, safely removed) I handled amalgam daily at my job as a dental assistant, the “first” to be poisoned by the terrible toxin.

It started with intense pain in my lower left jaw, followed with parenthesis (numbness, tingling, burning, biting, crawling, etc. sensations) from my head to my toes. Toxic neuropathy (dead nerves), not fun. The full body tremors were very scary, sending me to the hospital twice.The overall sick feeling, fatigue and heaviness was especially difficult, as was my emotional state. So much happening all at the same time was very overwhelming, to say the least! At times I thought I was losing my mind, not just my memory.

A neurologist thought I had MS because of my “sensory disturbances” but subsequent testing proved negative. He then sent me to a MS specialist who concluded I did not have MS, but that the left side of my brain was just more active and “misfiring” and said that I should forget about all of it and just get on with my life! I, however, was not convinced, but what more could I do? I had been to all the doctors and had all the tests, or so I thought.

About 4 months later, at a visit to my Chiropractor, she asked if they ever figured out what was wrong with me, to which I had to say “no”. I proceeded to tell her what I was told and then she asked me if I was comfortable with that explanation. I, of course, said I was not. Then she began to test my reflexes below my left knee, no response! That was odd, I thought, and then I began to get really scared! That was far from normal! She strongly suggested that I see her doctor, which I did, and that was the beginning of the end of my career in dentistry after 25+ years.

I knew little about Enviornmental Medicine doctors, so what an education this has been! And that is how I first came to learn about the IAOMT. How thankful I am for that! I feel like I’ve taken an accelerated course in human biochemistry-toxicology-detoxification, but the amazing thing is….it all makes total sense on so many levels! Thankfully, chelation therapy and other remedies have lowered my toxic levels and I am so encouraged, but still damaged/disabled as a result of chronic mercury vapor exposure which is invisible, odorless and tasteless. Ever notice the vapor coming off the pump handle when you fill up your tank at the gas station? Have you read the posted warning (danger!) not to breath (smell) the fumes….wish I had known how damaging the vapors were that I was breathing everyday as I mixed, opened/ uncovered and loaded all the amalgam carrier instruments that were then expressed into a tooth, but the emphasis and main concern was always on infectious diseases, disinfection control measures and protocols for sterilization.

Here’s the thing: I knew there was mercury in the fillings but I thought I was protected from any harm because I wore a mask and gloves, but I was wrong. It wasn’t until I had stopped working that I learned that the mercury vapor goes right through the mask and gloves AND that there were “special mercury vapor” masks that I could have been wearing all along – had I been given all the proper information by the ADA, the organization we always relied on. What a colossal mistake that has proven to be! And, OSHA is no better! That the amalgam manufacturer does not insist on the use of a vapor mask is a question in my mind. I, still, would really like to visit and see first-hand how they handle and protect while assembling the encapsulated amalgam product at Dentsply in Milford, DE……not that they would ever allow anyone a tour. Why is it in industry, employees of companies that handle mercury are given proper safety equipment and tested regularly for chronic exposure as the MSDS/hazardous shipping label indicates? Well, now I know the answer to that…..politics! But, I have to admit I was so brainwashed from all the ADA mantra, “it’s fine, it’s fine, it’s fine, unless you are “allergic”. What I suffer from, all the neurological damage to my entire body, is no allergy! Neurotoxicity (brain poison) is not “fine”!

Needless to say, I am outraged and pray the other 266,000 dental assistants, in this country know more about mercury vapor toxicity than I did, because I can’t even express in words how sorry I am to all the patients….and the guilt, having directly assisted in the unsafe placement and removal of thousands of toxic mercury “silver” fillings. But, I seriously doubt most do and that has got to change!!! I struggle, day and night, with how to best accomplish this! What a false sense of security I had all the years I handled amalgam fillings, each one containing 50% mercury! The realization that I was slowly poisoned at work from a profession that I gave the best years of my life is difficult to live with, and I often wonder what ever happened to the oath, “We are first, to do no harm”……. what a shame, but more importantly, perhaps criminal (cover-up) don’t you think? Another interesting fact: Medicaid will pay for tooth-colored fillings, but are patients being told this? Very doubtful. Informed Consent exists in medicine….but in dentistry, not so much…….hmmmmm? Oh, now I am remembering….the old ADA “gag” rule and their statement that they are not responsible to educate and inform the public about dental mercury, then who is?

Patients must be told that the mercury vapor is releasing from their fillings 24/7; and it increases when they chew, brush or grind their teeth and also when they eat hot or cold drinks and food! Also, hygienists release vapor when they scale and scrape teeth with hand or electronic instruments and when they polish with a rubber cup or bristle brush. As dentists drill, even more significant levels of vapor pour off of the fillings. The dust and particles created from the drilling process contaminate the patient, doctor, staff and surroundings. Optimal evacuation and ventilation devices and equipment are so key for everyone who enters into a dental office, yes, even the mailman! This is crucial because significant levels of mercury vapor can cause permanent damage to the brain and kidneys. I am living proof of that!

Many dentists lack sufficient knowledge and understanding about the dangers of mercury that they are handling daily, and are also in deep denial. ( My former employer thinks I’ve been “misdiagnosed” and that my doctors still haven’t found the true cause for my illness) This causes great harm to themselves, their assistant and the trusting patient. Dental school students, clinics/hospitals should be warned of the dangers, too, and in the military. Mandatory amalgam separators should be installed to capture the mercury-laden scrap waste so it can be properly recycled and not cause harm to our environment. All dentists must learn that what material they choose to place in the mouth can affect the health of the entire body! As a cumulative neurotoxin, all are affected negatively, sadly, in some way. Placing mercury directly in the mouth, just inches from the brain is ludicrous beyond reason. The ADA argument that it is safe because it has been used for more than 100 years holds no ground. It is an adage proven to be scientifically untrue!

FDA, do your job (to serve and protect the people) and set the high and mighty ADA straight once and for all and ban dental amalgam as Norway and other countries around the world!

Keeping the faith!
Karen Palmer

Update: Here is Karen given testimony before the FDA