Blood Test Results - Please Comment On My Condition

[Amazoniac]

I find it easy to read, easy on eyes. I find wider paragraph
bit difficult for quick reading/scanning.

It helps indeed, also not clustering everything and dividing between 2-4 paragraphs, it's your trademark..

 

[PakPik]

Hi yerrag,

seems you're on your way to figuring things out :)
I personally wouldn't discard the possibility of oxidative stress damage. High uric acid and high ferritin may point to that since they are antioxidants that arise under oxidative stress-inducing situations such as infections and chronic inflammation. Uric acid is tied to hypoxia, which may point to microvascular damage/irritation. Ferritin sequesters iron to help protect from further damage in a condition of oxidative stress and/or to keep pathogens from accessing the iron and multiplying.
Also, a low intake the basic nutritional antioxidants such as vitamin C may predispose to that (may happen when fruit intake is too).

Hope the best.

 

[yerrag]

I am bit lost about the timeline. Did you have high blood pressure with 60+
pulse pressure before adding peaty supplements? One read shows 65
and another one shows 80. How is your current blood pressure?

I was constantly at 180/120 (though I found it odd it was about constant, and I used to get the feeling of "what else is new?") before the peaty supplements.

Latest blood pressure readings

(with peaty supplements: aspirin 3x 325g/day, salt 1 tsp/day, sleeping with mouth taped):
9/4: 189/122 (heart rate-67) { average pulse pressure 67}
9/5: 210/122 (64) {88}
9/6: 195/126 (59); 180/120 (73); 189/124 (66) ; 194/120 (71) {67}
9/7: 200/126 (68); 192/125 (78); 181/118 (74); 187/121 (58) {67.5}
9/8: 202/122 (73); 180/118 (67); 196/128 (69) {70}
9/9: 215/127 (61); 206/123 (61) {85.5}
9/10: 176/112 (71); 174/115 (70) {61.5}

Stopped peaty supplements:
9/11: 161/117 (60); 178/109 (73) {56.5}
9/12: 178/122 (70); 186/120 (64) {67}

I still need to get more values to see if a trend can be established. So far, it seems to confirm that my blood pressure goes up with peaty supplements. Funny, I also recall having similar effects when I was doing Buteyko exercises. I was having higher blood pressure readings with Buteyko breathing exercises, and I was disappointed my hypertensive condition wasn't being resolved but exacerbated. Now this. What could account for this?

You wrote 500 mg B6 . did you mean B6 or B3 there?
RP recommends 10 mg B6.

Sorry, I got my B's mixed up. I meant B3, as the supplement is written as "Niacin" in the bottle label. What is the recommended B3 or niacinamide daily intake?

Is knee pain your only health issue? Low thyroid and
or gut irritation ( endotoxin and serototin) both
can cause joint pain. Your diet has a lot of possible
problem foods.

Knee pain is the only issue. It is not a pain I feel when I go up the stairs, or when the knee is flexed beyond a certain angle when I climb stairs, or rise from a kneeling position, or when I go over a ledge, and also when I run for more than 1 km. Other joints are fine. My back has no pain.

Aspirin and niacinamide both block fatty acid release.
You have to rely on glucose oxidation as energy source.
People usually feel weak and hypoglycemic when they
add aspirin/niacinamide without frequent feeding of
carb, especially sugar.

I suppose I would feel an occasional almost-teary eye that my experience tells me is associated with low blood sugar.

seems you're on your way to figuring things out :)

As I eliminate one cause after another, what remains become less and the horizon is clearer. Still hazy though, but there's much hope with the help of you guys!

I personally wouldn't discard the possibility of oxidative stress damage. High uric acid and high ferritin may point to that since they are antioxidants that arise under oxidative stress-inducing situations such as infections and chronic inflammation. Uric acid is tied to hypoxia, which may point to microvascular damage/irritation. Ferritin sequesters iron to help protect from further damage in a condition of oxidative stress and/or to keep pathogens from accessing the iron and multiplying.

I've ruled out infections after removing a few tooth that were on root canals or had gum problems. The colony of bacteria there was scary after the bio dentist showed them to me. I think could be chronic inflammation somewhere, or I may have to test for heavy metals such as lead again.

Also, a low intake the basic nutritional antioxidants such as vitamin C may predispose to that (may happen when fruit intake is too).

When I was taking plenty of antioxidants before, such as Vitamin C, alpha-lipoic acid, NAC, and Unique E Vitamin E, my hypertensive condition wasn't resolved. I now only take juice from celery, bell peppers, bitter gourd, cucumber, and red beets. They have plenty of vitamin C, and a few other minerals and vitamins.

 

[Mittir]

There is a big drop in your systolic pressure after stopping supplement.
I hope that continues. But your earlier 200 plus systolic is quite
risky. I think doctors sends patient to emergency when pressure
is that high consistently.

Here is a very informative RP interview on high blood pressure.
Someone asked RP about vitamin K2 and it's blood pressure
lowering effects and he responded that he knows one person
who lowered his BP 220/70 to 140/70 within 2-3 weeks
using Thorne Research Vitamin K2 liquid of 15 mg.
Another person used similar dose and lowered blood pressure
too low, he had to cut down dose. I do not know if there
is any risk with using this large dose of K2.
You may have to research on high dose vitamin K2.
Caller asked around 45 min mark.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22195338/FPSJanuary2014kmud_140117_190000fritalkFPS.mp3

He also recommends bag breathing 1-2 minute
2-3 times a day to lower blood pressure.
I think bag breathing can cause similar problem as high
baking soda, causing electrolyte imbalance if your
mineral intake is not adequate. You can experiment
with it see if it lowers blood pressure.

You might find Interviews on blood pressure helpful.
Master List: Ray Peat, PhD Interviews – Functional Performance Systems (FPS)

The link Pakpik posted has almost all the useful quote on blood pressure.

 

[yerrag]

There is a big drop in your systolic pressure after stopping supplement.
I hope that continues. But your earlier 200 plus systolic is quite
risky. I think doctors sends patient to emergency when pressure
is that high consistently.

I know. The nurse wanted to take me to the ER long ago when I was to make a blood donation. My blood pressure hasn't done down since then. It fluctuates a lot. Just now I got a 213/119 with a pulse rate of 74.

Here is a very informative RP interview on high blood pressure.
Someone asked RP about vitamin K2 and it's blood pressure
lowering effects and he responded that he knows one person
who lowered his BP 220/70 to 140/70 within 2-3 weeks
using Thorne Research Vitamin K2 liquid of 15 mg.
Another person used similar dose and lowered blood pressure
too low, he had to cut down dose. I do not know if there
is any risk with using this large dose of K2.
You may have to research on high dose vitamin K2.
Caller asked around 45 min mark.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22195338/FPSJanuary2014kmud_140117_190000fritalkFPS.mp3

Thanks Mittir. I don't know why K2 does that. I can't get Thorne in Manila. Will have to order it and have it shipped to me. I'll look for something locally, but I doubt how good they would be.

He also recommends bag breathing 1-2 minute
2-3 times a day to lower blood pressure.
I think bag breathing can cause similar problem as high
baking soda, causing electrolyte imbalance if your
mineral intake is not adequate. You can experiment
with it see if it lowers blood pressure.

Bag breathing didn't work for me as I have tried it before. I also did Buteyko breathing, which derives from the same concept. It failed miserably for me, as it was consistent in increasing my blood pressure.

It's been 11 years since my blood pressure went up. It has been at 180/120 for about 5 years. Other than that, I'm fine. I'm just glad my pulse rate is not on the low side, minimum at 61 and max at 78 over the past two weeks.

If I'm not hypothyroid and I don't have excess body iron, what other causes are there? What tests would I still need to take? I haven't taken the PTH test you suggested but will do that next. You also mentioned a Vitamin D3 test but would I need to since I always have direct sun exposure (no glass windows to block or filter and I don't wear shades), and I'm in the tropics?

 

[yerrag]

I think bag breathing can cause similar problem as high
baking soda, causing electrolyte imbalance if your
mineral intake is not adequate.

That's a big "if." If I take mineral imbalance to include calcium, I should stop putting off incorporating calcium into my foods. I've begun cleaning the eggshells I've accumulated over the past 3 years (which I intended to use as a fertilizer input). Once they're clean and dried under the sun, I'll put them through either the Blendtec or the grain mill to pulverize them. I should have enough calcium to last me for some time.

If calcium imbalance, relative to phosphate, is indeed a cause, I can ascribe that to increased meat intake which started after my fling with being vegetarian way back. Maybe it created that mineral imbalance.

It was also at that time that I discovered metabolic typing, which classified me as a fast oxidizer which required me to eat more meat, especially beef, over pork and chicken. I continue to eat brown rice with my meals. At around that time, I also underwent heavy metal chelation, as I had high body stores of mercury and lead. It may be that as I got rid of mercury and lead, my body got to replace them with iron, in the relative paucity of calcium in my diet. I make sure I don't eat food that are filled with phytates and oxalates, making sure greens are cooked, and beans are soaked and sprouted, but I guess it merely lessened the impact of having high phosphates and low calcium in what I eat.

So now I'll transition to this protocol, and by transitioning I mean I'll start on a food or supplement once I'm able to make or buy them:

Aspirin w/k2 3x a day: aspirin 325 mg, k2 60mcg
Niacinamide 500 mg (I earlier misnamed b3 and b6)
Salt - 3 teaspoons daily (with meals in a glass of water)
Eggshell powder- how much?

Raw carrots or cooked bamboo shoot curry daily
Brewed coffee or milk with sugar, after breakfast and lunch and afternoon snack

Since I eat sprouted beans, I'm removing kidney beans off the list (highest in lectins but bye bye chili con carne) but will retain sprouted chick peas, mung beans, and navy beans. They may be high in phosphates, but they are already rich in other vitamins and minerals.

Not so related, but I'm having to source some pork skin to increase my gelatin intake. I already eat pork legs, but find that I don't eat it often enough and well I should, as I'd grow tired of it. But pork skin made into chicharrones, cooked in refined coconut oil, would be a great accompaniment in meals or for snacks. Most of the commercially available chicharrones I can find I would not trust as they are likely cooked in PUFA oils. This would help improve the amino acid profile of my protein intake, increasing glycine, serine, and proline over methionine and tryptophan.

Thanks for helping me through this. I'll update you on my progress.

 

[Mittir]

There was a report that found a large percentage of people
in warm climates were vitamin D deficient. Which was unexpected.
Since Vitamin D level plays a big role in calcium metabolism and thus
blood pressure knowing D level seems important.

RP has mentioned that high phosphate diet causes calcification
of blood vessel, which causes high systolic pressure, which seems
to fit your condition. When calcium intake is low compared to
phosphorus PTH hormone rises and long period of high PTH
causes calcification of blood vessels and organs., also weakens bones.
RDA for calcium is 1200 mg and phosphorus is 700 mg. Based on RDA
your calcium phosphorus intake probably been out of balance for a
long period of time. RP thinks high phosphorus in meat and grains
is a major cause of health issues. Fructose in sugar helps with
lowering phosphate. RP recommends 1500 mg calcium to lower PTH.

Vitamin K is very effective at decalcifying blood vessels and organs.
He thinks large dose of Vitamin K2 is safe. He specifically mentioned
thorne research vitamin K for it's high potency and free of bad excipient.
I do not think 60 mcg of K2 is enough to balance 3 aspirin of 325 mg.
He once said people may need 1 mg K2 for each 325 mg aspirin.
He also mentioned different people reacts differently to aspirin
with varying need of vitamin K. He recommends Kale, greens
and Liver for vitamin K.

If you plan to add aspirin and niacinamide you will need to eat frequently
to keep your blood sugar steady. It is better to slowly increase Niacinamide
say from 50 mg once a day to twice a day and so on.
For calcium metabolism and correcting blood pressure i would pay
attention to Vitamin K2, Aspirin, Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D,
Niacinamide, Vitamin A and low phosphate intake.
It does not have to egg shell calcium. Some people had problem
with eggshell. You can try good quality supplement Oyster shell
calcium, if that is not availble regular calcium carbonate for now.

 

[yerrag]

There was a report that found a large percentage of people
in warm climates were vitamin D deficient. Which was unexpected.

OTOH, I expected it. All my friends and family hate the sun and take it for granted. They stay in airconditioned homes and offices (where sunlight is filtered by glass to block vitamin D synthesis) and drive around in airconditioned cars (filtered sunlight) and they want "premium" white skin. Many women would bring umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun, or just avoid going out. When they go to swim or go to the beach, men and women slather themselves with sunblock. When they see my dark complexion, they would advise me to stay out of the sun more often, as if being sun-drenched lowers my status. Conventional doctors here don't pay attention to context, and still encourage the myth of sun exposure causing cancer, even when the people here have more melanin and the incidence of skin cancer is nil.

Since Vitamin D level plays a big role in calcium metabolism and thus
blood pressure knowing D level seems important.

I'll take the Vitamin D test, and the calcitriol test as well, even if it's a remote possibility I am Vitamin D-deficient, it still won't hurt much to be sure.

RP has mentioned that high phosphate diet causes calcification
of blood vessel, which causes high systolic pressure, which seems
to fit your condition.

Very much so. We're getting warmer and nearer to the root cause of my condition.

When calcium intake is low compared to
phosphorus PTH hormone rises and long period of high PTH
causes calcification of blood vessels and organs., also weakens bones.

Maybe my knee pain is just the start of worse things to come. Ten years and only a knee pain to show for my neglect, I have to be thankful!

RDA for calcium is 1200 mg and phosphorus is 700 mg. Based on RDA
your calcium phosphorus intake probably been out of balance for a
long period of time. RP thinks high phosphorus in meat and grains
is a major cause of health issues. Fructose in sugar helps with
lowering phosphate. RP recommends 1500 mg calcium to lower PTH.

That will be my target then.

Vitamin K is very effective at decalcifying blood vessels and organs.
He thinks large dose of Vitamin K2 is safe. He specifically mentioned
thorne research vitamin K for it's high potency and free of bad excipient.
I do not think 60 mcg of K2 is enough to balance 3 aspirin of 325 mg.
He once said people may need 1 mg K2 for each 325 mg aspirin.
He also mentioned different people reacts differently to aspirin
with varying need of vitamin K. He recommends Kale, greens
and Liver for vitamin K.

It may be awhile (3 months) before I get my hands on Thorne K2. In the meantime, I will load up on cooked greens, and continue to take goat liver. I prefer goat liver over beef liver as I can't find organic sources of beef. OTOH, goat eat grass, and are less likely to have their liver loaded with toxins.

If you plan to add aspirin and niacinamide you will need to eat frequently
to keep your blood sugar steady.

I think my blood sugar is steady, as I don't have bouts of sleepiness or mood swings anymore. But to be sure, I'll take a glucose tolerance test.

It is better to slowly increase Niacinamide
say from 50 mg once a day to twice a day and so on.

I'll start with that, although I've started with 500 mg /day and have had no problems.

For calcium metabolism and correcting blood pressure i would pay
attention to Vitamin K2, Aspirin, Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D,
Niacinamide, Vitamin A and low phosphate intake.

Since it would be 3 months before I can get my hands on some good supplements, could I substitute with food instead? Aspirin and Niacinamide I have as supplements, but will for now substitute Vitamin K2 with leafy greens and liver, calcium with eggshell powder (if I'm allergic will shift to 1 calcium carbonate or 1 liter milk/day), magnesium with plenty of coffee, milk and sugar, Vitamin D with continued sun exposure (I spend plenty of time maintaining my koi pond, and if not the backyard garden), vitamin A with more raw carrots, and low phosphate intake by eliminating sprouted beans from my diet.

It does not have to egg shell calcium. Some people had problem
with eggshell. You can try good quality supplement Oyster shell
calcium, if that is not availble regular calcium carbonate for now.

Good to know there are options available in case eggshell won't work with me.

 

[Mittir]

Low calcium can reduce serum level of 25 Hydroxy D.
Amount of UVB reaching skin depends on Air quality.
UV radiation is very harmful,particularly for people with
high PUFA storage in tissues. It is not so healthy to be in sun when
UV ratio is high. RP recommends avoiding sun around noon time.

I think you will need to use cronometer.com to track
your nutrients intake for week or two to get an idea
about your diet. RP does not recommend beta carotene
for vitamin A. Purpose of raw carrot salad is to pass
through body without getting digested. This is why
he recommends raw carrot salad between meals,
not with the meal. 4-6 oz of liver weekly will provide
enough vitamin A. 100 grams of beef liver has about
200-300 mcg of K2.

I do not know how much of leafy green is safe.
I would not overdo on greens. Aspirin can decalcify
as K2. Until you have Thorne reasearch K2, your current
supplement with added calcium, magnesium should be helpful.
Magnesium helps with decalcification of blood vessels and organs.
All the alkaline mineral intake are needed for healthy blood pressure.
You will also need at least the RDA of potassium and sodium.

RP has mentioned cyproheptdine being helpful for this.
But he did not say anything about the dose.
You might consider using it later. You do not want to add
too many variables at the same time.

Albumin binds sodium. Your Albumin level is quite low.
You will need to raise to well above 4. You will notice
that doctors recommends animal protein to kidney
patient on dialysis to raise albumin, not vegetable protein.
Vegetable protein is not good at raising Albumin.

Calcium quickly lowers PTH. If you measure your
PTH while your calcium: phosphorus ratio is good
then you will probably have normal PTH.
Long term elevation of PTH causes the calcification
and that needs to be reversed. I would suggest you to
read RP's Dietary guidelines thread to get a good idea
about foods he recommends.

 

[yerrag]

It is not so healthy to be in sun when
UV ratio is high

What is the UV ratio?

RP recommends avoiding sun around noon time.

In Maximizing Your Vitamin D from Safe Sun Exposure , Dr. Mercola talks about UV-B being beneficial because it is needed to produce Vitamin D, while UV-A is more dangerous. When the sun is above 50 degrees from the horizon, it is safe to be exposed to sun as this is when UV-B rays are maximized, and UV-A rays are lessened. It is the UV-A rays that cause skin cancer. I have an app available in Android called Sun Surveyor, which works well in letting me know when it is safe to be exposed to the sun. The funny thing is, I'm finding that it is safer to get exposed to the sun in the noontime, than in the morning, as based on the position of the sun from the horizon. Since my location is different from yours, it's best to check based on your actual location and with an app available, it is easy to do so. I don't know about the noontime location of the sun in temperate regions, but the location of the sun would vary by season and the safety of sun exposure by time of day would change correspondingly.

I think you will need to use cronometer.com to track
your nutrients intake for week or two to get an idea
about your diet. RP does not recommend beta carotene
for vitamin A. Purpose of raw carrot salad is to pass
through body without getting digested. This is why
he recommends raw carrot salad between meals,
not with the meal. 4-6 oz of liver weekly will provide
enough vitamin A. 100 grams of beef liver has about
200-300 mcg of K2.

I'm going to eat carrot salad in-between meals then, and I'm glad I have a good source of Vitamin A in liver, although my liver source is goat. I still hope I can get going by Monday with using cronometer.

Albumin binds sodium. Your Albumin level is quite low.
You will need to raise to well above 4. You will notice
that doctors recommends animal protein to kidney
patient on dialysis to raise albumin, not vegetable protein.
Vegetable protein is not good at raising Albumin.

I need to raise my albumin definitely. I recall my dad being prescribed egg white to raise albumin. I don't know if that is true though, as it camne from a conventional doctor, the same doctors who recommended iron to correct anemia without much qualification.

p.s. Today I drank 1 liter (a cup each time) of milk in between meals, and I feel hungry. Milk alone and milk with cane sugar makes me hungry. I'll try milk with honey (fructose) to see if I feel better.

 

[yerrag]

When I think about it, I'm the only one among my siblings who has hypertension. Considering that we share common eating practices, and that they are similar to me in not having a better calcium: phosphate intake, it's still hard for me to accept that my hypertensive condition is a result of the a calcium: phosphate imbalance. If there is a difference I could attribute my condition to, it would be that I eat more beef than my siblings. Yet my body iron is not in excess (as a result of higher iron in beef), or is it? At this point, I'll take a vitamin D3 and PTH test this monday, and see what conclusions we can arrive at from the results.

 

[Mittir]

At noon there is less red wavelength and more blue and ultraviolet
radiation. Red light is protective against blue and all kind of radiation
including UV damage. The idea is to find a time when there is more
red-orange light and less blue and UV light. We are getting less
UVB around that time but also less blue and UVA
and the protection of red-orange light. I have looked at UVA and UVB
chart of several countries and all the chart shows UVA and UVB
peaking around noon.

The use of animal protein in Dialysis patient is well researched.
There are a lot studies showing that.

You may not get high PTH or low D level now. The damage to blood
vessels happens over a long period of time. I thought you have said
you followed some kind of diet that was high in meat. We already
know muscle meat ( beef, chicken, certain type of fish) has high amount
phosphorus compared to calcium. If you ate more muscle meat than your
siblings your ratio would be worse than their's. These blood tests
give a general idea about status of health. One can have all the
thyroid number in range and be hypothyroid. Ultimately it
is all about what makes us feel better .

 

[yerrag]

At noon there is less red wavelength and more blue and ultraviolet
radiation. Red light is protective against blue and all kind of radiation
including UV damage. The idea is to find a time when there is more
red-orange light and less blue and UV light. We are getting less
UVB around that time but also less blue and UVA
and the protection of red-orange light. I have looked at UVA and UVB
chart of several countries and all the chart shows UVA and UVB
peaking around noon.

Right before sunrise, it's blue. Around dusk, it's orange-reddish. Dawn- bad? Dusk - good?

You may not get high PTH or low D level now. The damage to blood
vessels happens over a long period of time.

It's been 10 years + of high blood pressure though.

 

[PakPik]

@yerrag, I wonder if you know about nephrotic syndrome (characterized by protein loss in the urine and low blood albumin). It may also cause high blood pressure.
A few quotes from Nephrotic Syndrome. What is nephrotic syndrome? Causes | Patient

"The main feature of nephrotic syndrome is that the kidneys leak a lot of protein. Normally, urine contains virtually no protein. In nephrotic syndrome the urine contains large amounts of protein. What happens is that filters in the kidneys (the glomeruli) become 'leaky' and protein, instead of remaining in the blood, leaks out into the urine. Protein in the urine is called proteinuria.

The other key features of nephrotic syndrome are:

• A low level of protein in the blood as a result of protein loss in the urine. Although there is a drop in many of the proteins normally found in the bloodstream, the main protein that leaks from the blood into the urine is called albumin. A low blood level of albumin is a main feature of nephrotic syndrome.
• Fluid retention (oedema). This is a consequence of the low level of albumin in the bloodstream, and other complex factors not fully understood.
• A high blood level of cholesterol and other fats (lipids). This is due to the change in the balance of various protein levels in the blood due to the protein leakage.
• Normal kidney function, at least initially. This means that the 'waste clearing' function of the kidneys is not affected - at least not at first. However, some of the conditions that cause nephrotic syndrome can progress to cause kidney failure."

"One of the most common complications of kidney disorders is high blood pressure."​

 

[yerrag]

PakPik, thanks for the note. I had these tests ran 6 years ago, and these are the results:

Blood Tests:
HbA1C 5.50 {3.82 - 6.52%}
Blood Urea Nitrogen 14.62 {4.76 -23.25 mg/dl}
Creatinine (male) 1.19 {0.90 - 1.50 mg/dL}

24Hr Urine Chemistry:
24Hr Urine Total Volume 3120 mL
24Hr Urine Protein 268.32 {42 - 225 mg/24 Hrs.}
24Hr Urine Creatinine 2.21 {0.8 - 2.8 gm/24 Hrs.}
24Hr Crea. Clearance 131.86 {Male 70 - 135 ml/min/1.73 SQ.M.}

This was before I went to the US and visited a naturopath. A urine toxic metals test was taken by Doctor's Data, and was found to be high in lead and mercury. I came back to Manila, and began oral chelation, which took a year to finish. However, I never got back to the US for a visit to the naturopath.

I am hoping that my heavy metals toxicity with lead and mercury are a thing of the past. Without confirmation with another urine heavy metals test, the kind which isn't available in the Philippines, I could not know for sure.

Recent test (Aug 27 2016):

Blood Urea Nitrogen: 15.54
Creatinine: 0.93
Urinalysis protein: negative

Dipstick Urine Test just now (using Phinex brand urinalysis reagent strips): protein at 30 mg/dL

I should have another 24Hr. Urine Chemistry test done.

 

[yerrag]

This study shows "that UA could play a beneficial role against HgCl2 toxicity by preventing systemic and renal oxidative stress and tissue damage." Effect of uric acid on nephrotoxicity induced by mercuric chloride in rats

Could this explain why I have high uric acid and low albumin, and high blood pressure?

I'll put off my PTH and Vitamin D test, and first have a 24Hr Urine Chemitry Test. That would give me an idea of my kidney health, especially as compared to the one done 6 years ago, before oral chelation of heavy metals.

 

[PakPik]

This study shows "that UA could play a beneficial role against HgCl2 toxicity by preventing systemic and renal oxidative stress and tissue damage." Effect of uric acid on nephrotoxicity induced by mercuric chloride in rats

Could this explain why I have high uric acid and low albumin, and high blood pressure?

Interesting find, it might certainly be relevant for you. High uric acid and high ferritin always make me think about some kind of oxidative stress situation. Uric acid and ferritin are antioxidants that are sometimes increased by the body when facing oxidative stress challenge to help mitigate it. Chronic oxidative stress injures the tissues. Oxidative stress is not necessarily alleviated by taking antioxidants; oftentimes supplementation won't be enough or make much difference if the root causes of oxidative stress aren't addressed.
.
When a person does chelation therapy, as I understand it, it leads to very high circulating mercury levels which the elimination organs such as the kidneys have to process; it is very well known that mercury is extremely reactive and toxic. Did you notice your blood pressure problems started after the chelation program?

High iron stores (especially when tissues contain an unhealthy high proportion of PUFA), practicing demanding aerobic exercise and chronic oral infections can also contribute to setting the stage for oxidative stress and tissue injury, in particular, blood vessels, which in turn injures the surrounding tissues.

Malnutrition (i.e caloric deficiency, macronutrient deficiency/imbalance, micronutrient deficiency/imbalance) can also play a big role in oxidative stress.

 

[yerrag]

Did you notice your blood pressure problems started after the chelation program?

I've often wondered about that, but now that you asked, I gave it more thought. It may be more than just a coincidence that after I had 11 of my silver fillings removed (ever so carefully by a biological dentist, with air dams and all), and this was already 16 years ago, I took notice much later, IIRC 4-5 years later, that I have high blood pressure. I've had IV chelation and oral chelation since then, to remove heavy metals of mercury and lead, but my elevated blood pressure has not abated.

The chelation therapies are designed to both remove heavy metals from body tissues into the bloodstream, and to bind these released metals to a "binder" in the bloodstream, for subsequent removal thru the urine. The kidney could be a collateral damage in this process, in that some of the heavy metals could have been deposited in the kidney, on the way to being urinated. If my kidney cells/tissues store heavy metals, they would be experiencing oxidative stresses thru free radical damage, and the body would need to counter the damage with antioxidants.

My body had to produce uric acid, but had to induce ischemic conditions for uric acid to be produced. It would need to reduce oxygen being carried to my cells, and the way to it is by constricting my blood vessels to reduce blood flow and oxygenation. I would become hypertensive as a result. The high range of hypertension I'm experiencing indicates how badly my kidney is intoxicated with heavy metals.

Even with the large amount of uric acid being produced, it can only mitigate the destruction caused by the heavy metals. Hence, there is protein leakage in my urine, and albumin is being lost, which would explain the low albumin in my blood.

I still don't now if there is any effect on my white blood cell count as a result of this. Would you know?

Still, I feel glad I'm not resorting to taking prescription meds to lower my blood pressure. It's a cliche to say it addresses only the symptoms, but if the truth is a cliche so be it. Had I resorted to prescription meds, I would just have lost the protection that uric acid is giving me. I could be undergoing dialysis or be dealing with some form of cancer.

Even so, I don't think of the uric acid as an unlimited resource, and 11 years of hypertension is enough for me. I was for a while under the illusion that I'm a chimera whose natural blood pressure is this high. But this forum afforded me a reality check.

Now to take my condition more seriously than ever before.

 

[yerrag]

Because my bodily is naturally addressing the stresses brought about by heavy metals in my kidneys, it is protecting my kidney and holding off it's rapid degeneration. But it is doing so at the expense of my body's metabolism.

It is restricting oxygen to my cells. My attempts at improving CO2 content, to improve oxygen delivery to my cells, is being met with resistance, as the body undermines any attempt to increase oxygenation. This explains why I'm confounded by higher blood pressure after practicing Buteyko breathing, which is not a normal body response to it.

Now that I understand the mechanism, I won't be frustrated at contrary outcomes. But I have to be mindful that because of oxygen deprivation, the rest of my body is certain to regenerate less and degenerate more.

 

[PakPik]

My body had to produce uric acid, but had to induce ischemic conditions for uric acid to be produced. It would need to reduce oxygen being carried to my cells, and the way to it is by constricting my blood vessels to reduce blood flow and oxygenation.

I don't think this is quite right (please if you have evidence to the contrary, do share). As far as I know blood vessel injury due to for example oxidative stress leads to hypoxia since the vessel loses integrity and power to exchange gases and liquids. So the area fed by the vessel gets swollen, hypoxic, etc.
So it's not that the body is on purpose creating hypoxia as far I understand this. Therefore hypoxia is a result of injury, and the hypoxic area then in turn establishes a vicious cycle; hypoxia itself worsens redox stress. Uric acid, etc.., then are produced to mitigate some of this stress.

I still don't now if there is any effect on my white blood cell count as a result of this. Would you know?

As far as I know one of the many possible causes of leukopenia is oxidative stress -it induces white blood cell apoptosis.-. High cortisol can also do that.

It is restricting oxygen to my cells. My attempts at improving CO2 content, to improve oxygen delivery to my cells, is being met with resistance, as the body undermines any attempt to increase oxygenation. This explains why I'm confounded by higher blood pressure after practicing Buteyko breathing, which is not a normal body response to it.

Again, I've never read the body induces hypoxia on purpose. I believe Buteyko may restrict oxygen intake and this may be possibly detrimental when there's hypoxic situations; I don't know much about Buteyko, so I can't comment more.