Skip to main content
  • ALERT: Do not send your samples for MELISA testing to the lab in Germany due to the closure of the lab. More information HERE.

Patient testimonials

Ann Arnecke

Health problem following occupational exposure to mercury and other metals through dental fillings and crowns

I was born in 1942. From 17 to 24 years old I worked as a dental nurse and a receptionist and was exposed to mercury vapour on a daily basis. During this time I also had dental treatment and ended up with many amalgam fillings, several root fillings, and gold restorations.

Aged 25 I was found to have a heart murmur and was exposed to more metals through various injections and vaccinations. Aged 40, my family and I were posted to Benin in West Africa, so as well as multiple vaccinations, I was given many courses of antibiotics and also daily exposed to pesticide sprays. I suffered from constant chronic fatigue and terrible headaches which continued when I returned home. Despite endless tests there were no answers as to the cause of my ill health.

My heart gradually began to give me additional problems; I felt exhausted and had an irregular heartbeat. In 2000 an X-ray showed that I had scoliosis. By 2005 I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and a restrictive cardiomyopathy of unknown aetiology.
In 2010 a chance phone call turned into my “Eureka moment”. I understood that there could be a link between my years of occupational exposure to mercury and my current health problems. I had a MELISA test, which revealed I was suffering from multiple metal allergies. Some of these were off the scale in terms of severity. To stop the current metal exposure, I would need to have all the offending metals removed from my mouth. This would mean the removal of two bridges made of palladium, 2 inlays and posts made of gold (which also contained nickel) and an amalgam filling (which contained mercury). Due to my precarious health situation, this work needed to be carried out slowly and carefully to minimise any adverse reactions.

Briefly, my doctor started me on a regime of nutrients and supplements. My dentist observed strict safety protocols while removing and replacing my fillings and bridges. The improvement in my gingival health is remarkable, with no redness, soreness or puffiness. Before embarking on this diagnostic journey and treatment plan, I was in a constant state of exhaustion, with my heart rhythm all over the place and several episodes of near-syncopy every day. I hardly have any such episodes these days, and my cardiac situation is no worse than it was 2 years ago.

My health has improved immeasurably since July 2010. The results of follow-up tests are remarkable, and show an astonishing decrease in metal-reactivity following metal removal and a regime of nutrient supplements.

I have still a long way to go. It’s an understatement to say that I am getting my life back, slowly but surely. I am already a different person, but my treatment is on-going and understandably slow, due to my long-term problems. I hope my quality of life will improve further as my body rids itself of the toxins it has stored. I am already well on the way to being my old self again, thanks to the team of experts I have around me.

Ann Arnecke, United Kingdom
January 2011