This past weekend the effects of Lithium Toxicity seemed to be virtually gone, and Friday’s serum Lithium test results came back at 0.2 nmol/L.  That is apparently a sort of baseline for 95% of the population, because there is some Lithium in the food we eat and the water we drink.

Unfortunately, once the Lithium had cleared for me, my neuropathic pain flared with a vengeance, and I was frustrated that we hadn’t yet been able to give the China SCI Lithium protocol a fair try.

So on Sunday I decided to have another go!

This time, however, I followed my friend Dr. Susan Solman’s advice and started up with much smaller dosing.

Not that Susan has a view one way or the other on this protocol … but, if one is going to take Lithium Carbonate for whatever reason, she advocates serious caution and starting out with small doses until the balance between blood serum level vs. how you feel can be evaluated.

Indeed, Dr Zhu Hui has herself been intrigued by what happened to me and therefore investigated further within China.  Interestingly, Dr. Zhu found a study from Qiqihar Medical University that offers the same advice as did Susan Solman a couple weeks back.

Qiqihar Medical University

The actual China SCI Network protocol calls for starting off at 250mg three times daily, which obviously proved a disaster for me.  So on Sunday I started again with just 150mg three times daily.

And guess what?

Today, 72 hours later, my lab results came back at 0.7 nmol/L … nicely inside the bottom end of the therapeutic range of 0.6 – 1.2 nmol/L.

🙂

I am experiencing mild but tolerable nausea + occasional dizziness … but nothing I couldn’t handle for the 6 weeks of the protocol.

So we’ll see how this works out …

Meanwhile, on account of Lunar New Year holiday here in China that begins on January 31st this year, the Kunming Medical School lab will be closed until next week, but I’ll get another test just as soon as possible, perhaps as soon as next Monday.

Meanwhile, for readers who are not familiar with Chinese New Year, here’s a link to some information about this amazing holiday … which is a MUCH bigger deal than is New Year in Western countries.

 http://www.chinatravel.com/focus/chinese-new-year/traditional-customs.htm

Yesterday we had a surprise visit at our apartment, where Dr. Zhu arrived mid-afternoon with a five-strong delegation from the hospital to decorate both outdoors as well as inside!

Dr. Who?  Must be Dr. Zhu!

Chief Neurosurgeon Dr. Liu

How about this?  You like it?

Mom pitched right in …

Tongren Hospital Decorating Team

Sure can’t top Chinese hospitality!

🙂 🙂 🙂