Hi there,

A little over a year ago I woke up one day feeling very strange and
out of it. I could barely think straight and through the day I felt
like my consciousness was being "squeezed" almost to the point where I
felt my eyes would roll back in my head and I'd faint, though I
didn't. Also my coordination was kind of messed up, so I'd catch my
shoulder walking through doorways, and things like that. I had done
some drinking the night before, so I thought that might have been
involved, but I had done plenty of drinking in the past and not felt
like this.

This same feeling continued for a few days only slightly lessened (or
was I just getting used to it?) and I went to a doctor. They gave me
almost no useful advice; they ran some blood tests which came up
negative. It continued for weeks and months and I saw a couple other
doctors and even had an MRI done on my head (fMRI?) which turned out
negative (not negative as in they didn't find a brain in there,
negative as in normal :P )

I was still able to function day-to-day, barely, but enough so that I
was able to cover up anything unusual in my behavior. I was worried of
course and took an online IQ test. It is hard to explain, but when I
had to do some higher-order thinking, I couldn't, as if that function
of my brain was inaccessible or not working. It was scary. I had taken
some test like that in the past, and my score had dropped 40 points or
something (not a scientific measurement).

I was unemployed at the time, and spent a lot of time in my room. I
went on a trip for a few days, and seemed to feel somewhat better.
Then, when I was moving out, I was shocked to find a soldering iron
had been left on in my bedroom behind my computer monitor on the high
setting. It had been on for about 3 months. CLICK.

It was blackened and had melted some plastic in the immediate area
around it. After I moved out, the more severe effects of how I felt
gradually subsided.  I am now convinced that having spent so much time
in my room day and night (and at my computer, like 2 feet from the
iron), the (toxic?) fumes from the hot iron and melting plastic
damaged me. Maybe the fumes were strongest that first night and the
alcohol weakened my resistance too. (note: I can't exactly remember if
I had been doing soldering the day before this happened. Perhaps these
"fumes" aren't involved at all, but I strongly suspect that they are.
After all what else could be going on?) (note #2: Some people I tell
this to tell me it's psychological, since I appear to act fine. All I
can tell you is how I feel.)

Today I can function what would be considered normally, but I feel how
I can only describe as dumber. It takes far more effort to think,
especially about complex and deep things, and I can get overwhelmed by
information. I don't have memory loss, and my coordination is fine,
but it's hard to keep a long train of thought in my head, or think
about a lot at the same time. It's weird, as if I'm always preoccupied
with something else, even though I'm not. As if I'm not playing with a
full deck so to speak. I took a standardized test from a
neuropsychologist and scored high across the board, but low in
multitasking, verbal memory, and something else (I can't remember,
guess it's that low verbal memory kicking in haha).

I'm 24, trained and working as a computer programmer. I'm doing ok but
not great as I should be. I used to be a very sharp guy. As you might
imagine this is crushing to my career and my ego, and even spiritual
practice.

I know you guys aren't doctors, but I'm looking for any and all
information, advice, resources, and leads you think might pertain to
something like this condition (whatever you want to call it, I don't
know), or anything I could try that might give me some more
information about what's happened. You might think I've exahusted all
the basics and am only looking for some esoteric doctors or something,
but it's possible I've missed some very basic avenues. However, I'm
looking for the esoteric stuff too. I do have medical coverage. I
might even be open to "eastern" style doctors, but I don't have much
faith in them to tell you the truth.

Also if you could find something that sounds similar to my condition
that would be helpful, but of course I am looking for solutions. It's
my opinion that medicine probably currently isn't advanced or subtle
enough in brain research to treat something like this, but who knows.

Did I just kill a bunch of brain cells and there's nothing I can do?
Should I be trying some dietary supplement? I have the soldering iron
and melted plastic, could they be tested for toxicity somehow? Can I
inject stem cells in my head? (ok, probably not haha). I'm looking for
common sense advice as well as resources. I'm willing to try whatever,
man.

Anyway I've probably given you way too much information, but I might
as well be thorough. Part of the problem is having trouble describing
my symptoms. Good luck to you and me.

I'd be happy with answers to just some of these questions. I can
always repeat my query with the other questions. Sorry to be vague,
but I'm kind of lost. I'd be happy with something to go on.

Thanks for your time!

---

Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 26 Sep 2005 22:47 PDT

The first logical line of exploration is, what was the nature
of the plastic that was melted/burnt? Did it belong to a 
product whose makeup can be researched? If you can find out
the type of plastic, it may be possible to find out what
gases might be released by melting or burning, and whether
those gases are toxic and in what way and to what degree.

If research along these lines doesn't turn anything up,
then certainly the plastic could be analyzed and any gases
it gives off when melted/burnt could be identified and
researched for toxicity.

As my pappy used to say...when in doubt, choose the obvious.

sublime1-ga

---

Clarification of Question by qwerpa-ga on 27 Sep 2005 08:13 PDT

sublime: Yes I suppoose you're right. It wasn't anything straight
forward like "it melted a #2 polypropolene bottle". It scorched the
side of a cambridge soundworks speaker with "grippy" surface, part of
the label which had the logo coated with clear plastic. It also laying
on a plastic/simulated wood grain table, and also may have warped part
of the corner of my monitor. Do you think I should cancel the question
and re-post after exploring avenues of analyzing these materials?



(comment from siggy: I was using lead-free solder with that iron, and
I specifically asked to check for lead in my blood tests but it came
back negative)

Thanks.

---

Request for Question Clarification by politicalguru-ga on 27 Sep 2005 09:41 PDT

Dear Qwerpa, 

I will think about an answer - I think that your problem is pretty
complex, and there could be several answers. I do think that you have
to think in the holistic treatment direction: not "conventional"
treatment that deals only with physical (or mental) abilities of your
brain, but also something that deals with the whole body.

If you are interested in holistic medicine, perhaps letting us know
where you live (area, such as zip code or metr-area) would help.

In the meanwhile, let me recommend Ginkgo tablets, that could improve
your overall feeling.

---

Clarification of Question by qwerpa-ga on 27 Sep 2005 10:14 PDT

Thanks for the advice, I live in area code 95050, san jose california area.

---

Clarification of Question by qwerpa-ga on 27 Sep 2005 10:34 PDT

In light of your comment I bumped the list price a bit. If possible,
I'd like to know a little about scientific solutions, not only
holistic approaches (unless there isn't much viable scientifically).
Though I am interested in holistic too.

---

Clarification of Question by qwerpa-ga on 29 Sep 2005 09:30 PDT

I don't require holistic information, but I am open to the direction.

qwerp --

I'm sure you're right about the fumes.  For one thing, smoke or any
other substance that is inhaled (think cocaine, for instance) goes
into the nose and some of it goes straight to the brain.  The
olfactory neurons connect to the brain; no others do.

Solder fumes contain lead, according to various websites -- this one,
for instance:  http://www.sentryair.com/solder%20fume.htm -- and
someting called "colphony."

There are lead-free solders.  Those could produce fumes with organotin.  

And it could have been some combination of the soldering iron (and any
solder residue on it), plus the varnish or plastic surface.

The Life Extension Foundation (www.lef.org) is a place for you to
start.  This is what they say about "heavy metal toxicity" --  
http://search.lef.org/src-cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=30&EXTRA_ARG=&CFGNAME=MssFind%2Ecfg&host_id=42&page_id=13240832&query=solder&hiword=solder+

LEF says "Symptoms [of lead poisoning can] include abdominal pain,
convulsions, hypertension, renal dysfunction, loss of appetite,
fatigue, and sleeplessness. Other symptoms are hallucinations,
headache, numbness, arthritis, and vertigo."


Another place to try is Yahoo Groups.  Get a password (free) and
search for "ABMD" or "mercury" under Medical.  ABMD is a group of
mostly-parents whose children have exposure to mercury or lead;
sometimes other substances like arsenic, antimony, cadmium, etc.; but
there are also adults seeking information on their own behalf.  They
are making serious efforts to understand what it takes to "detox."

Since lead is not the question, and probably not other heavy metals --
switch thinking over to substances like xylene, toluene, urea,
formaldehyde, formalin (all as inhalation product).  These are general
categories.

Suggest you start with Poison Control centers -- list below is for California.  

Because San Francisco is the closest to you, probably you'd start with
them.  However, in case you don't get a response you like, or don't
feel you're making progress, you can try one or both of the others.

California Poison Control System - Fresno/Madera Division
Children's Hospital Central California
9300 Valley Children's Place, MB 15
Madera, CA 93638-8762

California Poison Control System - Sacramento Division
UC Davis Medical Center
2315 Stockton Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95817
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 972-3323

California Poison Control System - San Francisco Division
UCSF Box 1369
San Francisco, CA 94143-1369
Emergency Phone: (800) 222-1222
TDD/TTY: (800) 972-3323

Most of the information that is readily available concerning
inhalation poisoning is of the "emergency room" type. However, you
already had your emergency some time ago (and lived through it,
luckily), it may be that your best bet for finding realistic treatment
will be a doctor who specializes in treating "glue sniffers."

The most useful comment I've seen so far, about detox from inhaling
these kinds of substances:
       "Correction of potassium and phosphorus deficiency may result 
        in rapid improvement in muscle strength. Hypocalcemia is frequently 
        encountered during fluid and electrolyte repletion."

Electrolytes, like the ones that are replaced by Gatorade. Maybe
something as simple as Gatorade green would make a difference for you
in the near term.  And the way to handle hypocalcemia is to take more
magnesium; perhaps as magnesium chloride.  (Available as liquid, and
should be *greatly* diluted in order to ingest.)

FYI, a report of a woman with "chemical sensitivities" --
http://www.aehf.com/articles/A59.htm

Please note the sentences where it says, "She was found to have the
blood concentrations of toxic chemicals shown in Table 1, i.e.,
aromatic (toluene, xylene), aliphatic (cyclopentane, pentanes, and
hexane), and chlorinated (trichloroethane and tetrachloroethylene)
hydrocarbons. After a year, the levels of most of these volatile
hydrocarbons had decreased."

A YEAR later, the levels had only decreased -- but were still there.
I'm sure it's possible to do much better than that.

But the list of toxic chemicals might get you started with what to get
tested for . . .

Ingest as much Lecithin and essential fatty acids as you can stomach. 
Both are of that which brain tissue is comprised....believe me....I
know brain stuff.  You'll feel smarter almost immediately.  Throw in
mega doses of a B-complex and I promise you, you will feel a great
difference.

I have tested myself and chomped down a ton of granulated lecithin
prior to writing a story or taking an exam or even answering a Google
Answers question, and there was a significant difference.

Lecithin is available in granulated form at any health food store.

Oops.  

My eyes did read "hypocalcemia" but my brain wandered off and was
thinking "hyerpcalcemia."  Hypocalcemia a different question;
therefore ignore comment about magnesium.

Thank you folks

I really appreciate your input