Wow, I never heard of a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. Alan (way back before he had the spinal tap that showed protein in his spinal fluid), Alan saw my primary care physician.

My doctor took Alan on as a patient. This was Alan was on the Fentanyl Patch and wanted to detox. He needed a primary care physician and was seeing Dr. Theirl at the time.

I asked the doctor "Shouldn't someone have done a Heavy Metal Test on Alan to see if that's why he has neuropathy?" and the doctor said "you mean, no one ever ordered this test before?" and we said no.

So the doctor started booming orders at the nurse to give Alan a heavy metal tox test. The nurse meekly said "we don't have any of those in this office and he shouted "Then get one".

So the following week, Alan took the test. I wish I could remember how it was done. They did something with Alan's urine, that much I know. Everything came out negative.

I wish I had known about the hair tissue thing way back then. But as I said, he had the spinal tap and they found protein, so he is now on IVIG, which has improved his balance but not the pain.

So we improvise with sponges, and massage.

Melody