Monday, April 21, 2014
Starting Malarone
Good news. After being off Doxycycline for a month or so, that lack of motivation feeling I had been having every day for the past 6 months is gone. The Doxycycline was for sure causing it. So I am so grateful for that. Today I just took Malarone for the first time. With 2 Tablespoons of Omega Oil. Anyways - we shall see how I feel on that...
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Feeling Bored
Today is one of those days that I am feeling bored with treatment. I just want to be over with it. Done. It has been 7 years since I first got sick. It was May 2007 and it is almost May 2014 now. 7 years. I have done so many things. Metametrix testing. Super helpful. Alleviated many issues although the underlying cause, Lyme Disease and Co-Infections, was still unknown to me. CDSA, Heavy Metal Testing (I was fine), IgG (Allergy testing) (pretty much fine besides Yeast). I did the 'gold standard' genetic testing for Celiac Disease. Again. I was fine. I was not Celiac. Lyme was the root of it all. And probably the MTHFR mutation I had made it 10x worse. Made me unable to detox - or at least I have 10% of the detox capability of a 'normal' person. I took months and months of herbs while I lived overseas. They helped. Got rid of Bartonella. Which is huge. HUGE for me. The nervousness and anxiety and sore throats was SO intense and it scarred my life for years. I never felt myself. Ever. For 5 and 1/2 years. So I am so grateful to be free of that.
I am grateful to be treating Lyme. And I am just about to start to treat Babesia with the Malarone. But today I am just feeling like I want to be done with it all. I am ready for it to be over. I have done my time. I have put forth my best effort and I should be better, totally better, right now. But, I am not...totally better. I am better. But not totally. Still gaining weight, still have the Babesia issue to deal with.
I liken what I am feeling right now to having completed 2/3 to 3/4 of a marathon. I am at that point where my starting drive has wore off, and I am worn out and tired of just running, step after step, mile after mile. I just want to see the "Finish" sign. I want to live the life after the finish line.
But alas. I still have a few more years to go. And day after day, I need to take the medicines in order to cross that finish line. But the problem is, there are hills on this marathon I didn't expect. Like when I was ready to start the Malarone last week but got the worst stomach flu of my life and couldn't. Delay. And now I feel like I need a few days to just feel 'normal' before I start the Malarone and start herxing from that. I mean, I am not really up for having the stomach flu and then the day I feel better, taking a medicine that makes me feel like junk right away. So there is delay.
I think I am also feeling this way because my body IS feeling better and so inside I know that I am closer to the finish line. Like being a senior and you know graduation is 3 months away and you just want to give up and relax because it is coming and you can feel the freedom. Senioritis. That is what I have. I have Lyme Treatment Senioritis with a touch of Babesia Listlessness. Self-Diagnosed.
I am grateful to be treating Lyme. And I am just about to start to treat Babesia with the Malarone. But today I am just feeling like I want to be done with it all. I am ready for it to be over. I have done my time. I have put forth my best effort and I should be better, totally better, right now. But, I am not...totally better. I am better. But not totally. Still gaining weight, still have the Babesia issue to deal with.
I liken what I am feeling right now to having completed 2/3 to 3/4 of a marathon. I am at that point where my starting drive has wore off, and I am worn out and tired of just running, step after step, mile after mile. I just want to see the "Finish" sign. I want to live the life after the finish line.
But alas. I still have a few more years to go. And day after day, I need to take the medicines in order to cross that finish line. But the problem is, there are hills on this marathon I didn't expect. Like when I was ready to start the Malarone last week but got the worst stomach flu of my life and couldn't. Delay. And now I feel like I need a few days to just feel 'normal' before I start the Malarone and start herxing from that. I mean, I am not really up for having the stomach flu and then the day I feel better, taking a medicine that makes me feel like junk right away. So there is delay.
I think I am also feeling this way because my body IS feeling better and so inside I know that I am closer to the finish line. Like being a senior and you know graduation is 3 months away and you just want to give up and relax because it is coming and you can feel the freedom. Senioritis. That is what I have. I have Lyme Treatment Senioritis with a touch of Babesia Listlessness. Self-Diagnosed.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Spring Break - Sick with Stomach Bug
Okay. It has been one heck of a Spring Break. It was like the Stomach Bug came for a visit the minute the kids got out of school last Friday. Good thing I didn't have any amazing vacation planned for this Spring Break! I had just planned to get a few things done - enjoying the fact that the new antibiotic I am on - Biaxin - helps me stay energized during the day.
Well, not so fast. Saturday my son is telling me his stomach isn't well and he can't move. He throws up during the evening and night several times. I just thought it was a little stomach bug. No. He just handled it with grace and without whining. Then I got the bug. OMG. I woke up at 2:30am feeling nauseous and went and threw up. Then fell asleep. Then I puked at 3:30, then 4:30, then 5:30, then 6:30, then 7:30 and then 10:30am. Midway through there diarrhea was coming into play as well. The 10:30 throw up was the worse - I had yellow bile coming out both ends. I have NEVER had this in my life. It was the most disgusting, horrifying thing. Especially because it came when I couldn't get to a toilet fast enough. I will spare the details but it just looked yellow in our master bedroom. So there IS a first time for everything.
Then my other child got the sickness, then my husband, and then another child. And so it has been quite a Spring Break. My husband said he didn't think he has ever thrown up that much in his whole life. Like 60 times in one night. Each time we threw up - it was like 10 times per one trip to the bathroom.
Anyways. It has nothing to do with Lyme. But so glad we had a week off of school so we could all get sick.
Well, not so fast. Saturday my son is telling me his stomach isn't well and he can't move. He throws up during the evening and night several times. I just thought it was a little stomach bug. No. He just handled it with grace and without whining. Then I got the bug. OMG. I woke up at 2:30am feeling nauseous and went and threw up. Then fell asleep. Then I puked at 3:30, then 4:30, then 5:30, then 6:30, then 7:30 and then 10:30am. Midway through there diarrhea was coming into play as well. The 10:30 throw up was the worse - I had yellow bile coming out both ends. I have NEVER had this in my life. It was the most disgusting, horrifying thing. Especially because it came when I couldn't get to a toilet fast enough. I will spare the details but it just looked yellow in our master bedroom. So there IS a first time for everything.
Then my other child got the sickness, then my husband, and then another child. And so it has been quite a Spring Break. My husband said he didn't think he has ever thrown up that much in his whole life. Like 60 times in one night. Each time we threw up - it was like 10 times per one trip to the bathroom.
Anyways. It has nothing to do with Lyme. But so glad we had a week off of school so we could all get sick.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Feeling Better on Biaxin and Nystatin
Okay. So I started Biaxin as well as Nystatin 1 week ago.
I feel ALOT better than how I was feeling right after the return of our ski trip. ALOT better.
The whole week after our ski trip (which I didn't ski but the rest of the family did) I spennt laying on the couch sleeping ALL day after I got the kids ready for school. My husband was home that week and he picked them up from school because I was STILL sleeping by the time they were ready to be picked up! I would have woken up and got them, even with the intense fatigue, but it was nice to lean on him and have him home that week. It was REALLY scary to get that tired. I mean I felt like I had regressed to the beginning of treatment and even then I felt BETTER!! So it was really bad. And then I get the thought, what if I am going to be permanently like this?
During that week I also had an intense yeast infection that began after the first few days of fatigue Like out of control So I took fluconozole and nystatin. I also used by probiotic capsules as vaginal suppositories to combat the yeast as well. After the yeast infection died way down, I started the Biaxin.
The first day was HEAVEN. I accomplished a yard project. I had started in the morning around 10 or 11am and usually by 1:30 or so I tucker out. Actually, usually I have NO MOTIVATION to do anything so I just sit around the house. Literally. So come 1:30 I am still going strong with the yard project and don't feel the urge to lay down and rest. The feeling I always get when it gets overwhelming and I just know I am done. I took the biaxin capsule around 12:30 or so.
I then went and did a little research on Biaxin. Why? Because I was curious if it had any affect on keeping one alert during the day because I felt it had done that for me. Guess what? It has been used to treat hypersomnia (excessive daytime sleepiness) so that says something. I'd like to think it is my body that now has it's own energy to be awake longer (maybe from the massive fatigue herx the week before and bugs diying off from that) but I think it is most likely the Biaxin. So that is a wanted side effect for me. I actually felt like me for the first time in a long time using it! I mean, before Lyme, I was constantly doing projects, exercising, volunteering, running around all over the place, socializing, gardening etc. So it felt good to be that person!! SO GOOD!
I would have never taken Biaxin had my LLND not suggested it. I had never really given it much thought and if you know anything from reading my blog, you know that I give everything ALOT of thought!! I research everything and am driven to know the root cause of everything that is happening in my life and body.
Anyways, so what is next on the agenda? Next, is adding in Malarone. I have this yucky cold with headache that everyone in our family has right now and I am just getting over it. I don't really want to start the Malarone while I am feeling that way. I ordered some omega oil to put into protein shakes to take with the Malarone because you have to take 23 grams of fat with it. Yikes! So, I am trying to do it the most healthy and convenient way possible. But that is ALOT of fat. That has to happen twice a day.
After adding in the Malarone, I will add in the Cholestyramine. I will take this around lunch time 1 time a day. I need to take it with fat as well. Well, 1/2 hour after taking the Cholestyramine, I am supposed to have something fatty. So that makes 3 times a day where I need to ingest large amounts of fat. Yay.....
I have this muscles soreness, tenderness in my inner thighs, my outer tricep area that I am hoping goes away either with the Malarone treatment or the Cholestyramine. I think it is a Babesia or a stored toxin issue so those medicine address both of those causes. I am hoping, hoping, hoping!!!
I feel ALOT better than how I was feeling right after the return of our ski trip. ALOT better.
The whole week after our ski trip (which I didn't ski but the rest of the family did) I spennt laying on the couch sleeping ALL day after I got the kids ready for school. My husband was home that week and he picked them up from school because I was STILL sleeping by the time they were ready to be picked up! I would have woken up and got them, even with the intense fatigue, but it was nice to lean on him and have him home that week. It was REALLY scary to get that tired. I mean I felt like I had regressed to the beginning of treatment and even then I felt BETTER!! So it was really bad. And then I get the thought, what if I am going to be permanently like this?
During that week I also had an intense yeast infection that began after the first few days of fatigue Like out of control So I took fluconozole and nystatin. I also used by probiotic capsules as vaginal suppositories to combat the yeast as well. After the yeast infection died way down, I started the Biaxin.
The first day was HEAVEN. I accomplished a yard project. I had started in the morning around 10 or 11am and usually by 1:30 or so I tucker out. Actually, usually I have NO MOTIVATION to do anything so I just sit around the house. Literally. So come 1:30 I am still going strong with the yard project and don't feel the urge to lay down and rest. The feeling I always get when it gets overwhelming and I just know I am done. I took the biaxin capsule around 12:30 or so.
I then went and did a little research on Biaxin. Why? Because I was curious if it had any affect on keeping one alert during the day because I felt it had done that for me. Guess what? It has been used to treat hypersomnia (excessive daytime sleepiness) so that says something. I'd like to think it is my body that now has it's own energy to be awake longer (maybe from the massive fatigue herx the week before and bugs diying off from that) but I think it is most likely the Biaxin. So that is a wanted side effect for me. I actually felt like me for the first time in a long time using it! I mean, before Lyme, I was constantly doing projects, exercising, volunteering, running around all over the place, socializing, gardening etc. So it felt good to be that person!! SO GOOD!
I would have never taken Biaxin had my LLND not suggested it. I had never really given it much thought and if you know anything from reading my blog, you know that I give everything ALOT of thought!! I research everything and am driven to know the root cause of everything that is happening in my life and body.
Anyways, so what is next on the agenda? Next, is adding in Malarone. I have this yucky cold with headache that everyone in our family has right now and I am just getting over it. I don't really want to start the Malarone while I am feeling that way. I ordered some omega oil to put into protein shakes to take with the Malarone because you have to take 23 grams of fat with it. Yikes! So, I am trying to do it the most healthy and convenient way possible. But that is ALOT of fat. That has to happen twice a day.
After adding in the Malarone, I will add in the Cholestyramine. I will take this around lunch time 1 time a day. I need to take it with fat as well. Well, 1/2 hour after taking the Cholestyramine, I am supposed to have something fatty. So that makes 3 times a day where I need to ingest large amounts of fat. Yay.....
I have this muscles soreness, tenderness in my inner thighs, my outer tricep area that I am hoping goes away either with the Malarone treatment or the Cholestyramine. I think it is a Babesia or a stored toxin issue so those medicine address both of those causes. I am hoping, hoping, hoping!!!
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Stress
Well, we had a great weekend skiing. I, did not ski. I just took care of gearing up 4 kids under the age of 12 and believe me, that is ALOT of work. And managing the food and the preparation of everything. It was alot for me. AND...I did not take my medicine for 3 days straight. We had guests come and go from the cabin so I really was not able to rest at all during the day and was often up late doing runs for the family from the ski run. I wish I could say it was relaxing for me, but it wasn't and I am okay with that. It was for the kids. I wanted them to have a great experience. And they did.
But this week, I had a meltdown. The first three days after the trip I slept the entire day during when the kids were at school. My brain was fuzzy and I really couldn't do anything but watch tv or look at the computer. I was too tired to clean, to engage in conversation. I had NO energy. Then I got a note that my child, who has been in the gifted and talented in 2 other school districts, is getting a D+ in math. This was shocking news as he is a very highly capable student. I was so tired, the house was a mess, my husband was being unsupportive with his own issues and my son was now struggling at school. Then the next day I got an email that unless he raises his grade in a day or makes a plan to that he will not be allowed to participate in a band concert that is during school and part of his grade. I just absolutely melted. This is the first time I have ever been in tears weeping in front of my kids. My issues with Lyme Disease and not having energy, my husbands issues that are constantly tearing down my soul, one of my sons who has add issues and then this with my one kid who usually manages to get straight A's. I just absolutely melted and the sad thing is that this is the first time he has really gotten a bad grade so it made it seem like it was a huge deal. What was a huge deal was that I just felt so overwhelmed. It was the straw that broke the camels back. I just absolutely started weeping and then that night had a fight with my husband. Thankfully, I am on my medicine and had got rest the previous 3 days so I am doing okay but my head hurts from staying up last night and arguing with my husband. So right now, again, I am completely wiped. I can't help but realize that my emotions and feeling so intensely overwhelmed was also due to being completely wiped out as well ad a herx from starting up the meds after 3 and 1/2 days of not taking them. That is enough time for all the spirochetes to come out of hiding and come out to play and so I think I also had a massive herx because I was sleeping for 3 days and had an intense headache the ENTIRE time.
So right now, I just want me to be right. I want to have the energy to deal with all the normal stuff life sends my way. But my husband is half functioning right now and I am half functioning with the Lyme Disease and it is hard to be half a person when you know what it is like to be a whole person.
I just felt like giving up. Like no matter how much I give, or try, I can't make up for people who are irresponsible and unhelpful. I give advice, I offer help but they screw it up. It is hard to continue to care and it gets exhausting. Maybe it is good, maybe I have things to learn. But right now, I just need rest again. I have yet to add in the Biaxin and Malarone because I am so tired and fatigued right now that I need to wait until I am in a better place.
But this week, I had a meltdown. The first three days after the trip I slept the entire day during when the kids were at school. My brain was fuzzy and I really couldn't do anything but watch tv or look at the computer. I was too tired to clean, to engage in conversation. I had NO energy. Then I got a note that my child, who has been in the gifted and talented in 2 other school districts, is getting a D+ in math. This was shocking news as he is a very highly capable student. I was so tired, the house was a mess, my husband was being unsupportive with his own issues and my son was now struggling at school. Then the next day I got an email that unless he raises his grade in a day or makes a plan to that he will not be allowed to participate in a band concert that is during school and part of his grade. I just absolutely melted. This is the first time I have ever been in tears weeping in front of my kids. My issues with Lyme Disease and not having energy, my husbands issues that are constantly tearing down my soul, one of my sons who has add issues and then this with my one kid who usually manages to get straight A's. I just absolutely melted and the sad thing is that this is the first time he has really gotten a bad grade so it made it seem like it was a huge deal. What was a huge deal was that I just felt so overwhelmed. It was the straw that broke the camels back. I just absolutely started weeping and then that night had a fight with my husband. Thankfully, I am on my medicine and had got rest the previous 3 days so I am doing okay but my head hurts from staying up last night and arguing with my husband. So right now, again, I am completely wiped. I can't help but realize that my emotions and feeling so intensely overwhelmed was also due to being completely wiped out as well ad a herx from starting up the meds after 3 and 1/2 days of not taking them. That is enough time for all the spirochetes to come out of hiding and come out to play and so I think I also had a massive herx because I was sleeping for 3 days and had an intense headache the ENTIRE time.
So right now, I just want me to be right. I want to have the energy to deal with all the normal stuff life sends my way. But my husband is half functioning right now and I am half functioning with the Lyme Disease and it is hard to be half a person when you know what it is like to be a whole person.
I just felt like giving up. Like no matter how much I give, or try, I can't make up for people who are irresponsible and unhelpful. I give advice, I offer help but they screw it up. It is hard to continue to care and it gets exhausting. Maybe it is good, maybe I have things to learn. But right now, I just need rest again. I have yet to add in the Biaxin and Malarone because I am so tired and fatigued right now that I need to wait until I am in a better place.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Humaworm - Started It
Okay. I started Humaworm a couple of days ago. This morning. I decided to investigate the stool in the toilet. OMG. Okay. There were black poppy seed size things dotting the stool and when I poked at the stool with a long metal skewer to break it up, the black poppy seed things, rose to the top of the toilet bowl and I could see they had a translucent flagella on EVERY single one of them. Definately a creature and NOT a food. I also found a flattened kidney bean shaped thing which I pulled apart and figured just must be some food I ate. It was a different color than the rest of the stool. Like a dark red. Now I am looking up varioius types of things on the internet and I realize it is a LIVER FLUKE. AACCCKKK> This is gross! The thing is, I have been taking tinidazole for 6 months now and this stuff is still alive in me and the humaworm is getting it out. Tinidazole treats some parasitic infections. I can't figure what the black poppy seed things are but they look to be a 'flagella trophozite". There were 25 of them floating around in there and I hadn't even broken apart the rest of the stool. So super gross.
A few months into treating with the tinidazole, my stools normalized. Before the tinidazole, they were often light yellow and floating in the toilet. After being on tinidazole they were more well formed and brown and sunk to the bottom of the toilet. My lyme doctor said the improvement in stool was probably because I had intestinal parasites and the tinidazole was treating them. Well, apparently I still have some stuff in there that the tinidazole DIDN"T treat. So this is now definitely on my radar.
I had a metametrix test done a few years back on my stool. It said that I had a parasiate, taxonomy unavailable and that is was likely an ingested parasite from food. Well - nope. They were real parasite in there.
Last summer, I took humaworm for a couple of days before giving up on it. I think because I started my antibiotics too and I was afraid of a reaction between them. However, I did have some interesting things in my stool at that time. I had oval shaped eggs all over. Like rice dotting the stool. But they were not rice. They were sort of soft and jelly like. Anyways. I have not had those at all this time of doing Humaworm, although I expected to get them. I am thinking that those were the parasites the Tinidazole must have treated but now the Humaworm is treating more stuff that the Tinidazole didn't get at. Sheesh. This is going to be interesting.
Since starting the Humaworm treatment (I think this is my 3rd day of it) I have had some symptoms increase. They were much like the symptoms I had when I started the A-Bab formula by Byron White for Babesia. Let me see - Today, I had a feeling like my skull cracking behind my right ear and I am having numbness in my toes. I woke up and dry heaved several times. Yesterday - I felt pain in my ears, and a pain under my left rib cage. I also felt pain in my left arm. I had heart palpatations several times as well which made me feel worried. I am taking antibiotics so I was hoping that the humaworm was not interacting poorly with the antibiotics but when I felt that aching in my left rib and left arm I realized it was the same symptoms from the A-Bab and so most likely bugs getting hit. So I took an aspirin to thin my blood. I don't want any circulation issues and I know left arm signals problems with the heart. This morning I took some hawthorn and will continue to take that to support my heart as well as I will take some aspirin. Unfortunately I don't have the 80 mg tablets of aspirin (I just had the 325 mg on hand) so I will go to the store today and get some baby aspirin to help my heart as whatever is going on is affecting it a bit. Babesia affects the heart and I have tested positive for that so besides the Humaworm treating parasites/worms it is probably hitting the Babesia too so I want to take care of my heart. I need it!!!! I will post updates to the humaworm treatment in the comments for this post. I am considering adding in 1/4 tsp salt/c now as well because I most certainly do have some parasitic action going on here.
A few months into treating with the tinidazole, my stools normalized. Before the tinidazole, they were often light yellow and floating in the toilet. After being on tinidazole they were more well formed and brown and sunk to the bottom of the toilet. My lyme doctor said the improvement in stool was probably because I had intestinal parasites and the tinidazole was treating them. Well, apparently I still have some stuff in there that the tinidazole DIDN"T treat. So this is now definitely on my radar.
I had a metametrix test done a few years back on my stool. It said that I had a parasiate, taxonomy unavailable and that is was likely an ingested parasite from food. Well - nope. They were real parasite in there.
Last summer, I took humaworm for a couple of days before giving up on it. I think because I started my antibiotics too and I was afraid of a reaction between them. However, I did have some interesting things in my stool at that time. I had oval shaped eggs all over. Like rice dotting the stool. But they were not rice. They were sort of soft and jelly like. Anyways. I have not had those at all this time of doing Humaworm, although I expected to get them. I am thinking that those were the parasites the Tinidazole must have treated but now the Humaworm is treating more stuff that the Tinidazole didn't get at. Sheesh. This is going to be interesting.
Since starting the Humaworm treatment (I think this is my 3rd day of it) I have had some symptoms increase. They were much like the symptoms I had when I started the A-Bab formula by Byron White for Babesia. Let me see - Today, I had a feeling like my skull cracking behind my right ear and I am having numbness in my toes. I woke up and dry heaved several times. Yesterday - I felt pain in my ears, and a pain under my left rib cage. I also felt pain in my left arm. I had heart palpatations several times as well which made me feel worried. I am taking antibiotics so I was hoping that the humaworm was not interacting poorly with the antibiotics but when I felt that aching in my left rib and left arm I realized it was the same symptoms from the A-Bab and so most likely bugs getting hit. So I took an aspirin to thin my blood. I don't want any circulation issues and I know left arm signals problems with the heart. This morning I took some hawthorn and will continue to take that to support my heart as well as I will take some aspirin. Unfortunately I don't have the 80 mg tablets of aspirin (I just had the 325 mg on hand) so I will go to the store today and get some baby aspirin to help my heart as whatever is going on is affecting it a bit. Babesia affects the heart and I have tested positive for that so besides the Humaworm treating parasites/worms it is probably hitting the Babesia too so I want to take care of my heart. I need it!!!! I will post updates to the humaworm treatment in the comments for this post. I am considering adding in 1/4 tsp salt/c now as well because I most certainly do have some parasitic action going on here.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Tired of Treatment
I just want to be all better. I just want to be me. There is still so much ahead of me that I have yet to do. Haven't tried. There are things beyond me that once I am better I need to turn my attention to. Health issues in my family. My husband has things that could stand being tested. One of my little ones has ADD type symptoms and I would like to take a look at that nutritionally. Another one of my little ones has eczema and I would like to take a look at that too. It is hard to focus on them, when I am constantly in treatment. Today is one of those days when I just want to be done. Better already. I am not complaining. I am really grateful for the progress I have made. My feet don't hurt all the time. My brain isn't confused or psychotic. I am not anxious. But I am still not me. As I write tonight, my vision is blurred and I can barely make out the words as I type them. I feel lethargic.
I have been researching Dr. Amy Yasko's Nutrigenomics panel that is $495. It looks like it would be helpful to me and my family members but it is ALOT of money. I just need to do it. I am too blurry minded to say why but basically I really need to help my body detox from this disease and want to make sure I do it right.
There are other things I want to do too. Try out cholestryamine for detox. Try the Humaworm anti-parasite treatment. Start the Biaxin and Malarone that my LLND just prescribed although she forgot to call in the prescription so I sent an email to remind her. But I can't start all at once otherwise I won't know what is effecting what. So I need to take it slow. One step at a time.
Wish me luck!
I have been researching Dr. Amy Yasko's Nutrigenomics panel that is $495. It looks like it would be helpful to me and my family members but it is ALOT of money. I just need to do it. I am too blurry minded to say why but basically I really need to help my body detox from this disease and want to make sure I do it right.
There are other things I want to do too. Try out cholestryamine for detox. Try the Humaworm anti-parasite treatment. Start the Biaxin and Malarone that my LLND just prescribed although she forgot to call in the prescription so I sent an email to remind her. But I can't start all at once otherwise I won't know what is effecting what. So I need to take it slow. One step at a time.
Wish me luck!
Friday, February 21, 2014
Antibiotic Induced Depression
So. I have been realizing that I have depression and have had it maybe since October. I started antibiotics in August and I realized I had alot of motivation at the time. I also had a stronger sex drive too. So whatever I am taking medicine wise has lowered both of these. I basicaly sit around during the day and wait for the kids to come home and just read my favorite blogs or lyme stuff or watch tv. I get the stuff done I have to do but there is definately a motivation change since before taking antibiotics. I haven't really been consistantly taking probiotics or b-vitamins either. I only mention this becaue b-vitamins are manufactured in the gut and are necessary for virtually every metobolic function in the body. Antibiotics, destroy even good gut bacteria and these bacteria are necessary for manufacturing b-vitamins in the body. So I think I have really done myself in on this one. I am not sad or depressed feeling. I just feel lethargic, unmotivated, am lazy and unproductive but that definitly is within the realm of depression symptoms. I am going to try and take a neurotransmitter test and organic acid test to assess these things. And in the meantime up my probiotics and b-vitamins and see if I turn a corner. It is basically like watching life pass me by when I just sit around like this. Pretty lame.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Tomorrow Will Start, Byron White A-Bart
Yes, my LLND wants me on A-Bart. I will no longer take rifampin but I will take A-Bart. I haven't had Bartonella symptoms for over a year but I did the bart treatment and now will test with the bart herb as my LLND wants to. No biggie. Other than, in preparation to take the A-Bart, I opened the bottle and it is stinky! It smells way worse than the A-Bab. The A-Bab is spicy but the A-Bart...stinky...and I am not looking forward to drinking that. Yuck. So I think I will only go through one bottle of it and be done. But the A-Bab, I will continue through the treatment. So tomorrow I will add in the A-Bart, then the Ceftin, then be ready in a couple of weeks for my LLND appointment where we will take Babesia meds. And I am keeping my fingers crossed for the clindamycin and malarone. That is what I want to take based on my research and thinking it through. Much prefer the pills to taking the liquids.
Friday, February 14, 2014
How it's Going
Well, I have been typing my notes under my last A-Bab Babesia Post. It is going OK. I am making progress, slowly but surely so that is fantastic. My feet, which have been a problem for YEARS ever since getting lyme disease are now doing so much better. They are no longer shedding massive amounts of skin near the heels, and the pain is barely detectable now. I used to push on my heel with my thumb and wince at the pain. All over. Now I push, and I can't get it to hurt. It is like there is padding between the skin and the bone where there didn't use to be. Hard to explain but I feel like my feet are coming back to me. I had always (for 32 years) had beautiful supple feet. Never could understand the need for lotion. Yuck! But the past 5 years - had to have regular pedicures to get all that dead skin off where my heels really hurt. It was pretty embaressing the amount of dead skin that would come off my heel but it was necessary to do it. The need for those pedicures is greatly if not completely reduced so that is great.
What are my major symptoms now? What do I look to find resolve from? Well, it has become apparent that I am under some sort of depression. Not a sadness, but just an unmotivated, sluggish state. There is plenty to do, but I just don't do it. Like I would just rather sit. It is not mental in that I have a mental list of all the things I want to do. It is just not doing them. Laziness is what my husband calls it. So it IS a problem. I never was a lazy person. In fact I don't see myself as a lazy person but the fact is I am very lazy right now. Lots of resting without sleeping. I am hoping that it will get dealt with my upcoming Babesia antibiotic treatment.
What else? Well, another longstanding symptoms is touch tenderness. Along all my muscles. Like if I gently push a finger against the muscle it hurts...for a while after. And I think why? I remember taking Clindamycin for a tooth infection and all my muscles on my shoulder and neck were hurting and sore. A reaction to the medication. It made me think that maybe that particular medication targets the muscle areas in a way that none of the other medications I had taken (doxycycline, rifampin and tinidazole) could or had done. Nothing has touched this symptom. Nothing has made it better. Not one thing yet. Other than the Clindamycin. And I did get extreme muscle soreness in the lower body (buttucks, thighs) after taking high doses or Artemesinin for the first time.
But my LLND doesn't prescribe Clindamycin. She has her things she prescribes. I am going to try to convince her to give it to me. I would like to take it for a year. I really want to beat the crap out of whatever is causing this pain in my muscles and I really think the Clindamycin is a key to doing it. So, we'll see. I know it can make me more prone to a C. Diff infection but there are many people who haven't gotten that infection after taking it long term, i.e. 1-3 years. Also, I take tinidazole which is a medication that combats C. Diff so I would be on the safe side anyways. My dream combo would be Tinidazole, Minocycline (or Doxy), Ceftin (which I am already on) combined with Clindamycin and Malarone. I read that some with fibro symptoms respond better to Malarone and that Babesia Duncani has become resistant to Mepron so that is why I would like Malarone. I should say that that is all from what I have read from some LLMD's experience but is not proven. I prefer Malarone to Mepron also because I would much rather swallow a pill than drink yellow paint on a daily basis. But, I am nervous to ask for what I want. I need to get over that. Also Clindamycin and Malarone is much more affordable than Mepron and Zithromax. I just don't completely trust that combo. Also, doc's like Jemsek say that they have treated longstanding lyme disease and babesia with IV clindamycin with very good outcomes. That gives me alot of home. For the quinine portion of the babesia treatment, I read I can drink tonic water. So in addition to the meds, considering my liver is doing fine with it all, I will take the artemesinin and tonic water.
So the biggy symptoms now that I want gone are Depression (Apathy, Lazy not Sad) and Muscle Pain gone. I want them gone!
Oh, and I am also thinking about adding a Humaworm Parasite Cleanse in too...just in case parasites are a cause of the depression or muscle pain.
Lastly, I was reading that an effective treatment for treating toxoplasmosis is clindamycin combined with atoquovone. That is mepron. Interesting as it is a parasite that goes into cyst form and doesn't respond to the regular parasite medication. Clindamycin gets at that parasite. That is what I want to take. For a year. DOWN with this disease. BTW - I don't have toxoplasmosis, just found it interesting, that is all.
Now, I know I said, lastly, but let me just dream for a bit. Dream of a life without the lazy dullness all day long. Dream of muscles that are strong to touch so when my kids sit on me it doesn't hurt. Dream of jogging, laughing, having life fill me in every cell. Having energy (motivation, will) t o clean my house, then meet a friend, pick up my kids, take them to their volunteering projects, do homework without weariness. I am dreaming now. But also believing it will become a reality. Intention.
What are my major symptoms now? What do I look to find resolve from? Well, it has become apparent that I am under some sort of depression. Not a sadness, but just an unmotivated, sluggish state. There is plenty to do, but I just don't do it. Like I would just rather sit. It is not mental in that I have a mental list of all the things I want to do. It is just not doing them. Laziness is what my husband calls it. So it IS a problem. I never was a lazy person. In fact I don't see myself as a lazy person but the fact is I am very lazy right now. Lots of resting without sleeping. I am hoping that it will get dealt with my upcoming Babesia antibiotic treatment.
What else? Well, another longstanding symptoms is touch tenderness. Along all my muscles. Like if I gently push a finger against the muscle it hurts...for a while after. And I think why? I remember taking Clindamycin for a tooth infection and all my muscles on my shoulder and neck were hurting and sore. A reaction to the medication. It made me think that maybe that particular medication targets the muscle areas in a way that none of the other medications I had taken (doxycycline, rifampin and tinidazole) could or had done. Nothing has touched this symptom. Nothing has made it better. Not one thing yet. Other than the Clindamycin. And I did get extreme muscle soreness in the lower body (buttucks, thighs) after taking high doses or Artemesinin for the first time.
But my LLND doesn't prescribe Clindamycin. She has her things she prescribes. I am going to try to convince her to give it to me. I would like to take it for a year. I really want to beat the crap out of whatever is causing this pain in my muscles and I really think the Clindamycin is a key to doing it. So, we'll see. I know it can make me more prone to a C. Diff infection but there are many people who haven't gotten that infection after taking it long term, i.e. 1-3 years. Also, I take tinidazole which is a medication that combats C. Diff so I would be on the safe side anyways. My dream combo would be Tinidazole, Minocycline (or Doxy), Ceftin (which I am already on) combined with Clindamycin and Malarone. I read that some with fibro symptoms respond better to Malarone and that Babesia Duncani has become resistant to Mepron so that is why I would like Malarone. I should say that that is all from what I have read from some LLMD's experience but is not proven. I prefer Malarone to Mepron also because I would much rather swallow a pill than drink yellow paint on a daily basis. But, I am nervous to ask for what I want. I need to get over that. Also Clindamycin and Malarone is much more affordable than Mepron and Zithromax. I just don't completely trust that combo. Also, doc's like Jemsek say that they have treated longstanding lyme disease and babesia with IV clindamycin with very good outcomes. That gives me alot of home. For the quinine portion of the babesia treatment, I read I can drink tonic water. So in addition to the meds, considering my liver is doing fine with it all, I will take the artemesinin and tonic water.
So the biggy symptoms now that I want gone are Depression (Apathy, Lazy not Sad) and Muscle Pain gone. I want them gone!
Oh, and I am also thinking about adding a Humaworm Parasite Cleanse in too...just in case parasites are a cause of the depression or muscle pain.
Lastly, I was reading that an effective treatment for treating toxoplasmosis is clindamycin combined with atoquovone. That is mepron. Interesting as it is a parasite that goes into cyst form and doesn't respond to the regular parasite medication. Clindamycin gets at that parasite. That is what I want to take. For a year. DOWN with this disease. BTW - I don't have toxoplasmosis, just found it interesting, that is all.
Now, I know I said, lastly, but let me just dream for a bit. Dream of a life without the lazy dullness all day long. Dream of muscles that are strong to touch so when my kids sit on me it doesn't hurt. Dream of jogging, laughing, having life fill me in every cell. Having energy (motivation, will) t o clean my house, then meet a friend, pick up my kids, take them to their volunteering projects, do homework without weariness. I am dreaming now. But also believing it will become a reality. Intention.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Byron White A-Bab Notes
The day after starting Byron White A-Bab for a babesia duncani infection I noticed my feet and hands were really cold. We haven't changed the thermostat so it is not that. Nor am I getting ill. The 3rd day of A-Bab, I noticed the cold sensation even more. Right now I am on my 7th day and the tip of my nose is icy, I have been holding hand warmers to keep my hands warm and my feet are cold especially at the toes. I think on the 4th day (8 drops), my right hand seized up and just felt very arthritic. I rarely if ever get the arthritic symptoms so that is interesting too. This A-Bab is bringing out a whole new set of symptoms. Today I took 14 drops. Tomorrow will be 16, Next 18, Then 20 and that will be the final dose. I will wait a few days and then I need to add in the A-Bart 10 drops 2x a day from the start. Then I get to add in the Omnicef. Then, after all that - probably a month down the road, I will have another appointment with my LLND. I really want to have her prescribe Clindamycin. I really felt it was effective at getting into the muscles. My muscles were really sore on it but I felt like it was getting in there where other antibiotics haven't. So right now, I am on Tinidazole and Doxycyline, too add in Omnicef and then hopefully Clindamycin and Malarone. I would like to stay on that protocol for about a year or so - to really hit the deep muscle pain and get rid of babesia. I would do this while staying on the herbs as well. As long as my liver cooperates. Not that I have reason to worry, I just have to go have some bloodwork done to check and make sure my liver is well enough to take the medicines.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Go-Getter Creative
That is how I would describe myself. I was always go, go, go. Onto the next project. Always making something, designing something, organizing something...living. LIVING.
Which has got me thinking? How much of this slugglish, relax in the easy chair, get nothing accomplished all day person is just being ruled by Babesia. I am starting to think these elements of my disease are that infection.
I received my A-Bab and A-Bart in the mail today. I have Ceftin to start as well. I will be starting all these things soon. I am just not on my Tinidazole Pulse right now and am about to start so I want to add back in the Tinidazole and then add these things so I am not confused how my body is reacting to what medication.
So now I am daydreaming. Lyme patient daydreaming. The kind where you dream of the person you were, you still ARE. The person that you take all these medications to become again...or to be released to be again. I am dreaming of keeping moving most all the day. Just getting stuff accomplished. Don't get me wrong. I SO appreciate the fact that my husband has a job that pays enough to allow me to stay home as well as feed and clothe our four kids. I appreciate that I can by lymed-out-lazy when I need to be (which unfortunately, like on days like today, which is the second day of my monthly present, I am taking advantage of). But I don't want to be lazy. I don't want to feel the constant need to just sit down in a chair. After the morning rush of getting four kids off to school (lunches packed, wake them up, brush their hair, make them breakfast, drive them to school, finish up any last minute homework they may have missed) I just come home and sit down. And watch TV for an hour or two and vedge. Completely. That is my normal routine. Sometimes I mix it up and go for a walk if I am feeling energy or maybe I go for a walk a little later. So, I am wondering will my lymed out laziness leave me after all this treatment? I hope that answer is yes, because I certainly don't want it to be the new me once all this treating is done, assuming I have a ending point in the future.
That's all for now. Got to help the kids with homework....
PS - The reason I got to think about this laziness is that I realized it feels a bit stronger after I got rid of the Bartonella. Like somehow, with the Bartonella now gone and out of the picture, the Lyme and Babesia have come to the forefront and I am facing them head on. And one of the symptoms is....sluggishness, low energy. Honestly, I really shouldn't be calling it laziness because I think laziness is usually people wanting to be lazy, and I don't. All the time I dream of being more productive than I am. But hey, I have gotten this far, with four kids under the age of 11 in tow and a husband who is busy all the time.
Which has got me thinking? How much of this slugglish, relax in the easy chair, get nothing accomplished all day person is just being ruled by Babesia. I am starting to think these elements of my disease are that infection.
I received my A-Bab and A-Bart in the mail today. I have Ceftin to start as well. I will be starting all these things soon. I am just not on my Tinidazole Pulse right now and am about to start so I want to add back in the Tinidazole and then add these things so I am not confused how my body is reacting to what medication.
So now I am daydreaming. Lyme patient daydreaming. The kind where you dream of the person you were, you still ARE. The person that you take all these medications to become again...or to be released to be again. I am dreaming of keeping moving most all the day. Just getting stuff accomplished. Don't get me wrong. I SO appreciate the fact that my husband has a job that pays enough to allow me to stay home as well as feed and clothe our four kids. I appreciate that I can by lymed-out-lazy when I need to be (which unfortunately, like on days like today, which is the second day of my monthly present, I am taking advantage of). But I don't want to be lazy. I don't want to feel the constant need to just sit down in a chair. After the morning rush of getting four kids off to school (lunches packed, wake them up, brush their hair, make them breakfast, drive them to school, finish up any last minute homework they may have missed) I just come home and sit down. And watch TV for an hour or two and vedge. Completely. That is my normal routine. Sometimes I mix it up and go for a walk if I am feeling energy or maybe I go for a walk a little later. So, I am wondering will my lymed out laziness leave me after all this treatment? I hope that answer is yes, because I certainly don't want it to be the new me once all this treating is done, assuming I have a ending point in the future.
That's all for now. Got to help the kids with homework....
PS - The reason I got to think about this laziness is that I realized it feels a bit stronger after I got rid of the Bartonella. Like somehow, with the Bartonella now gone and out of the picture, the Lyme and Babesia have come to the forefront and I am facing them head on. And one of the symptoms is....sluggishness, low energy. Honestly, I really shouldn't be calling it laziness because I think laziness is usually people wanting to be lazy, and I don't. All the time I dream of being more productive than I am. But hey, I have gotten this far, with four kids under the age of 11 in tow and a husband who is busy all the time.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Dr. Appt. Wrap Up
So I talked with my doctor. She will be adding in some herbs and another Lyme medication (Omnicef) so that I will be treated all 3 forms of the Lyme. Then, we will look at adding in Babesia meds after that. I mentioned to her about Clindamycin and my reaction to that - how all my muscles were hit after taking it - and how I was interested in taking it to deal with the muscle pain I have so she is considering it although she doesn't really use it in her treatment. I would have liked to start it asap because I just want all this stuff over and done, but she is putting me on A-Bab and A-Bart from Byron White. Who knows? The HH2 and Buhner herbs really knocked out the anxiety/Bart symptoms I had been having for the past 4 and 1/2 years so these herbs could be a real life saver too. I know when I went on the herbs it was a feeling of settling for 2nd best because I was too nervous to take the antibiotics while living in a foreign country with no real lyme specialist in sight. And...it turned out to be a good thing. So I am open. Only thing is right now, the herbs cost more than my medications because my medications are covered by insurance. Herbs aren't
Lastly, I mentioned to her that my stools have not been floating in oily residue after I go the bathroom and she said that the Tinidazole that I am taking treats intestinal parasites so it could be that is why I am digesting better. Parasites.
I asked her if she does the Klinghardt protocol for that but she said she wasn't familiar with it. I think right now I am just going to add humaworm in when I have all her other medications under control that she wants to start me on. Those Klinghardt parasite meds are pretty strong. I would have to go see another doctor. Get started on that protocol and kind of stop the lyme meds I think because they are so strong. It is hard to know the right path. But humaworm seems to be good too so maybe just adding those in for the duration of my treatment may be the best thing after all. I have read that Klinghardt has said that treating parasites first knocks a huge chunk of time of the chronic lyme treatment so that is where I struggle to know if just treating them with herbs somewhere down the line is the right decision after all. Maybe I should be hitting them hard with meds first. BUT, my doctor doesn't do that type of treatment so I would have to go to another. I have one in mind but I am just not ready to move on it yet. I need to pray about all this for guidance from God to know what to do and when to do it, etc.
That is not the only thing I need to pray for guidance for. My husband may be switching jobs in a little bit. There is a dream job that has come up, in an area we want to live, close to family. It would be a perfect transition for him out of what he is doing now into what he is doing. But, it is a long shot because the career he is functioning in now, they don't typically hire from, although it has happened. It would mean we could stay living close by family instead of having to move to another state. But, it would also mean a transition in insurance for me - and right now, I only have to pay 2.00 per prescription with no questions asked as to why I am taking copious amounts of antibiotics for extended periods of time. I really don't want to have to deal with fighting with a new insurance company for treatment because I think my husbands company has the 2nd best insurance policy for its workers in the whole country. No joke. His company is literally listed on one of the very best. The company he worked at a couple of years ago was even better. They paid for EVERYTHING no questions asked. I mean, that was a dream. But anyways, I digress. This is the transition we are in now. I hope he gets the job. It would be amazing. If he doesn't, I don't know what we will do. Where he will work next. Where we will live. At least here, in the transition time, if he doesn't get the job, we have family to live with until we move somewhere. But I hope, and pray, if it would be good for our family, which I think it would be, that he gets this job.
Lastly, I mentioned to her that my stools have not been floating in oily residue after I go the bathroom and she said that the Tinidazole that I am taking treats intestinal parasites so it could be that is why I am digesting better. Parasites.
I asked her if she does the Klinghardt protocol for that but she said she wasn't familiar with it. I think right now I am just going to add humaworm in when I have all her other medications under control that she wants to start me on. Those Klinghardt parasite meds are pretty strong. I would have to go see another doctor. Get started on that protocol and kind of stop the lyme meds I think because they are so strong. It is hard to know the right path. But humaworm seems to be good too so maybe just adding those in for the duration of my treatment may be the best thing after all. I have read that Klinghardt has said that treating parasites first knocks a huge chunk of time of the chronic lyme treatment so that is where I struggle to know if just treating them with herbs somewhere down the line is the right decision after all. Maybe I should be hitting them hard with meds first. BUT, my doctor doesn't do that type of treatment so I would have to go to another. I have one in mind but I am just not ready to move on it yet. I need to pray about all this for guidance from God to know what to do and when to do it, etc.
That is not the only thing I need to pray for guidance for. My husband may be switching jobs in a little bit. There is a dream job that has come up, in an area we want to live, close to family. It would be a perfect transition for him out of what he is doing now into what he is doing. But, it is a long shot because the career he is functioning in now, they don't typically hire from, although it has happened. It would mean we could stay living close by family instead of having to move to another state. But, it would also mean a transition in insurance for me - and right now, I only have to pay 2.00 per prescription with no questions asked as to why I am taking copious amounts of antibiotics for extended periods of time. I really don't want to have to deal with fighting with a new insurance company for treatment because I think my husbands company has the 2nd best insurance policy for its workers in the whole country. No joke. His company is literally listed on one of the very best. The company he worked at a couple of years ago was even better. They paid for EVERYTHING no questions asked. I mean, that was a dream. But anyways, I digress. This is the transition we are in now. I hope he gets the job. It would be amazing. If he doesn't, I don't know what we will do. Where he will work next. Where we will live. At least here, in the transition time, if he doesn't get the job, we have family to live with until we move somewhere. But I hope, and pray, if it would be good for our family, which I think it would be, that he gets this job.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Local Doctor Appointment
So my hormones I think are an issues that I have never really addressed - successfully. In the beginning (the beginning being coming down with Lyme Disease unbeknownst to me), I would notice cycles of mood swings. As time when on there has been a pattern. 14 days before my period starts, I get really tired, all day long, and I get pains in my abdomen. I get so tired that I basically sleep all day and all night With some waking hours of getting my kids off to school, and getting them dinner (pizza), making them do their homework and getting them to bed before I collapse again. So that is Day 14.
Day 10 - I start to feel depressed in the evening. Between 5-6pm and then it fades away around 8 or 9pm. So that happened today. My husband came home from grocery shopping for me, and he looked in my eyes and said "What is wrong". I said, "I am having depression". And then I went and looked at my daily journal and sure enough, 10 days before my period last month, I had the same episode of evening depression feeling that would go away.
Soooo. Why haven't I done anything about it? Well I have and haven't. Firstly, I took an estrovan pill in the beginning (when all hell was breaking lose in my body and I thought my hormones were WAY out of wack...hot flashes in the middle of the day, mood swings, just not myself) and it sent me into sobbing fits that whole night. I really worried our overnight guest who was staying with us and decided NEVER to take estrovan again. So then I turned to wondering about progesterone and read all about perimenopause and figured that is what I must be having.
Long story short, when hell upon hell broke loose, I finally went to see a Dr. and he ran some tests. And then a year later or so ran more tests (Lyme, Babesia and Bartonella were not yet on the radar). One of the tests said I had low progesterone so he gave me some progesterone drops. I think because I was trying other vitamins and things for my anxiety and symptoms, I didn't end of taking the drops and then they expired. A year or so later, yes, a year, I bought some progesterone cream from the health food store. It was a brand recommended by the John Lee (perimenopause doctor) website. I put a little on. OMG. OMG(osh)! I was flat out - energiless, major depressed in bed for 2 DAYS STRAIGHT! I never wanted to touch the stuff again. Still didn't know I had Lyme and Co. at the time.
So now I have treated Bartonella. Lyme and Babesia and possibly parasites are still in the picture. I have read several times that Babesia interferes with hormones and that Lyme patients often are low in progesterone. So I should either talk to my doctor here locally about it or talk to my LLND about at my appointment next week. Maybe I should get those drops and see how I go with adding them in.
I don't know though. I don't want to add in tons of things at once. The way I work is steady and slow and methodic. So I know what med or vitamin causes what reaction. So it has to be spaced out. I could continue this month with trying a progesterone. See how that makes me feel. I just don't want to wait for the other treatments either. Its kind of one of those things that I would want to wait 3 months to see how it works. And for parasite treatment. I would want to wait 3 months and see how THAT makes me feel. And likewise with Babesia Treatment. If I start all at once. Who knows whats going on? Who knows what is making me feel better or worse. What is a herx and what is a reaction to a hormone. I have to think this out and I guess I am thinking it out here. But it is good to note regardless. Just to have a record of where I am at today...hormonally speaking.
And the good news is. Because I take notes. I don't have to be scared of the depression because I know I get it every month near this day, in the evening, and it will past. Not like the major depression of the past that would linger and linger and linger.
All is well. Times are good. I am able to focus on the more minor nuances of this disease because that BIG BAD BARTONELLA is out of the way and so many times I speak out how grateful I am for that.
So grateful!
PS - I am going to add DAY 10 Hormone check to my list!
Day 10 - I start to feel depressed in the evening. Between 5-6pm and then it fades away around 8 or 9pm. So that happened today. My husband came home from grocery shopping for me, and he looked in my eyes and said "What is wrong". I said, "I am having depression". And then I went and looked at my daily journal and sure enough, 10 days before my period last month, I had the same episode of evening depression feeling that would go away.
Soooo. Why haven't I done anything about it? Well I have and haven't. Firstly, I took an estrovan pill in the beginning (when all hell was breaking lose in my body and I thought my hormones were WAY out of wack...hot flashes in the middle of the day, mood swings, just not myself) and it sent me into sobbing fits that whole night. I really worried our overnight guest who was staying with us and decided NEVER to take estrovan again. So then I turned to wondering about progesterone and read all about perimenopause and figured that is what I must be having.
Long story short, when hell upon hell broke loose, I finally went to see a Dr. and he ran some tests. And then a year later or so ran more tests (Lyme, Babesia and Bartonella were not yet on the radar). One of the tests said I had low progesterone so he gave me some progesterone drops. I think because I was trying other vitamins and things for my anxiety and symptoms, I didn't end of taking the drops and then they expired. A year or so later, yes, a year, I bought some progesterone cream from the health food store. It was a brand recommended by the John Lee (perimenopause doctor) website. I put a little on. OMG. OMG(osh)! I was flat out - energiless, major depressed in bed for 2 DAYS STRAIGHT! I never wanted to touch the stuff again. Still didn't know I had Lyme and Co. at the time.
So now I have treated Bartonella. Lyme and Babesia and possibly parasites are still in the picture. I have read several times that Babesia interferes with hormones and that Lyme patients often are low in progesterone. So I should either talk to my doctor here locally about it or talk to my LLND about at my appointment next week. Maybe I should get those drops and see how I go with adding them in.
I don't know though. I don't want to add in tons of things at once. The way I work is steady and slow and methodic. So I know what med or vitamin causes what reaction. So it has to be spaced out. I could continue this month with trying a progesterone. See how that makes me feel. I just don't want to wait for the other treatments either. Its kind of one of those things that I would want to wait 3 months to see how it works. And for parasite treatment. I would want to wait 3 months and see how THAT makes me feel. And likewise with Babesia Treatment. If I start all at once. Who knows whats going on? Who knows what is making me feel better or worse. What is a herx and what is a reaction to a hormone. I have to think this out and I guess I am thinking it out here. But it is good to note regardless. Just to have a record of where I am at today...hormonally speaking.
And the good news is. Because I take notes. I don't have to be scared of the depression because I know I get it every month near this day, in the evening, and it will past. Not like the major depression of the past that would linger and linger and linger.
All is well. Times are good. I am able to focus on the more minor nuances of this disease because that BIG BAD BARTONELLA is out of the way and so many times I speak out how grateful I am for that.
So grateful!
PS - I am going to add DAY 10 Hormone check to my list!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Klinghardt Parasite Protocol
I found the following parasite protocol on the internet and I am going to ask my doctor about doing it first before we do the babesia treatment. Theory would be - work on the big parasites (if I have them) and then down to the little...the babesia all the while continuing Lyme treatment:
My Synopsis of his protocol is: 2 Months
Biltricide (600 mg) twice daily for two days
-Ivermectin 12 mg one tablet four times per day for fourteen days (take at the same time as Pyrantel Pamoate)
-Pyrantel pamoate, 1000 mg per day at bedtime for fourteen days. Fill at Key Pharmacy
-Albenza, 200 mg (after completing fourteen days on Ivermectin and Pyrantel). Two tablets twice per day for fourteen days
-Alinia 500 mg (after completing Albenza)- Two twice per day for fourteen days
Order of treatment: Biltricide-Ivermectin-Pyrantel-Albenza-Alinia
-Ivermectin 12 mg one tablet four times per day for fourteen days (take at the same time as Pyrantel Pamoate)
-Pyrantel pamoate, 1000 mg per day at bedtime for fourteen days. Fill at Key Pharmacy
-Albenza, 200 mg (after completing fourteen days on Ivermectin and Pyrantel). Two tablets twice per day for fourteen days
-Alinia 500 mg (after completing Albenza)- Two twice per day for fourteen days
Order of treatment: Biltricide-Ivermectin-Pyrantel-Albenza-Alinia
My Synopsis of his protocol is: 2 Months
2 Days - Biltricide
14 Days - Ivermectin
14 Days Pyrantel
14 Days Albenza
14 Days Alinia
I would add to it on my own: 1 Additional Month of
30 Days Humaworm
So that would be 3 months of anti-Parasite treatment. We'll see what my doctor says.
Happy New Year!
Hallelujah! I have achieved ONE WHOLE YEAR anxiety free! Thank you God!!!! I am absolutely thrilled about this progress. No doubt there is MORE to go but so far so good!!!
What is on my mind. Well a couple of days I had a herx/breakdown. I got emotional and teary and it wasn't PMS but it is the biggest breakdown I have had in a long time so that is a good sign....especially when the breakdown is really only me getting teary and crying and being weak. You see, for Christmas I was the host of the Christmas Eve Dinner as well as Christmas Dinner. Both with different sides of my family. For the days leading up to it and the day after Christmas I didn't take any of my medicines. Then I restarted them all the next day (I went for 3 or 4 days without meds). Well, at the lovely 72 hour point, I got phlegm, nausea, headache, depressed, and then the next day I felt weak, cold and then hot (I actually had my temp go over 99 for the first time since last summer in Australia). Anyways, I question myself? Am I just being a hypochondriac and weak from Christmas but the fever clinched it for me because I never barely get over 97 since having Lyme Disease. Anyways, I was getting ready for my upcoming appointment with my doctor regarding Lyme and treating the next infection on the checklist, Babesia Duncani, and I got REALLY discouraged reading all the message boards. I just wept. Feeling like there was no hope. Truth was, a few people here and there had conquered Babesia Duncani but only a very few that I could find so I was feeling a bit hopeless. I just broke down and wept - in the middle of the day - and my husband said "you are scaring me". I know he was afraid that I would randomly go downhill into a depression like I did a couple of years ago. I learned that always happened when I would start exercising (thus the huge weight gain because I couldn't exercise!!) I am rambling.
Anyways, today I was reading the book by Connie Streisham from 10 Lyme Literate Doctors and in Ginger Savely's chapter, she shares that she would have Lyme patients know that they can get a skewed picture of treating Lyme disease because the message boards are filled with people that haven't gotten better, but in her experience of treating patients, they are the 1% (!!!!!), let me repeat, the 1% of people who dont' get better. In her experience, patients get better. I read it out loud to my husband and he said 'that is what I have told you" which I know. It just helped reading it from a Lyme Doctor.
Back to my herxing reaction to restarting the meds after stopping them for 4 days. So for about 24 hours from the 72 hour point of starting my medication, I felt ill (all of the symptoms which I said above). I was laying on the couch, not feeling well, ate a couple of rolls to help with my nausea and then a few minutes later, I literally felt my hands go from freezing cold, to warming up and I no longer felt sick. It just left. And I felt fine and I could get up and work and do stuff around the house. I have to say, I have been sleeping very extended amounts of time. For one, it is Christmas break so I don't have to wake up to get the kids to school. For two, I restarted the Tinidazole which wipes me out, and three, I am recovering from staying up all night (almost) getting ready for the dinners and wrapping presents. We literally worked the whole Christmas straight. So we laid low every day until New Years Eve, on which we hosted family at our house again. I still don't have friends over (yet). Right now, I have just focused on having family over because they know my story and I don't have to explain to them all my issues (and I can complain a little about my symptoms and they understand...at least my side of the family!) and they understand if I need to lay down and rest.
So that is my story for now!!!
Lastly. I have been thinking a lot about my upcoming appointment. I think I am going to request a Parasite Cleanse (with or without medications but using Humaworm) for a month. I want to know if this is the cause of my chronic constipation and muscle pain - or if that is the Babesia. I don't know. I just want to see if I react at all (expel worms, etc.) or reduce the above said symptoms. That would just check it off if I had no reaction. Then I could be confident just going after Babesia and Lyme. In addition to that though, I have never been tested for viruses and I would just like to know if those a part of my symptom picture and if so take herbs to address that. So that is what I am thinking about and committing to prayer.
What is on my mind. Well a couple of days I had a herx/breakdown. I got emotional and teary and it wasn't PMS but it is the biggest breakdown I have had in a long time so that is a good sign....especially when the breakdown is really only me getting teary and crying and being weak. You see, for Christmas I was the host of the Christmas Eve Dinner as well as Christmas Dinner. Both with different sides of my family. For the days leading up to it and the day after Christmas I didn't take any of my medicines. Then I restarted them all the next day (I went for 3 or 4 days without meds). Well, at the lovely 72 hour point, I got phlegm, nausea, headache, depressed, and then the next day I felt weak, cold and then hot (I actually had my temp go over 99 for the first time since last summer in Australia). Anyways, I question myself? Am I just being a hypochondriac and weak from Christmas but the fever clinched it for me because I never barely get over 97 since having Lyme Disease. Anyways, I was getting ready for my upcoming appointment with my doctor regarding Lyme and treating the next infection on the checklist, Babesia Duncani, and I got REALLY discouraged reading all the message boards. I just wept. Feeling like there was no hope. Truth was, a few people here and there had conquered Babesia Duncani but only a very few that I could find so I was feeling a bit hopeless. I just broke down and wept - in the middle of the day - and my husband said "you are scaring me". I know he was afraid that I would randomly go downhill into a depression like I did a couple of years ago. I learned that always happened when I would start exercising (thus the huge weight gain because I couldn't exercise!!) I am rambling.
Anyways, today I was reading the book by Connie Streisham from 10 Lyme Literate Doctors and in Ginger Savely's chapter, she shares that she would have Lyme patients know that they can get a skewed picture of treating Lyme disease because the message boards are filled with people that haven't gotten better, but in her experience of treating patients, they are the 1% (!!!!!), let me repeat, the 1% of people who dont' get better. In her experience, patients get better. I read it out loud to my husband and he said 'that is what I have told you" which I know. It just helped reading it from a Lyme Doctor.
Back to my herxing reaction to restarting the meds after stopping them for 4 days. So for about 24 hours from the 72 hour point of starting my medication, I felt ill (all of the symptoms which I said above). I was laying on the couch, not feeling well, ate a couple of rolls to help with my nausea and then a few minutes later, I literally felt my hands go from freezing cold, to warming up and I no longer felt sick. It just left. And I felt fine and I could get up and work and do stuff around the house. I have to say, I have been sleeping very extended amounts of time. For one, it is Christmas break so I don't have to wake up to get the kids to school. For two, I restarted the Tinidazole which wipes me out, and three, I am recovering from staying up all night (almost) getting ready for the dinners and wrapping presents. We literally worked the whole Christmas straight. So we laid low every day until New Years Eve, on which we hosted family at our house again. I still don't have friends over (yet). Right now, I have just focused on having family over because they know my story and I don't have to explain to them all my issues (and I can complain a little about my symptoms and they understand...at least my side of the family!) and they understand if I need to lay down and rest.
So that is my story for now!!!
Lastly. I have been thinking a lot about my upcoming appointment. I think I am going to request a Parasite Cleanse (with or without medications but using Humaworm) for a month. I want to know if this is the cause of my chronic constipation and muscle pain - or if that is the Babesia. I don't know. I just want to see if I react at all (expel worms, etc.) or reduce the above said symptoms. That would just check it off if I had no reaction. Then I could be confident just going after Babesia and Lyme. In addition to that though, I have never been tested for viruses and I would just like to know if those a part of my symptom picture and if so take herbs to address that. So that is what I am thinking about and committing to prayer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)