New to Lyme - a little scared.....

Hello :) I am a 40 yr old mom of four. I just got another set of lab results, this time for lyme. The only band present was IgM P23 (wb). That's enough for me and my Dr to suspect lyme, especially since I've got so many symptoms: brain fog, strange headaches in the back of my head, aches in random fingers/toes, aches in hands, feet, knees, wrists, sparatic muscles pains, muscle twitches, rapid heart beat (beats hard & fast), hypothyroidism, tingling & numbness in arms & hands, bottom of feet burn & a couple more. I have crazy bloodwork, positive ANA, lupus & sjogrens antibodies, high proteinase and candida. I just paid 6k to remove breast implants that were making me sick and am an otherwise healthy person. My whole life has changed in a matter of 6 months. I am going to a holistic lady who has me on Dr Cowden's protocol. But it seems now I need doxycycline? I'm so scared. Especially of the racing heart, I keep going to the ER and all tests fine. I'm afraid of the herx and being on long term abx. Is this curable, is it going to kill me? Do I absolutely have to see an Llmd, I don't have the money for one. My mind is racing & I'm short of breath. Please help! Thanks everyone :)

J

Welcome. The most important thing to realize is you have to slow down. That was my hardest part. I was such a workaholic and never stopped. I loved to work, garden, go to the beach, clean my house, go, go, go. I very rarely watched TV and relaxed. That's just how I was and then WHAM. It changes your lifestyle. If you learn to fight it with everything you got without being angry and rejecting the lifestyle changes, it will really help. I think the longer you have it the longer to get well. I've been on antibiotics for almost 2 years. If your body needs them, they are not bad for you. Just my opinion. If you have bacteria that the antibiotics are fighting, you are not going to become immune or sicker. You will get better. I recommend an LLMD. These tick borne illnesses are so complex that I believe an LLMD is the way to go. But I also think as long as you have a good dr. willing to learn about the diseases and work with you and your body, you are also in good hands. My LLMD doesn't pretend to know everything. She listens and learns. The most important thing is to detox and research. Best of luck to you. My doctors says the three Ps are crucial - Patience, postiive thinking and prayer!

Hi JDiane!
I am so glad to hear that you no longer feel alone!!! That is one of my main purposes of being here on HW!!

There are actually quite a few docs (LLMD's included) that use both a natural route and abx. I was just wondering if something prompted your doc.

I believe that - unfortunately - lotion does clog the pores in our skin. I used to use a lot of lotion, but now only use it on occasion, when for some reason I'm not hydrated as well, or I have been digging in my garden

a little too much. Take a look at the soap you are using
- in the bath and at the sinks. Are they drying your skin even more? I am not suggesting that you stop using lotion suddenly - only that you should notice your skin getting healthier & you should be able to reduce the amount of lotion used regularly.

Once I got regular about doing my dry skin brushing and other detoxing, I have noticed that my skin is not nearly as dry as it used to be. There are a few of us that come out of the detox bath with Epsom slat & peroxide that our skin actually feels silky!!!

As far as what order to do things- you can work the dry skin brushing into your day at any point - it doesn't need to be done just before stepping into the shower/bath. I actually have found it easiest to do my dry skin brushing each morning as I dress for the day!

As for the docs scratching their heads - we 'Lymies' do have a tendency to do that to the uneducated docs out there!! There are links in the "new to Lyme?" thread (page 2) for anyone who's doc wants to learn more. It is quite possible that LD lowered your immune system enough so that you really do have at

least some of those conditions, but remember that Lyme is the new, great imitator (syphilis being the original)- symptoms of tick-borne infections "look like" many, many other conditions - until someone starts to put them all together!! With that being said - candida is serious

and should be addressed. Although it is a "simple" yeast infection, it can spread through-out your entire body if left untreated. One of the best things you can do to help get it under control - IMHO - is to get stared on probiotics right away. There is a whole bunch

of probiotics out on the market today - I prefer to used Kefir (I believe it has the most strains of good bacteria), but there are many more available. We like to suggest that you go to your health food store to get a good quality probiotic - they are usually kept

refrigerated. You should also avoid yeast in foods - breads, rolls and other things. You can use our 'search' function to pull up some really great info on candida & what things to avoid.

Hopefully others will come along with better answers for you - or better yet - start a new post.

An LLMD will treat you for tick-borne infections only. The other "conditions" you have may very well resolve as you heal from the tick-born infections, but it's best to continue to have a GP to take care of the day-to-day things, like in-grown toe nails. You could easily work things out with your Holistic doc - if he/she is willing.

Take care of yourself!! and be sure to keep us informed of your progress!

Diane, stay kool. When I first got all my results out i completely flipped out. This forum was the only place I could even do that. It's a good place and lots of different things we are all doing.
There is a great doc in Tampa.

Email me.

maybe SuziQ will log in soon. she is from that area too.

You can always wait a few days before starting any protocol if you feel more comfortable getting second opinion. Most doctors have similar but not exactly same apporaches
te Cowden protocol I was just reading is sometimes use along with Klinghardts.

Did you by any chance do a stool test. Parasites is another thing that some doctors will treat before they start on antibiotics.

go slow and ask us all as many questions as you want.

The breast implant story was interesting. What kind of reaction were you having from them.?

how long did you have them? were they saline or the other kind?

if you email me i will send you that doctors name. we not allowed to post their names.


hang in there,
bucci