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Visiting Envita Medical Center for antibiotic protocol

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Posted 1/4/2013 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
My wife and I are off to Scottsdale, AZ to begin an antibiotic protocol for Lyme.  Although she has tested both negative and positive for Lyme, her symptoms are consistent with chronic Lyme Disease syndrome.  She has suffered for nearly nine years, visited over 90 healthcare professionals of various disciplines from neurologists to faith healers.  She doesn't want to live the rest of her life taking drugs for symptoms and is hopeful that the treatment program at Envita is the answer to a cure.  I am the skeptical member of the family but am willing to try anything to give her relief from her suffering.

I am planning to continue a journal of our activity.  We begin the protocol on January 16th.

Posted 1/4/2013 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck to your wife, and I hope they help her . No one should have to suffer with this horrible disease.

Justme
Posted 1/4/2013 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi JHWK!
Welcome! I'm so sorry that you wife has had that kind of run around, unfortunately it's not uncommon.

Although you folks aren't new to Lyme disease, it would be helpful if you read through our "New to Lyme? Start here!" thread as it's packed full of important information, helpful links and pdf's, symptom lists (as Lyme rarely travels alone!), detoxing instructions for those who have these infections, and even a list of questions that you can ask any doc that you are planning to get treatment from.

We also have a pretty good search function here! That way you can narrow down the post to only those that interest you, and you can compare what's being said to what you already know or may need to know.

You can put a link to your journal in the signature line from your profile, if you wish. I'm sure many here would love to be able to follow your journey through Envita!

May I suggest a website for you? It's called Lyme Spouse and can be found here:www.lymespouse.org/
It's a site designed specifically for those who have a loved one who is suffering from these infections.

Please do let us know if you have any questions! We'll do our best to help!! :-)
Posted 1/4/2013 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, will keep posting as we progress.
JHWK
Posted 1/4/2013 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
JHWK,

Nine years is a very long time to have to endure what she has gone through. Good luck with your treatment. I hope that you find your solution there! I am looking forward to hearing good news in your journal.

Don
Posted 1/4/2013 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
JHWK, I hope your wife gets well! There was another poster on this board that still visits occasionally who says she got well after going to Envita. She had to stay there for three months and was barely walking when she arrived. She's been symptom free for a few years now. She swears by the place! If I had the money, I'd be there myself.
Best of luck to you both and please, please tell us about your experiences there! It's helpful to the rest of us to see someone else's progress! All the best!!
Posted 1/4/2013 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the comment.

I had read the posting from the other person regarding Envita.  I hope our experience goes as well...half as well would be a wonderful relief from what she is dealing with currently.

Posted 1/15/2013 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
My wife began her treatment at Envita today. Daily IVs of Doxy and Rocephin, plus celation, detox, peroxide, saunas, ozone therapy. Scheduled to review results after 4 weeks, but anticipate another 4 weeks are possible.
Posted 1/15/2013 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
We will all follow your updates closely as we send our thoughts for renewed health to your wife.
Posted 1/15/2013 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad that you are out there and that treatment has started. It sounds like a comprehensively planned approach. We look forward to hearing good news!

Don
Posted 1/15/2013 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Best of luck and prayers for your wife. Yes, please let us know what treatment is included and how she does!
Posted 1/20/2013 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Made it through week 1 of the treatments and feeling alright so far.  No herxing, but it appears that will come in time.  The staff is very professional and caring.  The facility is impressive.  The best part is she is receiving treatments, mainly IV injections, in a room with several other patients with similar symptoms.  Similar, did I say, everyone sounds as though they are reading from the same script.  Identical symptoms, identical experiences with hospitals, doctors, etc.  It is quite validating to hear from others suffering in the same way with final diagnoses of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and suggestions of pain meds and antidepressants along with a visit to the pain management clinic.  Hopefully, we have found a place where she is acknowledged as having an infection, or co-infections, that can be treated and her suffering cured.  We will keep on with the treatments and see. 
Posted 1/20/2013 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Well congratulations to both of you for making it this far!! Sounds like things are progressing nicely and I hope that that will continue for your wife!

The support for dealing with these diseases is critical to have in my opinion! That's why I'm still here after so many years! LOL!

I wish you both nothing but the best of everything while you are there at Envita and afterwards!! Sending healing, comforting thoughts to both of you.
Posted 1/22/2013 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
this message is to jwhk. I wish you would write me, and keep me posted on how it goes at envita. Several months ago I was looking into taking my wife there but received so much negative advice I put it on hold. My wife is getting worse and would like to know of the results you receive there? Thanks, david

Post Edited By Moderator (Traveler) : 1/24/2013 10:32:02 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/24/2013 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Davidteddy,
I'm so sorry, but I had to remove your email address from your post. Admin doesn't want anyone to list their email like that because it invites spammers to flood your inbox with junk. If you would go to your profile and choose 'edit profile' you can choose to show my email so that members only can see it.

I do hope that you and your wife will find this to be a wonderful place to learn about the options that you have!
Posted 1/27/2013 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
We have now completed two weeks.  My wife has yet to experience the herxing reaction to the antibiotics.  We understand that it doesn't happen in all cases, but we are certainly seeing it in others with whom we are sitting.  By sitting, I mean being in a room with others receiving the IV treatments.  There were as many as 8 this past week.  It is so validating to be with others with like symptoms.  My wife no longer feels like a "head case" which is, psychologically, such a relief.  We like the support the patients give one another.  There are also private rooms as some patients prefer to be along, specially if herxing.

We see the doctor Tuesday for our first review of progress.  We continue to remain hopeful and, again, are quite impressed by the facility and staff.  One woman left Thursday, much improved and continuing on home care.

JHWK

Posted 1/27/2013 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations to both of you!!!
May you get the best news possible in your review of progress!! I wish your wife continued success and no herxing!!
Posted 2/11/2013 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
My wife has now completed four weeks of treatment.  We were told that she might get worse before she got better and last week was proof of that fact.  She had been suffering little discomfort from the treatments until last Tuesday when she began to become nauseated from some of the IV treatment.  The main difficulty was from the "IV-Nutritional/APOP IVC" which is referred to as Vitamin C.  This seems to make each of the patients nauseated, hot and, as my wife says, "makes you feel as though Drano is coursing through your blood stream".  No one likes it, but it is done to boost the immune system.  She was sick most of the weekend, but feeling better by late Sunday.  This week we will see if she can handle it better. 

We remain optimistic.  Three new patients joined us last Monday all with basically the same symptoms and stories of past experiences with traditional practioners.  Two left a week ago Friday feeling better and planning to follow-up with the home treatment recommended by Envita which included use of the Rife instrument.  As I have said before, the staff is professional and caring, and the facility quite impressive.

JWHK 

Posted 2/11/2013 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear it JHWK. Thank you for the update. I hope the wife is hanging in there! Let her know the forum would love to hear her personal experiences too. She is lucky to have such a loving supportive husband. I hope that you, also - are hanging in there. I can't imagine having to watch your loved one going through this!
Posted 2/11/2013 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the update! Vitamin C through the veins HURTS! I know...tell her to hang in there! We are rooting for her! As for you I will send prayers your way too because being a care giver is tough.

Thanks for keeping us posted! I can't wait to see how she progresses. I have good feelings about it all.

Cheers!
Posted 2/11/2013 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
So glad she is doing better! Yes, we are rooting for her!
Nan
Posted 2/11/2013 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
Im scared to ask, you can PM me if you dont want to post, but how much does this place cost and do they take any forms of insurance?
Posted 2/12/2013 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
The cost for 8 weeks of treatments is estimated to run mid-five figures. Envita doesn't process insurance claims but works with a group that will file for us. Not sure how much will be covered, but have had an indication from the group handling the filing that, based upon the 8 years they have been doing this, that as much as 70% might be covered. But each insurance company is different, and we have heard some sad stories from others here at the medical center.
Posted 2/15/2013 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
I wanted to relate something that happened today in treatment.  My wife and another patient who is in her second week but who has suffered for over 20 years friended one another on Facebook.  The other patient was looking at pictures on my wife's FB and saw how beautiful she looked at our wedding 10 years ago.  When she commented, my wife said yes I was pretty once.  The other woman said that she could tell my wife was pretty once.  The woman showed my wife her picture taken in 2008.  She was very pretty in that picture.  Then, my wife said, "we were both pretty when we were persons".

"When we were persons."  How many of you relate to that comment?  My wife and her new friend feel somehow removed from a normal life.  Is it from the pain and suffering?  Is it from the not knowing what is causing the suffering; the not knowing what can cure the suffering; not knowing where to find help; not realizing that there are thousands suffering from the same symptoms?  I have a dear friend who just learned he has a tumor on his pancreas but doesn't know if it is malignant or benign, or whether surgery is the answer.  He said it is the not knowing that is the worst part.  He'll get an answer soon, I hope it is good news.

My wife, once a fastidious dresser, no longer cares much about her appearance.  She pulls her hair back because her hair hurts when it touches her face.  She wears loose fitting clothes, t-shirts, sweat pants, etc. because she can't stand anything that is tight-fitting to touch her skin.  She is no longer "a person" in that sense as well.  She is not interested in dressing up to go out, she cares only to do what needs to be done with the least amount of discomfort.  Get to the doctor's office and get home.  Get to the drug store and get home.  We love good food, good wine and a great restaurant.  We have been out for dinner less than once a month for 15 months or so.  It is too much of a struggle for her to dress for such an event even when she feels able to get out of bed.

She is a great "person" as is her friend, a gifted, award winning artist.  We are now with 8 others trying to get well.  Today, a patient gone for the past two weeks came back to tell us of her renewed energy and her walking in anticipation of hiking once again.  Tomorrow, a young man who was described to us as a total mess when he arrived in December, is leaving and feeling "much, much better".  He looks great.

We now believe there is hope for a cure, not just drugs for the symptoms.  Tomorrow ends week five.  We are hoping for good results by the end of week eight and, although we know it is just the beginning of our journey, we have seen real evidence that she might be cured, not just a patient in some pain management clinic.

JWHK 

Posted 2/15/2013 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the response. Yes, meeting others who are suffering in a similar fashion has been the best part of this experience. It has been validating for my wife to see people who have struggled for so long and now know that they aren't crazy...imagining these symptoms for which their doctors simply cannot find a cause. We celebrated Valentine's Day yesterday with cards, flowers and cookies that we shared with our new friends and the wonderful staff.

JHWK
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