support and/or advice

Sorry, I am new here, and I am going to properly read through all the threads and posts but at the moment my brain just will not allow it. It will take me all my concentration just to type this post. I am just looking for any advice or support, please.

I am from the UK, but have been living abroad for 8 years now.

I have been bitten by a few ticks over the past few years. Last summer I got a strange rash, which was thought to be ringworm. I was given different hydrocortisones and antifungal creams to apply but they didn't clear it up (in fact once it had eventually gone three months later it left a scar).

I became more and more fatigued over the next few months (which was put down to working more than usual), and then in April this year I came down with the 'flu' and other odd physical phenomena and was severally ill for about three weeks. By chance I spoke to a UK doctor who looked at the photos of the rash, listened to my symptoms and suggested I take antibiotics as he suspected Lyme. I took them for 21 days, as directed, felt gradually better with a few awful days and was OK for about a week after stopping the antibiotics. Then the 'flu' hit me again, worse than the first time. So I was told to do another course of antibiotics, which I did.

The trouble is that even though the 'can't move flu like symptoms' went and the shooting pains in my arms have significantly decreased I still have a whole number of symptoms (random joint and muscle ache, horrible fatigue, jaw ache, head aches, to name a few) persist.

But it's what's happening to my brain that is what I'm having most problems with; I can't think straight, I can't concentrate and I often have trouble stringing a sentence together in English, let alone another language. It's taken me about an hour just to type this post.

The doctors here refuse to believe there is anything wrong with me. I can't even get them to take my symptoms seriously. I have been told by them that I am a hypochondriac. I am permanently anxious and suffering from bouts of severe depression. I have been taking antidepressants for the last two months (you buy them over the counter here without a prescription), in a bid to feel a little less like shooting myself.

I have a past medical history that wouldn't fill a postage stamp. I am never ill. I was an extremely active person. I just want to get back to how I was and I have no clue as to how to do it.

I'm so, so sorry for the long post, I have probably left out half the information I meant to write as my brain just refuses to work logically; I am just at my wits end.

Hello Silly Sheep, welcome to the forum. You have come to the right place for help. Good for you for typing all that out. Don't worry that you missed something. It was well put together and we totally get the picture.

I am so sorry that you are going through this. Neurological symptoms are common with Lyme Disease. It is difficult to see our bodies and our minds failing us, but as achievinggrace has said, it is possible to get better with the right treatment.

I will repeat a lot of what she said. Most doctors are not trained in Lyme Disease and know nothing about it, therefore, they cannot help us. They often blame all our symptoms on depression, anxiety, or misdiagnos it completely as Chronic Fatigue or MS. In your case you were labeled a hypochondriac as I am sure others have been. I was told my symptoms were related to anxiety and peri-menopause and another doctor told me it was Chronic Fatigue.

A Lyme Literate doctor is essential - either a medical doctor (LLMD) or a naturopathic doctor (LLND). They will understand your symptoms and believe what you tell them and help you heal. Good luck with your search and I hope you get well soon.

Hi Silly Sheep!! (Giggle! I have to admit I've never said that before!)

If you choose to treat with antibiotics, I would greatly encourage you to read through the article from Dr. Joseph Burrascano titled "Advanced Topics in Lyme Disease". In it, he lists the different abx (antibiotics) and the dosages needed. While there has been a few changes made over the years, this is still a very valid treatment protocol to get started with, until your brain clears enough for you to read through ILADS (International Lyme and Associate Diseases Society) 2014 recommendations at least.

Here is a link to "Advanced Topics in Lyme Disease":
www.ilads.org/lyme/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf

And here is a link to ILADS treatment guidelines:
www.ilads.org/lyme/treatment-guideline.php

Also, you always have the option of treating with herbs. There are a few different protocols that you can choose from. Several people that have been on this forum have healed using nothing but natural protocols (including myself), and most on abx will agree that adding herbs helps. Something for you to consider.

While there may not be any knowledgeable doctors near you, we can help you as much as we can!

We will be here when you are ready!! LOL!!!

A bit more seriously - please do let us know how we can best help you. Information is key to healing it seems, and this is a great forum as we have some really good "citizen scientists" and " citizen researchers"!!

Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel and it's not a train!! You are so very welcome and I'm glad I could be of some help!! I've been in that dark tunnel for far too long myself and I just wish to help others find their way out.

Very, very good about keeping a symptom diary!! Keep on doing that! It will come in very handy as you start treatments. You will be able to look back easily and see what reactions you had with you did this or started that!

Yes, many LLMD's will start their patients on abx while they wait for test results - this will do two things - obviously treat the infections, and secondly if the patient herxes, it's confirmatory of a Lyme infection. It works this way with herbs as well.

If you choose to use herbs, I would actually suggest Buhner's protocols as he has protocols for all of the major tick-borne infections, has a really nice website that's easy to navigate, and there are quite a few members here that have/are using his protocols so there is a lot of help!

Although I am not a doctor, and didn't see your rash or the reaction, it certainly sounds like that's what happened!! It seems that you may be quite sensitive to it too, so be careful about using it in the future too until you know how you will react.

No problem about future questions. I will get email notifications of new posts on this thread, but you will have a much bigger 'audience' and possible 'pool of answers' if you post to a new thread with different concerns, as other members will be able to see what the issue is that you are posting about - so also be sure to use a descriptive title! We have such wonderful members that love to help out and to offer their compassion for what others are going through, I know you will like being here!! We are our own big family or community!!

So please do let us know how we can best help you!!

Well, we are glad you found us too!!!

Do be careful, but know that we are right here to answer as many questions as we can!

Have you started any treatments yet? If so, you are herxing and need to get started with detoxing. If it gets too bad, stop the medications or herbs and just detox.

If you haven't started treatments yet, I would suggest that you do around 2 weeks of detoxing - lots of detoxing before starting any treatments. This is either toxins or the infection progressing though.

I hear you. It's very good you've posted. Please know this will pass. ALL of this that is over the top will start to subside and you WILL get through this.

All of your feelings are valid, and quite understandable. But they will pass, and you will feel much better.

Please know this. Know that we are here, so write and vent as much as it helps, because sometimes, for me, that has been what kept me strong enough to ride it out. I am so grateful this forum, THESE AMAZING PEOPLE are here for me and YOU, day and night!!!!

We are here for YOU. How brave for each of us to open up and reach out and be authentic. But, that is what helps get each of us to the other side of our journey to complete health. Stay Brave.

FACT:

Remember, you aren't just trying, You are DOING, because you are closer to your healing today than you were yesterday! You will get back to health. We can help you believe and stand with you. Stay brave.

As long as we are able to come here to vent when we need to, we are actually doing great!!!!

Please know that. Please hear that Truth.

Feeling like an idiot does not mean that you are one. It's actually the exact opposite.

Dealing with this illness, every stage of it, makes us WARRIORS, and nothing less.

And, warriors are VICTORIOUS. ONE STEP AT A TIME.
That is what we are DOING.
That is what YOU ARE DOING.

This is but one small step towards your coming back to being better than before. It is possible.

Finding the keys are the answer, and the keys are as unique as each one of us.

Thank YOU for posting, for being willing to keep trying, for BEING.

And, you are RIGHT. This site, all of us, are the vent relief in the pressures of this illness. Keep using this gift. We care.

And no one here will judge you - believe me!! Or I'd have been kicked off of here years ago!! I was a total blubbering idiot from 2007 when I joined until a ways into 2010 - when I finally found the treatments that my body could handle. Yet, I'm still here and they can't get rid of me now!! LOL!!!

I think many of us go through those feelings. actually. The feeling of not being in control of our own bodies, not having any control over our days, or our activity levels. Being once a very active person, I sometimes get quite disgusted with how much time I have to spend online! But I've had to learn how to slow down to heal.

And realize that it's those that don't give in, that heal - not all find their healing protocols right away, or don't have 'road bumps' or small set backs in their healing. But if we keep on trying what we need to and doing the things that will bring us healing that finally reach that point and can go back to our lives without these symptoms.

Do NOT be sorry for going through some hard and difficult times. This is a very difficult infection to have simply because of the political fight and the unknowns due to not enough research being done (which is due to the political fight) - it's no wonder you feel overwhelmed and defeated at times!!

But as Breaking Free said, we are here for you!! Posting these things makes it easier to get through them and allows us to help you through it! We can most definitely understand the difficulties, even if our circumstances are different, we experience many of the same feelings.

By posting, you allow the people with more experience the opportunity to reach out to you and help soothe your fears and may have some suggestions that will help you get through these times easier - which is actually a blessing for us. We feel that what we have gone through isn't a waste - at least we can help others that are going through the same types of things. You too will be there one day!!

Right now it's about getting your body detoxing, and getting treatments started - and although that can be a lot of work, you have some very good and wonderful people here that can help guide you through these things. It takes a lot of us to help someone because no two experiences are the same, but there are quite a lot of active members here now!!

So come here to vent your frustrations, share your fears, find support, and help with your treatments. We'll be here!!

Many ((((((hugs)))))) to you!!!

There is no "they are worse than me" here - we are all very sick, some of us have more symptoms, but we are no less sick - not really. So don't worry about not being as bad as what I went through - you are going through the worst time in your life likely, and that alone is bad enough!!

I understand - and commend you - about the critters. I wish I was set up & could afford to do the same - but you must put yourself in front of those animals right now. If you don't take care of yourself, what will happen to all those critters if you get more ill and can't take care of them at all?

So put your health in front of theirs (although I'm not saying to forget about them), and do what you need to do to take care of yourself right now. Is there someone you can trust to take care of them? Even if it meant daily phone calls? If not, then find a protocol you can do (with our help. of course!), there at home, on your own.

This indecision and a bit of confusion is a common thing with these infections. The conditions created in the body make it hard for us to even make decisions!! So hang in there, take a deep breathe and do what you know you need to do - help yourself. You can go back to full time rescuing of the critters once you feel better!

That's right!! Baby steps!! And we all had to start from somewhere, so please don't worry about it! We are all in this together in my eyes, so we are here to help.

I'm so very, very glad to know that you have made the steps forward to treating your infections!! Now get the things gathered and start detoxing now before you start treatments to lower your toxin load before you start adding more to it - that way you'll likely be able to keep up with your critters easier.

We are here to encourage you, and to give you little pushes when you need them. I likely wouldn't have survived without two very special people that I met on this forum giving me little pushes from time to time!

Summersun - Thank you. It's amazing in itself that I have found some where that I can say that (well type it!) and be met with an understanding response- rather than the 'freaking out' 'what the hell are you thinking like that for' or 'what right have you got to say that' or 'will you just pull yourself together, for gods sake', all of which I have been met with, by friends, family and medical type people. Just being able to actually say it and know that others feel / have felt the same and are coping / have coped means so much.

Thank you