Hello everyone!
For those of you who don't know me, I was a regular here from March - September... I don't get on as much anymore because I'm busy treating and taking care of my son.
But here's a little background...
I'm a 29 year old female, have a 2 year old son, lived in Wisconsin at time sx began, have 3 dogs and a cat, moved to S. Florida in March 2014.
October 2013 it started with insomnia and a strange crawling in my legs, then occasional burning in my limbs
December 2013 came with shingles, bladder infection, neck pain, insomnia, migraines, and more.
January back to occasional insomnia and crawling sensation on legs
February **** hit the fan! Muscles twitching, weakness, joint pain, crazy insomnia, ringing in my ears occasionally, tightness in my throat, & all of the other sx from above (minus shingles and bladder infection)... I'm sure there was more but this is the short version. :)
I went through the ringer trying to figure this out (like most of you), negative lyme tests, mri of spine that showed facet arthritis throughout, 16 doctors, a fibro diagnoses, and then finally in April 2014 my LLMD and a positive PCR urine test.
My ANA went positive and Sjogrens (SSB) went positive after beginning treatment for LD.
The first 4 months I did just abx and vitamin supplements and had some okay days, but then I think the high doses of abx with very little support for my body caused me a major setback, or maybe it was a confection that came roaring out but either way at the 4 month mark I suffered another "crash" - extreme tendon pain on the entire left side of my body... I could barely walk. So we switched abx at that time, began Buhner's herbs, found myself an herbalist, and increased treatments with functional medicine doctor (iv PC/glutathione and Vitamin C/myers).
In September 2014 I found out that the arthritis that had been seen in my spine originally was gone. Awesome (and crazy!!) news!!! But also found out around this time that my son had the antibodies - not so awesome.
I started having some really good days in Sept.
In October 2014 I continued herbs/IVs and stopped abx for a short time until I was advised by both doctors and my herbalist to go back on the abx for awhile.
Started my son's treatment with the herbalist.
I'm feeling pretty good - still not perfect by any means but seeing major improvements.
November 2014 my son turned 2!!! His symptoms (previous sx) are/were: rashes (look like eczema), chromic cough, used to get frequent colds, and also had MRSA in Oct. Since beginning treatment with herbs his rashes are gone and he seems to have no sx.
I'm feeling pretty good other than a setback due to massive stomach pain/upset... Figured out it was the Wobenzym N. I had been taking it for 3 months so I didn't think that could be the issue... But I had just bought a new bottle and according to my herbalist they reformulated it and it was causing people some problems. Sure enough, discontinued that and my stomach issues went away.
My ANA returned to NORMAL (!!!) No more sjogrens! Hooray!
AND I started hyperbarics at the end of the month.
December 2014 we started seeing Dr. K in Orlando for both my son and I. He referred my son to Dr. J in CT. We see Dr. J in Feb.
Dr. K didn't change too much (didnt want me to have a rough Christmas) other than changing up some of my supplements and adding diflucan. I see him again January 26th and I expect he will change my abx and I'm hoping this will be the last couple months of abx...
But overall I'm feeling awesome at this point! It's been 8 months of treatment total, and I truly believe i will be done with all of this at the 1 year mark. Of course i plan to continue herbs for sometime after I'm better.
The last 2 months have been really good (minus the stomach upset that lasted about
a week due to Wobenzym).
My sx I'm still fighting fairly consistently are knee pain and swollen painful lymph nodes, and a couple other minor things still come and go every now and then... But I'm sleeping great, my head is clear, and I can do pretty much everything I need to. I'm functioning around 80-90% pretty consistently. Every 6-7 days I drop down to around 60% of normal - due to Bart, I believe.
I know its hard but keep working at it. You will get better!!
The things that have made the most difference in my treatment: abx, adding herbs to the abx, glutathione oral and/or iv (because I have mold issues), diflucan, getting my stress under control(!!) and recently hyperbarics!
Please email me if you have questions. I will try to get on HW more but haven't been able to lately.
I hope you had a VERY Merry Christmas!!! And have a Happy New Year! May 2015 bring with it healing, health, and happiness to all of you.
Love to all
Post Edited (Delmar) : 12/30/2014 6:35:48 AM (GMT-7)