Day 20 of Cowden and I feel like CRAP

After a few weeks of really feeling improvement, I am suffering like I haven't in years. Can someone tell me if I should take a break from Cowden if I'm suffering and can't get relief from detox herbas and alka setter gold/glutathione??
I've kept the pace with CP and I'm at full dosage for Ssmento and Banderol. I suddenly feel nauseous, numb, flu like and I'm in horrible pain everywhere.

Thank you so much for your response. I've done all of the things you've suggested except the binders. How much activated charcoal do you recommend?
I'll read the thread you posted, but can you answer a quick question? Can a herx feel worse than your typical bad days? This is unbelievably uncomfortable. My stomach is so sore and painful it feels like I've been vomiting for a week. I'm completely out of breath and every fiber in my body is aching.

Welcome Zeldr!!

So sorry for the reason you're here but glad you found us. Girlie gave you great information already and I can only agree with her suggestion about increased detoxing.

I totally relate to your experience. I had one of my worst-ever herxes on 3 drops each of Samento and Banderol. This was after 5 months on abx.

My stomach hurt so much...very similar to how I've felt the couple of times I was developing a stomach virus. Nausea beyond belief. I didn't eat/drink much/take meds or supplements for 3 days.

I went back to 2 drops each when I restarted and was able to get up to full doses within 2 wks. or so.

And, while I can't give you specifics as to what doses of what herbs I was taking when it happened without checking my journal but.... I had several herxes along the way when it felt like I was coming down with the flu - body aches, feverish (but no fever).

Thankfully, the worst of my herxes seem far behind me. It took a long time to get to this place.....and a LOT of detoxing (which I continue to do :)

Oh, not that I take it now but when I finally decided to take activated charcoal, I found that I regretted not taking it sooner. It really helps with herxing.

Alka Seltzer Gold is awesome for herxes as are Burbur, Pinella and Parsley (I still take the first two 3x daily just to help my body clear toxins).

Hope you feel better soon!

I think cutting back the dosage a bit till you can stabilize your body again, then work back up again could be a good idea. These herbs can pack quite a punch!

I hope you continue to have an improved day today, Zelder! I would encourage you to increase your detox and keep it at higher levels through out your treatment, especially since you've been sick for so long. Chances are pretty high that you have a high toxin load, and you could have gene mutations that are making it more difficult for your body to get rid of the toxins.

It sounds like a Babesia & Lyme herx though. Please remember this is a marathon, not a sprint to the finish. And keep asking questions!! The learning curve is brutal at times and we can be of help.

I am so sorry you are struggling, but so glad that you put something on line as I am also new to the CP protocol. I was bouncing along feeling no better but no worse, and then got to the 15 drops of Samento/Banderol and some of the previous issues cropped up, especially the plantar fasciitis. Today, I am just repeating the same amount and hope that it corrects the issue. I have not found that adding additional burber really helps, but the Jernigan M/S antitox usually does. I am not sure if I can use that name so if not, just delete it.

I am cautiously optimistic because I am actually herxing and many of the other protocols that I have tried have not given me any reaction. I also like the fact that this protocol adds metal detoxing because Cowden feels that most Lyme folks also have heavy metal toxicity. That, I believe, has been the missing puzzle piece for me and was tamping down my Lyme prior to going through chelation. In some ways, I am sorry that I stirred up this hornets nest because I am much more symptomatic now since I started the chelation, but I have to get the metals out and that will allow me to reach the little Lyme buggers.
At least that is what I am hoping.

Keep writing in as I am going through the same protocol and would like some friends along the way. I still am convinced that I will lick this.

Thank you, cd3764. I am aware of the co-occurring infections and am pretty sure that Bartonella is one of them. Babesia has always been lurking around so that may be part of the picture as well.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that this protocol, with patience, will be what I have been hoping for. Now if I could just find a pharmacy that sells patience, I would be good to go!

Me three!

I live in a constant state of hope so sooner or later, something will click. Thank you for the cheering words. They really mean a lot. When I was watching the RHOBH, a guilty pleasure due to Yolanda and her Lyme trials, I was furious that her "friends" thought she was simply faking being sick because nothing was working. I only hope that each person who doubts that a Lyme person really has struggles could walk in our shoes for simply a day. Maybe that would change their minds. Does that sound too mean spirited? Just blame it on my current herx. I actually think that a herx could be used in a court of law as the Herx Defense, because when I am going through one, it is NOT pretty.

This may be off a bit on the thread but wasn't quite sure where to place it, so I am tacking it on to the end of silly sheep's comment. If this is not the correct protocol, kindly do what needs to be done.

When I was at my LLMD yesterday, I was told that the language for heavy metal toxicity is no longer used but rather heavy metal retention. I have also been coached on the correct language for chronic Lyme as well, which is also not an accepted phrase. I think it was something like vector-born disease with lingering affects, or some such nonsense phrase. If I have to watch how I express something to a allopathic doctor, I am a goner before I even start. I know my LLMD was trying to help me out but it was just one more way I have to bend my issues so that "normal" doctors will hear me.

BTW, and this may come under the category of TMI, but thought it was interesting. I went to get my mammogram a few weeks ago, my breast surgeon excised a recurring cyst, prior to the procedure. I mentioned to her that I had Lyme and heavy metal toxicity and received the usual blank stare that I get from most allopathic doctors. When she excised the cyst, the fluid, which is normally brackish in color, was gun metal grey! To say that she actually believed me after than was an understatement as well.

I must say that the Cowden protocol is quite aggressive as well in that they add two new drops a day, so it may take more time than he suggests. I was doing fine until drop 15 and then repeated that day. I talked to my LLMD about whether I should just push through if there are new symptoms or not and he said it really depends. Sometimes if you push through, you can come out on the other end feeling even better. Sometimes, it doesn't work that way. So the best that one can do is listen to your body.
If you, Sebreg, were put into a downward spiral due to the abx/herbals, you have some idea of what your body can handle. Everyone is different and everyone takes more or less time than what is "usual". The longer I am in this Lyme world, the more I realize there is no "normal." So keep writing in and we will support you as best as we can.
Onward and upward to the cure!

I repeated one day and am now back on the schedule. I don't know whether I will be able to proceed as quickly as I have but I will simply deal with the reactions as they come. Please do not think that I don't get antsy as well. My qigong teacher always says the fastest way to get somewhere is slowly which is not a tenet that I easily espouse. I think that anyone who has been dealing with this Lyme business for any length of time gets tired. For some reason, I always get excited each time I start a new protocol as I am SURE that this time it will work. I get discouraged, but keep pushing through. The only thought that I keep close to my heart always, is that I am tougher than what I have and feel that the Lyme bug has met its match with me. And BTW, I am a total control freak so don't like taking directions from anyone or anything and the Lyme bugs are no exception.

Zeldr said...
I'm heading out of town god the holiday and I'm wondering if I should back down a little since I seem to feel SO much better at a lower dosage. Thoughts anyone?

Treating Lyme and Co's isn't a race - it's a marathon.

It's really best to stay at current doses or possibly back down a little during stressful times such as the holidays (stress is stress whether it's positive or negative).

Because I cherish the time I spend with my 2 very young grandchildren each week, I always timed my dose increases for days I wasn't going to be with them.

Healing will still happen. Make it happen at the pace your body can handle.