Posted 10/28/2016 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I got sick in 2012 and been on this forum since 2013. Gosh, seems like an eternity!
Anyways, I am one of those poor souls whose tick or whatever bit me had Lyme, Bartonella, and even a kitchen sink in it because it sure has been a huge battle. Most of the time I am at 80-90% but I still experience cycles and that full moon still gets me (LOL!).
In the years that I have been under treatment I have been prescribed Amoxicillin, Clarithromycin, Rifampin, Bactrim, Doxycycline, Fluoxetine, Tramadol, Valacyclovir, Cefuroxime, SMZ/TMP DS, Fluconazole, Clyndamycin, Sertraline, tetracycline, and minocycline.
Natural herbs: Houttuynia (fresh & dry leaf), Japanese Knotweed, Cryptolepis Sangulnolenta, Sida Acuta, Alchornea Cordiflora, Cat's Claw, Andrographis, CoQ10, Turmeric, D-Limonene, Skullcap, Magnesium Citrate, Magnesium Malate, L-Glutamine, Green Tea, L-Tyrosine, Evening Primrose Oil, Ginko Biloba, Yeast Cleanse, ADR Formula, Licorice, Kudzu, Coconut Oil, Monolaurin, Grapefruit seed extract, Echinacea, Great Lakes Gelatin, L-Lysine, Vitamin D2, D3, All forms of Vitamin B, multivitamin, Himalaya salt, Oregano oil, papain, bromelain, garlic, cumin, rosemary, probiotics, and some others that I didn't put on my list.
Some of the above (prescription and herbs) I could not tolerate so I either didn't take them for long or only took a few times.
I saw the most improvement during the first six months with Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin. As I treated Lyme, I began to feel other symptoms from other bugs so my doctor and I went after them as well.
My Doctor has tried different med combinations while I started to try different herbs. I’ve had two LLMDs and neither is knowledgeable on herbs so I have taken upon myself to try different herbs to see what works and what doesn’t. I've read most of Buhner's books as well as some of Dr. Jernigan's in search of relief.
For a few years post-infection my body and organs were badly damaged by the bugs where I could not exercise, could barely walk, my brain could barely function, nerves and muscles were atrophied, my right eyesight had deteriorated tremendously, and my digestive system was trashed.
I am much better, I now walk at least 3 miles a day, was able to ride my bike this summer, and am able to exercise more each day. I’ve started to gain some of the 50+ pounds that I had lost and my brain fog is gone (Yay!).
My remaining symptoms are food and chemical sensitivities, joint arthritis, and some minor eye issues. I hope to continue to improve slowly as my body heals.
One thing that I have learned is that my life will never be what it was. This disease has thought me humility, compassion, and to learn to appreciate what little I have. I've lost most of my friends and have eroded my relationship with many of my family members. Uncontrollable anger issues, a desire for seclusion and the inability to tolerate noise or company has made me someone that others avoid. I don't blame them.
My advice to you is to not give up, no matter how sick you feel. For years I have taken one crawl forward and rolled back even further. But somehow I always found a reason to get up and try harder to where I eventually was able to make progress. Life with illness is never easy, whether you have the flu, Lyme, cancer or other debilitating disease.