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Lyme Disease
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Posted 1/24/2017 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
I would like to hear everyone's different treatment protocols. Abx or herbs and for how long? I am only in my first month of heavy treatment so long road ahead...

Sometimes I find it hard not to get wrapped up in everything. It would be nice to hear some advice from those further in their journey. And, has diet and sauna use been key in your healing?

Also, I am starting babesia protocol with mepron and super artemisinin (and maybe some abx) in the next month and I am scared! Has anyone done a similar babesia protocol and if so, was it the toughest/most herx-y part of treatment?
Posted 1/24/2017 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hey brain zap. Great name. I did 1 1/2 year of doxy/ceftin/azith. Took 2 months off and started cowdens full protocol. Plus houttuynia for suspected Bart and enula for possible bab. I'm also doing diatrameous earth food grade de for parasites, metals, toxins...Plus cryptoplus as the cherry on the shake! Also, the usual suspect supplements
Posted 1/24/2017 6:16 AM (GMT 0)
Im a year and a few months in ...bvt herbs and abx ...andrographis ,houttynia and the venom have been most helpful
Posted 1/24/2017 7:12 AM (GMT 0)
Just a quick post - I think you should be on an antibiotic with the Mepron.

Usually it us paired with one of: Azithromycin, doxycycline, minocycline, or biaxin. Sometimes Bactrim.

I don't know if Artemisinin with the Mepron is enough.
Posted 1/24/2017 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
Abx failed me, although I did give them a full year - so I switched over to herbs only after detoxing for a long time to recover from the failed abx. It did take me 2 years of intense herbal treatments, acupuncture and support herbs, but I did recover well from a set of 40 year old infections. But, then I got reinfected and am having more difficulty healing because this time I have serious issues with my adrenals and my thyroid is low as well.
Posted 1/24/2017 4:13 PM (GMT 0)

Girlie said...
Just a quick post - I think you should be on an antibiotic with the Mepron.

Usually it us paired with one of: Azithromycin, doxycycline, minocycline, or biaxin. Sometimes Bactrim.

I don't know if Artemisinin with the Mepron is enough.

I believe I will be on minocycline with it. How is this protocol? Is it tough-or did anyone notice significant improvements with it?
Posted 1/24/2017 4:17 PM (GMT 0)

Traveler said...
Abx failed me, although I did give them a full year - so I switched over to herbs only after detoxing for a long time to recover from the failed abx. It did take me 2 years of intense herbal treatments, acupuncture and support herbs, but I did recover well from a set of 40 year old infections. But, then I got reinfected and am having more difficulty healing because this time I have serious issues with my adrenals and my thyroid is low as well.

How common is reinfection? It seems as though many people are symptom free for years and then get bit again which is so terrible! Are we more susceptible to being bit? Or are most people exposed to Lyme and we just have a harder time fighting it off? Any helpful precautions to take?
Posted 1/24/2017 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Here are some success stories

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3562412
Posted 1/24/2017 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
igenex positive for lyme/babesia duncani. first year went after both but mostly babesia the 2 abx's i took were zithromax and cefdinir. zithromax is weak on lyme and cefdinir being a cephalosporin is weak also since these class of drugs are better for fast growing organisms so didn't make much progress.

just completed my 2nd year of abx much more abx versatility (rifampin, rifabutin, minocycline, bactrim, doxy). these different combos are what finally made me some progress.

i'm not near the finish line but way farther along than where i was a year ago.

i think its important to constantly rotate to different abx's. you never know which one will work effectively for your particular situation. Dr. MR says he will definitely rotate at the 6 month mark and usually at 4 months if symptom resolution has plateaued.
Posted 1/24/2017 4:58 PM (GMT 0)

Rikky1 said...
igenex positive for lyme/babesia duncani. first year went after both but mostly babesia the 2 abx's i took were zithromax and cefdinir. zithromax is weak on lyme and cefdinir being a cephalosporin is weak also since these class of drugs are better for fast growing organisms so didn't make much progress.

just completed my 2nd year of abx much more abx versatility (rifampin, rifabutin, minocycline, bactrim, doxy). these different combos are what finally made me some progress.

i'm not near the finish line but way farther along than where i was a year ago.

i think its important to constantly rotate to different abx's. you never know which one will work effectively for your particular situation. Dr. MR says he will definitely rotate at the 6 month mark and usually at 4 months if symptom resolution has plateaued.

Thanks for sharing. I'm on the dr. J protocol so rotating every 2-3 months.
Posted 1/24/2017 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not really sure how common reinfection is among Lyme patients - but I know we are all at risk for it.

Once we are in remission, I don't believe we are 'more susceptible' to it necessarily, but we do recognize the symptoms sooner than most who have never had it!!

I have been using astragalus successfully for the last 2 years. I got started on it right after my reinfection and have just stayed on it. I'm sure that's why my Lyme symptoms are very minor (or may all be Bart) at this point.
Posted 1/24/2017 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, and I meant to say, that while I don't have a sauna available to me, detoxing has been a HUGE part of my ability to heal. This won't be the case for everyone, as some people have bodies that detox well enough to keep up with the demands we place on them while in treatment - but for most of us, it's pretty high on the list of helping us to heal and make it through treatments.

I've been on super strict diets and have not seen any improvements in my symptoms, so I stay "close" to the Lyme diets, but don't stay strict to them. I know what my body doesn't like me having and stay away from those foods.
Posted 1/24/2017 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
diet wise i think everyone on long term abx has got to keep your sugar intake to a minimum. that means anything with sugar as well as simple carbs (bread, bagels, pasta, etc.). fungus overgrowth is a real problem when you're on abx for long periods so why feed them further exasperating your symptoms?
Posted 1/24/2017 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
I take both of those and super artemisia at high dosages is very powerful.
I had some scary side effects/herx which was feeling like I'm being strangled! The other one was the good old chest tightening/air hunger but in extreme form, when I lie flat on my back it literally feels like I cannot breathe. I have now been given an inhaler and an anti anxiety med to help counteract some of that. You do have to be careful though as these symptoms are similar to what you would experience of you were having a reaction to mepron according to its leaflet. So obviously don't always presume it's a herx if you do experience the above.
Posted 1/24/2017 5:42 PM (GMT 0)

Rikky1 said...
diet wise i think everyone on long term abx has got to keep your sugar intake to a minimum. that means anything with sugar as well as simple carbs (bread, bagels, pasta, etc.). fungus overgrowth is a real problem when you're on abx for long periods so why feed them further exasperating your symptoms?

I agree, but I neglected to say that. I have had to avoid sugar for longer than I have known I have had Lyme, due to it creating massive intestinal cramping. I have also had to seriously limit any simple carbs, as most are made with soy/soy oil that I'm highly allergic to.
Posted 1/24/2017 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
What does astragalus help with?

Traveler said...
I'm not really sure how common reinfection is among Lyme patients - but I know we are all at risk for it.

Once we are in remission, I don't believe we are 'more susceptible' to it necessarily, but we do recognize the symptoms sooner than most who have never had it!!

I have been using astragalus successfully for the last 2 years. I got started on it right after my reinfection and have just stayed on it. I'm sure that's why my Lyme symptoms are very minor (or may all be Bart) at this point.

Posted 1/24/2017 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Astralugus is a immune booster ..careful if you have autoimmune sx
Posted 1/24/2017 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
I am on abx, mainly because my LLMD is doing abx route, but I think that herbs can be as powerful as abx.
Posted 1/25/2017 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
ABX for the first strike. Helped greatly. Then multiple herb protocols until I actually knew what I was doing and then made a main well thought out protocol. I stuck with this for 7-8 months (after 2 months of abx).

During this time I took supportive things like probiotics, gluthamine, collagen, addressed vitamin deficiencies (such as zinc and Vitamin D). Mainly paleo/primal diet, but over time as I recovered went back to a more normal diet, but still gluten free.

I also did hyperbaric chamber.

That's what I did in a quick nut shell and it worked for me. A year later I no longer experience detrimental symptoms of lyme.

However I know my body is different now. Much more sensitive and must "maintain" this level of health.

Once you have lyme and then recover, you can't just go back to doing whatever you want and not caring. You are always walking a tight rope to not have a lyme crash again in the future.

Also you might find your self addressing other health issues that the battle with lyme may have caused. Like different organ health. Allergies. Food sensitivities. Weight gain or weight loss, etc. So this may have to be addressed even after overcoming lyme.
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