Thoughts on Buhner's protocol?

I've got a very nice case of chronic lyme. It is affecting everything, particularly fatigue, brain, and eyes. I started Buhner's protocol two weeks ago, then went to the extended protocol about a week ago. I've seen some remission of symptoms, and I'm grateful for what I can get, but there are plenty of relapses and I very often am left to wonder whether I'm making any progress.

If it doesn't work I have a LLMD appt scheduled for October.

Any thoughts or experiences would be welcome. Thanks.

I was originally infected 4 or 5 years ago. The antibiotics seemed to work, but I was never the same. I have seen gradual decline since then, until lately, the last 3 months, the amount of deterioration has been very alarming. I have been the doctor route, and had a lot of tests, and they find nothing. A waste of time.

If I have to go through with the LLMD, I probably will do whatever he recommends regarding abx, unless I have seen substantial improvement at that time (in which case I might not go).

Most of us here wasted too much time with traditional MDs and specialists before getting to an LLMD for proper treatment. And many of us have been with more than one LLMD when we needed to change.

The herbs should help your immune system to improve in the mean time.

Welcome to our forum and read through the New to Lyme topic at the top of this page to get started. Get on a good 100 billion culture Probiotic and start to learn some detox methods (lemon water, clorella, charcoal, etc.).

Milocat said...
It took about 4 months of doing Buhner's for me to see substantial results. Progress for me has definitely been full of ups and downs and not just a straight line. It took me about 6 months before I could start working again. The herbs that made the most impact for me were andrographis, japanese knotweed, and the CSA (from woodland essence). For fatigue I switched from eleuthero to ashwagandha and added turmeric for inflammation.

I am taking eleuthero and not seeing much improvement in fatigue at all if any. What brand/dosage of ashwagandha are you taking?

I fill my own size 00 capsules and take 1 pill 3x day, each pill is probably equal to ~500mg. I buy the powder from mountain rose herbs.

Thanks for all the warm welcomes. Much appreciated. Yes, the LLMDs are not cheap. One wants $2000 for the first consultation, another, $2500.

I'm getting the impression that building the immune system takes time, so I should just keep plowing forward. I wanted to avoid going to the LLMD. I'm not sure that will be possible.

My chronology was rough. I've probably been on Buhner almost three weeks now. I started off with the core protocol as found on his site. Then when I got his book I added components from my most serious symptoms. So I'm not taking every herb he mentions, which I think is what he intended.

paul b said...
Thanks for all the warm welcomes. Much appreciated. Yes, the LLMDs are not cheap. One wants $2000 for the first consultation, another, $2500..

Holy! That is crazy expensive. I don't think even the top Docs Dr. H and Dr. J. charge that much. (I think Dr. J's initial consult is something like $800)

Paul, just stick with the herbs for now and keep on truckin'.

Lyme takes a lot of patience. So hang in there. You will see progress.

I cannot say it helped me, sadly. I don't know for certain. Noticeable improvements came from Cowden's protocol and essential oils.

Though, in Buhner's defense, it depends on the person, the method used to administer, etc. I used the recommended items in the form of teas or capsules. Maybe tinctures would have faired better? (I was very sensitive to alcohol at the time, even trace amounts.)

Also, biofilms are a factor, as well as needing to support any of the bodily systems that could be affected by Lyme (GI, liver, two of the biggest issues for me), detoxing, etc.

It's definitely got something of a good track record, though. It's helped people, definitely. No way all the recommendations I've seen over the years for Buhner's were lying.

Lyme is just, again, wearing out a tired line of mine, a very individual illness. Many of us need different things at different times in order to get better.

Of course, some things can help all of us, but a lot of getting better is just timing, persistence, guesswork, etc.

Best wishes, all

Thanks to all who have given their experiences here. Blessings.