My effective post ABX healing plan: Sleep, muscle release, exercise, eat clean, repeat (+work 5 dys)

[Edit: Guess I should have mentioned, I've been in healing/rebuilding/repairing mode - aggressively since new years. - So newbies might wonder what I'm talking about below. I've stopped eradicating these bugs at the end of 2015. Fixing the damage left behind now.]

This seems to be the pattern of wellness I'm experiencing since spring. I'm convinced that I need to do all of this (below) religiously to keep healing and repairing the damage left behind.

Some just heal overnight and are lucky- and thus are not here. I suspect most didn't have symptoms for decades either, thus healed fast.

For some its a struggle. The morning in 2008 I awoke to 90% darkness, I thought death was near. All kinds of things were happening to my body at a rapid pace following 20 previous years of roller coaster lyme symptoms, some years before weren't to bad.

Sleep is huge, we've all read it, now I'm a believer. With out it you dont heal. Id say do whatever is necessary to achieve deep sleep. I would intentionally stay up late so I almost past out into bed. This resulted in less, but deeper sleep. It was better than drifting for 8 hrs in bed and being groggy the next day. I tried taking everything legal to sleep- and juggled them around so the body didnt get used to it. Liquid Cough (not cold or flue with Tylonal in it) medicine with 10% alcohol was the best LOL. Better than RX and non habit forming. Better than herbs too. That said, I combined them a lot and still take 400mg of mag glycinate at bedtime.

Exercise helps sleep. I limited it a lot when I could hardly move. Now I work out with a lot heavier weight than average for my size. Sometimes 2 days in a row as a test. This helps sleep a lot too. I might power nap after working out- but the next day is way more energetic. Sleep and exercise help each other.

**My advice to people who are to painful to move much: Get a foam exercise roller and roll on the floor. Its exercise and muscle detox in its simplest form. Then go on from there.

I had a lot of muscle and tendon pain that made me wake up too. Do what is needed and experiment to release muscles if you are tight. I wake after a good nights rest , get up and move very mobile today. I though I had MS years ago- no kidding. If your muscles ache and are tight- learn about the various forms of muscle release on You-Tube. I would have gone broke to pay someone else to do this for years. But seek help when needed . If they dont answer questions and only want your money- don't go back, find some other practitioner, thats what I learned.

Eating right is another part of healing. Bloated and gassy after eating? No its NOT normal-Identify whats causing it and leave that out. First step in gut healing.

Protein: I use GF, Milk free, soy free, non GMO veggie protein, 40 grams on workout days. Thats not much for 175 #, but I get stronger every month. I max out and test my strength sometimes once per week - on a "strong" feeling day. - I go by feel, not some laid out per-determined schedule.

This all works together. I worked my cardio up by bike riding gradually, its fun,good for you and safe as long as your not in traffic (I dont do that).. I dont run either unless someone or something is chasing me. After 50 why wreck my joints more.......

Winning the lottery would make all this easier, no need to work, just play all day........a nice dream..

Didnt think I'd get this far, so dont think you cant if your just starting. Note: I'm not 100% repaired yet !- but now living as opposed to just being alive. Still cant do everything though.

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Ended ABX for Lyme in 2015. Rebuilding / repairing / fine tuning since then. What an adventure this has been.

Post Edited (astroman) : 8/21/2017 9:07:31 PM (GMT-6)

I try my my best to execute the plan you laid out. It takes a lot of discipline though.

Tonight I was out my girlfriend and we were having a fun night and I had to be super disciplined. I could have stayed out to 1-2am but I had to call the night early so I can go home and try to get 7-8 hours of sleep.

Since getting lyme if I go to bed late I don't sleep in late, my body will still wake up at the same time and then I feel like crap all the next day and I know this prevents healing.

I was proud of myself.

I think a lot of what is missing for a lot of lymies in full healing is the full range discipline of sleep, diet, exercise, mental rest. I'm guilty of this as well. Trying to do better this time.

Probiotics, in the past helped my gut, but now that I eat clean, its like my gut works like its supposed to. There something very satisfying about having a healthy gut from just food alone. But (no pun intended) what....suppositories? not my style (sorry eww)...

I believe in avoiding anything that makes one boat or gassy. The protein powder I take has zero "ill" gut effects....unlike the ones I used in the past. A comfy gut = healthy body.

I do take mag glycinate nighty 400mg, makes me too sleep in the daylight hours though. Plus, I'd be sitting on the can too much.

Post Edited (astroman) : 8/20/2017 3:20:33 PM (GMT-6)

It doesnt take much mag to make me sleepy. I've used the spray on mag oil on areas that really hurt. Used it in the evening-It takes a long time to dry. Then it leaves a salt residue you need to clean off. Very inconvenient, but works as last resort and still more effective than epsom salt gel (which does not leave a salt residue). That said, I still sometimes use the gel after AM shower , get dressed, then go to work. - cant do that with the oil.

Astroman-

For muscle release, have you tried TRE (trauma releasing exercises) is that what you meant by "muscle release"? It's basically "shaking" that helps reduce stress but does help loosen muscles.

Jason

love what you are doing astroman! I'm trying to get back into a workout routine myself. It's a bit hard as I get bored if I'm not challenging myself in the gym, but at the same time if I go too hard it flares my symptoms for a day or two, and this makes it a bit harder for me to establish a consistent program. So it is tricky finding the right balance, because I feel well enough to push myself but I need to still be a bit careful.

I do think working out is going to be good for me, both physically and mentally. I think my body might acclimate as well to the working out, so the symptom flares might ease up over time (is my hope). I'd like to incorporate some power lifts, classic bodyweight exercises (pull-ups, handstands, etc), and learn some kettlebell variations that I could work into some routines.

I love biking, so glad to hear you've been getting to cycle! I've been doing it more and more as I get better and my body handles it pretty well in regards to the post-exercise issues I've had to deal with because of these infections. It just makes me so happy to be on my bike, and get around with the power of my body, enjoy the local environment...

But I think it's the main form of cardio I'll stick to for a while as it is more gentle for me, plus I'm confused in regards to the Burruscano vision of exercise, he seems to say cardio inhibits part of the immune system which is why he pushes the strength training for lyme patients. So I'll prob hold off on running and rowing for a while as those are more intense for me. I'm not 100% tbh, but I do think Burrascano is generally on the mark and maybe he is right on the cardio/immune system issue, I don't know. I think part of it comes down to patients needing to see what works for them.

Great to hear Astro. I want to ask if you have/had neuromuscular problems and has it gotten better?

Excellent post Astroman, good for you!!

yes, i believe exercise and sleep are of utmost importance! and it was tough for me to break thru the exercise barrier too, but it can be done slowly but surely

Diet is what I am struggling with. I stuck with it for a year after my treatment was over and I just missed eating the foods i used to love so much I caved and it has caused some "Scarring!"

keep it up, and don't go back - keep moving forward and healing! I am rooting for ya!!

Astroman, are things on the up and up for you? Also how long did you treat to reach that stage?

Did you bounce back physically (not just biologically)?

dacarte3 said...
Astroman, are things on the up and up for you? Also how long did you treat to reach that stage?

Did you bounce back physically (not just biologically)?

Short answer, one year ABX ended about two years ago, and yes, its still in progress though.

The long version:

1)I treated gut first per LLMD 2 1/2 months, said its a must before abx for chronic lyme

2)then 12 months ABX with breaks figured (treated candida) in about 16 months. Working out was easy to injure myself.

3)Next three month treated candida 2nd time.

4)Then 12 more months after that: (The following year): No more killing critters but focusing on muscle and tendon work as I was still stiff and not getting worse for once. Monitored inflammation and immune markers very slowly improving. Tested for many muscle fiber diseases, found none. Working out was still questionable but slowly got better in early winter.

5)Roughly 2 years post ABX; Jan 2017 changed to very clean eating for three months. Ease of gym workouts dramatically improved, and lab test inflammation improved after just three months. Continued myofascial and muscle release and bi-monthly dry needling.

6)June and July 2017 rode road bike 25 miles- no hip or back pain, sore next day but no pain or uneven tension spasms. Aggressive fat biked 7 mile woods loop yesterday and got right out of bed today. In weedy areas I go as fast as possible , get up on the pedals LOL. Muscles recovery pretty good now in less time - still not normal though as far as stiffness goes, but way better.

Flys and reverse flys at the gym- I more than doubled the weight in only seven months. I had two frozen shoulders in the past. Working on lower body now.

I have high expectations (for a lymie) in the fitness area. I want to enjoy my 50's, since my 40's and late 30's absolutely sucked.

Its also hard to tell Hashimoto damage from lyme damage. I have read that long term untreated Hashi can damage nerves (Perif Nuero ect). Since nerves control muscles, I wonder about this. Thought about trying Gabatrin (?) since that "sooths" physical nerves somehow.

Post Edited (astroman) : 9/18/2017 3:22:36 PM (GMT-6)

Keep up the great work Astro! You motivate me to take the muscle rebuilding challenge on.

In reviewing this thread it appears I never did answer your question on what probiotic suppositories I am using in hopes to keep from needing antibiotics in the future.

Hey it happens, we get distracted.

Oh look a strange bird.....................

Sorry about that, it almost happened again.

The probiotics are made for Klinghardt's BioPure company and they are Bravo Europe Probiotic Suppositories. I got them on amazon but they didnt cost any less ($200) to order them from there.

When I order them again I will do so directly from BioPure so I can be absolutely sure these are the correct ones and not counterfeit, but I am almost certain that they are the real deal.

My son had to do a round of Augmentin because we couldnt fix his recurring bronchitis with alt methods. Ozone worked well the previous time but not so good the last time.

The docs put him on Amoxy alone again but I switched him to Augmentin after day 5. Man did that kick up some nasty bugs that were hiding. He got worse at first and just recently much better.

If he had to do abx again might as well do it correctly.

In a few days he will get the suppositories to help rebuild his gut. And if he doesnt do it willingly, Ill say "look at that strange bird" and shove one up his a** myself !

Its so cool that you have your gut issues fixed because I know you will continue to heal.

Once we fix our gut and get our inflammation in check we truly can heal !

Best wishes for continued success for you and all the special people here.

Kat1000 said...
Astroman - you are where I want to get to. I'm on my second round of antibiox and my symptoms now are mostly muscular and fatigue. I've been on about 3 weeks and hoping to stick it out 3-4 months this time. Only made it 2 1/2 months last time before had to stop and address candida.

I've been reading about how important sleep is. I recently bought a diffuser and add water and lavender oil, and I've been sleeping solidly a good 7 hours the last few nights since I started this. Prior to that, I was waking up 3-5 times a night, often with night terrors.

Good ol candida strikes again- the more agressive you are going after it the better.

The diffuser with lavender is a new idea here. I often wonder what this does to your walls in the house though.

Cant get enough sleep. Dogs got it all figured out, nap whenever they want to.