Posted 11/3/2017 6:01 AM (GMT 0)
Scooterbuglyme, so sorry to hear your desperation and hopelessness. Trust, we have ALL been there in dealing with what we are in this forum for. Bottom line is, lyme & co's really suck! There is alot of trial and error with treating and that is one of the most frustrating things. Ive been going through this thing for a long haul now and despite all the desperate times I have been through, I always KNOW I have to keep pushing no matter what. I always have a plan B and C lined up if what im doing doesnt seem to be getting me better. Ive screwed up in the past because I have gotten better to approx 85% and would either take a break from all the meds or have trouble with insurance and not able to get right meds or something. In hindsight, I wish I wouldnt have done that :-/. Right now I AM DETERMINED MORE THAN EVER TO BEAT THIS THING. It has had me praying and asking for more strength than I ever thought I had and Ive always been a pretty tough cookie.
As far as anxiety goes, I take klonopin when I really need it and that really helps because even though my body may be going crazy with bizarre symptoms, it will give me a break to "get out of my head" of focusing on the symptoms. I used to be against taking things like that, but lets be real, lyme is tough and Im at the point where if its helping me get through then its just a temporary tool in the toolbox to help cope until all this is over. Dont be afraid to ask your doc for a low-dose of klonopin to help you through with the anxiety. Oh the sweet day, when we dont have to take any more pills! I remember just taking the occasional tylenol for a headache every now and then. Now its multiple abx, vitamins, antifungals, nerve pills, probiotics, etc!
You mentioned you've had to stop abx due to the herxing being so bad....well I know what you mean. Been there, done that. It is IMPERITIVE if your sensitive, to start at a qtr of a dose of one antibiotic first, then wait like a week or so(once your stable), then start taking a half dose(give some more time), then take 3/4 of pill(give some more time) and prob after approx a month, you'll be up to the full dose. Stay on that one abx for a lil while and then, once your stable, add in the other.
We all have diff combo's of infections and diff strains/body chemistries, so what works for one, may not work exactly for another. My main abx that helps me is Zithromax. I cannot take the generic Teva brand of Zith bcuz it is not as potent and does not get me well. In the last year, I have learned about the difference in the manufactuers drugs NOT being equal and having the same effect. Im very "in tune" with my body.
Personally, I would not go throwing herbs on top of the abx until your more stabilized. Detoxing is essential with all this. Nutramedix makes a herxing tincture called "Burbur detox" and I was surprised, but it does really lesson the herx. I like to take a half cap of Doctors Best NAC two hours apart from my abx as that helps promote our bodies natural detoxifier glutathione. Green smoothies help me alot too...boost of natural source of vitamins and helps alkaline the body so infections dont "roar" as much. Another great thing is raw ginger root. I slice a piece off (nickel sized) cut peeling off and just chew it up. Its a great anti inflammatory and takes the edge off body aches and pains. Ohhh, I could go on, but those are some of my best survival/feel better remedies.
I think there are some who are fortunate and kick this lyme stuff the first time around with their treatment, but then there are others who just have to figure out what they get the most reaction out of med wise and distinguish whether their herxing or not is the tricky part. My tell-tale herxing is when my neck lymphs are tight and swollen in the front and when my body is extremmmmly fatiqued to where I just cant do anything but be still. I know my body is truly in die-off overload and the dead stuff is not coming out quick enough when that is going on. Everything HAS TO BE FLOWING--(your liver, kidneys, sweating, and very importantly your bowel movements). If everything is not flowing, the herx WILL last longer. I speak all this from true experience.
Hmmm, as far as the dominant infection to treat. Stiff neck sounds like babs. Babs is more
"head stuff" in general. Do your shin bones feel sore when you touch them? If so, that is def bart. Bone pain in general is more bart and muscle pain(like in thighs) is more babs.
If you were on Ceftin for 6mnths, then that is a great lyme drug. I would think you knocked back some lyme bacteria with that. I would suggest trying some zithromax instead of the clindamycin since you havent started to feel better any and sounds like time to change up. Clindamycin is a macrolide abx like zithromax. Clindamycin doesnt work for me though, where zith does work for me. I just recommend NOT getting the Teva brand if thats what the pharm has. Go to another pharm if you have to, but Teva azithromycin is no good(you have to get this straight before you get it filled to). If you have insurance to get "brand name Zithromax", def go for that(doc has to mark on script "brand name necessary"). I take 600mg every other day.
At any rate, I hope you get on good path to healing soon. Nothing good comes easy and we just have to keep trucking until we get there. Whatever you do, dont let your mind psyche you out that your not going to get better or anything like that. It will be okay. We all just have to keep the faith and follow our protocols and we will get our life back!...a more "appreciated" life than ever!
((((HUGS))))
-Courtney