Update

Hoagie said...
Hi Everyone. I hope you all are doing well and/or hopeful today.

It has been a long while since I have been on this forum. I just wanted to give an update on my progress. A little background for those who don't remember me. I am a 50 year old husband and father of 4. I joined this forum in 2017 after suspecting a lyme infection from being bit by a tick in 2016. Shortly after joining this forum I tested positive for lyme and babesia in August of 2017. I was prescribed an ongoing prescription of 3 different medications. The only one I can remember off the top of my head is minocycline. My symptoms starting out were frequent migraines with aura, brain fog, fatigue, and core weakness/gait disturbance. An MRI found swelling on my brain stem. Upon starting antibiotics, my issues got exponentially worse. I ended up going to see Dr Jemsec in November of '17. He wanted to put me on IV antibiotics immediately due to the swelling on my brain. Unfortunately, the cost was more than I could afford at the time and my family was already in a bit of a financial crisis. I found out about a clinic in Mexico that treated Lyme and cancer patients and had great reviews. A family member paid for the visit. (2 - 3 weeks $24k). I believed this helped a bit. But they were unable to perform hyperthermia treatment due to the swelling in my brain. (Hyperthermia is the main treatment of all their modalities for lyme disease at this clinic.) However, I was able to receive many other therapies which helped. I continues abx treatment with Dr Pittman in NC when I got back home as he was mush closer than Jemsec. I was sponsored to receive 40 hyperbaric oxygen sessions. I always felt like I was getting worse on abx. But the oxygen treatments made me feel better. I decided to stop all abx treatment in the Summer of '18 and started BVT. I noticed a significant difference after 6 weeks or so of BVT treatment. I continued to progress and stopped BVT treatment after 2.5 years. Since then I have been going to the gym 5 days a week. Hike and camp regularly. Went back to college in 2021 and got a degree in computer networking. I am currently working as a programmer/provisioner with a telephone/internet company, work with a personal trainer once a week who keeps me accountable with my fitness and diet, and am woodworking as a hobby in my free time when I'm not spending time with the family. I won't be doing any marathon anytime soon as the lyme ravaged my spine. But doing well despite that. I am still able to do many other things. But jumping activities aren't happening.

To be honest, I think all the antibiotics did me more harm than good after a couple months. The initial month or so was most likely necessary. But I wish I would have focused on more natural treatments after that. BVT was the big turn around for me. I'm not saying everyone should take my route. I'm just sharing what helped me. I also had covid at least 3 times. I did not take the vaccinations for fear that it may have had an adverse affect on my system. I stung through the first infection and was pretty much over it after 5 days. The subsequent infections lasted about 3 days with no stinging.

I wish you all a full recovery. Stay positive.

Garzie said...
Hoagie

thanks for posting your update and congratulations on your recovery - its always good to hear

for those of us that are unfamiliar - could you give us an outline of what your BVT protocol looked like ?

all the best
G

Girlie said...

Hoagie said...
Hi Everyone. I hope you all are doing well and/or hopeful today.

It has been a long while since I have been on this forum. I just wanted to give an update on my progress. A little background for those who don't remember me. I am a 50 year old husband and father of 4. I joined this forum in 2017 after suspecting a lyme infection from being bit by a tick in 2016. Shortly after joining this forum I tested positive for lyme and babesia in August of 2017. I was prescribed an ongoing prescription of 3 different medications. The only one I can remember off the top of my head is minocycline. My symptoms starting out were frequent migraines with aura, brain fog, fatigue, and core weakness/gait disturbance. An MRI found swelling on my brain stem. Upon starting antibiotics, my issues got exponentially worse. I ended up going to see Dr Jemsec in November of '17. He wanted to put me on IV antibiotics immediately due to the swelling on my brain. Unfortunately, the cost was more than I could afford at the time and my family was already in a bit of a financial crisis. I found out about a clinic in Mexico that treated Lyme and cancer patients and had great reviews. A family member paid for the visit. (2 - 3 weeks $24k). I believed this helped a bit. But they were unable to perform hyperthermia treatment due to the swelling in my brain. (Hyperthermia is the main treatment of all their modalities for lyme disease at this clinic.) However, I was able to receive many other therapies which helped. I continues abx treatment with Dr Pittman in NC when I got back home as he was mush closer than Jemsec. I was sponsored to receive 40 hyperbaric oxygen sessions. I always felt like I was getting worse on abx. But the oxygen treatments made me feel better. I decided to stop all abx treatment in the Summer of '18 and started BVT. I noticed a significant difference after 6 weeks or so of BVT treatment. I continued to progress and stopped BVT treatment after 2.5 years. Since then I have been going to the gym 5 days a week. Hike and camp regularly. Went back to college in 2021 and got a degree in computer networking. I am currently working as a programmer/provisioner with a telephone/internet company, work with a personal trainer once a week who keeps me accountable with my fitness and diet, and am woodworking as a hobby in my free time when I'm not spending time with the family. I won't be doing any marathon anytime soon as the lyme ravaged my spine. But doing well despite that. I am still able to do many other things. But jumping activities aren't happening.

To be honest, I think all the antibiotics did me more harm than good after a couple months. The initial month or so was most likely necessary. But I wish I would have focused on more natural treatments after that. BVT was the big turn around for me. I'm not saying everyone should take my route. I'm just sharing what helped me. I also had covid at least 3 times. I did not take the vaccinations for fear that it may have had an adverse affect on my system. I stung through the first infection and was pretty much over it after 5 days. The subsequent infections lasted about 3 days with no stinging.

I wish you all a full recovery. Stay positive.

Hoagie said...

Thanks Dude!

How are you doing?