Hi Lilylc!
This is my basic story:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=2977364 In that thread I refer to my Lyme treatment, here it is in detail:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3244272And my Bartonella treatment:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=2887463 I used a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, as there are no ILADS trained LLMD's in my state. I used an out of state LLMD for the first year that I treated with abx (antibiotics), but once I was considered an abx failure, I was on my own - and almost no one had ever heard of healing from these infections using only herbs back then (2010), so I was on my own to find what I could and make it work since I couldn't do the 15 hours one way to get to the nearest LLMD after the one I had been seeing passed away.
Something that we are seeing more and more LLMD's starting to understand and even say at times, and with the experience that I had personally, and what I've watched others go through, here is what I believe needs to happen for many of us to heal:
a)Detoxing - gene mutations, mold exposure and multiple tick-borne infections can all prevent us from detoxing well, but we must be able to get those toxins out of our bodies. I have not had any of the gene mutation testing done, although I do seem to have the same kind of issues as those that do - so I figured it was best for me to assume that I did and work to get my body to detox much better. It took a lot of diet changes as things with my body changed, I used a foot soak daily, dry skin brushing, making sure my bowels moved at least once a day (sorry if it's TMI!) pushing myself to drink at least 64 ounces of lemon water each and every day, liver/gall bladder flushes (all natural), oil pulling, taking activated charcoal and keeping the amount of stress in my life at a bare minimum. You can find some really good detoxing suggestions in the "New to Lyme?" thread that sits at the top of the forum:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=1606610And this is another good list of possible detoxing routines:
www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.htmlb)Supporting the body functions/systems. We have to have the body working at it's peak performance to heal from something as devastating as these infections. Supporting any gland, organ, body system that is struggling will allow the body to switch it's 'concentration' from just trying to function over to healing.
c) Raise the immune function. Many legitimate Lyme researchers now believe that it's the lowered immune function that determines who gets chronic Lyme and who heals right away. We already know that Lyme lowers the immune function and when a person has Bartonella and/or Babesia, the immune function is further compromised, so to heal we must raise our immune function.
d) Lastly, oddly enough, are anti-infective treatments. Many of us have experienced treatment failures or set backs, so we can see that the treatments aren't the only thing we need to have - there has to be more to the equation, but anti-infective treatments are very important!! Lyme bacteria are one of the most complicated bacteria! Although it takes only hours or days for most bacteria to replicate, Lyme bacteria only replicates in the body every few weeks.
Keep asking questions!! The learning curve is pretty wicked, but we can be a big help to you!!