Food and mood?

Lyme takes a long time to cycle through it's different forms while it's in us - much longer than most bacteria- so it may take a month or more before you really feel anything.

I would suggest that you talk with your doc about getting something to help with the anxiety, especially since it's your main symptom. It's part of the disease, so it's not 'just you'. There's no need to suffer through with the anxiety, and most likely you will only need to be on it for a short time, not the rest of your life. That very scary anxious feeling and your heart in your throat feeling are all part of anxiety.

It's hard to narrow down which infections cause which digestive issue, but I do know that I go through periods of the same thing. Just try to eat the smaller portions and try eating 4 or 5 times a day, essentially snacking your way through the day.

It does sound like the baths are setting off a herx - I went through the same thing. You need to be sure to not have the water more than lukewarm, be sure to use the Epsom salts and peroxide to help your body detox, and be sure to only stay in for 7 - 10 minutes. I know I used to feel that it was hardly worth it if I was only going to stay in the water for 7 minutes, but you are trying to build up tolerance to the baths. Right now the sudden surge of toxins coming out of your body kind of stresses it out, so you need to go slow. Don't do the baths daily right now either - try one every 3 days. If that's too much I would suggest that you start using the foot baths instead.

Let us know how these suggestions work for you!

You're so welcome, Missyouall, I'm just glad to know that I'm helping somehow!

There are three forms that Bb can change into depending on what may or may not be 'threatening it'. There is the spirochete form, the cyst form and the cell wall deficient form. This site explains it much better than I ever could - especially since I have a migraine today!! LOL!! www.lymebook.com/top10forms

I do understand about you not wanting to increase your dose of Xanax or Klonopin. I have only just weaned myself off the Xanax about 1 year ago (using natural remedies now) and I'm still working on the Trazodone that I was using for sleep issues! It can be a long hard road sometimes. Hang in there and know that there are natural alternatives should you want to go that route.

The body must expel the toxins from these bacteria through either the skin, the bowels, or the lungs. Many of us with chronic infections have discovered that our detox pathways are compromised - they just can't function at as high of a level as they need to in order to deal with the everyday toxins, so they really can't deal with the extra toxins that Lyme creates - and so we have extra trouble with herxing and detoxing. This can be overcome though! I've done it with boat loads of patience, and truck loads of determination - I'm rather stubborn!! LOL! and we don't have many options for the specialized medicine to help a person detox where I live. There are tinctures that have been developed by one Holistic Lyme doc that can help a person detox, and of course there are the ways that are described in our "New to Lyme?" thread. The important thing to remember is that it's all worth the work.

Another thing to remember is that healing from these infections is usually a slow, long haul - we didn't get here overnight, so it's going to take some time to heal. Or think of the tortoise and the hare story - it's slow and steady that wins the race.

Remember when detoxing, heat and oxygen both kill the bacteria, so you don't want to over do either, as your body needs to be able to keep up with getting rid of those toxins and can become easily overwhelmed by them. Again, slow and steady.

Start off with the water lukewarm and only stay in for a short time, then start increasing the amount of time you spend in the water - go from 7 minutes to 10 minutes hold at 10 minutes until you no longer have any effects from it. Then warm the water just a bit more. Keep the time spent in your foot bath the same though. Once you no longer have any 'side effects' from increasing the water temp, increase the time spent in the water by another couple of minutes - eventually working your way to having quite warm (but not hot) water and staying in the water for 20 or so minutes.

Do the same with the full bath detoxing and you will be able to work your way up to the 20 - 30 minutes in the full bath detox as well.

I wouldn't have made it through what I've been through - and I'm not done yet! - if it wasn't for this forum, so I do know how you feel and that's exactly why I'm still here!! There's no need for anyone to not understand how to get through starting the healing!

So keep the questions coming! We are all here to help each other!

Thank you for that fabulous post, Traveler. It was full of much-needed information and the link you provided was great. It's funny, but my LLMD has never even mentioned detoxification to me. Would you please share with me some of the natural alternatives to Xanax and Klonopin? I had to up my dosage of Xanax by .25mg yesterday because I felt so awful.

I'll try to be as patient with my progress (or lack thereof) as you have been. That doesn't come easy for me, but I will persist because there really is no alternative, is there.

I asked the staff at my doctor's office if they knew of any Lyme support groups in central NJ, but they just told me to research it online. Not much success yet. If anyone knows of one, please let me know.

Really, if you weren't here, I would be desolate. My family just doesn't accept all this and I'm pretty sure they're raising their eyebrows when I'm not looking. There's really no one to talk to about what's happening with my health and that gets really scary when you're in a down phase, so many many thanks once again.

Well, I can tell you that from time to time I really struggle with it all as well - there is always so much to do when trying to keep up with all the things we must do in order to heal! It's pretty much like we have to "overhaul" our entire body sometimes!!

But the one thing I used to hold on to was that I was sick and tired of being sick and tired!! Then, once I got a taste of some healing, I'm absolutely devoted to not having to live like I did. Quite a bit motivator for me! That's why most mornings that I'm on here, I'm also soaking my feet in Epsom salts and peroxide.

I'm really glad to know that we are helping you!! That's really what this is all about - helping each other through the rough spots!

Unfortunately, most doc's aren't up on detoxing - the one LLMD I saw who has passed away now so I'll mention him - Dr. Edwin Masters - wasn't up on the need for detoxing either, but once I did the research on it, it became very clear to me that I wasn't going to heal without helping my body rid itself of those toxins, since my body was obviously not detoxing very well on it's own! Even my Traditional Chinese Medicine doc that I see isn't up on all the reasons or just how important daily detoxing is for someone with these infections! LOL!

Here are some links about the importance of detoxing, just so that you aren't just taking my word about it - LOL!
www.encognitive.com/node/5768

Although this one contains a lot of really good info on why we need to detox, I sure would NOT encourage anyone fighting these infections use the detox methods that are being encouraged on this site - it would quickly overwhelm the body and possibly create a serious health threat, as our bodies already have issues with being able to rid themselves of the toxins - remember, everything must be done at a slow pace in order to avoid further complications!
www.squidoo.com/bodydetox-herbaldetox

And one more good one:
whatislyme.com/biotoxin-illness-and-detoxing/#comment-2901

As for the natural alternatives for anxiety, I have used two with slightly different effects on me, so your reactions could easily be different than what I have experienced. It would be best - of course - if you could consult with an Herbalist that understands disease driven anxiety to be sure.

I started out using Motherwort tincture -20 drops three times a day. I had depression and anxiety that this helped some with. It was a great thing to start with though - I'm still taking 7 drops 3 times a day.

I have no connection, nor do I receive any kind of compensation from this company - I just like the description that they give. The other thing is that I know you can get this cheaper from other sources. Here is a link though so that you can read what it's used for - www.enerhealthbotanicals.com/motherwort-tincture.html

The tincture that was added in later is called Avena Sativa - Wild Oats in the milky stage - you will want to be sure to get the one that was harvested in the 'milky stage', as that is key as to how it works. This one has been the most helpful for me as it's worked on both my anxiety as well as the tinglies and burning that often sits in the last 1/2 of my fingers and toes. Some days I don't hardly have any tingling!! Although I do have to say that it's taken quite a few months to get to this stage for me.

Again, I have no ties nor do I receive any kind of compensation from this company. www.enerhealthbotanicals.com/oat-seed-tincture.html

The combination of those two things has brought me through severe anxiety - uncontrollable shaking, heart palps so it shakes the bed or chair, sweating - you know, the whole nine yards!

Although please remember - healing takes time. The more seriously damaged your nerves or nervous system is, the longer it will take to heal. Like all aspects of this disease - although healing my take some time, it's not like you are going to be as ill as you are right now throughout the whole process! So be patient with your healing.

Maybe you can find a face to face support group through these links?
/sites.google.com/site/newjerseylyme/support-groups
You'll have to join this online group in order to ask about face to face support groups, but still may be worth your while?
health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NewJerseyLyme/

And, as always, we are here to help you through as much of this as we can!! My family didn't 'get it' for a long while and this site was my only source of comfort and information for several years! It's a great place to belong to!

Golly gee shucks! **kicks dirt with toe of boot**
Awwww!
Thank you for your kind words! I do try - although like my Mom used to tease me when I would say that - yes dear, you are very trying!! Giggle!

Actually, I've been at this for about 7 years, 5 super-seriously and I'm still learning about this stuff!!! LOL!

Yeppers! Nice and slow in the beginning! Most of the time when I'm on here in the morning, I have my feet soaking away in Epsom salts and peroxide!