My LLMD visit & a few questions

I finally had my appointment with my LLMD and was officially diagnosed with a Moderate case of Lyme disease last Tuesday. Based on my symptoms, labs and all the 12 Dr's records I had gone to I finally have a label. Not that the label makes recovery any easier but to be sick and not have a clue why you went from a healthy, active, fun loving person to someone who rests, stays in and has no energy to do anything except work is a relief (I know you all can relate). This was the first Dr who actually listened to me I got a copy of my records and every.single.thing. I said was written in them even the fact that I don't like eggs which was kind of said in passing. I'm starting on hard core gluten free no sugar diet (I had been doing gluten free before but not as serious), detoxing (which I had also been doing before) and antibiotics as well as some supplements.

I have not started any treatment yet as my Dr sent more lab work to be done to determine what treatment path we will go with. I have started on probiotics which is where my question is. How do you decide how much of a probiotic to take? I am on two different kinds and one is twice a day the other is "1, 2 or 3 whatever works best for you" not sure how to take that? What is your protocol?

Also, one more question as far as sleeping did any of you go from being able to sleep great to once you got started with treatment not being able to sleep a wink?

My LLMD was very impressed with my knowledge of this disease and I gave a shout out to this Forum (thanks or all of those who are so open to share their experience/wisdom). I said between the online forum that I'm on and being so sick all you wanna do is research to get better I've learned more than I could imagine about this disease.

PS, Many of don't sleep well, regardless.

Margaret

Hi Gingerann,

Glad you have a "label," as you say, and can start on your treatment soon. Your doctor is probably waiting to see if you have a co-infection before starting your treatment, as they are usually addressed first.

Probiotics are a strangely personal thing. Some people need a lot, some people don't. I needed a lot at the beginning of treatment and have now settled down to taking less but rotating different types. You can't really take too many, it just gets expensive! As cpoly says, timing is important; two hours after abx to replenish what has been destroyed.

I think you will find that symptoms increase with treatment and some will crop up that you never had before. It makes feeling cheerful about treatment a little hard, doesn't it? My doctor often says that the worse you feel in the beginning, the better you feel in the end.

The trick is to stay calm and remember that each thing will pass in time. If it doesn't go away then get it checked out in order to reduce stress. It's a balancing act between being stoic, being careful, but not running all over the place seeing doctors and having tests. For me, nothing makes me feel more ill than sitting in a doctor's office or waiting to take some test!!

Congratulations, you are on your way back to health.

Gingeranne8, my sleep was much worse on antibiotics....about 3 hours a night. I found that most of my symptoms were worse while taking antibiotics. I only was able to take them for a short time due to abdominal pain. I am using a modified cowden protocol with much gentler herxing.

Lymebabe thanks for the directness! That makes a lot of sense!