HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Help for me and my doggie

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/24/2014 12:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all,

Don't know if any of you remember me, as it's been a couple of months since I've posted. Through the winter, and as recently as April/May, I was dealing with horrific anxiety and suicidal depression caused by Lyme/Babesia. I posted here a lot during that time, and I credit this site, along with my parents, my therapist, my naturopath, my LLMD and couple of others, with saving my life. Seriously--without those connections, I don't know if I could've fought through the depression.

So here I am, completing month 12 of treatment with antibiotics, malarone, and a whole boatload of herbs, and I'm feeling SO much better. Far from 100 percent still, but no longer fighting urges to off myself, which is certainly a good thing. And my doc is weaning me off of antibiotics, thinking I'm ready for maintenance treatment. My blood work looks much improved, my insomnia is pretty much gone, the horrible head pressure is gone, the headaches are gone, etc. This is after probable decades of fighting these diseases. Yay!

I am still struggling financially, and facing the termination of my alimony in October. I still haven't found a better job yet. But feeling better physically, I'm feeling more hopeful, and have more energy to deal with the financial struggles. As soon as things have settled down financially (I'm juggling about 3 different money-making ventures right now, including a full-time job), I am committed to devoting some time to helping others who are struggling with Lyme and co.

I do have a question for moderators--at the moment, my poor 9 1/2 year old cocker spaniel is suffering from chronic pain in her ear. I'm convinced that her recurrent ear infections over the years are partially due to chronic Lyme, with which she was diagnosed earlier this year. Anyway, she has scar tissue in her ear and needs $2,000 surgery to end her chronic pain. We've tried antibiotic ointments, antifungal ointments, even laser treatments. We're out of options other than the expensive surgery. I'm a single, underemployed mom. As most Lyme sufferers will understand, I am also deeply in debt after 12 months of medical and naturopathic treatments for my own tick-borne diseases. So I've set up an online fundraiser for my doggy. I don't want to post a link for the fund raiser in case it's against forum rules. Mods--is it O.K. to post this link?

By the way, I think I need to change my user name to "a lot less scared," or something along those lines. There is hope, guys! It's a long, hard battle sometimes, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Mods--let me know if I can post my link.
Posted 8/24/2014 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
WOW, so scared!! What a turn around!! I do remember the troubles you were having and got very concerned when I no longer saw you on the forum, but hoped that you were getting the help you needed! This is such wonderful news!! Congratulations!

I'm so very sorry that your Cocker Spaniel is suffering like that!! The Vet's have a much more accurate test for Lyme disease. Is that something you can afford to have done? It would answer your questions about her and Lyme at least. I would say that it would be acceptable for you to "quietly" add that link into your signature line with a brief sentence about what is for when you change your screen name. wink

I'm so glad that this forum played a part in helping you like that! I too love this forum!! It's been a source of so many things for me - help when I need it, support, friendship, information and a swift kick in the behind when I need it too!! Well, sometimes anyway! smilewinkgrin
Posted 8/24/2014 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Is she on long-term Doxy?

You can also try (as an alternative) Samento and Japanese Knotweed.

There is an LL pet herbalist in Mass. who does phone consults, if I can find her in my favorites.

Has she been checked for vertigo?

Margaret
Posted 8/24/2014 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hey teragram and Traveler,

Chelsea was diagnosed with chronic Lyme via positive blood test a couple of months ago, during pre-anesthesia blood work before her dental. They prescribed 30 days of doxy, which she has completed. I KNEW she had Lyme, and wanted to see whether it'd show up. It did. Her worst symptoms over the years have been intermittent lameness, infrequent seizures and the recurring ear infections. Currently she is symptom-free except for the ear pain. In the past, I've dosed her with a round of ledum palustre when her symptoms picked up, and they have quieted down. Currently my main concern is the ear pain. I can't wait to get it taken care of so the poor girl can be free of pain in that ear--probably for the first time in a long time! The link to the fund raiser is in my signature. Please consider making a donation if you're able. As soon as we're within reach I'm booking that appointment!
Posted 8/25/2014 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
Bump
Posted 8/25/2014 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, no one, huh? Guess we're all to poor to donate to charities? We're not having a lot of luck elsewhere, either. Guess my little girl will have to make a lot more lemonade.

Post Edited (notquitesoscared13) : 8/25/2014 12:16:15 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/26/2014 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Try a warm ginger compress, but don't get any water into the dog's ear.

What else . . . pain pills?

Can't vet prescribe ear drops or something?

m
Posted 8/26/2014 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, we have done two months of two different kinds of ear drops. We have done pain pills. We have even done laser treatments. The vet says at this stage of the game, the only permanent solution, and the only way to end Chelsea's pain, is the surgery. I'll figure out a way to pay for it. I made it through months of suicidal thoughts--I'm still here. I'll figure out a way to get this done, too.
Posted 8/26/2014 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry, notquitesoscared, but many here are really struggling to afford their own treatments.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply