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Long term antibiotics, affraid even to start!

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Posted 10/27/2014 6:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

i've been reading the forums more again and i really got discouraged that antibiotics don't seem to work for anyone here. I can't understand how anyone can be on antibiotics for years. I mean it should make you resistant to any type of bacteria after such a long period of time and the damage it does to your body should be huge. Also, don't antibiotics affect sexual function? With all the problems i'm having the least i want is not able to have sex.

Maybe i should skip the LLMD altogether and start the Buhner method right away...
Posted 10/27/2014 7:09 AM (GMT 0)
Very good question lol
Posted 10/27/2014 8:54 AM (GMT 0)
I think that's a legitimate question since noone is mentioning that. For men this is pretty important you know :)
Posted 10/27/2014 11:00 AM (GMT 0)
What's the alternative? There is no cure for these tick born diseases. Herbals only may work for some people, but not all. Most need long term ABX and herbal combo to put these infections in check.

Yes.... sex life and most all normal activities are affected. Just don't give up.
Posted 10/27/2014 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
If I knew then what I know now, I would have started our daughter on Buhner's protocols immediately instead of having her undergo 2 years of bartonella abx treatment.

But I was not confident of my ability to properly address her infections, and being new to lyme and coinfections, and alternative treatments including herbal treatments, I was firmly in the allopathic/IDSA box.

Even just stepping out of that box long enough to see an LLMD was a huge leap for me.

Our LLMD taught me many things about the present mainstream medical paradigm, and how things are not really what they appear to be; how our bodies and immune systems are being poisoned by the pesticides on our foods, being impacted by EMFs, being sickened by the many pharmaceuticals that doctors prescribe to address symptoms but not infection/illness.

Many people can't make the paradigm shift to alternative healing and remain where they feel most comfortable.

I am having trouble making the shift from herbal medicine to energy or homeopathic medicine. So for the time being we will remain with herbals. But there are many here who have found further healing with energy/homeopathic protocols.

It all just depends on how much you can wrap your head around.
Posted 10/27/2014 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
I wish I would have started with herbs too,instead of listening to my doctor and doing antibiotics. They messed me up. We are so glad we're on the right track Now though.

Tickbite666, how do you know herbs wouldn't work for all?
Posted 10/27/2014 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on antibiotics since June, and they have helped quite a bit. I expect to stay on them for a while, but I am open to herbals. I guess we'll see how it goes.
Posted 10/27/2014 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
I have to disagree with Tickbite - most people won't heal with abx alone, or will relapse right away, although if they add in herbals, they usually have much better results.

I happen to believe that it's a very personal choice. I tried long term abx for 12 months - but I kept getting worse and worse. When the seizures started, that was it for me. I knew that I could no longer do the abx route, but I also knew that I had to get my body detoxing, so my real healing journey started out with learning how to get my body to detox. From there the choice was kind of made for me anyway - I was too sick to travel at least 8 hours one way (by this time my LLMD had passed away and the next nearest one was at least an 8 hour drive each way), and no doctor in my area was willing to take my case.

So I had to turn to alternative medicine - at a time when it was not accepted on these forums. I got support from only one other member - Deejavu. She helped to save my life and I will forever be grateful.

Some are much more comfortable at least trying abx first, others like to jump right in to the alternative medicine treatments, but I usually suggest that those that use abx will find that they will have an easier time if they are willing to add some of the herbs in to help them.

But the choice is most certainly yours!!!
Posted 10/27/2014 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't see much improvement at all until I started the herbs (with the abx).

I'm currently on day 3 of no abx - still on a bunch of herbals and other alternative medicine treatments, and treating yeast. I feel pretty good at the moment!

I have some lingering sx that I believe are due to Bart as I have not addressed it fully yet. Last time I saw my herbalist she wanted me to stop Houttuynia and start Artemsia Annua - I see her again this Thursday - hoping she will allow me start hitting Bart with the Houttuynia again. To be honest, I trust her more than either doctor I've seen so far...

I think the abx make me feel worse, honestly. BUT!! I see a new LLND at the beginning of December, and he has a protocol in mind that requires 2-4 more months of abx I will consider it, depending on how I feel at that time of course.

Best of luck to you!!
Posted 10/27/2014 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Actually I'm a big fan of Buhner, and have two of his books. Just that everyone is different and even Buhner writes ABX is needed initially. CSA blend, Cat's claw, and Japanese knotweed have done little for me. but I press on rotating herbs anyway.

Right now I'm taking an ABX break with a sweep at Candida, before trying one more ABX course against Bart or a BLO.

Currently on Nystatin, Diflucan, Plaquenil, Cat's Claw, Banderol, Red Root, Milk Thistle Inositol, ACV, Cod Liver Oil, B6, B12, D3, Magnesium, VSL#3 DS, Gabapentin and melatonin.
Posted 10/27/2014 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
The thing is that there are several people that I know of that have healed from chronic infections without using abx., so the statement about abx being necessary is false. The choice to use them is there, but it would be no different than saying that a person can't heal on abx alone. Not many do, but it's possible.

I don't know if I can really include myself, as some may say that because I initially used abx in 2007 it helped somehow, even though I was incredibly ill to the point of seizures and severe cognitive disability. It wasn't until a full year of herbals in 2010 that I was healed from Lyme and Bart and the a full year of herbals for Babesia and I was healed.
Posted 10/27/2014 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
Your right Traveler. Some folks can get away with just herbal remedies. Its a choice we all can make. I'm just speaking from my own experience.
Posted 10/27/2014 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
I just had my first LLMD appt last Thursday. He thinks Lyme and Bartonella should be treated.

I am also pretty leary about long-term antibiotics. He anticipates 5-7 months for me (my CD57 count was high enough that he believes my immune system, with a little help, will get me over the hump), but I am uneasy with even that length of antibiotics.

I mentioned my concerns to him and he said I could check out a certain clinic that deals in modern chinese medicine. I'm not sure what the parameters are with names, clinics, and protocols so I won't mention the name, although it seems Buhner's protocol is often mentioned so maybe it is okay to say (if a moderator would chime in here).

Has anyone had success with short-term antibiotics (like 4-6 weeks) followed by herbal treatments? It seems like a decent way to hedge both avenues and from what I can tell it seems that diet (paleo - or similarly strict) is really required to let your body reduce inflammation and ramp up the immune system.

Does anyone have experience with "modern chinese medicine" or know a similar clinic to which I am referring and have any input?
Posted 10/27/2014 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
My first month of treatment was just straight abx (amoxicillin). My second month I added Buhner's core protocol from green dragon botanicals. I can say I felt a significant improvement during that month but then started to backslide. I'm still in the midst of the backslide and still taking the protocol just not at the doses I was. I'm seeing a new LLMD who does a combination of meds and herbals but she deals more with Cowden instead of Buhner.

I'm also on nystatin and plaquenil along some vitamin supplements. My main symptom I'm dealing with is headaches, neck, shoulder and back pain. I'm assuming they are all connected but it's hard to tell.

Some people can get better using just abx but I think herbals can be an essential part of healing. I wouldn't be so close minded to abx cause it has helped many people with their symptoms. But in the fight against lyme I wouldn't close my mind to anything that can help.

I'm not sure of the clinic you're referring to, but like I said don't close your mind to anything. What does your LLMD say about doing abx for 6 weeks? From what I've read most people have done the abx and then herbals, but more out of necessity instead of choice.

Also an anti-inflammatory diet is the way to go. I didn't realize it, but I am on a modified paleo diet and have felt better.

Post Edited (Cheetahjade) : 10/27/2014 3:23:22 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/27/2014 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
I think we can all agree, and I think this is what Bruhner meant when he says people need abx initially,
that if someone finds out asap they have lyme, then ,yes, abx may work.however most of us are chronic by the time we know what we're dealing with.

Abx are not the best option for long term treatment
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