Opinions on my protocol

Hi everyone,

If you have a minute could you tell me what you think of my protocol my LLND has me on? Does it seem like a good one that could bring on great results? Just like everything with Lyme, I'm unsure of everything and if I'm approaching things right. I feel pretty good about everything I'm doing to treat but would like to know if others think so too.

I just found out I have Lyme this past May from a positive ELISA and positive Western Blot IgM. I'm 26 years old (27 at the end of this month).

My symptoms:
Major symptoms since Sping 2010 however noticed symptoms starting Fall 2009. So about 5/12 years now.
- Off balance feeling/bobbing, swaying motion, dizzy, lightheaded
-Extreme Tired
-Absence seizures I believe
-Anxiety
-Numbness at time in back, fingers, face
- Air hunger
- Sore throats frequently
- Weight loss
- Bad Brain Fog

My Protocol:

For the last month before starting herbs I've been building up my immune system with a Vitamin Nutritional Supplement, Probiotic, B 12 shots weekly and Fish oil. I continue to take these through out treatment and probably even after.

Now I started these herbs yesterday: Samento & Banderol. I took one drop of each yesterday and two drops of each today. I do that once a day building up to 30 drops, increasing by one drop each day of both herbs.

This morning, a couple hours after taking the two drops of each my symptoms are starting to act up. :( I'm very "swayey" and "off balance" + air hunger, anxiety.


What do you think of the effectiveness of my protocol?

My LLND will add in other herbs if/as needed depending on my progress. As well as if we need to increase the herbs to twice a day instead of once a day we will. She has had very good experience with these two herbs in treating a lot of people with Lyme.

Post Edited (JessicaMommy) : 8/10/2015 7:25:46 AM (GMT-6)

Hi sayyadina,

It is so hard for me to tell if I'm having a herx or not as my symptoms wax and wane so much when I wasn't treating - from mild to extreme. I wish it was more straight forward. But I guess the fact is I just added another drop this morning on day two and my symptoms intensified.. pretty much says herx.

For detox I'm drinking tonsss of lemon water like its my job and doing daily Epsom salt baths at the end of the day for 15-20 mins or so. But to be honest it has been about a week since my last detox bath. I'm going to start it up again tonight with the baths.

Thanks Girlie. What do you think of my treatment plan I posted above? Does it have potential?

Slow and steady. Everyone always wants to push it when they first start out. You'll get sick of doing that lol. It sounds like your doctor is in the camp that doesn't like making people go through really harsh die off reactions. It's completely counterproductive anyway.

Your doctor will likely keep adding things in. If you start getting too sick then your doc will likely want you to hold back. I agree with traveler. I like to stay on an even pace. I had to completely stop treatment for almost 3 months because of herxing. That's not fun lol.

Keep up the detoxing and if after a while you feel like no matter what you can't detox enough consider asking your doctor for the genetic testing. MTHFR. through 23 and me. It's 99 dollars but can be really helpful. It can get really frustrating when everytime you try and move up your dosage your body says NO.

It sounds like you're doing good! And the meds are doing their job! Keep us posted on how you're doing!

This will give you some idea of what you are looking at. Now remember, it will look overwhelming to you at first most likely, that's normal. It's really not that hard though, because you have us to help guide you through this stuff!!
buhnerhealinglyme.com/the-protocols/

You can get a few of them from Nurtimedix, but not all. Buhner lists good sites to order from on his site, or you can check in the "New to Lyme?" thread for reputable companies to order from - near the bottom of page 1.

I'm so sorry for inserting doubt about your protocol, but I'd rather you go in asking tons of questions than just assuming things would be okay and finding out later that it's not.

Buhner claims that 75% of those that follow his protocol will heal.

I have yet to see someone with more than just Lyme heal completely using only the Samento and Banderol. I'm not sure why they keep saying that it treats it all. No other protocol sets out only one protocol that covers all infections and has it work well for a majority of the people.

I had Babesia for years, so don't panic. I've also had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever for decades and it's claimed as fatal in many cases. My immune system seems to be able to keep the infections from being life threatening, but can never kick them on it's own.

JessicaMommy

I have read in numerous places that many people are walking around with asymptomatic babesia. Babesia is a parasitic infection so Lyme treatment can't touch it.

The babesia infection can become activated when a person gets infected with Lyme. This can impede healing from Lyme. I think that's what happened with me.

I followed the full Cowden protocol which not only includes Samento and Banderol but several other herbal antimicrobials...and some of them target the coinfections.

It was only after being on Cowden for 6 months and feeling frustrated with my ongoing peripheral neuropathy that I decided to start Stephania which Buhner recommends for the issue.

Well, I developed hot flashes and started wondering if I had babesia....especially after I stumbled upon the writings of a LLMD who uses Stephania to treat babesia.

Just last week, I started one herb out of the Buhner babesia protocol and I've had typical babesia symptoms for herxes. I will be slowly adding the rest of the herbs in the protocol because I want to knock out whatever babesia/babesia-like strain I have.

I am thrilled to report that, after just one week, I've had improvement with my peripheral neuropathy. My asymptomatic babesia infection was impeding my progress with Lyme treatment.

For whatever it's worth, Buhner states that his babesia protocol should be followed for 30-60 days and can be repeated if necessary.

In light of how far I've come already, I'm hoping to be d-o-n-e with Lyme and Co's before the end of the year.

For whatever it's worth, my LLMD isn't 100%, either - especially when it comes to the herbs. He knows that herbal protocols are effective and that's why he told me to select one out of the 3 most popular (Buhner, Cowden or White). He also knows that I research extensively and he told me he trusted my judgement with my choices of supplements, etc.

The one time I had a hot flash in his office, he speculated babesia but I never really had any glaring babesia symptoms after that. Now that I've conducted my little experiment, I'm realizing some of the isolated instances of certain symptoms I had were probably babesia peeking out.

That's how it goes.....treatment for one tick-borne infection can sometimes reveal another. Treating Lyme & Co's has been likened to peeling the layers of an onion. It's all about being aware of your body and exploring possibilities which eventually lead to healing.

I know it's really scary in the beginning and it's hard to trust anyone. The more you research, the more comfortable you'll feel. People do heal from these blasted infections and I'm confident I'll be on that list as well.

Keep the faith.