Just need some wisdom. Can't seem to think this one through.

Hi Lyme friends,
Sorry in advance if this is too long. ;)
I was finally diagnosed with Chronic Lyme July of 2015. I was bitten in 1982. I did 2 months of Tetralysal and Azithromycin. Then my LLMD agreed upon my request to switch to Cowden, although he mostly is comfortable with ABX. So I was on my own.

I figured I would start with the higher dose since I already did the ABX and thought most bugs were dead. Big mistake. I herxed with ABX but it mostly physical- swollen joints, severe body pain. But on Cowden it was crazy neuro. Wicked and very scary visual, olfactory, and auditory hallucinations. I stopped immediately. During this time the doctor discovered I had SIBO, which I think is under control now. He advised no anitmicrobials except rifaximin during this time. I now have not taken any herbs or ABX for probably 4-5 months.

The doc retested me this summer for Lyme with ELISA which I thought was so bizarre as 3 of my ELISAs in the past came back negative. This one came back negative of course. (I tested positive last year with a culture test from Germany since I am in Europe as well as western blot.) When I questioned him he said it was a special ELISA!?!? Ok. I asked why we didn't test with the Armin Lab ones again. He said, " Well we know you will always have Lyme." Sigh.

I want to start herbs again but not sure where to begin. With my bout of awful herxing from carelessly taking Olive Leaf a couple weeks ago I am scared. My cognitive symptoms are now worse than physical.
In my cabinet I have Cumanda, Samento, Banderol, Burbur, and whole herb Cat's Claw and J Knotweed that I made into capsules.

So my question is: when you already feel like garbage and can't function, how do you know what is working and if you're taking enough so as not not to herx but to be effective? Obviously I can't take large doses or even the recommended doses. So, start with one drop of each of Cowden and then WHEN to add another? Or one drop every other day? Or should I just take one each of my powdered capsules? When I worked it out, Buhner's dose was 12 caps a day! I do still take all of my supps and vitamins.

I just KNOW the Lyme is still there and not addressing/ignoring it is not working. I mean I have had it for 34 years! I am getting the daily base of neck rashes, heat, and headaches that I had last year right before I got viral meningitis.

The other big issue is, I am headed to the US in about 5 weeks for cavitation surgeries and am wondering if I should be adding another stress of introducing more things for my body to deal with. I am already freaking out about travel, packing, surgeries, etc. But the dentist will be doing a dental pathology and DNA test so maybe I should be doing herbs to provoke the bacteria out of hiding.

My brain is so muddled and I can't seem to think rationally about this for some reason. Any advice would be so appreciated.
Many Blessings...

Well, if you are going to have surgery in 5 weeks, you should not take any herbs and eat very little blood thinners at least a week before surgery. Please check with your dentist on this but I am pretty sure that is what they will say.

Leading up to that you can take herbs - if you have check with the dentist. They should have a list of foods, meds and herbs you should not take before surgery.

So, let's say he says nothing a week before surgery. You have 4 weeks and that is such a short time, but a long time not to treat.

I can only tell you what I would do. I am not a doctor! I would eat super healthy, try and get enough sleep and detox like crazy (working up to MANY things each day). That is where I would start.

I would try and remodulate my immune system to help it get ready for some stress (mouth surgery) and I would take Cat's Claw. Since you have whole herb, you can cap it up and start very LOW and SLOWLY up the dose. For example, day 1, take 1 capsule, 1 time a day. Day 2, take 1 capsule 2 times a day. Day 3, take 1 capsule, 3 times a day. On day 3 if you wake up and feel "off," you stay at 1 capsule, 2 times a day until you "level" out. If symptoms worsen, go back to 1 time a day. You do this way until you get to where you just feel this is your maximum.

I would generally suggest you start with Japanese Knotweed or add it next, but you want to get that surgery healed properly before you start adding in other herbs and you don't want any type of blood thinner while healing.

Remember, this is just my opinion. I am sure you will receive many others that you can think about and pick.