Tell Me What I Want to Hear

Warning: This got long

So I finally got a positive test via DNA Connexions. I see my LLMD again tomorrow, and I know he will start treatment. He usually starts slowly and builds up to minimize the effects. He uses abx and herbs/supplements. I know people who have seen him and been happy with the way he treats.

I have no idea when I was infected, but definitely years if not decades ago. I was bitten by ticks a lot growing up in PA. But I was never a sickly child. I was actually pretty darn healthy. Looking back, I have had very mild symptoms off and on for about 10-15 years - dizziness, headaches, ringing in my ears, fatigue. But I never thought anything about them. They were brief episodes and never affected my life. I do recall a bite of some kind about 8 years ago on my forearm. I got it while doing some yardwork. I never saw or felt what bit me, but being in Texas now, assumed it was a spider. No bulls eye, just a large (like 4 inches) red welt which was sore and warm to the touch. No other symptoms and it cleared up in a few days.

Here's where the fun begins. I had panic attack in April 2016. First one ever. Thought I was going to die. Ended up in the ER. Everything was fine. Had another smaller one in July 2016 (felt 100% fine between the two). Went to a cardiologist and had a bunch of tests. My heart looks great. Couldn't find anything. about this time I found an awesome PCP who thoroughly tested my thyroid. It was "sub-optimal." She put me on WP Thyroid, which I've taken ever since, but I didn't notice any changes. All my labs (and there have been a lot) were (and still are) normal with the exception of a very high CRP and high Epstein Barr markers. But my PCP actually has chronic EBV herself, and didn't think that was it. I will also add that my diet sucked, and I was about 60 pounds overweight at that time.

Everyone agreed that the anxiety was a symptom and not the problem, we just couldn't figure out what. So I started Prozac 20mg a day at the end of Sept. for generalized anxiety disorder until we sorted it all out. On the 6th day of taking it, I had he worst anxiety attack ever and ended up in the ER. I had the WORST reaction EVER to this medication. Ended up in the ER 3 times before the Prozac worked it's way out of my system. This is where my hell begins.

After the Prozac worked it's way out, I felt better. I went back to work. I was good for about 2 weeks then BAM, sick again. Saw every specialist in the book. Had MRIs, CT scans, etc. All negative. My gastroenterologist suggested a gluten sensitivity (endoscopy and colonoscopy was normal, just some inflammation). So I cut out gluten. I took it a step further and went full AIP diet, which I still do. I felt better. I was feeling downright awesome for about 3 weeks. Even planned to go back to work. Never once cheated on the diet. Then BAM, sick again. Rinse and repeat.

Here's what I need to hear. Because I haven't really had symptoms that long, and because I have periods of being about 90% well every 2-3 weeks, does that mean my treatments won't be too bad or too long? Not gonna lie, I'm kind of scared. Oh, I tested positive through DNA Connexions for Borrelia Burgdorferi and Borrelia recurrentis. Both appear to indicate they are long-term. Everything else was negative. Tell me it won't be years and years in bed.

There's no way of knowing how long the treatment will last.

As far as how bad...there is some 'control' over that. i suggest you start detoxing now...and start with a couple of methods...and every few days...add in another...that is one way to help minimize herxes.
...also treatment - if symptoms get out of control..in addition to detoxing, you can back off of your medications....whether pharmaceuticals or herbals.

Also, starting on lower doses when introducing a new pharma or herbal helps.

I don't know many people with lyme that have spent 'years and years' in bed.

It often takes years to get into remission, though (unless it was caught early)...especially if you end up treating one or more co-infections.

I wouldn't rule the co's out...the testing may not have picked it up.

Girlie said...
There's no way of knowing how long the treatment will last.

As far as how bad...there is some 'control' over that. i suggest you start detoxing now...and start with a couple of methods...and every few days...add in another...that is one way to help minimize herxes.
...also treatment - if symptoms get out of control..in addition to detoxing, you can back off of your medications....whether pharmaceuticals or herbals.

Also, starting on lower doses when introducing a new pharma or herbal helps.

I don't know many people with lyme that have spent 'years and years' in bed.

It often takes years to get into remission, though (unless it was caught early)...especially if you end up treating one or more co-infections.

I wouldn't rule the co's out...the testing may not have picked it up.

Thank you. I have been grain, dairy, egg, legume, and sugar free since he beginning of December. I have also been drinking the heck out of lemon water, dry brushing, taking Epsom Salt baths, and taking Alka Seltzer Gold. My LLMD has me on 2 probiotics (I rotate days), sunflower lecithin, mutli-vitamin, Restore 4 Life (a gut healer, which I love), and potato starch (2 tsp/day). Been taking those for about 2-3 weeks and tolerating them pretty well. Anything else you can think of?

Still I recommend taking all kinds of stress into consideration as to avoiding as much as you can.

I had a panic attack in an nearly empty Mexican restaurant, and had to leave. I think it was brought on that time by being overwhelmed with an audio sensitivity hearing 3 different languages apparently being spoken out loud at the time between servers, patrons and the television.

Sometimes in the beginning they came on while I was sitting back in a recliner watching television. Thinking I was relaxed. I can't remember if I was on some kind of med for a non-existent disorder at the time though. But it would get bad enough to send me to the e.r. often. That was during the time after my first getting infected, and my panic attacks now are completely due to getting overwhelmed with something external.