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Good Days, Bad Days -- How Do You Measure Progress?

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Posted 5/26/2017 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

I'm trying not to get discouraged, and hoping I'm making progress.

I'm treating Babs, Bart and Lyme. I have been on Mepron/Zith for the past two months, and have seen major improvement in my Babs symptoms. Bart has flared in the process, so we just added Bactrim to the mix to add some Bart cover (though I know Rifampin is the first line of defense, and I won't take Levaquin).

Here's where I'm at. Last week, I had 4 amazing days, 2 of which, I felt completely normal. After 3 months of constant and severe headaches, I didn't have to take any headache medication for 4 days. I felt like I had my life back.

Then, Day 5, wham. Brutal headache, fatigue, chills, nauseau. My LLMD thinks it could have been a Bactrim herx. But, all in all, what I'm seeing in the last 2 months is that I'll have a few "better days" followed by a few bad ones.

Is this progress? Is this how it goes? I know it's not linear, and more of a zig-zag. If you think this is a good sign, please let me know. I'm really battling to keep a positive attitude -- when you have a day when you feel like yourself, you realize just how awful the other days are. It's a double-edged sword.

Thanks all, for your continued support, and best to everyone in their own fight,
Kelly
Posted 5/26/2017 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
YES!!!! You had 4 amazing days!! That's actually more than I get in a row at this point in my journey.

It's VERY common for a person to have good days followed by some bad days. You should see more and more good days overall. This is where a symptom journal is very helpful, as you can look back over the month (or longer) and see that overall you are making progress, even though you keep having some bad days.

Eventually, the good days should out number the bad days, and then you should continue to progress with fewer and fewer bad days, but this all takes time, as I"m sure you've already seen.

Did you just start the Bactrim, or raise your dose? Herxing can happen up to two weeks or longer after the adjustment. If so, that would explain this time, but don't expect it to not happen again, as that is the way with our healing most often. We just start having 'better' days, then a good day will sneak in once in a while, then we start having good days more often until eventually we have mainly good days.
Posted 5/26/2017 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
KB69 - Yay for the 4 good days in a row. And, I also haven't had 4 in a row yet. So envious!

Agreeing with Traveler - this is normal progression...

BTW - I find bactrim really difficult to take. I am only taking half -dose and I'm still not able to take it on all the days I've schedule it.

I don't know if it's hitting Babs or bart...or maybe both...and that's why it hits so hard?
Posted 5/26/2017 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, Travs, I'm holding you to that! smile Seriously, though, thanks. And, you're right, patience is a big part of this, especially when dealing with co-infections, too.

I did just start the Bactrim. I had started at a half dose for about 10 days, and had just upped it to the full dose a few days before I was hit hard.

I'm thinking of talking to my LLMD about adding Samento/Banderol to the protocol for Lyme OR Sida Acuta/Houttuynia for Bart. But, I don't know how much treatment (herbal and ABX) the body can handle. I know you have used herbs -- any of these particularly helpful for you? Maybe I just need to ride out the Bactrim a bit.

Here's to more good days for all of us!
Posted 5/26/2017 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Just saw your posts...

Girlie, yes, I started slow with Bactrim and then got eager, and jumped to the full dose. Probably my downfall. I've read that it hits Babs and Bart, too. So, having both might mean it really flares things.

1000 Daisies, thanks for your perspective. It's a long game, and I think we all wish we, and our family members, didn't have to play it out that way. Like you said, when you look back and see positive change, you need to embrace that as a sign that more is on the way. Glad your kids are improving, it must be so hard as a Mom.
Posted 5/26/2017 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
YIKES!! LOL! That's okay - you can hold me to the statement, as it is true for most. I do hope that's the way it's going for you! Four good days in a row would be amazing!

But, it does sound like your lovely stretch of good days was impacted by the increase in Bactrim. Hopefully that will settle down quickly (increase your detoxing!), and you can get back to mostly good days.


For me personally, the Sida acuta has been helpful - I was able to titrate up quickly on that herb - but the Japanese knotweed is a different story as it's hitting both Lyme and Bart for me. I haven't had the hupsta to try houttuynia yet - I know it's a heavy hitting herb for me. When I added it last time, I had the herx from H*11 for 3 weeks, but then it settled down and I was good on it.

I have not used Samento and Banderol though (I choose to use Japanese knotweed which has the TOA's in them, as Buhner believes that they are necessary for treating Lyme), so I'm not sure how well they may work for me - but I do know that the JK kicks my rear! I'm still only on a fraction of the dose required, and I've been taking it for several months now.

Hang in there and I do hope that more good days are soon to happen for you!
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