Help tolerating various supplements with lyme/co-infections

Hi all, i’m really hoping someone can help me with one of my main issues at the moment. I have always been a bit sensitive to things but for the last 7 years since having my daughter things have been harder (I nearly died after having her due to blood loss) I have a really hard time tolerating supplements, I am currently on slippery elm, colostrum, lactobacillus, vitamin c, epa fish oil. All took a while to tolerate, but try as I might, I can’t grt on the zinc picolinate, mag/calcium, digestive enzymes, vitamin d or the Thorne multi. I have tried all of these around 10 times, in tiny doses at first, my husband has even been putting them in my smoothies sometimes without me knowing and I still get a reaction. Each thing is slightly different but mainly I get a really foggy head and feel like a zombie. I really don’t know what to do as I can’t move forward with my treatment. Do I actually have intolerances or is this something in my head/an emotional issue. If someone has had a similar problem or a theory, I would be so grateful of your help.

HI Chloe,

I can totally relate to feeling "foggy" when taking various supplements and or herbals. When I first became sick my llmd at the time wanted me to take a bunch of supplements including "Brain Sustain". As much as I tried, I ultimately could not take this supplement as it really made me feel completely out of it. At the beginning of my illness (before I began treatment with an llmd), I did not know that I was supposed to be on a specific diet and I remember eating beets and having the same reaction. Some of my herbals will also give me brain fog but not to the extent that the "Brain Sustain" or beets did.

My symptoms are mainly neurological (burning, tingling, brain fog etc) so i do my best to avoid supplements and foods which exacerbate these symptoms. Even though these supplements are supposed to be great for addressing Lyme and co infections, I figure why add insult to injury. I have been treating my illness for nearly five years and have definitely learned that what works for one individual may not work as well or at all for others. Have you had the opportunity to discuss your experiences with your llmd? I do not believe that it's an "emotional issue" but I do believe that what you are experiencing is real and the director result of what your taking. As I mentioned, there is no one right way to treat these illnesses and hope that your llmd is open to working with you to reduce your reaction to your supplements. How long have you been treating and what are you being treated for?

Chloe,

While I don't have an explanation for your super-sensitivity I feel for you. My wife is the same way.

A few common thoughts (from experts, not me) around This- Babesia - which is a common lyme "coinfection" can cause increased sensitivity
Lyme - from over stimulating the immune system
Mold or other bacteria fungus in your system
Thyroid issues

The strategy (with my wife at least) is to treat the underlying issues to fix the sensitivity. Lyme really seems to wreck havoc on the immune system - causing the body to spare Lyme and sometimes to attack itself (autoimmune issues yay).

Anyway - I'll try to say something helpful. My OPINION and my WIFE'S is not to force supplements that you think you react to (even if they are great and are suppose to help XY&Z). You don't want to cause more inflammation and throw your immune system off even more. This is especially true for immune-modulating herbs/medications (Astragulus, Reishi mushrooms, etc.) You may be pushing the gas pedal on your already over active immune system. Very technical but explains this = https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/th17/

My best advice would be to listen to your body and work with someone that may be able to test each supplement on you (kinesiologist may be able to, chiropractors can do muscle testing, some naturopaths may do a thymus gland test, etc.) Unfortunately this isn't a problem for most people so most MDs will only tell you to stop taking it if it causes a reaction. There isnt much else they can do.

Chloe S said...
Hi all, i’m really hoping someone can help me with one of my main issues at the moment. I have always been a bit sensitive to things but for the last 7 years since having my daughter things have been harder (I nearly died after having her due to blood loss) I have a really hard time tolerating supplements, I am currently on slippery elm, colostrum, lactobacillus, vitamin c, epa fish oil. All took a while to tolerate, but try as I might, I can’t grt on the zinc picolinate, mag/calcium, digestive enzymes, vitamin d or the Thorne multi. I have tried all of these around 10 times, in tiny doses at first, my husband has even been putting them in my smoothies sometimes without me knowing and I still get a reaction. Each thing is slightly different but mainly I get a really foggy head and feel like a zombie. I really don’t know what to do as I can’t move forward with my treatment. Do I actually have intolerances or is this something in my head/an emotional issue. If someone has had a similar problem or a theory, I would be so grateful of your help.

We have the same problem. I believe the reactions we experience are mast cell activation syndrome. There are several people in the forum who first suggested it me. The reactions only got worse over time and now include reactions to foods normally tolerated. And stress. It's not in your head. It could also be leaky gut. We quit taking any herb, supplement that causes a reaction. Forcing them only made the sensitivity even worse. Buhner mentions histimine intolerance in his book in the extended repetoire and talks about mast cell issues in this radio interview at about 49 minutes in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIRzVI5vdb8

Post Edited (cakegirl) : 3/29/2018 10:25:45 AM (GMT-6)