Bartonella Update - - and what I have been doing to help myself WITH Chronic Lyme Disease

Hi Everyone -
I have written on here before but i never got any responses, hoping this time someone will read it.

The one key to finding out I had Chronic lyme and coinfections was the "striae" tiger marks on my belly.
i went to so many doctors, and even showed my GYno and she said "Oh those are stretch marks", i don't know why you're so worried.

I didn't believe her because these are not stretch marks.
these are exactly what you get when you google bartonella striae marks.
i have them on my belly, and at times they would move.. or get very dark.. redish more like a purplish pinkish red.

My protocol is similar to Dr BUhner (My LLND) Has created her protocol here in CT, and I've been on it for almost 2 years now (UNfortunately I got bit again, and i didn't find the tick until it was engorged in my head- got it tested it came back positive in lyme).

I do think that the marks are fading almost - - so i'm hoping this works.

here's what i have tried other than the protocol for this.

1. Boost immune system.
2. Eat Anti-inflammatory ( I cut out dairy), cut out grains, gluten, and eat mostly a lot of Fats ! avocados; wild caught salmon; pastured raised eggs; sardines; lots and lots of local veggies).
3. journaling - - it helps so much, for me at least - - it has been amazing because i can figure things out about myself,, and also keep track of my symptoms, and how I'm feeling.
4. Journaling/Heal Your life - - - i believe healing is not just One thing where you heal a symptom or multiple symptoms. I believe healing is a whole mind/body/soul. Heal Your life BOok from Louise hay has been absolutely amazing to heal from trauma/past trauma/chronic lyme disease.
5. Gratitude and generosity. - - - i do my very best every day (even on the worst days) to be grateful for something. i have noticed a big improvement in my life.
6. I try my best to do at least a bit of walking everyday - - although I get super tired and at times i have to stay in bed the next couple of days if i did a lot of exercise.
7. BIRDWATCHING! this has been my blessing in disguise! i love love nature, and not even a tick is going to take that away from me! I have joined the Local audubon and when i'm out there birdwatching / birding - - it puts me in this TRANCE! i forget about my disease, i forget about my pain and i'm just there in nature Watching and identifying birds.
incorporating this - - i have noticed a huge improvement in Sleep, how i feel, the energy I have that i didn't have before, noticing less migraines happening.

I just really wanted to share what has been helping me so far, and wanted to see what you are incorporating into your daily life to heal?

Love Love Love you all and know we are WARRIORS!!!!!

Post Edited (LymeWarrior21) : 7/31/2018 11:09:55 AM (GMT-6)

Thanks for sharing what you are doing to heal.

I have Bartonella also and it can be trying at times, its good to hear your positive message.

Take care, keep enjoying nature(it's beautiful out there!!!)and I wish you the best of healing.

I'm on a similar type of lifestyle and agree that it's helped me quite a lot - I made big improvements doing these things prior to a diagnosis/antibiotic/herbal treatments. You're absolutely right about gratitude also - when I have periods where I feel worse I tend to have a lot of negative thoughts, and it seems to compound. It's too easy to feel sorry for ourselves, but much more helpful to healing when we focus on the progress we HAVE made and the things we DO have. This has been the biggest challenge, for me anyways.

Specifically on the diet, it's like the more I read the less I know what to do. If I followed every 'lyme/chronic illness' diet, the only thing I could eat is like 3 types of vegetables, lol. I was eating a lot of Kale, other greens, peppers...and now I read that those are nightshades, and inflammatory, and EVIL! So I just stick to no gluten/added sugar/most dairy, and limit carbs/natural sugars and such.

Exercise seems hugely important as well. It's so hard sometimes, but I just try to force myself to at least go on a 30 minute walk. I always feel better the next day...

Bart is a tough thing to kick - and I'm learning that time is maybe the biggest part of it. It takes a long, long time for many - and I hope you continue to see improvements

love you all!!! p.s. on the diet thing --- the book that's helped me the most is Dr Mark Hyman - - WHAT NOT TO EAT..he gives a lot of good insights on everything out there that has to do with food.

it can be very overwhelming when there's so many "diets and fads" out there.. but just try different things.. what works for you.. listen to your body.. what are your values in what you eat?

Does it make you feel good?
does it give you inflammation?
does it make you feel worse, better?
Does the quality of food matter to you? organic? non-organic? meats? seafood? vegetables
How do you feel within a 72 hour period of eating certain foods?

For example for me - - anytime i would consume dairy, within 2-3 days i would get an insanely hurtful migraine and it would last for days... so (keep a food diary - -- and notice how your body, your mental health feel, after eating specific foods)..

our bodies are always changing, and i personally don't believe in a specific diet, as I believe more in bio-individuality and we are not all the same, and one size does not fit all.

i am so grateful that this forum exists, because we need each other, and at the end of the day we know we are not alone in this.



Have a BEAUTIFUL DAY! & KEEP ON FIGHTING, PLEASE! The world needs more people like you!

LymeWarrior21,

I have always found "peaceful" activities of great help. Walking, birdwatching, mindful breathing exercises, and even hiking if not too intense. Just have to remember to do a tic check after the hiking or walking. I fight depression (heavy metal induced) all the time and walking in a quiet natural setting is very calming and uplifting.

I am relatively new to this forum and your sharing is appreciated. If possible, I would like to know what your actual protocol is? I am still trying to figure out which direction to go with treating what I believe is Bartonella, but may be other things as well.