Morningnewsman do you have a goog llmd in your area? I know someone there, close by, who wants to switch dr.s.

daniella

Yoga and weights are a great place to start.

our LLmd says it is vital to healing. But he
also says no weight bearing exercise when herxing. 15-20 minutes at a time is good. He says it is good to keep moving during the day, so there oxygen getting into the tissue throughout the day. So several shorter periods of exercise are better than a hard work out of an hour.

I had the same experience with Dr. H--couldn't tell why I could not get beyond a certain point, was taking every abx under the sun, finally got treated for babs and now bart. Also, ketek helped a lot.

Dr. H can be a heroic guy, but he is totally swamped by patients right now, and also, the treatments for co-infections are changing rapidly, perhaps to his chagrin. From reading other posts on this board, I get the feeling he may be experiencing a burst of resistance before giving in to the notion that co-infections play a larger role than previously thought. As you know, he loves exotic herbs, and the co-infection theory kind of throws them to the wayside.

You can relapse even if you don't have coinfections!

I'm in my second year with him and think he is extraordinary and very intelligent and knowledgeable. He has just put me back on Mepron for the second time since I began experiencing chills and headaches. It is working and I am feeling much better.

I am always afraid our good docs will burn out. His wife makes sure he takes regular vacations so he can remain sane.

Only complaint I have is with office procedures which could be improved upon.

If you haven't been working out regularly, start real slow and make sure you stretch a lot. I find yoga has really helped during my Lyme treatment. It also helps to build core strength.

But before this particular set back I was walking regularly and loving it! About 5-6 miles a week..... A little every other day. Once you get in motion, boy, your body does not want to stop!!!
Except for occasions like lately when it also doesn't want to go

I've been on heavy ABX since March. At about 8 months I hit through that plateau. Timing is different for everybody, but it does happen.

I did a step aerobics class last night. My first aerobics class in many months. I had to stop because of the Lyme. I would get light headed, get pain in my hips and lower back, or lose feeling in my hands during the classes. I made it through the whole class last night and feel great today!

quote:

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Originally posted by morningnewsman:
What percentage do you feel you are back to, on a consistent basis after about 10 months of heavy ABX?

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I can't answer that. Part of it is that I've likely been infected for 18 years. So who knows what normal is. Although my symptoms were never consistent until 3 and a half years ago.

My first experience with Lyme was 15 years ago. It went untreated because the MD did not think the test was "positive enough" to warrant treatment, despite the huge bullseye, joint pain and flu-like symptoms.

I worked out almost daily,except when I got a cold or flu and that would knock me out for a couple of weeks. I cycled, climbed ran, played tennis, swam, used the gym, etc. I honestly believe the exercise kept me from being completely knocked out by the Lyme that was in my (younger) body.

When I was re-infected in 2002, I struggled for eight months to fight fatigue, ahces, dizziness, severe joint pain. I couldn't convince my MD to test me because I had only a small rash and was relatively active. I was cycling 7 - 20 miles a day during that time. But each day became harder and harder to move my legs. My body finally crashed and I saw a Dr. who diagnosed me properly.

I could NOT exercise without feeling like I might die from the fatigue. My MD sent me to a specialist. The first thing I asked him was if I could exercise. He told me to limit the aerobic exercise because my heart was affected, and I had an IV. But, he did tell me to make sure that I moved every day.

As I started to improve I was cycling and jogging short distances and doing yoga. My MD tried to convince me that I should slow it down. I am very stubborn and did not listen. I paid the price several times. But, I cycled and joggged whenever I could. My MD threw his hands up in the air a few months ago and said, I can't stop you so just do what feels right and don't push too far. I have since learned my limitations.

My MD says that my stubbornness has gotten me further than other patients, mostly in attitude. My body may hurt but, my brain functions better when I have more oxygen.

I really think the daily exercise I did for years before treatment kept the Lyme in remission for a long time. I can't help but think that it is helping now. Just an FYI: Last February I was unable to walk. But, I forced myself to at least get to the mailbox and back, with help, every day. The small steps can make you smile and have a positive effect mentally.

I have never filled the Rx for pain killers because I am afraid I will exceed my limits if I do take them. I will take an Advil if I am really achy. Otherwise, I want to feel so that I can judge properly. You will learn what you can and cannot do. Try, learn, and then set limits. Just be careful and err on the side of caution. You have to look at it as a journey with surprises along the way, good and bad.

I have a tiny hole in my heart and a slight murmur. The Lyme seemed to gravitate toward my heart at first. I was having palpatations and irregular heart beats. While on IV I was monitored closely by wearing a Holter Monitor at times and by weekly EKGs. That was my MD's concern about the aerobic exercise.

However, my Cardiologist saw no reason for me to stop all aerobic activity. She has a friend who is in a wheelchair due to Lyme and mentioned that if her friend were more active, as I am, she might not have ended up in the wheelchair.

I just can't help thinking that there is so much logic in getting oxygen to your blood and brain to help heal. I think that is why so many people feel better after HBOT. My Lyme MD did say he would prefer I got my oxygen from moving and not from a tank.

I also believe we are less depressed when we move. When I could not walk last February I became very depressed for a short time. But, the little bit of non-depressed brain matter in me said, nope, get up and make yourself move. It didn't feel good physically and was difficult to have to have a cane and a sibling to lean on. But the pain I felt was a sign to me that I could get beyond this because I could still feel something, anything. Little accomplishments made me less depressed.

Now, don't go out and run a marathon! Stretch, do yoga & light weights, aerobicize when you feel you can and want to. And, lower your expectations. You are sick and have an excuse not to be Mr. Atlas.

Take care.