Basically I got an ear infection from the spa bath. Curse you microbes! Can't you see my body is full of you bastards already? "Hey, come on in, it's a big pathogenic party in here!" Heh... basically I was having lots of baths where I'd have the spa running with my head just dipped under the water.

This is a 'bath spa', i.e. just like a normal bath tub but with spa jets, so it's not running all the time, and it hasn't been cleaned out for some time, so I probably should have known... but anyway, I got this mad ear ache, doctor did a swab and found out it was 'pseudomonas'... another lovely bug which happens to be very abx resistant.

Nevertheless, it seems to be getting better as the doctor prescribed some (expensive!) ear drops which have an abx that works pretty well for it (fluoroquinolone type, I think)... guess I won't be putting my head under the water much anymore, at least not until I disinfect the whole pump system and such.

I've also experimented last night by taking my doxy, waiting two hours until peak concentration time, and then having a hot bath. This morning I felt like *CRAP* so I suspect it did something.

Share your bath stories!

Take care,

RainmakeR.

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I swear I didn't make it too hot and I put Dead Sea salt in it as I don't know where to get this fabulous Epsom salt everybody is talking about. I stayed in it no more than 15 mins.

I rested in bed for one hour afterwards. The rest of the day I felt like crap, didn't sleep the night and it took me until Monday night to recover.

Sunday was my first day of Minocyclin but I don't think there is a connection because I remember this happening before.

So for me I have decided that I should not take hot baths.

Or am I supposed to feel so lousy afterwards?

How are your experiences?

Gabrielle
 

Epsom salt is just a common name for magnesium sulfate, which is found here in any "drug store".

(I don't have a bathtub so can't comment on baths)

Dan
 

The idea of soaking in a bath of epsom salts is to get Mg into your system transdermally (through your skin) The hot water helps this by opening up your pores and allowing for easier absorbition. The Mg can have an effect on you and some people can herx because of it. I personally don't think it is directly because of the Mg but as a result of the Mg and it's effect on Bb (lyme). To kind of illistruate it smokes it out so your abx can then kill it easier. So your abx is causing the herx but the Mg is bringing the Bb out into the open where it can be killed by the abx. They work together. Marnie explains it a lot better than I do but that is the best lalyman's terms of what I can gather from her technical explaniations along with othere things I have read about Mg and Bb (lyme).

Sent
 

I looked it up and it seems that we take it here in Germany mainly as a fertilizer for plants and I can buy it in a garden shop.

Hope it doesn't have a fertilizing effect on me, though ...

Gabrielle
 

quote:

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The Mg can have an effect on you and some people can herx because of it. I personally don't think it is directly because of the Mg but as a result of the Mg and it's effect on Bb (lyme). To kind of illistruate it smokes it out so your abx can then kill it easier. So your abx is causing the herx but the Mg is bringing the Bb out into the open where it can be killed by the abx.

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Really? I wasn't actually aware of the Epsom salts connection, though I do occasionally add some salts to the tub. The main reason I have the hot baths is for the heat effect on Bb. I heard that heating yourself up in this manner for short periods helps to 'flush out' the spirochetes and also increased the effectiveness of abx by 16x or more. Plus there is also the fact that Bb is heat intolerant (and unlike with abx, it will never become heat resistant). I also do some deep breathing while in the tub as well, increasing oxygen throughout the body - Bb is anaerobic and hates oxygen, so for me, the abx + heat + oxygen is like a triple whammy for the Lyme (though I feel it the next day).
 

I am not sure about the heat thing, it raised one question. If raising the body tempature kills Bb then why don't people with high fevers get better??? I would GUESSS the high Temp increases circulation (see above formula).

Quite sure about the Mg though. Dr B even lists it in his guidelines as important. Epsoms Salts is just a form of Mg that is asorbed transdermally...

But even if all that didn't happen I still love the hot tub

sent
 

Is this a good or a bad sign ???
Should I go on taking baths or not ???

Gabrielle
 

I'm going to keep having them as much as I can handle them, because over time they seem to help me gradually feel better. Remember also that fever is a natural process the body typically uses to help fight infection. Many Bb sufferers though actually have lower than average body temperatures. Treating yourself with heat has been documented for centuries as a natural way to help boost the immune system and fight infection, though it can be dangerous and should definately be discussed with your doc (esp. if you have cardiac problems).

Here was an interesting link I found in relation to artificial fevers and cancer treatment, though the techniques apply to Bb and other chronic conditions:
http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/therapeuticbaths.htm

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By rotten, just how rotten do you feel?? I feel tired afterwards and rundown. it COULD be a die off (Herx) or not, I would check with my LLMD if it made me feel real bad. Try shorter baths and find your comfort zone.

If you want to see what it happening to you physically there are two things you can check on your own. One is take you temp before going in and then just after you get out. See if there is a difference, report this to your LLMD this could be the cause of your feeling bad. But another thing that may sound weird but is possible is that you could actually be dehydrating in a hot tub!! The hot water causes the body to try and cool off by producing sweat, you just don't notice because you are in water. Here is how you check. weigh yourself before getting in and just after getting out and drying off, did you lose weight??? you lost water in the hot bath you dehydrated and sure you feel cruddy.

I learned this as a distance swimmer that it was important to hydrate while you were swimming that lead to learning about sweating in hot tubs etc.....

sent

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You're allowed to be a victim only once, after that you're a volunteer. Naomi Judd
 

Sent, after the bath I had no more energy for more than one day. I was completely exhausted and couldn't do much anymore. It was the same feeling like my herxing with Flagyl - for this reason I'd like to believe it was a herx.

Great idea to take my temperature and weight before and after the bath. I'm curious to see if a hot bath really raises my body temp. And it certainly is a good idea to drink lots of water afterwards.

I'll give it another try next weekend.

Gabrielle
 

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