LymeNet Flash: one year treatment anniversary: an update

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Posted by dmbfan (Member # 11948) on :

one year ago this month i started by course of treatment for lyme. I had been actively sick for 3 years prior to the diagnosis and have had symptoms for about 15 years.

I started with abx, my dr adding one at a time and (biaxin, bactrim, plaquenil) and diflucan.

I also started treatment for babesia with malrone and artemisnin.

i gradually faded off my cortisol and testosterone but remained on my thyroid medication (T3)

I definitely got worse before i got better. i had to use a wheel chair at work and a walker at home. visit to er for breath hunger, blah, blah, blah.

i made a big change in my home life in november and started to see improvements (put an unhealthy relationship on hold)

By Jan i wasn't using my wheelchair and was making improvements.

Dr wanted to start flagyl in march but i was afraid. so i stopped all abx and went to mexico (just a week)/

got back and started head strong into killing the yeast in my body.

A month later i added cats claw. It knocked me down. botted says up to 6 capsules a day, i could barely handle 1/2!

I;m up to 2 capsules now. my energy is better, movement is better.

Other things are cropping up though. i think my endometriosis is back strong, lots of pain in lower back and ovaries. trouble swallowing again. more trouble sleeping.

so again it feels like i am at a cross road. Increase the cats claw, decrease it...? I don't know. I do know i want to give it more time before i go back to abx.

Bottom line: i'm better than i was a year ago. Am i 100%? No. maybe about 50%. i'm shooting for 60% by the end of july...

Posted by mtree (Member # 14305) on :

dmbfan.......

well I'm glad you are moving forwards and not backwards.....

sounds like you are doing everything you can to make it to 60% by July....

I'm sure mexico was a big lift.... [spinning smile]

....
I'm rooting for ya.... [Big Grin]

mtree

Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :

Hey dmb...

So good to hear you've seen some improvement.. but I know your road has been a rocky one.

I am not a doctor.. but after seeing this situation unfold in your post above...... my first thought is the cat's claw isn't getting it.

The other part is... I've recently learned that cat's claw MAY knock down some stuff... but in clinical trials.. it isn't having great effects and is not at all long lasting when it does help.. and folks are relapsing.

Not one patient in the study improved to any great extent and they all relapsed.

And no.. this isn't a published study.. it is simply what LLMD's are learning behind the scenes.. but they have been leading the way on all treatment so far all these years... still trying to find what works best for their patients... and I consider their trials a good indicator in most circumstances.

Since you made a 50 percent improvement.. I would not want to see you slide backward. I'm afraid you might with just the cat's claw.

I am guessing you had yeast issues and were tired of taking the meds.. and I know how that feels. Perhaps consider pulsing and/or focusing more on the yeast issues while you treat?

May I suggest...

Consider going back on what helped the most for now. One year treatment for so many years sick seems like a long time to some... and certainly must to you... but it really isn't that long if you consider the overall picture and length of time you've been ill.

And again... I am NOT a doctor.. these are my thoughts and opinions.. and be sure to check with your doctor before you do anything. OK?

Good luck and lettuce no if you get 60 percent. More than 1/2 way there!

[Big Grin]

Posted by 123harmony (Member # 13413) on :

just wanted to say congratulations on your improvement!

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

thx for the update; glad you have FOUND SOME IMPROVEMENT!!!! wish i could say that! so that IS PROGRESS!! [group hug]

Posted by dmbfan (Member # 11948) on :

tin cup

thanks for the input. I know deep down i will need abx again. I do feel like i am walking a narrow road here, as we all are....

it seems the cats claw is working on some areas but not others.

i just wish my body would be a little more clear with me and let me know what it wants! An email would be nice!

Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :

dmbfan,

Have you tried andrographis? Hubby tried the Healing Lyme protocol for about 4 months a couple of years ago. The Cat's Claw didn't seem to do much for him either good or bad.

He had definite herx reactions to the Andrographis. Never got past 4 capsules daily. Sometimes I wish we had tried higher doses and stayed on the program longer.

Many seem to do well on a combo of both antibiotics and herbs -- that is what hubby is doing now. He definitely has a reaction to the HH from Zhang.

Glad you have had improvement. It really is a trial and error approach for both antibiotics and herbs. What works for one person may not work for someone else.

Good luck.

Bea Seibert