posted
I seem to have such muscle weakness; my arms get tired unloading the dishwasher or washing my hair.
My legs get tight and tired just walking across the house. If I want to go somewhere, I get worn out just putting on makeup.
Is there a specific cause for this? I am a Lyme, Bart and Babs girl. If there is something to do to help with strength/endurance can someone clue me in? I really seem to be just trying this or that abx, with no real "course of action". I am currently on Biaxin and Nystatin only, did have 7 months of IV Rocephin.
I take a multi, and D3. Most other supps seem to make me feel so sick inside. Thanks.
Posts: 374 | From United States | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
I used to have that really bad, too. It got better with treatment. I still get it when I have a relapse though.
I wish I had some good advice for you. I never found anything that helped much. I would just take breaks often to rest. When I would go shopping I would ride the motorized cart but my arms would get so tired just holding them up to drive the thing but it helped my legs.
With treatment it will get better so just hang in there.
Posts: 495 | From KY USA | Registered: Dec 2004
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Extreme muscle weakness was my main symptom. I had lyme, babs, and bart. I had them for 10 years undiagnosed.
The only thing I found that got rid of this symptom was good lyme treatment.
As I understand it, the cause of the muscle weakness is neurological. There is actually nothing wrong with the muscles. Lyme disease attacks our nervous system, and that is what causes this. Nerves control muscles.
I couldn't hold my mouth open to have my teeth cleaned. It was too much for my jaw muscles. I couldn't talk on the phone because within 30 seconds my arm got too tired to hold the phone. I had to do my hair in stages because I couldn't use my arms that long.
I had to sit down and rest twice while getting ready to go out. I dreaded rising from a chair or stepping up a curb. My legs shook like jello when I walked down a set of stairs.
When the muscles get tired and you keep trying to use them, it gets painful.
For 5 years I had this symptom in episodes. I would wake up one day and it would be upon me. Seven months later, it would leave just as suddenly as it came. As soon as it left, I had my regular muscle strength. I was climbing 7 story Myan ruins in between episodes and walking and standing for 8 hours with no problem.
So, it is the lyme attacking your nervous system in my opinion. I had inadequate lyme treatment for 2 years. It did not do much to get rid of this symptom. Then, I got Burrascano type treatment and it knocked it out. Only took 2 months to finish off the lyme disease. Then, we moved on to treat the coinfections. Each one must be treated with different meds.
I suggest that you and all persons with lyme disease find a lyme doctor who follows the Burrascano protocol. It has been 4 1/2 years since I completed my treatment, and I am still symptom-free, enjoying my life--the same life I had before lyme disease.
I have also seen the Burrascano protocol work for a number of my friends and acquaintances. They all got rid of their lyme and coinfections.
When you call a doctor's office, ask if he follows the Burrascano protocol. That's how you find out. And then compare the doc's treatment of you to what Burrascano says in his guidelines. Some docs SAY they follow Burrascano, but they don't really.
posted
Thank you both, so very much. It is so good to hear I am not the only one, and that it can actually get better.
TF, I love my dr, but we seem to be just jumping here or there, kind of hit and miss with my meds. I will read the above, and see if he and I can't come up with something alittle more defined. Thank you both again.
Posts: 374 | From United States | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
Muscle weakness is a signature sx of babesia. RBCs are attacked by the babesia making you effectively anemic. This means there isn't enough RBCs to carry all the O2 necessary to properly fuel the muscles. The result is weakness and fatigue.
Dr B's guidelines are good but do not work for everyone. Few people will have lyme knocked off in 2 months like TF did.
James
Posts: 872 | From New York City | Registered: Jun 2008
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gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
I started gaining my strength back when I took ( and still take) massive amounts of vitamin C. Also, I started eating according to the Weston Price diet westonaprice.org/. Not really a "diet" but a way of eating. This is making a huge difference for me.
Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
I agree it sounds like Babesiosis. I have treated it more than once, and muscle weakness is always one of the worst symptoms for me. It gets better with proper treatment.
Are you currently treating Babesiosis?
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Thank you all, again, for the help. I don't think I am treating Babesiosis; (how lame does that sound) the only thing I am currently on is Biaxin.
I really, really need a plan. I have been in treatment for just over a year and am really no better than when I started. Maybe a little bit better, ok. I read that you need to hit coinfections first, but then I get confused with all the info. Who doesn't, right.
A suggestion toward babs treatment would be appreciated. It would have to be small, since I am so stinkin' sensitive to everything. Thanks all.
Oh, and my RBC is low, also WBC. RBC low for years, started iron supp but I read that Babesia is "fed" by iron so I stopped. No?
Posts: 374 | From United States | Registered: Nov 2008
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Coming back to read this when I am able. I have the same thing.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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Marz
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3446
posted
When my muscle tone was so bad a couple of years ago, my LLMD suspected I wasn't able to utilize protein to build muscle.
From the results of a test she determined that I should go gluten free. I was very good about sticking to the diet for a long time and improved.
When I go off the diet I'm not as good.
She almost treated for babs, but no positive test or classic symptoms.
Posts: 1297 | From USA | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Same thing for me, too. I can hardly stand up some times. I am out of breath just putting wash into the machine.
This does seem to be worse since going on to the Bicillin shots. Is it from herxing? How can I be so miserably ill??? I barely made it through Thanksgiving dinner.
-------------------- DOCTOR: "I don't think you are sick." PATIENT: "We are all entitled to our opinions. I don't think you are a doctor." Posts: 697 | From Northern California | Registered: Jul 2009
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Snailhead, Babesiosis is a malaria-like illness that infects the red blood cells. Some people who have it have affected red blood counts, some do not.
Babesiosis is treated with an anti-malarial (sometimes Mepron or Malarone) together with an antibioitc (often Zithromax, Biaxin, or Ketek). If you do a search here with the anti-malarial names, you can read a lot of posts.
Are you being treated by a knowledgeable doctor?
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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massman
Unregistered
posted
Babs is a parasite
There are also specifically mixed herbals to deal with it.
My understanding is that some here think one needs to push paras into submission over months + months + many many months. Seems to be what everyone does so it must be right !
Seems like many won't even consider other possibilities, even if there may be some that could be effective in 1 to 2 months.
seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Massman, if you know how to beat Babesia in 1-2 months, TELL me please. I went to an ART doc that didn't seem to know much about Babesia except for the name and said easy to beat. Maybe we're also missing the boat?
I'm all open to possibilities. I look forward to your suggestions because Mepron sucks and is a fortune!
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
I agree with Seekie Massman, pray tell?
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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massman
Unregistered
posted
Inno-Vita from UT has 2 parasite products, one for large + one for small. Capsule or liquid, I belive. With liquids you can easily do smaller doses.
posted
I agree, first you need to be on the right protocal. You need to be on a good diet so your food can provide your body energy. Still workin on that myself. I recently started physical therapy for my shoulder and neck pain. I brought in Burrascano's physical therapy plan. Much to my surprise the therapist was familiar with Lyme.Light weights, work every muscle of your body. You can do at home, probably with soup cans.
I am more fatigue on weeks I do not go to physical therapy. I believe Burrascano recommends every other day. I was only going 2 X a week and notice a difference if I do not go.
I am not a physician so please do your own research and check with your Dr. but I do believe it is benificial. start very slow. I use less than a quarter of the weight I used to lift on most exercises. I feel so weak compared to pre Lyme but I have much more energy thru the day. i no longer have to lay down and rest half way thru doing my makeup.
The therapist encourages me to walk everyday, however Burrascano advises against that.
I tried walking with my daughter when she was so ill a coupe years ago. She was seeing a different Dr. and not on the right protocal at the time. We would walk for 10 minutes one day and then try to slowly increase. It wiped her out but walking a few days a week works ok for me.
Best Of Luck!
-------------------- HAVE FAITH Posts: 27 | From Phoenix | Registered: Nov 2009
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posted
Thanks all. Yes, I have a very well known doctor. He goes along with Dr. B protocol to a point, he said. He thinks it is too harsh for me at my age and poor condition.
Last time when I had IV antibiotics and got better I walked more and more each day and it really did help. But I am not there now...not at all.
He said he is pretty sure I have babesia as well as several other things. If the Bicillin shots do not work, then I am worried he will go to IV antibiotics.
I just wonder if I am herxing from the shots or am I getting worse? I can barely make it up the stairs!
-------------------- DOCTOR: "I don't think you are sick." PATIENT: "We are all entitled to our opinions. I don't think you are a doctor." Posts: 697 | From Northern California | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
Muscle weakness & fatigue are the calling cards of active Babesia infection. Routine blood work may show major or minor anemia - another Babesia calling card that is sometimes overlooked, even by LLMDs.
You can test yourself for Babesia without drawing any blood.
Buy some Allergy Research Artemisinin 100 mG capsules. Start with taking one capsule and wait a few short hours. If you get a herxhimer like reaction, then you've got active Babesia infection. If nothing happens, increase the Artemisinin dosage.
If you've got a raging, long standing, untreated case of Babesia, then low doages of Artemisinin will induce a herxhimer like reaction, if you have a lower level Babesia infection, then higher dosages of Artemisinin will be required to cause a reaction.
Consult your LLMD at that point.
Babesia herxhimer type reactions can be very, very scary to the layperson. Anyone seeing it for the first time may overreact and call 911.
Have someone there to help you get through it.
Godspeed.
Posts: 45 | From upstate NY | Registered: Sep 2007
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I went to an ART doc that didn't seem to know much about Babesia except for the name and said easy to beat. Maybe we're also missing the boat?
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