posted
I bought an Infrared sauna from Costco for myself and my son (who also has Lyme)to use. It is not cedar, it is made of hemlock. We both have used it a couple of times and I noticed that while I felt good after using the sauna, the next day I felt poorly. I don't think that I'm herxing but my joints seem to hurt a lot. I mentioned it to my son and he told me that it affects him the same way. I am no longer on ABX but am on vitamins/supplements prescribed by my LLMD. Normally I only do about 30 minutes at less than 105 deg. Has anyone else experienced this?
Posts: 12 | From Manassas, VA | Registered: Jun 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have not experienced this so my comments are just guesses. Maybe try less time and see how you feel? I'm a great proponent of finding out the minimum time or amount we can do something without suffering afterwards.
My doctor said it also stimulates bile flow detoxing inside and maybe that's also happening and it's too much for you?
Are you hydrating enough during and afterwards?
Also, are you showering off afterwards to wash off the sweated-out toxins?
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
Lauralyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15021
posted
Try taking chlorella before going in the sauna. My LLMD recommended this
-------------------- Fall down seven times, get up eight ~Japanese proverb Posts: 1146 | From west coast | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I would dial down the temp. A lot. I think 105 is just way too hot for that long. I wouldn't be able to move for a month after that.
I used to do a regular sauna but cool it down some. Often I felt so good at the time, after a swim but then, I'd barely be able to even crawl out of the place, even after 20 minutes. And, I'd be so weak for weeks afterward.
I would start back with it just at 100.5 F. and gradually increase it from there - but only 1/2 degree at a time, with many sessions before each shift.
You may do just fine with it about 101 for 20 minutes. That's enough warmth to penetrate but, hopefully, not too much to stress you.
Though, for myself, now if I'm even one or two degrees too hot, I really suffer.
Thirty minutes may be too much. I cut it to 10 minutes (as long as you don't start with your body freezing cold) and work up to 20 minutes. I think I recall 20 minutes being the suggested max time.
Are you getting back your minerals and electrolytes?
Adrenal stress is what comes to mind from heat reactions. Perhaps some adrenal support would help. Ashwagandha is a good one.
If you &/or your son had any damage to the nerve's myelin sheath from lyme, that could also explain a heat intolerance. So could mitochondria damage. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Thanks to HALEY for bringing this to our attention.
MYELIN SHEATH & MITOCHONDRIA SUPPORT discussed here:
posted
I found out I can't do the sauna every day without felling like crap. My bart started flaring when I did it every day. Had to go back to spacing it out.
Posts: 805 | From Utopia | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged |
Thanks to everyone for the wonderful and knowledgeable replies!! I will try to answer your questions in this email rather than individually. Yes, I do think that I am hydrated enough. I drink water before, during, and after the sauna session. Actually, I drink water all the time. Yes, I do shower after the session to wash off the toxins. I don't normally take chlorella so I am unsure what that does -- you take it in tablet or powder form? And how much before a session? Unfortunately, 100 deg. is the minimum that the sauna will go. I could try startintg at 100 and working up from there. I normally warm up the sauna a little bit before I enter but it is usually only about 85-90 when I enter. It normally takes my body about 20 minutes to start perspiring. I am not sure if just being in there for 20 min. will do anything for me but I can try. The info that came with the sauna said to start at 30 min. and work up but that would probably be for a "normal" person. Also, the electrolytes/mineral replenishment was a wonderful suggestion -- I had not thought of that. I usually just drink water afterwards. Forgive my ignorance but Gatorade is about the only drink I am familiar with that will replenish and Pedialyte also. Are there other drinks that will work?? I am not familiar with either mitochondria or damage to the myelin sheath, so I will have to research those.
Once again, thanks for all the info.
Posts: 12 | From Manassas, VA | Registered: Jun 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
P.S. I don't do the sauna every day. I'm lucky if I do it 3x a week. I thought maybe I wasn't doing it often enough??
Posts: 12 | From Manassas, VA | Registered: Jun 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Always go slow in the beginning and listen to your body. I had to ramp up to 45 minutes and even still there are days I only stay in for 20-30 minutes because I just know it is too much. Drink water afterward.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
My LLMD thinks that the sauna will kill off bugs because of the heat. At one point he was talking about using it as an actual treatment for the borrelia rather than only a detox tool.
I wouldn't use Gatorade. I think there are electolytes you can buy and put in water ..... maybe someone can tell you about those as I've never used them.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
| IP: Logged |
Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
Before an actual lyme dx and I just had fibromyalgia...LOL...I was told that high heat for somepeople is worse for muscle restriction. It feels good while you are doing it, it loosens the muscles...but when they cool they tighten up even more. i found this to be true for me. even if you hsve joint pain, the joints are surrounded by muscle and fascia.
i would try a lower heat.
Posts: 1728 | From USA | Registered: May 2011
| IP: Logged |
canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 22149
posted
jarjar,
You felt like it stirred up Bartonella?
There's a Doc who believes infrared saunas stir up viruses in CNS
*shrugs*
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
I too bought a FIR sauna recently. I used it for about 5 days straight for 20 minutes each time at 125 degrees.
My CNS symptoms went wild. Blurry vision, tremors, off-balance, hyped-up nervous system, insomnia etc. These are my usual symptoms and they flared like crazy. It took about 10 days to settle back to my "normal sick." I have been afraid to use it since then.
I am now better, and ever-so-slightly better than I was before using it. I do wonder, did it actually kill some bugs? I too am not currently on abx. Anyway, I am holding off until I discuss this with my LLMD, but I don't see her for a few more weeks.
I may try it again. As recommended here, at a lower temp for a shorter period of time. I am going to start to try Rifing again. Since abx has not been my "cure," I am hopeful Rife and FIR sauna will be effective. Worth a try. Good luck. TS
Posts: 566 | From West Coast | Registered: May 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
Canefan, yes it stirred up my bartonella like crazy with streaks breaking out. I got to the point I didn't want to leave the house much less talk on the phone.
ticksuck, I think you found out like I did that you can't sauna five days straight like I did. I suggest you go try the sauna and wait 2 days between saunas then try every other day eventually. I'm back to where I feel half way decent after a sauna and shower.
Posts: 805 | From Utopia | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
JarJar, that is interesting that you felt it stirred up your bartonella. I do have babeosis. I wonder if that is what's happening. I have a LLMD appointment tomorrow and will check it out with my dr. In the meantime, I have been limiting my sessions -- the last one was 4 days ago. I thought I might try a short session tonight at a lower temp. to see if that alters the results before my LLMD appointment tomorrow.
Thanks to all for their insights -- very helpful!
Posts: 12 | From Manassas, VA | Registered: Jun 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Mg, yes it stirred up my baronella but it may have been more then just bart. By all means keep it up with lower temps and shorter periods and spacing it out. When I started it I was spacing out the days at 20 minutes. I was afraid to do it every day at first because I felt weaker afterwards and used the sauna in the evening in case I wanted to lay down.
Posts: 805 | From Utopia | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
I do an Infared Sauna for about an hour daily. It took me awhile to build up to that and honestly, at first, I was dying so I didn't go as long or as hard. I think it brought up deep stuff...
Now I do it daily at 140 for about an hour -- drink a ton of fluid and I feel like a new person after I shower etc. My doc says it makes the abx more effective but I would definitely listen to your body. It will tell you how long you can go for and I would do days in between until you are ready and if you are ready to do more. It has been INTEGRAL to my healing... I have chemical sensitivities and I am not a good detoxer so I think it has remedied those two things pretty well which were pieces to my lyme puzzle.
Listen to your body... it will guide you... Best--
Posts: 859 | From Southeast | Registered: Mar 2011
| IP: Logged |
canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 22149
posted
If you guys felt it was stirring things up (I agree it did this for me as well)... why ever go back to it?
In some instances aren't we better off letting dead dogs lie? (especially Bart or viruses)
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
cane, it was doing it every day that was causing me problems. When I space it out as mentioned above I feel okay afterwards.
Posts: 805 | From Utopia | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have an infrared sauna and my Doctor said it will cause heavy metals to move which will stir up many things. She advised me not to keep using until I get my heavy metals down. If I were going to keep using it I would definitely use lots of binders. It put me in a bad place for awhile.
-------------------- Misdiagnosed for many years. Treated for many things besides the real issue. Lyme diagnosed April 2008. Parasites diagnosed recently. Past to both my sons. Trying to remain hopeful and thankful. Posts: 144 | From Ohio Valley | Registered: Mar 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
I was doing IFR sauna for 45 minutes per day 4-5 days per week. It stirred up my bart in a big way. A few hours after the sauna, back of head and spine burn. I thought it was lyme herxing. But it got worse and worse over a period of a month. Now I finally crashed over bart, almost ended up in the hospital. Bart symptoms all over, neuropathy came back big time. I had almost no neuropathy before this.
Posts: 99 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2010
| IP: Logged |
Ellen101
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35432
posted
rainbowriver how did you get rid of the neuropathy?
Posts: 1748 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
when I started FIR Sauna I could only tolerate 5 minutes every other day at body temperature. Otherwise I got so severe headaches that I would have to stay in bed for 2 days. This kills the bugs, have a look at changes in stool colour (to yellow)or so. I believe this is detox. do it very slowly.
Posts: 185 | From Germany | Registered: May 2012
| IP: Logged |
Catgirl
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 31149
posted
Wow, it sounds like it may stir up the metals like Truesun said.
-------------------- --Keep an open mind about everything. Also, remember to visit ACTIVISM (we can change things together). Posts: 5418 | From earth | Registered: Mar 2011
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic