New here! I've been sick for some time, but was diagnosed with Lyme Disease (and clinically diagnosed with Babesia) two years ago. I started treating with antibiotics at first and at the time when my immune system and my gut were still strong, it was easy for me to understand die off symptoms.
I would experience flu-like symptoms. Even before I treated Lyme, I was told I have Lyme and treated with some herbal tinctures and would also experience temporary flu-like symptoms. While I saw certain improvement with the antibiotics, the progress would plateau to a point and the usage of them would cause gut issues
(plus at the time I wasn't 100% gluten, diary, and sugar free...I am now thank heavens!). We tried antimalerians, those really destroyed my gut further.
So I tried to do herbal drops and they were quite strong. At one point I had to stop because I started experiencing endometriosis (at the time, I did not know there may be a connection between Lyme and endometriosis).
So I had surgery and went on prescription pills to manage the pain, but these pills caused my Lyme symptoms to worsen. I woke up one day in complete panic mode. I stopped the drugs completely.
And felt some relief while detoxing from them. I restarted the herbals, but went up the dosages too fast that when I stopped to take a breather, my tolerance to them was very low.
I tried other things like detoxing first and upping my immune system, but all these things were fruitless and made me feel worse.
Now I am doing acupuncture and started Chinese herbs, but because my nervous system and my body was ravaged by so many different and fruitless pills, it is hard to understand if I am reacting to the herbs, if an ingredient is inflaming me, or if I am having a die off symptom.
What I experience as Lyme symptoms are: anxiety/depression, insomnia, weird dreams, night sweats, slight joint/muscle pain, tingling/prickling feeling all over my body, burning sensations around my arms, armpits, chest area, solar plexus, and tummy, constant mind chatter
(so hard to focus on my favorite activities like reading and watching funny shows), and incessant doubting that I may get well (this is also conditioned by all my experiences with doctors).
I used to also have severely heightened sense of smell and reactions to toxic chemicals. Now I use only natural things in the house. And I eat organic whole foods.
After taking the herbal pills (I only take two and the prescription is 6 pills usually, but I am so hypersensitive), I experience worsening of these symptoms. Maybe a little bit toxic and nausea too.
And my mind just keeps on thinking about Lyme symptoms. Could these be die off symptoms? My practitioner said none of her patients ever herxed, especially on what I am, these are gentle herbs.
But who knows, I may be the first. I also have gene mutations like MTHFR and I am not doing anything to detox except dry skin brushing, drinking water, and acupuncture, because I can't intake any more pills.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
Hi Tepidautumn, this is one of the perennial problems for those with Lyme, especially when co-infections and other pathogens such as viruses and parasites may be involved as well.
It is often so hard to differentiate between symptoms caused by the infections themselves (especially as typically some symptoms ebb and flow), Herxheimer (die-off) reactions, sensitivity to an ingredient......and the list goes on. I think a lot of it is a matter of learning by experience of what is typical for you, as you are doing, and guesswork!
The symptoms you list for Lyme are very typical, as are the feelings you describe after you have had the herbs and acupuncture, which could easily be die-off symptoms.
If you are very sensitive and particularly to pills, would it be possible to have your herbs as teas (ie using the contents of capsule or asking for loose or powdered herbs so that it would be easier to control how much you have)?
You could try extending your detox routine by adding lemon juice to your water, perhaps trying a powdered form of bentonite clay or chlorella before bed to see if that helps.
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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