posted
Hello, I'm new to this board and new to this whole lymes deal. I've been feeling so bad for about 6 months. About 3 or 4 months ago I felt a level of sickness and fatigue that frightened me down to my core. I've always been a healthy, active man. I'm 37 years old and felt really at the peak of health before all this started.
I won't bore you all with the details, but I've been steadily feeling better. At first I just thought it was in my mind (wishful thinking), and I was sure that the sickness would come back like it always has. And sometimes it does, but a little less every time.
To what do I feel I owe this remarkable recovery? ABX to be sure, BUT I know that doing Bikram Yoga has done ALOT to help bring me back. For those who don't know, Bikram is a 'hot' yoga, a yoga that is done in a room that is about 105 degrees.
I found early on that sweating seemed to eliminate most of my symptoms ( at least temporarily). I tried different methods, including running with a sweat suit, sitting in a sauna with a sweat suit, and etc. When I read that one goal of Bikram is to make you sweat, I signed up for a class. It wasn't easy. Just getting there was hard because I usually did feel pretty weak most of the time. I thought how the heck can I exercise while feeling this way? I was dizzy and weak walking over there, but I went anyway.
By the end of the class I forgot all about lymes. I left the class feeling healthy, renewed and alive. The next day my symptoms returned, but I kept going anyway. I'm on my 10th class now and I can honestly say that, although the symptoms aren't all gone they have reduced significantly. Even on the days when I don't do the yoga, the symptoms are less then they were. The weakness is reduced and the dizziness is almost gone! When I walk out of yoga I have ZERO symptoms, I feel like my old healthy self!
I don't know why but I believe it has something to do with the intense heat. The heat is very intense and I end up sweating out a gallon ( I don't mean to be gross). It's like having an intense fever for an hour and a half. I haven't read all the books and I'm not aware of any people recommending sweating nor do I understand how it works, but it does.
I hope some of you will try this, and maybe I'm on to something here. IDK maybe it's old news to many of you, but I'm just excited because I feel myself getting stronger and healthier by the day and I want to share this and maybe it could help somebody else too.
Posts: 41 | From astoria, new york | Registered: Feb 2010
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kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
I just read a couple of days ago about someone's son getting better after he had scarlet fever.
Those little buggers can't live in all that heat!
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
So glad you are feeling better. I believe the Burrascano protocol calls for exercise, and I believe it's a good idea.
I won't be trying the yoga as heat and anything aerobic causes tachycardia. Hope the "heat" therapy continues to help burn the buggers out!
-------------------- Wishing You Showers Of Blessings! Lyme since Fall 1983 = Diagnosed Summer 2008 IV Rocephin 7 weeks Stopped due to drug fever Now doxycycline "For I know the plans I have for you...plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 430 | From Sunny South | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Thanks, Kirk, I wondered about Bikram. I used to love it, and want to try it again. Glad you're doing better.
Posts: 636 | From Saratoga County, NY | Registered: Apr 2008
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MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
I have a lot of friends who train in Bikram yoga and I tried it briefly when I was pretty sick. It's intense. There are other forms of 'hot room' yoga, and some of them might be cheaper. Bikram is a trademarked chain, and it's EXPENSIVE compared to some other yoga schools.
Yoga is in general a 'gentle' exercise, and if the teacher is good, they'll be able to deal with a sick Lyme patient who doesn't have much energy or has pain or flexibility issues. It's meant to be a lifelong form of exercise and you're never too old or inflexible to start. Most schools will give you some kind of 'free trial', and maybe if you explain that you're sick and not sure how well you can do at exercise, they might be able to make that free trial period longer so that you can have time to assess whether you can do it, before you sign up for classes. Of course, there are cheap yoga classes at the YMCA, and community centers, and all kinds of other places, so you might be able to get some of the yoga benefits (probably not hot-room yoga) without having to sign up for a membership or maybe even for free.
I think doing it in a hot room was just fantastic for me, especially since I have the low body temperature that many Lyme patients have.
Bikram schools do one single routine every single class, so it might be boring to those who are used to more variety in workouts. Or it might help those who can't remember things well (you don't have to have a good memory to do it or other forms of yoga- the teacher calls out the poses, it's not about memorizing things).
One option if you are completely homebound or too sick to exercise but still want to do something to get your body temperature up, or want to sweat, is to get a 'tent' type of sauna for the home. They're about $300-$500 and they show up on eBay sometimes. You sit on a chair in the 'tent' with your head sticking out (which is more comfortable) and the rest of your body gets nice and hot. You can read, watch TV, etc, while still doing your sweating, and obviously it doesn't require building anything or having a separate 'room' like a fancier home sauna would require.
I haven't gotten one because of money being too tight even for that, but at various times in my illness, I often was able to get to a gym and get a sauna session and stretch gently even if I couldn't do much real exercise, and I think it really helps.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
I've always thought this would be good but yoga has always been too much for me. I always end up injuring myself & a whole class is too long for me at this point.
Chi gong or swimming has been better for me... Maybe chi gong in the sauna?
Thanks for posting in any case... I can always dream about it.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I'm glad this is working for some.
It is important to note that heat is not good for everyone. In fact, lyme patients often can be very bothered by heat. If one feels ill from it, back off, cool down.
If - after working up gradually - it seems to help, that's great.
But never, ever push heat. Heat can cause serious damage for some lyme patients and also cause long-lasting set-backs. Listen to your body.
BTW, it is impossible to safely get the body hot enough to kill spirochetes, In fact, they go into cyst form if they get too irritated so it can be counterproductive trying to cook 'em out.
That is one reason why low-heat infrared sauna is recommended over the regular high heat ones (and for cardiac safety). You can still sweat in low heat.
Now, if Bikram works for some, great. We are not all dealing with exactly the same infections and some are at different stages. Just don't push the heat. Listen to your body. -
[ 03-16-2010, 02:29 AM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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