I took my first one @ 11 PM last night. I was in for 10-15 min. Y'all say they are relaxing. Not for me! I got out and my neck was so tight I could barely move. Somehow it completely clogged up my left ear and I felt like I had tons of water sitting in the eardrug. I was shaky too. Maybe magnesium and me don't mix.
Could people who have the MTHF mutation have issues with the sulfur in Epsom salts?
I guess I don't handle things like others here. Posted by onthemend (Member # 13454) on :
Interesting, one of the things I often experience after an Epsom Salt bath is a very tight, sore, stiff neck on the right - which was one of my very early, original LD symptoms.
Sorry you didn't get any good results to go along with the bad, as I've mentioned to you, the ES soaks are definitely good for me.
Good Luck with all -
otm
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Maybe my body can't release toxins well. I may stick to epsom salt foat soaks for a while and see if that does much.
[ 14. January 2009, 09:15 AM: Message edited by: seekhelp ]
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Epsom salt baths used to relax me. Now, if I take one, I am awake all night completely wired. This happened several times.
Not sure why that is happening!
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Why are these baths recommended since Dr. B is so adament that Mg feeds Lyme?
Posted by steelbone (Member # 14014) on :
But mag is on Dr B's recommend supplement list
Posted by lymemomtooo (Member # 5396) on :
I wonder if the bath is causing you to herx. That would be a possible answer. And that you are detoxing or trying to detox.
Also not 100% sure of Dr. B's issue on Mg but think it is the the bacteria feeds on it and depletes it..
Posted by JKMMC09 (Member # 15795) on :
Dr. B used to give Lyme patients IV Mag. at his officer and prescribe it for a majority of patients w/ muscle spasms. I guess he felt the benefit outweighed the risk, as long as you're on treatment?
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
To much epson salts ie magneseium use less epsons.
Posted by c3mom (Member # 16412) on :
Seek, my first Epsom salt bath was HORRIBLE! My headache was so bad I went to sleep in fetal position! I've had bad headaches and migraines w/my Lyme, but this was a 10.
Last week I did a soak again, but not as hot and no headaches! I did have a lot of bubbles coming out of my skin.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
seek wrote: Could people who have the MTHF mutation have issues with the sulfur in Epsom salts?
No, it would be a CBS upregulation or SUOX mutation in the methylation pathway that would cause sulfur problems.
Epsom salts are magnesium sulfate so you could have a reaction to it if you have either of these mutations.
You could get the sulfur test strips and test to see if your sulfur is high. They are relatively spendy and must be sent overnight because they have to be kept refrigerated. http://www.holisticheal.com/sulfate-so42-testem-quant.html
I don't know a lot about the test strips but I do know that they are not made specifically for humans. I used them initially via a recommendation by my doctor to see if I had a sulfur problem. I did have elevated sulfur and my genetic test results did show a mutation.
I can't say that this is problem for you but it sounds like you might want to investigate further, especially if you have a reaction to other sulfur bearing supplements. It can be hard to tell unless the reaction is severe.
Terry
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
When I first tried epsom salt baths I felt like I was going to pass out. My heart pounded so hard and I felt awful when I was done. I tried several times and when I told my LLMD, he said don't do it.
Months later I made another attempt, this time just adding a very small amount of epsom salt and making the water warm, not hot. Results were much better. But I can only stay in for about 10 minutes.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
If I had a bad reaction to something, I probably wouldn't use it.
You can try something else in the bath like sea salt, hydrogen peroxide (small amount), baking soda, or essential oils. Best to go with something "natural" rather than a bubble bath with chemicals in it.
Some people may have allergies to essential oils so try something calming. I have a stinging sensation if I use products with particular oils in them. I think I'm sensitive to lemongrass & spearmint.
The idea is to relax - not have an adverse reaction. There are also chemicals in the water like chlorine, fluoride, etc. The combination may be too much for people who are sensitive.
Might be good to try a water filter for the bath or shower.
Do people have reactions to just taking a plain warm bath?
Posted by bugabooboo (Member # 7383) on :
I have done a lot of hot water baths over the past 4+ years. I have used Epsom salts and 3% H202, separately or together.
Sometimes I develop nausea, palpitations, weakness dizziness. The hot water in and of itself can do that. You know the warnings that are put on hot tubs?
Just Google "hot tub warnings". The high heat causes a lot of physiological changes quickly. Add to that a quick loss of electrolytes.
Yet, I have experienced a lessening of symptoms with these baths.
Maybe not immediately, but the next day.
Perhaps you just need to work up to tolerance. Both in temperature and time.
Don't give up.
Bug
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I wish SO bad I didn't take that stupid bath. I still feel horrid. Every muscle is tight. I can barely think straight. I feel wrapped up like a mummy as that chick said in 'Under Our Skin.' Posted by pab (Member # 904) on :
My kids tried the Epsom salt baths and felt terrible. They usually feel worse after a shower too.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
that happens to a close friend too. he is using other methods to detox. i don't know why we all react so differently-but it pays to listen to your body.
once after a bath he was wiped out for a week.
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
Seek,
I could not take Epsom Salt baths for 2 yrs after getting ill. It would feel good while I was in the tub (lyme arthritis) but the arthritis would get significantly worse within 20 mins after the bath. Horrific pain.
For me it was toxins. I was soooooo toxic that I was inflammed in every joint. A CAM doctor saved my life and he did so by slooowly detoxing me.
3 yrs later I am still being detoxed, now by an LLMD who also practices CAM medicine. I will never work with a doctor who doesn't practice CAM medicine.
Today, I can take epsom salt baths all I want and they definitely help me.
As for magnesium. Yes, it does feed the bugs, but you can't starve the bugs because you need magnesium too. That is why you should take lots of extra magnesium.
You are doing other things to kill the bacterias. Magnesium aids the body in detoxification. It does so much more than just that and we need it in order to get well and even in order to stay alive.
Here is the NIH statement on Magnesium detailing its uses in the body and who needs to take it. Note anyone on medication should also take supplemental magnesium or increase their green leafy vegetable, legumes and whole grain intake.
Notice too all the symptoms you will experience with low levels of magnesium. Many of those symptoms you attribute to lyme may really be magnesium deficiency.
Oh yes and I detox poorly too. I had the gene test called DetoxiGenome done which shows me to be a very poor producer of glutathione.
So, I take extra measures such as NAC supplementation and glutathione suppositories.
I can't take whey protein as I have a dairy protein allergy.
I eat lots of cruciferous vegetables which increase your production of glutathione.
I will have to do this for the rest of my life.
Be very careful jumping on any detox method as what helps many people may cause incredible pain for you if your body does not eliminate toxins well.
Doctors have been slowly detoxing me for 3 yrs. I am doing really, really well. But I am still a work in progress.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Thanks Luvs, I believe you're exactly right about what happened to me. My LLMD has no detox protocol. I get the impression he doesn't believe in any of it.
My holistic doc recommends stuff w/o consideration of toxicity and has completely ignored me saying I have Lyme for 5-6 months. I think he just doesn't care and wants to blame something else.
Great predicament, huh?
Posted by nyjohn (Member # 15361) on :
i took a hot epsom salts bath a few nights ago... afterwards i felt terrible- heart pounding, very painful neck, nausea
i took another the next night...felt bad again
i haven't felt great since. i think it might have brought out the "flu" that i had for 48 hours after xmas. or something like that. not again, for me.
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
Seekhelp, that really sucks!
Check out these two organizations and see if there is a physician in your area who graduated from their courses.
The first CAM doctor I went to, and he is the one who saved my life, graduated from ACAM. The ILADS LLMD I go to now (she is also a rheumatologist so perfect for me)graduated from The Functional Medicine Institute.
Of course both of these doctors have medical degrees, but advanced their education into natural medicine at the two institutes below.
I would use one of these doctors in addition to your LLMD. You don't want to give up lyme specific treatment, but you do want to get rid of the toxins harboring in your body. Both the bugs and the drugs you take for the bugs create toxins in your body.
Good luck!
NYJohn,
I bet you are exactly right about the flu bug. But you want it to come out. Right??
Wait a couple of weeks and try another bath to see if you get the same results.
I hope you are doing some holistic measures to heal you completely like diet and/or supplementation. Exercise, rest, balanced diet are all holistic medicine.
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
Seek: I have a great Lyme Literate, very affordable NP in Richmond. ($100 included one hour appt and "drops" specially made for me) I have had several EXCELLENT days this week so something is working well for me. It could very well be the stuff my NP is giving me.
PM me if you want his info.
Other things I've been doing: 40 min very hot infra red saunas 4 x per week* Rifing Lymphs every day since Mon (got my own machine) Gluten Free since last Tuesday
*wouldn't recommend this for folks who can't tolerate the baths - when very toxic one should go very slow with sauna as well.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
The reason some may not be able to tolerate epsom salt baths may not be related to their status with toxins but an intolerance to sulfur.
This would be related to the CBS and/or SUOX mutations that I mentioned previously.
Terry
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
Terry,
Yes. Good point to consider. Just wasn't so in my case.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)