Greetings, I havent posted on here in a while as Ive been doing pretty well. Ive been off abx for LD for about 3 months now and doing fairly well with just residual headaches and eye issues, probably from the encephalitis/meningitis I had from the lyme. I would consider myself probably 90-95% back to full normal now, except when it comes to exercising and endurance. While being treated for LD it was also determined that I was low in Vitamin b12 and D, both of which runs in the family.
Anyway, my question has to do with exercising..
If I do any sort of strenuous physical activity, such as biking, or kicking around a soccer ball, within days, my energy level is zapped, and I have a mild case of the odd symptoms return. Nothing major, but its apparent enough to me to question if its: (1) the vitamin b12 deficiency? (2) the menin/enceph brain still healing? (3) exercise induced herx, as in still fighting LD? ...or a combination of these things...
Anyone else with B12 issues or menin/enceph recovery that can offer some ideas? Will it take years to recover yet, or can I expect to struggle with endurance the rest of my life?
thanks!
Posted by lymetwister (Member # 19590) on :
Tough call Wimenin,
I have always said that once I'm cured (If I ever get there), I would continue alternative therapies forever.
This disease kind of reminds me of cancer patients. Many of them go into remission only to find out the cancer has returned down the road.
What if these same patients routinely had a few rounds of chemo here and there just to keep things in check. I often wonder if the remissions would stay as remissions.
Endurance is something that should be able to be built back up. I would think that if you can't, and this is my own opinion, but I would think that you havn't gotten it all.
Just my thoughts and this disease is from the twilight zone, so who knows.
LT
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
My opinion is the answer is yes to all three. It's still too soon for you to be pushing it, IMO.
Methylcobalamin B12 shots would be very helpful. I take them. It would be good for your healing brain, too. It will take a year or two for it to fully heal. Give it a chance.
Also, do you have a maintenance plan to keep your Lyme in remission? I've just relapsed this week after reaching 85%. I've relapsed several times in the course of my 9 year history with this disease. However, I've only been on abx 1 1/2 years.
You might want to "punctuate" your wellness with a round of abx now and then, or at least some herbal protocol like Buhner's.
This is just my opinion.
CherylSue
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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First: How long did you have lyme before treatment began?
How long were you treated?
Did you also have other tick-borne infections?
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A weak or damaged liver (from lyme or certain Rx or even Tylenol) will also affect anyone's ability to exercise. Are you still taking the same good liver support supplements (Milk Thistle, etc.) that you took when on treatment?
Are you still taking adrenal support as when on treatment? (Cordyceps?)
Just as the brain and heart can take a long time to heal, so can the liver. Pushing anything too much can cause damage. However, maybe changing the kind of exercise will help. Tai Chi or Qi Gong - or yoga might be just the right ticket for now. Walking is always good but, I think, as enjoyment, not work.
In addition to attention around any remaining infections, there is a lot of good information here as to what can help you regain endurance in a safe manner. Supporting ATP production, using Hawthorne and CoQ10, etc. - it's all here:
Topic: To everyone with cardiac symptoms please read!
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Have you used garlic capsules or allicin? That can help your heart, and your endurance while also helping in other ways.
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[ 07-01-2009, 12:58 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
My doc says even when you are well that it may take 1 to 2 years for your body to return to "normal".
It also can take your brain this long for swelling to resolve after LD.
Posted by Wimenin (Member # 15294) on :
Thanks to all for the responses...
To answer some of the Qs:
The lyme was undiagnosed for at least 18 months before being on doxy for 2 months, then saw the LLMD and was on triple abx for 3 months, then single abx for and additional 5 months. I was on supplements to include garlic, oregano oil, olive leaf, cats claw...plus Coq10, probiotics, D, B12, magnesium, digestive enzymes, triple omegas, which continued after the abx was done. Until the past few months whereby the alternative (cats claw, oregano, olive leaf, garlic, spiro, ran out and was told not to continue.
I now only take b12 sublinguals, d, coq10, magnesium, probiotic, triple omega, zinc, calcium, daily vitamin...all as a part of normal health maintenance.
I actually dont feel too bad, and its just occasionally when I feel worn out, which usually is after a long bike ride (2-3 hrs). I walk daily 30 minutes, and eat pretty much a gluten free diet (mostly meats, veggies, salads, fruits).
I think thats the hard part with all of this...distinguishing why the symptoms come as a result of brain healing, b12 issues, and lyme flare ups.