I could only find 2 old posts where this was talked about.
I started the nasty habit back in college and decided about 2 mos. ago that if this was in any way delaying my recovery b/c of toxins, I owed it to my children to stop.
So, it's been almost 2 mos. now. I barely went through any w/d amazingly. Probably b/c other symptoms were just over dominating. I did put on the patch at first, but it kept falling off, so I just went cold turkey.
I had some cravings, but nothing I couldn't handle.
So here is the big question: Am I detoxing better now without the extra toxins and is this why I feel the worst I have ever felt in all of this or:
Did the 4000 chemicals I was putting in my body have some effect in keeping the toxins at bay. I read somewhere that smoking has antihelmetic properties to it.
All of my IV abx. are on hold right now. I feel more toxic than ever and my Neuro symptoms appear to be worse than ever.
I havn't done anything else as far as lifestyle changes or putting anything in my body.
Appreciate the thoughts/opinions.
Gary
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
I just want to say congratulations on quitting smoking!
I'm sorry you are feeling poorly - it may be "toxin" related.
It would probably be good for you to detox - but slowly. Lemon water is always good. Chlorella and Activated Charcoal work as well.
I swear by my Infra Red Sauna and have read in a sauna book that it is highly recommended for people who are quitting smoking. You can get one very cheap at ebay - but again if you are very toxic you will want to go slow.
Detox baths can work well (I don't do them because I have a small tub). Warm (not hot) and start with ten minutes or so??
Just some ideas. Herbal teas may help you feel better, too.
I wish you the best and GOOD JOB on quitting a nasty habit.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Gary,
Can't answer your question, but one other thing you may want to be tested for is pesticide residues. Hubby's LLMD mentioned at his last LLMD appointment that some tickborne patients need additional detox to remove pesticides in order to recover.
Hubby actually had a fat biopsy done back in 2001 when he first got sick because the neurologist thought that was a posibility in contributing to his movement disorder. At that time the test result didn;t really show anything.
Hubby's LLMD mentioned that MetaMetrix has a new bloodtest for pesticides -- costs $355 I think. It is on our list of things we would like to do if we ever have any extra $$$.
Sorry you asre still under the weather. I have been off LymeNet for a couple of weeks. Hubby is starting Coartem tomorrow so we will see if his dumbell shaped blood borne parasite responds to that.
He is still on IV Rocephin which doesn't seem to be helping much after the first couple of weeks. With the combo of Factive, low dose Zithromax and low dose Tindamax plus Daraprim hubby has been going downhill. Maybe the switch from Daraprim to Coartem will help.
Otherwise it seems like stopping the Rifampin may be allowing his BLO to come back. Once he got to the point where he could take multiple meds, it seems like hubby does worse if he slows down his bart treatment.
If I was you, I would probably pick one of your infections -- Lyme or Babs or Ehrlichia and try treating that aggressively for a couple of months and then try adding back in meds for the other infections slowly at low doses.
Hubby never seemed to make much headway treating just one infection at a time. It can get very frustrating to take things slowly, but I do think that works better than constantly starting and stopping meds due to severe herx reactions.
Hang in there.
Bea Seibert
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
I've received hostile feedback before for saying this but it is the truth. I'm copying my post from a previous thread. Please read Marnie's post at the link for some interesting information.
http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/1/90414? Yes. I descended into illness and disability when I stopped smoking. My health slowly declined for about a year at which point I was very sick. Both my mother and sister have had the same experience when they stopped smoking. I think there are some posts about others who have experienced the same thing here in the archives.
I don't know for sure what causes it but I know that borrelia affects acetylcholine in a negative way. Smoking keeps it at the synapse. I use acetylcholine to control some of my symptoms. It is circumstantial but I do believe there is a relationship. It could be oher things as well.
--------------------------------------------
I later found out that my aunt also got sick when she stopped smoking.
Terry I'm not a doctor
[ 08-21-2010, 03:39 AM: Message edited by: TerryK ]
Posted by LymeMom Kellye (Member # 24807) on :
My husband is quitting smoking next week. Has Lyme and Erlichea. In preparation we bought some LL Magnetic clay with a smokers detox herbal pack.
He is going to begin with a small amount of clay and then do foot baths and add the herbal mix as well. Slowly was the recommendation from their site.
I can't tell you yet how he'll feel, but we're hoping that this specialized mix will help. We're hoping that by quitting smoking his inflammation issues will begin to resolve.
Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.
Posted by jecati (Member # 26700) on :
The first time I experienced noticable symptoms (vertigo, tremors, cracky neck) was a month after i quit drinking pepsi (5-6 a day).
Then 2 months after quitting smoking (cold turkey) I had my first major neuro signs appear, numbness on L side, air hunger... Now here it is 3 1/2 mos after I quit, my armpit lymph nodes get hot and swollen, I developed severe muscle twitches and now Im jerking (RLS?)...just seems like Im getting worse!
Posted by littlebit27 (Member # 24477) on :
Geez, I was thinking about quitting but after reading this I'm not sure I want to. That is kinda scary that it could (and has for others) made symptoms worse. Dont we herx enough?
Posted by cleo (Member # 6646) on :
I am not saying nicotine is good but it is antibacterial.