I'm back from treatment in Germany plus 4 weeks (minus 2 days because I couldn't wait any longer) to take time to focus on my family rather than lyme. And to start living/thinking like a healthy person. Hope you understand.
So this week I've been inundated with calls from people sick with lyme (what's new, right?) and one person has me stuck. I need some help!
The man I spoke with today is very ill with cancer and now lyme and bart. His worst symptom is terrible cramping pain in his heart area and lower back but especially the heart area. He said he gets it every afternoon and it continues for hours, so bad he must lay down. He spends most of his day laying down as it's too painful to sit or stand.
I know I've read about this symptom before but do you think I can find anything about it on a search? Nada! I put in heart, cramps, pain and nothing about what I'm looking for. Don't know why, but I completely FAIL at doing searches here.
So could any of you help? Is there a name for this? I think so. And what is the likely cause - bart? And what helps?
Any and all experiences/advice are much appreciated.
Posted by fflutterby (Member # 28081) on :
So happy to see you back 17hens !!! Missed you 2 ! I don't have an answer but hopefully someone will come along and answer. Hope all is well !!!
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
Hey hens,
WELCOME BACK!! Hope you are doing well.
Google heart symptoms + parasites. Lots of info comes up.
The only other thing I could think of was electrolyte imbalance or a potassium magnesium deficiency. Hope you find an answer for this poor guy.
Gael
Just had another thought...is he drinking enough water? Possible medication side effects?
Posted by scorpiogirl (Member # 31907) on :
I have Lyme and Bart and I have had chest pain so bad it woke me up from sleep. Usually happened a night and lasted 4 hours or more. At first I thought I was having a heart attack! But it turned out to be Lyme/Bart. When it got really bad the pain radiated down my back all the way to my finger tips.
I have had echocardiogram, Ekg and Transesophageal echocardiogram and all came back fine. Nothing is wrong w/ my heart... but clearly Bart is affecting the area outside my heart! Since I have been on treatment, I only had two more attacks in the last year.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Hi 17hens!! Welcome back - did you do Dr W's tx in Germany?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I was wondering where you were!! Welcome back!!!!!
google "costrochondritis"
Sjogren's is something lyme can cause and it can cause esophageal spasms.. very painful
Hope he finds the answer!
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
I'm so happy that you're back, hens!!
I missed you!
Would love to hear how you are doing....sorry I can't answer your question.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
Good to see you back, Hens.. Hope your trip went well.. If you do a search on "heart pain" you will find alot of information. I can't seem to get past the first page or I would have provided a link..
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
Yup, back from Bionic treatment! It was really a great experience and I'm happy to share if anyone wants to hear about it. I can start a thread about it and maybe there'll be some questions I can answer.
Flutter, Gael, Robin, Tutu, it's so good to be welcomed back! Thank you, such sweet words! I missed you all!
I feel great!!! Not perfect mind you, but I brought the machine back with me and will start coinfection treatment tomorrow. But with borrelia out of the picture, everything else becomes mild.
But back to this man, he's in rough shape. He was on IV rocephin and now has c.diff. so bart abx are on hold right now.
Scorpiogirl, your experience sounds much like his. Thank you for sharing.
Gael, I was thinking magnesium too. Parasites? Hadn't thought of that. Good thought.
Tutu, I'll google and read. Thanks for a name to start with.
Dekrator, I missed you too!! Hugs to you, dear friend!
Lulu, thank you. I'll take your advice on the search and see what comes up. I know I read info on the topic somewhere around here...hope I find it...
Love you guys, thanks for your help and hugs to all of you!
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
Well, after reading up on what you guys suggested, it sounds like this man has costrochondritis caused by maybe the IV rocephin but most likely from bart or babs.
My lymenet search showed people with chest pain who had bart and who had babs so I still don't know if one infection causes it over the other.
So the next question that comes to my mind is if this man has c. diff., could he take cowden or A-bart/A-bab since he can't take antibiotics at this time? Maybe they would give him some relief?
I never had c. diff., so I'm pretty useless here.
Posted by lyme in Putnam (Member # 11561) on :
Welcome back. How was your trip? Do u feel any different. Better I hope.God bless.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
So glad you are back. I am sorry I am of no help with your friend although I have had a few heart spasms with whatever I have that caused it.
I look forward to your post about your experience in Germany. I lived there when I was a child and loved it.
Posted by baileypup (Member # 22824) on :
Welcome back 17hens!
I've had mild costochondritis, and wouldn't have known what the heck it was if not for this board. For me it was caused by inflammation, most likely from herxing.
Tumeric or preferably Metagenic Inflavanoid Intensive Care, Omega 3 Fish Oil and high doses of Vitamin D3 helped tremendously.
Posted by pamoisondelune (Member # 11846) on :
I used a treatment successfully on my painful ribs; i am not sure if it's relevant for him or the same cause.
I think it was babs, or maybe lyme.
I rubbed Farah-type essential oils on the ribs and the pathogen vamoosed fast!
Farah used to post her treatments with essential oils here.
My variation was: 1/2 tsp olive oil.
Then add enough essential oils drops to total about 20 drops. I used thyme oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus, lemon, and citronella.
That would be about 80 drops carrier oil plus amixture of 5 kinds ef essential oils, about 4 drops each.
The advantage for this man is that it's on the skin, doesn't interfere with his guts. The essential oils are extremely strong though and are absorbed , so he should take milk thistle to protect his liver.
These are not ordinary oils, they are "essential oils", not for internal use. (Incidentally I think they are also found in Rizoles.)
----Polly Polygonum
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Right, baileypup.. it's basically from inflammation. Tumeric and fish oil would be a good idea.
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
I am passing all this exceedingly helpful info on to him! So many good ideas!!!
You guys are awesome! Thank you!
Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
It does sound very much like Costochondritis, but that can be caused by different things. I have had it due to Lyme and likely Bart. When I was a kid I was terrified I was dying/having a heart event.
However, it could also be due to c. diff if it's gone systemic (don't know if that's possible w/c. diff so just putting it out there).
Then again, I have a firend who had/has Sarcoma, and it made him get weird painful muscle cramping that would radiate - he ignored it thinking he must have strained or torn a muscle somehow. Cancer can cause weird symptoms.
So, he really should get a doctor's opinion, but if it isn't his cancer or c. diff, or some other issue that's been overlooked, it is very likely due to Lyme or a co-infection.
One thing that stands out is the regularity of the symptom. He should keep a very careful diary of his activities, meds, and food/beverage intake throughout the day. The time of each thing is important. That can help him to narrow down possible culprits.
Another possibility could be referred pain from a kidney or his liver, or intestines - referred pain can shoot pretty much anywhere. Once the pain begins, it can start a domino effect of cramping due to the pain, and then the nerves and muscles start up a routine. If it is referred, the cause still definitely needs chasing down as it could be serious - cancer, liver or kidney disease, c. diff causing inflammation or lesions in his intestines, etc.
If it's ok with his doctor, he might try getting into a Epsom salt bath and see if that soothes the cramping. Or getting some acupuncture to stop the cycle of cramping.
[ 06-11-2011, 11:32 AM: Message edited by: nenet ]
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Remember 17hens...one man's poison is another man's cure.
I'm glad you weren't back for youself but to help someone else.
My chest pain was dead center between my breast. It started years ago. My would hurt worse at night lying down. Of course woman have some extra weight in the area to add to discomfort.
This disappeared, don't remember how or when but it left me until '10 when I started going after bart with rifampin and it came roaring back.
Now rifampin is one of those abx that's believed to go after bart, myco pn and cyst/biofilm(?) form of lyme.
My lyme sx got really fired up. But so did my bart sx. Myco pN is just so confusing, I don't know which way is up with it.
So once again is it lyme or bart or babs in that chest bone????????????
Pam
Posted by pamoisondelune (Member # 11846) on :
Hens, This man obviously could use a rife machine!
He can attack all those pathogens from outside his guts! If he can afford it, he should buy a rife machine.
There are even a couple of Clostridium difficle frequencies:
387, 635, 673
That is, 387 Herz, 635 Hertz, 673 Hertz.
Im very curious. I'd really like to know if he thinks those 3 frequencies help at all.
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)