I recently met a fellow lyme sufferer who has tested positive on every test she has had, whether Quest, Lab Corp or Igenex.. and Dr. has told her, that she is the sickest patient he has ever seen, She is getting her picc line put in next week and she has been told that she needs to stop smoking, but has not been able to quit. I'm wondering if there is something that I can tell her that will help her, or scare her into stopping. Has anyone ever gone thru receiving meds thru picc line IV and been able to still smoke?.. which I will not tell her she can. She also has high blood pressure, congenital heart disease and some other things that i know i'm leaving out. She's very scared and I've already told her that she'll do fine. I had a picc line in for 5 months and did great.. did have some trouble with my heart at the tail end though, because i had a hereditary blood clotting disorder, but i'm fine with an aspirin a day. So she trusts what I tell her, I just wanted to find out from anyone who has been on picc line, what smoking could actually do to her if she continues. I'm not sure of what to tell her.. other than to snap out of it!! ha.. can anyone speak to this??
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
She needs to read the Burrascano guidelines on what you have to stop to get better. Smoking is one, no alcohol, caffeine, etc. She won't get better if she continues to smoke.
Every cigarette makes treatment take that much longer.
Smoking eats up antioxidants like crazy, causing the body to not be able to repair damage caused by the infections.
If she can't quit smoking, then she should at least switch to nicotine patches or gum...
The above is solely my opinion.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Support is required to help transition. From some past threads on this topic:
TF has posted: From page 27 of the Burrascano lyme treatment guidelines:
"CERTAIN ABSOLUTE RULES MUST BE FOLLOWED IF LYME SYMPTOMS ARE TO BE PERMANENTLY CLEARED:
1. Not allowed to get behind in sleep, or become overtired. 2. No caffeine or other stimulants that may affect depth or duration of sleep, or reduce or eliminate naps. 3. Absolutely no alcohol! 4. No smoking at all. 5. Aggressive exercises are required and should be initiated as soon as possible."
Smoking has a negative effect on the immune system which is already overwhelmed with lyme disease.
nefferdun reminds us that: Tobacco is full of heavy metals as well as other harmful chemicals . . .
Keebler suggests: For support in becoming solely an air-breather, help removing toxins and over all SUPPORT of the body -- a LL ND &/or Acupuncturist would be very helpful.
Includes how to find an ILADS-educated LL ND, an Acupuncturist, a doctor of Oriental Medicine (O.M.D.), or a doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine (D.Ay.), certified herbalists or nutritionists, etc.
jalama suggests: "The Easy Way to Quit," by Alan Carr.
Lauralyme says: Agree with Jalama.....that book is excellent. I quit very easily after reading that book. You can too -
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
Since smoking depletes blood from getting into the capillaries, it would be unwise to smoke while getting IV treatments. The antibiotics won't be able to get into parts of your body. The capillaries constrict when you smoke.
Smoking depletes your cells of oxygen.
One of the treatments to increase the effectiveness of antibiotics is to do oxygen treatment along with it.
Here's a news segment on a woman who did antibiotics and oxygen treatment:
Your friend is working against her treatment if she smokes.
Maybe she can take an anti-smoking medicine like zyban to help her quit.
Perhaps the fear of needing the PICC line longer or even making it ineffective in getting rid of the lyme if she continues smoking will make her stop.
Posted by jlcd1 (Member # 18138) on :
I quit the first time I did IV. I just knew I had to . I started slow, basically I smoked a cig with my cup of coffee in the morning for a long time, but that was it. 1 a day.
Then giving up that wasn't as hard. I also think the LDN helped me with the cravings throughout the day.
Also my fear of not getting better helped me quit.
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
Big reason not to smoke with a PICC line is that smoking increases your risk of developing life threatening blood clots.
Smoking increases clotting by slowing the flow of blood. It also leads to atherosclerosis.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- It's important consider that smoking may be self medicating - for good reason (just with an approach that has huge risks).
That's why transitional support is so helpful for many.
Especially with a LAc or ND, it can offer herbal formulas (and acupuncture) that can address the need that prompted the smoking and also address specific nutritional needs. Also helps with the detox process. -
Posted by Juliechoochoo (Member # 39671) on :
Smoking increases blood carbon dioxide levels. Borrelia monitors those CO2 levels and responds by increasing production of bacteria Osp C protein. Osp C protein is a key protein that the bacteria produces to enhance its virulance and thus its ability to invade your body. There is a National Institue of Health study showing this. Tell your friend that smoking is contraindicated!