I was diagnosed with lyme a couple years back. Was on antibiotics for about 10 months straight. Recently for the last few months I haven't been on any antibiotics. I still suffer from a few symptoms.
I'm getting ready to go have surgery and I'm concerned as to how going under is going to effect my lyme and if it's going to make my lyme symptoms worse? Also, I've never been put under anesthesia before so I'm concerned about how my lyme will effect me coming to?
Someone please help?! Posted by gz (Member # 43818) on :
Steroids are often used in the anesthesia process to help with post anesthesia nausea. You may want to inquire about it and refuse them unless life or death situation, especially since you are symptomatic and NOT on abx. Steroids can suppress the immune system and allow latent infections to become very full blown in a quick time period.
I've had anesthesia several times, I only had to refuse steroids for full deep sedation, they didn't give them for twilight. I did have some lingering nausea with the deep sedation, but type of surgery was common for nausea so I don't know if it was the lack of steroids or not.
Even a very minor surgery can really stress the body, do you have an llmd? Afterwards consider ample detox and liver support for recovery. Milk thistle and echinacea were top recommendations for me.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
You should do OK, but do tell your doctors about the steroids. They love to hand those out.
Posted by tulips (Member # 44773) on :
One time in the past when I was put under an aesthetic, I suffered a flare of Lyme symptoms afterwards but since, then, I've been under twice with no flare afterwards. I think
the difference is that with the second and third time, I was in a much better place in my Lyme treatment prior to surgery. If you still have some lingering symptoms, maybe you should go on the Buhner herbal protocol between now and your surgery date.
In my experience, if there are still symptoms, I needed treatment as a precaution to prevent developing any of the lovely life threatening side effect diseases that Lyme can spring on a person.
Posted by droid1226 (Member # 34930) on :
I've been put under a few times while really sick. It's not a big deal. But do watch out for immunosupressants.
Posted by Xelaetaks (Member # 44016) on :
I'm getting twilight with a colonoscopy and I'm pretty exhausted sick with lyme and parasites. Hope it isn't a problem. I'll give them a call to make sure there are no steroids involved.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Hospitals are not known to nurture any patient regarding all the adrenal stressors of light, noise and that "busy - busy - busy" tone of voice and hurried / scurrying activity.
As much as you can, try to tell them at the get-go that your system REALLY needs as calm an atmosphere at all times. And you will need your sleep / dark / quiet - maybe at any time - not just night.
Take ear plugs (but there is a disorienting effect with those, too) but do firmly ask for calm surroundings and demeanor. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- FOOD - INSIST upon healing foods with NO ADDITIVES
no fake butter, either.
and especially avoid foods that can increase phlegm & inflammation (wheat / dairy / corn - especially corn and it can be in everything). Some advance work required. You can find out more by calling the hospital operator and asking who to talk to in that department.
Create a relationship with someone there. But, this can be tricky if they don't care or feel insulting or that you are being picky. At least find out what the deal is first.
"Dietary restrictions" is a good way to start before getting into how healthy anything they make may be. And, they might be better than they used to be. Some are.
If you have family / friends, they may need to bring in your food to avoid processed foods. If they do so, be sure you do not get billed for the food at the hospital.
If there is a Whole Foods or other real food market near the hospital, they often deliver to hospital patients.
Sidebar: When a lifetime of suffering, medical visits and prescription drugs can be resolved with a not especially challenging dietary change, a certain amount of retroactive frustration seems justifiable.
Not surprisingly, experiences like mine with dairy, outlined in my column of two weeks ago, are more common than unusual, at least according to the roughly 1,300 comments and e-mails we received since then.
In them, people outlined their experiences with dairy and health problems as varied as heartburn, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, eczema, acne, hives, asthma (``When I gave up dairy, my asthma went away completely''),
. . . in 1978, Dr Mary Enig proved that cancer rates were directly related to consumption of vegetable oils (including hydrogenated fats) and total fat intake, but NOT related to animal fat consumption. . . .
. . . Hydrogenated fats are literally "plastics", whch do not have the same properties as natural fats. . . . -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Epinephrine is in many anesthetics (not sure about anesthesia, though). Some discussion on why epinephrine (EPI) can be a rough ride for someone with lyme (especially if they have adrenal issues):
EPI & medical / dental procedures -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- If you have a naturopathic doctor, they would have detail for you, of course, and it would be much better presented than my bits & pieces. However, if not, here are some other things for your study file as you approach this "event"
It's rare but some hospitals employ naturopathic doctors and acupuncturists on staff (really) . . . usually in with the cancer departments and sometimes limited to the "comfort control" aspect. Some will do acupuncture (and that can be great prior to and after surgery as well, if available or if you have a ND or L.Ac. who could come there and see you).
You might inquire for the place you are to be. This would be ideal if you had someone on staff who knew way more than what I'm posting and who could work within the system.
Take something of BEAUTY with you to enjoy there, an art book, music, nature photo, etc.
Ask if during your surgery (if they play music) you can have some kind of input into the kind of music played. You will be unconscious still what you hear matters and if's it blaring hard rock that can tax your adrenals.
of course you don't want to put the surgeons to sleep, still, just talk about style.
also ask them to send a few healing instructives your way and limit any negative talk.
Some hospitals / anesthesiologists are into "medical hypnosis" and, if so, this can be very helpful to your recovery.
In advance, of course, you might inquire as to if they can do IV magnesium - or other forms - to address pain control afterward.
Acetaminophen can be terrible for the liver. Ibuprofen can constrict blood vessels in entire body and be hard on kidneys. Best to avoid both when at all possible. Magnesium and Ginger are two top alternative that could work in the hospital. Advance planning required.
GINGER capsules can be tremendously helpful to limit nausea after surgery. And it can also help lots with comfort management / inflammation. You can look at PubMed and other places for that. Just for starters:
GINGER - Chapter from The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook
Then, once you get home, be sure to attend to liver / kidney . . . and adrenal support. Of course, consider if Rx are on board so you know how to do, or time, it all.
Salvia miltiorrhiza is also called Dan Shen or Danshen
In some studies, Salvia m. has been helpful to lessen scar tissue.
Massage, too, appropriate to the incision, is good when you are ready, may also help work though scarring. -
[ 03-26-2016, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- VISUALIZATION
I mentioned medical hypnosis above. Beforehand, that can be very good, too, no need to wait until right before (if you are so lucky to have that kind of person on the medical team).
Or something like visualization to start now in preparation.
You might watch a really good video of what is to be done. Then visualize that it will be healing light for you and how well you will be able to manage.
A medical hypnotherapist is trained in using only positive words and images and if you can consult one prior, that would be good. Most naturopathic doctors and acupuncturists also know about good self talk and healing imagery.
There are some visualization / audio CDs on the market, too.
You don't necessary need to know all the techniques involved in the procedure just come up with some kind of image / nature scene where you can have a little bit of action and experience healing and moving in the direction of comfort.
Find your place in nature / your melody / your safe place to spend any spare time before the event.
Think of it as a healing experience. They are there to help you. It will be a good thing.
And keep your power to tell them not to burst your bubble, said with a smile and a little laugh to get them into your zone.
A search did not bring up exactly the perfect link but this is a start (and you can always ask your doctor's office manager - or type in the place you will be going):
Google: Kansas "medical hypnosis" surgery
Some have training in this - and that is key so they know the kinds of positive language to use.
For instance, perhaps, instead of "pain management" you would do "comfort control"
See, the mind hears the word pain and can react more strongly than with the term comfort. Of course, be honest and straight with doctors if you experience pain . . . still, where you can try to use terms that more neutral to your mind's interpretation.
Good luck. Remember to include BEAUTY in every step. -
Posted by Gahblymey (Member # 47721) on :
Thank you for all your responses.
Also, I'd like to know if the steriods are actually IN the anesthesia or is it something they'll give me after surgery??
And like, to help with after surgery, they'll be giving me pain killers and putting me on antibiotics. .. do you think that this will cause a flare up in my lyme??
And since steriods are to be avoided, then what would help speed up my recovery??
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
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