posted
So, I have a question for everyone: if you have a really good practitioner who recommends you support your body with pretty much EVERYTHING, but you are feeling overwhelmed and overloaded with the possible financial cost and headaches and organizational challenges of integrating 20 new protocols into your life, what do you do?
I'm feeling a bit overwhelemed after my doctor has talked to me about DHEA, hormone testing / supplementing, thyroid stuff, etc etc etc and the list goes on.
For those of you who are getting well or have gotten well, is all this stuff worth it? Or are the antimicrobials enough?
Thanks...
Posts: 641 | From Nevada | Registered: May 2009
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I did all the testing hormones, ionic profiles, you name it.
The thyroid is one key...imo
I took supplements DHEA, and you name it.. didn't notice anything.
Started Thyroids, and eventually abx and GSE along with a few supplements (adrenals important)
That is when I noticed a major change.
-------------------- IgM- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgM- 41+
IgG- 31,34,39,83-93 IND IgG- 41++ Posts: 610 | From Lymeville | Registered: Nov 2010
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philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069
posted
Well, imo the adrenals and thyroid are very important to address. I don't think we can get well without addressing those two things. Of course, this is just my opinion.
Maybe you can talk with your doctor and try to prioritize things. See what s/he considers most important to address immediately and what things can wait, if any. Research some of the things as well, and try to form an opinion as to what you think would be the most important issues.
I don't think that antimicrobials are enough. This disease and the associated cos wreak havoc on our bodies and it is just as important to build the body up and make it strong enough to fight the disease as it is to take the antimicrobials.
Trying to jump right in with too many things at once can certainly be overwhelming! Take it one day at a time. Maybe research one thing every day and come to your decision. Good luck.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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posted
I was just put on dhea and cortef for my adrenals which have noe come back low.
I have been on armour thyroid for many years to keep it regulated. These are things the body needs to be replaced since they are needed to function and fight off the illness.
I have to say after 7 months I am off abx now. Doctors are thinking I never had lyme and it is all adrenals and hormones causing the dizzies. I notice I keep getting worse on the coref so unsure what to do.
Keep your arenals functioning to the fullest s you can get well.
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
I took cortef when we thought all my problems were hormone related and not lyme. Since I didn't improve, we kept upping the dose. I suspect it might have contributed to the worsening of the lyme, so take care. I now take licorice extract powder and find that a real energy booster.
Posts: 226 | From Princeton | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
I took cortef when we thought all my problems were hormone related and not lyme. Since I didn't improve, we kept upping the dose. I suspect it might have contributed to the worsening of the lyme, so take care. I now take licorice extract powder and find that a real energy booster.
Posts: 226 | From Princeton | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
I took cortef when we thought all my problems were hormone related and not lyme. Since I didn't improve, we kept upping the dose. I suspect it might have contributed to the worsening of the lyme, so take care. I now take licorice extract powder and find that a real energy booster.
Posts: 226 | From Princeton | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
Lyme messes up a lot of physiological functions. And since it can be hard to get rid of, adding some supplements that can help would be reasonable. One doctor explained it that he was trying to make me whole (not cured), but putting patches on various areas of damage so I would feel better, while still getting treated for lyme with abx.
I agree that it can be overwhelming to be started on so many new things at once. And agree that maybe starting out with a few, and building up after a while if it seems necessary.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Whit, cortef is a natural cortisol that the body makes anyway. It does not do any harm to those with lyme at all. The dosages are so low, the same as the body makes on its own.
I am on 25mgs time released and 25 of dhea. They are not for energy either? They do just the opposite and destress the physical issues in your body. Low cortisol causes the body to be under major stress and anxiety physically making it happen mentally also.
Lou as you said you have ot bandage one thing at a time to get well
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
I know that cortef is natural cortisol. You just have to be careful not to take too much and it's extremely difficult to figure out whether you're taking too much or too little. And you have all the adrenal suppression issues--though you will feel great initially. For me, it wasn't worth it but it's an individual decision. Since licorice hinders the breakdown of cortisol it fulfills something of the same function without the downsides(for me anyway). It makes me feel better than cortef. By the way, DHEA reduces cortisol levels.
Posts: 226 | From Princeton | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
Interesting discussion. I hope, theoretically, that once all the bugs die, our bodies function again normally. After all, that's what happens with normal people, right?
Posts: 641 | From Nevada | Registered: May 2009
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
No. It's not just a matter of killing off the bugs but also fixing all the bodily systems the bugs help disrupt.
Without a true integrative approach addressing adrenals, thyroid, DHEA levels, hormonal levels, candida, heavy metal toxicity, parasites, viruses, liver detoxification and detoxification in general one will never fully recover from this illness.
As to cortef, there are many, many natural alternatives that do an excellent job such as licorice (not deglycerized), rhodiolia, siberian ginseng, isocort, adrecor and probably some I forgot about. I never took cortef and never will.
Which ever why you look at it it's a steroid, the body becomes addicted to it and you can't just stop it as you can to with natural substances and many doctors prescribe too high a dose causing a new set of problems when trying to fight off lyme.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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I just had ART testing done through Dr K in WA and waiting for the results. They are comparing my DNA against all my meds and supplement, including the coref and DHEA.
They will call and let me know what my body needs or does not need and what is causin harm to my body that I am taking. I have heard so many great things about ART testing that I am praying this will give me some answers. My LLMD is non responsive to my severe dizziness again and my lyme neuro called and told me to stop all abx now since my stonybrook western had no bands on it at all. She too had not answers as to why I am so sick.
I turned to Dr K for help and his medical group. Thia is my last shot at finding answers and then I just plain give up. All the back and forth controversy about what meds to take and not to take is all too much to take anymore.
Hoping this gives me the right answers. They say they can tell me if it is lyme or not lyme. I can only hope he is knowlegable.
THey are testing the metals, mold, viruses etc for me. The body becomes addicted to everything, even abx, and my armour thyroid so I think we need to do what we have to do to keep out bodies in tune. Many supplements cause more harm than good also as I was told by Dr K's office. I never realized that?
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
Dan, I hear what you're saying with all the meds, supps, and protocols. With that said, if you are defficient in one or more hormones, in my opinion, it is a must to address it. I have been dealing with hashimoto autoimmune disorder for a long time. I don't know how I would be able to fight Lyme if my hormones weren't supported.
Posts: 80 | From scottsdale | Registered: May 2011
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