posted
Hi, I was treated for Lyme by an LLND for about 1 year. I started treatment within 3 months of being bitten.
I was symptom-free for 1.5 years starting february of 2012 till late July of this year.
Now some of my symptoms have come back. They are: 1. Muscle pain in thighs. 2. Muscle pain in forearm, biceps. 3. Pain in palm of hand. 4. Burning sensation in my arm. 5. Numbness in my right cheek.
Symptoms come and go and seem to start mostly in the evening/night.
I was tested for deficiencies by my primary doctor last week and was found to be deficient in Magnesium. I have just started taking Slow-Mag.
I am contacting my LLND again today.
My question is, can you be completely symptom-free for 1.5 years and then have them come back suddenly? I know I didn't go out into any bushes or trees or anything. I have been extra careful about that. So I know I haven't been rebitten.
Thanks in advance for your replies!!
Posts: 100 | From USA | Registered: Sep 2010
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Were you treated for any coinfections during your lyme treatment?
It could be a Co-infection...
Glad you have an appt with your LLND lined up.
Greta
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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If it can come back at any time, then what's the point of the treatment? You're saying nobody ever gets cured?
Why does Dr.Burrascano say then that if you are symptom-free for a few months, you are "cured"?
Is it possible that all my symptoms are caused by the Mg deficiency?
Posts: 100 | From USA | Registered: Sep 2010
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CherylSue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13077
posted
Relapses are common in Lyme Disease. Go back and get treated again before it gets worse, in my opinion.
Posts: 1954 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
The point of treatment is to keep it arrested and in remission!
I have recently had great success with supplementing magnesium. (see above) The mag can make a big difference, but you must take quality products. Slow Mag MAY work.
Were you ever treated for babesia?
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
You don't say what type of blood test found you deficient in magnesium. If it was the routine magnesium blood test, then you must be EXTREMELY deficient for the deficiency to show up on that test.
In that case, I would not rely on slow mag. Burrascano says that in extreme deficiency cases, the person needs one gram IV or IM weekly. Here is the quote for you:
"Magnesium is predominantly an intracellular ion, so blood level testing is of little value. Oral preparations are acceptable for maintenance,
but those with severe deficiencies need additional, parenteral dosing: 1 gram IV or IM at least once a week until neuromuscular irritability has cleared." (page 6)
Here are some quotes from "The Lyme Disease Solution," a book written by a lyme doctor, regarding the blood tests for magnesium and mag supplementation:
"Magnesium Level: The usual serum magnesium level is of little value because the vast majority of magnesium is inside cells.
Better tests would be red blood cell magnesium or ionized magnesium and these are the ones you should request. (page 121)
The recommended daily intake of magnesium for healthy people is 400 mg per day, but the sad reality is that the average American gets about half that amount per day.
The problem with blood testing is that the magnesium blood test should be done on the red blood cells and not the serum.
This is because magnesium exists primarily inside of cells (intracellular, as in red blood cells) , and deficiency will not be detected in fluid outside of the cells (extracellular, as in serum or plasma) until a very profound deficiency exists.
If you can afford it, the best, and also most expensive test is the blood "ionized" magnesium (performed by most large commercial labs).
If blood testing show low levels of magnesium and if kidney function is good, supplementation is highly recommended, in a dosage range of 400-1,000 mg per day. (page 267-68)
"The Lyme Disease Solution," 2008
So, if you just had the routine magnesium test, you have an extremely severe case of mag deficiency.
Burrascano recommends Mag-Tab SR by Niche Pharmacy when the person just needs oral mag.
But, if I were in your shoes, I would ask for IV or IM mag to see if I could get that mag level up to normal quickly. Then, see if the symptoms disappear.
I suspect that your doctor did the routine magnesium blood test. The red blood cell mag test or ionized mag test cost hundreds of dollars from what I understand. A regular doctor would not likely think to order such tests.
posted
Well, the bacteria can hide out in tissues, so I wouldn't be surprised re a relapse. I think it's important to retreat as quickly as possible when you do notice any relapse.
Another tactic might be to continue to take supplements that create an inhospitable environment for the bacteria in some way. Perhaps by doing this, you might avoid relapses. Just an opinion.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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