contact me if you'd like to learn more

If you test through Bowen Research, the test will show bacterial load of Lyme, Babs & Erlichiosis. It's about $250 & FED EX overnight shipping.

With Mepron you could have die-off about day 5 or 6. Then see what symptoms are worsened & that can give you new clues. I developed a new symptom (temporary morning dizziness) on Mepron which is a symptom of ----BABS.

You may end up needing 4 rounds of Mepron/Zith & maybe longer.

Don't be disappointed yet. Ten years ago I was diagnosed by a "famed" movement specialist disorder in Houston with essential tremor of the head & voice. It was just a fine tremor.

My voice would get weaker the longer I talked----kind of like a radio losing battery power. I was not a candidate for Botox injections of the larynx.

I mean I worked hard to speak normally & I HATED, HATED the telephone. I couldn't project my voice. In public you would get those looks----"Oh, something's wrong with her or she must be emotionally weak or something."

Anyway, after being treated over a year for Lyme: Zith, then Rocephin/Flagyl, I developed shortness of breath. It just came out of the blue & I had innumerable red pinpoint (petechiae) on my arms/body.

Bowen test was negative for Babs, but we're treating it anyway. Guess what, on my 6th day of treatment of Mepron/Zith, I crashed & my head tremor was worse than ever; head vibrating, dizziness, etc.

In fact, the tremor has never been that bad ever. I reread the symptoms of Babs & tremor is one.

I've been to about 50 docs, taken zillions of meds & now I'm learning my tremor is BABS. This is very huge for me.

My voice is improving now, too. I will take a total of 3 (3-week) rounds of Mepron/Zith & return to doc.

I still have a long way to go in terms of sleep & energy, but I'm ever so slowly improving.

Try to get tested for all co-infections. Even if they're negative & you have symptoms, try a round of treatment.

Think about researching the amino acid NAC. Periodically, maybe you could take this amino acid, N-acetyl-cysteine with Vit. B6 & Vit. C (on empty stomach).

This seemed to pull toxins from the brain for me & energize me. (It's actually a potent liver detoxifier of heavy metals & bacterial toxins. Ultimately it converts to glutathione.

Also, DMAE is a precursor to acetylcholine (neurotransmitter) in the brain which is affected by Lyme. I use DMAE by Source Naturals & this improves mental acuity without feeling hyped-up.

Then I use Solaray's Flush-Free Niacin 500 mg. daily to dilate blood vessels in my brain & Gingko.

You know, I never dreamed I had BABS----- so keep looking for your answers. It's never what you think it is.

And yes, I know it's very hard some days, but hang on to your next BIG ANSWER.
Take Care.

tremors are still around. i am freaking tired of them. I wish they would go away. yeah i am beginning to think I have essential tremor. I mean damn i have been on 6 months of antibiotics. they have not really let up that much. and I believe the tremors are spreading to my shoulders and I can detect an occasional tremor in my smile.

and at some level, the tremors make me wanna interact less with people. i can mask the hand tremors, but the neck tremor cannot.

my serum magnesium test came back fine, so yeah they don't see the need in it

After 1 year of treatment I only have some short bouts with tremors (meaning a day or two here and there) but they aren't nearly as bad.

I saw drastic improvement after I was put on Ceftin/Zithromax/Malarone/Artemisinin combination. I take some other things too.

I don't take Magnesium or B/C vitamins at this point. I was and I felt horrible. Will be adding Magnesium back in the next month.

I know you want better answers than this & you really need to know the root cause of it all, but I can tell you when my tremors were at their worst 14 years ago, the neurologist prescribed Inderal (propanolol - generic).

Inderal is contra-indicated for asthmatics though. It is cheap, a beta-blocker to lower blood pressure or stabilize the pulse. They even give it to 10 year olds for tremors.

Inderal also deactivates Thyroid medication because it slows the heart down. You don't have to use the Long Acting kind; they do make it in smaller doses like 40 mg.

The first week I took 80 mg (LA) long-acting once daily; then the 2nd week I moved up to twice daily. (The heart probably needs to adjust gradually to this increased dose.)

This is only a stop-gap measure, but it works. People don't realize how exhausting it is to have a tremor.

I actually looked forward to waking up the next day & going to work because I had my Inderal & I wouldn't have to be embarrassed.

I always held my chin in my hand, even when trying to eat at a restaurant. It hampers you socially ------ I know this so well.

Other meds they use are: Mysoline, & Neurontin. I prefer staying with meds that have been around a while---- & inexpensive with the least side-effects.

Inderal even takes the shakiness out of my voice & I can make phone calls & sound like a regular person without my voice breaking up.

Also, try to read the recent post, "just a bean" by GIGI on July 11, 2004 about mucuna beans or mucuna puriens. They're good for the brain. I'm going to try to find some. I pulled up the website she cited, but still don't know where to get them. I'll keep looking.

And, some patients with brain symptoms are getting results from regular glutathione IVs. I know you can get those shots, but if you can swing it finacially, the IVs would be best. Hate to see you go through shots in the thigh.

(If you ever did decide to do glutathione shots, get a RX for insulin syringes, too.) I used those huge needles in my thigh & it hurt. The Glutathione shots burned like heck for about a minute.

My family even said I was a different person after the shot. The effect for me lasted about l day, but I'm sure the IVS are much stronger & effects longer lasting.

Also, with the brain they're learning about problems with the mitochondria. Sometimes, CoQ10 can help there. It might even make your tremor worse-----I don't know; kind of doubt it.

We have used CoQ10 by "Pure encapsulations." They have to be ordered through your doctor & the price is steep
about $120 for 60 capsules (500 mg each). It will take a while for you to use them.

We break up the 500 mg capsules because it's so strong. Eventually, you might could work up to the 250 mg twice daily.

The manufacturer, Pure encapsulations, inc. is in Sudbury, MA 01776. They do have a website, but they won't let me on since I'm not a doctor.

We got ours from a pain doctor.

quote:

---

Originally posted by lazerorca:
I have been doing lyme treatment for a while now. since october. the tremors and twitching are not letting up. i am beginning to believe that I have had permanent nervous system damage.

is there anyone here that has been "cured" of lyme but has permanent damage from lyme? I mean the doc believes I could have had this as long as 4 or 5 years. it seems long enough for the bacteria to do serious damage to me.

---

All of these suggestions are good ones.

Regarding the issue of getting a prescription for magnesium, It's my experience that subtley is lost on most doctors. They are just too busy to try to figure out what patients want or need. You have to tell them directly and offer a rationale.

Dr. B's guidelines specifically address Magnesium and Vitamin B depletion in Lyme patients, along with the frequent need to use "Parenteral" (IM or IV) treatment. Most doctors who treat Lyme give a fair amount of weight to Dr. B's recomendations (even if they are relatively unfamiliar with them).

So:

IF YOU WANT TO TRY MAGNESIUM SHOTS, and I do think they would help you, you need to do the following:

1. Download the guidelines and find the recommendations. They are under nutirional supplementation.

2. Read a few abstracts on the use of Magnesium to treat pre-eclampsia and asthma attack. MUCH higher doses are used.

Contact your doctor and clearly spell out
1. How much these symptoms are bothering you
2.That Dr. B recommends Magnesium for these symptoms (offer to fax over the recommendations).
3. That you have tried oral preparations without success, and
4. That the dose (1 gram) every few days is actually congruent with the RDA, it's just the route of administration that is different.

At this point he may admit to not having used it before and not knowing how to prescribe it. If you can't tell him, you won't get it.

So write down:

Magnesium sulfate 50% 1 gram 2 ml 25 per box
1-3 tiems per week

3ml syringes with 22 gauge 1.5 " needles

You will need to have a plan for how to actually get the shots. Is a family member experienced with this? Do you have a friend who is a nurse or a paramedic? Are you prepared to learn how to do it yourself?

I know that, as a young person, you are not used to illness or dealing with doctors. I hope these ideas help you in getting what you need.

David

P.S. As Vitamin B12 deficiency is common among Lyme patients and B12 deficiency can result neurological symptoms such a tingling in the extremities and, eventually, permanent damage to the lining of the spinal column, an ml. of B12 every week or so would be a good precaution. However, I wouldn't bring it up to your doctor now as asking for "too many things" threatens doctors' need for control and they just say "no." You can get injectable B12 without prescription from online pharmacies in Canada. So you don't really need the doctors help with that. Focus on Magnesium.

Lazer should be back around sometime this evening. I spoke with him last night and his internet service provider is down.

Thanks for all of the good advice and info!!!

my mother and I have been discussing magnesium treatment for a while. i was skeptical of this solution at first. i am not gonna lie about that. but I have read more and more about it. I am still somewhat skeptical, but hey i mean what do i have to lose beside money i guess but that is really not that much of a factor. I may try to be more direct as u mentioned david. i get the impression that even though my providers are very attentive to my needs, they are under a tight time schedule.

I sent the doc some info on Mg. But I still don't think they are doing anything like this. From what I understand, the tests they do for Mg. levels aren't necessarily accurate, and show blood levels but not necessarily Mg. depleted in the tissues. I think it has made a difference for me. Wish the doc would put a few patients on IV Mg. to see what the response is. Given your neuro problems, it makes a great deal of sense that this would help your tremors, etc.

Neuro problems are the last to improve with Lyme. It is a well known fact that the neuro system heals the slowest, so don't just assume that the problems you now have will be permanent.

When you were on Mepron, did you seem to have a worsening of symptoms at all? Just curious, as although I have had months of Mepron/Zith for Babesia, I am still testing positive for active infection. There are some cases that aren't "cured" by a month of treatment, so do make sure you and the doc are looking closely at your specific symptoms. Since I had undiagnosed Babesia for a long time, I didn't respond to the Lyme treatment. The only thing that has helped me is long-term Babesia treatment.

Unfortunately with tick-borne infections, there is no black and white, and it makes it all very difficult to sort out. Hang in there!

[This message has been edited by David95928 (edited 15 July 2004).]

I tested pos. and was treated for six weeks with Malarone/Zithromax. All my twitches and tremors cleared up by the second week.

When I was done with the round of meds, I mean the very next day, the corner of my mouth started twitching uncontrollably again. I called the doc and was put on the meds for two more weeks. Twitches have gone away and not returned!

I had always thought that the shakiness/tremors/twitching were symptoms of Lyme, and maybe they are. But they were definitely related to the Babesia infection for me.

During this time I was also taking pretty high doses of magnesium. So, I also think that really helps.