Take care.

My Cholesterol is always elevated during major herxes. My son who is currently going through a rough patch also has an elevated cholesterol level.

This is quickly becomming a very hot topic. There is a growing group of doctors who believe that lowering choleseterol is far worse medically for people.

What we are seeig once again is a medical community reacting to a perceived problem and being encouraged by drug companies to treat a symptom rather than treat the real problem.

This is interesting stuff to keep in mind.

--Annie

------------------
``The best way out is always through.'' -Robert Frost

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Click here to see my Lyme journal.

But do not be mistaken, the body does not do this for lyme bacteria necessarily. The liver produces more cholesterol to cover its butt because of heavy metals and the accompanying candida/fungi. Where there is one, there is the other. And where these two are, there are bacteria, viruses, parasites. You have to keep them in the proper order. The metals were there first.

When I first saw my doctor now ages ago in 1998, I had had a few months of abx by another doctor. Did not do much. When I came to Dr. K. I was set on getting more abx under any condition.

He said, I still have the tape where he said it: If I knew you would be well in three months on antibiotics I would give them to you. But I know you won't with your dental situation. We do the metals and teeth first, and as we go along we do abx or whatever will work.

I fussed and steamed just as many of you are about this determination to not miss one days of abx. But he refused, tested me with ART. ABX did not test positive anyhow: my major problems were the metals. I got rid of them - the road following was long - but I made it.

The same thing happened with my husband. Except we tried for one reason or the other to sidestep the major dental repair, which meant in his case, remove all teeth. We did new crowns, this little cavitation, that tooth. It went from bad to worse. Jack was not getting better - he had huge fluctuations. One day he could walk. The next day not a limb in his body moved. The brain was holding too many of the dental toxins (mercaptan, thioether, etc.).

We did the dental work, did more detoxing for metals and everything else. After seven months following the dental he started to walk. That is now almost a year ago. And he has not stopped since. Drives, gardens, shops, plays, etc.

So remember this when you are debating what you should be doing yourself.

arg22, if you have high mercury levels in the blood, you have an acute mercury toxicity. Normally, it does not show in the blood at all. But often when on abx, etc. the die-off will mobilize the metals also and you should probably protect yourself with chlorella right now, so that the mercury gets caught in the digestive tract and is removed from the body. If you do not have an agent like this on board, the mercury redistributes into other body areas, and you want to avoid that merry-go-round.

Think about it.

In essence, I would not fight the cholesterol. I would fight the metals. They were there first.

I was reading posts the last couple days about low thyroid. A symptom of low thyroid is high cholesterol.

I had bloodwork done 14 months ago. My Western Blot test was positive at Igenex, and I had other bloodwork done locally.
My fasting cholesterol was high, 275. The high/low ratio was not good either.

So....I began to read the info about thyroid with more interest.
I decided to take my temperature first thing in the morning. It was 97.3 degrees, oral temp, with a digital thermometer.

That's too low, indicative of low thyroid.
I'll be checking this for several more days, to verify it.

When the bloodwork was done my TSH was 2.36.
The high range for normal was listed as 3, so technically my Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is "within normal limits."

But...the info I was reading here stated that women feel better if the TSH is 2.

I read about Synthroid versus Armour.
I'm sure my doc would NOT prescribe Armour for me if my THS is "within normal limits."

But, according to the info, which my Lyme brain cannot find now to back this up, a trial of Armour thyroid could be helpful to determine whether or not a person is hypothyroid.

If the person feels better on 15 mg. or 30 mg. of Armour, then he/she is most likely hypothyroid.
And the post that I was reading provided a link on buying Armour. Hmmmm......

Now after reading Gigi's comments regarding cholesterol and toxins and metals, I definitely don't want to take a statin drug to try to reduce the cholesterol.

And I know when I go back to my doctor that he'll insist on retesting the cholesterol, and will prescribe a med to reduce it if it's still that high.
That's what any good doctor would do, right.

I do have many of the symptoms of low thyroid. I would love to try taking a low dose of Armour to see if I feel better.
But....I'm kind of afraid of what my family doctor would do if/when he finds out.
He's very conservative, and I'm sure he'd disapprove of a patient self-treating like this.

I'm excited with the possibility of using this information to feel better. As I mentioned to someone else recently, I feel like "something the cat dragged in."

So, should I try a trial of low dose Armour, on my own initiative, without my doctor's approval?
If this helped, I'd have more energy to pursue Lyme treatment. And thyroid supplement may help to lower my cholesterol.
And gee, if I happened to reset my metabolism back to what it used to be, and lose a few of the extra 50 pounds, I wouldn't be too unhappy.

Gigi, I read with interest what you said about getting rid of heavy metals before trying to lower the cholesterol level.
I'm trying to figure out how to use that information, but I'll have to look for documentation.

I wish I had more brain cells left, it would make it easier to "connect the dots" with all this information.

Carol

Editing to add: oral temp for second day was 96.4 degrees.

quote:

---

Originally posted by vanmc:
I was just diagnosed with Lyme Disease about a month and a half ago. When getting tested my doctor ordered a basic cholesterol test along with the Western Blot. My numbers cam back extremely high. I never had this problem before and I wondered if anyone else out there has experienced a similar reaction to having lyme disease.

---

I believe he may have gotten food poisoning and for many other reasons, he does not have the nutrients to fight. He is currently taking a TON (loading doses) of probiotics and many, many other supplements while we are awaiting tests results.

Cholesterol is fat + protein. We get some from our foods, but most is made in our liver.

Mg is needed to make ALL proteins.

This maybe a protective path...raising cholesterol levels. How? In severe malnutrition, what do people look like? They store fat around the middle to protect the vital organs. The "buffalo hump" near the brainstem is likely an indication too... that the body is preparing for battle.

When you are infected, cholesterol levels drop before WBCs rise...documented.

Cholesterol is acidic.

The acids (lots) react with the minerals or positive charges (alkaline things) to produce hydrogen.

If we can get hydrogen INTO the cells, we can heal.

CoQ10 carries hydrogen into the cells.

Normally we are doing this all the time...making a lot of hydrogen and when we exercise (make CoQ10) it is carried into the cells to keep us healthy.

Anyone remember Dr. S in Atlanta? He used insulin to carry abx. into the cells. It didn't work. He should have used insulin to carry Mg into the cells...which it does.

Insulin is acidic. It is a hormone....a protein...

This post is of interest to me...but for the opposite reason...My cholesterol is very low...all the time. Even before Lyme hit me, it was "the lowest numbers my docs have ever seen"...now after a year of malnutrition due to severe allergies, it's even lower(under 100 is common)...

Then I had the bright idea (not) to try a small amount of Bentonite Clay in effort to detox...and my numbers dropped lower and I suddenly had a lot of severe neuro probs. I thought the toxins were supposed to bind to the clay, but LLMD thinks new neuro symptoms following the Bentonite Clay, may be due to a further drop in my cholesterol (insomnia, anxiety...and a feeling of raw nerves up and down my spine)

I have been having lots of trouble trying to detox...No matter how gentle I go, I back slide (become more sensitive and unable to eat again). Homeopathic drainage drops and ion cleanses seem to be the only safe thing I can do...but Lyme treatments are on hold till I detoxify further because I can't handle ANY die off...without backsliding as well...

So, I'm wondering, if I can get my cholesterol levels up, maybe I will make more headway...but how do I do that??

Maybe this question is for Marnie and or GiGi...My magnesium level was really low, but is getting better...so this might be one key....but I can eat eggs till I am blue in the face and it doesn't increase my cholesterol levels...Anything else I might be missing??

Is it because the lyme is using cholesterol as food as another poster mentioned...or is it that I am so toxic that I am using my cholesterol up faster than my body can produce it...or is it that my liver is unable to produce cholesterol because it is overburdened/congested...???

Any ideas/theories/feedback welcome...

All my best,
Kira

"when I left medical school, 300 was acceptable and good level. Now 200 is supposed to be the desirable level. No.
Anything under 200 is already into the danger zone."

His words, without my writing it down. He suggested for her to try Helen Budwig's
"Quark and flaxseed oil" method. Quark is a german type of cottage cheese, a little more dry. I have seen it in the better stores.

I have heard about Helen Budwig for many years and this Quark therapy for many years. I have also seen a small book in a healthfood store.

Try here:
New Messages
... is excerpted from Helen Leavitt's 1971 book ... flaxseed oil more soluble than other amino acids. I do, however, think Johanna Budwig settled on cottage cheese because ...agora-inc.com/forums/Messages_New.cfm?CFID=15752029&... - 176k - Cached - More from this site
Pethealth care links including herbal references
Pet links,canine cancer osteosarcoma,dog,cat ... doesn't include the flaxseed cottage cheese diet. Dr. Budwig has written extensively ... more on flaxseed oil. FLAXSEED OIL LABRADORS ... EFFECTIVE You can order Helen McKinnon's book at 888 ...www.thensome.com/pethealth.htm - 80k - Cached - More from this site
New Messages
... is excerpted from Helen Leavitt's 1971 book ... flaxseed oil more soluble than other amino acids. I do, however, think Johanna Budwig settled on cottage cheese because ...agora-inc.com/forums/Messages_New.cfm?CFID=15752029&... - 185k - Cached - More from this site
Healing Cancer Naturally: The Healing Power of Nature (II)
... Therapy Guides. Budwig Protocol * Causes * Detox ... to Dr. Budwig's Flaxseed oil/cottage cheese-based diet, see ... Coley's daughter, Helen Coley Nauts, founded the Cancer Research ...www.healingcancernaturally.com/nature_heals2.html - 78k - Cached - More from this site
Reversing Heart Disease through Lifestyle
Reversing Heart Disease through Lifestyle. with Dr. Neal Pinckney. This forum is only for the discussion of ... Dr. Johanna Budwig - mike stephens 6/01/03 (6) cottage cheese - Cornelius Garbanzo 6 ... Re: Flaxseed [OIL] and Prostrate Cancer? - Dr ... stroke information - Helen Prox 8/02/02 (1 ...www.vegsource.com/healingheart/archive4.html - 179k - Cached - More from this site

Many patients are taking EM (scdworld.com) to bring back the good microbes that most have lost and need. Start with a few drops in good water several times a day, starting first thing in AM before anything else.

If any of you have friends in Germany, the
10,000 enzymes called "Rechtsregulat" is superb. I order mine and have it shipped here. It is expensive right now because the dollar is so low. Bottle of 350 ml comes to about $65. incl. shipping. It is quite heavy because they refuse to put it in plastic - it's in dark brown glass. We take 1T 2x daily. Works wonders. I am expecting to get the English translation of their 100 page brochure shortly and can post about it. I would highly recommend it for Kira and Marnie's son. I can order it for you from my friendly pharmacist in my old home town. Let me know if interested.

But, according to the info, which my Lyme brain cannot find now to back this up, a trial of Armour thyroid could be helpful to determine whether or not a person is hypothyroid.

If the person feels better on 15 mg. or 30 mg. of Armour, then he/she is most likely hypothyroid.
And the post that I was reading provided a link on buying Armour. Hmmmm......

Carol...
I did have symptoms of hypothyroidism even though my thyroid tests were "within normal range".
LLMD put me on a trial of 30mg. of Armour and within a week I felt better. It was like a huge weight was lifted off me! Have been on it ever since and get levels checked every 3 months. Always these tests come back showing normal.

I'm trying to follow what you wrote...and look some of it up to get more info...I am already taking flaxseed oil...not so sure I can do cottage cheese...WIth how allergic I have been to everything for over a year...dairy seems to be the last thing coming back to me...still stresses my system...causes lots of inflammation.

I have family in Germany, so maybe can get access to that 10,000 enzymes you mentioned...That's supposed to help with cholesterol?? Looks interesting nonetheless...

Thank you, that's what I was hoping to hear. No one has posted a horror story for me yet, and I hope there aren't too many out there.

To Gigi,
I too will look into the flaxseed oil and cottage cheese regime.
I read something several years ago about it, and had completely forgotten.

Thanks to both of you.
Carol

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kira:
...not so sure I can do cottage cheese...WIth how allergic I have been to everything for over a year...dairy seems to be the last thing coming back to me...

---

Kira,
I was just looking for info about flaxseed oil and cottage cheese, and found this product:

"Companion Nutrients Complex"
To assure you get the maximum benefits from using flax oil, Dr. Budwig recommends you combine it with the unique nutrient combination found in cottage cheese.

Companion Nutrients Complex offers you a simple alternative to consuming cottage cheese with your daily flaxseed oil.

No matter how you take your flaxseed oil - liquid or capsule - Companion Nutrients gives you 'assimilation insurance' by taking the place of cottage cheese.
http://www.budwigflax.com/companion%20nutrients.html

Hope this helps!
Carol

Current Thyroid Testing Inadequate 10/29/00
Current Thyroid Testing Inadequate. TSH level above 2 has important implications ...
Thyroid function tests - time for a reassessment. BMJ 2000; 320: 1332-1334. ... www.mercola.com/2000/oct/29/thyroid_tests.htm - 23k - Cached - Similar pages

Thyroid Testing Update 5/21/00
Thyroid Testing Update. ... Dr. Mercola's Comment: Naturally oriented clinicians have
been saying that conventional thyroid testing is inaccurate for many years. ... www.mercola.com/2000/may/21/thyroid_testing.htm - 20k - Cached - Similar pages

Thyroid Disease Far More Widespread Than Originally Thought, 13 ...
... A new study found that 13 million Americans may be unaware of and undiagnosed for
their thyroid conditions and that more widespread thyroid testing is needed. ... www.mercola.com/2000/mar/5/thyroid_update.htm - 29k - Cached - Similar pages

Hypothyroidism Diagnosis
... Also available is an excellent text book article on thyroid testing for those
with more technical interests. Living Well With Hypothyroidism. ... www.mercola.com/article/hypothyroid/diagnosis.htm - 30k - Cached - Similar pages

eHealthy News You Can Use - Issue 154 - May 21, 2000
... Thyroid Testing Update A just published review, by a Scottish biochemist, of the
current standard practice of thyroid function testing brings to light many ... www.mercola.com/2000/may/21/ - 22k - Cached - Similar pages

What is Your Optimal TSH? 10/16/04
... Understanding and identifying the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), secreted by
the head of the pituitary gland, is the gold standard for diagnosing ... www.mercola.com/2004/oct/16/tsh_levels.htm - 21k - Cached - Similar pages

Thyroid Disease 'Raises Birth Risk' 2/6/02
... detecting birth defects. Dr Nagey recommends that doctors consider adding
thyroid testing to the routine prenatal diagnostic tests. ... www.mercola.com/2002/feb/6/thyroid_disease.htm - 24k - Cached - Similar pages

Women's Hormones 101 11/12/00
... One example is thyroid testing, which cannot indicate how well thyroid hormone
(T3) is able to bind to target cells, a thyroid condition that can be caused by ... www.mercola.com/2000/nov/12/womens_hormones.htm - 56k - Cached - Similar pages

Fluoridated Water Affects Your Thyroid Gland 12/6/03
... Mary Shomon Thyroid About.com November 4, 2003. ... Testing for tap water contaminants
that can harm you and your family is one of the most crucial health steps you ... www.mercola.com/2003/dec/6/fluoridated_water.htm - 20k - Cached - Similar pages

Experts Change Low Thyroid Diagnosis Criteria 1/28/00
... disease. Women should also undergo TSH testing during pregnancy to ensure
that their levels of thyroid hormone are appropriate. ... www.mercola.com/2001/jan/28/thyroid_disease.htm - 28k - Cached - Similar pages

Take care.

Meanwhile...first things first...MUST get a TON of probiotics in your system. He did a loading dose (5 per dose, 2 doses per day with a glass of water ONE hour before meals) of Essential Formulas for 6 days. No diarrhea.Now we are using Primal Defense (3 per dose, 2 times a day) and I even started Infant probiotics (refrigerate)...1 T. in a glass of water. Every company uses different strains of various bacteria. I'm trying to include as many as possible...starting with the "beginning" (infant probiotics). Thinking: is there one probiotic bacteria he "missed" as an infant?

It all starts in the gut. Need a really healthy gut to absorb the nutrients. Serotonin is produced in the small intestine. There is most definitely a brain-gut connection.

Now...Since I am absolutely positive his Mg is very, very low (awaiting intracellular test results)...I am trying to "protect" him while we figure this all out. Mainly I am concerned about cancer (there is a big link between low cholesterol and cancer) and a low Mg - diabetes link.

Here's what I'm doing to try to protect him (until we can get his Mg level back up and his cholesterol level)from developing cancer/diabetes:

CoQ10 200mg 3x/day to prevent cancer.

Colostrum 4 capsules every morning.

Daily multiple vit with minerals 2x/day

Gluco Reg by Solar Ray 2x/day to prevent diabetes.

Mg glycinate 2 from Carlson Lab (near you - good source) with 50mg of B6 sublingual(!) 2x/day. Stomach acids destroy most of B6.

Primal Defense 3 pills 2x/day with full glass water ONE HOUR BEFORE MEALS.

Infant probiotics..1 Tablespoon in orange juice in am.

Ionic Mg...200mg..2x/day...it's a liquid, small blue bottle...tastes AWFUL, so we're using the idea that the skin absorbs things and putting it on his forearms and legs. It burns on his arm or upper torso, but not on his legs (the burning goes away in a few minutes). I am not Mg deficient, so putting it on my skin does NOT burn...anywhere.

Chorella by Earth Rise 10 tablets 1x/day. Likely not nearly enough. Cracked cell wall.

Selenium 100mcg when really in pain to reduce TNF alpha (inflammation, TH1 pathway)

Host Defense by New Chapter. 1 x/day. The mushrooms...beta glucans to prevent cancer and protect the myelin sheath.

Lethecin for the phosphorous 1x/day.

In addition he is eating 2 eggs, over easy to preserve the selenium in the yolk, every morning. Usually whole wheat waffles with REAL maple sugar (LOADED with nutrients - balanced, electromagnetically speaking).

Unfortunately, he is on Ritalin - nonstop since age 6. Now Ritalin ER...which contains titanium dioxide...bad news...mercury wise. We can't get him off it! Depression is much worse. Ritalin increases plasma level of Mg (not RBC level). I fear the Mg is being "borrowed" from his bones 'cause he is having a lot of large bone pain. We will be doing an osteoporosis check soon!

He is also on depakote...a form of sodium to prevent migraines and seizures. "They" are trying to use "other" minerals to compensate for the one that is missing. It helps, but doesn't cure. Depakote, Xanax, and GABA all work the SAME!

His MD and nutritionist wife...added GABA which is helping with the anxiety. Once again, it helps, but doesn't address the true underlying problem.

I'll try to keep you up to date for clues as to what helps him...for you to consider also.

He's lost 25 pounds, but is holding. The depression and anxiety and pain are the big issues.

His stools have returned more to normal after loading doses of Essential formula. They were HORRIBLE. Incredible odor, saw undigested foods...etc.

I think we're on the right track. I hope.

Are you working with Mercola in Schaumburg?

He went on a low fat diet and got his own cholesterol too low before he realized it was not a good thing to do. He maybe of help. Into a search engine, type in his name and "low cholesterol" to see what he used to bring it back up. Hummmmm.

P.S. Research lauric acid...in coconut oil...and in formulas and even in mom's milk. Find the connection between this and some of the "friendly bacteria". Amazing.

And son can no longer tolerate calcium in any form right now.

Mg low -> Ca rises -> histamine triggered = allergic reaction. Can't tolerate any excess Ca at this time.

Hormones and enzymes both are PROTEINS. Mg is needed to make all proteins (including immunoglobulins - antibodies). This is from the mdschoice website...the one explaining the functions of Mg for doctors.

The body is out of balance. Once Mg stores are replenished (takes a long time!), then the rest will work as intended.

The MASTER mineral has been depleted. The body heals slowly. Keep this in mind...Mg is capable of DNA REPAIR. You CAN recover.

Marnie,
In reading about your son, something came to mind.
I've been reading all your posts for the last year about low intracellular magnesium.
You suggested that intravenous mag would help.
My question is, would your doctor try IV mag for your son? Or is this not feasable?

In the last 3 weeks he was in ER 2 times...first for bladder urgency issues (spasms) and voiding small amts. (considerable residual in bladder). Low cholesterol ...bye, bye myelin sheath. MS symptom (bladder problems). He was given abx. Biaxin Rx and Pyridium (another mineral/metal). The pyridium helps, but has its own set of problems! Ditto Biaxin.

The second trip to the ER was for tachycardia, heart rate 130. He was given an IV with 2 Grams of Mg and vitamins which brought his rate down to 120. Then the doc gave another IV with potassium (although his K level was okay!). It helped bring the rate down to 100 at which time he was discharged from the hosp. This was a panic attack and the 2 Grams of Mg was a drop in the bucket.

We are awaiting the intracellular vitamin and mineral tests which (I hope) will PROVE what I've been saying...this kid has been always low in Mg and because of various things that happened the last few months, it sprialed further downward.

Once that test is back, yes, we have a doctor who does IV nutrition. It's gonna take a LOT.

"The sublingual test for Mg was as reliable as the parenteral Mg load test (232,234). In seven patients shown to be Mg deficient by this test, administration of intravenous MgSO4 (2 grams daily for 10 days), then exhibited normal sublingual cell Mg."
http://www.mgwater.com/clmd.shtml

Rethinking B6...today will switch to B complex. They all work together. Also upping oral Mg doses more often...timing issues.

Carol, thank you so much for pointing out that supplement to take place of the Quark cottage cheese!! How perfect is that!! Gonna check into this further!

Marnie,
Thank you too for your wealth of info...I am getting my neurotransmitters tested right now too...waiting on results. Also waiting on organic acid profile.

Definately keep me posted on how things progress with your son...I am already doing most the same things you are doing with your son...

It took me about 6 months to build up my magnesium levels from the danger/red zone to the still "low" but safe/green zone...
Been using E-lyte magnesium drops added to my water and Metagenics magnesium which is supposed to be very absorbable...plus being able to eat again I am sure helped...

I take all the other things you mentioned expect the Colostrom and mushrooms(not ready for those yet)...I take a B complex with additional Folic acid and B6 because I am specifically deficient in those. I have to stay away from Selenium as I am at toxic levels in this nutrient (my hair is falling out by the handful thanks to this ) Trying to rebalance nutritionally is so hard as one thing always effects another.

Maybe something helpful for your son with the neuro/MS symptoms...When I had my anxiety and neuro spinal pains/irritation/raw nerve feelings...it was suspected that myelin sheath had been effected adversely (after having taken the Bentonite Clay), so LLMD suggested two supps...

Sea Cure...hydrolyzed fish protein that is 100% assimilable, also has 9mg cholesterol

Sphingolin by Ecological Formulas...which is a natural occuring myelin basic protein (from Bovine spinal cord)

Supposedly the two together are supposed to help rebuild the myelin sheath...I'm trying it and it has seemed to reduce my raw nerve feeling...just about back to normal feeling again.

Like your son, I found the GABA supp helped to put a small dent in my anxiety, but not nearly enough when I was at my worst...Maybe I just needed more, who knows. Thank goodness, that is bothering me less now...

I read on another's post that someone was connecting homocysteine levels with cholesterol...Know anything about this???

Well, I will research more about lauric acid and what Mercola possibly has to offer (No, I don't work with him even though I am so close...I still work with my LLMD...they seem to think alike anyway)...

Oh, p.s...does your son take the chlorella on an empty stomach or with food...I find I mobilize too many toxins when I take it on an empty stomach, but unsure if its "worthless" if taken with food...??

Take care,
All my best
Kira