posted
I'm new and have really appreciated reading all the helpful information here. Brief history of me--Since I've been in my twenties, I've struggled with terrible headaches, endometriosis, infertility, depression, back pain, fatigue, allergies, insomnia ...I sought medical help with the headaches (among other things) and was ultimately diagnosed with 'chronic daily headaches'. I stopped searching for answers and tried to just go on with my life (taking alot of OTC pain meds). I'm forty now and a year or so ago, I noticed I also wasn't able to come up with words I wanted/needed to say. I would joke "I have early-onset Alzheimer's". Then, a year ago, my muscles starting twitching (and continue still) and my lower back has become so stiff and painful it is hard to move (I can bend over, it's the getting back up that hurts ) Since then, I'm having trouble controlling my anxiety (when I research muscle twitching, everything that comes up says ALS!).
I found Dr. M & H in Colorado. Bowen 1:128, IGenX officially negative: IGG had bands 34 & 39 IND, 41 was +++, 58 was ++ IGM had band 39 IND, 41 + and 66 + Some abnormal blood tests were: slightly high (5) C1Q, CD57 (NK cell) 112, CH50 compliment 282 (range 50-150), HHV-6 high.
I have a catheter and have been on IV antibiotics non-stop since November. 250 flagy, 250 rocephin, 125 zithro (now every other day). For a couple weeks in March I felt so much better...but for the most part, I'm anxious, exhausted, achy, twitchy, foggy, depressed and feeling sooo old when I try to bend over.
Today, I noticed my tongue is like a ruffled bed skirt all the way around the edges...I thought that perhaps instead of obsessing about it, I would take a chance and see if anyone else is like me...sometimes I feel so alone and scared.
Thanks so much for your time and for reading my not-as-brief-as-I-intended post!
Laurie
Posts: 136 | From North Carolina | Registered: Apr 2007
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Welcome hanging. You're not so weird after all. Tongue that looks like a ruffled bed skirt? I never thought of it that way, but yes I have the same ridged teeth marks on both sides of my tongue. I believe my tongue is the sickest part/organ of my body.
The bad thing about tongue being ill is I've always heard that your tongue is example of what your stomach and other organs health is. The ridges are caused from swelling of the tongue. I have no clue as to why my tongue is swollen.
If you're like me there are many other signs of ill health with the tongue like coating (not yeast) and about 30 wart-like things on the middle and back of tongue. It hasn't been healthy, pink, and red for many years now.
Chinese medicine believes alot can be revealed about health from the tongue. Here's a web site that you will probably see your tongue, but it doesn't answer the question of why.
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Thank you, Pam, for your thoughts on the whole tongue thing and the web link (interesting pictures!). Sometimes I get so anxious I feel like I'm not going to make it! I suppose my doctor's office closing this summer hasn't helped the anxiety any Thanks for making me feel I'm not as alone.
Laurie
Posts: 136 | From North Carolina | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
My tongue also swells.
Posts: 580 | From southern new jersey | Registered: May 2003
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daystar1952
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3255
posted
I also have a scalloped tongue but had it even before I had the severe onset of lyme. I think I heard it was from a vitamin deficiency...maybe Vit B but I'm not sure
Posts: 1176 | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
Swollen tongue can be a thyroid symptom.
Posts: 175 | From Pa | Registered: Aug 2006
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
A chinese doctor told me that a swollen tongue (scalloped from pressing on the teeth) is a sign of stagnant liver chi. I translate that to needing to support and detox the liver.
You have symptoms of low hormone levels. Have you had your hormones tested? Are you taking hormone supplements or doing adrenal support to promote healthy hormone production? That might help with many of your symptoms.
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
Thanks for the ideas. Hormones...hmm...My gyno had me on birth control pills for the last decade(due to hair loss and acne--goes well with wrinkles I stopped them a few months back because of emotional side effects (my hubby said I was impossible to live with!) and inflammation. Having endometriosis, that time of the month is torture again!! Your posts get me thinking though--I wonder if there are natural alternatives for adrenal/hormone balance. Does it matter that I'm forty? Sources?? Thanks!
Posts: 136 | From North Carolina | Registered: Apr 2007
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
There are many posts on hormones if you want to look back over the last few weeks.
James R. Wilson has a good book on Adrenal Fatigue in which he reccomends supplements to support healthy hormone production.
In addition, many people in your circumstances do well with transdermal natural progesterone cream. It made a huge difference for me. Doesn't matter that you're forty, unless you don't want to keep your hormone levels younger.
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I'm in a bit of a hurry but quickly want to say that I have the scalloped tongue too. An acupuncturist told me it was indicative of severe fatigue. I fit that picture.
If you have high HHV-6 titers you may want to look into treatment for that. Some people have miraculous recovery once treated.
Search here for HHV-6. There was a study that I read recently that showed great promise.
I have bad anxiety at times too. It is an awful symptom. Sometimes supplements can be helpful for that. GABA helps me with depression and anxiety. Hope you feel better soon.
Terry I'm not a doctor
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
Hi, Laurie,
I've been getting weekly acupuncture since prior to my Lyme dx back in 2005.
My tongue is consistently swollen and scalloped. It indicates a deficiency, my acupuncturist said, but she reads not just the scalloping on the edge but also the color, swelling, coating (if any) etc. to get an overall picture.
I've really found Chinese medicines and acupuncture helpful in my treatment.
Hang in there!
andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Thanks to all who gave me such great ideas! It's comforting beyond words to find folks in the same boat as me (it seems the friends and neighbors in my 'real life' are all depressingly healthy ) Thanks, thanks, thanks!!
Posts: 136 | From North Carolina | Registered: Apr 2007
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Do not worry about the tongue being scalloped and swollen. I am an acupuncturist and this is very common in our society. Especially among Lyme patients who have been on abx...
The scalloped means "spleen deficiency". "Spleen", in Chinese medicine, means spleen, stomach, and pancreas. Basically is is digestion. Lyme and the abx tend to be hard on the GI tract, and this is very common among Lymies. Really, it is very common in our society period. I would say that 3/4 of the patients that I see have this.
The swollen tongue is a result of the spleen qi deficiency. It means that your body is not properly processing fluids and so there is fluid retention as a result of digestive deficiency. We call it "dampness" .
If there is a thick coat on your tongue, this would also be connected because this is called "phlegm" and "damp" which can be translated as the candida that might result from antibiotic use and it, too, is one of the end results of spleen deficiency. But the probiotics that Lyme patients take usually will counteract it. But if you see that on your tongue, it might mean it is time to take more probiotics and reduce sweet or carb intake.
So anyway, I hope this helps to put your mind at ease, Just know that it is very common, and by taking probiotics, you can avoid and help your digestion, in addition to eating low carb etc. Also, cold and raw foods like salads are harsh on diegestion and I would encourage a patient with a tongue that showed these signs to try and steam their vegetables lightly.
I am editing this to add to it.... Somebody mentioned that their acupuncturist said it was due to Liver qi stagnation - This is true in the case that "liver qi stagnation" has caused the spleen qi deficiency. Liver qi stagnation is most often caused by pent up emotions and stress. When this happens, the stress can affect the digestion. That is how this happens. Liver qi stagnation does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with the liver per se - it is more of a metaphor. Chinese medicine has strange terminology.
Posts: 589 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Jun 2006
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momlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 27775
posted
This is a thread from 2007 that I found because I was researching "scalloped tongue" - what a wonderful explanation! Thanks luvdogs, wherever you are!
quote:Originally posted by luvdogs: Hi,
Do not worry about the tongue being scalloped and swollen. I am an acupuncturist and this is very common in our society. Especially among Lyme patients who have been on abx...
The scalloped means "spleen deficiency". "Spleen", in Chinese medicine, means spleen, stomach, and pancreas. Basically is is digestion. Lyme and the abx tend to be hard on the GI tract, and this is very common among Lymies. Really, it is very common in our society period. I would say that 3/4 of the patients that I see have this.
The swollen tongue is a result of the spleen qi deficiency. It means that your body is not properly processing fluids and so there is fluid retention as a result of digestive deficiency. We call it "dampness" .
If there is a thick coat on your tongue, this would also be connected because this is called "phlegm" and "damp" which can be translated as the candida that might result from antibiotic use and it, too, is one of the end results of spleen deficiency. But the probiotics that Lyme patients take usually will counteract it. But if you see that on your tongue, it might mean it is time to take more probiotics and reduce sweet or carb intake.
So anyway, I hope this helps to put your mind at ease, Just know that it is very common, and by taking probiotics, you can avoid and help your digestion, in addition to eating low carb etc. Also, cold and raw foods like salads are harsh on diegestion and I would encourage a patient with a tongue that showed these signs to try and steam their vegetables lightly.
I am editing this to add to it.... Somebody mentioned that their acupuncturist said it was due to Liver qi stagnation - This is true in the case that "liver qi stagnation" has caused the spleen qi deficiency. Liver qi stagnation is most often caused by pent up emotions and stress. When this happens, the stress can affect the digestion. That is how this happens. Liver qi stagnation does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with the liver per se - it is more of a metaphor. Chinese medicine has strange terminology.
-------------------- May health be with you!
Toxic mold was suppressing our immune systems, causing extreme pain, brain fog and magnifying symptoms. Four days after moving out, the healing began. Posts: 2007 | From NY/VT Border | Registered: Aug 2010
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![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
) Since then, I'm having trouble controlling my anxiety (when I research muscle twitching, everything that comes up says ALS!). ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Thanks for making me feel I'm not as alone.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
) Thanks, thanks, thanks!!
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