posted
Hi all After last weeks Malarone issues, I went off it and the very next day had to be seen for an ovarian cyst that ruptured. Nice huh? lol
So, I had to wait to begin the art.
My doc wanted me to stop the Malarone and begin art instead.
My symptoms are still here so I guess they aren't from the Malarone. I get these heat attacks where i feel like im burning up, anxiety attacks, shaking, feel like my head is rocking back and forth like on a boat, bad headaches...etc
I just took the art 10 mins ago and now Im terrified. I hate taking new meds. I always think something horrible will happen.
I only took 100 mgs.
Im so scared of what might happen..
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
What exactly frightens you? Side-effects? If those occur, your doctor can offer suggestions. With liver support supplements, this can go well. Many have done very well with artemisinin.
Oh . . . I know this must be scary but NOTHING compares to NOT treating. Are you also taking a good LIVER support supplement?
Also . . . all this fear may be partly from the infection as it does a number on our brain and our adrenal fight or flight fear responses.
It won't help overnight so if you can settle on the idea of a healing PATH - on the road - sort of thing, that will help.
In the meantime, are you taking some good ADRENAL support and also Fish or Krill Oil? GINGER capsules and MAGNESIUM can help the rocking back and forth stuff - and help the over-stimulated brain stuff.
Be sure to rest if you feel overwhelmed. Rest matters. Healing is a process. I hope you can feel a healing atmosphere come to your body soon. Take care. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Do you think these symptoms are bart or babs?
depression, anxiety attacks, a burning like heat in my nerves, feeling like i am rocking on a boat and bad dizziness, shaking, brain fog and coordination issues, and now gastro issues which could be yeast related...
Im just wondering why they all of a sudden came out now, after now being s bad for a year.
Im thinking maybe i havent treated bart enough?
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- What I meant was that anything can be managed. And artemisinin is usually much easier than Malarone to tolerate.
I don't see anything for liver support, though. That is what helps most to minimize a herx. And magnesium. A warm bath in epson salts, too.
Is there a reason you are not taking any liver supplement or magnesium? The magnesium can help calm anxiety. For some, xanax actually makes that worse (it sure did for me many years ago). I did much better with magnesium.
Whatever works for you, I do hope you find this part to get easier, soon. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
kareamber- what do you mean? I dont know how it affected me yet since i only took it an hour ago... I hope i dont have a bad reaction.
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- Okay, glad you have some magnesium there . . . that will help . . . but what is your liver support? Liver support is key to managing a herx. Do you have Milk Thistle? At least some Turmeric?
Artemisinin uses the Cytochrome P-450 liver detox pathway. With lyme and with heavy metals, that gets tremendously overwhelmed. You MUST have liver support if using anything that uses that pathway. This will help the liver and help to prevent or manage a herx.
If you drink lots of water, be sure your minerals and electrolytes are getting replaced. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
laurisabelle your symptoms sound like babs to me although I'm not a doctor. I hope the Art really helps you!
When I took my first dose of Art I was terrified too! It helped me to stay busy (like on the computer) to pass the time while I waited for it to take effect.
Good luck to you! Take deep breaths...you will be ok.
-------------------- Never, Never, Never give up! Posts: 395 | From Connecticut | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
i dont but the hubby can get it later for me.
i have gatorade right by my bed and have been drinking it since i have the gastro issues too.
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- I'm not sure of all the choices with Gatorade but, unless an emergency, there are lots of other ways to get electrolytes - from foods, even.
Be sure the gatorade has no aspartame in it - or other artificial sweeteners as they can increase anxiety tremendously.
If it's the kind with sugar, be sure you have probiotics so as to help prevent candida overgrowth.
I wonder if there is another kinds of electrolyte drink that would be more simple, maybe "Pediasure"? You can also get electrolyte replacement in other ways that would have no additives.
I'm just not up on all the options. A greens powder and Emergen-C work well for me. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
thanks jenny i hate not knowing what to expect. But it does help to talk about it and hear other people's stories that it worked for.
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
thanks jenny i hate not knowing what to expect. But it does help to talk about it and hear other people's stories that it worked for.
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
keebler- i was drinking Pediolyte and it tasted like plastic lol, so i switched. But i can easily get some pediosure and mag tonight.
ok so im an hour in and i dont feel much except a little warm feeling in my head and maybe a little headache.
I have another two more to go and then once i know how the med will affect me, i will have less anxiety taking it.
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- I'm pretty much a purest when it comes to what I consume. Part of that is from necessity. I'm not sure what Pediolyte contains but it could also have artificial stuff.
If even a trace of aspartame that is very excitatory and toxic. But I would not consume any fake ingredients, either. It's just too hard on the liver.
Be sure to read the labels. Emergenc-C is really a good choice - those little packets.
Green Vibrance also comes in packets but the round canister is less expensive (still not cheap but it is packed with excellent nutrition for your liver).
Best not to buy/drink any liquid from plastic. Glass bottles are best. The plastics affect our endocrine system in very bad ways.
Pomegrante Juice is good. Just add some water and stevia (from plants). -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
I understand how you feel with being scared when starting new medicines--I feel the same way... some things I react badly too but I did ok with the artem. Just remember you can start SLOW. If you feel two a day is too much just try taking 1 for a couple of days then perhaps 2 and them build up from there.
I have found that is what I have to do. I now can take my full dose of 200 mg 2x day and it didnt take me very long to do it---probably about a week.
Good Luck, Karen (:
Posts: 423 | From Virginia | Registered: Nov 2009
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posted
Thanks Karen I took 100 mgs at 430, so since it has a half live of 5 hours, and I believe reaches max absorbion after 3, that i would know right away if i couldn't handle it.
I haven't had any response as of now, but still have a little time to go.
If this works today I will take more tomorrow.
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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Yeah nothing terrible happened. Im not dead. So now Im happy. LOL
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Doctor's advice always trumps mine. Ask him. Plan it out.
My thinking is that since you just started today, you would not want to increase tomorrow already. My own experience: it's better staying at a low starting dose for at least several days. Gradual increases over time worked better for me to get adjusted.
As well, our brain really picks up on our language. The brain is very literal. It will grab onto the terms as if commands.
Rather than "nothing terrible happened" how about "doing fine" and instead of "not dead" tell yourself "still alive" - the brain will do better with the positive wording to work in your favor.
It's good to express feeling and if something is awful, say so. Then, I like to tell my brain and body something like "could be doing better, soon" sort thing.
"Happy" is always a good word, of course and I'm happy to hear that you are doing just dandy.
============
Also, ask your doctor about the supportive supplements. Timing can be everything, too. You would never take Milk Thistle at the same time as a Rx as Milk Thistle can decrease the therapeutic levels in the blood stream. Your doctor should know all that you add. All we have here are suggestions and what has helped us. -
[ 03-08-2010, 08:19 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Hi guys I am still ok thanks for caring. I had absolutely no reaction to the art so far, so we will see what happens. I figured I would have noticed a herx reaction immediately if I was going to.
I do feel happy I got the worse part over with- the first dose.
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
keebler- thanks an interesting idea. I will try to be more positive. Its funny u say that, because i did try thinking to myself "kill the buggers" when i thought i was herxing. lol
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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Haley
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22008
posted
I had a huge reation to this stuff but I was given 500 mg. I didn't know what a normal dose was. I also had bad diarhea (sp). I have taken lots of abx including IV. I had the strongest reation to Art. Probably a sign that I need to try it again in a lower dose.
[ 03-09-2010, 09:31 PM: Message edited by: Haley ]
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
Hi there I actually began feeling happier last night and had a good day today, whether that's bec of the Vit D I took the other day, the feeling happier for taking the art and getting past the worst part of the first dose...
or the sun today... not sure.
I suppose its impossible to feel good this quickly. Don't get me wrong, i still feel like im on a boat, but dont feel depressed, had enough energy to clean today and my vision issues aren't that bad...
Stupid question, the bottle says 200 mgs but says serving size is 2 capsules. Does that mean each capsule is 200 mgs? Or does it mean 100mgs per capsule?
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- depends on how it's stated. Hard to tell by the way it's typed here.
Usually, it will list it this way:
serving size: 2 capsules. (then, further down):
amount per capsule- ____ mgs.
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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amount per serving % daily value artemisinin 200mgs
Posts: 319 | From nj | Registered: Jul 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- Well, if there are 90 capsules in the bottle, it appears that each capsule would be 100 mgs, then.
Whatever - follow your doctor's orders. If you have a question about dosage, call your doctor tomorrow. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Haley
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22008
posted
I don't think it is impossible to feel good that quickly. If I take a medicine that causes me to herx, the following morning I wake up with energy and have a clearer head. That is usually how I know if something is working.
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
One thing that herbalist Stephen Buhner says is that the whole herb (in this case, Artemisia annua) can be tolerated more easily than the concentrated active ingredient (artemisinin.) I'm taking the herb pharm brand tincture of artemisia annua....putting a few drops in a cup, adding a bit of boiling water, letting the alcohol evaporate, then gulping. Today i'm up to five drops. (This tincture can be purchased via iherb.)
My babs symptoms sound very similar to yours, Laurisabelle, only I cannot tolerate the sun at all.
Thanks for all the support on this forum. I hardly ever post, yet am grateful for the care and love that are present here.
Posts: 164 | From North America | Registered: Mar 2009
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