TheCrimeOfLyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4019
posted
I have a confession- I searched, found and tried to post on Melanie Reber's success stories, but every damn I clicked on it to DO that, I was taken straight back to the main frame of lymenet ( which was extremely annoying)
SO , its either "NOT OVER" or they closed that post.
But anyways, it's over. The last time I had posted a success story, I was about 80 percent better. Today? 100 on *most* days.
I got sick in May of 2002. I skipped everything and headed straight for the devastation land of brain warped lyme and severe neurological problems.
I had ( not a complete list) a severe migraine that lasted five months straight, accompanied by day in and day OUT vertigo, Spurting nose bleeds ( there was NO trinkle to these suckers)
extreme neck, jaw, face, forehead and eye pain. Severe shoulder pain, temporary come and go paralysis, neuropathy, sleep apnea, brain fog, what I still call "brain drunk", severe fatigue, muscle tremors and twitches and just a complete "duh" to my head. I felt like I drank a six pack and was on vicodin- except it wasn't
giggly and funny. It was PURE torture.
I went undiagnosed for 9 months. Uh, ok so I had PLENTY of diagnosises- everywhere from a tumor ( and a rare one at that) , to inner ear problems, female problems, anxiety, stress, and of course that "gee you have too many kids" syndrome.
I did in order: Amoxy 4000 mg per day for six months Clindamycin and quinine rotated WITH amoxicillin after amoxy alone, for six MORE months Rifampin 600 mg a day for 3 months Doxy 300 mg a day for three months Ceftin 2 weeks Biaxin and Mepron 3 months and am now on Bicillin.
I ran into problems with my treatment. SEVERE problems. I began to not be able to take any antibiotic at all , and then that extended into food, and even WATER, without a reaction 30 minutes later which would include severe brain drunk,
neck pain, fatigue, neck and shoulder pain and often times, severe migraines. The problem with THAT was that I was always a good strong herxer on the amoxicillin. I took it, I herxed and felt like death, then I progressed.
After the amoxicillin ( which was my first drug) and other things were mixed in, I was "herxing" ALL the time. I lost so much ground and developed so many MORE symptoms it was pathetic. The worst? I developed orthostatic hypotension
and was no longer having ANY good days. But I kept chugging along and kept taking my meds. Once , as I said, the problem extended into food and water and I felt the same effect from THAT as I did my antibiotics- I knew I had a severe yeast issue going on.
I was diagnosed with leaky gut syndrome and severe yeast issues last November I believe. I was at the point that if I kept antibiotics out of me, I could feel good, but if I put them IN me- I was DONE in a half an hour.
I went through many LLMD's who said that it was a herx. I knew better. I finally found my current LLMD who picked up on the yeast issues and leaky gut and did some testing. I stopped antibiotics cold turkey in November of last year and worked on detoxing and yeast treatment.
Slowly, but surely, that all too familiar neck, shoulder, jaw and face pain along with severe head pressure started to leave. Amazingly, so did the orothostatic hypotension. I started driving again, albiet slowly, and I started walking again.
Today, I can drive anywhere. I went back to college AGAIN ( I had tried this last August and had to quit ... I didn't realize the diflucan I was taking back then is what was making me feel so darn good, but once I stopped that and continued taking my antibiotics- I had to quit college again)
Im four classes away from graduating, thank goodness. It took me four years to do an 18 month program, but hey, I did it!
I still can't walk VERY long without having my orthostatic hypotension kick in. I STILL flare around my woman cycle ( not nearly as bad AT all) but I don't really have a herx cycle.
Due to my gut issues, I was put on Bicillin once a week as a test by my LLMD. If I took a shot, stuck it in my rear end and 30 minutes later had the SAME reaction as I did on orals, then tough.. thats just how I herxed. So , we tried it...
and no reaction. Not only that? But I didn't herx... I felt GREAT. As the weeks went on, still NO MORE herx. In all honesty, I herxed only once pretty darn good in the 10 weeks I have been on bicillin.
I take diflucan daily. 100 mg and switch it off with nystatin. I lost 15 lbs since going off of antibiotics. I am NOT fatigued at ALL anymore. Once in a blue moon, I still do have to "Crash" for a few hours.
I had strep throat last month with no exabberation of my symptoms. Shortly therafter, I got the flu and was vomitting for two days. no exabberation again.
I can sleep again. My sleep apnea is pretty much gone. I don't get headaches, etc. And, I can eat! Breads, pastas, etc still set me off bad ( within 30 minutes I get all KINDS of pain) so I avoid them like the plague.
I met a WONDERFUL guy last February and he has really been my rock. He helps me every step of the way and truly understands this. he lost his dad to a disease when he was 3 ( that we now know CAN be lyme, but I will regard his privacy ) so he truly does "get me".
He moved in and things are going well. I left an emotionally and mentally and verbally abusive relationship in the midst of all this and realized that I may have "gotten out of bed a long time before I realized I was out of bed" kind of thing.
It feels good to be back and take my life back. I plan to continue with the yeast treatment as honestly, the yeast was really what was nailing me, and continue to do as much alternative with that as I can. My new bf does the yeast treatment with me and we kinda fuel off of each other.
My daughter is still very sick and continues to be ping ponged between lyme and yeast treatment ( as well as bartonella treatment) but she is in good hands as well.
I'll peak in from time to time. I hope each and every one of you can get well. IT IS POSSIBLE. Four years ago, at the age of 26, I was drafting my living will. Now? Im just living and this time? I have SO much to live for.
Jodie
-------------------- You want your life back? Take it. Posts: 3169 | From Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Registered: Jun 2003
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-------------------- "Life is wasted on the living." Posts: 795 | From nyc | Registered: Sep 2004
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Iam sooooooooooooo happy for you Jodie and I will continue to pray for your Daughter.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
dontlikeliver
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4749
posted
Jodie, that is fantastic news and I have also wondered (and waited) to hear how your daughter was doing. Sorry she's still so sick, but I guess it was not the horrible possibility they were considering a few months back.
DLL
Posts: 2824 | From The Back of Beyond | Registered: Oct 2003
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robi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5547
posted
YEAH!!!!!!! you have definately been an inspiration to me. I am still fighting .......
robi
-------------------- Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy' Posts: 2503 | From here | Registered: Apr 2004
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lymemomtooo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5396
posted
Thanks..You give everyone hope..lymemomtooo
Posts: 2360 | From SE PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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hopeful123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3244
posted
I loved reading about your success!!!
It is so necessary to believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks
Hope your daughter will improve soon
hopeful123
-------------------- some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield Posts: 1160 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2002
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GEDEN13
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4151
posted
i thought you fell off the planet jodie...
new boy friend? well,i'm not waiting any longer for you then..lol...
i am so glad that everything is going so well for you.God know's,you know where hell is...
i wish you nothing but the best jodie.you do inspire..also a hug for the baby...be well , gary
Posts: 1108 | From PA. | Registered: Jun 2003
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Fantastic and very inspirational, Crime! Thanks for posting this. It's a really good wakeup too for the power of yeast to wreak havoc on us. I wish I could take Diflucan daily but my liver panels skyrocket at the mere mention of the word.
Keep on keepin' on!
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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for you Jodie and I will continue to pray for your Daughter.![[Cool]](cool.gif)
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