Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[Nyxie63]

It wasn't Igenex. All he told me was that he was running a DNA test for Lyme and co-infections through a lab in New Jersey. I think it's Medical Diagnostic Labs. I'm assuming its a PCR test. Dunno about a Western Blot. He didn't mention it, but I've talked to a few other patients who have seen him and he ran a WB on them. Maybe he thought I couldn't process the information.

Guess at this point I really am expecting a negative result but so hoping I'm wrong.

I think if this turns out negative, I'll send for the Igenex kit and talk to my holistic MD about ordering the blood test. What reason would she have to say "no" if I already have the kit?

[Nyxie63]

Andrea,

You're right. The whole reason I went to an LLMD in the first place was because I was under the impression they'd do a differential diagnosis. Even if its not lyme, they'd be able to tell me something. Definitely not going to get that from this guy.

I'm looking into Dr E in NJ right now. There are a few supposed LLMDs out this way, but I can't find anything good about any of them. Harrumph!

[confused]

Paula,

I'm going to be starting the 3-day stool test as well. Fun! (ew!) Figured while I'm at it, will do the hemoccult the GI wanted me to do. Killing 2 birds with one poop?

good i wont be pooping alone lol. I so dont want to do this, pooping for enterolab was bad enough and random poop test hrew out the years, but never 3 days lol

paula

[confusedks]

My ferritin's at 40 (up from 28 in July)

I hope I can say that soon! Well, I hope mine is higher than that! I think my Dr. will freak if it's only at 40 after 5 days of iron IV...lol!!

About the anxiety, I think it's totally normal to have that about all of this stuff. I know I kinda still get nervous...'what if I don't respond properly to the abx?" "what if my abx challenge tests don't come back any different" blah blah blah.

I try to reason with myself and remember I am with a Dr who reallllllly cares about my well being and we will figure out what is wrong. Even if you have to find a new LLMD, then that's what you'll do!

[CarlaB]

Andrea,

You're right. The whole reason I went to an LLMD in the first place was because I was under the impression they'd do a differential diagnosis. Even if its not lyme, they'd be able to tell me something. Definitely not going to get that from this guy.

I'm looking into Dr E in NJ right now. There are a few supposed LLMDs out this way, but I can't find anything good about any of them. Harrumph!

If you're willing to travel to NY, my LLMD is worth the trip!

[confusedks]

Does anyone know if it's possible for psyllium to constipate you?? I had been taking it 2x a day to make sure I didn't get C, but now I stopped it yesterday and I have gone to the bathroom more times since I stopped taking it! Hmm...my body is so strange. Either that or I got glutened, or my body is rejecting all food again!

[Nyxie63]

If you're willing to travel to NY, my LLMD is worth the trip!

Carla,

Are you seeing Dr H? I've heard a lot of good things about him. Not sure exactly where he's located. Would you mind PMing his info? Its probably somewhere between a 2-1/2 hour and 4 hour drive each way for me from here.

Might be worth it if he can figure me out.

[Nyxie63]

good i wont be pooping alone lol.

Folks who poop together..... nevermind. Can't come up with a darned thing to add to that.

I hope I can say that soon! Well, I hope mine is higher than that! I think my Dr. will freak if it's only at 40 after 5 days of iron IV...lol!!

About the anxiety, I think it's totally normal to have that about all of this stuff. I know I kinda still get nervous...'what if I don't respond properly to the abx?" "what if my abx challenge tests don't come back any different" blah blah blah.

I try to reason with myself and remember I am with a Dr who reallllllly cares about my well being and we will figure out what is wrong. Even if you have to find a new LLMD, then that's what you'll do!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you! When do you get tested?

I seem to have a pretty bad track record with docs. Would love to change it... and soon!

[CarlaB]

Carla,

Are you seeing Dr H? I've heard a lot of good things about him. Not sure exactly where he's located. Would you mind PMing his info? Its probably somewhere between a 2-1/2 hour and 4 hour drive each way for me from here.

Might be worth it if he can figure me out.

Yes, I'll PM you. It's a two and half hour ride for me from La Guardia!!!

[confusedks]

I get my iron/ferritin tested on the 11th. The abx challenge test I go in for a blood draw on the 11th, well actually since that's a Friday I don't know if I can do that. I will have to find out what to do about that.

You will find a good LLMD. I would suggest you go to Carla's LLMD. Even if it's 4 hours...that's not that bad. We drove 6 and I'm very glad we did. The only difference is that we won't have to go to his Northern CA office again....yay! But if that wasn't an option, we still would have done it.

Also, if he really will help you, it's totally worth it!

[AndreaB]

Does anyone know if it's possible for psyllium to constipate you?? I had been taking it 2x a day to make sure I didn't get C, but now I stopped it yesterday and I have gone to the bathroom more times since I stopped taking it! Hmm...my body is so strange. Either that or I got glutened, or my body is rejecting all food again!

It stops up some people but it is supposed to have a laxative effect.

I get my iron/ferritin tested on the 11th. The abx challenge test I go in for a blood draw on the 11th, well actually since that's a Friday I don't know if I can do that. I will have to find out what to do about that.

You will find a good LLMD. I would suggest you go to Carla's LLMD. Even if it's 4 hours...that's not that bad. We drove 6 and I'm very glad we did. The only difference is that we won't have to go to his Northern CA office again....yay! But if that wasn't an option, we still would have done it.

Also, if he really will help you, it's totally worth it!

Hoping for good ferritin levels........why can't you do the abx challenge test the same day.....I'm assuming too much of a blood draw?

Nyxie, I also agree that Dr H would be totally worth whatever travel time. It's only every three months.

[CarlaB]

Nyxie, I also agree that Dr H would be totally worth whatever travel time. It's only every three months.

Actually, I go every four months .... and a phone call once per month. I'd still go see him if a new one opened up down the street! He's worth it for his 20 years experience in treating Lyme.

[confusedks]

Hoping for good ferritin levels........why can't you do the abx challenge test the same day.....I'm assuming too much of a blood draw?

Not only that, but Igenex needs the blood on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday because it's time sensitive. The 11th is a Friday, and that's exactly 3 weeks which is when they wanted me to do it...but I can't do it on a Friday. So, I may do it on the following Monday. Also, the Hematologists' office won't do a blood draw for me if it's not ordered by their office. Since the lab is in their office, it's not easy to get around that.

[confused]

Nyxie,

People who poop together, get answer together and get better together.

Only thing i could think of lol

everyone,

The epson bath was so wonderful, i took one today and i feel awesome, im not jittery today either.

But when i scrubbed my feet they looked a little yellow, is this a sign my liver is screwed up, nothing showed up on my liver blood test, but just didnt know.

paula

[dlp252]

Paula, I don't know about the yellow feet...that's interesting though. Is that from the epsom salt bath?

I LOVE my epsom salt baths!

[AndreaB]

Not only that, but Igenex needs the blood on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday because it's time sensitive. The 11th is a Friday, and that's exactly 3 weeks which is when they wanted me to do it...but I can't do it on a Friday. So, I may do it on the following Monday. Also, the Hematologists' office won't do a blood draw for me if it's not ordered by their office. Since the lab is in their office, it's not easy to get around that.

Duh! I knew that......just spaced it for some reason.

Are you planning on having the hematologist do the draw for Igenex too? Is that the quandry I'm understanding?

[confusedks]

Andrea,

I'm not even going to talk about Lyme if possible, so no, I'm not going to ask him to do the blood draw. I am thinking of going to the "Medical Wellness group" that I went to a while ago and having them do the lab draw. Dr. H said I could go to any walk-in clinic and have them do the blood draw since he ordered it.

Paula,

I know that your feet are a major source for detox, but I don't know about the yellow color.

Everyone,

I FINALLY got up the nerve to call the LLMD's office to ask about the nausea (which has gotten really bad again). I am waiting to hear back from them again. In the meantime, I'm sitting here pretending I know what they are going to want me to do...lol. (See Nyxie...it's TOTALLY normal! )

[confused]

I cant even find anything online about yellow feet except if im a duck lol. I always wear socks so i dont look at my feet often, i just noticed while i was scrubbing them the minute i got into the epson bath. Maybe i need to look at them again, hold on lol They are not as yellow now tho, but i just noticed an huge bump on my big toe, it might be a callous.paula

[Green12]

Hi Jin, Nyxie, and Sherry, glad you guys checked in

After my epsom salt/baking soda bath today I reeked of chlorine, anyone have this phenomenon??

Donna, I tried your method of making a roux with the apple pectin this morning and it didn't work out so great for me so I'm going to have to experiment more on how to get this stuff down

I'm thinking since you added so many things, different supplements together in your roux that it helped the pectin not glob up as much, maybe?

How far away from other things are you all taking your charcoal, like a couple hours or more?

[confusedks]

Julie,

I smell of chlorine also after epsom salt baths, but I thought it was because stupid LA water smells BAD!! Does your water usually smell like chlorine?

I think you are supposed to take charcoal 2 hours away from everything...food and meds/supps. I was taking it in the middle of the night for a while but I haven't since being under the care of my LLMD.

[AndreaB]

After my epsom salt/baking soda bath today I reeked of chlorine, anyone have this phenomenon??

Do you have alot of chlorine in your water?

[dlp252]

After my epsom salt/baking soda bath today I wreaked of chlorine, anyone have this phenomenon??

...

I'm thinking since you added so many things, different supplements together in your roux that it helped the pectin not glob up as much, maybe?

...

How far away from other things are you all taking your charcoal, like a couple hours or more?

Nope, never had the chlorine thing...very strange and interesting.

Maybe, on the adding other things, lol. I'm trying to remember if I ever tried it with just the pectin. It seems like I did, but then I think I almost always at least mixed it with the C crystals first. The one thing I would NOT recommend is putting the pectin in YOGURT, lol. Now THAT was a disaster.

I've heard a couple of hours for the charcoal, but it seemed too hard to figure out for me so I just take it when I wake up in the middle of the night. I have a little cup by my bedside and I put 1 charcoal capsule in it...and I also have a glass of water there, so when I get up to use the potty, on my way back I just pick up the 1 capsule and swig it down with the water. It actually seems to be a really good time for me to take it.

[confused]

Nope i dont smell like chlorine either, I didnt put alot in today tho, i was afraid to use the 2 cups that it says to use. I think i used like 5 big handfuls, so maybe a cup at the most. Tommorow i will add in baking soda and see what that does.

I had hubby look at my feet and he laughed at me, he said they are not any more yellow then his. So i dont know. Maybe im turning into an hypochrondriac now lol.

paula

[CarlaB]

I don't smell like chlorine either .... we have a whole house purifier and a water softener. It's not all purified to drinking water, but the chlorine is removed. Our local water is really bad .... very hard (ruins everything) and lots of chlorine.

[covsooze]

I've heard a couple of hours for the charcoal, but it seemed too hard to figure out for me so I just take it when I wake up in the middle of the night. I have a little cup by my bedside and I put 1 charcoal capsule in it...and I also have a glass of water there, so when I get up to use the potty, on my way back I just pick up the 1 capsule and swig it down with the water. It actually seems to be a really good time for me to take it.

Now that is my sort of idea, I like it loads All this waking up in the night had to be useful for something lol, guess I'll be off to buy some charcoal.

Paula, could the yellow feet be some sort of circulation thing? Do you usually take hot baths? I think I've had this before, just from taking a hot bath when my feet are cold <shrugs>

Nyxie, that's great news about your blood results

Jin, good to 'see' you. Sorry you've had such a rough time over Christmas.

Everyone, had an appointment with the ob specialist today. Different one to last time They were supposed to have referred me to the hematologist, but I've had no appointment through, so another letter from her and more waiting. She said my clotting issue probably didn't cause all the miscarriages as they were so early on in the pregnancies. This is not what I was told before, so it's all very confusing and frustrating. I'm waiting for Dr P to phone me back with an appointment for a phone consultation, coz he can't see me in person until March I'm really anxious about the whole thing - like Donna, after so many appointments I feel like I'm a hypochondriac and 'just' depressed and fear that's what any further testing will show. I guess that's why I end up going round in circles with knowing whether to pursue these issues or not.

S x