dlp252

Has anyone here gone on abx for lyme with having a past history of, or dealing with, candidia and/or leaky gut at the same time?

How was your treatment? And what did you do in addition to the abx to help heal yourself and/or keep those issues at bay?

Nope, this is actually one of the reaons why I'm NOT on antibiotics now. From 2002 to 2005 I was on nearly constant rounds of antibiotics for "sinus infections". They started me on augmentin 875mg twice a day for 10 days, plus 8 days of prednisone...I'd feel good for a week, then get the "infection" again. They had to keep upping the mg, so that at the end I was taking 4,000mg A DAY of augmentin for 30-60 day periods. I took a couple of other kinds of antibiotics during that time as well. I did an anti-candida/yeast diet (including a rotation diet version) nearly the whole time and took Nystatin several times. My insurance wouldn't pay for diflucan, so I only got 1 pill of that, lol. Having said all that, I think this may have knocked the lyme back quite a lot in my case.

My doctor took one look at that history and decided to be cautious about the abx. for me, which is why I'm not on them yet. He's making sure my body can handle that and chelation for the metals. So I'm doing the herbal stuff right now. I'm pretty sure with my history of bacterial issues, when he does put me on abx I'll also have something like nystatin too.

Following a very low sugar diet is really important too. I took a couple of natural antifungals as well.

ETA: I also took LOTS of probiotics.

I've tried both sheep milk yogurt and goat milk yogurt recently (after being casein free for over a year), and I react to both. The goat milk seems worse than the sheep milk. I get some mild symptoms right away, but it has a cumulative effect with me, and if I keep eating it, it turns to major congestion and sinus infections. I was completely clear of sinus issues for the whole year I was casein free.

Kassandra,

Glad the PICC went okay! I'm with Carla...can't wait for you to get some iron, lol.

Well, the hope I had to work out a plan for my mother and I to follow for dealing with lyme, etc, blew up.

I'm so sorry!

Kassandra, I'm glad your finished with it ... your description REALLY makes me hope I don't have to go with the IV meds, LOL.

I REALLY hoped I wouldn't have to have one BEFORE I read the description, but am terrified now, lol.

Oh, you know how I said I didn't feel as great today as I've been feeling? It just dawned on me that yesterday I got tired of ramping up on the samento and jumped from 17 drops to 20 drops ... maybe it's not my menstrual cycle ... maybe it was the samento!

I have to go back and see what you said about parsley...I know you take it with burbur because the burbur helps with something. Sheesh...a bunch of lymies trying to remember stuff is just funny sometimes. Anyway, I've had terrible percolation in my gut ... I think some of that has to do with the Humaworm, but it's been REALLY bad in the last couple of days and I'm thinking it might be the parsley. Could also be the stupid adaptocrine Anna wanted me to take. I didn't take the adaptocrine today, and used like half the drops of parsley this morning, and so far not so much percolation. I'll try upping it slowly this time, lol.

Does anybody have any ideas on ways to keep the PICC line dry while I shower? I am going to shower in the morning, but I just was wondering what you all thought. Someone on LN said they use veterinary gynecological exam gloves and then also Glad Press N' Seal. Any other ideas? Also, I have no clue where I would get vet gloves in LA...lol!

Well, I've not had a PICC line yet, but a few years ago I had to have surgery, and had to go in on the Friday before (surgery was on a Monday), for some bloodwork and they INSISTED on putting on my hospital ID bracelet that day. I don't know why they wouldn't let me do it myself Monday morning, but no, I had to figure out how to shower all weekend without getting the stupid thing wet. I think I tried the glove thing, but that didn't work well for some reason...maybe I didn't use the right tape. I think I ended up using the plastic wrap idea, which worked okay, I just had to make sure not to stick my hand in the water stream--still water got in there, just not as much.

Again, sorry. Just need to vent somewhere and maybe get a little support/advice. I'm so overwhelmed!

No need to apologize!!! We've all been overwhelmed at some point during this thread journey. I'm so sorry you have to go through it though.

My doctor is ordering the test kit. They will call me when it comes in. I will then get it, and take it to the lab to see if they can do everything necessary to collect and handle the blood sample. I am nervous and hopeful all at the same time. For the first time in an eternity, I finally have some hope.

Yay!!! Hope is good! Sounds like you had a good appointment! Um, about the highlighting...maybe I have a sloppy hairstylist, but she gets the highlight dye on my scalp. Of course, I usually have the rest of my hair dyed too, so she might have to do that.

The receptionist mentioned having the nurse give me "a little adavan" to prevent another panic attack before the endoscopy. I am not really a fan of drugs, but I am leaning more towards "yes"

If it helps you relax I say go for it.

I don't think that's EVER happened in ... well ... as long as I can remember. CELE-BRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON!

LOL! Congratulations! We get excited about stuff like this around these parts, lol.

I didn't think I reacted to corn either until I cut it out for several weeks this year...when I tried eating it again, I most definitely reacted, but in my case I think it has more to do with the mold issue than the actual corn itself.

What is up with this pain in my leg? Do worms live in your leg muscles? (day 2 on humaworm). It's like a stabbing pain in the inside of my thigh area then it goes away. When I press on it, its sore, but its only stabbing pain for a second. UGH! I hate wierd things....makes me crazy!

I've been having random pains too...mostly in the abdominal and chest region though.

LOTS OF PERSONAL SHARING WARNING

(yes, the squeemsih should avert their eyes)

Nah, you can say just about anything here...just don't mention pink glittery ecoffee when I'm around.

I'm getting behind in the thread because I've been distracted by other non-health related stuff. I'll get it together soon.

Something FUN I hope!!! I am so happy the DMPS is going so well.

Haven't got a thing done as I was waiting for hubby's phone call. If I stray too far from the phone I can't hear it.

I'm very glad he's coming home tonight!

I'm discovering this thread

Hello and welcome!!!

So i went yesterday to see Dr. M in Palo Alto. Yeah It was intense, long and tiring.

I go for LED treatment on Monday with Acupuncture first.

Thanks for the update!! It's so nice to read your posts now as compared to a few months ago...there's a lot of hope there!

I am at my grandparent's house inbetween the blood and PICC line. The blood draw was okay, actually pretty painless. I took off my sweater and the phlebotomist started laughing because I am so pale and pretty veinless...lol. Then he took my blood and said, "you have REALLY low blood pressure." It was okay, now I am waiting until 2 pm to get the PICC line in. I am really worried that won't go well, but we'll see.

Yay, glad it wasn't too painful.

What is a PICC line? doesn't sound fun -- hope all goes well, though.

It's sort of like a permanent IV portal. They usually put it in the forearm area. They leave it in so that you can have IV medicines instead of having to have TONS of injections, and some people have to have IV meds a few times a week, so it makes it a little easier. At least that's what I remember, but I'm sure our resident expert will elaborate when she gets home.

Ahhh...getting nervous. I don't think Valerian root is for me...it did NOTHING last night. I am trying to get dressed but there are 2 stinky plumbers here...lol! Well, gtg....bye everyone (well, for a couple hours).

Oh, I am laying down during the actual PICC line insertion, but the blood draw I will most likely be sitting up, so I will tell them I may pass out...lol.

Kassandra

Hope everything goes smoothly and pain free! Yes, definitely tell them for the blood draw...they can have you recline.

Yikes Andrea, that sounds really bad. It's really raining here today, hope it's drier up your way.

I'll be watching this thread closely, lol. I just broke my full sized blender. That was after I broke my favorite little Magic Bullet. That was the third Magic Bullet I broke by the way, lol.

I guess I need a heavy duty blender, but still intend to buy another Magic Bullet too.

It's hard to keep up with this thread! It gathers pages and pages everyday!

Ha, be thankful you didn't join in the summer of 2006! There were often 10-20 pages a day!

I am starting my Campaign for FULLY CLOTHED Doctors Visits '08

(adding dignity back to health care)

I'm with Carla...I've never had to undress at the LLMD's office, and never at my HN doctors (it's a medical clinic where I see an internist, a nutritionist, a physical therapist and a chiropractor). Well, did have to put on a gown once for the internist when I was getting my prolotherapy shots in my neck, back and shoulder and she needed to get to a spot that was covered, lol, but she's a lady, so it wasn't so bad, lol.

I want to wear many layers and sit alone in a room with tv and popcorn (in my dreams, yes, I am allowed popcorn WITH butter) where no one looks or touches me for days!!

Sadly, I know exactly what this feel like! Sorry, you do!

Wow, got busy yesterday and didn't get to check back in here.

Kristina,

Great news on the new doc!!! Sounds like a keeper.

Kassandra,

Keeping you in my thoughts today for your PICC line. Have them let you recline right from the start. When I had my blood drawn with my LLMD, they took 7 vials...I told them before they started that the room goes black for me sometimes, so they let me recline.

I keep having to remind myself about the being sick part, especially NOW because I'm actually starting to feel really good, so it's easy to do too much. One of my doctors keeps telling me about how stress on the body really wears you down...every stressor you can remove helps your body to recover....so NOT doing too much is one of those things we can do for ourselves. I like Carla's thing of not expecting to get anything done, lol.

I see a PT. This is the same group of doctors that I spoke of above...one stressor they can take off the body is pain. So they've been working on my whole body basically. It started mainly with the neck, hip and wrist, but has developed to whole body, lol. It's helped to keep my pain level down to a 3-4 on the pain scale, so much better than when I first started.

I'm glad you've got the Igenix done...can't wait to hear the results!

Andrea,

Sorry about hubby being affected by the storms! Hope he doesn't have to stay there for long and can get back on the road!

If you aren't taking enough I think it can cause problems but Rachel knows more about this than I do.

Yeah, I've heard this too.

Nyxie,

LOL on the tree!!!

Good luck with Dr. Doofus! And good luck with the diet. I tried the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. I actually did feel better, but alas, I had so much going on that it had a limited benefit.

Glad your hubby is coming around!

Is there a reference range anywhere? Usually there is some sort of a reference range so you can see where that falls compared to the reference range.

Thanks! I will check for that brand too. *sigh* on the expense-- nothing you really need is cheap!

Nope, lol. I think it's around $11 or $12, and I found it in the baking section of Whole Foods.

Kassandra - cute pictures!

I'm not sure about the blood either. I know that generally bright red is better than dark stools, and hemoroids would have been my first thought...maybe she has a little tear...she should probably definitely have it looked at again. The hemoroids might actually be internal, but I'm sure the doctor looked for that.

Julie - I got my little 3' trees from target too. I didn't pay $8 though, lol. I paid somewhere between $15 and $19 for them, but they are pre-lit, lol.

I know CarlaB has taken this, so hopefully she'll see this, or maybe you can PM her.

Hi Borst, welcome! I haven't read your story yet...I'll have to do that tomorrow from work, but just wanted to say welcomeQ!

Andrea - I looked at my WF and they don't have it. I did look up a location and there is a healthfood store within walking distance of my work, but I think at the time I decided I didn't need it, lol. I've been making my own coconut ice cream. I have a little single serve ice cream maker, and I've been putting in coconut milk, a little agave nectar and a few little walnuts. The weather has turned too cold to eat it now though.

Julie - I've heard that parsley is good for a lot of things, but I can't do the fresh parsley...it spoils too quickly, so basically if I buy fresh, I can only eat it one day out of the week, lol.

Sorry for being so negative, but this has been a comparatively bad few days.

Like everyone has said, don't worry about it...we've all been there and we understand!

Sarah - I also use egg white powder. I buy mine at WF and the brand is Deb El. It comes in a canister and the only ingredient is pasteurized egg whites. I haven't seen Now brand, but I'm going to look for it. The Deb El isn't cheap, lol. I used mine in smoothies with a little frozen peaches and a little nut butter back when I was eating nut butters, lol.

Kassandra - I have to say that the thing that terrified me the most when I found out I had lyme and metals issues was that I might have to have a PICC line inserted at some point. Fortunately for me, I don't think it will come to that. I feel for you! I tend to get that pass out feeling when I have blood drawn. The lights actually start to go out, but I never actually lose conciousness.

Jin - I can't tell you how many times I've done the same thing...something directly in front of me, and I can't find it, lol.

I like your idea about getting back at my friend! Perfect, lol.

Yeah, I think I was taking too much 5-HTP...I think with my imbalances, it was causing it to be MORE off balance. The neurotransmitter test really helped get the right amounts of the right stuff.

You know, my lack of smell has NEVER dampened my appetite, lol. I can still eat tons of food.

Oh DONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN-ahhhhhhhh? Has the Christmas in The Park choir schedule come out yet?

Heyyyyyyyyy .. . .. .haven't heard of you practicing w/ them lately . .. .. .what's the dealio?

Nope, not practicing with the choir, but have started with the women's ensemble again. We sing today actually. Yes, our date has changed twice now, but I think we're at Christmas in the Park on the 19th. No solos!

What? Like Homer Simpson - dribbling..staring into space...mumbling 'pumpkin tarts' like a mantra

Hum...I don't think I've seen any of the Simpsons shows, but yeah, it sounds a lot like it!! If the case had glass I would have had my nose and hands pressed up agasint it.

Hi Donna!! Back from WhF already?

Cookie aisle still safely unguarded??

Hey, I'm fast! Cookie aisle completely safe. I have learned THAT lesson. I DID however, spend about half of my 20 minute shopping time staring at the place where the pumpkin tarts were supposed to be.

I think I will do the test, see what the psychiatrist has to say, and then decide if we need to get an LLMD. I agree that is the best way to go unless she gets a positive test and this psychiatrist seems to be Lyme literate himself. I did a search on Lymenet and there is a doctor in Louisiana that serves as a consultant to your own doctor. So maybe the two of them could work together.

This sounds like a great plan. Most LLMDs don't contract with ANY insurance companies, so you generally have to pay up front and then, depending on your insurance, you get reimbursed at the "out of network" rate. This way the initial cost will be covered, and if your test IS positive, you can always make the decision for a LLMD. Come back and post your results here.

Carla or Donna,

Random question...how long do the bull's eye rashes last?

I think it can vary, but I don't think some of them last long at all...a few days I think. Not 100% sure on this though. I just remembering people on LN saying that people should have it checked right away or take pictures (in fact that's not a bad idea even if it IS checked right away) if someone couldn't get in to see a doctor right away.

I am doing everything in my power to not get sick!

Good, lol, and LOL on your brother. I'm glad things are better with your mom.

The only problem was that the needle was hurting...I hate when that happens!! I try to be strong but needles just freak me out...especially when I can feel them!

I generally do okay with needles but this would freak me out, lol. I did have a morphin pump when I had my abdominal surgery and every time I pushed the button it would make my arm sting like heck, so I just decided the pain from the surgery just didn't hurt that much, lol.

Get some burbur, too, and take it right with the parsley. When I take those two, they will take away all the symptoms! One day I was shopping for Thanksgiving dinner and had to go to two stores, so I was gone for a while. I started feeling bad. Once I got home I took parsley and burbur, then ten minutes later took them again, then felt fine the rest of the day.

Yeah, they've got the burbur too, but no one has ever suggested that for me. I think the next time I go in I'll get some. I'm already taking cumanda and banderol.

And with this note Rinne. I told the owner of the gluten free store about your frozen gluten/dairy/soy free except for lecithin treats and that I would let him know when they make it to the states. He's a small store so needs a distributor. He's just able now to get the Coconut Bliss that we love. He's been trying for 6 months to find a distributor for that.

OMG...I MIGHT fly all the way up there just to get some, lol! Course, that means I'd have to eat them all because they wouldn't make it back right?

I officially took my last does of abx today!!!

Hooray!

I'll post over at the lyme board for a doctor in Texas, preferably Austin. In researching this, I saw an article about a nurse practitioner who treated Lyme and was forced out of Austin and is now in California. Unbelievable!

I have this terrible feeling that I'm about to start another uphill battle to get my daughter the help she needs. Lyme sounds even worse than celiac as far as getting the regular doctors to take it seriously and not act like I'm crazy. I don't think my husband will be too thrilled that I'm going off the mainstream path again. Hopefully my record of getting the celiac/gluten intolerance right will help.

It is unbelievable, isn't it?! Yes, I believe it's just as bad if not worse than trying to find a good celiac-knowledgeable doctor.

Fortunately my family can't argue with the fact that 5 years of "mainstream" doctors did nothing to make me better and in fact I kept getting sicker and sicker, and that since incorporating the team of doctors I have now, I've seen major improvements in just the last few months.

Well, I just got home from my BioSET appointment. We STILL didn't do miasms, lol. For some reason Anna was all concerned with my adrenals. I'm pretty sure she was looking at my old labs from a year ago, but I guess because last week my energy was really low, she decided to revisit the adrenals. And, she did some testing today which showed that they are still stressed. Mold was also showing as causing stress to my body, so she retested me on molds and quite a few came up--mostly outdoor molds. Pacifica came up, lol. I guess I won't be moving to Pacifica. I mentioned the sinus infection and how on my testing last week, sinus issues came up all over the place, but they were fine today. Anyway, she has sent me home with some support for adrenals. Just when I was trying to get AWAY from taking so much stuff. I also bought some NutriMedix Parsley to take. Scott had mentioned that way back in June as something I might try for detox.

Anna did say something that I thought was right on. I can't even really remember the context now, I think it was in relation to the adrenals, sleep, neutrotransmitters, etc. What she said is that since my body is fighting the lyme, I'll probably always have to watch my levels. Basically, until the lyme is taken care of (which showed up as the main stressor to my body in my ART testing), I'll probably always be off balance.

Any of my friends could have told her I'm off balance.

Also, every aged cheese has enough mold to be a BIG no-no for candida.

Oh yeah!

What a good memory you have, yes I did look into them but then decided not to pursue it. I did buy some detox patches for the soles of the feet and can tell you they seemed to have an effect, they definitely changed color, but I also had an aching feeling in my calves.

My good memory is selection apparently, because some days I can't remember my name.

Aw Pyro...the same thing with me. That's what I'm talking about.

OMGosh....DID THE MOJOs GO MISSING AGAIN???!!!!!

Oh, and in my opinion, in the end it probably doesn't matter whether they tested for a gluten allergy or did the celiac bloodwork, in either case you shouldn't be eating gluten. Some of the blood testing for allergies can give false positives, but since you saw improvement off of gluten, I'm thinking if it was allergy testing, then it was fairly accurate for you.