dlp252

i am sorry i started such a ruckus!

Nah, you were fine!

And as far as ruckuses go, this is very mild.

She has 27 of the symptoms listed for Lyme.

I also remember a time 3 years ago when I wondered about Lyme for her. My mom was bitten and had the bullseye rash. She went to a different doctor than her usual who said she had Lyme and gave her antibiotics. When she went back to her regular doctor, that doctor did the antibody test and it was negative and dismissed the whole idea, thinking Lyme was rare, I guess. During this time, my daughter had something that had a circular rash around it, making me wonder about her. She and my mom were together when my mom got her bite. My daughter's rash didn't last more than a day which didn't seem to match up with my reading of Lyme. I think I called and asked the doctor and they were going to do the antibody test but since my mom's was negative, we didn't do it.

I don't remember if she had mood troubles before that but I do know 3 months later is when things started to get really bad for her. She had an accident where she hurt her back and got a concussion which started her headaches. Before that, she was dx'ed with strep throat after laying around not feeling well for a while. She never really got totally better. Then after she hurt herself, she also still had complaints about her throat and maybe had a slight fever. I just remember thinking there was something else going on that was not being addressed because of the greater issue of her back and head. Now again, she is laying around but nothing is being found.

She has some mood issues and OCD. I took her to an Environmental Physician/Psychiatrist and he did a full blood screening. He says she is sick because she has a low white blood cell count, I think. He didn't give me anything else to go on but did say we should definitely test for Lyme when I asked. He said there were 2 labs to use and one of them was Igenix. So he seems pretty well informed.

I am thinking of ordering the Complete Initial Panel from Igenix. It has the IFA, IgG and IgM Western Blots and PCR. Then I thought I would add the test for Ehrlichiosis because I read somewhere (I can't find the site any more) that it could cause low white blood cell count and high bilirubin, which she has, and that typical antibiotics used for Lyme weren't effective in this. What do you think? Are there other tests I should ask for?

Should I look for an LLMD if the test is negative to see if she should be treated anyway based on what I'm describing?

Yes, I think I would at least rule out lyme, and yes, you should see a doctor who KNOWS about lyme. Most regular doctors only know what they learned in medical school which isn't necessarily correct. And, most go by the CDC standards which were never meant for diagnostic purposes. I'm glad that one that you saw at least knew about Igenix! That's a good sign, now hopefully he will know how to read it, lol.

The bolded items in your post reall stood out for me. Especially the strep throat/not feeling well thing...that's close enough to flu-like in my humble opinion, lol. That's one of the first symptoms of lyme...especially in conjunction with a rash and a known tick bite.

The good thing about a LLMD is that they will test for all kinds of things...NOT just lyme. So, in my case, they drew a lot of blood, but that blood went to all kinds of testing in addition to the western blots. So even if it's not lyme they'll be looking for other things too.

Hey Laurie, yes I've had some hormonal things done. I've had the standard ones that most doctors run when they think you might be near menopause. Last year I had some testing done for thyroid and for adrenals. Just a few weeks ago I had my neurotransmitters tested, and just sent in a retest of the neurotransmitters. I've been supplementing the neurotransmitters based on the deficiencies in my testing, and I have to say that I think this has been a big part of my ongoing insomnia and fatigue issues. I'm sleeping a bit better and I don't feel that bone numbing fatigue so much.

Just adding my experience....

Yes, the endoscope can find other "problems". I originally had mine because I was having a colonoscopy (for blood found in stool). The doctor figured that since I would be out I might as well have the endoscope at the same time so that we could check for intestinal damage. I'd been gluten-free for 5 months already, so I wasn't holding out hope that he'd find anything regarding celiac, but I was having some issues that he wanted to check out.

So, he found damage to my esophagus, a polyp in my stomach and an enlarged ampulla of vater (the opening in the small intestine where the bile and pancreatic ducts meet and empty into the intestine). He wasn't able to reach it for a biopsy, so a week later I had to have another endoscope on better equipment. So, yes, the endoscope can definitely find other things.

In my case the doctor couldn't find any villi damage (not sure how many biopsies he took, but I suspect not many), so he couldn't base his diagnosis on that, but he did say that dietary response was good enough, and I definitely saw some improvement going gluten-free.

You have your bloodwork...that should be good enough for the celiac side of it all, but I wouldn't necessarily rule out the endoscope either...

My brother apparently has the stomach flu! AHHHHH! Did I ever mention I am deathly afraid of puking people?!?! We share a bathroom and I am so scared he is going to get me sick. It's funny though because I have been really nauseous the past couple days....hmm.

I FORBID you to get sick!!! :lol:

That's really interesting-- when she did cut dairy out completely it was only for about 2 weeks. Even so, when she challenged it, the one really noticeable reaction she had was weird. She had an episode that was several hours long, where she felt like her tongue was swollen, and it was hard to swallow. This made me VERY nervous.

Shortly after that, she had a large panel of allergy scratch tests, including dairy. But the only things that came up were shellfish and cod. She hasn't had that reaction again since then, but it makes me wonder if it's related to the type of reaction you have with the congestion.

Yep, dairy never showed up on any of the skin scratch tests I had done. The only place it's every shown up was in my BioSET testing and in the Enterolab testing I had done. But sure enough a few months after cutting it out completely I noticed a HUGE difference in the amount of head and chest congestion. I had had continuous cycles of sinus infections for THREE years solid. I'd just get over one and be well for a week, then get another one. I think the dairy contributed to that congestion because after going gluten/dairy free I didn't have another sinus infection until I started cheating with a little chocolate last year (will I NEVER learn, lol--same thing is happening this year).

I really miss my yogurt, so I had thought that maybe after all this time I could have a container or two a week of GOAT or SHEEP yogurt. Um, NOT, lol.

With your mom, the problem may indeed be the casein. I would think if it was lactose the hard cheese wouldn't bother her as much.

As far as statin something......I've read that statin drugs aren't good for you but that may just be the cholesterol thing. I can look through some blaylock reports if you'd like me too.

If it's for the candida, it's probably Nystatin, which is not really a statin drug of the kind that they are talking about I think.

I don't think she's been taking a probiotc at all. Every time I've asked her, she kind of hems and haws.... I knew caprylic acid is supposed to be excellent, but I didn't know about the other two!

Yes, caprylic acid is what I take. If you get oregano oil, get teh capsules as opposed to the drops, lol...the drops are NASTY! Did I mention they were NASTY!? And Garlic is just a natural antifungal, so it's just good in general for a lot of things.

Tried something new this week; I went for a massage again, actually twice this week. She told me that according to Chinese medicine the best way to get rid of toxins is to Gua Sha. This is where they scrape your skin.

I've actually heard of this and think I may have even seen something on TV about it. Sounds interesting!

Has anyone tried one of those ionic foot baths to help get rid of toxins? I've been thinking about it for awhile and it might be a good idea. Any opinions?

I think a couple of people here have at least looked into them...I think maybe Rinne and Charlie, and maybe Mia, but I can't remember if anyone actually bought one.

It's good for all kinds of toxins...I've read that it's good for people exposed to mold as well. I've been planning to talk to my doctor when I see him in December about this specifically for flushing out the toxins from the lyme and mold toxicity in my case.

Sarah, it took me quite a few months after going casein free before I saw a real difference. Probably the biggest difference was how much less congestion I had in my chest and head. After being completely casein free for over a year, I just started eating lots of chocolate (with dairy in it), and I can tell you that the congestion has started to come back.

I don't really know how to convince someone else though. Wish I could help more!

Nyxie - give him your money's worth!

Kassandra - yay on teh PICC line (never thought I'd hear myself say that to anyone, lol).

Hi Laurie! Yes, I used to get D the day before and for the first day or two of the actual cycle. I don't remember if I used to get chills, seems like I did, but I can say that I certainly felt sick.

As far as temperatures...mine is consistently around 97. When I get sick and feel like I have a fever, it's actually LOWER. When I'm sick it'll drop to around 95 or 96. Haven't figured that one out yet, lol.

I'm DQ8...I DEFINITELY don't have C...well ocassionally, but it's usually D.

Donna,

They have all those numbers. The ALT is 8, which according to this lab, that's low. I looked all of these numbers up and they suggest malnutrition. That's so strange!! It's really hard though because all labs have different reference ranges so it's hard to tell what really *is* low or high. One of the numbers are low on this labs reference range, but I looked it up and it was high on the online reference range. I will let the LLMD decipher what is what.

I did forget though how scary these tests were. All of my liver numbers are really off. They're either high or low, or one number away from being in the high or low range. Eeek! According to online I am either malnourished or have liver disease! Yikes!

In the end, I think it's the lab's range that matters, but the doctor may have different ideas about what should be "optimal". That's what happened on some of mine.

I wouldn't be surprised if lyme was behind that too, but I don't know if it impares the liver or not.

I truly believe that Lyme can affect any part or function of the body! Those spirochettes just get into everything!

Okay, here's another with more:

Open Original Shared Link

Do your labs have anything like this:

What are normal levels of AST and ALT?

The normal range of values for AST (SGOT) is from 5 to 40 units per liter of serum (the liquid part of the blood).

The normal range of values for ALT (SGPT) is from 7 to 56 units per liter of serum.

Kassandra, I forgot to answer your question about taking your history to your LLMD. I would write it out in brief bullet-points with dates so that he can look over it at a glance. If he needs more details, he can ask.

Yeah, I did do this too.

If I do the humaworm, I REFUSE to look in the toilet!! YUCK!!! That grosses me out, I can handle everything else, kids puking on me...but NOT tapeworms living in me! YUCK!

Yeah, I don't like it, but I've been looking, lol.

What do you look for on labs for liver enzymes? Anyone know what it's called?

I found this on Wikipedia...the only one I remembered was albumin:

Liver function tests (LFTs or LFs), which include liver enzymes, are groups of clinical biochemistry laboratory blood assays designed to give information about the state of a patient's liver. Most liver diseases cause only mild symptoms initially, but it is vital that these diseases be detected early. Hepatic (liver) involvement in some diseases can be of crucial importance. This testing is performed by a medical technologist on a patient's serum or plasma sample obtained by phlebotomy. Some tests are associated with functionality (eg. Albumin); some with cellular integrity (eg. transaminase,) and some with conditions linked to the biliary tract (eg. alkaline phosphatase).

All this talk of pumpkin made me realize that I should post my "faux pumpkin pie middle" recipe...

Yum!!! Sounds really good and pretty easy. Maybe even I could handle this, lol.

the worst part is that i turn evil when i'm hungry, which is all the time!

Yeah, this is a lot like me, I also get shakey and kind of zone out. For years, as long as I had fat with a meal, I would stay full, but lately not even that is helping. I definitely can't just have fruit by itself...that doesn't do anything for my hunger. Fat still seems to do the best job, but it's just not working like it used to.

I remember pumpkin pie......but not pumpkin tarts.......unless they are the same thing.

Well, um, I didn't find the small pumpkin pies that I love (WF Gluten Free Bakery), but they had (in the refrigerated section of the bakery) a large pumpkin pie tart made by Crave Bakery. It's dairy, soy, wheat and gluten free and so far I'm two slices short of having eaten 3 of them. I still have two slices left in my freezer.

~~~

And today is day 3 of my renewed quest to cut out junk and sugar. Didn't mention it earlier because I always seem to sabbotage myself when I speak too soon. I think I'm past the critical first couple of days now though. So, that's why there's still two slices of pumpkin tart in my freezer.

I began the Amoxy yesterday morning, and currently feel very tired and had this odd pain in my neck. It was not excruciating or anything like that, but strange. I also am a bit constipated. The yeast may be to blame there, since the antibiotic probably aggravates this situation a lot. I also am having a difficult time with the Fibromyalgia being worse, but am not sure if that constitutes a herx or not.

I don't know could be a herx. The antibiotics can go either way with me...mostly I got D from them, but I'm prone to D anyway, but some of them would cause C especially if I had to take Prednisone with it, which I almost always did.

Since there's no need to rush when it comes to thyroid cancer, there's plenty of time to get another opinion (or three) before finally deciding whether or not to go under the knife.

You are very wise!

All the talk of pies and being a toothpick reminded me that I hadn't told you ... I've gained about 4 pounds since getting rid of that tapeworm! And I'm eating less!

Okay, that's all the weight I want! I fit in my clothes again ... I don't want to have to go buy new ones.

Congratulations on the weight!!! I don't think I have a tapeworm, so I'm hoping that I'll LOSE weight with the humaworm, lol. I have gained 10 pounds since the beginning of August from those two stupid cookie binges, then the chocolate fiasco and the latest pumpkin tarts. Oh, did I forget to mention the pumpkin tarts here, lol.

I've been making cocoa with cocoa powder, coconut milk and agave syrup for a couple of years now. I found that if you add a dash of sea salt, it opens up the flavor considerably and brings it closer to the real thing. Before I did that, it always seemed to be missing something. It makes a really thick cocoa, but if the thickness bothers you, just add a little water. I tried a speck of scraped vanilla bean and it was a nice addition as well. I always put all the ingredients in the blender for a quick spin first before transferring it to a saucepan. It assures smoothness.

Actually, I've tried the salt thing before and you're right, I think that's what's missing! I'd completely forgotten about it, lol.

Well, some semi good news...I have an appt. with the LLMD on Friday Dec. 14th at 10.15 am!!! I am hoping that we will be able to keep the appt...I told my mom I was going to call and just make an appt. because this is getting ridiculous.

Great! I hope you get to keep it this time. Mine is on the 17th, I'm hoping I get to start treating SOMETHING, lol.

That's Adam's favorite name to call people ... loser. LOL

Yeah, we call each other loser all the time, lol. People might think we aren't such good friends, but trust me, she'd only call a friend loser.

New avatar ... got another old picture ... me next to my sandbox.

Love it! I should put up one of my "chubby" baby pictures, lol. Ya'all have seen my skinny baby pictures.

Donna, I have had the same thoughts about the colon cleansing, but the natural approach I recently took has convinced me that I have many unwelcome visitors in my gut. So I think it is still good to do the humaworm and see what happens. I'll be home in the USA when I finish that, and will talk to my LLMD about the colonix possibility. Today I passed something that I think is clearly tissue, not a large piece but similar to what is posted on that site.

Yeah, see, I passed that tissue thing on the first day, but haven't seen any more. I see little white things once in a while that clearly can't be food since I don't eat anything like that, but not seeing much else. Yeah, I figure I can do the colon cleanse in a few months if I don't think this has done much. I will say though that I had another sense of smell improvement. I actually smelled dinner cooking yesterday. THAT's a first, lol.

I think it might be Donna's favorite too. Next is cheesecake but I'm not sure if thats considered pie??

You got it, lol! LOVE pumpkin. I HAVE had pumpking cheesecake and yes, it's YUMMY! Also like chocolate silk pie.

I am having a problem with something...REMEMBERING to take my abx and other stuff. Does anyone have any ideas? I am totally forgetting...well, not totally, just having a really hard time. And, now that they are making me really nauseous, I think I have a block towards them. LOL!!

I keep a spreadsheet, but that's only for when I go to a doctor....I can never remember everything I take so I take the spreadsheet and hand it to them. My LLMD LOVES this, lol.

What I do mostly is line up the stuff I have to take where I'm most likely to remember. For instance...I have two things that I have to take first thing when I wake up. Those are right by my bed.

I take a bunch of other stuff about a half hour later...those are lined up by my kitchen sink...when I take them I turn the bottle upside down. Some of those I take twice a day, so I take the second set in a little baggie and put it next to me at work.

I have more stuff that I take 1 hour before bed and at bedtime, those are lined up by my couch. I have some things that need to be refrigerated, those get taken twice a day and generally I remember them...maybe because they are right on the top shelf of the door.

The stuff like cumanda and banderol, that I rotate every two weeks. I have a very simple little chart that I print so I know when to rotate. Could be done on a calendar too.

I know you don't know all of my medical issues, but based on what you do know on the forms for the LLMD they ask "other info that would be pertinent to your symptoms or diagnosis" what would I put there? So far I put the epidurals set off the worst of the symptoms, that I had my period for 90 days and it still is irregular, the iron IV's...can you think of anything that may be important? I have no brain. I also am putting together a timeline of my major issues since birth (they requested it).

I put EVERYTHING down whether I thought it was related or not. I just figured I'd let the LLMD sort through it. I made a huge list of all my issues, then highlighted the ones that were the most serious or the most annoying.

I was going to show him the Dr. Nutura site to REALLY gross him out, but I refrained

Yeah, that site would surely get him.

Just curious why you say you shouldn't be using agave? I am pretty sure it is safe for celiacs. Do you use the raw agave? It is more easily digestible than other sweeteners.

Just because I have ongoing problems with intestinal dybiosis, candida and bacteria/yeast. I really need to keep the sugars (of all kinds) down.

Speaking of feeling better...I knew I was feeling better this year, but heck, I think I've had a little bit of a sinus infection and didn't even know it. THAT's improvement. Last year this would have knocked me on my butt!

I am so NOT in the holiday spirit! I can't even think of going and getting gifts, especially considering Hannukah is in almost a week!!

Well, my situation is probably helped by the fact that I don't actually have to buy any presents.

Hi everyone, I am so behind I am not even going to try to catch up.

Sometimes you just can't...

More food is staying down

Yay for this at least! No real advice on the other. I haven't had one of those kinds of yeast infections since I was in my teens. The only other thing I can think of is cutting out any sugar...but you probably know THAT already.

Yeah...I had this type of ultrasound done last year. You guys recall the alien baby??

NOT FUN!!!! I did not like this procedure one bit!

Ah yes, the alien baby, lol.

I sense an excitement for the holiday season that was not here last year...it makes me really happy!

By next year we'll all be ready for a Rachelville gathering!! With plenty of Rinne Bars of course.

I hope so...this would be so much fun!!

Some people obviously remain sticks......not me. I take after my grandmother more as far as body build.

No stick here either...

EEK! The specifics of this ultrasound are what? I am telling you I think there is something seriously twisted going on, like whose idea was this? I feel the same way about mammograms and had avoided one until I found the lump in my breast. Silly me, I thought that if you could feel the lump you wouldn't need to take a picture of it. So, that was and will be my only mammogram.

I was trying to answer that first question, and my fingers just won't type it.

Maybe she is trying to break you so you will go to

...

I'm glad you are feeling good and cheerful. I also have bitten by the holiday spirit bug, even thought I feel like poop, not even pink sparkly poop.

Nah, she's just cruel.

Sorry you're feeling like poop!

Not very nice about this is she?

No she isn't, lol! I fear it will only get worse as the time grows near. I must remember to use Nyxie's suggestion though!

Ok, need to vent somewhere. I'm upset, POed, scared, and now stress eating (which is baaad).

Vent away...if anyone can understand it's any one of us! Stupid doctors!

Next time she decides to rub it in wish her a bad case of seasickness and a shortage of Dramamine.

Okay, my friend just sent me a screenshot of her cruise personalizer page which says she has 94 days left before sailing! Her message..."just rubbing it in".

I replied "YOU ARE A LOSER".

5 foot 3 and ONE QUARTER inches

Thanks! You mean the trans-vag? I was like "you want to put what where???" A warning ahead of time would have been nice. It'll be my 7th ultrasound since the beginning of the year - 4 for thyroid, 2 for girlie stuff, and now this one. At least I won't have to go in with a full bladder.

Yep, that's the one, lol! I DID have warning first and I think that almost made it worse because I had time to think about it A LOT. OMGosh, I agree about the full bladder! Fortunately just the two, lol. I had mine for fibroids.

Ok, I might have to check out this site........don't know that I really want to though.

Was than Dr. Kaplan? I forget the name.

Dr Natura. Be prepared, it's yukky.

Did I mention it was yukky!?