4 YEARS AGO, I WAS A SUCCESSFUL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER WITH A PASSION FOR LIFE, THE OUTDOORS, AND EXPLOSIVE ENERGY. NOW I'M ATTACHED TO AN IV POLE, MY PAJAMAS, AND A COUCH. I NEED MY PARENTS, FRIENDS, AND OTHERS FOR CARE. WHY? I HAVE LATE-STAGE LYME DISEASE. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 25 MONTHS OF OFTEN EXCRUCIATING TREATMENT WHICH HAS TAKEN AWAY MY INDEPENDENCE, ABILITY TO FUNCTION, MY CAREER, ABILITY TO ENJOY ALL THE SPORTS I LOVE, AND A FULL SOCIAL LIFE. BUT I AM STILL READY TO KEEP FIGHTING.
RAISING MONEY FOR MY MEDICAL TREATMENTS (SEE "DONATIONS/FUNDRAISING" PAGE BELOW TO LEFT FOR DETAILS)
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2013
Top 10 Things Commonly Missed When Treating Lyme (i.e. Why Am I Not Getting Better?)
I MOST often hear from people with Lyme Disease that they (1) are just not getting better or (2) have improved but such improvement has come to a plateau. (Remember, it's normal, but oh so damn painful, to go in roller-coaster ups and downs with Lyme and co-infections). Often, people I meet with Lyme ask me how they should know when it's time to try a different antibiotic, different treatment, or even different doctor?
I'll address below what experience has taught me: 10 things that I find are most commonly missed when treating Lyme.Remember, YOU are your own best advocate AND doctor, and most in tune with what your body needs. Disclaimer: Nothing in this post or site should be construed as medical advice. Each individual should consult with his/her practitioner or doctor to work out a treatment plan that is right for them.
From my experience, with the benefit of hindsight, I can say the following: When I felt as ill as I did in roller coaster fashion over the past 5 years of treatment, I can say with certainty that I OFTEN felt like I was going nowhere and would NEVER get better. But I was wrong. I never believed I would get where I was today. I bet many of you feel the same thing. But you CAN and WILL get better.
I was so ill that I remember waking up one morning and putting a pen in the freezer and was often unable to make a piece of toast. I used a wheelchair to get around the airport and stores, and I could barely make the 45 second walk to my parents' mailbox. I felt like there was a blender in my brain on high speed while on a spaceship most nights. I felt such dark depression I felt I would rather die than endure such pain. Then the trajectory improved, slowly but surely. The ride got less rocky, and the bad days got fewer and farther between, to barely there at all.
With a lot of research, annoying amounts of positive thinking and spiritual readings, I got to where I am today.
So to answer the questions above, here are some things that I believe all Lyme patients should make sure they are considering if they are not already. Please not I am NOT advocating to address ALL of many of these issues below at the same time. Doing so would have likely have horrific consequences and you would probably be very very ill. Just make sure you keep an eye on each of these issues, with a note to come back to it at some point in your treatment (your doctor may be great, but even they can forget). This is what I did. I had a HUGE binder of labs and doctor's notes, and typed up all my notes from doctor's appointments documenting what had to be done now, and in the future. Highly recommend doing this. I was very ill but had nobody there to do this for me. If you cannot do it, see if a friend or family member or even nurse can help you with this.
Note, I had to have 1 LLMD and 1 LLND (Naturopath) to be able to get all of this taken care of, and even, then, things were missed.
I know how overwhelming it is to be your own advocate and manage your own health to a tee, but it's ESSENTIAL. If you are not feeling as well as you think you should be, some things you should ask your practitioner about or research:
1. Hormone Imbalance - Adrenal fatigue and/or Thyroid Issues (often in tandem): Can cause extreme fatigue, dizziness, depression, anxiety, insomnia, cold extremities, immune weakness, inability to tolerate stress, memory issues (brain fog), and many other symptoms
2. Viruses - Chronic Viral infections, which many if not most Lyme patients have (HHV-6, Epstein-Barr, CMV, etc.): Biggest symptom for me was MAJOR fatigue. ***My LLND noted that when brain fog was associated with fatigue, it might be more viral. When the fatigue is not related to brain fog, it is most likely something else (Lyme, co-infections, other). This distinction was needed when I got better and had to differentiate between what was leftover Lyme and what was viral. It may not present when in the very very ill stage, but I thought it was a helpful tool for figuring out some of my symptoms as I got better.
3. Candida/Yeast or Mold: Can cause fatigue, depression, irritability, memory issues, and many other symptoms
4. Heavy Metals: Can cause tingling/numbness in extremities, fatigue, headache, immune weakness, and many other symptoms
5. Adequate Detoxification Protocol: I have a list of detox supplements and ideas in my blog posts and here. When I was NOT doing a detox routine, I almost died. I initially saw an LLMD who just put me on straight Mepron and Zithromax with no mention at ALL of detox supplements and protocols and I literally felt like I was dying for 3 months straight. My mother spoon-fed me daily and I crawled to the bathroom. NOT THE DESIRED RESULT. But I thought this was necessary to get better. I had just been diagnosed and had NO idea. I had NO detox routine, and had no idea that I was herxing so badly that it was counterproductive to my treatment. My LLMD did not tell me any of this. His staff did NOT call back when I called in with these symptoms, frantic and unable to move. Needless to say, I fired him!
6. Methylation Pathways : this is the way in which your body detoxes. Ask your practitioner or an ND about the test to do this. The 'fix' is an easy protocol of 5 affordable (relatively speaking) supplements taken together.
7. Unresolved Emotional Blocks to Healing: I could do a whole post on this one. It still surprises me how much emotional stress or turmoil can affect my health. It REALLY does. More so for some than others. For me, it's a big one.
8. Homocysteine levels: Often a marker of inflammation; again my LLND used this blood test (covered by insurance, hooray!) to see if there was something else going on after Lyme/co-infections had really gone under and I was in 'clean-up mode' (cleaning up all the other remaining things - viruses, parasites, etc. leftover). If you are at a point where you are not sure what is what (Lyme vs. viral fatigue, etc)., this might be useful.
9. Parasites: these can cause a lot of issues in many people. I know people without Lyme who have parasites either acquired in the first world or traveling abroad. Taking an anti-parasitic may help; but note killing off TOO much in your body (Lyme, parasites, viruses, etc.) all at ONCE can be very overwhelming. I, personally, experienced some horrific toxicity from taking an anti-parasitic prescription for a few weeks. It took me 2 months to recover and this was in early 2012, when I was doing quite well. I HIGHLY recommend taking any parasite protocol SLOW or holding off until your body can handle it. Even my LLND, who I ADORE and respect highly, got this one wrong. He knew I was sensitive, but it was just too much for my body for some reason. Again, this is just my experience. Yours may be different. One product I use now is A-P (I can tell you where to get this as I don't want to reveal my LLND's name due to sensitivity issues about Lyme treatment). It's an herbal, and very mild.
10. Food Intolerance: I used the Body Ecology Diet as my Bible when I was sick. I took out all gluten, dairy, almost all sugar, and many other inflammatory foods. Doing some basic food elimination can help you see what might be irritating your system.
As great as my LLMD and LLND (Naturopathic Lyme Doc) were, there were still times when they would overlook something or make a decision that didn't benefit me. I did not blame them; they were overwhelmed with so many very ill patients and so many with different stories. I often had to use my own intuitive hits on what I felt was right to try. I also consulted with my healers, and acupuncturists on their take as well. I have a great group I have worked with in San Franciso, that do what is called IMT. If you'd like their name, please email me.
I have a lot of advice on each subject listed above, but will not go into more details here. If you have questions, please email me. Again, please note that each of us is SO different that it is often a trial and error game. This is not comforting, but know that something will eventually work. And then that may not feel so great, and then it's time to address the next thing.
I hope this post was helpful (though I am sure very painful for those of you who do not want to be on the computer or read for a long time).
Disclaimer: Nothing in this post or site should be construed as medical advice. Each individual should consult with his/her practitioner or doctor to work out a treatment plan that is right for them.
I'll address below what experience has taught me: 10 things that I find are most commonly missed when treating Lyme.Remember, YOU are your own best advocate AND doctor, and most in tune with what your body needs. Disclaimer: Nothing in this post or site should be construed as medical advice. Each individual should consult with his/her practitioner or doctor to work out a treatment plan that is right for them.
From my experience, with the benefit of hindsight, I can say the following: When I felt as ill as I did in roller coaster fashion over the past 5 years of treatment, I can say with certainty that I OFTEN felt like I was going nowhere and would NEVER get better. But I was wrong. I never believed I would get where I was today. I bet many of you feel the same thing. But you CAN and WILL get better.
I was so ill that I remember waking up one morning and putting a pen in the freezer and was often unable to make a piece of toast. I used a wheelchair to get around the airport and stores, and I could barely make the 45 second walk to my parents' mailbox. I felt like there was a blender in my brain on high speed while on a spaceship most nights. I felt such dark depression I felt I would rather die than endure such pain. Then the trajectory improved, slowly but surely. The ride got less rocky, and the bad days got fewer and farther between, to barely there at all.
With a lot of research, annoying amounts of positive thinking and spiritual readings, I got to where I am today.
So to answer the questions above, here are some things that I believe all Lyme patients should make sure they are considering if they are not already. Please not I am NOT advocating to address ALL of many of these issues below at the same time. Doing so would have likely have horrific consequences and you would probably be very very ill. Just make sure you keep an eye on each of these issues, with a note to come back to it at some point in your treatment (your doctor may be great, but even they can forget). This is what I did. I had a HUGE binder of labs and doctor's notes, and typed up all my notes from doctor's appointments documenting what had to be done now, and in the future. Highly recommend doing this. I was very ill but had nobody there to do this for me. If you cannot do it, see if a friend or family member or even nurse can help you with this.
Note, I had to have 1 LLMD and 1 LLND (Naturopath) to be able to get all of this taken care of, and even, then, things were missed.
I know how overwhelming it is to be your own advocate and manage your own health to a tee, but it's ESSENTIAL. If you are not feeling as well as you think you should be, some things you should ask your practitioner about or research:
1. Hormone Imbalance - Adrenal fatigue and/or Thyroid Issues (often in tandem): Can cause extreme fatigue, dizziness, depression, anxiety, insomnia, cold extremities, immune weakness, inability to tolerate stress, memory issues (brain fog), and many other symptoms
2. Viruses - Chronic Viral infections, which many if not most Lyme patients have (HHV-6, Epstein-Barr, CMV, etc.): Biggest symptom for me was MAJOR fatigue. ***My LLND noted that when brain fog was associated with fatigue, it might be more viral. When the fatigue is not related to brain fog, it is most likely something else (Lyme, co-infections, other). This distinction was needed when I got better and had to differentiate between what was leftover Lyme and what was viral. It may not present when in the very very ill stage, but I thought it was a helpful tool for figuring out some of my symptoms as I got better.
3. Candida/Yeast or Mold: Can cause fatigue, depression, irritability, memory issues, and many other symptoms
4. Heavy Metals: Can cause tingling/numbness in extremities, fatigue, headache, immune weakness, and many other symptoms
5. Adequate Detoxification Protocol: I have a list of detox supplements and ideas in my blog posts and here. When I was NOT doing a detox routine, I almost died. I initially saw an LLMD who just put me on straight Mepron and Zithromax with no mention at ALL of detox supplements and protocols and I literally felt like I was dying for 3 months straight. My mother spoon-fed me daily and I crawled to the bathroom. NOT THE DESIRED RESULT. But I thought this was necessary to get better. I had just been diagnosed and had NO idea. I had NO detox routine, and had no idea that I was herxing so badly that it was counterproductive to my treatment. My LLMD did not tell me any of this. His staff did NOT call back when I called in with these symptoms, frantic and unable to move. Needless to say, I fired him!
6. Methylation Pathways : this is the way in which your body detoxes. Ask your practitioner or an ND about the test to do this. The 'fix' is an easy protocol of 5 affordable (relatively speaking) supplements taken together.
7. Unresolved Emotional Blocks to Healing: I could do a whole post on this one. It still surprises me how much emotional stress or turmoil can affect my health. It REALLY does. More so for some than others. For me, it's a big one.
8. Homocysteine levels: Often a marker of inflammation; again my LLND used this blood test (covered by insurance, hooray!) to see if there was something else going on after Lyme/co-infections had really gone under and I was in 'clean-up mode' (cleaning up all the other remaining things - viruses, parasites, etc. leftover). If you are at a point where you are not sure what is what (Lyme vs. viral fatigue, etc)., this might be useful.
9. Parasites: these can cause a lot of issues in many people. I know people without Lyme who have parasites either acquired in the first world or traveling abroad. Taking an anti-parasitic may help; but note killing off TOO much in your body (Lyme, parasites, viruses, etc.) all at ONCE can be very overwhelming. I, personally, experienced some horrific toxicity from taking an anti-parasitic prescription for a few weeks. It took me 2 months to recover and this was in early 2012, when I was doing quite well. I HIGHLY recommend taking any parasite protocol SLOW or holding off until your body can handle it. Even my LLND, who I ADORE and respect highly, got this one wrong. He knew I was sensitive, but it was just too much for my body for some reason. Again, this is just my experience. Yours may be different. One product I use now is A-P (I can tell you where to get this as I don't want to reveal my LLND's name due to sensitivity issues about Lyme treatment). It's an herbal, and very mild.
10. Food Intolerance: I used the Body Ecology Diet as my Bible when I was sick. I took out all gluten, dairy, almost all sugar, and many other inflammatory foods. Doing some basic food elimination can help you see what might be irritating your system.
As great as my LLMD and LLND (Naturopathic Lyme Doc) were, there were still times when they would overlook something or make a decision that didn't benefit me. I did not blame them; they were overwhelmed with so many very ill patients and so many with different stories. I often had to use my own intuitive hits on what I felt was right to try. I also consulted with my healers, and acupuncturists on their take as well. I have a great group I have worked with in San Franciso, that do what is called IMT. If you'd like their name, please email me.
I have a lot of advice on each subject listed above, but will not go into more details here. If you have questions, please email me. Again, please note that each of us is SO different that it is often a trial and error game. This is not comforting, but know that something will eventually work. And then that may not feel so great, and then it's time to address the next thing.
I hope this post was helpful (though I am sure very painful for those of you who do not want to be on the computer or read for a long time).
Disclaimer: Nothing in this post or site should be construed as medical advice. Each individual should consult with his/her practitioner or doctor to work out a treatment plan that is right for them.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL
BLOG ARCHIVE
ABOUT ME
- MM
- SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Updates on my journey as I battle late-stage Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease, no big deal, you say? Cured in a few weeks or months? Ha! Read on. I'm 32 and, 4 years ago, was a mt-biking, rock climbing, snowboarding, traveling, civil rights lawyer with passion for life, making change, and explosive energy. Now I feel permanently pajama clad & am attached to an IV pole and couch for at least 6 MORE months of grueling IV treatment. 25 months of treatment under my belt already. "Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly." I will win this battle and I am slowly transforming from a caterpillar into a butterfly. Sometimes I am pissed off that I have lost 4 years of my life and have to endure so much pain. REALLY pissed. My friend aptly coined the term Pissed off butterfly! I'm undergoing a metamorphosis of sorts, a MONAMorphosis. On many days when I can see through the thick fog of this dark tunnel and painful drug haze, this aspiring butterfly is at peace with her journey. Accepting, open, spiritual, inspired, and positive (well, sometimes), this journey has changed my views on life and gratitude forever. Personal Website ~ 2012: www.monamotwani.com
DEFINITIONS
Late-Stage Lyme Disease: An infectious bacterial tick borne disease that is transmitted through the bite of a tick, though many doctors believe it may now be transmitted through some infected fleas and mosquitoes. When first bitten, if a person develops a bulls-eye rash and is aware that they have been infected, the disease is easily treated with antibiotics. However, only 40-60% of patients develop the classic bulls-eye rash, called Erythema Migrans. Additionally, the rash is often invisible in people with darker skin, like me. When the tick bite is missed and a person goes months or even years without knowing that they have been infected, the disease enters its late disseminated stages, infecting many if not all systems of the body – limbic, neurological, physical, nervous, psychiatric, cardiac, and the list goes on. At this point, it is excruciatingly difficult, painful, and expensive to treat (note most Lyme treatment is not covered by insurance and highly controversial). Years of antimicrobials and complicated treatment plans (including many holistic methods of healing) are necessary to heal a late stage Lyme patient.
Herxheimer reaction ("Herx"):definition should be "torture." Can be used as a noun or verb as in "I herxed so bad I felt like I was run over by a truck and then dragged by a pack of wolves through hot dry sand." Scientifically speaking, aherxheimer reaction is what occurs during the treatment of Lyme disease and its co-infections. The common misconception is that when a patient is treated with meds, it should be all uphill from there. Medication should make you feel better, right? Very wrong. When spirochetal bacteria (like Lyme) is killed off, it releases a massive load of toxins in the body. These toxins are "neurotoxins" and "endotoxins", which putting it simply means that it is a toxin to the brain and the patients' organs. Typically the death of these bacteria and the associated release of endotoxins occurs faster than the body can remove the toxins via the natural detoxification process (hence the need for tons of detox supplements, herbs, and strict diet). Herxing can cause a whole host of symptoms, ranging from seizures, migraines, excruciating pain, dizziness, relentless hours of crying, anxiety, heart rate issues, pain, inability to breathe, insomnia, episodes of rage, confusion, memory loss, and much, much more. This, therefore makes Lyme treatment grueling, and very similar to cancer treatment with chemotherapy.
Co-infection: another Lyme-like infection transmitted by the tick that is tantamount to having another Lyme Disease, often with worse presenting symptoms for certain patients (like me). Because the late-stage Lyme patient (almost all of us have co-infections) has been so ill for years, the immune system is more compromised and unable to handle all three diseases (though they are all blanketed under one disease, Lyme). Treatment is also very complicated because the doctor has to be sure to address each co-infection and Lyme and do so in a very delicate balance so as not to Herx the crap out of the patient and on the flipside, to make sure Lyme or co-infection are treated aggressively enough so as not to experience a relapse or flare of symptoms. I have experienced both of these unpleasantries and let me just tell you, they are frickin' miserable.
Babesia: a co-infection of Lyme. Babesia is my worst co-infection, hardest to eradicate in the co-infection world (IMO), causing horrible vertigo, dizziness, crippling depression, sweats, nightmares, fevers, fatigue, air hunger (inability to breathe; that’s why I have an oxygen tank and take beta-blockers), heart palpitations/chest pain that make you think you're having a heart attack, severe cognitive impairments, and neurological difficulties.
Bartonella: another co-infection characterized by migraines, confusion, joint and muscle pain, spaciness, feeling disconnected from your body, cognitive impairments, bone-breaking chills, numbness and tingling in extremities, fatigue, depression, extreme agitation and anxiety. Note that all these symptoms overlap to some degree with each co-infection and with Lyme so it’s often difficult to determine what is the cause of what symptom and sometimes many infections are the culprit. My first 3 months of Bartonella treatment, I became so confused the first 2 weeks that I got LOST in a grocery store (no joke), and put the scissors in the freezer by accident. I also called people and forgot I was calling them and walked away from my dialing phone several times to come back and find someone talking. Truth is stranger than fiction.
NO COMMENTS:
POST A COMMENT