Bathtub woes

I took an epsom salt bath. It was a humiliating experience. But it actually did help my symptoms. Unfortunately, shoving my fat ass into a miniature tub isn’t something I want to repeat anytime soon so I will have to come up with an alternative detoxing treatment.

I have successfully added Japanese Knotweed, Cats Claw, and Andrographis to my morning regimen and seem to be past the initial herding. I re-read the Buhner dosage info and realized I should be doing this shit three times a day and not just once. So, I guess we will start that on Sunday. Funday!

Thanksgiving definitely was a gluten and sugar overdose. With alcohol. I am not sure it was worth it after my day of lying on the couch. I did get to binge watch a kids show with char, so that’s good. Memory-making-mama.

Peace.

The herxheimer

I have switched my herbal protocol from Byron white over to Buhner in the past week. It has given me some insight into the dreaded Herxheimer Reaction AKA JERKHEIMER. Apparently when you have spirochete infections, when you attack them with herbs or antibiotics they freak out and die off but stay in your body to torture you. You’re supposed to take long Epsom salt baths with candles and lemon water to detox but that’s not happening in this busy house in that nasty bathtub. Here’s a picture of my Buhner book on my side table. You can also see my sewing machine which I have forced myself to learn so I can do something while spending time in bed that isn’t sleeping. Even though sleeping is what I want to do. The Herxheimer supposedly causes flu-like symptoms. For me, so far, on my first dose of 5 drops of Cats Claw and 5 drops of Japanese Knotweed have caused bad headaches, knee and ankle pain, vision problems, tummy aches, extreme fatigue, hip pain, and the head pain that started 15 years ago has returned. I am grumpy and tired and depressed. And I don’t want to take a stupid Epsom salt bath but I guess I should. Humph.

Last day of Whole 30!

Today is my last day of doing Whole 30! It has been a challenge. Yes, I have cheated a couple times, but only very minor cheats. For example, I had a cupcake at a bridal shower (it gave me the worst headache ever), I had a lick of Charlotte's ice cream yesterday (divine), and I just ate a fig newton (starvation took over). So, I think it was successful, overall. I think it will be interesting reintroducing some foods and seeing what happens.

The way Whole30 works is that it is an elimination diet. You eliminate sugar, gluten, and dairy (plus some other stuff) and see how you feel, etc. after 30 days. I have felt better, actually! My doctor suggested I keep out gluten, sugar, and alcohol going forward because "Lyme likes those things." So I am going to try to do that - but I really want a drink and an ice cream! LOL. I also am really sick of two things: eggs and potatoes.

I am doing well with the herbs, too! I did not have a reaction to Biocidin, and other than the taste, it seems to be helping my joint pain and other symptoms. I have been tracking my symptoms and they have taken a big down turn this week - so that's good! My doctor asked me to add in iron, charcoal, and vitamin D - so I am waiting until school gets out to add those to my regimen. So far I am taking: Lexapro, Zyrtec, Bulbur/Pinella, and Biocidin. Next week I will add the Byron White formulas: A-Lyme and A-Bart as well as the supplements. I'm going to need a planner to keep track! 

New week, new herb

It's Sunday! That means my doctor wants me to add a new herb. This week it is Biocidin LSF.

This stuff is an herbal mixture that has a buncha stuff in it (Proprietary Herbal Blend: Bilberry extract (25% anthocyanosides), Noni, Milk Thistle, Echinacea (purpurea & angustifolia), Goldenseal, Shiitake, White Willow (bark), Garlic, Grapeseed extract (min 90% polyphenols), Black Walnut (hull and leaf), Raspberry, Fumitory, Gentian, Tea Tree oil, Galbanum oil, Lavender oil (plant and flower), Oregano oil (plant and flower).Phospholipids (from purified Sunflower Seed lecithin)Other Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Ethanol, Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopheryl, polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate)

It tastes like you are drinking lavender, so it's not horrible. Day 1 the instructions were to mix it in 5 oz of water and take a sip every 30 minutes...and to stop if a reaction begins. So I am sitting here on my couch, watching "CBS Sunday Morning" and sipping Biocidin along with my coffee...

I think there is a day coming where I have to give up coffee...but I don't want to do it yet! 

5 more days of school left....the kids and I are more than ready.

Meme Monday!

Sunday I started Burbur/Pinella drops - 10 drops in 4 ounces of water. Doesn't taste like anything. I have felt immediately better right after drinking it, but then the nasty creeps back in an hour or so. Today's main issue is my ankles! OW! 

Anyway, I found some good Monday Memes for today! Enjoy!

The Last Five Years

It has been five long years since I posted here. That's crazy since I used to post almost daily. My children LOVE reading the book that was created from this blog. They say things like, "You said the f word!" and "Look how cute I was!" while reading it. I yell at them if they bend the pages or get food on it. It goes on the special shelf in the library. Here we are, sometime in the last year:

I have recently been searching for "Lyme blogs" to read about experiences of others. I have been struggling for the past 15 years, on and off, with random symptoms that all have no diagnosis. When my doctor suggested Lyme last month, I just *knew* that I had it. We have ruled out any major organ problems, deficiencies, and Lupus. And I have managed for 15 years because the "episodes" I have are few and far between - I went for many years without any problems, and know I can feel like that again! Unfortunately, in the past year or so, my symptoms have progressed and they just aren't cute anymore.

So, it's finally time to get my act together and figure this out. This week I met a new doctor of Internal Medicine, referred to me by my general practitioner, and she believes I have the clinical symptoms of Lyme and it's lovely cousin, Bartonella. She also diagnosed me with POTS, which can be a symptom of Lyme as well.

What the heck does all that mean?

OKKKKKKKK. So, now what?

My lovely doctor, who is young and kind and very soft-spoken (and probably overwhelmed with meeting her exact opposite in every way) has started me on an herbal protocol. I ordered the goods and the first bottle will arrive soon. It begins with one week of "detoxing" with a Burbur and Pinella tincture. Then, after a week, the real fun begins with "Biocidin." She advised me to start the latter at "1 sip at a time" in case a reaction occurs....

Which means:

This is going to be my motto for the summer: 

"Take a breath. Take a step. Take a chance. Take your time." 

- The Last Five Years, Schmuel Song