Another Canadian here, here's my take:
Your herb protocol sounds pretty solid, but like Girlie said, remember that even though you've been on some of those herbs for over a year, some you've started recently, and it can take a long time for this stuff to work. Keep adding stuff, subtracting stuff, and paying attention to what, if anything, affects you (either negatively or positively).
I wouldn't hesitate to look into getting an LLMD in the US. The fact that you were worse while on antibiotics screams herx, so that's maybe something I'd look into again. This time you could do it with herbs, and with better detoxing.
You're initial protocol of biaxin flagyl is pretty tame, and it's not even touching bartonella, babesia, ehrlichia, or anaplasma, to name a few.
Also, look into other parasites. Lots of stuff you can add in to hit those buggers:
realfoodrebel.com/brendas-herbal-dewormer/Also, make sure you check mold issues. You'd hate to be spending all this time treating, only to be constantly exposed to mold toxins. You can try and get a urine analysis done by RealTime Lab, or get a dust sample analysis done by a lab that does ERMI tests.
The fact that you gained 40lbs when you first got sick sounds like hypothyroid. You may want to look into that, as Lyme can really cause your thyroid to mess up, and sometimes going after that directly can have a good impact on healing.
Try this:
Take you temperature 3 hours, 6 hours, and 9 hours after waking up in the morning, for a week. Average the 3 temperatures each day. Check to see if the average daily temperature is low (below 37C), and check to see if it fluctuates wildly from day to day (the latter could indicate adrenal issues).
Fair warning about
this next point, it won't be very popular, and I don't want to offend anyone. Everyone makes the best decisions for their own health, and I wouldn't want to make anyone feel put-off:
I wouldn't see a naturopath, regardless of if they're Lyme-literate, unless I had a very specific test or something that I needed done. Here's the reason:
There is SO much information out there regarding herbs, lifestyle changes, diet, etc., that anyone should be able to make their own protocol, with a decent amount of research.
I mean we have tens of thousands of threads on healingwell with great information, and we have people here (maybe not myself so much) with TONS of knowledge that answer people's questions super quick and are always willing to help out.
On top of that, we have other Lyme forums, blogs, youtube lectures, scientific papers, books, websites, etc etc etc.
Anyone who is willing to spend the time to figure stuff out for themselves can do it.
And it seems you already have. You did it with Buhner!
I think we have a notion as a western society that if we're sick, we have to be in the care of a doctor, but honestly, I think a lot of people can put this information together themselves.
And look, if it's crazy expensive, all the more reason to leave. Think of all the better things you could be spending money on that might contribute towards your health, at a fraction of the cost: herbs, books, tests (blood, urine, stool, environmental tests), an LLMD.
If you do nothing else, in my opinion, seek out a LLMD, and at least give some antibiotics a shot. You're already spending the $ on your naturopath anyway. This time do it with proper detox!
Post Edited (Mustard Seed) : 7/3/2016 7:43:49 AM (GMT-6)