How long before you experienced improvement?

One other thing: I have done hormone balancing with progesterone, DHEA, and pregnenolone.

I was going the naturopathic route first for adrenals, thyroid, hormones, and depression. Then I got infected with Lyme, for which I'm doing abx. So I think I bounced back rather well with fatigue and muscle/joint pain in only a few months with all that NP support. It was only ONE month before I noticed enough improvement to think the abx were working and I should continue.

I hit a plateau and singled out babesia symptoms after 3 months, so we started treatment for that. It's been a roller coaster. The dizziness has subsided for the most part, but there are still a few days sprinkled in. While my fatigue and pain are in check, my lung problems flair up, and my depression has set in hard. My brain fog/cognitive function is constantly fluctuating. Some days feel normal and clear, others, like this past week, have been crazy. I hardly understand a single word my husband says to me. Some days I run up the stairs, a little out of breath, other days, I think when I'm herxing, I can hardly sludge up, with every muscle screaming. Some days my whole body feels full of lead. Or ice.

I measure progress in the ratio of good days to awful days. This is where the detailed symptoms journal comes in handy, so I can remember, and then look for patterns, cycle, etc.

Post Edited (BabsBunny) : 3/31/2017 8:02:11 AM (GMT-6)

I've been treating since the end of October and haven't had any huge improvements. Lots of pain, cognitive issues, mood issues, sleep issues still. The only thing that has improved is my daily pressure headaches and those improved with babesia treatment (cryptoplus).

Hi Klaugh,

I've been treating for 20 months. The first 14 were antibiotics, then my gut couldn't take it any more. I've stopped and restarted cowden's 3 times. I used to wish I could just stay with the program as it's suggested, but, I can't and it will do me in if I keep trying..Ok that was off topic and depressing lol.

I'm still dizzy, enough that at times I will wish I wasn't alone and I'm afraid to drive. But some days are a bit better.

You dont mention digest problems. Yay for you! They can really hinder your healing.

My joint pain has improved, my fog comes and goes, it used to plague me constantly.

Just keep plugging along, as they say on this form, slow and steady wins the race😊

I think I might have my desire for socializing returning. It helps if you like who you are hanging out with 😊

I did antibiotics for 5 days - the doc thought I had a sinus infection and gave me a Z-Pac. Silly doc. Then I went to an llmd and he gave me antibiotics for a month. No change and I was sick to my stomach.

Then I started Beyond Balance Sept and the first month felt improvement. I was anxious to get well so I added in Buhner's protocol on to that (low and slow).

By March I had no symptoms but continued with herbs until July to "make sure."

Now the factors that are not mentioned are:

I treated super quickly after the bite

I had been detoxing for years before I got lyme

I ate organic and healthy for years before I got lyme

I had very few illnesses, surgeries, or injuries in my life before lyme.

Pretty much stress free life - retired, enough money, no responsibilities, can come and go when and where I want, LOTS of hobbies and a strong spiritual foundation. Oh, gosh and most important -- HUMOR! Laughs galore in our home.

I think all of the above was the foundation for healing quickly. Or was it just the luck of the draw? The stars were all lined up just right?

I am pretty anal retentive when it comes to doing something, so taking herbs I did not falter but maybe only once or twice due to lyme brain. I could not remember if I had taken my herbs an hour after taking them......

The point of this is that no one can give you a timeline. By giving mine do I set you up for disappointment? Or is it hope I give you? I constantly worry that MY timeline will hurt yours and I do not want that.

Your life will not be like mine and mine will not be like yours. Too many variables.

However, you are not the first, nor will you be the last, to ask the question of "how long until I get well?" Just don't give up!

My mantra was "Day by day, in every way, I am getting better and better."

Klagh said...
Thanks PeteZa!! I LOVE encouraging stories.

You are so welcome!

I always worry if someone will compare themselves to me and get disappointed. I surely do not want that. I just want other to know they can heal.

I wish you all the best and this is the best place to come for questions. I can say that at one time everyone on this board new nothing about lyme. It is a learning process. We have to learn about it because so many doctors do not know about it.

Yes, you will get some wildly varying answers because there are so many variables involved - length of infection, time taken to find what treatment works, external stressors (ie life besides lyme), etc etc.

One thing I certainly 'overlooked' (because I didn't have any knowledge or understanding of it) was the individuals ability to detox. I didn't make any real improvements until I had my genetics tested for detoxification issues. I was treating for what felt like an age and had to keep stopping treatment because of the herxing. Since I sorted that little jigsaw I have made significant improvements in a relatively short space of time.

It is the figuring it out that is sometimes what holds some of us back from improvement. Keep on asking questions till you get your jigsaw sorted out, lol!!

I had my genetics tested with a company called 23andme. It is in the US and you order a test kit from them online. You spit in a test tube, mail it to them and you get back the result which you can use an online service to identify which, if any, mutations you have relating to detoxing. It is really simple. I think it cost about 100bucks though this might have increased??

I was blown away, since it turned out that I was a walking mutant, lol!! No, seriously I have several homozygous mutations (so a 'double duff copy') of the genes specific to what is called the methylation cycle - which is why I simply wasn't detoxing no matter how many of the usual detox methods I employed.

I now take a supplement called L-ornithine which was the clincher for me along with a B12 and methylfolate. I wrote quite a detailed post on how specific mutations link to detoxing problems and how one might be able to address them. It isn't extremely detailed but gives a basic guide. I will see if I can dig it out and link it here.

It may or may not be a relevant issue for you but if you feel like the detox isn't working it may be worth an investigation if you have the funds for it?

One mo, I will find that post....

As mentioned by those who posted before me, your question is a tough one to answer and it's because of those variables.

In his book "Unlocking Lyme", Dr. Rawls terms those variables "System Disruptors" which set the stage for chronic illness.

/rawlsmd.com/featured-posts/chronic-immune-dysfunction-lyme-disease

My signature shows my timeline. There was much "life" happening when I got bit by the tick....some of it good and some of it bad - the majority of it was stressful (stress is one of the biggest "system disruptors"). Couple the continuing stress with my thyroid becoming more uncooperative ala Lyme and my journey has taken quite awhile.

My thyroid has FINALLY stabilized at my optimal levels (last time my levels were "good" was July 2014...I've been dealing with autoimmune thyroid disease since 2007 - long before Lyme.)

I'm feeling really good - actually better than I ever have.

I still have super-mild flares of tingling and such but I feel like I made it ;)

Everyone has the potential to heal. Trust your gut and take good care of yourself.

CD3764 - YOU SAY:clinical Lyme dx due to Bells Palsy/started abx (CDC positive IgM)

I had Bell's Palsy in 2012. I went to the doc, they gave me something, can't remember what, and it went away.
But it wasn't until 2014 that my health REALLY started doing downhill, and I retired.

Thanks to everyone for all the answers!

Klagh said...
CD3764 - YOU SAY:clinical Lyme dx due to Bells Palsy/started abx (CDC positive IgM)

I had Bell's Palsy in 2012. I went to the doc, they gave me something, can't remember what, and it went away.
But it wasn't until 2014 that my health REALLY started doing downhill, and I retired.

Thanks to everyone for all the answers!

You were probably given steroids which is the common treatment for Bells Palsy. My GP offered them to me but I declined because I'd learned that steroids are contraindicated in Lyme because they suppress the immune system.

It's possible you were near your "boiling point" and 2014 is when things "overflowed"

/rawlsmd.com/featured-posts/chronic-immune-dysfunction-lyme-disease

Best wishes to you on your healing journey!