BVT Update (3.5 months)

I wasn't planning on doing this until at least 6 months. But what the hey...

First off, I'd like to start by saying that I recognize everyone's path to healing is different. I am not writing to try and manipulate anyone into thinking bvt is the only way to recovery. This is just my experience.

A little background before I started...

Symptoms started in the summer of 2016 after being bit by a tick in N VA while camping. Everything came crashing down June 2017. I was diagnosed with Lyme and other infections and viruses in August 2017. I was immediately placed on an abx protocol.

Over the next 3 months, I got worse and ultimately had to go on short term disability. I stopped abx towards the end of Nov per a doctor's instructions in preparation for a lyme treatment protocol at Sanoviv in Mexico. Went to Sanoviv in December, but was unable to complete hyperthermia treatment because of swelling in my brainstem. Came back home and started on a very aggressive abx protocol that left me pretty much bed bound. My neuropathy got worse and I felt like I was going insane.... literally. Despite my LLMD's recommendations, I stopped abx treatment after a month after receiving my worst lab results to date.

I was at a loss. I looked into hyperbaric treatment and was sponsored for 40 sessions by an organization who supports war veterans. It actually helped a lot. I felt I was on my road to recovery. But, a week after ending hyperbaric treatments, I started getting exponentially worse. I was terrified. I was very close to heading back to my LLMD to have him put me back on an aggressive abx protocol.

That's when I started seeing some more posts on this forum talking about bvt. I researched it. I discovered Ellie Lobel, her testimony, and her protocol and was drawn to it. There is an older gentleman at my church who was telling me about his father, who kept bees. His father was dealing with some pretty severe arthritis in his hands. He told me his dad would stick his hands in the bees to get stung when his arthritis would flare. His hands would swell up for a few days. But once the swelling was gone, his hands would be pain free for about 6 months.

That was the story that was the last push for me into the bvt realm. Ok. So, I started with a test sting (1sting left in for 10 seconds and observe for anaphylaxis for 30 minutes). After that, 1 full sting left in for 20 minutes. The day after my first sting I suffered an increase in fatigue and tinnitus. I also started experiencing an uncomfortable and sort of strain with my speech. Pretty alarming. I stuck with it, and by 5 weeks I had worked my way up to 10 stings. I probably should have ramped up slower. But I'm a knucklehead. It was rough, but the herxing became very routine.

After getting to 10 stings, my speech issues became worse while herxing. about 2 to 4 hours after stinging is when my herxing begins and will last about 24 hours. I will initially get an increase in tinnitus, then fatigue, followed by motor stiffness and a strain with speech. Once I stopped saunas and epsom salt baths, and focused more on exercise for detox, the herxing became much more manageable.

My biggest improvements, I've noticed have been this past month. My fatigue has pretty much disappeared. Ever since before my diagnosis last year, I have dealt with tendon pain. Especially in my knees to where I was unable to bend them and crouch down. Two weeks ago I did this pain free. My mobility has been up and down. This is something that may be permanent. But, I can walk further than I have been able to in a year. And I biked pretty heavily for 70 minutes last Thursday. Besides some occasional neuropathy in my 4th little piggy, my neuropathy is gone.

Things that have popped up....
While my speech issues have improved, I have developed some concerning swallowing issues. Along with this, I developed a rash and blistering on my face, which subsided a week ago. I have also developed scratches and sores on my head, forehead, and neck.. And just after stinging yesterday, I came down with a sore throat and small cold. I am convinced, especially now after reading an article WBF shared with me, that this is a BLO. And sometimes my fasciculations are widespread and unrelenting. Especially in my calves.

While the swallowing issues are concerning, seeing as how my speech issues are resolving, it gives me comfort that this is fleeting.

More updates to come...

Great your seeing benefits with this.

"........after reading an article WBF shared with me, that this is a BLO"

1)BLO? I've never been an acronym genius. (BLO was on 80's Miami Vice TV show a lot though,obviously not your reference)
------------------------------------
My "ponderings"-

2)Since Bee venom therapy (as we see it) is centered around lyme, Ive never seen what other tic illnesses it helps, or even non tic infections/viruses it can possibly help with.

3)I wonder what bee venom effects are with autoimmune people. The immune response with autoimmune can be very unpredictable. Has the potential to be bad, thats why I never tried it in the past.

Admittedly, I have not searched for these answers. Hopefully in time we will know in the future as this is still a very "underground" treatment.

Yay hoagie. ...

Blo - bartonella like organism

Bee venom regulates th1 and th2 autoimmune markers ...

they are studying blue scorpion venom as it decimates brain cancer.

bluelyme said...
Yay hoagie. ...

Blo - bartonella like organism

Bee venom regulates th1 and th2 autoimmune markers ...

they are studying blue scorpion venom as it decimates brain cancer.

Thanks BL. You were the one who initially planted the bvt seed in mah brain.

Hoagie said...

bluelyme said...
Yay hoagie. ...

Blo - bartonella like organism

Bee venom regulates th1 and th2 autoimmune markers ...

they are studying blue scorpion venom as it decimates brain cancer.

Thanks BL. You were the one who initially planted the bvt seed in mah brain.

He's planted the bvt seed in many of our brains...lol...I've considered it too...and considering my fear for all insects..especially stinging ones....that's saying something...lol.

astroman said...


***What I dont get is - why are a couple locals doing BVT going on three years or so? *** Thats a lot of bee stings, too many for most people wishes.

I can’t see that in his post

I did see he mentioned Ellie is in remission for 3 years now

Hoagie said...

astroman said...
Ill have to read up on the BVT and autoimmune.

Still going to retest autoimmune a while longer on my lab tested / blood proven , custom "super diet" - its helping but not curing my autoimmune yet.

Cant do two body experiments at once either.

***What I dont get is - why are a couple locals doing BVT going on three years or so? *** Thats a lot of bee stings, too many for most people wishes.

The protocol is meant to last 2 to 3 years. Ellie was healed after 2.5 years. Some people sting up to 3 years. Even if you are on the fence on doing it, I encourage you to join the FB group. There is a files section with TONS of info. And there is a testimonies file that is packed with accounts of different members journeys towards recovery. It is extremely inspiring. And Ellie is a very active admin. She eased my mind on a few things before I started.

2.5 to 3 years, holy @#%$.

But are these BVT groups mostly lyme interested recovery or doing for autoimmune too? Per my sig, lyme seems to be gone.

Worse thing with autoimmune its its such a wide variety vs the people with it. Its far more confusing than lyme, lacks public focus and healing. Per health care, "Autoimmune is forever" so they dont even try - and most patients believe this line.

thanks

Astro - sry bout that.

I have a good friend with RA. He has not only put it in remission, but has gained a ton of ground in the past 5 years strictly with exercise and diet. I understand this is what you are doing. He started out with an elimination diet. Once he discovered what foods to avoid, that stopped the progression. Once he added in power lifting, that started reversing his condition. He is now 50 years old and in better shape than 80% of his peers. 15 years ago he would come home from work and literally crawling around his home on his hands and knees. Constant pain. Now, he only has pain when he eats something wrong. He says it lasts 2 days and then he's back on track.

Ive been refining the diet for almost two years, this newest version has only been two months so far, time will tell. If that doesn't work 100%, I'm always looking for other options. I exercise much more again vs my abyss of 2005-2016.

Congrats to your friend. Did he try BVT at all?

I crawled in pain a few day/week in 2005, and that led to my first experience with hard core Rx pain meds. Then I layed on the floor with a fuzzy brain. Not much better. I knew then I had to goggle more, as online was just starting to have more health info but lacked forums.

Fast forward: Time and age are funny and cruel at the same time.. In my 20's I remember seeing the occasional rarity of the unusually fit 50+ year old "gym rat" standing out of the 20-35 year old gym crowd. As I look around, I slowly turned into one myself. It would be awesome to do that with no health issues. I dont look, feel or act "old", but time reminds me that I am. Prob wont fool people anymore once (whenever) the gray hair starts lol..

I cant believe how many "illness free" middle-older people continue to disrespect their bodies from a health standpoint when they could be in great condition. They have no idea what a GIFT being "illness free" is, while, unfortunately, are slowly accumulating "lifestyle choice" health issues by "super sizing" it.

Post Edited (astroman) : 11/4/2018 1:01:02 PM (GMT-7)

Hoagie said...
Astro, I understand you have the diet you are on now, but have you heard of Clean Gut by Dr Junger? Supposed to be a phenomenal elimination program. I tried it, but my body does absolutely horrible on low carb.

Have not heard of him. But, of the foods I avoid, many are carb loaded. I have noticed in the past my body doesn't respond well to high carbs, even with physical endurance past, I never felt a positive from high carbs. History of gut candida could be part of the reason too.

I tested 170 foods, food chemicals and spices' cytokine reaction level to my blood - lab test. Even though I've never seen this written as such, one could call this a low cytokine diet.

I remember reading high spirited don chanting about the msm and sulfur helping to take down bartonellas defenses.

Auto immune = what is in the cells that the wbc are attacking?
Myco ,erlichia ? can u do a giemsa smear yourself? See inside rbc

I am approaching year 3 .thousands of stings ...Though i may have taken a week or 2 off its been my staple go to...my lifesaver. ...

Im sorta glad not every chron ill person has the hootspah to do the treatment or even try ...there not enough bees in the world left !
Astro the autimmune regulation was explained to me by c.kleronemos where it downregulates one with it awesome anti inflammatory properties and ,up regulates the other by essentially giving it something else to attack instead of the body (pathogen inside the cell)

Hoagie keep us updated and please post regularly to the bvt thread for posterity

1000Daisies said...

bluelyme said...

I am approaching year 3 .thousands of stings ...Though i may have taken a week or 2 off its been my staple go to...my lifesaver. ...

I truly hope those promoting bvt discuss the con of many, many bees being killed for this. I think it's a legit concern of some but rarely have I seen it discussed or even mentioned.

bluelyme actually mentioned it in his post you referred to.

Maybe the bees are being 'raised' for this in particular...meaning they are 'extra' bees. IDK.

I remember as a child seeing bees all the time - when outside in my yard.
Now, they're few and far between. It is very real...the shortage ....scary.

Part of repaying is raising a hive or two ...a good hive generates 30k bees a year ...that otherwise wouldnt be there ...its a exchange they give their lives for helping them
.
Though i also had moral and fearful objections they were silenced with results and necessity...i refer to my hootspah line. ..and will be happy to explain injectable venom if any can afford it ...
They do need our help ,and there are people who just TAKE...but once the bees get you well i hope you would give back too? !

Post Edited (bluelyme) : 11/5/2018 10:50:31 AM (GMT-7)