Just need some support

I'm feeling so down. After about 2.5 years of antibiotics, antiparasitics and herbs, I thought I had this stuff kicked. Felt pretty darned good for several months, weaned off of all antibiotic herbs/meds for a month. Then I got bitten--by TWO ticks--last month. Started doxy as a preventative and I feel like CRAP again. The symptoms change every day--much more so than they did when I initially got sick. First it was mild joint pain. Then a very sore neck, headache, head pressure and extremely sore upper arms. Next day all of that was gone, and I had soreness in my hips and knees. A couple of days later that was gone, and the pain was back to my upper body. So bizarre!

The past few days the psychological crap has come back--lack of motivation, brain fog, memory issues. I'm SO afraid the intense anxiety will come back. I honestly don't know if I'd make it through that again! I really don't!

I just need some encouragement. And I don't know where to go from here, either. Should I try IV antibiotics? Clearly this crap is in my brain. Does anyone know if I have a chance in heck of getting IV therapy covered by insurance? I have confirmed babesia, by the way, but only band 41 positive on the Western Blot. Would a positive Igenex improve my chances of getting IV therapy covered? I haven't tried an Igenex yet...

So tired and so discouraged right now.

Notquite. - I am SO sorry you are in a really rough patch - your pain comes through clearly and I am sending you such a warm, big hug! You just CANNOT give up hope. You can get through this - you've done it before! You have felt better before and you Will AGAIN - this too shall pas, Notquite. You may need to change Lyme docs - we have all done that at some point or a brand new protocol and that may just be what is needed to get you on the proper healing journey. Keep searching and keep fighting - You are worth it! You know we are here for you! XX

I'm so very, very sorry - but I know exactly how you feel. I've been reinfected as well and am back in treatment again myself. It has to get pretty darned cold for long stretches to keep those ticks dormant until late Spring or early Summer -and much of the country has not had a long enough winter. Our ticks never did go dormant this year - my dog picked up a tick and got the bulls eye rash back in January!!

The most important thing for you right now, is to not panic - no matter how much you want to or how close to it you are. You've got this!! You've been down this road before, you know what to do, your BS sniffer is already primed!!

I chose to go back to what I knew would work for my body and am using the same treatments. I don't want to possibly waste time "trying out" different treatments.

And remember, IV treatment is nor more effective than oral treatments (even for Neuro Lyme), and they are much less costly, much easier and safer than IV treatment - unless a person's gastro tract has been highly compromised, that's when IV treatments are the thing to use.

Oh, and I noticed that my symptoms weren't quite the same either - I'm assuming it's due to being infected with a different strain(s) this time.

Remember, you already have the "road map" on how to heal and have traveled it before, so this is not something new to you - and you have all of us here to help provide information and support again, just like last time! Also, if it would be of any help to talk with me, since I've been reinfected as well, please do feel free to email me if you wish.

You got this!!!

I am surprised your Lyme Doc prescribed only 100 mg twice daily.

I'm glad to hear you are on CC and JK.


Hang in there!

Now that I'm home from work (work a 1/2 day on Wednesdays), I wanted to address some of these other points people are making.

Chappelle--LDI. One of the practitioners I was seeing during my first go-round suggested LDI. But it all sounded so hocus-pocus to me. Are they getting proven, positive results from it? Oh, that and it was kind of expensive, and not covered by insurance.

PeteZa--I hear you re the precipice. And it looks like I've started to slide back down that slippery slope. I believe what got me better last time was a combo of a ton of different antibiotics, trial and error, healthy eating, vitamins, minerals, supportive herbals, herbal antimicrobials, and herbal and conventional anti-parasitics.

needhelp4--Thank you!

Traveler--Thank you for the reminder not to panic, and for the support.

Girlie--thank you.

I'm just not convinced that I'm reinfected, rather than still suffering from the same, original infection. After all, I was probably originally infected by these critters more than 20 years ago, so they had plenty of time to dig in and make themselves at home. How do I know whether this is the same infection or a new one? And does it matter? I'm so confused!

I am sorry to hear that you got bitten again.
It is an awful situation, but you need to stay strong. Think about that you succeeded to kick Lyme and you can do it again.
Maybe you are not infected again, maybe these new ticks didn't have Bb, maybe your bad condition because of the huge stress you had. Try to go to LLMD as soon as possible. Take care.

Having gone through this myself - no it doesn't really matter if you were reinfected or if you relapsed. You still need to be back in treatment.

You do however, have an advantage to those just starting this journey in that you know what you need to do for yourself - where your weak points will likely be, possibly what kind of treatments work well for you, know the need and importance of detoxing and more.

Finding a doctor that takes your insurance is likely the biggest challenge of all of this. The rest of this is stuff you already know about.

Remind yourself (even when you don't feel like it's true!) - you got this!!

bluelyme said...
the llmd i first saw said i would be on abx antofungals and antivirals for the rest of my life...the second said we got to get it out of every cell ...the body regenerates every 7yrs....there are other ways to treat beside abx but in reality is there...?

The first LLMD I saw (who was well known and very well respected), told me I was badly compromised (I knew that! LOL) and would be in treatment for 10 - 15 years with no breaks from treatment or I would relapse and not heal. Yet I healed not with pharma abx, and in only 2 years. These doctors are just human and make mistakes in their opinions as well. Whether to use pharma abx or herbal protocols or both or some other protocol that is safe and effective is a very personal choice.

One lady I've known for the last 9 years has tried every single thing out there, but never had any relief until she tried Essential oils, and now she's finally healing.

It should be understood that most of us that have chronic infections also have viruses and possible fungal issues that we need to address throughout our treatments. I've been very fortunate to have had only very minimal fungal issues, although my EBV and other herpes viruses are driving me up a wall lately! LOL!