Hi evianangel -
Ugghhh... dealing with an uninformed medical industry is just a pain. At least some of them are well-intentioned, but if it doesn't help us, then it doesn't help us.
The "walk-in clinic" MD is a step removed from an ER doc. Put simply, they are trained differently than primary care physicians. They do triage, not holistic care. So, you got their typical response, which is very uninformed. So, forget what she said. Period. I doubt she gave you a WB test but you should call and find out for sure and ask them to mail you a copy of the test result.
Most people here will suggest that the rheumy MD will not be helpful and may even trigger more stress. The are generally woefully uneducated about
lyme & co. :( But, it's a stone you can look under and hopefully, you'll walk away with a little information. Even a lack of diagnosis is information. But please don't be discouraged if they turn you away w/out much new info. My suggestion is to avoid the lyme conversation, let them evaluate you in "their way" and listen to the outcome. If it's not very definitive, it's time to move on.
It's great that you're on Buhner's protocol - it's unlikely that it will "hurt" and could help you get your treatment jumpstarted. And - 3 days is the tip of the iceberg. What are your expectations by July? I don't want to alarm you but a couple months of treatment is not likely to bring huge progress. Just want you to have realistic expectations.
So - do you intend to find an LLMD? Might be necessary to get a true diagnosis. A good LLMD will do some testing (for more than just lyme & co) but will also strongly investigate your symptom and illness history and help you make a determination about
lyme & co.
If you have it, at some point soon you'll want to increase your doses so that you can eventually get to the optimal dose. If after a few weeks at the optimal dose you still have no herxing or beneficial response to the herbs, you might want to try a different protocol - or re-evaluate which infections you're trying to treat.
The uncertainty is also a stressor. For now, I would focus on a holistic approach to lyme treatment. The good that the protocol does for your body can only be helpful. Regardless of lyme & co, detoxing is very very healthy (most people have issues naturally detoxing and with methylation so this helps support your lymphatic system). The baths and brushing are great! Also be sure to drink lots of water.
I, too, can't be bothered with smoothies and juicing. Plus, since I have issues detoxing and with methylation, I can't process a concentrated level of nutrients - it gives me diarrhea. So, moderation is fine - just be sure to eat lots of fresh (and dark green or other dark colors) veggies, for all the obvious reasons. No, food is not a CURE (there is no panacea so don't bother looking for one). But a good diet is a necessary component of healing so you can't really skimp here. You don't have to be a saint but while you're in treatment, what you don't eat is a little more important than sticking to a strict diet (unless you have GI issues). So you gotta lay off the processed foods, sugars and simple carbs. Some implement high protein or vegetarian diets. I don't know what is best for you but there are some things that we all gotta avoid.
Hope this is helpful -
-p
Post Edited (Pirouette) : 5/8/2016 8:28:24 PM (GMT-6)