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Does anyone else look/feel swollen all the time?

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Posted 4/10/2022 1:10 PM (GMT -5)
Since my Lyme flared up from a mold exposure a few years ago, I’ve been underweight, even skinny.
However, last year I was exposed to about 5 months of non stop terrible air quality from wildfires. Since then, I’ve gained about 15 lbs and constantly look swollen. When I try to lift something heavy, the skin on my fingers gets bruised and starts to rip because it’s swollen.

I’m in a much cleaner environment now, do plenty of detoxing, I’ve been on a low inflammatory diet for years, dry brush, stretch, sauna, and have started strength training exercises about a month ago.

Nothing moves the needle on the swollen look, though. It’s uncomfortable at best, I frequently can’t wear certain items of clothing on bad days, and I admit, it’s running down my self esteem always looking like this.

Does anyone have any tips about this?
Posted 4/11/2022 10:05 AM (GMT -5)
weird and wonderful symptoms that seem to defy explanation are a common part of lyme and related infections - and as such could be caused by any one of them - partly due to something called the variable host response - where difference in the individual cause different symptoms from the same infection.

however - of the co-infections Rickettsia is the one most associated with generalised oedema ( swelling) it tends to damage the blood vessels causing leakage of plasma into the tissues and fluid collects in the tissues leading to puffiness and swelling - often more in the lower limbs - due to the added effects of gravity.

if that sounds like what could be going on - it might be worth testing for rickettsia with one of the better labs - eg Igenex if in USA - perhaps Armin Labs if in Europe
Posted 4/11/2022 10:47 AM (GMT -5)
My girlfriend has had some problems with this and one reason can be poor lymph flow. You can do a lymph massage for example. We also bought a vibration platform that she used frequently.
Posted 4/11/2022 1:33 PM (GMT -5)

Garzie said...
weird and wonderful symptoms that seem to defy explanation are a common part of lyme and related infections - and as such could be caused by any one of them - partly due to something called the variable host response - where difference in the individual cause different symptoms from the same infection.

however - of the co-infections Rickettsia is the one most associated with generalised oedema ( swelling) it tends to damage the blood vessels causing leakage of plasma into the tissues and fluid collects in the tissues leading to puffiness and swelling - often more in the lower limbs - due to the added effects of gravity.

if that sounds like what could be going on - it might be worth testing for rickettsia with one of the better labs - eg Igenex if in USA - perhaps Armin Labs if in Europe

That’s very interesting to note about rickettsia. I tested positive for IgG rickettsia on the Vibrant America Lyme and co test.

It could be quasi related, as in its my detox pathways blocked due to all the issues Lyme causes. As I mentioned, it started with a period of very poor air quality (I swelled up about 5 inches a week).
Posted 4/11/2022 1:35 PM (GMT -5)

Deep_sleep said...
My girlfriend has had some problems with this and one reason can be poor lymph flow. You can do a lymph massage for example. We also bought a vibration platform that she used frequently.

Ah yes, that’s true. I do have really poor lymph function.
I find that doing charcoal, bentonite clay, and castor oil masks on certain sections of lymph nodes can help when they are painful and swollen.
Posted 4/11/2022 5:06 PM (GMT -5)
you could try some of the herbs that are supposed to protect the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels

the main ones that come to mind are
Japanese knotweed
Salvia Miltiorrhiza

the latter apparently helps the lymph and spleen ( part of the lymph system )

are you treating the infections ?
Posted 4/11/2022 6:48 PM (GMT -5)

Garzie said...
you could try some of the herbs that are supposed to protect the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels

the main ones that come to mind are
Japanese knotweed
Salvia Miltiorrhiza

the latter apparently helps the lymph and spleen ( part of the lymph system )

are you treating the infections ?

I’m about to restart with the Green Dragon LB Core. I took about a month off, besides having JK tea; my LLMB put me on abx that had a bad reaction so I needed a break.

Thanks for pointing out the endothelial aspect. I had no idea about salvia Miltiorrhiza. I used to take Arterosil, which is an amazing supplement for endothelial lining (I have heart murmurs with any kind of exertion and Arterosil really helps). It’s expensive, though, so I stopped a few months ago. Actually, that was right around when the swelling got worse. Thanks so much for your help with this. I think it’s something that needs to be addressed!
Posted 4/12/2022 2:44 PM (GMT -5)
that supplement has some clinical trials to back it up - which is good

but as you know - the price of things with a proprietary mix and this type of evidence tends to be through the roof

however, most of the things in it can be eaten as foods

the main ingredient seems to be an extract of seaweed for its sulphated polysaccharides
all edible seaweeds - red and green have these compounds in them
the rest are mainly colourful fruits and things with polyphenols, green tea etc
Posted 4/13/2022 9:23 AM (GMT -5)
Yes. I have frequent bouts of edema. I have finally come to the conclusion that it’s MCAS related. Taking 1/2 Zyrtec 1-2 times a day and other MCAS treatments definitely helps. Avoiding food triggers helps, too. Food triggers for me - coffee, nuts, chocolate, sugar, maybe tea.
Posted 4/13/2022 11:20 AM (GMT -5)

Garzie said...
that supplement has some clinical trials to back it up - which is good

but as you know - the price of things with a proprietary mix and this type of evidence tends to be through the roof

however, most of the things in it can be eaten as foods

the main ingredient seems to be an extract of seaweed for its sulphated polysaccharides
all edible seaweeds - red and green have these compounds in them
the rest are mainly colourful fruits and things with polyphenols, green tea etc

That’s a really good idea, thank you! That’s much more sustainable and cost effective. I love seaweed and definitely would benefit from having it more regularly. I rarely eat red seaweed, so this is a good reminder.
Posted 5/23/2022 10:35 AM (GMT -5)
I ordered Arterosil from Fullscript after seeing it mentioned here. I just finished up a bottle of Boluoke lumbrokinase and a bottle of Serrapeptase. I took the Boluoke for 2 months - 1 capsule a day. While I felt like it was good for me, I couldn’t really feel what it was doing.

I just started the Arterosil. Thought I would trial it and see if I feel any effects from it.

I have mitral valve regurge/prolapse but no other heart issues that I know of. My cholesterol is high, though. That’s one reason I thought it would be a good idea to try this.

Not sure if I will notice anything from it. though, since I noticed nothing definable with Boluoke.
Posted 5/23/2022 10:49 AM (GMT -5)

WalkingbyFaith said...
I ordered Arterosil from Fullscript after seeing it mentioned here. I just finished up a bottle of Boluoke lumbrokinase and a bottle of Serrapeptase. I took the Boluoke for 2 months - 1 capsule a day. While I felt like it was good for me, I couldn’t really feel what it was doing.

I just started the Arterosil. Thought I would trial it and see if I feel any effects from it.

I have mitral valve regurge/prolapse but no other heart issues that I know of. My cholesterol is high, though. That’s one reason I thought it would be a good idea to try this.

Not sure if I will notice anything from it. though, since I noticed nothing definable with Boluoke.

Let me know if you notice anything! Since I was a teenager, I noticed my heart 'pops' with any kind of exertion (even shredding vegetables). This significantly worsened when I was living in mold and my Lyme reactivated. I would lose my breath when it happened and have to double over to try to breath.
My ND at the time found that I had elevated MPO, a biomarker of cardiovascular inflammation.
My ND at the time put me on this and I have noticed over time, those episodes really receded. I tried going off of it for about 4 months and they started coming back. I'm still young and have low cholesterol, but I have a history of heart diseases in my family. Plus, the chronic stress of illness definitely puts a pressure on it.

How have you done with Serrapeptase? I've struggled so badly with fatigue every time I've tried it.
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