Listen to your body or your doc??

[Ephedra]

Feel like the more medications and antibiotics I take, the worse I feel- like I'm going backwards with treatment.  Not the definition of a herx in that it's not necessarily a worsening of my symptoms nor does it let up.  Actually, it tends to get worse the longer I am on a particular medication.  For once in a lifetime I am following the advice of a doctor, but I am just not sure about all this.  I'm the one suffering, not the doc.  I'm still popping these pills and following the plan, but my mind and body says to stop.  Please help!!!  

Any advice??    

[cave76]

I'm also curious about what made you think you weren't being helped by antibiotics? Were you feeling worse? There can be many reasons for that besides the antibiotics failing to kill bacteria.

Also---- the IgG and IgM antibody tests are far from good indicators. They change and change and change.

[cave76]

Perhaps you were remembering the caution about not taking calcium near doxy? Antacids contain both calcium and magnesium.

[Ephedra]

Thanks a lot!  For some reason I was thinking that antacids interact with some antibiotics.  Not sure where that thought came from.  But I will definitely have to try some of that.

I have no idea why, but apparently I am extremely sensitive to medications.  I've had reverse reactions to nearly everyone I've tried so far.  If I'm one that needs high powered antibiotics to make progress, I think there may be a problem.  

Thanks again!

[Ricobord]

Mojo - How are you doing on your new protocol  I really hope you're feeling better.

I am curious how an IGeneX test could show you are worse.  Are you talking about the levels of antibodies?  Were they higher or lower than before?

[Ricobord]

And like Mojogal, I started taking Burbur, also.

[Ricobord]

When I went off antibiotics and onto herbals to let my kidneys rest, I got worse.  I have found that I'm a person who needs high powered antibiotics to make any progress.

On my current antibiotic, I just feel awful.  I can totally relate to feeling like @$#!  If I don't feel any better near the end of this initial 2 month regimen, I think I'll ask for a different med.  Several symptoms are greatly improved or resolved, so I know it's having a significant effect.  The problem is my debilitating malaise and fatigue aren't easing up.

What has helped a bit is detoxing. I take alka seltzer gold (order it online) to alkalanize my body. Sipping lemon water all day helps alkalanize, too. It's easier for the immune system and the elimination systems to do their job when you're not too acidic. I also take antihistamines every day, which help keep inflammation down. (I just learned about that.) I now have swollen lymph nodes (that's new for me), so I use a homeopathic remedy for lymphatic drainage.

I take anti-inflammatory supplements & antioxidants, including quercetin, resveratrol, alpha lipoic acid, NAC, and arginine. And I take magnesium (citrate, malate, orotate, or aspartate) 3 times a day. It's proven to be soothing to my muscles and nerves.

All this "little" stuff really does add up and help you feel better.  The idea is to support your body through the treatment process by getting inflammation down, flushing out your system (drink plenty of water, no soda or caffeine), and keeping yeast under control.  Too much inflammation or yeast seem to block treatment.

And I definitely feel worse when I eat sugar. That seems to be the one universal thing among Lyme patients.  If you're craving something sweet, eat a sweet orange instead. Our immune systems really do need Vit C.

I hope you start feeling better soon!!

[Ephedra]

Thanks!

No, I don't take anything for hexing as my symptoms always seem to match up more with the side effects but I may have to try that.  Doc even said that it does not sound like a herx but that doesn't mean it's not..  I just feel like I'm being pulled in different directions.

You said that you "did another IgeneX test and found out I got worse" how did you find this out?  

I am actually considering going all natural, and that I never thought that I would.  These oral antibiotics are just making me sick- I think.

I am chronically ill with late stage Lyme as well.  

[mojogal]

Ephedra, I have been where you are several times when I was on abx. I thought I going backwards but it was a flare up or herx.

Do you take things for herxing? If you take something for herxing daily that might just be reduced. I take burbur and pinella daily. Its part of Dr Cowden's protocol but many people take it to help the herxes. Its on Amazon.

Just from my own personal experience, I popped a million pills for 18 months and did another IgeneX test and found out I got worse. I still had Lyme, got a new co-infection called mycoplasma and I thought I was cured of Babesia but I still have that and Bart's. That is when I decided to go on naturals. My liver enzymes were to high anyway.

My case may be different then yours because I am late stage chronic Lyme.

I have learned that Doctors don't know everything. I recently had a cardiologist yell at me and primary care doctor told me I don't have lyme even though it was written in black and white. Ugh