Handling Death with Lyme Infection

     This week I lost a close friend suddenly, then last night I lost my Dad. I was able to be with my dad. However, these experiences have been hard and heart wrenching. I have to say I am doing ok, but I wanted to express the Lyme herxing part with you.
     Sometime over the week, which is a holiday week from Lyme treatment, I began to have symptoms I hadn't had in a long time. I began having twitches in my shoulders and legs, and sometimes my whole torso will spasm to one side or the other. It is always a slightly alarming occurrence. I haven't had twitching or spasms for a very long time. My neck has sudden gotten too weak to hold my head up, and my neck and shoulder muscles are 'killing' me. My hands are shaky and seem to have a mind of their own. I have had brain fog, something I have not had in a very, very long time. Lack of sleep and an increase in my pace of life have added to the symptom increase. Even Epsom Salt baths have led to an increase of herxing. which in the long run is a good thing. I have not changed any of my medications. I am facing the pain head on, and letting the herxing slow down at it's own pace. I know it will be less stressful in a short while. I expect at that time to lose the old symptoms and gain the increased functioning I have had since IV treatment and subsequent treatments.
     All this has made me realize I still have a way to go in getting rid of the darn spirochetes which are obviously still invading my body. They are taking advantage of my stressed systems and my inability to keep the bugs at bay.  I know I need to keep the pace of my life simple. This may be the case forever, and as time goes by I will learn how to keep steady through tough times in order to keep symptoms from reoccurring.
     All such a learning process, even though I have been dealing with Lyme for a long time. The only thing I can say is that it has 'only' been the last decade I knew what was messing with my body, and only the past two years I have put into practice the treatment I 'knew' was the one to correct my sickness. I count Dr. Jemsek and the Jemsek Specialty Clinic as one of the greatest blessing to happen in my life. If I had not been treated by him, this kind of stress would put me on bed rest for a week or weeks. What a difference.

Complexities of the Lyme Infection

     Lyme Disease is such a complex disease it is almost too hard to grasp what it does in your (my) body. There are many layers of the disease and symptoms.
     The spirochetes entered my body, and I started to feel sick. I went to a doctor. Many doctors. This is where the information got twisted and greatly misleading. As I have posted, I saw many doctors over many years before it was 'proven' on paper that I really did have Lyme disease. I went through twenty years or more of simple to very complex symptoms and help was askew and discouraging. The more doctors I went to, the more I felt I was never going to get better, and that I was just a mess by design.
      Over the years, and with a LOT of research and the help of Lyme specialists I have begun to understand the complexities of the disease. Which by the way, I would like to refer to as an infection, not a disease. It may be called many different diseases because as it progresses it becomes what doctors have recognized for years as other things. I, for one, do not appreciate the word disease. Lyme is an infection. Period. If you will bear with me, I will call spade a spade and refer to Lyme as an infection.
      With that out of the way, when the infection was delivered into my body, it was very happy. It found it's way through my blood, muscles and finally to my nervous system, where it kind of settled down, and made an home. Not just one home, but many, as it slowly reproduced. This infection is one of the slowest to reproduce of any infection, including TB, which is very slow. As the spirochete enjoyed living off my nerve cells, my body began to malfunction.
     The spirochete is intracellular. That means it can actually enter into a cell and live in it. It makes a meal out of the innards, and then the cell wall collapses around it, and it stays there as long as it wants. When the cell wall collapse over the spirochete, the antibodies can no longer find it, as they think the cell is a regular cell, not a home for a spirochete. This is one way the spirochete lives. The infection even at this stage can cause as many symptoms as it please. Depending on where it decides to live, it causes the symptoms that result. In my case, it seems to me the infection is in my brain, spine, and nerve cells, causing problems with my nervous system and muscular movements. Not to mention tics, spasms, unbearable joint pain, burning sensations, and many other symptoms. At this point of my infection though, I believe the spirochetes are everywhere, to a lesser degree. As antibodies to search for the infection, they find toxins from the moving, hiding spirochetes. The result is tremendous inflammation. Again, wherever the spirochetes, and or co-infections reside equals what my symptoms are, and how decreased my abilities become.
      Spirochetes also form colonies, covered by a protective covering called bio-films. These bio-films again protect the spirochetes from being detected by antibodies. Combine this with any other-co-infections I may have, and no wonder  I have been a complete mess.
       Having been treated, in the past, by only oral antibiotics, I experienced a tremendous amount of herxing. This is when the antibiotics find the spirochetes which are out of hiding, and vulnerable to attack. When they are killed, they give off toxins which cause more inflammation, which cause a great deal of pain, nausea, brain fog, extreme fatigue, etc.. All Lyme infection symptoms, times ten. It is the only way to get to the other side.
       I have been blessed to now have a treatment plan which takes all this into consideration and supplies my body with antibiotics, on and off, and always with supplements which replicate and replace the damaged cell innards. This way, as the spirochete and their toxins are kicked out of my body, (their home), the new cells that replace the damaged ones are healthy. The herxing is less severe in this case.
        This is the top of the iceberg of the Lyme infection and co-infection habits. I believe I am close to the truth in the description. As I go along I learn more and more. I have an insatiable desire to know all I can about these infections, and to share what I find. So, more to come, but right now I have tired myself out.

How Lyme Disease and it's Treatments Work.

A reminder. This is not an endorsement of any treatment plan.

Thanksgiving and work

 Thanksgiving was draining. Dinner, company, and lack of sleep all led to a nauseous, pained, fatigued self. Not to mention I have taken a temporary job through the Christmas season. I am happy to be working and making a little money. It is a good trial for possible future work. The good news is that despite all the activity and symptoms, I have bounced back fairly well. Work leads to some pains and fatigue, but it amazes me I can wake up in the morning feeling well again. That never happened before IV treatment. What a welcome relief. The bad part is, for now, I have less time to blog.

ILADS Live Streaming of 2012 Boston Lyme Disease Conference

ILADS Live Streaming of 2012 Boston Lyme Disease Conference

This is showing Dec. 1 and 2. Check website for your country and time zone.

MY STORM: Battling Lyme--Amber Van Wyk

I'm Lyme De-stressed

     Here is  the remedy I used to de-stress myself the other day when some things went south. I kept a positive attitude and faith that all things will work to the good for us. Then, after painting a while and cooking dinner, I ran a HOT bath. I know I've said this before, but I forgot a few tidbits. Run the hot water to about 1/2 to 3/4 full. When the water is running, close the tub doors or curtain so steam accumulates. Add about 2 cups of Epsom Salts, about 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, and a bar of pure lavender soap. The water should be hot when getting in, a bit tricky. But you do adjust. If you feel beads of sweat on your forehead, congratulations! You're in the zone! Sit there for at least 1/2 hr., and longer if you can. Always have a bottle of either cold green tea or as I like to do, a glass of water with a bunch of lemon slices squeezed into it. Keep hydrated. Bring a good book and soak. A friend of mine told me to rub on aloe vera gel  after I get out. I don't have any right now, but could easily get some. I usually let the salt keep working on me until my morning shower. When all is said and done, the muscles are relaxed, the toxins extracted for the day, and I feel 'light as a feather'. I always picture Ebeneezer Scrooge at the end of the story when he repents and jumps around the room feeling light as a feather. Whether you are in active treatment, or maintaining the ground you have gained, this is an easy way to detox.