I am six months down the road of treatment for my Chronic Lyme Disease and Co-Infections. I have many more months, maybe years, possibly even my lifetime to go.
6 Months = 1/2 Year = 182.621099 days of Treatment for My Chronic Lyme and Co-Infections.
It took me well over 6 years to be properly and successfully diagnosed for Chronic Lyme Disease and Co-Infections. Even though I had gained necessary knowledge about Lyme Disease and Co-Infections during those long six plus years, the medical community I was looking to, turned a blind eye to everything I said. Now, after being properly diagnosed I have hit the six month mark of my extensive treatment. My medications have changed over the course of this time to better address the infections and changes within my body.
I spoke to my incredible lyme literate doctor, Doctor ‘H,’ at great lengths the other day. Discussing my current symptoms, the ones that have somewhat subsided and the ones that have continued to haunt me, he felt it was best to make changes in my treatment plan. ”At this stage, the six month mark, we should be seeing more of a breakthrough in the Bartonella and we are not. We need to change-up your meds a bit.”
February 24, 2011. I am now on the following treatment plan:
Continue on Rifampin 3 times a day. I am only a good 2 months into taking Rifampin. Doc ‘H’ believes I need to give it at least 3 months to see if the Rifampin is making any positive changes.
Discontinue Doxycycline.
Start Omnicef. This is the pill/tablet form of Rocephin. In 2004, when I was first treated for Lyme Disease, I self-administered Rocephin through a PICC line several times a day. Unfortunately, I was not ‘allowed’ by the CDC to continue treatment long enough for me to eliminate the lyme infection. That is why I am where I am today: treating what is now Chronic Lyme Disease and Co-Infections. I am fighting for my life.
Continue Nexium once a day to protect my ‘gut.’
Continue High Potency Probiotics daily. I currently take PEARLS Elite 5x High Potency Probiotics. Probiotics are necessary to keep ‘good bacteria’ in your intestines and ‘gut.’
Continue Nystatin 3 times a day to control yeast growth. Taking strong antibiotics for a long period of time will kill all the bacteria in your system including the good bacteria. That is why it is essential to replenish the good bacteria by taking a High Potency Probiotic AND take a fungal control medication such as Nystatin. Otherwise, you could easily acquire intestinal yeast, as I did early on in my treatment. I was not taking a strong enough probiotic. With in a couple of weeks of treatment, my abdomen filled up with yeast and swelled to the size of a six month pregnancy.
Continue Prenatal Vitamin (easier on stomach) 1 tablet daily.
Continue Ester C, Magnesium and Alpha Lipoic Acid daily.
I also continue healthy eating habits. I have eliminated most if not all sugar and carbohydrates. Sugar feeds the yeast. I do not eat any fruit since fruit also contains sugar. Even the natural sugars are dangerous and feed into the yeast growth. Since my body is already susceptible to yeast, it is important NOT to feed into it. I follow a diet high in protein and low in fat. I eat as many fresh vegetables as I can. I am anxiously awaiting Summer when our vegetable garden will be flourishing with fresh vegetables to eat!
I do not consume caffeine, except for one cup of coffee in the morning. These days I have lost my taste for coffee. Therefore, it has not been difficult to cut out the morning cup of java. I do not drink ANY alcohol. Not only would consuming alcohol at this time make it more difficult for my body to heal, but also, the medications I am on would cause some serious side effects if mixed with alcohol. I drink large amounts of water throughout the day. I drink water throughout the night, having a large jug filled on my bedside table. Green Tea is an excellent choice for another healthy beverage. I drink it occasionally. I have found a detox tea, Yogi Detox Tea, that I enjoy. It helps to detox the kidneys and liver while on strong medications. The important thing to note is this tea can only be consumed at certain times. If consumed too close to the taking of medication, it will ‘wash out’ or eliminate the medications just taken, therefore not allowing the medications to do their job.
My Current Symptoms:
Numbness on my right side is becoming increasingly worse. I find myself stumbling a lot because of the loss of feeling in my right leg. It is difficult to walk. I rarely drive unless it is a very short distance. I do not trust my right leg at this time. It is difficult to hold objects in my right hand. The fingers on my right hand are constantly cold.
Hair Loss. This is a new symptom. Thank God I was blessed with a thick head of hair. I spoke to Doc ‘H’ about my hair loss. He confirmed it was part of the treatment and actually a good sign that the treatment is starting to work.
Severe neck spasms and muscle spasms throughout my entire body.
Deep penetrating muscle pain, mostly in the large muscle groups.
Severe migraine headaches.
Sensitivity to bright light and sound.
Depression. My depression has become much worse. I cry easily at just about anything.
Short term memory loss and Brain Fog.
Cognitive Issues continue, however, I do feel I am able to read, write and think more than before I started treatment. There are still days when nothing makes sense to me; I can not speak clearly or focus.
No appetite. None whatsoever. I have to make myself eat. I follow an eating schedule along with the medications I have to take. Everything has to be properly in sync.
Fever and Night Time Sweats.
I have lost between 20 and 25 pounds in the last six months.
I have made it six months into treatment. However, I know this is only the beginning. As Doc ‘H’ told me the other day, “Debbie, you only have the tip of your toe in the water at this time. You have a long way to go. If you stop treatment now, there is the issue of mortality. You did not become CHRONIC over night. It will take a long time to treat you, but I will do as much as I can to get you there.” He also mentioned that as long as he has been treating people afflicted with Lyme Disease and Co-Infections, it is the people like me who educate themselves to the best of their ability, who tend to heal more quickly–if not physically, then mentally.
I will continue my journey. I will continue my research. I will continue to try and help educate people about Lyme Disease and how dangerous it is. I will continue to be a Lyme Disease Awareness advocate. My DREAM is that people will start to listen, learn and act. Then my journey will be worth my constant pain, my changed life, the dreams I have been forced to put on hold or possibly throw away, the sacrifices my family has had to make, and possibly the loss of my life. If only more people would listen.
One of my Lyme Disease Awareness Designs. www.cafrepress.com/DontTICKmeOff. www.cafepress.com/DontTICKmeOff1. www.cafepress.com/DontTICKmeOff2.
