Weeks 27: Burn Out and Yeast

For a variety of reasons this drug holiday was overdue and by the time it rolled around I felt like my body was "burned out" from the intense IV treatments. Here lies the dilemma in Lyme treatments: is the the treatment too toxic or are you herxing? Most likely it is both. This is where pulsing makes so much sense to me. I could not imagine doing drugs everyday, day in and day out, continually beating down my body.

I believe the goal in "conquering" chronic infections like Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella,and perhaps the XMDR virus is to fortify the immune system so it can go back to doing its job. Herbs or antibiotics will surely lower the infectious load but I don't believe these infections are ever entirely eliminated. To resume a great life you need to improve your overall health. Yes, lowering your infectious load is necessary, but overall health and balance with adequate detox, immune and hormone supports are perhaps equally important.

I have had Lyme since childhood. I lived a full life, though I frequently had to build up my body with all of the other things we grow tired of hearing about (herbs, hormones, supplements, good diet, etc). Unfortunately despite this, reinfection with a (seriously contaminated) tick leveled me in 2007.

Throughout my illness I had been faithfully supplementing with Transfer factors, vitamins/minerals, adrenal hormones (Pregnenolone, DHEA),and Estradiol/Progesterone. Normally, during drug holidays I added detox treatments, (infrared sauna, IV vitamin C, B complex, Magnesium, trace minerals, Methyl B12, and Zinc), followed with IV Glutathione, oral NAC, and vitamin E. But by week 27 I was too wiped out to get it together to do any of these marvelous things. I had "hit the wall."

I felt burned out from everything- drugs, supplements, IV pushes, gluten-free bread, IV nurses, green drinks, lab tests, you name it. Burn out can be a slippery slope, and in this apathetic state I became lax with Probiotics and developed yeast- severe, intractable yeast. Diflucan, Nystatin, Clotrimazole, and other anti-fungal salves had no effect. Thankfully, my orthomolecular practitioner prescribed Pleomorphic Alba (www.naturalhealthyconcepts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc? ), which worked immediately. I started back on Sacharomyces, (4/day), with 2 capsules of full spectrum probiotics, and glasses of Goat Milk Kefir. Yeast brought me out of supplement disdain and apathy.

P.S. Despite my burned out state, I was still able to do household duties, something I had not been able to accomplish prior to IV therapies.

Tigecycline- Works Well but Watch Out For the Sun

Intracellular drug levels of many antibiotics are reduced by efflux pumps which often make the intracellular levels of the drug too low to have a beneficial effect. With Tigecycline, the efflux pump is inhibited which increases intracellular concentrations. Nausea can be extreme in some cases. Sun sensitivity is an issue, so beware in these summer months.

My personal experience was that Tigecycline cleared out my head! There's no other way that I can put it.

Are Some IBS Patients Suffering from Bartonella?

Many IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), patients were shown to be "cured," following treatment with a Rifamycin like drug (Rifaximin).

Bartonella infection can cause a host of gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, reflux, diarrhea and generalized bowel upset. It can often be difficult to distinguish Bartonella die-off from antibiotic associated side effects.

http://ihealthbulletin.com/blog/2010/05/04/rifaximin-antibiotic-treatment-irritable-bowel-syndrome/

Week 26: IV Meropenem (Merrem) and Levaquin

This was my first experience with Meropenem (Merrem). Laboratory tests have shown Meropenem behaves similarly to Ceftriaxone on Borrelia (Lyme bacteria). I think Ceftriaxone is toxic and overused. Lyme sufferers have enough misery, and shouldn't have to deal with gallbladder removal, as a result of prolonged (daily) exposure to Ceftriaxone. There is also likely to be less drug resistance with Meropenem.

Meropenem caused many of my Lyme symptoms to emerge. I developed pain in my knees,wrists, shoulder, and fingers. I also had a LOT of fatigue. Initially I slept soundly for 12 to 14 hours and took naps in the afternoon. However, as Levaquin hyperactivity took over, my fatigue was replaced with hyperactivity. At times it was uncomfortable as I felt tired, but restless at the same time and napping became impossible. As the week wore on, I began to have some OCD, with a touch of mania. I spoke quickly, thought quickly, and cleaned most things within immediate view.


Levaquin also caused reflux, nausea, and belching. The belching was strange and unlike a burp, or anything I had ever experienced. Dr J explained that the crico-thyroid muscles can contract leading to this odd symptom. Levaquin also causes constipation- so if you use it take a lot of ground flax seed, and magnesium citrate if you have this problem.

On Sunday, last day of infusions, I developed more hyperactivity, noise intolerance, agitation/ shaking limbs/ muscle spasm/ skin hypersensitivity and worsened insomnia. I had mild phobias and was easily tearful.

I looked forward to a drug holiday and cannot imagine how people take antibiotics daily, months in and out, (as I once had).