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#1928 - 07/15/07 09:52 AM
Member Profile from Washington State
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viviamo
New Researcher
Registered: 07/15/07
Posts: 6
Loc: Washington State
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Hello,
I am pleased to be here, LITERALLY.
I am 53 years of age, and I have lived and work in East King County, in Washington State for 27 years with my wife that I have been married to for 31 years. Prior to that I had lived in Las Vegas for 4 years, San Francisco Bay Area for 6, and northern Utah for 16 years
Over the past 30 years I have had so many real, yet mysterious health problems that kept coming, going, and migrating through out my body that I do not know where to start describing them.
It has been the last 5 years that have been the worst and have given me a true sense that I am dying, yet no Hospital Tests, or Doctors - naturopathic, western, or eastern, could tell me what was wrong with me.
They have run every test they can think of - even Lyme tests on two occasions that came back negative. I have had a couple of Doctors tell me that everything in their training tells them there is nothing wrong with me and they can not help me. I try to give them information about my symptoms and they just look at me as if I am nuts - I have become a medical hot potato that they want to get rid of and they refer me onto yet another specialist. Even the highly respected local infectious disease doctor politely listened to me, looked at my notes and some of my medical records, then said he can't help and referred me onto a rheumatologist.
I did not know what to do, I had been searching the internet ever since it became available to the public back in the early 90's, nothing seemed to make sense, that was until the first week of October 2006.
I was doing my daily research of my chronic symptoms of severe arthritic shoulder and hip pain, fatigue, neuro toxicity, and numerous other symptoms on the internet. In between I was giving my self a coffee enema to relieve the neurotoxin overload that I had become plagued with - discovering coffee enemas was a blessing for with out them I would have not been able to deal with the constant pain of the toxic overload.
What I discovered was a master list of lyme symptoms provided by a person that also had lymes and was as well a licensed Veterinarian. I read the list that he provided online, my jaw instantly dropped and I gasp for air... MY GOD!...I HAVE FOUND IT.
I mind immediately flashed back 20 years earlier to a large rash that had developed on my inner thigh several days after raking the fallen leafs in my yard, it was gigantic, it looked a bruise from impact of something the size of a basket ball, the doctor told me it was just a spider bite and gave me an antibiotic and it went away..... and then another flashback of when I returned from a Boy Scout camp out in the mountains of northern Utah as a youth, when two weeks after returning home I was mysteriously paralyzed from the waste down for over a month - which the doctors could not explain. At the time I did not connect the fact that I had self removed 3 partially imbedded ticks from my neck over a several day period. I recovered shortly after that.
Everything all the sudden started to fit together, I HAVE LYMES disease.
My research - if it wasn't already, became highly focused and intense, my first discovery was the beginning of my healing - but by far not the complete cure with what I know now. I had discovered web page describing Colloidal Silver. After reading everything on it I decide to try it. I bought a $30.00 bottle and took the recommended dosage on the bottle.
What happened next is nothing like anything I have ever experience before, it was totally unexpected, and was truly amazing.
With-in 10 to 12 minute of taking the Colloidal Silver the spot in my shoulder, the precise location of my severe arthritic pain, and were a MRI that was taken four months earlier had shown what was described as a fibrous growth, it started to happen, an intense reaction began, it was like a war broke out in my shoulder, I don't remember it being painful, it was just weird. It was like I had just sprayed RAID on a ant hill or a bee's nest, my shoulder was full of activity, it started to get very warm and that warmth began to radiate down my entire arm to my elbow. It was the damedest thing I had ever experienced, I remember laughing so hard that the few people around me though I had lost it. The activity in the arm settled down a few minutes later, and the warming sensation went away. What happened next was the first of many experiences and discoveries yet to come. The range of motion of my arm.. something happened, I could move my arm, I could move it substantially, the pain was not gone, but the range I could move it before feeling pain had dramatically improved, HALLELUIAH, I AM ON TO SOMETHING, IT WORKS.
What I was not ready for, and what was to be the beginning of a long journey of a variety of discoveries was the HERXING - I did not know the name of it at the time, but herxing it was. The parasite die off from that small amount of Colloidal Silver was intense. With a little more research I began to realize that this is what is to be expected. It frightened me, yet I kept a positive attitude that I was on the right track.
Today Nine months later I know I am on the right track, however, it was not just the Colloidal Silver that has got me to where I am at today, it has been a variety of things. I am not healed yet, but I can say that 3/4 of the master system list that I had check off last October is resolved or substantially improved. A couple of examples are: for the first time in years I have no joint pain, and the ringing in my ears has gone from a volume level of 10 down to 1 or 2 and sometimes it is completely gone - I have a theory on ringing ears I may share at some time.
I am still actively working on my disease, and I have only barely touched the surface of describing the journey and the discoveries that I have made. Too much to describe today. I will try to find some time to put my thoughts together, now that I can think clearly these days - oh yea the brain fog is gone as well.
Several months back I bought a fairly expensive microscope with a computer camera - after my visit with the infectious disease Doctor that would not help me, and I have been able to document what the doctors say I do not have "Borrelia" yup spirochetes, and I have pictures. So needless to say I am not guessing anymore about if I have it or not, however, that does not make me an expert. I just realize that I am on my own. I now believe that with the progress that I have made, and having the specimen slides and pictures, that I am going to live and have better health than I have had in years, I know it.
I really hesitated putting any of this on web, but when I read what the person that calls herself Willo had written - who is also from Washington State, for the first time I started to cry, what she wrote created an emotional reaction that I had a hard time controlling, I don't cry easily at all, but something seems to be wanting to escape me, I am realizing as I am writing that this is yet another discovery about this disease that it most likely another element of the healing.
Sincerely
Viviamo - which in Italian means "WE LIVE", I'm not Italian, I just study the language when I can.
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#1930 - 07/15/07 04:44 PM
Re: Member Profile from Washington State
[Re: viviamo]
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pebles
New Researcher
Registered: 07/15/07
Posts: 5
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If this gets to anyone please get back to me. I was at a local county fair and was talked into doing this ERlectro physiological biofeedback matrix analysis test. And it came up that I have lymes diesease. I haven't gone to an actual DR yet. But I've been reading for about three hours and came across this web site. 1. I can't figure out how to ask questions in my own space. But after reading Viviamo, and going back and reading willo's I know thta you will help me. I'm 36 and 2 summers ago my hubby and 3 young children spent the month of June in northren MN in god's country as he calls it. I was bitten by some thing. It got to be the size of an orange or so. thought that it was some sort of spider bite. Never went to the dr. because I'm tough and I can handle everything... But that summer It seemed that I had the flu for the whole darn summer. I couldn't sleep and still fight the not sleeping. Things just kept getting worse for me and finaaly I felt that I was losing my mind concentration, emotions, mood swings.So a freind picked me up off the floor and broght me in and put me on ant anti-depressent. But even so My bone and musles ache all the time I stopped complaing to my huband because he thinks this is all in my head. I get chills and fevers that come on quickly and go a day or to. Lately it seems that I can't quite keep up with the kids. I find that if I don't exercise daily that my body makes me pay dearly for it. I have to be honest that the tears are rolling as I'm typing this. Help what tests do I demand from the doc's office when I call in the am.....Pebles
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#1932 - 07/15/07 06:04 PM
Re: Member Profile from Washington State
[Re: pebles]
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viviamo
New Researcher
Registered: 07/15/07
Posts: 6
Loc: Washington State
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I don't know where to start, there is so much information you need. A couple of things to get you started - from my perspective. Watch the video on the following link.
Lyme Video
And I would suggest buying the book: "The top 10 Lyme Disease Treaments" the book was just recently released - it has helped me confirm that I am on the right track. You can find it at Top 10 Lyme Disease Treatments
I have got to go now, however I will check back.
Viviamo
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#1935 - 07/16/07 06:05 AM
Re: Member Profile from Washington State
[Re: viviamo]
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Rich_skiweasel7
Forum Veteran
Registered: 12/29/06
Posts: 178
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Hi Pebles,
Since I come from a medically mainstream background, I personally feel that you should start by finding a LLMD. Where do you live? You may have to travel to find a good one. Don’t waste your time seeing any “Joe Schmo” doctor. Diagnosis is mainly made clinically based on history and symptoms. Your reaction (herxing and improvement) to treatment can also help solidify the diagnosis.
Blood tests are supportive, but false negatives are very common. Right now, the best FDA recognized test is the Western Blot. There is a better test, but it is not FDA approved. Since I feel the blood tests are not important for a good LLMD to diagnosis lyme, it may aid in getting insurance to buy into the fact you have lyme. Thus, I would stick with the Western Blot. The best lab would be IgeneX. Blood samples can be mailed to them. Being on antibiotics for 3-4 weeks before testing seems to help. Sometimes the immune system is so wiped out, Bb antibodies are not being produced (very common). Sicker patients tend to test negative more times than the not so sick ones.
Also, seek out a ND and read up on alternative treatments. Some people seem to be doing very well without antibiotics. If you are into alternative medicine, then you may want to start there. I’m still on antibiotics, but plan to switch to all alternative in the near future.
Hang in there and take care,
Rich (skiweasel7)
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#1958 - 07/19/07 04:34 PM
Re: Member Profile from Washington State
[Re: Rich_skiweasel7]
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Willo
Spirochete Hunter
Registered: 11/10/06
Posts: 81
Loc: South Puget Sound, WA State
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Viviamo -- it's such a pleasure to meet someone else from WA, too! And talk about crying..  I'm glad my words spoke to you.. tho' "glad" seems insufficient a word. I'm sorry you have to be here, but I'm glad that you've found support.
I remember that "OMG could this actually be the answer?" feeling when my brother's childhood best friend suggested that I look up Lyme disease. Bingo! Everything fell into place. My life started coming back into order when I first saw an LLMD in 2001, and last year life was returning since I started seeing an LLMD regularly.
Do you know about http://www.walyme.org ? It's really a great site, and has a list of doctors in our area. If you'd like to contact me privately I'd be glad to tell you about my own LLMD, if you're ever interested.
It's a pleasure to be able to tell other Lyme patients that life does get better. It gets better even after years, after decades of suffering. We can all help our lives be the most comfortable while we suffer, though.. and we can all help each other ease that burden.
I'm glad you found us. Contact me any time!
===================================
Pebles -- I'm afraid what you need to learn, you can't over-night. This is a bacterial disease that affects multi-systems, simply put: it manifests in many different ways from person to person. No one here could say "You have lyme disease" with certainty, you do need to be looked at by a doctor. One who knows what s/he's doing.
You need someone who knows the ins and outs of Lyme disease in order to put the appropriate lab tests and clinical assessments together to read an answer properly.
The vast majority of GPs (general practioners) or PCPs (primary care physicians) do not know enough about the disease and it's co-infections. Keep your appointments as your doctor gives them to you, tell your doctor you don't feel well.. start to document your symptoms.
In the meantime -- read, learn all that you can. Read both sides' views and choose for yourself what feels right inside.
A really good place to start is to read Dr Burrascano's and ILADS' (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) guidelines to diagnosis and treatment. They tell you about the actual bacteria, the co-infections.. it's a lot of good info.
You can find links to the guidelines here:
http://www.ilads.org/guidelines.html
Visit websites:
http://lymenet.org/
http://flash.lymenet.org/
http://lymeinfo.net/
http://lymediseaseassociation.org/
http://ilads.org/
http://www.ilads.org/lyme_flyer.htm
(the first link is also from this site)
http://www.igenex.com/
http://www.geocities.com/ladyjewel218/Symptoms.html (symptoms)
http://www.lyme.org/gallery/rashes.html (pix of the EM rash)
http://www.lyme.org/
http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/
http://butyoudontlooksick.com/tipsandarticles/Doctor_Preparation.htm preparing for a doctor's visit
http://butyoudontlooksick.com/spoons.htm -- an excellent article on how to help others understand how much energy we use as chronically ill
Another good move is to get yourself some reading material from the library, or order (if possible, I know many times it's not) "Confronting Lyme Disease."
You can find the ISBN and other numbers for the library here:
http://www.amazon.com/Confronting-Lyme-D...4981&sr=8-1
..on that amazon page. There's a part of the page that says buy two books for just $33, S. Buhner's "Healing Lyme" is what Viviamo suggested, and I can't wait to get that from the library.
..that will start you off. You have a lot of learning ahead of you. I promise to try my best to be here to answer questions when you have them. Feel free to send me a message or an email any time, just mention "LymeCommunity" in the subject, please.
I hope you're doing okay, Pebles.
Welcome, you both, to the boards!
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#2148 - 09/08/07 04:02 PM
Re: Member Profile from Washington State
[Re: viviamo]
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lymecontender
Active Participant
Registered: 09/04/07
Posts: 15
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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Viviamo,
I was so glad to read your story. Not glad of course, that you have Lyme- but glad that you have found and are finding answers- it sooo gives me hope!
May I ask- what kind of Collidal Silver have you used? Is one brand as good as any other?
Thank you again- you are an inspiration!
Kindly,
Lisa
PS I love the study of foreign languages too, Hebrew being my favorite- I love your name! So, we live! Yes, we live! And L'Chaim! - Which means- To LIFE!
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#2156 - 09/11/07 05:41 PM
Re: Member Profile from Washington State
[Re: lymecontender]
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viviamo
New Researcher
Registered: 07/15/07
Posts: 6
Loc: Washington State
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Colloidal Silver is very expensive, yet very effective, as part of a treatment program. As I said in my earlier post that my arthritis is gone completely. It has been over 11 months since I self diagnosed my lyme condition. I am only using colloidal silver occasionally now, however, I did use it several times a day for the first several months. What I found, as I had stated, it cleared my arthritis - not immediately, but over 2 to 3 months.
The colloidal silver did provide a rather surprising and disturbing effect with in the first 4 days of application, continuing for an additional 2 to 3 weeks, I discovered that I had a severe intestinal parasite infestation (worms and a variety of other things). According to articles I have read it is common for people with lymes to have intestinal parasite of many varieties. I know this is gross, but I feel it is neccessary to share this information because it scarey when you discover it. But this passes, and it is one step toward healing, one of many.
Back to your question, I have found the best colloidal silver to be packaged in dark glass bottles - not plastic. parts per million (ppm) 10 to 30 ppm.
To get started I took the recommended dosage on the bottle and experimented with the level of hexing that I experience. I read the cautions that many web pages talk about in using too much colloidal silver the risks of the much talked about potential skin turning irreversably blue.
I personally increase my dosage up to over 4oz in a single dose and I am still happily looking Caucasian in my skin color.
As far as cost, I quit buying store bought colloidal silver after a couple of weeks. I bought two Canadian Leaf .99999 pure silver coins, 4 nine volt batteries, a gallon of steam distilled water and two jumper wires with alligator clips connected with 2 wires, and started making my own colloidal silver. It takes 20 to 40 minutes to make and it works just as good as the store products and it costs only as much as the distilled water - after I made the initial investment of 35.00 for the coins and batteries. The hardest part besides finding the Canadian Leaf silver coins is finding steam distilled water. Not all distilled water works it must say processed by steam distillation.
I started with colloidal silver, added in Samento (TOS Free Cats Claw) after two months. Working with the Samento it created fairly significant HERXING, I then later discovered the Salt/Vitamin C protocol and started it in about the 6th month.
The Salt/Vit C protocol has been by far the most dramatic and effective thing that I have done. I started off not knowing what I was doing then purchase the instructions and ordered the recommended 1 gram sodium chloride tables (salt) and pharmasutical grade powered Vitamin C and followed the documented instructions of use. It has worked for, and I mean really worked for me. The salt has, and still is doing its job of killing off infection - my microscope examinations of waste samples are confirming this for me. The Vitamin C is supporting my immune system, an additional effect is the Vitamin C about 20 to 90 minutes after consumption stimulates a flushing bowel moment. I believe that this has dramatic benefit in removing toxins on a regular basis thereby relieving or substantially helping with the herxing. There is no need for an enema; the Vitamin C does it for you.
I am getting better, remarkable better. I am feeling hopeful and having more and more feel good days. It made it so I could attempt to do some exercise, which leads to the next most important part of my recovery - sweating, exercising and sweating I have discovered is a major factor. After sweating I felt great for several days later then I would slip back into a low energy mode until the next time I got the energy back up enough to exercise. I believe it is the Salt/Vit C. and sweat exercise and bowel toxin purging all combined that is bringing me back.
During this time I found that I had severe body odor for several months, I had to shower several times a day, the reason is the die off and toxin release. When the odor finally went away I found that to be a series of very up days, I mean really feel good days with an extreme sense of well being days.
Now, I am not fooling myself, this is not over for me. I still have it in me, today and for the past 3 weeks I have been doing quite well, I am feeling really good, not 100% but still really good.
What I have not told you is two months ago I finally found a Lyme Literate Doctor that has agreed that I have all the symptoms and ran a full series of tests from Igenex. The tests came back with a Positive for BABESIA and a Tither rate of 160 for BARTONELLA which should be lower than 40. They drew the blood but overlooked marking down the Western Blot test for lymes, the test was re-ordered and I should know the results of that in a couple of days. I and the doctor are fully expecting the Western Blot to return indicators of the borrelia infection of lymes.
Now up to this point I am still not on any doctor prescribed antibiotics, it has been two month since my first Doctors visit. The Doctor wants to start me on (Mepron) and azithromycin (Zithromax) to start treating the Babesia first. But my liver enzymes are too high; they want to see them down in a reasonably normal range because 3 months of these antibiotics at the dosage needed will raise liver enzymes, so the liver needs to be able to take the stress. Now when I had the blood tests done I had been taking Salt Vitamin C for 3 month and I believe my liver was working overtime with toxic overload, that and the fact that BARTONELLA infections will also raise enzymes counts.
But trying to work with the Doctor, at their request I have cut out my daily glass of wine - or two, and gone alcohol free. If the tests in the next couple of days indicate lower enzymes we may never know which it was, the die off load of infection from the Salt/Vit C or removing the alcohol - my tests from several months earlier from other prior doctor visits did not show such a high liver enzyme count, not until after I started the Salt / Vitamin C protocol.
Now, do I need to go on antibiotic or can the Salt / Vit C cure do the trick, I think I am getting so close, but at this stage will the antibiotic help finalize it. That is a big question I need to ask and decision I need to make.
To summarize, what appears to be working for me is the Salt / Vitamin C protocol - only after I start following the instruction and actually upping the dose a little for my weight, purging bowels regularly to remove toxin die off therby reducing Hexing - the vitamin C does the trick for this, and do anything that makes me sweat, with the Babesia infection sweating comes real easy with not much effort.
OH, the most important thing of all is water, water, water. This was a self discovery for me, how little I knew about Hydration, tuning into my body signal is, if my bowel moments are not moving regular and fairly easily then I have not consumed enough water. It is amazing; with in 10 to 20 minutes of consumer enough water it can correct the problem. It may be one glass but ussally it is 2 or more large glasses that will do the trick. Also I regularly eat plain yogurt (yuk! but you get use to it, this helps me with replacing good bacteria in the bowels)
I am realizing I have given a lot of details here. It is what is working for me, based on my studies and experiments on my own self help. I Hope is it useful.
Do not take this as medical advise, it is just what I have been doing to help myself - since I had given up on doctors, until I found a lyme literate doctor.
Viviamo
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#2160 - 09/12/07 11:25 AM
Re: Member Profile from Washington State
[Re: viviamo]
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Willo
Spirochete Hunter
Registered: 11/10/06
Posts: 81
Loc: South Puget Sound, WA State
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a lot, yes.. but a lot of good info, thank you Viviamo!! Good to see you on the board.
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#2177 - 09/18/07 05:25 AM
Re: Member Profile from Washington State
[Re: Willo]
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lymecontender
Active Participant
Registered: 09/04/07
Posts: 15
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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Viviamo,
I'm sorry that it has taken so long for me to reply- I'm only on 1 gram of salt/c and I've been herxing like mad. I just can't seem to get past this dosage. Anyway- I do appreciate all of the good information. I hope you continue to improve!
Thanks again,
Lisa
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#2178 - 09/18/07 04:17 PM
Re: Member Profile from Washington State
[Re: lymecontender]
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viviamo
New Researcher
Registered: 07/15/07
Posts: 6
Loc: Washington State
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I have found that a high dosage is not important as long as you are feeling a herx. If 1 gram is too much to handle then slow down. The first dosage of colloidal silver created a very scary and nasty herx, and the dosage was only 4 drops. a couple of months later I could take 4 full 0zs or more with a mild herx.
My point is that you can build up to a larger dosage. If you are not herxing at all then maybe the dosage needs to be increased, or you need to discontinue the current protocol and switch to another, for example switch from colloidal silver to samento. Or from samento to salt/vitamin c etc.
I have not been herxing for a couple of weeks, I am realinzing that I am feeling better, therefore, reviewing my notes, I should be switching....maybe. Or start the doxycillin that the Doctor is suggesting.. I still have not resigned to that yet.
Viviamo
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#2179 - 09/18/07 05:13 PM
Re: Member Profile from Washington State
[Re: viviamo]
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lymecontender
Active Participant
Registered: 09/04/07
Posts: 15
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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My body seems to be very sensitive and I herx on much lower dosages than most people. I know the salt/c is working, even at just 1 gram so I will hold that dose until I no longer herx on it, then ramp up slowly. There are seemingly many protocols and sometimes I get confused as to what I ought to do, I will be rifing soon, but I am not sure if I should use salt/c along with rifing or if I should use collidial silver instead of salt/c- oh it just seems like so much to keep up with. Anyway, thanks for the advise. I'm glad to hear you are getting better.
To health & life,
Lisa
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#2616 - 11/29/07 03:30 PM
Re: Member Profile from Washington State
[Re: viviamo]
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viviamo
New Researcher
Registered: 07/15/07
Posts: 6
Loc: Washington State
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It has been a while since my last post. I have been reading others information weekly, but I just have not had the time to share mine. As as had wrote earlier, I finally find a Lyme Literate Doctor here in Seattle - I had given up on all Doctors, but I watch a video on U-Tube that had a Local ND Doctor that specializes in Lyme that gave me the confidence to make the call and try one more time.
To back track I diagnosised myself with Lyme in October of 2006, and started treating myself. In about May of 2007 I discovered the Salt/C cure, again a U tube video, and that really started my most dramadic recovery, then in July via U tube found my Lyme doc. in September I was started on Leviquin for Bartonella - I have confirmed Bartonella, babesia, borrelia, and suspected eurichula. I have been on Leviquin for 65 days, things are inproving but Leviquin is hell for imflamtion and a series of other effect, but I am getting better. I can not wait to get off of it at 90 days- just before Christmas. I am getting better all of the time in so many ways I can not mention.
In earlier post I talked about feeling better......I have been sick so long that I have forgot what feeling well is like, I did not know just how much I had lost until I started getting better.
I still have a long ways to go. As soon as I am finished with the bartonella, I am suppose to start addressing the babesia with mentron zitromax, then we go on to addressing the borrelia spriocetes. Like I said a long ways to go, but if I keep inproving then it will be worth it.
Viviamo
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#2958 - 02/05/08 03:14 PM
Re: Member Profile from Washington State
[Re: viviamo]
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Monica
New Researcher
Registered: 02/05/08
Posts: 1
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What is the story with colloidal silver? Is it an effective antibiotic-type treatment? How does it work?
Thank you, Viviamo for the update, but I'm wondering what happened with the silver. How did you end up switching to the other treatments?
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This doctor just released the first book about Lyme written by an M.D. Learn More.
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