Note: for those who may be new to this blog due to the Elf in a Coop series – on Thursdays I give on update on my and 5 of my kids status as we all cope with Lyme disease. We live in New Hampshire where Lyme disease is rampant and yet, many in our medical community don’t recognize the disease or know how to properly treat it.
I’m just one voice of the many out there.
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Before I started antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease 3 months ago, I wrote down a list of every single symptom that was bothering me. When I handed it to Doc Holiday, I apologized because I knew it made me look like a bit of a hypochondriac (really, you have all of these complaints, is it possible that you may not be growing older gracefully?)
This is the list I gave him.
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Burning feet (sensation like burning)
Cold feet and hands (temperature)
Very sore toe (thought it was broken)
Achilles tendonitis both legs
Knee pain both legs
Sore/tender left foot
Numb right foot
Shooting nerve pain down right leg
Feeling of bugs crawling on skin
Severe and prolonged leg cramps
Insomnia
Leg muscle twitching
Extensive rash on back of right leg
Dry patches of rash near scalp
Lower back pain
Swollen gland near groin (right side)
Gut sensitivities (alcohol, dairy)
Stomach aches (mostly at night)
Heart palpitations
Shoulder pain
Numb hands/fingers
Cold hands and feet
Tennis elbow
Small lumps under skin
Neck pain
Swollen neck gland (right side)
Eye problem (blister)
Eye twitching
Headaches
Teeth problems (decay)
Teeth grinding
Gagging/choking on food
Weight gain
Memory problems
Word retrieval
Speech issues
I then filed that list away and didn’t look at it for the entire 3 months I was being treated.
This week I met with Doc Holiday and I gave him a revised list. Here is my list of symptoms but this time everything that is highlighted in red is a symptom that I no longer have.
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Burning feet (sensation like burning)
Cold feet and hands (temperature)
Very sore toe (thought it was broken)
Achilles tendonitis both legs
Knee pain both legs
Sore/tender left foot
Numb right foot
Shooting nerve pain down right leg
Feeling of bugs crawling on skin
Severe and prolonged leg cramps
Insomnia
Leg muscle twitching
Extensive rash on back of right leg
Dry patches of rash near scalp
Lower back pain
Swollen gland near groin (right side)
Gut sensitivities (alcohol, dairy)
Stomach aches (mostly at night)
Heart palpitations
Shoulder pain
Numb hands/fingers
Cold hands and feet
Tennis elbow
Small lumps under skin
Neck pain
Swollen neck gland (right side)
Eye problem (blister)
Eye twitching
Headaches
Teeth problems (decay)
Teeth grinding
Gagging/choking on food
Weight gain
Memory problems
Word retrieval
Speech issues
Pretty impressive huh? I realize that I am only one data point and there could be a few explanations for this:
- I had a strange virus (for the last two years) that resolved itself
- I had some other type of infection that resolved itself
- I had Lyme disease and the treatment was effective
- I may have imagined all this
Both Doc Holiday and I are amazed at this results. Lyme disease doesn’t typically work this way, but when you see physical proof (like that marble sized lump on the back of my Achilles tendon that no longer hurts) it’s pretty hard not to be a believer that *something* was just knocked out of my body.
The only medication I’ve taken in the past 3 months was an antibiotic. Not one anti-inflammatory passed these lips.
But let’s not be a Pollyanna here, I still have some significant pain, remember I’ve had all that orthopedic damage, but that *extra* layer of buzzing, nerve shooting, numbing pain that was driving me to distraction is gone.
All of this gives me renewed hope for one of my kids who has severe complications due to chronic multi-year Lyme disease. I am convinced that if we can get his infection(s) under control that we can get him a lot of relief.
After reading Horowitz’s book about his 16 prong approach (which is a fine way to go if you have an extra million dollars lying around) and talking with Doc Holiday, we’re going to start my son in January on a 4-pronged approach.
- Sleep – one aspect of chronic Lyme is that you have insomnia – big time. We are going to try to address that so that he can get quality sleep and which will allow for healing and rested muscles
- Medication – due to complications, he has not been able to complete a full course of meds for chronic Lyme treatment. He’ll start in January (along with all my tips for not vomiting)
- Nutrition – I’m going to work with him in an effort to clean up his diet while at school. We are also going to take a look at his supplements and will adjust those.
- Chelation therapy – he’s done this a few times before, but we’re going to start at square one. He’ll do therapy for a month or two and then it will be checked off the list.
It sounds like a lot but it’s only a few steps on what will be a long path for this kid (who has already been on a very long journey.)
Unless my symptoms return, my Lyme updates will switch to how members of my family are doing and I’ll continue to report of Lyme findings and books that are out there.
So for now I stop treatment. I only need to see Doc Holiday as a patient (I continue to see him as my kids’ medical advocate) if the symptoms come back and I change my focus back to my kids in an effort to try and get on top of this infection (affliction. )
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On a related note, I heard from a friend this week who got tested for Lyme disease because of various complaints of multi-year lingering muscle pain and tendonitis. She tested positive and starts treatment this week.
Anyone who has lingering pains that seem to move all over the place and that have defied treatment should be tested for Lyme disease.
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Thank you all for your comments and discussion. I read every single reply and find much value in your experiences.
Disclaimer, this is an account of my Lyme symptoms and treatment, it is not intended to be used in the treatment of anyone else’s condition. Please consult and work with your physician if you think you may have Lyme.
Let me know if you have any questions about my Lyme symptoms and/or treatment, if I don’t have the answer, I’ll find someone who does.
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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com
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