Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[ShadowSwallow]

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!!!!

[mftnchn]

Happy Valentine's Day!

Just managed to get online so will give a very brief update of my appointment today with Dr. E.

Basically the Levaquin does not test well for me, and doesn't benefit me against the bugs at all according to ART. Zithromax does, along with the herbals. So I'll be sending a message to my LLMD before I refill the Levaquin next week. She tested many abx, and only the zithromax works.

I herxed again today...better tonight after I did the "tapping" that I had forgotten I was supposed to do in all my adjustments and stuff going on. Not sure what caused the herx...but just reached the top dose of andrographis in both the tincture and the capsules. She said I could increase the capsules by another 25%. These are the only brand that works for me, but the more standard doses (based on Buhler's book) don't test well at all. It is weird that my body wants this but only one certain brand of it.

Dr. E added several things to try to help my digestion and absorption because that is clearly a problem based on my lab results. Also some things for the lymph and to combat fibrin. I am a bit worried about the amount of things and trying to manage this financially. Only one thing changed from last month's testing so at least my body is so far consistent in what it wants.

We don't yet know what is in the water from home that doesn't do well for me. But she said I could take these little water test kits with me and test various waters to see what might do best for me.

I have to go back tomorrow for a brief appointment and she'll check some foods for me.

All for now, I may be able to get caught up tomorrow if this connection works.

Sherry

[mftnchn]

Jin, thanks for your PM. One good thing... Dr. E said that the 1 capsule of Mastica I am taking three times a day is working. I was taking 5-6 at a time last year to treat it and it worked well, so I am glad that just this little bit is enough.

[AndreaB]

I am a bit worried about the amount of things and trying to manage this financially. Only one thing changed from last month's testing so at least my body is so far consistent in what it wants.

Those supplements add up fast don't they?! We've been in touch with Dr. E quite a bit.....what do we have to stay on to not lose ground type thing.

I'm glad you only had to change one thing though.

[Green12]

Sounds like you had a good appt Sherry.

I am suppose to do the tapping too, but I keep forgetting. Thanks for the reminder

I am interested what you are taking for the lymph and fibrin??

I have yet to do a round of additional blood tests, fibrinogen is one of the tests in the group, and if the numbers are off I assume I will be taking something as well to treat it.

One of the great things about ART is that in the long run it ends up being more economical since you aren't taking anything extra or what your body doesn't need.

[CarlaB]

For the fibrin, the Cowden protocol has Serra Peptase.

Sorry the Levaquin didn't test well. It's funny how different we all are .... if I had had it tested, I bet I would have tested really well for it.

I'm getting ready to take Humaworm again. I've ordered it, but it hasn't shipped yet.

I decided to try something that people talk about on LN .... Mangosteen juice .... I only take it once every three days because I'm generally allergic to fruit juice. Well, let me just say this, for any of you with c issues, here's your answer!!!! Works within about 8 hours.

[dlp252]

I have been sweating profusely the last few days. It's worse when I am sleeping, I wake up soaked in the middle of the night.

...

Anybody have any input on this?

No input but I've been sweating TONS during the night too. I don't wake up drenched, but I have to sleep in a tank top and shorts to have a hope of staying somewhat comfortable. It usually doesn't happen until I get up to use the restroom in the middle of the night. Within about 30-40 minutes after getting back in bed I start sweating pretty badly.

BRAT! Donna, bad girl bad!

I Don't think my brother will have a good valentines day today. He went to the dentist and they say he has a bad tooth abcess or something like that. His face was swollen last night. I guess one to many hershey's bars.

Yep, that's me...bad girl, lol. Ouch for your brother!!!

Just managed to get online so will give a very brief update of my appointment today with Dr. E.

Sounds like a great appointment. Once I get my condo refinanced (and get the carpet out LOL) I think I MAY think about taking some regularly spaced trips up there to see Dr. E or Dr. Amy.

Those supplements add up fast don't they?! We've been in touch with Dr. E quite a bit.....what do we have to stay on to not lose ground type thing.

I've cut WAY back on my supplements. I'm still taking a lot, but as I run out of things I'm cutting out the ones that weren't suggested directly by my doctors. Folks who post on the EM thread will get a kick out of this next sentence... I've made a spreadsheet to keep track of supplement purchases because currently I have no idea how much I'm really spending on them, nor how often I have to buy them and how long they last.

I'm getting ready to take Humaworm again. I've ordered it, but it hasn't shipped yet.

I decided to try something that people talk about on LN .... Mangosteen juice .... I only take it once every three days because I'm generally allergic to fruit juice. Well, let me just say this, for any of you with c issues, here's your answer!!!! Works within about 8 hours.

I've seen some Mangosteen juice at WF and I think of getting some everytime I do, lol. I figure I'll do the Humaworm in March sometime.

[NoGluGirl]

Dear Birdy,

The nausea very well could be from the Olive Leaf Extract. Since it is an anti-fungal, you could be having a herx. Die-off from yeast is miserable. Nausea is so hard to deal with. That is the main symptom for me I cannot deal with very well. If it went away, my life would be so much easier.

I am so glad your LLMD appointment went so well! Thank you for the e-mail with all of the details! Finally, you are getting answers! Now you finally have a dx, and can begin treatment. What a bummer about icky Ehrlichia, though. I have been treated for h. pylori, but technically was not dx'ed with it. The doctor just tried the PrevPac due to the symptoms being so similar to an h. pylori infection.

What a bummer about the skin infection! I have a blotchy, red rash all the time appearing and disappearing. Could that be caused by what you have? This is scary. I thought it was just eczema, but maybe not.

Dear Rpm999,

Neurological symptoms are a common problem for Lyme sufferers. I get jerking in my muscles, and numbness a lot. I hate it! There are times I get tremors in my hands as well. I took the questionnaire and had 53 of the 75 symptoms on it.

Crying spells are not unusual with detoxing. Many people report having emotional outbursts. At this point, you are going to be hypersensitive to so much. Having an immune system that is overloaded put a heavy burden on the body. It normally responds in this way to protect itself.

Dear Andrea,

I hate to hear you are feeling so badly. Hopefully, you just ate something you were intolerant to.

Those viruses are difficult to get over. Chances are, it was something you ate at that house. Food poisoning is one possibility, especially since the children also were affected. Stomach viruses do not usually make everyone sick at once in the household. An incubation period between each person's onset would occur with that in most cases.

Regardless of what it is, I hope you feel better soon. Feeling like that is absolutely heinous! I cannot stress how scared to death of stomach viruses I am. Right now, Dad thinks he is coming down with a cold or something. It is probably a sinus infection, due to the up and down weather.

Supplements do add up quickly. Costs are so high for the good stuff! I am concerned about affording anything. At least there are prescription drug programs. That is good. I can get Amoxy and Flagyl for free.

Dear Rachel,

Your histamine theory is worth pursuing for me as well! This makes a lot of sense! I do fine with certain things, but tend to react to everything now. More food intolerances are a possibility. That Big Head Syndrome is an issue for me also. I think that sinus medication where they describe medicine head fits well for a description.

It is interesting you mentioned the low blood pressure. I have trouble with that. There are two conditions that it coincides with. They are POTS and NMH. Either one fits like a glove for my situation. I nearly blacked out stretching while sitting in a chair the other day!

I am glad to hear the Keto is on its way! This will help you a lot. Anything that blocks histamine is good. I have a mystery for you. All of my life, no matter what I have tried, no allergy medication works on me! WTH?

Who might this fine specimen of the male species be? Inquiring minds want to know! It is good you had a nice distraction. I suppose I will just hold out for Zach Braff. He seems so sweet!

Dear Donna,

Your new avatar is great! This pic really shows your face better. Taking pictures is easier said than done. The right camera helps. I do pretty good, but there is always room for improvement.

Chocolate probably does aggravate the sinuses. Considering it is fermented, anyone with a Candida problem will be feeding the yeast. That is not to mention the sugar and the dairy in it. Dairy is bad for sinuses in most people. In fact, my doctor said sinus and respiratory infections are signs of a dairy intolerance.

EM make-up seems like it is perfect! Alison thinks I should not dye my hair, use moisturizers, or make-up. I do not think I can stand to see myself without the hair being done and the make-up! If you feel ugly, you will not be happy or healthy. When you look good, you feel good.

I am going to get some of this stuff! I hope Alison forgives me for it! I know she will not approve.

I do agree that I should avoid putting anymore toxins in my system. It is apparent it is already on overload.

This is wonderful about fixing up your condo! I am excited for you. I kind of like decorating. Here is a tip: be sure to make it look as spacious as possible. Remove clutter, because that is always going to devalue your space.

I need to start taking calcium as well. Maybe that will help some. I just worry about absorbing it. Since the bonemeal is in a powder, I think I do okay with it. Caltrate made me queasy, and so did the last Viactiv chews the last time I ate one.

Thank goodness the breast pain was caffeine-related! It is a leading cause of breast pain. At least it is not the coffee itself. I cannot have decaf, because it is so acidic. Plus, without my buzz, you can forget me being useful.

Eating carbs and protein is good, but alone all day is bad for me. I have had too little protein today, I can tell. I am dragging now. I need to get off the Lay's Stax, man! I should be once I do my shopping for my 6WBMO.

Washing your hair everyday will cause your hair to be oily. I normally washed mine only twice per week due to the fact it would take so long for it to dry. Since my hair is thick, even at the length it is now, I make sure to shampoo and condition a few times per week. Deep conditioning is important right now, so I have a leave-in I am using.

I hope you did not go to heavy on the chocolate yesterday. You remember what happened last time. No more of that! I was eating chocolate with regular dairy again until a few days ago. Nothing has gotten better, but it may take months before noticing anything.

I have heard good things about mangosteen juice. It does not agree with everyone, though. I have not seen it around here. However, I have not exactly looked for it. That might help, huh?

That is so funny about your supplements! I keep a medicine log. There is no way to under or overdose that way. I am working on ways to make things easier. No more extra effort for me on some stuff!

Dear Carla,

We got a lot of snow this time around. Normally, we get a dusting if we are lucky. They actually cancelled school for the past couple of days. Ice was everywhere. So was snow! It sure was pretty!

TMJ really does make chewing a lot of things difficult. My bite is really off. I do not know if anything will fix it. My dentist sure has done nothing about it. None of dentists I have seen did anything at all. If they were in pain, they would have already had something fixing it! Having those braces off probably feels incredible!

Emotional traumas play a major role in illness for some people. As Rachel had posted before, they do hold up treatment and healing. Thank you for the links and info on this! I remember Dr. K speaking about how illness can be held in the body by toxic emotions. I am glad you asked about a differentiation between illnesses found in those who were physically or mentally abused. I was wondering the same thing.

Soup is great to make! It is easy to put together. Also, this time of year, it is perfect to keep you warm. There is nothing like some hot soup for warmth. My father makes a great beef and vegetable soup.

Let's just say it may be a while before I can have a new avatar. Since I could not get to the salon yesterday, there was nothing done. The black appears to be bleeding back through to make matters worse.

Whether or not I will be able to get it looking the way I want soon is not certain. Right now, it has tones of red, brown, blonde, and black.

Your new avatar is great! I think your hair looks good. Mine is about that length now. As far as shampooing goes, I only do that two or three times per week. A lot of people overdo the processing, blow-drying the heck out of it. That is a good way to mess up your hair.

Babs is a good possibility for me, too. Hot flashes are a little better now. They probably will get worse soon. I am due for my shot again in early March. I always feel like it is wearing off the last month before another shot.

Oh boy! More Humaworm! Do you think you got all of that last worm? Or, do you think it is still in there some? You do not want it growing into a Cobra! Mom was saying how her butt itches lately, and I was teasing her about having worms, and it freaked her out! It was hilarious!

Mangosteen juice has a lot of nutritional properties. I am interested in it. Antioxidants are very good to have from this juice. There are some other juices I would like to try. Since I may be getting a juicer soon, this will be fun to experiment with.

Dear Mia,

If you felt the CT was detrimental to your health, then it was good you avoided it. There is no need to make matters worse. I could not swallow all of that horrible barium sulfate. I took only half of a bottle of it, and was terribly nauseated. My brother was able to get it all down, but he felt like he had concrete in his gut afterward.

They ended up injecting me with iodine. I did fine. I must not have had such a toxic load yet. In 2004 I had another scan done, but it was on my thyroid. No adverse affects from the iodine that time occurred, either.

We will be ready whenever you are for the update! Do it when you can. When you have limited energy, you can only do what your body allows. Sometimes, your body wants to work and your brain does not. If only they would cooperate and work collectively!

Dear Kassandra,

What a relief that the appointment at the clinic went well! Sore throats are awful. I always get queasy when I get them, too. Do you do that also? I was just curious if anyone else felt like that when their throat hurt.

So, did you get your throat culture back yet? Wasn't it supposed to be in yesterday? Of course, we know that things never are ready when they say they will be. More abx is not fun. Still, it is best to take them than suffer.

Babysitting always get you into a lot of trouble! People say their children are fine just so they can have a babysitter and go out. That makes me mad! When you have a weak immune system, that is the last thing you need is exposure to more stuff. I also wish people would not make their children go out with them when they are sick. I have seen so many parents get angry at their sick children because they are fussy, when it is their fault they are there in the first place!

Probiotics are often instructed to be taken with meals. The thing is, most people I have talked to say they

work better on an empty stomach. I did some experimenting. I found this to be true. Taking them in the evening is recommended by a lot of people as well.

Emotional trauma certainly has an impact on you physically. When you bottle everything up, it is going to have to come out eventually. The longer it stays in there, the more dangerous it gets. You will be a powder keg ready to blow. Toxins are produced by negative emotions, and will poison your system.

Dandruff is an issue I have as well. After getting scalp treatments at the salon the other week, I did not have near the trouble for three days after each one. I do not have a clue what is in it, but need to know! Tea tree oil is great for it, but there has to be a certain concentration in the product in order for it to be effective. Right now, everyone is getting dry scalp. The weather changes can play a role, as you mentioned.

It is good to know you are sleeping better. Ambien is a scary drug. There are a lot of frightening things about it. Report of people sleepwalking and having amnesia of the events, and then there is the dependency factor. I am glad you have found a more natural method of dealing with the insomnia. Hopefully, you will not develop a tolerance to anything you are using.

Maybe the leg pain was from muscles that were underused? Sometimes that happens. I tend to get pain in my lower back. It is always upon getting out of bed. Rolling my spine helps a lot. Certain yoga moves also help.

No, not another surprise bill! I hate those! They just pop up out of nowhere. Iron IVs are really expensive. What a shock that the insurance company is not paying you back! Maybe you will be able to get better coverage soon.

Brown rice protein powder probably is not tasty. That was not the Jarrow was it? Did you order it yet? Trying a new brand of eggwhite powder might work. Sometimes it is not the item itself, but the brand. For instance, I found out most Stevia extracts are bleached. Processing can cause a reaction to something used in that part of the manufacturing.

April should see a hematologist, I agree. They know more about the blood. It is their specialty. As we have learned from you, ferritin not going where it is supposed to signals serious trouble. Anemia comes in many forms.

Dear Julie,

Thank you for posting the Spoon Theory! It is interesting. I have not gotten the chance to read it in-depth yet. I hope to do that soon. Catching up on correspondances and such has been my primary activity as of late.

I appreciate the castor oil pack info, too. I needed that. I was quite confused about them. Now it makes more sense. Trying them could be a good move. Starting slow is a good idea, though.

Your tips are also wonderful to have. Washing that stuff off can be nasty. You use Edgar Cayce's oil, don't you? I was wanting to know which one to use. Is it affordable?

Emotions can be very toxic. I read in an article in LHJ this last summer that a study shows toxic chemicals are released in tears. If they remain in the body, they cause illness. I will try to find the article online. Maybe you guys could access it if I can provide a link. This is worth reading!

You are right. There is a link to having Candida and dandruff. This is a symptom of an overgrowth of yeast. However, on a trichology site, two causes of it were named. A bacterial infection of Staph or Strep (I am not sure which) can result in dandruff, as can an overgrowth of a type of yeast that is not Candida. I will try to look that up again.

Rice protein powder is one thing I have not tried. Soy protein powder did not taste near as good as whey protein powder. The trouble is, the whey protein powder did not set well. Both were difficult to mix into the smoothie. None tasted very good compared to what you would hope they tasted like.

I have always gotten night sweats during my period. I wondered if anyone else did! This would start with PMS 2 weeks before my period. It was awful. When I do not eat chocolate, I have noticed it is better. Katoos did not affect it, but the chocolate with dairy did.

Your estrogen levels and your liver detoxing could be causing it. This is very likely. Babs is another possibility. I bet my liver is really stuffed up. All of that Candida is bound to have an affect that is not good on it.

Dear April,

I did not know that Olive Leaf Extract is an anti-fungal! I will keep that in mind. Right now, probiotics are my main source of yeast killing besides diet. I just do a bit at a time. Progress is occurring.

I am glad to hear your daughter's leg pain is gone. I used to get a lot of pain in my legs as a child. It was in my shins. They said it was growing pains, but I doubt it. The reason is because I am only 5'1.

WBs can be confusing. I know I will need help whenever I get my results. I plan on getting my testing done soon. I am tired of sitting around waiting to die. At least, that is what it feels like!

That is wonderful about the shonishin! I am so glad to hear it has helped. I wish someone did that around here. Wouldn't it be nice? How great that the gua sha and acupuncture alleviated the Big Head Syndrome!

Castor oil packs seem to help a lot of people. I want to try them. However, I am concerned that the trouble will start due to the possibility of being unable to detox. Redistributing is very harmful for metals and toxins alike. If I could get some diagnostics done, that would really make this much less problematic.

You and your doctor seem to have a good idea of what is going on with your daughter's iron. I think you are off to a great start. Everything seems to be off. Lyme is typically a cause of this. Neutrophils are a problem for Susie UK as well.

Do not feel bad about the hair boo-boo. I am still waiting for my transformation, too. So far I have spent 12 hours in the salon, and the black is bleeding through or the new color is not right. We may have to do it over. Did you dye your hair before? You cannot put dye over dye. If you have another color, you have to strip that dye first before you can change the color.

I think a hematologist would be a good person to see. Obviously, something is causing your daughter's minerals to be depleted. Even when ferritin levels are good, if it is not being used, something is disturbing the natural process. Treatment is impossible without identifying the root cause. Symptoms being treated only hinders the healing process. I do think the iron will help, though.

Dear Lisa,

Your teenage years sounded awful! It infuriates me how mental patients are treated. Most of the time, they dope them up on pills just so they do not have to deal with them. I find this to be neglect. I am apalled by such places and their maltreatment of human beings.

I am glad the e-coffee helped. I do not think I am brave enough for that just yet. Maybe sometime when things in my system are more normal. Right now, focusing on not adding anymore toxins that I can help is key. EM make-up will be one of my first adjustments.

That chocolate sounds heavenly! I love chocolate. Who needs anything else when they have chocolate?

People who do not like food are not normal, by the way. Their opinions are null and void on this topic.

I would say the combination of the oatmeal and the heat was what did you in the other day. Plus, oats have gluten. Do not eat them! There are gluten-free ones, but they are not tolerated by some Celiacs. Detoxing probably added to the fire as well.

Your poor brother! I know what that is like. I had an absess starting with that molar I had extracted the other month. My dentist gave me Amoxy before its removal, but I still think I might need to do another course. I still have pain in my jaw.

I was good! I did not overdo the chocolate. In fact, I did not eat any yesterday. This morning I ate some less than healthy stuff, though. Getting back on track is important.

Dear Paula,

Castor oil packs are worth trying for a lot of people. Since you are doing pretty good, I think it would be helpful. I am glad Julie posted about them. I was not sure how they were supposed to be done.

Mia's lazy pack is very appealing.

I too, have had emotional traumas that I am not sure I will ever get over. One of which was that horrible four and a half days up at IU Med. Those morons nearly killed me! I had never been so terrified in my life. The emotional pain I experienced with that alone is excruciating to this day. This is on top of all of the other things I have been through with family, friends, and financial woes.

I am so happy to hear you are doing so well! Candida is a difficult thing to kill. You are winning! Way to go! Although I miss you posting, it is nice to know you are able to get out and have a life.

With my makeover, I basically got my hair cut and stripped of the black dye. We are still working on that a bit. About half of it the black bled back through, so I have no idea what we will do next. I got a dark brown shade put on, then highlights of blonde. We may have to strip this job, and redo everything!

I got my 6WBMO kit last week. Affording groceries is next. I thought I might want to have a week where I eat what I like that is not on the plan before starting. The good thing is, sugar has been less plentiful lately since I do okay as long as I eat potatoes or bananas. My blood sugar does fine with those carbs.

I love Psych and Sociology, too! Sherry's paper really sounds interesting. I definitely cannot wait to hear more. This stuff always fascinates me. I do not know if I will be able to wrap my brain around it, but we will see!

I am going to begin working out soon, too. The 6WBMO plan really does make sense. I could not believe it, I knew I did it right when they described Type C women having too much bulk in the lower body and desperately trying to get rid of it. That is the way it has been for a long time now! Finally, there seems to be something that is what my body needs to be in good shape.

Washing hair is normally not recommended to be done too often. If your hair is too oily or too dry, that can cause dandruff. Trichologists are scalp specialists. They recommend not overdoing it. Overstyling is another common error.

Dear Nyxie63,

You sound exactly like me with your depression! I am in the same rut. My life is not going well at all. I am sick, have no money, and no one gives a crap about how I feel. No one tries to understand. All I see is my parents and the dog on a regular basis.

Breakdowns are more common than people think. A couple of my family members have had them. I hate it when other people say that anyone who has had a breakdown is crazy. I do not believe that at all. They just had a toxic load of emotions, and it came down so hard on them that they could no longer function normally.

I feel that emotions play a major role in illness and recovery. Toxic emotions cause chemicals in the body to depress the immune system. Eventually, it become overwhelmed. That is when illness results. Hiding emotions and trying to block them only results in terrible issues later.

At least you finally got the bloodwork done! That is a start. Your cortisol levels will likely show you have not been sleeping much. Adrenal exhaustion is very aggravated by lack of sleep. There are times I only sleep a few hours for several days in a row.

Dear Sherry,

The abstract was great! I want to see more. I will send you my e-mail. You do not have it, do you?

I would like an update from your appointment with Dr. E as well.

Ups and downs are difficult to deal with. I have them. One day, I do fairly well. Another day, I will willingly beg a deranged gunmen to shoot me and put me out of my misery. The good days are bearable, the bad days are just really bad.

Lead being high is not surprising. More people have lead poisoning than you might think. China is so polluted from the industrialization that it is amazing people do not have severe retardation, sterility, and feet growing out of their foreheads! Many Americans who go over there experience a decline in health due to the toxins they encounter. Peter Hessler wrote about it in his book "A Year Along The Yangtze".

It is good that your mercury was within normal range. Mercury is so common. Seafood is a really good source of it. Still, I like my fish. I read somewhere Dr. K recommended eating fish with cilantro to prevent absorbing the mercury. They did not say how much, though.

Thank you for the bone broth tip. This is a good way to get some calcium! I will try to remember to keep in mind splitting it open to reveal marrow is important. Since dairy and I do not seem to be friends, I need something to help me get some calcium. Greens are something I rarely eat, so this is more ideal.

Your appointment with Dr. E sounded productive. I am glad you got a lot of information regarding your test results. So much confusion can be caused by those. They are difficult to read, and even more so to interpret. I hate it when doctors I have had would not explain them to me.

Perhaps pancreatic enzymes are what I need? The nausea is unbearable a lot of the time. I am so tired of suffering. I hate having to take meds because they make me so drowsy. Promethazine gives you a serious case of the duhs.

What a bummer about that malabsorption! Having all of those co-infections could be why. They really mess up the gut. LGS is common in Lyme patients. Between the yeast and bugs, it is hard not to.

It is great you are doing so well on the Levaquin. That stuff can be harsh. Mia and Carla had a tough time on it. Poor Carla herxed for six weeks! Just the idea of it is awful. Of course, that may explain why it did not test well for you.

I have not heard of the Marshall protocol until you mentioned it. What exactly does it consist of? Do you have more info? It is controversial, but worth reading about. You never know where you will find something helpful.

Thank you for the metals testing and links info! I may get something done. The provoked urine test is the best one. Hair analysis does not always reveal as much. Julie's did, though.

I cannot wait to hear about your appointment with your LLMD! You are making progress! Maybe you finally will get off of the abx. I am so glad Andrea got you in to see Dr. E. If she hadn't, you would still not be treating co-infections and having no progress at all. Meanwhile, I am glad steps are being taken to help with the malabsorption issue.

Dear Patti,

It is great to see you on here! We almost never see you now. What have you been up to? Anything interesting? How is Allo?

Dear Laura,

I am glad you stopped by! It was nice talking to you on LymeNet the other night. I am getting to know people on there. I am still learning how to navigate that forum. Maybe I will get the hang of everything on it soon!

Dear babysteps,

Thank you for the dandruff shampoo info! I have dandruff as well. Can that stuff be used on color treated hair? I do not want to strip the dye once I get my hair the way I want it. Beauty bummers are always complicated.

Sincerely,

Jin

[dlp252]

Your new avatar is great!

Thanks! Yeah, I had to take about 20 to get this one.

In fact, my doctor said sinus and respiratory infections are signs of a dairy intolerance.

I hope you did not go to heavy on the chocolate yesterday. You remember what happened last time. No more of that! I was eating chocolate with regular dairy again until a few days ago. Nothing has gotten better, but it may take months before noticing anything.

Yeah, Enterolab confirmed that I have an intolerance, but I still can't seem to stay away from it. At least the chocolate I ate didn't have large amounts of diary in it.

Well, I had my share, lol...I did stop before I felt sick though. And, I'm not too congested today.

Alison thinks I should not dye my hair, use moisturizers, or make-up.

...

I am going to get some of this stuff! I hope Alison forgives me for it! I know she will not approve.

I do agree that I should avoid putting anymore toxins in my system. It is apparent it is already on overload.

Yeah, the hair dye is really not good for any of us, but I can't give that up YET. The EM makeup is pretty pure though...just the minerals...no fillers--it's all gluten free too.

This is wonderful about fixing up your condo! I am excited for you. I kind of like decorating. Here is a tip: be sure to make it look as spacious as possible. Remove clutter, because that is always going to devalue your space.

Yeah, when I first moved in it looked great...not a lot of furniture and it looked MUCH bigger, lol. Now, after nearly 20 years, it's cluttered and full of junk and furniture. I definitely want to get back to less is more thing. I'm planning on getting a couple of armoires to hide the smaller junky stuff like books and stuff. The only thing I don't quite know what to with is my workout stuff. I have a lot of dumbbells, steps, and other workout stuff...I'll figure out someway to hid some of it, but how do you hide a fitness ball?

I have heard good things about mangosteen juice. It does not agree with everyone, though.

Yeah, this is the thing that's stopped me....so many things don't agree with me, that I'm afraid to buy it, lol.

[NoGluGirl]

Dear Donna,

Taking pics is difficult. There is so much to consider. You have to worry about lighting, the background, etc. If only it was simpler! I have been wanting to take pics of the beautiful bluejays and cardinals, but my card is full on my camera again!

That is good you stopped eating the chocolate before making yourself ill. Dairy in chocolate does not seem to affect me, but pudding or yogurt makes me so sick! Someone said they think it is because the fat in the chocolate slows the processing of the lactose. This may be the reason I do not get sick from it. Here is something puzzling, though: 33mg of lactose is in my FloraStor, and I do fine with it.

Now I am just confused. Regardless, my sinuses are bad.

Dyes are loaded with chemicals. However, I feel ugly without doing something to my hair! Besides, I feel worse when I look bad. Therefore, make-up is necessary. With as rarely as I go out, I only wear it once a week at the most. I cannot wait to get some EM!

ROTFLMAO! Your condo sounds like our house. Mom and Dad have been married for 35 years, and things have piled up from all of the anniversaries, Christmases, and birthdays. The house seemed so big when I was young. One day, I looked around and thought "OMG! The house is shrinking! It used to be so much bigger!" WTH? Once that carpet is out of there, you will see a difference in your sinuses. Also, I think the armoires are a good idea!

Mangosteen juice is something that is not always a practical purchase. You could take it to BioSet couldn't you? They could tell you if it is alright or not. That is what I would do. It is better than chancing anything.

Dear Everyone,

Updates time for some of our friends! Kristina has not PMed me in a while. The last I heard from her, she was doing a bit better. The doctor thinks she has Celiac on top of IBS. A new medication was tried, and Kristina has been able to add a few more foods back to her diet.

Alison just got back from a 3-week tour in Europe with the orchestra. It sounded exhausting! She e-mailed me the other day. Her homecoming was less than pleasant. Her husband was puking, and two of her children were also ill. The oldest child had pneumonia. I will tell her hello for everyone!

Now I have favors to ask. I need information on LED for a friend. A woman on LN and I were chatting online last night. Her daughter is 27, and terribly ill. This woman in Nevada they went to see put her on all of these things for detox. The trouble is, she has only gotten worse and has the HLA gene.

ICEY and her family live in Las Vegas. Her daughter was diagnosed three years ago. Abx did not do much if anything. She also has all of the co-infections. Her body odor is strong and she actually smells like vomit. She also was placed on a sulfur-free diet. Is it just me, or does this sound like blocked sulfur pathways?

I told ICEY to call me, and I explained what I thought was wrong. I told her about Rachel having blocked pathways and how ill she was. Then I told her about how I think she should get LED done because it helped Rachel with the blocked pathways holding up her chelation. Can anyone tell me when Dr. Amy is supposed to get to LA? They need help.

ICEY fears her daughter does not have much time. She is bedridden. I told her I will do anything to help her. I also told her about Dr. E, but she cannot afford to go up to WA. They would hate to think of the cost of a motel, let alone the trip itself. ICEY's grandaughter also has the disease. She has severe bouts of vomiting and fever, despite only being five.

Dear April,

Can you give me the info and links to the sulfur pathway testing again? I really need it for ICEY. I would greatly appreciate it, as will she. I told her you found out through bloodwork. I told her I know you all will come through for her, as you have for me.

Sincerely,

Jin

[AndreaB]

I decided to try something that people talk about on LN .... Mangosteen juice .... I only take it once every three days because I'm generally allergic to fruit juice. Well, let me just say this, for any of you with c issues, here's your answer!!!! Works within about 8 hours.

That's pretty quick! I need to figure something out for T.

Sounds like a great appointment. Once I get my condo refinanced (and get the carpet out LOL) I think I MAY think about taking some regularly spaced trips up there to see Dr. E or Dr. Amy.

If it works out that you need to come up here then I'll be looking forward to seeing you.

Jin,

Have Cathy email betterhealthguy for a reference to someone she can see in Nevada, if he knows of anyone there. That would be the best thing.

[mftnchn]

I am suppose to do the tapping too, but I keep forgetting. Thanks for the reminder

I am interested what you are taking for the lymph and fibrin??

I have yet to do a round of additional blood tests, fibrinogen is one of the tests in the group, and if the numbers are off I assume I will be taking something as well to treat it.

One of the great things about ART is that in the long run it ends up being more economical since you aren't taking anything extra or what your body doesn't need.

The tapping has really been helping, so I don't think I'll forget it so easily again.

Dr E added Pohe root for lymph and erlichia. Apparently the erlichia has been clogging up my system. Also the Jarrow nattokinase for lymph and fibrin. She mentioned again the fibrin issues caused by lyme.

I do hope eventually it will be cheaper, right now it feels overwhelming. Dr. E picked up the emotions of fear and anxiety. There's a number of things I can think of that may be factors in that, but one is definitely how much I am spending versus what benefit I might receive.

Sorry the Levaquin didn't test well. It's funny how different we all are .... if I had had it tested, I bet I would have tested really well for it.

Yes, I am really torn about this; my plan is to stay on the levaquin until next week then check with my LLMD when I get back into town; I go in next Thursday for another IV and that's my last dose of levequin if I don't fill my prescription.

If it truly isn't impacting the bugs then it isn't worth taking. That means trusting the ART..and I am not sure I am fully there yet!

No input but I've been sweating TONS during the night too.

Sounds like a great appointment. Once I get my condo refinanced (and get the carpet out LOL) I think I MAY think about taking some regularly spaced trips up there to see Dr. E or Dr. Amy.

I've cut WAY back on my supplements. I'm still taking a lot, but as I run out of things I'm cutting out the ones that weren't suggested directly by my doctors. Folks who post on the EM thread will get a kick out of this next sentence... I've made a spreadsheet to keep track of supplement purchases because currently I have no idea how much I'm really spending on them, nor how often I have to buy them and how long they last.

Prior to and early in my lyme treatment I had a lot of night sweats where I would soak through everything. That has resolved, although I do get hot flashes now and again. I figure that's normal for me right now.

I have a spreadsheet that I have used to figure out how much to buy, etc. I have a place for how many a day, and how many come in a box (my meds in China come in little boxes with tons of packaging, usually 5-6 in a box), how many I use a month, and then I can input how many months worth I need to buy. I get clearance from my insurance to buy in larger amounts when I have to carry it overseas.

Maybe if you come to WA sometime when I'm there, I'll meet you too!

Sherry

[CarlaB]

That's pretty quick! I need to figure something out for T.

Yeah, it is quick! And the thing is, I don't need it!

Jin, you might put in an alias for the woman and her daughter you are talking about .... I know she does not use her real name on Lymenet .... just a suggestion.

[mftnchn]

Sherry, I'm glad you're doing okay on the Levaquin. Any improvement?

I can't tell that it is helping; overall I feel worse. I can't tell what the symptoms are from but generally more brain fog, fatigue, pain, fatigue, fatigue, did I say fatigue?

Yeah, mine is colored too...gotta cover that grey, lol. I've made it two full days without shampoo, but just wetting it and using and rinsing out conditioner...I may try for more...this weekend might be a good time to try, lol.

I'm going to try your rinsing idea, I haven't been using any conditioner. I keep my hair really short which seems the best for me. I haven't had to do any coloring yet...maybe I got some good genes in the mix there. My father is in is 70s and hardly any gray still.

Sherry, I missed what kind of test this was that you posted the results from?

Sorry they didn't reflect the numbers being more in range. I am also interested to hear what your Dr's interpretation of the results will be.

Well, it was a group of tests, sorry I wasn't more clear. Spectracell Labs did a vitamin, mineral, antioxidant panal. Doctor's Data did Urine toxic metals and essential elements. I've got to pick some more up from Dr E today as she kept them to make copies. Amino acid panel and something else.

[mftnchn]

Carla, the pictures just get better and better! I think your hair looks great!

[dlp252]

Maybe if you come to WA sometime when I'm there, I'll meet you too!

That would be fun and fantastic!!!

I'm going to try your rinsing idea, I haven't been using any conditioner. I keep my hair really short which seems the best for me. I haven't had to do any coloring yet...maybe I got some good genes in the mix there. My father is in is 70s and hardly any gray still.

Yeah, I think you definitely got good genes, lol. I started going grey in my 30s...I'm afraid it's probably all grey by now, lol. If it's like my mom's hair, I'll keep coloring it for now. Her hair isn't ugly or anything, just salt & pepper, but I don't like that look for me now. I'm going to fight LOOKING old as long as I can.

[aprilh]

Dear April,

Can you give me the info and links to the sulfur pathway testing again? I really need it for Cathy. I would greatly appreciate it, as will she. I told her you found out through bloodwork. I told Cathy I know you all will come through for her, as you have for me.

Sincerely,

Jin

Jin,

I got mine tested through Genova Diagnostics. Here is the website www.genovadiagnostics.com

It was blood and saliva and urine. 3 phase test. I took a caffeine pill the first day, a acetominophin and an aspirin. Then they measured the urine and blood (and maybe saliva).

April

[confusedks]

I decided to try something that people talk about on LN .... Mangosteen juice .... I only take it once every three days because I'm generally allergic to fruit juice. Well, let me just say this, for any of you with c issues, here's your answer!!!! Works within about 8 hours.

I may look into this! Since I have started taking the Calcium/Magnesium and Melatonin at night I have been SO constipated! I thought Calcium/Mag was supposed to help with C!?

Dear Kassandra,

What a relief that the appointment at the clinic went well! Sore throats are awful. I always get queasy when I get them, too. Do you do that also? I was just curious if anyone else felt like that when their throat hurt.

So, did you get your throat culture back yet? Wasn't it supposed to be in yesterday? Of course, we know that things never are ready when they say they will be. More abx is not fun. Still, it is best to take them than suffer.

Maybe the leg pain was from muscles that were underused? Sometimes that happens. I tend to get pain in my lower back. It is always upon getting out of bed. Rolling my spine helps a lot. Certain yoga moves also help.

Brown rice protein powder probably is not tasty. That was not the Jarrow was it? Did you order it yet? Trying a new brand of eggwhite powder might work. Sometimes it is not the item itself, but the brand. For instance, I found out most Stevia extracts are bleached. Processing can cause a reaction to something used in that part of the manufacturing.

I get queasy almost all the time...so it's hard to say if the sore throat made it worse or not.

I got the results yesterday and it was negative. I'm not surprised. It was just a really bad sore throat, but I didn't have a fever or anything.

The leg pain was definitely a Lyme flare. It helps to work out, but it still does hurt sometimes. It's not muscle pain, it's inflammation in my actual disc area. When it gets inflamed, the disc hits a nerve and it causes shooting pain down my right leg.

The brown rice protein powder was Jarrow! It is not tolerable at all to me! I think I am going to try either a different brand of brown rice protein powder, or go back to smelly gas with the egg white protein powder.

I just don't think my body is absorbing nutrients. It seems things are coming out the exact way they go in!

[jerseyangel]

Dear Patti,

It is great to see you on here! We almost never see you now. What have you been up to? Anything interesting? How is Allo?

Hi Jin

I read here, but don't post much. It's good to see you, and I'm sorry you're having problems with your hair. I know that you need to wait a while between colorings or the new one won't take. It's frustrating for sure.

I'm sure that it'll all work out fine, though.

Thanks for asking about Allo--he's not doing too well these days He's getting older (17) and has severe arthritis and is having a real problem with 'going' outside his litter box. I can see he's in more pain than he used to be, so I'm struggling with what to do next. He's a member of the family.

I'm praying about it

Anyway--it is good to see you again.....

[Green12]

For the fibrin, the Cowden protocol has Serra Peptase.

I decided to try something that people talk about on LN .... Mangosteen juice ....

Thanks for this info.

What exactly is Mangosteen juice? Sounds interesting.

No input but I've been sweating TONS during the night too. I don't wake up drenched, but I have to sleep in a tank top and shorts to have a hope of staying somewhat comfortable. It usually doesn't happen until I get up to use the restroom in the middle of the night. Within about 30-40 minutes after getting back in bed I start sweating pretty badly.

Last night was better for me, the 2 days prior were terrible though. I was completely covered in water, all over, I literally soaked the bed!

For me this coincides with my cycle, so I am inclined to believe it is associated with my hormonal imbalances and liver congestion. I'm not ruling lyme, or babesia, out. I just am very reluctant to point a finger at only one thing. I've done that too much in the past.

I've cut WAY back on my supplements. I'm still taking a lot, but as I run out of things I'm cutting out the ones that weren't suggested directly by my doctors. Folks who post on the EM thread will get a kick out of this next sentence... I've made a spreadsheet to keep track of supplement purchases because currently I have no idea how much I'm really spending on them, nor how often I have to buy them and how long they last.

That makes me giggle

Donna, what is the status of your protocol? Are you completely on hold with everything until you get the mold situation in your home dealt with?

The tapping has really been helping, so I don't think I'll forget it so easily again.

Dr E added Pohe root for lymph and erlichia. Apparently the erlichia has been clogging up my system. Also the Jarrow nattokinase for lymph and fibrin. She mentioned again the fibrin issues caused by lyme.

I do hope eventually it will be cheaper, right now it feels overwhelming. Dr. E picked up the emotions of fear and anxiety. There's a number of things I can think of that may be factors in that, but one is definitely how much I am spending versus what benefit I might receive.

Yes, I am really torn about this; my plan is to stay on the levaquin until next week then check with my LLMD when I get back into town; I go in next Thursday for another IV and that's my last dose of levequin if I don't fill my prescription.

If it truly isn't impacting the bugs then it isn't worth taking. That means trusting the ART..and I am not sure I am fully there yet!

Thanks Sherry for the info on these supplements and I am glad to hear the tapping is helping.

I completely understand the feelings of being overwhelmed, worrying about what is the right thing to do, especially when we are given conflicting advice as to treatment, especially when the road has been long and so much money has already gone out, there is an urgency and desperation to get it right.

I may look into this! Since I have started taking the Calcium/Magnesium and Melatonin at night I have been SO constipated! I thought Calcium/Mag was supposed to help with C!?

The magnesium has a laxative effect, but the calcium is binding. So often when you are taking a cal/mag supplement there isn't enough mag to counteract the binding of the calcium.

You can take extra mag.

[confusedks]

The magnesium has a laxative effect, but the calcium is binding. So often when you are taking a cal/mag supplement there isn't enough mag to counteract the binding of the calcium.

You can take extra mag.

How funny! I will try something else I think. Because I will forget NOT to take more magnsium next to the Ztih--which is a big no no!

I think I'll try Mangosteen, once Carla tells us what it is!

[Clark Bent as Stupor-Man]

alright, well, I figure I may as well get around to asking a few of the things I wanted to bring up when I posted a bit a month ago...

I don't react well to activated charcoal, leaves me more fatigued though I haven't tried it in a year and a half (also didn't test well for it during the bio-energetic testing I had done)... probably also isn't practical for me as the longest I ever really go between meals is 3 hours in the evening... so anyone have any suggestions for an alternative binding agent that's used for similar applications, say upon the feeling of reacting to a food or whatnot...

also, is anyone here taking (or has taken) MB12? I know it's extensively mentioned on lyme net and autism message boards, and I'm inclined to think it would be beneficial for me to try it to aid in addressing the cognitive symptoms... after I learn a bit more about it, I plan to discuss it with my LLMD next appt and see about getting a prescription for it...

lastly, anyone with very restrictive diets have any recommendations for foods to try and gain weight? I'm back to pretty much a meats and veggies diet (well, basically the same diet I've been on for a while minus potato chips) and am trying to find alternative foods I can add in, at least here or there if not more regularly, that I won't react to (or will minimally react to) and that have a bit of calories... I tried sunflower butter once as an alternative to the nut butters but didn't seem to do well at all with that.. don't do great with cashews either... got some hemp milk I may try mixed with a low sugar fruit and maybe something else to boost the calorie total but could use some ideas if you guys have any...

[babysteps]

Dear babysteps,

Thank you for the dandruff shampoo info! I have dandruff as well. Can that stuff be used on color treated hair? I do not want to strip the dye once I get my hair the way I want it. Beauty bummers are always complicated.

Sincerely,

Jin

Jin-

Not sure about using on color-treated hair (my highlights are peroxide, not color). I actually use the 'DHS Clear' which may be their only fragrance-free version - try emailing them (and check you spam folder, that's where their reply lived for a while in my email). Can take up to 2 wks from order to receipt.

Just got a gluten-free/soyF vitamin sample from Kirkman, they mention some hypo-allergenic shampoos of theirs - could be worth a try (and they have lots of trial sizes, which helps $ but does seem silly for shipping...) but website doesn't show any for dandruff especially.

Crazy idea, not sure if any 'green' publications have make-it-yourself shampoo recipes, that might work too??

[confusedks]

also, is anyone here taking (or has taken) MB12? I know it's extensively mentioned on lyme net and autism message boards, and I'm inclined to think it would be beneficial for me to try it to aid in addressing the cognitive symptoms... after I learn a bit more about it, I plan to discuss it with my LLMD next appt and see about getting a prescription for it...

Do you mean methyl B12 injections? I am doing them 2x weekly. It hasn't helped me with the cognitive symptoms, but it may have helped others.

They do help me with energy. I usually do them on Monday's and Friday's and those are the only days I usually seem to get stuff done. It's not a HUGE difference, but it's noticeable.

[babysteps]

Last night was better for me, the 2 days prior were terrible though. I was completely covered in water, all over, I literally soaked the bed!

For me this coincides with my cycle, so I am inclined to believe it is associated with my hormonal imbalances and liver congestion. I'm not ruling lyme, or babesia, out. I just am very reluctant to point a finger at only one thing. I've done that too much in the past.

I used to get night 'flop' sweat too - hate that slimy feeling ! And the post-sweat claminess is almost as bad as the sauna during . My theory for me, is it was that my hormones amplified whatever else physical was happening. Both during cycle & also at/right after ovulation. Once I cut out gluten & soy (my triggers-as of yet I seem to be food-based as opposed to other more complicated health issues), the sweats pretty much disappeared (my OBGYN did check, I wasn't yet menopausal or pre-meno). My cramps (which sometimes came with vomiting) also are much less after cutting out the dietary triggers Heat, sweat...any nightshade sensitivities?