New member

Hi all,

had Lyme for over two and a half years now. Too foggy to post about anything yet. Just got back from a trip and I have been in bed 6 days. Tried artemesiae today increase of symptoms and made be feel even crazier. Anybody else have experience with this?

Hi JT,

Big warm welcome to this forum. Travel is a challenge, isn't it? Artemesinin is a very powerful herb. I have been pulsing it three weeks on and one week off for more than eight months and it still gives me a herx. So, as bad as you feel, please look on it as a good sign. You are getting die off -- just help your body and do some de-toxing.

You will find good information on that and for other aspects of lyme in the "New to Lyme?..." thread at the top of this forum.

Also available to you is the ability to search this forum for continuing threads -- you"ll find find the search option in the top right hand corner of the page.

This is a supportive and caring group of peopl. You've come to the right place.

Take care.

Thanks all, still trying to crawl out of my post travel crash. I travel a lot for work but I realize now I can't. Here is another odd question. I am perfectly clear that my road to a cure and I mean cure is through detox, stress management, exercise and diet. On the other hand I have taken vicoden in the past for a back issue and it offered me the most relief I have ever had. From being locked in my room with anxiety and blinding eyeball headaches to able to function on some level and at least complete minimal work tasks and interact with my family. It seems these to approaches are at the opposite ends of the spectrum but as fellow sufferers what do you think of using an addictive opiate when you are at rock bottom? I know you all know where rock bottom is and I remember seeing that some quote here that was something like "when strength is all you have" When I crash i have no bootstraps to pull myself up, I can't make myself strong. What then?

Thank you all for making this site, my wife just found it yesterday. It has already been such a help. I want to send my deepest gratitude and empathy to all of you and the people in your lives.

One last question, what are your thoughts about getting expensive medical advice over the phone? The individual I spoke with was highly intelligent and perceptive. The problem is I spent alot over the phone and I still am not quite sure how to proceed. I don't think it is a scam but is it viable if you are not well off?

Take good care all and thanks for being here

Hi JT,
Welcome!! You've got a wonderful wife!!! Thank her for finding this site from us!! I'm sure you will continue to find us caring, helpful and understanding!

I don't believe that you have crossed any lines on the rules here. You have asked some very legit questions, nothing illegal. In MHO, you've got to do what you've got to do in order to get through when you are at rock bottom, just be wise about it. Don't over-do anything. If the Vicoden is helping with the pain right now, use it. Vicoden didn't help me much, but it does help some.

On the phone consult, I would proceed with great caution. There are way too many out there who just want to take your money, and we - as very ill people - can be quite vulnerable to scams. The problem I see with this approach is that I believe you should first see a Dr. that is well versed in these types of infections in order to diagnose you - is this something you have had done yet? If so, then forgive me. The other thing is you need to be sure they really are Lyme Literate!! Infectious Disease docs all claim to be, but they can rarely help anyone that has gone beyond the first weeks of an infection because of their approach of this is an easy infection to treat - no matter how long a person has been infected. Most won't even recognize the late stage form of this disease - chronic infection. There area always exceptions to the rule of course!

A this point you (and your wife) should read all that you can get your hands on about tick-borne infections (TBI's), as you will need to be your own health advocate now. Of course, I suggest the "New to Lyme?" thread. In it you will find Dr. Joseph Burrascano's "Advanced Topics in Lyme Disease". I highly recommend that you read through this, as he discusses not only diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Disease, but the more common co-infections as well.

Another option that is available is to go a more natural route. There are several of us here that are doing quite well on herbal, or natural protocols, I'm one of them. There is a link in the "New to Lyme?" thread to some of the more well known natural protocols if you are interested, or you can just ask!

Please do ask questions, vent, and offer your own support (it's therapeutic!) here. Also, please let us know how you are doing, when you are up to posting.

Once again, welcome to our little spot!!!

Thanks allsmiles, I like your forum name, it is a good mixture of irony and hope. That is good to hear about your experience with artinesiae. Another supplement is SAM-e I am going to start taking that it seems to potentially have alot of benefits with depression and joints. It needs to be taken with a B vitamin to be effective. Well all have a good weekend, lets try not to miss anymore life..

 Hey JT, thanks for the tip about SAMe. I didnt know you had to take it with B vitamins. Have thought about trying that, but have bipolar issues so have to be careful.

Have heard good things about it, so I hope it will help you. There is definately improvement that can occur from the use of antidepressants. I took some years back and my Lyme head symptoms all went away, but unfortunately it seemed to only shift the bacteria to another location and started causing me severe gut palsy so had to discontinue the use of them.

I would like to try SAMe just to see if I react any different now. Glad you are open to naturals. I have found alot of help from them.

And thanks for the heads up on my forum name. Truth is, I spent a whole lot of time never smiling or having anything to smile about after getting Lyme, so now I recognize the happy person inside me all the time, no matter what this darn disease is doing. I dont allow it to be a god over my life anymore.

Keep us posted on your treatment progress!

Glad you were still able to enjoy your day!! We had a great day with family as well!