Anyone using low dose naltrexone for hashis?

I've been waiting for answers to your post, but none came in. Weird, that the lyme forum here is super popular, but the thyroid forum is not. Oh well.

Anyway, I'm going to try LDN (have hashi and have/had lyme). Its split 50/50 pro/con from users on the lyme forum. Many chronic "lymies" develop autoimmune issues. People who like it say to give it a few months, as it might make you worse in the beginning. So apparently, like thyroid med, patients is a requirement with LDN.

The fibro forum might have had some using LDN also, it has been discussed there.

Hello Squarsh and long time no see astroman! (usually on the lyme boards with you)

I started LDN about a month ago. I don't really know that I can attribute any specific improvements to LDN as I have had a general progression to wellness after completing lyme and Co treatment, tackling candida, and getting to the correct dose of thyroid meds.

I have noticed that it makes me very sleepy, so I take it at bedtime. I also have vivid dreams that I can remember in the morning, it's been a long time since I have had that. I am still at 3 mgs because that is what my LLMD prescribed. If I use more that this, I will run out before my monthly Rx can be filled. Not sure if 4.5mgs is a better dose? Is that a common dose for most?

I have read that it can help with sensitivity to gluten, although I am not sure if that is fact. I did accidentally ingest gluten a few days ago (albeit a very small amount) and did not have any adverse reaction (usually fatigue, body aches, and overall feeling of burning inflammation throughout my body)

And it has been a while since I have had my thyroid levels and antibodies tested. I was never positive for TPO antibodies, but I was out of the range of normal for thyroglobulin antibodies. I am curious if the use of LDN can reduce antibody levels?

Astroman- I have one prescription. They are 6.0 mg troches that are scored into quarters. So I take 1/4 for a week, 1/2 for a week and then 3/4 for a week to get to the 4.5 mg. It was more cost effective for me to get troches (kinda waxy things that dissolve under your tongue) rather than three separate pill prescriptions. Especially since it has to be compounded. It was $75 for pils vs $43 for troches. Troches taste terrible, even with flavoring, but I could not afford $75.

Astroman-

I haven't needed to reduce thyroid meds yet, quite the contrary. I am still increasing my dose slightly trying to find the right amount, but I think I am getting close.

I read somewhere that it is all individual, but a target should be .8 mcgs per pound of body weight? I take Synthroid and add in generic Cyotmel. I could not tolerate Armour and Levo makes my hair fall out which is a bummer because Synthroid is so much more expensive.

As for pain, I do not have any unless I am herxing from Candida die off. And it has been mild as of late, not nearly as bad as I have herxed in the past. And some of the neuro symptoms I had that I attributed to Bart, did not go away with Bart treatments, but went away almost immediately once I went after Candida. Really makes me question whether or not Lyme & Co was the biggest issue. Candida can mimic many tick borne infections.

I also found a LDN forum board that was very informative. I was surprised to learn that if one has a bad enough case of Candida, LDN will not work.

http://ldn.proboards.com/thread/303/check-candida-yeast-overgrowth

What have you been doing to battle Candida?

Yes, I have been doing that. I am currently on herbals now - Houttanyia to be exact, but also Monolaurin and a candida herbal blend that has pau d' arco, garlic, GSE, and black walnut.

How often do you rotate?

Well, after a long trial, LDN did absolutely nothing for me. Nothing bad, but nothing good either. Just nothing. Back to the drawing board....

I just started LDN 1.5 like two days ago. I have been treating Candida going on two years. Pretty much gotten to a healing point with that. Treating Lyme with herbals as well. Looking forward to getting more sleep, but I hear the first few weeks-months are awful trying to get acclimated to the LDN. So far, I'm exhausted. I'd be interested in hearing what it has done for you.

So far I have had headaches, extreme fatigue and some joint pain. Basically felt like a Lyme flare. I have noticed little windows of clearer thinking and a little more energy though. Just enough to make me excited to see what comes of this. I'm looking forward to getting my life back. I hope this is my solution.