Update: CFS & Pain

CFS & PAIN

Happy Holidays everyone! Hope you had a great Christmas & had time with loved ones. Let’s hope this new year is better for everyone!

Update

Christmas Eve night I laid in bed crying in more horrible pain than usual all night/morning & I never got to sleep for even 5 minutes. Back when I was a healthy working man I could stay up for 2-3 days with no rest or averaged 1-4 hours of sleep & could still function at work. Now with being so ill, I need all the sleep I can get or I feel much sicker. I had to be up at 3PM on Christmas Day for my sister’s family coming over to open presents & have dinner. So I was up for 24 hours and my pain & CFS were off the charts.

I made the best of it & had to take mmj & pain meds so I could sort of function & be the “fun uncle” for the kids. I enjoyed every second while I could. After dinner I couldn’t keep my eyes open, my CFS was bad so I fell asleep in my chair. My family was laughing at me for sleeping but they don’t understand what CFS is like. I could hear them but couldn’t open my eyes for anything or even move for about 4 hours until I got up to go to bed. I missed most of our family party but I’m so thankful to have that much, some of my friends were isolated or in the hospital that day.

I’ve been having more pain than usual (as if that’s possible) I thought was RSD that’s now moved to my whole spine but since the intensity comes and goes I don’t think it’s RSD. Could just be my DDD, cysts & herniated discs causing nerve damage. This pain starts at the base of my skull (c-spine) and runs down each side of my thoracic & lumbar spine. The pain is not my usual chronic pains but has more burning & nagging like a thrown-out back. Most people would be yelling out in pain but I’ve had a high tolerance to pain my whole life so I can just bite my lip and lay there crying quietly. It’s the kind of pain no meds can take the edge off.

Since I’ve exhausted all pain management options to go with my pain meds all I have left is ketamine infusions to get soon. I’m not allowed to get any surgery so I can’t have a pain patch implanted in my spine where you press a button to relief the pain by pulses in the back (sort of like a tens unit with remote control under the skin on your spine). I’ve been fighting with UCDavis trying to get into their infusion center but they keep denying my referrals. They said it’s because once they deny you the first time then you have to wait a year to get in, yet they denied me the first time by mistake! So it makes no sense. I have to wait 8-10 more months I guess. I had one ketamine infusion but it was low dose & not a coma dose just to see if I was allergic to it but it seemed to help. I’m still taking morphine, norco & medical marijuana for pain but it doesn’t do much especially for the spine pain.

CFS to me feels like there is sludge or poison in my veins throughout my whole body & everything in my body is taking a nap. My brain is even napping. I can barely move, think, & just lay in my chair. My brain will say “grab your water you are thirsty” but my arms will feel so heavy like lead weights, I can’t seem to want to grab my water. So I watch a lot of TV to pass the time. I would explain CFS/ME like when you are in a sleep coma or at the dentist under gas, you are conscious but you can’t really move or react. I haven’t driven in 5-6 years & CFS is one of the reasons. Many years ago I would fall asleep at the wheel driving on the freeway or even while standing up at work so it was dangerous.

Norco

This may be just my body & my case but if I had to recommend any medication that has done wonders for me it’s Norco. I take 40-60mg when I take my daily dose & another 10-20mg as needed throughout the night. I don’t have the addiction gene in my body so I’ve never been addicted to anything but if you are easily addicted to things (alcohol, cigarettes, meds..) then I would try another non-narcotic option such as tramadol (which did nothing for me except confuse my brain). For me Norco gives me slight energy, takes the “edge” off the normal pains, has been a life saver with my IBS-D, & helps with other issues. All of my other meds, I couldn’t even tell you if they are working or doing anything.

Happy 2015

A new year is coming & I would like for you all to have a much better 2015 that is healthier, happier & full of love. We can do this. I may sound like I’m complaining above but I’m just sharing the truth of my story to help others understand or relate to illness or being bed bound. I’m at peace with my life & illnesses, I think that’s an important stage that everyone should try to get to. If you watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” it really puts your life in perspective & you realize no matter how bad your life is, there are many things to be thankful for & life could always be worse. Focus on the good things you do have, not the bad or negative things & that will help you get by. Stay strong friends.

Blood Test Test Results, Small Road Trip & CFS

Blood Test Test Results, Small Road Trip & CFS

I am too exhausted to post anything lately and I am sorry I cannot keep up with any lyme news. But I wanted to post a quick update of what has been going on lately…..

Blood Results

So last appointment with that grumpy old immune doc didn’t go so well but he told me they were doing a challenge test to see if my vaccines as a kid/teen ever responded and if they didn’t respond that can mean I do have a primary immunodeficiency. The doctor said “if your test results come back high then we will not call you for a follow up and DO NOT COME BACK TO ME but if they are low then we will call you for a follow-up and do more tests”. Which is pretty rude to say “don’t come back to me” instead of saying “I will still try to figure out what is wrong with you”.

My test results all came back very low. They tested me for pneumonia vaccine, diphtheria, and others. They all showed that none of these vaccines responded and thy did not work. I think the range was 3 means you were healthy and the vaccine worked,1.5 means you responded and have a good immune, 1.0 means you are weak and it most likely didn’t respond, and lower than .5 means you have no immune and the vaccines didn’t work (or something like that). My tests showed .25 which is 1/4 so that shows me that I have no immune and the vaccines didn’t work.

So I am waiting on a follow up call and never received one. So I called today and made myself an appointment so the doctor can explain the tests to me. Plus I am going back on IVIG on my own before I see the doctor because I can’t wait on them forever. What worries me is when I had elderly pneumonia at age 21 it nearly killed me and the doctors all said if I get pneumonia bad again I will not survive mos likely. Then now I find out my pneumonia vaccines all failed.

Road Trip

I was able to leave the house for one last week. I am an artist at Gallery 85 (Vernon Davis NFL Owns the gallery). I do art to distract me from the pain. Vernon was kind enough to see I had some talent and let me sale my paintings in his gallery so half goes towards my infusions/medical bills and the other half goes to Vernon’s foundation (charity). I received an email asking me to send 9 or more new prints asap. Shipping them costs a lot and takes too long so my dad said he would take me to the Gallery and on the way we would visit the 49ers new stadium.

The Gallery is 2 hours from my house so I wanted to go but I knew it was going to take a lot out of me. I can’t even get in the car to go down the street I get too car sick. So of course the only day we plan to go we get our first big rain storm and there were accidents all the way there and back home so there was a lot of traffic. We arrived nearly late for our stadium tour and museum walk. I tried to make the best of every moment and bond with my dad over our favorite football team. I had a blast at the stadium but I don’t think I will ever get to go back or go to a game, I will explain why soon. We were pressed for time so I had to rush through the museum and couldn’t read anything or see much. There was an amazing 18 min video to watch when you first walk in but I didn’t have time to see it. So it was fun but we had no time to enjoy it.

We rushed to the gallery which was 15 minutes away before the employee left. Luckily we made it just in time as he was packing up to leave. The employee turned out to be Vernon Davis business partner and ex football player. He knows Victor Cruz (NY Giants) so it was nice to meet him. But I was very sick and pale from what my dad told me. I saw some of my art in the Gallery but I don’t remember too much. I can only remember bits and pieces from that day or I would have ore to tell. So we headed home and 5 minutes onto the freeway and I start puking out the window. My head was hurting so bad and where my c-spine enters my skull I felt like someone was pulling on it as hard as they could like it was being ripped out of my head. My poor dad had to keep pulling over in bad traffic so I could vomit.

I do remember puking and seeing a lady next to me with her eyes wide open and she was swerving and yelling at me. hat made me laugh although I was crying in pain. Before I started puking and getting sick I took all of my usual meds and even extra anti-nausea meds. Nothing seemed to help. My usual recoup ratio is 1:3 (1 day of leaving my house equals 3 days of bed rest and recouping) but this is day 8 and I am still very exhausted, more pain than usual and extra symptoms. So after the 3 hours it took to get home in traffic my dad and I both said “we are never going there again”, although we had a great time otherwise. I cannot do the car rides.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

I have no idea how I am still writing but I am. My CFS has been so bad lately that I can barley pick up my phone to look at it. I haven’t had much time to do my art work and tat is my extra income on disability. I am so exhausted I can’t even talk some nights or follow a TV show. My whole body feels like I am in a sleep coma and can’t get out of it. My limbs are so heavy, the usual CFS stuff but for tose who don’t know abut CFS it makes you very tired. So that is why I have been quiet lately, well that and my best friend (bond sister) is doing very bad and hanging on. Plus my ex girlfriend pushed me away again a few months back and she is struggling but she won’t let me help or be a part of her life. She told me she loves me and cares about me so much that she doesn’t want to be apart but then she pushes me away for no reason. I miss my sis and my ex a lot and they are they ones who make me smile and make my day besides my little buddy Dom. I will try to keep up with the blog more soon.

Don’t ever give up. The road may be a long one but we all have each other and we have the will power to get through this. Stay strong my friends and keep on being chronically awesome!

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Quick Update: Butrans

 

 

Quick Update

 

So far being on the Butrans Pain Patch 5 mcg/Hour hasn’t helped any.  I am starting on the lowest dose and working my way up to 20 mcg in a couple months. I am still having to take my normal amount of pain killers (norco) which for me is 25 mg per day. I am on my second patch or week 2 of the monthly dose.

What I have noticed since starting the patch was I feel even more exhausted than usual and I was actually falling asleep around 2-3am and sleeping at least 4 hours, 2 hours uninterrupted. So I was happy to finally get some sleep for once. I just always have no energy at all from the CFS so feeling even more exhausted isn’t the greatest feeling. So it’s a good and bad thing I guess.

The maintenance dose of Doxycycline (200 mg per day) hasn’t been helping so far and there is no herxing. I don’t miss herxing but at least I felt the meds were doing there job when there was a herx after taking them.

My C-Spine is acting up again and I can feel the herniated discs pinching on a nerve. It makes it difficult to lay my head on my pillow at night because no matter which way I lay it pinches. Th pain meds don’t seem to help at all with the pain from the nerve being pinched.

I will be getting my medical marijuana card (mmj) real soon and trying some mmj products to see if they help much. I have had at least 5 doctors highly recommend medical marijuana and I have been smoking it but I haven’t tried many of the different strains they offer at the shops for different symptoms. So it’s worth a shot.

 

I hope all of my spoonie/lyme friends are having some healing and progress. If you are struggling and feel like giving up, don’t give up the fight there are better days ahead you just have to get to them. Stay strong and keep fighting don’t let the bugs win. Best wishes to all.

 

 

 

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Merry Christmas – Happy Holidays Support Tree

Merry Christmas to all my chronically ill friends, I hope you all have a pain free day. Here’s to a new year of better health, love, and finding happiness.

Hugs &  Happy Holidays –  Bryan (Lyme Inside)

Lyme And Fibro Flare

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My body is in a tug-of-war between my Lyme disease and Fibromyalgia (FMS) both flaring up at the same time. Some say you cannot have Fibro and Lyme together but you can. I know many are misdiagnosed with Fibromyalgia and they really have Lyme disease and not Fibromyalgia so it can be confusing. You will know if you have both Fibro and Lyme since there are differences.

Doctors like to tell everyone they have Fibromyalgia if they don’t know what is wrong with them. It is a general term which basically means chronic wide spread pain. Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is used when they diagnose the condition. I’m not great at explaining things with my Lyme brain so just pretend this sounded very scientific and smart.

To get an accurate diagnoses of Fibromyalgia you should see numerous doctors and get different opinions. I went to a rheumatologist (recommended), neurologist , Primary Doctor and a Movement Disorder Specialist. You can even go to an Endocrinologist and rule out thyroid issues and other issues before hand. Most likely if you have Fibro or Lyme you will have a thyroid issue and low Vitamin D levels. Get blood work and many panels because I found so many issues I would have never even thought to check.

I had all the pressure points of Fibromyalgia and every symptom which again many are the same as Lyme disease symptoms. My primary first diagnosed me with FMS, then two different rheums, a neuro and then a movement disorder doctor. At that time I knew I had many more symptoms than just Fibro but my Rheum refused to listen or care. I was diagnosed with Lyme and tick-borne diseases a year later.

It is hard to explain the differences in the Lyme and Fibro flare. I think the Lyme is more angry and in the brain at times (migraines daily, pressure, pain) and the Fibro seems to feel like someone is poking a fire poker in all the pressure points non-stop. They Fibro also seems to make the muscles in my case hurt worse than the Lyme flare or just daily bad day does. Of course there are 100’s of symptoms but they are all much worse than a normal bad day of pain, fatigue…etc.

The common factor tat realy set my 30 year Lyme and co’s off and my recently diagnosed (3 years old) Fibro was Stress! I was working as a higher up manager for a major retail chain/pharmacy and trying to keep a 2 million dollar profit coming in. I had been injured at work two times in the same month my stress was at an all time high since the CEO’s were coming for visits.

At no fault of mine a contractor dropped about 600 lbs of totes full of liquor on top of me. I was trapped under the pile and tweaked my leg. Being the model employee I never told anyone (my mistake) but basically at my job if you get hurt you get fired.

The next week an employee dropped heavy totes on me knocking me backwards kinking my back and my neck. Again I pretended it never happened although it did hurt for weeks I was tough and shook it off. I wish I would have filed for workers comp but I was dedicated and loyal although the company could care less that I got sick and went out disabled.

So the combination of stress and two back-to-back injuries set the Fibro and Lyme into a rage in my body and that is when I became disabled. It hit me hard and I was bedridden for weeks and could barely talk. Nearly 4 years later and now I am able to walk around the house and get out 1-2 times a year.

So even though a few people have been rude and yell at me saying “you don’t have Fibro” I know I do. I am in Fibro support groups and they are so much different than Lyme support groups. I can tell the subtle differences in Fibro and Lyme symptoms. So yeah they are both painful and a living nightmare. With both of them came Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) which is another horrible thing to have and another story for another time.

 
Worpress is acting up and deleted some things I am writing so I hope it makes sense. Hope everyone is sleeping or having a better night. Take care

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LLMD Visit Today – New Treatment

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LLMD Visit – New Treatment For Sept – Nov

Had to be up early which is about my usual bedtime and take a long car ride to see my LLMD today. We sat and discussed a few things that have been getting worse for me lately. The first thing was my severe night sweats which we had discussed before. The second being my male part having a candida outbreak a few months ago and the third was my brain which is getting worse each month. We also talked about my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and many other issues.

Babesia

All of those I mentioned above my doctor and have talked about nearly 2 years ago. The issues above have been getting worse so I brought them up again. I know many people who have nearly recovered from Babesia yet mine seems to get worse. I believe I have the strain which is harder to kill. After 1000’s of mosquito bites in one day and numerous tick bites I could have different strains of Babesia in my body.

Babesia is what is causing my night sweats which continually soak my bed daily. It makes it hard to get what little sleep I can without getting the chills from the moisture and not sticking to my sheets. I will be taking a new antibiotic for Babesia and stopping the herbal tinctures such as A-bab and Cryptolepis for now. I have already did my share of Mepron and Malarone. I will list the new abx below.

Genital Candida Outbreak

Yes this was/is as horrible as it sounds. I will not go into detail but believe me there was/is a lot of pain, discomfort and bleeding. The genital candida can look and act like genital herpes but remember Lyme can cause all sorts of herpes in your body. I have not had sex in forever so I knew I could rule that out and had a good idea it was yeast/candida from all the antibiotics I have been taking. The problem was I lost my insurance 2 days before the outbreak occurred and I couldn’t see my LLMD for 2 months after.

I treated the outbreak with various ointments and Nystatin cream. I can share that my manhood looked like a dogs chew toy and this was not fun to deal with on top of everything else. I am back to normal and about 98% healed. I will be taking some pill and rubbing a new cream on daily for the next month. I will list those below.

Cognitive Problems

I have been feeling like I am getting Alzheimer’s lately. I have had the cognitive problems for years but recently my dyslexia started getting even more jumbled and my memory is worse. I have also been having more trouble finding words to say and all of the usual brain issues. This is said to be caused by inflammation of the brain and poor blood circulation. I was given a new tincture and pill which I will share below.

Arthritis 

We also talked about my arthritis getting worse but my LLMD does not write my prescriptions for my pain pills so there is not much he can do. He just recommended some anti-inflammatories. I am getting so stiff it is hard to walk. The arthritis is pretty much all over my body.

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Blood Labs

I am getting my usual blood work done to check my organs but I am also checking for Mycoplasma and Chlamydophila Pneumoniae. I suspect I have both since I did nearly die from pneumonia and have had some lung issues. After listening to my lungs today the doctor order these tests which makes me think he suspects I have them also. The will also be checking my Anti-Nuclear Antibody (ANA) which we have tested for many times in the past. Maybe he thinks I have Lupus again? Lupus does run in my family and I thought I had Lupus before I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Lyme….etc. (CBC, CMP 14, Thyroid, Myco, Chlamydia)

 

My New Treatment

Ketoconazole 2% (apply to Candida area)

Clindamycin 300mg (2 pills 3x daily for Babesia)

Suprax 400mg (1 pill daily)

Meriva 500 (2 pills twice a day)

Fluconazole 200mg (1 pill per day)

Folapro (MTHFR)

Glutathione (MTHFR)

VSL#3 (continue to keep from getting C-Diff)

Florastor (probiotic to help with abx)

*I will continue to take Milk Thistle, Chanca Piedra (which are both important for cleaning out the liver/kidneys), Krill Oil, Vit B-Complex, Vit C, Artemisinin, Vit B12, and a few other supplements.

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Top 5 Must Have Supplements For Lymies

Buying Supplements

Below are the supplements I take daily and I know they are Dr. Oz approved and also my LLMD approves them. I think every person with Lyme or tick-borne diseases should have these in your collection. Even healthy people should take these daily. Probiotics are a must have and every person taking antibiotics or Lyme meds should have them. I have recommended my top two probiotics on another post HERE.

You can find all of these supplements fairly cheap if you know where to shop. I buy my supplements online from Swasonvitamins and take advantage of buy-one-get-one deals and their $2.99 shipping. I have heard Vitacost is another great source but they seem to be a bit higher than what I pay. I also buy on Amazon and use my Prime free shipping.

If you go to your local drug store they seem to be about double the cost compared to online prices and deals. I know how little money we have with Lyme and all of our medical costs so trust me I have shopped around for the best deals. You may find some dirt cheap supplements searching on Google but make sure they are a legit source.

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Top 5 Must Have Supplements

Vitamin D/Vitamin D3

Vitamin D is very important for us who suffer with Lyme disease. Many of us (myself included) are bedridden and never get to set foot out of the house. We never see or feel the sunlight. Because of this it is important to take your Vitamin D daily. Almost everyone I know with Fibromyalgia or Lyme has low Vitamin D levels. Low Vitamin D levels can make many people think they have Fibromyalgia (FM) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Vitamin D has emerged as a “star supplement” because of its many nutritional benefits for men, women and children. Vitamin D plays a key role in the proper absorption of calcium for strong bones and teeth and has been shown to support colon, breast, prostate, ovarian, heart and colorectal health. This important vitamin also supports a healthy immune system in adults. Unfortunately, too many Americans have suboptimal levels of vitamin D.

(From Dr. Oz Website on supplements)

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Fish Oil or Krill Oil (Omega 3)

I take one of these daily. I prefer the Krill oil over the fish oil. I highly recommend buying the ones shaped like a tiny red soft gel with a vanilla flavor and orderless. If not you will have a large horse pill smelling like fish. The red pills also give you less indigestion and you don’t get that fishy after taste. You want to take about 100mg per day.

Omega 3’s – Research indicates omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish oil) play a role in a variety of processes in the body that keep us healthy! People who eat omega-3 rich fish several times a week probably do not need to take omega-3 supplements, but those of us who don’t get enough from diet alone may benefit from supplementing with fish oil daily. In fact, 500 mg per day of EPA/DHA is recommended by many health care professional organizations. Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to support heart health as well as joint, brain and eye health. They also have been shown to help maintain triglyceride levels already in the normal range and may reduce the risk of heart disease later in life.

(From Dr. Oz Website on supplements)

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Ubiquinol (CoQ10)

**While on Mepron and Malarone you will need to stay off of CoQ10.

A lot of people will ask me what is CoQ10 when I mention it. CoQ10 is something we should all have since many of us suffer from Lyme depression. The older you get the less CoQ10 the body produces but CoQ10 can also deplete from taking Mepron and Malarone. I am told that CoQ10 can help with depression after taking Babesia meds for so long.

I am currently taking 800mg a day of CoQ10 just to build it back up in my system since I just stopped 2 months of Merpron. Then in a week I will switch to about 200mg per day.

What is the role of coenzyme Q10 (also known as CoQ10) in the body?
Coenzyme Q10 (also known as CoQ10) is a vitamin-like compound that aids in the production of the body’s energy. That is because it is found primarily in our mitochondria – small cell structures that act as the powerhouse of a cell. The highest concentrations of CoQ10 are where we need the most energy – your heart, liver and kidney.

How do the antioxidant properties of coenzyme Q10 (also known as CoQ10) protect my body/my heart?

CoQ10’s energy generation makes it vital to heart health, while its powerful antioxidant properties add yet another layer of protection in maintaining a healthy heart. Together with vitamin E, CoQ10 fights damaging free radicals.

(From Dr. Oz Website on supplements)

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B Vitamins

Many of us with Lyme and coinfections have cold sores or EBV issues. B vitamins can help with the sores and give us a boost of energy. Although I never notice any energy boost from B12 injections or the pills I know some do. Make sure you at least have B6 and B12 in your supplement collection if you can’t afford the B vitamin family pack.

Thiamin: Also known as vitamin B1, Thiamin is necessary for the body to produce energy from the foods you eat, and is also needed for the synthesis of DNA and RNA. Thiamin is found in a wide variety of foods, although some of the best sources of Thiamin are lentils, whole grains and pork. Thiamin can also be found in red meats, yeast, nuts, sunflower seeds, peas, milk, cauliflower, spinach and legumes.

Riboflavin: Also known as vitamin B2, Riboflavin is a basic building block for normal growth and development. It is needed for healthy energy production and also supports the antioxidant activity in the body. Riboflavin is found in a variety of foods such as fortified cereals, milk, eggs, salmon, beef, spinach and broccoli.

Niacin: Niacin is also known as vitamin B3, and supports over 200 chemical reactions in the body including energy production and fatty acid synthesis. Niacin in the form of nicotinic acid has studied for its role in cardiovascular health. Good sources of Niacin include beef, poultry and fish as well as whole wheat bread, peanuts and lentils.

Pantothenic Acid: Also known as vitamin B5, pantothenic acid helps support fatty acid synthesis and energy production in the body. Pantothenic Acid is widely available in plant and animal food sources. Rich sources include organ meats (liver, kidney), egg yolk, whole grains, avocados, cashew nuts, peanuts, lentils, soybeans, brown rice, broccoli, and milk.

Vitamin B6: Involved in over 100 cellular reactions throughout the body, vitamin B6 is instrumental in keeping various bodily functions operating at their best. B6, also known as pyridoxine, is needed to metabolize amino acids and glycogen (the body’s storage form of glucose), and is also necessary for normal nervous system, hormone and red blood cell function. Vitamin B6 is fairly abundant in the diet and can be found in foods such as meat, poultry, eggs, bananas, fish, fortified cereal grains and cooked spinach.

Biotin: Biotin, or vitamin B7, is commonly found in foods such as brewer’s yeast, strawberries, organ meat, cheese and soybeans. For those who are biotin deficient, studies show that biotin may help in the health of hair, skin & nails. biotin also supports healthy carbohydrate, protein & fat metabolism.

Folic Acid: Also known as vitamin B9, folic acid is needed for DNA synthesis, the formation of red blood cells and for the metabolism of amino acids. Folic acid is most commonly known for it role in fetal health and development as it is critical for the formation of a baby’s spinal cord and nervous system. This important developmental process occurs during the initial weeks of pregnancy, and so adequate folic acid intake is especially important for all women of child-bearing age. Fortified foods such as breads and cereals are good dietary sources of folic acid. Other good sources are dark green leafy vegetables such as asparagus and spinach as well as brewer’s yeast, liver, fortified orange juice, beets, dates and avocados.

Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, plays a critical role the pathways of the body that produce energy. It is also needed to for DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation and for healthy nervous system function. Individuals who follow vegan or vegetarian diets may benefit from a B12 supplement since B12 is predominantly found in foods of animal origin such as chicken, beef, fish, milk and eggs.

(From Dr. Oz Website on supplements)

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Vitamin C

Vitamin C can be used to support the immune system but it is also used in the Salt/C protocol. With Lyme and co’s we already know we have a low to non-existent immune system. We should be taking immune boosters and immune support from other supplements and herbals of your doctors choice but Vitamin C is one you should have already. I take chewables and capsules and about 1000mg per day or more.

Vitamin C supports a healthy immune system, a common worry in the winter months. Vitamin C supports the body’s defense system by protecting the integrity of cells, and affecting the production and function of white blood cells. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps fight against free radicals in the body. Free radicals are molecules that can harm your healthy cells and negatively impact the way those cells function in the body.

(From Dr. Oz Website on supplements)

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Top 5 Supplements

1. Vit D/Vit D3
2. Fish/Krill Oil
3. Ubiquinol (CoQ10)
4. B Vitamins
5. Vitamin C

Simple Spicy Ginger Soup – For Nausea & Other Symptoms

 

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Simple Spicy Ginger Soup

I have been having bad nausea lately and I was told my LLMD to eat and drink fresh ginger. I love ginger and I know about all of its health benefits so I had no problem with this request. I didn’t really feel like drinking spicy tea so I decided to cook an easy to make soup. This soup can be customized to your own taste buds but in the end should have the same healing properties. Remember to use only fresh ginger since it will help more than the powder but you can use powdered ginger.

 

(Update)

I recently tried this same recipe and added rice to the soup and left out the snow peas and bean sprouts. It was nice and warm and gentle on the stomach.

Social Network Support for ill Young Adults – healKick

healKick

Being very sick and confined to my home, I spend a lot of time watching TV and sitting in my chair. When I feel well enough and have some energy I will go online. My favorite place to meet others like me and find support groups is on Facebook. Some other great social networks to interact with others who share your pain and suffering are Twitter and a site called healKick.

What is healKick?

“healKick is a social network for young adult patients 40-&-under with neuro-immune illnesses such as:

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Sarcoidosis, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Mold-Related Illness

Meet and chat with other patients in their twenties and thirties using our Members Map, instant messaging, microblogging, or forums.”

For more information please visit:

http://www.healkick.com/