June 2015, Taking Matters into my own hands

Once I had returned home from the ER, I delved into research on the subject of Lyme. I started my antibiotic, and my symptoms felt much better. It was the best I had felt in weeks.

I was able to sleep restfully again. I felt incredible nausea and still had some fatigue, though. I believe the nausea was a side effect of the antibiotic.

During my research, I found multiple things that both worried me and  urged me to seek proper treatment. There are so many varied opinions on Lyme disease on the web, it made it difficult for me to piece through it all and sort what was fact from what was fiction. What was the actual truth? Is there an actual truth? Does anybody really know what's going on?

These questions are still not answered for me, even though I had eventually decided to seek professional treatment.

My research told me that it would benefit me to see a Lyme doctor, that it could take longer than two weeks to be treated (some people actually go into remission from the two week dosage), and that along with an antibiotic, I would also need a cyst buster and a biofilm dissolver added to my list of medicine.

Lyme is an advanced disease and it's spirochetes turn into cysts, therefore shielding itself from the antibitoics you are using to wipe them out, A cyst buster will disable this. A biofilm dissolver is exactly that.

I had read in multiple places about something called a Herxheimer reaction. I guess these are a symptom of die off from killed spirochetes. They don't go without a fight. The symptoms of a Herxheimer reaction can be many, and some cases they are fatal and dangerous. Where ever the disease is at in your body (as it roams in every part of you freely) swells with inflammation, and this action cause an array of behaviors including but not limited to convulsions, heart palpitations, loss of the usage of limbs, and in all cases, great pain. Some people don't Herx at all. After reading people's accounts, I hoped I was one of them.

Many of the accounts online are written by people who didn't realize they were bit, and then were misdiagnosed by health care professionals. Some were from people who had waited for years to get treated, many under the impression that Lyme is no big deal and it will go away on it's own. This couldn't be further from the truth.

I started to wonder about people without health insurance, or people without the money for any antibiotic at all. The antibiotic to treat Lyme can only be obtained through prescription. What do people without doctors do?


The two weeks of antibiotic were coming to an end, and I started to worry. I wasn't better yet, and I didn't want the disease to progress further.

When I ran out of antibiotic, I started to feel unwell again. I called my family doctor, and they asked, "Have you already been treated for Lyme?"

When I told them yes, they actually refused to make me another appointment with my doctor, telling me there was no reason for one. I called back and demanded at least a check up, and they said they'd call me to schedule a time.

 Why shouldn't I be able to at least be seen after the matter? Why is everyone so clueless and avoidant on the subject?

It was time for me to start taking matters into my own hands.

I called and scheduled an appointment with an LLMD, but there was a waiting list, and it would take until august until I could be seen.

My partner and I sat down and started brainstorming different ways to obtain more antibiotic since my doctor wouldn't help and it would take weeks to see a doctor.

 I had a sea of friends that sent me parts of their old prescriptions from hospital visits past, but it still wasn't enough, and most of them weren't the right kinds.

We decided to go to Med express and tell them I had not yet been treated for Lyme. And if that didn't work, our plan B was to go back to the ER and make a big stink about things until they coughed up more antibiotic. We had even prepared to threaten them with the test tube of blood I still had on my person if need be.

We went to Med Express, a place where you don't need health insurance but only cash to be seen. The doctor I saw there prescribed me two additional weeks of antibiotic, and my insurance even covered them.

Still, it was all not enough. I needed more.

My boyfriend's mother that sometimes struggles with her autoimmune disease donated me one week's worth, and last but  not least, I had to travel to a hippie gathering where a woman there who has Lyme met with me and gave me 3 more weeks of Doxycycline.

This woman had suffered from Lyme for years.

I was very grateful for the contributions from everyone.

My aunt confronted me, "What if you don't have Lyme at all?"

"It's better to be safe and prepared than sorry. I'm going by the facts and what seems logical. I went for a hike in a high risk area for Lyme disease. I was bit by two insects that carry Lyme. Then I got very sick. It only makes sense to take the precautions."

I started researching herbal remedies, and different ways to treat Lyme food wise, as well. Gluten, dairy and some people even go meat free. No sugar. All organic. Anything to boost the immune system.

I chose Samento, Banderol, Cumanda, Burbur detox all by Nutramedix,  and Grapefruit seed extract for my herbal cyst buster. I didn't use it, though, as I heard GFSE causes a cancellation on the effects of Doxycycline. I chose Serrapeptase as a biofilm dissolver. Armed with these things, I was  ready to try to fight the Lyme on my own.

J,'s mother had sent me a list of LLMD's, but I had already done my own research and found a Lyme Doctor. I was lucky to find one close enough to home, and the prices were high, but not unobtainable.

The first visit is around 500 dollars cash, and then every visit after that is 200 to 300. My LLMD treats with both herbs and antibiotic, and all of those things are pay out of pocket, beside the antibiotic.

By the time I had gotten around to get all of my antibiotic, the Lyme was in my muscles, and I had acquired arthritic symptoms in my limbs and spine. All of the old symptoms were back and even more aggravated.

The strangest thing about Lyme though, is that some days or parts of days you can feel completely fine, only to return to the thick of symptoms moments later.

I was armed and ready to fight.