I had two appointments this week with both my LLND in BC over the phone and my ND in Winnipeg. Both of them are very happy with the progress I was making prior to the flu and said it is encouraging. We also discussed how long it's taking me to get back to where I was and why the medications aren't having as quick of a response now.
Dr. C (my LLND in BC) is thinking this is due to the bugs becoming resistant to the medications. These bugs are smart and they want life so they will do what they can to adapt and survive the meds. To combat this we are getting a bit more aggressive and are going to start "pulsing" the meds. Basically trying to outsmart them. I will go 10 days on, 20 days off one antiparasitic drug, during the 20 days off I will pulse another herbal antiparasitic tincture 5 days on, 5 days off until I restart the antiparasitic drug and start over. I will keep at this for the next two months and then he'll reevaluate. I am also continuing the Bartonella-Lyme-Tincture as well as adding in another herbal tincture called cat's claw and will take these twice daily. He is also starting a trial for supportive treatment for nerves and central nervous system hypersensitivity to see if this helps lessen any pain.
My naturopath in Winnipeg also suspects my electrolytes are imbalanced again (this has been a problem off and on) so I will be making a solution to drink during the day for the next 10 days. He suggested a few new treatments for killing "critters" that he has looked into that sound very beneficial too so we will be looking into some of that. I am finding that between Dr. C's treatments and my local naturopath's treatments that it's sometimes hard to process it all and decide which to consider and/or do first. My brain fatigues very quickly and I am easily overwhelmed by the options and the pressure I feel to make the right decisions. Yet it is a blessing to finally have treatment options after so long of not knowing what was the source of my health issues.
I have been feeling some stress over my upcoming appointments at HSC in the next couple weeks as well. I feel it would have been much better if the wait lists weren't so long and these tests had been done sooner before I knew I had Lyme disease and started treatment. It is very hard to have a positive lyme disease test that they won't acknowledge because I know they think I am crazy for treating a disease they don't believe I have. So far the medical doctors I've seen have taken me seriously until they run every test they think necessary and once nothing is conclusive they give up or put me on another wait list. They might not say it to my face (yet) but I worry about developing a reputation of a crazy person according to the medical doctors. At the same time I think it's important to have these tests done so I go, but treating lyme on one hand and searching for answers on the other has been making my head hurt. I also understand I am not alone in this as thousands of other Canadian lyme patients are in the same boat as I am. I am sharing this struggle because it is a very REAL part of having lyme disease. Before I got sick I always thought if I ever got sick I'd just go to the doctor and they'd tell me what's wrong and they'd help me. For me this has not been reality. Reality is they will help you so long as you get a disease our government and minister of health says you can have. In ways, I have had to grieve the realization of this loss. Ultimately I am comforted by the knowledge that my Father in heaven is the Great Physician; He has allowed this sickness into my life and will grant healing in His time if it be His will. In the meantime He provides us with strength as we go through this trial under His care.
"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8
Enjoying a sunny afternoon.
