So I saw the licensed acupuncturist, Michael Jabalee (Michael Jabalee’s website) who specializes in treating Lyme’s disease. He used a type of bioenergetic testing on me and determined that I have four major issues going on with my body: Lyme’s disease (fortunately without the associated co-infections), leaky gut (possibly in conjunction with Lyme, Herpes Zoster (from the shingles and of course chicken pox) and herpes simplex (A – I get cold sores on my lips and possibly in my nasal cavity).
Since seeing him I have done quite a bit of reading up on Lyme’s disease. Apparently, it is one of the most complex bacteria and therefore it is a very complex disease. It mimics many other symptoms, hence the high number of mis-diagnoses out there. Sometimes it shows up as rheumatoid arthritis, other times it looks more like cognitive deficits and in the rare, extreme cases, it can go to the heart and cause serious dysrhythmias and palpitations. Eventually it can go to the bones and if untreated, the person’s spine might like they are double their age… Scary stuff. And the most bizarre aspect in my opinion is that there is really no agreement about treatments. Even among allopathic doctors…
One school says that a short dose of antibiotics (which I strongly disagree with) will eradicate the Lyme’s bacteria and most of any co-infections. That is what I did, and look at my symptoms! The school of thought that I agree with says that one needs to do a minimum of 4 weeks of antibiotics as soon as possible to eliminate the bacteria from the body.
But what do they say for people like me who are closer to having chronic Lyme’s disease? This is where it gets even more convoluted. Apparently the bacteria can form biofilms which prevent the antibiotics from getting to the deeper layers of infection. The bacteria can invade the bones and deeper tissues where the antibiotics might not go so readily and easily. In other words, I don’t think there is a quick and easy fix for chronic Lyme’s sufferers.
Rather, and this is the approach I am taking, it is best to treat the whole body and strengthen the whole immune system as a whole. I figure if this route does not show improvements in two months, then I will consider the more invasive and potentially damaging long weeks of antibiotic therapies.
What am I doing now? Michael Jabalee gave me homeopathic sprays – one of which targets Lyme’s disease. I have 4 sprays total, which I take 3x/day for a month. And then I will slowly back off of that dose using another Lyme’s spray. And I am taking 2 weeks worth of Tibetan medicine from a Tibetan doctor. When I saw him – I did not realize I had Lyme’s disease quite yet. Although he felt my pulses and said that I felt exhausted (right on with Lyme’s), that my digestion was not quite right (in agreement with leaky gut) and that I felt more irritable and possibly even had a temper on my bad days (also true – if I get really exhausted or if I push myself too far physically, I can get really irritable. Although this has only been happening in the past 6 months – also a Lyme’s by-product). So I am taking 4 different types of Tibetan herbal medicine once/day each.
Jabalee also told me several things to add into my diet / supplement routine to benefit my nervous system (from having shingles along my trigeminal nerve). He also sold me a couple of Vit B supplements, saying that some Vit B deficiencies are so bad that they are becoming epigenetic – the deficiency is being transferred from mother to child. So that sounded like good advice – it also resonates with much of what I have been reading online.
To avoid making neuralgia worse he said that during episodes of nerve pain, I should avoid anything containing high amounts of arginine (amino acid) which includes nuts and shell fish, and to definitely avoid taking that as a supplement. I don’t do that, so that is easy advice to follow. This is common knowledge though – he just pointed me toward it.
Second he said that the following can help to build a strong nervous system and to restrict the herpes zoster virus from strengthening: St. John’s Wort, Lemon Balm, Vit B1, Vit B12, Vit B complex, taking L-Lysine (amino acid) and Zinc during any herpes flare-ups.
So I am working on a paradigm change. No more computer games. Less screen time. More rest. Getting some exercise every day if possible, but only pushing as hard as is comfortable. Incorporating some of these supplements. Getting regular body-work (maintenance self-care). Eating better and more regularly. Going to bed earlier.
I have only been putting this into effect for the past few days. So I will update everyone on how things are going.
Thanks for reading!
Meditation Informs Healing Facilitation 