Lyme Disease

[Zathros]

I got a box of "Culturelle" at the suggestion of the pharmacists. I also have some acidophillus which I will start munching on. I have been told you can't take too much of this stuff though I have been told to take it a couple of hours after taking the "doxy". Thanks for the tip about Yogurt, I was not aware of that. I am definately open to any more sugestions regarding this problem and also very appreciative.

[whulsey]

Second the acidophilus, had similar problems a couple of years ago where in killing off a respiratory infection everything else got killed. That led to an intestinal infection, no fun anytime; but being a bus driver I learned every Circle K and 7-11 on my routes.

[Zathros]

Well things are getting a little complicated. The bacteria may have hit my central nervous system so I have to get a Lumbar Puncture next week. Problem is my lower spin is made out of titanium so now there has to be this big shin dig where it is done under full radiographic display (a bunch of ghouls getting x-rayed while I am) so they can find a place to suck out the spinal fluid. I still have to finish Lilla Weneda, the prop and rudders, but just don't have the sand left in me. I am starting to feel better in the last few days so I think I am turning a corner.

[B-Manic]

Glad to hear you are feeling a little better. I hope this trend continues.

[rockpaperscissor]

Sorry to hear of your escalating medical problem, Zathros. I wish I could say that I haven't heard it all before from other sufferers, including my daughter. I'm not a doctor, but to offer you some advice from personal family experience: Stay in bed as flat as possible, as much as possible, for longer than they tell you - 2 to 3 days at least, to ensure complete healing of the puncture. It's probably not a bad idea to elevate the foot of your bed 4 inches or so (stick a couple of cans or chunks of 4x4 under the legs. If you spring a leak, which is not uncommon, do NOT let them do a blood patch to plug the hole - you run the risk of putting spirochete infected blood directly into your spinal fluid - and thence directly to the brain. Much better to tough it out should you continue to seep fluid for a few days after the puncture. It will stop on its own. My daughter's Lyme symptoms have included a number of neurological ones, and her spec (brain) scans show hundreds, if not thousands of tiny lesions (dead tissue) from the disease. Despite the obvious way her nervous system and brain have been affected, the result of her spinal tap was negative. Her CSF was squeaky clean. As I understand the mechanism, the blood borne bacteria destroys the fine capillaries that feed the myelin sheath around the axon of the nerve cell. Deprived of oxygen, the myelin sheath dies, and then eventually the nerve cell dies. So, you can suffer loss of nerve tissue with the bacteria residing in the blood only. It doesn't have to be in the nervous system to affect you there, but it's a good thing that your Doc is looking for bacteria in your CSF. It sounds like you've got a Doc that is knowledgeable about Lyme, which is lucky for you. Seems like she's very aggressive and is doing everything possible very quickly. If you ever want to drop me a PM regarding Lyme, feel free.

[Zathros]

Well, just entering round 2 of the antibiotics. The spinal tap came up negative , which is good. I am still having chills but am feeling better. I still don't have the where with all to build anything but as winter is approaching I hope to start something soon. Lyme sucks.

[redhorse]

I'm glad it came up negative and hope you get feeling up to building something soon. Never had Lyme myself, but a few relatives & friends back in Wisconsin did. It does suck. Good luck!

[rockpaperscissor]

Glad to hear your spinal yielded good news, zathros. Sorry to hear you're too wiped to do much in the way of modeling though. The sudden fevers/chills can be hard to deal with.

[Zathros]

My insurance broker told me that Ester-C is really good at cleaning your system out. I am going to try it. At least I won't get scurvy, argh argh argh!!

[Zathros]

Turned 51 on November 16th saw the Doctor on the 17th, and somehow, a half an hour after I get home from the doctors everything breaks loose. I start watching my stomach distend with the accompanying incredulous pain. My son was home sick from school. I have him call my wife who comes home 45 mins. later. I collapse on the front lawn going in and out of consciousness and end up on an ambulance ride to the hospital doing a 3 day stint. Apparently all the culturelle and acidophillous was not enough. I had a complete bacterial defloration and apparently some other little bacteria took over. That compounded with the spinal chord injuries, low blood platelets, high white cell count and to sum it all up, I just got back home from the hospital, today Nov. 20th. I have to admit I am feeling pretty good right now. Anti-biotics, a love-hate relationship.