Lyme, Co-Infection, Meds oh my!

So, finally a doctors visit with more answers being spat at me faster than I can ask the questions.  It was supposed to be a two hour appointment that turned into about a three.  I'm not complaining.  Not one bit.  He started off by asking me questions about my medical history.  Most of which I've already disclosed in my earlier blog postings.  He wanted to see how my snap was.  How fast I could answer his question and how articulate I was.  That in itself was frustrating and I teared up a couple of times.  I felt so intimidated till I had stopped to realize exactly what it was he was doing.  He wanted to know the last time I could remember feeling 100% spring in my step and mind was cleared good.  I couldn't.  As hard as I try I cannot remember feeling that good.  I've learned to live day in and day out with this disease and I do not know any other way.

Upon examination he explained that I am carrying a co infection called Bartonella.  It's not uncommon for a tick to carry more than just Lyme, but you HAVE to kill the co infection before you can attack the Lyme. Soooooo.  Guess what?  That's right.  All the treatment has done the past year is made my Lyme stronger.  It didn't even begin to attack the Lyme, it just made it rear it's head and say you can't catch me.

The symptoms of Bartonella are very similar to Lyme.  In addition there are these nodules that will appear over the limbs.  When he had me run my finger down my shin I felt hundreds of them.  I thought that was just my shin.  I had no idea.  I even told him I've had that forever.  He examined my balance and coordination.  My family and friends are probably laughing right now because they can all recall a time where I was standing or sitting one moment and the next I'm on the ground as it it were magnetic.
I failed terribly at the test.  He looked over my memory function testing that I had done a few months back.  I have full blown neuro-Lyme.  I'm literally loosing my mind,  There is swelling, cell degeneration and plaque build up.  The nerves in my whole body are frazzled and because of the damage the Lyme has done to my brain my nerve endings are sending out signals of pain.  Imagine a power line that is live and had been cut.  That is what is going on through out my whole body.  My digestive system is shot.  The arthritis and muscle pain......in his words. "It's time to take off your halo and start getting better."  "I know  you want to meet Jesus, but at this rate you'll meet him sooner than everyone is ready for you to."  He explained the fact that I could have a heart attack at any moment because of the strain the disease puts on the heart.  Oh there's so much more, but this is the important stuff I'm sharing with you.

So there wasn't much of a diagnosis for him to give.  I already had that.  The treatment is why I was there.
I am now on a strict gluten-free diet.  This is day five and no it's not easy.  I've already cried over the fact that gluten is in everything it seems.  I also have to watch my sugar and bread intake as well.  Anything yeast can feed on.  Lyme loves sugar. It's been frustrating, but I have to heal some of the damage that has been done to my espohagus and stomach before I pump it full of antibiotics.

Next is the nerve meds.  I have to be able to sleep throughout the whole night.  Right now I wake at least 3 times and half the time I wake from a crazy dream and I am not sure if I'm still in the dream or if it's real.  I have to stop and think what day it is and where is everyone and so on.  I have vertigo and shaking constantly and I've talked about the seizures before, but when I blank out or can't get the right words out are a type of seizure as well.  All this I have to get under control.  My nerves needs to be at a calm and at rest and the seizures under control.

In addition to all of the supplements I am taking I also today....waiting for the FedEx man....will begin 30 days of Methylcobalamin B12 shots in the tummy to help make my heart stronger.

I basically am spending the next month priming my whole body from my brain to my heart to my stomach to the nerve endings in my feet for the aggressive treatment.  He said in my state if I do not do these things there is no way even I who has been in the pain I have would be able to tolerate the treatment.  I would end up in the ER.

I go back to him in November and I also will visit a Neuro-Lyme specialist per his request to make sure I do not have the beginnings of MS (multiple sclerosis) starting and to go over my cognitive memory function. When I go back, in addition to what I am doing I will begin a round of three different antibiotics at the same time.  Ahhhhh real fun at last.  The good news is he is hoping for no pic line and I'll be able to take the meds orally.  I pray it stays that way.

So, meanwhile, I have been sleeping ALOT and I will be making lots of casseroles to put in the freezer for the hubs to be able to cook next month. Man and kids cannot live on Hamburger Helper alone. Not without whining about it anyways.