Honeychick Homestead

Homestead, Health, and Happiness

Category Archives: Lyme Disease


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Pre Infusio – Robyn

Infusio Treatment Dates: September 21 – October 2, 2015

Name: Robyn

Age: 56

What have you been diagnosed with? 

Lyme, Babesia and an unknown yeast that is not candida. Probably a yeast that isn’t typically tested for. Epstein Barr Virus (EPV), which I know I got in college but resolved back in college after a few months. I also have one of the MTHFR genes that I recently learned about. I have not done the 23 and Me test, heavy metals or mold tests. My LLMD just hasn’t ordered them over the past four years. Somehow I assumed that she didn’t  think I needed testing. I should probably get these done now that I’ve learned about them.

IgeneWhen were you diagnosed?

April 2011

How long have you been treating Lyme and/or other infections?

4  1/2 years

How were you diagnosed?

Like so many others, I went from doctor to doctor with diagnosis of chronic fatigue, chronic headaches and chronic insomnia, unresponsive to drugs..and I tried them all. After being so tired and wired for 2 years and doing research on the Internet, I begged a doctor to give me a lyme test. It was the ELISA test and was negative. I didn’t know about Western Blot until another year passed and I was house bound from fatigue, headaches, insomnia, and cognition problems. I used to run marathons. This was not acceptable. Finally, someone told me to get Western Blot test. I was shocked and relieved to have a diagnosis

If you had a Western Blot test, did it show positive for Lyme according to CDC standards?

No, only IGeneX positive. I couldn’t believe the result so I called IGeneX and they told me they could run the 31 epitope test that looks for the DNA of the spirochete and has a 95% accuracy. They ran it using my same blood sample and it was positive.

Were you misdiagnosed with anything else prior to Lyme diagnosis?

Chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, tension headaches unresponsive to drugs, chronic insomnia, and depression

Do you remember a tick bite and/or bulls eye rash?

No, I don’t remember being bitten by a tick. After my Lyme diagnosis I checked my calendar. I had been hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains near Los Angeles with my dog 11 days prior to my first doctor visit complaining of severe headache and flu like symptoms. I remember picking at least 10 ticks off my white standard poodle. I knew about ticks and had checked myself. Obviously, I must have missed a nymph.

How long do you think you’ve been infected?

I know the exact date, based on my visit to Los Angeles. October 7, 2007

What treatments have you tried? If possible, please list what medications, herbs, and/or supplements you’ve taken.

Doxycycline for a few weeks but was too sun sensitive. Tried Bactrim but got a rash. Settled on Azithromycin + Ceftin + Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) + Grapefruit Seed Extract + Artesminin  (probably the wrong one) + Mepron.

I added the Buhner protocol  about 18 months ago and saw improvement. I have been on the drug protocol for 4 1/2 years. I went off them 6 weeks prior to Infusio.

Do you feel any of your current and/or prior treatments helped?

My body doesn’t herx or respond with improvement right away so I never really know what works and what doesn’t. It has been a slow improvement over time. I did notice clear improvement after adding the Buhner protocol; perhaps 2 to 3 months after starting them.

Please rate your overall well being at this time, using a percentage. For example, 100% would be in perfect health, and symptom free.

About 65 to 70%

Please list your top five to ten symptoms, in order of severity.Give a rating of pain and/or severity, if possible.(1=mild to 10=severe)
Headaches almost daily = 10

Insomnia = 8

Fatigue  = 7

Why did you choose to get treatment at Infusio?

I researched Sierra Integrative and a few others in the U.S. I didn’t think I could manage the treatment physically (the pain involved) and emotionally after being sick for so long…and I’m a type A person.

What is your Infusio treatment goal?

100% symptom free ideally. More realistic would be no more headaches, being able to sleep more than 5-6 hours, and have energy to run a 5k or bike 30-50 miles again.

Please share any words of encouragement and well wishes for Robyn in the comments! If you’re interested in how Robyn and I connected, click here.

 


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After Infusio – Richard’s Six Month Update

Richard’s Mom, Terri, was so quick to get this update back to me! I emailed her to check in, and the next day she replied. I am so grateful for her willingness to share updates about her son’s progress with me, and anyone else reading this blog! Give Terri and Richard some love in the comments section 🙂

Treatment dates: April 13 – April 24, 2015

Did some or all of his main symptoms improve or resolve after treatment?

I really noticed the change at about six weeks.  After the six week mark, he started feeling really good, and has been good ever since!


If he still has symptoms, please list your top 5-10 symptoms and rate each on a scale of 1-10. (1 = mild and 10 = severe)

He has not had any of the old symptoms, and is back in school and functioning like he was before he was sick.

Please rate his overall well-being today, using a percentage. For example, 100% would be in perfect health and symptom free.

Immediately after treatment he was OK, he was better but nowhere near where he is now at 5 1/2 months.  This has been the longest stint he has not been sick in over 4 years.  He told me to stop worrying because “he is not sick anymore.” His mental attitude is so positive which I think helped his progress.  He seems very strong and confident, and we are so relieved and happy after the grueling 4 years in and out of different treatment protocols.  At this moment, he is 100% and symptom free.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
 
I spoke to Philip recently about what we should be doing, and he said, “since he feels so good, do nothing.”  He said the stem cells were doing their work and we will circle back and come up with a plan, if needed.  Music to my ears!  

 

Isn’t this GREAT news?!?!?  I was SO excited and happy to hear form Terri with this update. It is so wonderful that he is back to his “Pre-Lyme” self and that he said “he’s not sick anymore”. What a blessing for him and his entire family! It is great he will able to enjoy his teenage years free from Lyme! I’ll be checking in with them again at the one year mark.

Click here to read Richard’s ‘Pre-Infusio Interiew’ and here to read the update immediately after he finished treatment.


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My 6 Month…Umm….I Mean 9 Month Infusio Update!

This was supposed to be a six month update, so, so sorry it is super late! I felt it was important to wait until I had a follow-up appointment with Infusio before sharing how I’ve been. And honestly, at the 6 month mark there wasn’t much to share.

I still have been feeling really good! After returning from vacation in mid-June, things have been extremely busy with school, harvesting fruit, and getting ready for the arrival of chickens! I’ve had a few 10 hour days of studying, working in the orchard, and/or working in the kitchen preserving fruit and I’ve handled it really well.

For this appointment, I had to travel to L.A., which is part of the reason it took so long for me to have a follow-up. I kept waiting for Phil to make a stop in Marin so I could see him there, and unfortunately his schedule hasn’t allowed him to be in that area.

During this appointment, I wasn’t able to see Phil in person, instead I met with  Sara Whitney, the naturopathic doctor who also practices in L.A. She was super nice and seemed extremely knowledgable. We ended up calling Phil via FaceTime to get his opinion of my scan.

My most recent scan was very interesting! It was definitely not as “pretty” as the scan I had one month after Germany.

The great news is no Lyme or co-infections showed up AT ALL!!

Yes, you read that right – NONE AT ALL!  Continue reading →