In the wake of my dietary lapse/autoimmune attack and Predisone fiasco, I have taken stock on my situation. I believe those who tell me my gut is in need of serious fixing. That is, I have heard from those who have said that until issues like this are healed, tick-borne illnesses cannot be treated successfully.
This had led me to try to reboot my body.
First, I have stopped taking antibiotics -- at least for now. No Tindamax, no Clindamycin. Not even Malarone. I still take Librax for IBS which has mildly helped, though was no match for Prednisone.
Still, the doctor who wanted to try the Prednisone (after a normal blood flow study) may be able to arrange a very useful therapy: IVIG. It's a blood product based on plasma from many donors. I think of it as a Cntr-Alt-Del for my immune system. There are serious adverse responses possible, though at least several ppl who know my heath status encouraged me to try it. One doctor even said "I'd like to stick an IV in her NOW." (In context, I think she meant IVIG.) Another on the pro side is an RN. A few anecdotes about it have stuck out for me, also, like the FB poster who stated that her antibiotics didn't start to work until AFTER she had this therapy.
The sticking points may be significant, however. The doctor proposing it has to get me to see another doctor who actually does it. He would have to sign on. And, I would hope, Medicare would cover it. Sounds a bit thorny, no?
I hope to soon accomplish a few things by my PCP: continuing endorsement of an insurance premium waiver; blood work to screen me for IV nutritional therapy (waiting for that in term of Medicare, also) and restart physical therapy as I get my raging Candida and autoimmune general issues resolved.
Years ago I had been told I had a Leaky Gut. Apparently, too many ppl do and the avg diet does nothing but aggravate that. I underappreciated its role in my health. Even though the point of some of the free "summits" on autoimmunity and gut health were about selling product, I learned how much these can hold me back.
Another thing I did was find a practitioner willing to try Low Dose Naltrexone on me. I'm not sure I want to try that before the IVIG, but I may have no choice. The LDN is coming next week and I have yet to set up anything in pursuit of IVIG; I am waiting to hear back.
I am at least able to get some relief from some products I have introduced, like a L-Glutamine supplement called Gastro-Thera. I seem to be sleeping better.
I still have all sorts of supplements, antibiotics and vitamins. Probably there will be a staggering or rotating of them. Not sure if/when the oral abx return, of course. Will my gut be able to handle them? Don't know.
Seems to happen a lot. But at least I have options. I just wish I had a greater certainty about what to do, when. Trial-and-error is exhausting.