Lyme Disease Support Group

O.k. I hope I am not exhausting everyone with my many questions. haha

I was wondering what has helped you more. Prescribed medicines or natural remedies? I know both should be monitored by a doctor.

Also, I've read a couple places that people with Lyme can benefit from a yeast free diet? What is your thoughts or experiences with this?

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

For me, it has been a combination of both abx and natural protocols. Diet, I've not been so diligent with.

For me, it has been both abx and natural protocols, too. I also changed my diet to eliminate gluten and refined sugars - and it has made a big difference. So, hopefully, I will be able to go back to it - because I miss the chocolate!

Antibiotics did not work for me (7 months). I am taking the natural route at this point. I began my grain-free, yeast-free, sugar-free, carb-free diet today. Oh boy!

A lot of the lyme docs are starting to say that diet must be a part of the overall plan. If you are still eating foods that suppress the immune system, then you're fighting a losing battle.

Antibiotics don't boost the immune system, they just kill off some bugs so you're immune system doesn't have such a load to deal with. Same with some of the naturals, often they are simply less refined products with many of the same ingredients as the antibiotics.

I think that a balanced, clean diet is key. No refined foods, no preservatives, no sugar, no gluten, organic as much as possible. I think you do need some carbs for a balanced diet, but they should be natural carbs, not refined pastas and breads. I also think that some grains are beneficial, like brown rice, quinoa, amaranth and possibly oats.

Fresh veggie juices and raw cultured veggies are a great way to help the immune system in rebuilding itself as well.

I've taken both natural and conventional antibiotics, along with supplements. I've found success with both - what got me moving around at the beginning of the year was switching to Ledum (a homeopathic remedy) and Flagyl (conventional antibiotic), after a year of bacteria-killing antibiotics - both naturals and prescriptions.

I've found that my immune system responded VERY well to adding better nutrition to my diet - and eating better in general. I was one who never considered taco seasoning packets, for example, to be a processed food - I thought it was just spices. I am a faithful label reader now and I try to consume less processed food and eat more whole foods. That alone provided huge changes in how I feel.

Drastic elimination diets are not sustainable - enjoyable - and some of them not affordable - for my family's lifestyle. A lot of Lymies DO indeed have food sensitivities/allergies, too - and GI issues - and feel much better when they remove certain foods from their diet.

But when on antibiotics, I am diligent with probiotics and limiting sugar and white carbs (not eliminate - limit). Yeast can become a crazy, complicated problem.

I would definitely make dietary changes if necessary - see how you feel!

O.k. So i went to the doctor and he put me on 600 mg (6 pills a day) of doxycycline. I had been taking acodophulus but he told me I need to take one w/7-8 strains of bacteria.

Also he was concerned because when I closed me eyes I kept falling over. So I am having an MRI of my head. I guess he is going to check for everything, because I also had neuro symptoms with lyme.(ie bells palsy, forgetfulness, dizziness, etc)

And for the fun part aside from the Doxy, the pro biotic, and Milk thistle (he said that I could take other herbs, but milk thistle was the most important), I have to do the yeast, sugar, carb free diet.

I was reading the paper he gave me and it said I could have some dairy, but with the Doxy I have to avoid that too. Does anyone have any good recipes or ideas of what I can eat so i don't go crazy haha ?

And it said no flour whatsoever and to avoid starchy food.

Does rice flour count as a carb? or what about soy flour? are those o.k. to have? so many questions haha I think my head might explode!

I get the falling over when I stand with my feet together and close my eyes as well. It's called the Romberg's test, and is for spinal cord issues, not brain issues. Same goes for walking around the house in the dark, I'm very unstable just as though my eyes were closed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romberg%27s_test

You can have dairy with Doxy, just not at the same time. And not high-calcium dairy if you can avoid it. Calcium affects the absorption of doxy, so no supplements containing calcium either.

Rice flour is a carb, but gluten free. Eating it or not depends on what you're trying to eliminate.

Best plan is to change your diet with easy swaps first instead of dumping all your favorite foods at once. Use spiral-cut zucchini or spaghetti squash instead of pasta, ezekiel bread instead of regular bread, agave instead of sugar for a sweetener.