I procrastinated posting this. But the journey begins w/ a single step...No proper diagnosis at this point, although I'm the 52 year old "poster boy" for a symptom-based diagnosis, aside from having grown up in Jackson, NJ, being an aspiring wildlife photographer, being bitten by more species of more ticks than I can remember , etc. etc.
Like so many of you, tried to write off symptoms as "getting older", etc., having a deep-seated distrust of the American "Healthcare System",
and no desire to get sucked into its inescapable gravitational pull.
Always avoided doctors, even before I did a 10 year tour of duty as my Mom's healthcare advocate after a debilitating stroke. As my wife could testify, I saved my mom's life once or twice a month by intercepting some of the worst medical mistakes you could ever imagine.
Towards the end, I doubt I was doing her any favors. It has left me with the thought that I'd rather wander off in the wilderness & be eaten by wolves than die in a hospital on morphine, in diapers, in the hands of the overworked, underpaid, and incompetent.
So, yes, I'm a "self-treater". I just don't know where to even begin. Typing this now is like trying to read through a fish tank full of jellyfish. I've always had floaters, but this is insane.
I've also always had a bit of tinitus (played guitar in too many loud rock bands
...), but this constant hum/roar of "machinery" in my right ear is something new, different, and somewhat maddening...
Speaking of typing, not ever having learned to touch type, I was attributing my increasing spelling errors over the last few years to my rapidly deteriorating eyesight. Then I began to notice I was frequently juxtaposing characters ( i and e for example) that were not adjacent on the keyboard...
I've been screwing up the order of tasks in very well established routines. For example, going to the cabinet for a glass, and coming away with a cereal bowl.
Went to the city last week. No recollection whatsoever of driving through the Holland Tunnel on the way in. If you've ever done it, you'll agree, it's pretty hard to miss...
Feet and hands always freezing cold, feet frequently numb along pinky toe side, intermittent pain along same, and balls of feet. Blood sugar seems OK.
Feel like I could really use a nap most of the day. Except of course at night. That ain't happening.
Body temp sub-normal, even lower if I get sick, which, ironically, is rare. Yet my metabolism is through the roof. Need to eat ~3000 cal just to maintain weight at 6' 165lbs. Don't run/jog, etc.
Wandering arthralgias, motor problems, and a hundred other symptoms, with some night sweats & show-stopping urinary problems thrown in just for good measure.
For the last 10 months, before I suspected a bacterial infection, I have been trying to restore my health w/ a monk-like 99% organic, vegan diet, best of the best supplementation, stress reduction, etc., in the hopes that whatever the hell is wrong with me is metabolic/reversible.
I've been pretty health-conscious for the last 30 years, vegetarian w/ some dairy, eggs, fish. Good supplements. Don't smoke. Minimal alcohol, fresh air, exercise.
I am at the limit if my ability to treat/self diagnose this. My best guess is Babs/Bart/b.b.
I'm three weeks into Samento/Banderol, took it slow, now up to 5 drops of each in 4oz distilled h20, 2x daily.
Was also doing a fair amount or Oil of Oregano, but had to back off on that 4 days ago due to tongue pain (nothing visible) which I'm hoping was due to me swishing it around to try to poison any of the little chetes sequestered in dental work, etc. We'll see...
No real herxing, other than an elevated "Houston, we have a problem" feeling, which has been steadily growing over the last few years.
Yeah, a bit more brain fog, maybe the roar in the ear is more constant, vision a little worse, etc. But no show stoppers.
I know there are so many here who's suffering is so much worse than mine, which is why I'm almost embarrassed to post here, I must sound like a whiner.
But I fear that permanent damage is occurring to my eyesight, hearing, and cognition.
If there is anyone in NJ, specifically Monmouth/Northern Ocean/Eastern Middlesex counties who has had either good or bad experiences w/ llmds in my area, please pm me.
I'll be happy to give you my phone# if you'd rather talk.
I particularly seek an llmd who is open to Byron's, Nutramedix, etc., but most of all who is accessible & open to true partnership in healthcare.
He/she has hundreds of patients to focus on. I only have one, and can be valuable "eyes and ears" to the right doc.
After watching "Under Our Skin", having googled "lyme plum island", etc., etc., I fully appreciate the precarious position of any decent llmd out there.
If I can't find one, I guess the next step is darkfield microscope & some text books...
I apologize for the long post. Just a guy who wants his vision, hearing, wits, and, generally, his life back.
Sorry for the rant, and thanks so much for reading.
emphasized, bettyg, leader
