Hi to all with similar problems such as mine

I feel for everyone who is frustrated by the most under studied disease. Long story short Husband diagnosed with Late Stage Chronic Lyme Arthritis. Went to and through all the steps of the meds, Infectious Disease Drs. and all to find out that there is nothing they can do for him. Let them feel heart renched like I do to see a yound 47 year old man want to cut his feet off so the pain will stop. Or see him stuggle everyday to get out of bed and try to get out of the bed. And he does he still works about 4 days a week. He is a Machinist and stands on concrete all day.

What am I to do. I can physcially see his feet look like they are about to pop they are so swollen inflamation every thing we try just does not work. He no longer has insurance. We pay cash to doctors that tell him all in all nothing. We are at our wits end in trying everything. We have done so much research. I think he has given up a long time ago. I refuse to give up. Any help as in suggestions would be a blessing. Thanks for reading.

SORRY FOR YOUR PAINS

HUbby had to carry me to the doctor when I couldnt walk

theres healthy stuff out there for inflam your on right track to take

it to reduce inflammation

like cummin turmeric (ez to sprinkle on foods)

some massaging to him

lots of rest

I hope my story of getting almost well will inspire. I hope for a fast recovery.

He was diagnosed in 2002 in started in his knees and has not for the past 2 years in his feet. He had sugery last year had a morton's neuroma (non cancerus tumer) which of course does not help. He had late stage chronic lyme. He has a podiatrist that comes up from Florida once a year which is actually due to my job (medical equipment) he does our inservices. He did fit him with the shoes and inserts, but not enough to help. Meloxicam I will look up after I post this. Any how sorry so long, but from my heart thank you again for taking time to post me. Bless you

You will be in my thoughts and prayers

Tina

No processed foods. Basically you can go for a gluten free diet...I have been chronic since my teens, and when I have been able to ($$ being the isse), I went completely GF. SOOOO Much better. Stay away from sugars - which for me is hard since i seem to crave it.

He needs to eat fresh fruits and veggies. There are whole food suppliments out there - but nothing beats 10-12 servings of fresh fruits and veggies. Yea, i said it, 10-12 servings...I even know of people who have beaten stage 4 cancer doing this. You can eat them straight up - or make simple shakes out of them.

I know that all of this is hard on a tight budget. So what I do, is I look for the 100% fruit juices and some are mixed with veggies. This helps, but if you can, try juicing yourself.

Also, water - plain not flavored water. 1/2 your weight in OZ is what we should be drinking everyday - minimal. Once you add a drop of flavoring, you change the compound and your body does not process it as water.

This will help regulate the system too. You'd be surprised what drinking that much water a day will do for your body.

Hope this helps

For information about lyme, go to www.ILADS.org or if you have a willing doctor, have that MD follow Dr. Joseph Burrascano's protocols found on the internet in "Advanced Topics in Lyme Disease: Diagnostic hints and treatment guidelines for lyme and associated tick borne illnesses.

Has your husband been tested for food allergies? We were shocked when we found out we both have gluten allergies and lactose/caseine allergies. Also, he discovered that eating refined sugar makes his pain intensify in level and affects most of his joints. He has been gluten-free/dairy-free since March 2007 and it has made a world of difference. If he acccidently gets gluten at a restaurant, his joints swell almost immediately.

You mentioned the meds the Infectious Disease Dr did not help. Did they put him on prendisone? It is contraindicated for people with lyme and actually makes the symptoms worse. My husband discovered this after being on prendisone and methotrexate for 2 years (these drugs were prescribed by 2 different rheumatologists)--of course, his symptoms worsened over time and then the doctors would increase the dosage level. As soon as he saw our LLMD, he was able to immediately decrease the dosage and wean himself off!

So again, I hope your husband can find an LLMD or physician willing to learn about lyme disease and treat him appropriately. One important aspect of late stage lyme is that people need to get as much rest as possible. I hope he can get the rest he needs when not working.

It is possible for your husband to get better. My husband after 1 1/2 year of antibiotics, supplements, and dietary changes, no longer has arthritis symptoms, and his original symptoms were severe, with joint swelling, extreme pain, and some joint disfiguring. His joints look normal now (except for when he eats something he shouldn't). It usually takes a few days after gluten exposure for the swelling in his joints to disappear.

I wish your husband much relief in the near future. He is lucky to have a caring wife who won't give up

Suzie