January has been a complete whirlwind; an unpredictable, rapid and destructive 4 weeks! It has been a challenge and not quite the positive start to a new year that I had hoped. For now, I have given up on the of idea of being able to predict how I will feel in the future, when these days I can’t be of sure how I will feel from the start to end of just one day! This is a complex illness, and needs to be un-ravelled bit by bit. I am always conscious of the bigger picture, but I am aware of the multi layer approach to healing for the long term benefits and chances of remission.

I began the new year with a totally un-invited bout of cold and flu symptoms which persevered for approximately two weeks. It is surprising how much this can knock you down when your body is already fighting so much. I had to halt taking my antibiotics as a die-off on top of this would have just been an overload for my immune system. It was mentally disappointing, as I know how the current infections will take any opportunity to thrive whilst I am not actively treating them with antibiotics. I followed Doctor orders and also kept in mind the words I often heard from my Mum growing up; “Feed a cold and starve a bug”! This was also particularly important as over the past 6 weeks I had began loosing weight again, regardless of consciously trying to increasing my calorie intake. Its hard to know exactly what is causing this, but it is something we are monitoring closely.
On top of this I have been trying to cure another mysterous rash which has covered my chest and back. Four different prescriptions creams later and more baffled GP’s the rash is still here!

Once the cold symptoms were clearing, I started a combination of new medications, Atovaquone (Mepron, Wellvone) and Azithromycin (Zithromax).

Mepron is an antiprotozoal medication that can penetrate the cyst form of Lyme and also treats Babesia. It is a thick, yellow suspension which visually reminds me of poster paint from school art lessons and it is ridiculously expensive. It costs a hefty £500-£600 per bottle, and with this price-tag it has been nicknamed ‘Liquid Gold! Mepron is known to be especially hard on the liver, so supporting this organ with supplements and constant detoxification is key. Not only does this prevent damage, but it also helps to clear my liver pathways, increasing my ability to handle the medication for a longer and more effective time period. This medicine is also absorbed better when taken with a fatty food, so a tub of organic almond butter and a spoon has been close to hand!

Zithromax is prescribed for the treatment of acute bacterial infections. It is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, meaning it is active against a wide range of bacteria and thus being a good antibiotic to try as I have multiple tick-borne infections. A combination of Zithromax and Mepron is known as an effective Lyme and co-infeciton treatment protocol, and I am hoping I get some successful results from this.

The herx reaction from this combination has not been easy so far, but it is bearable. I bare in mind that when treating, there is a level of ‘No pain without gain’ to consider too. I ensure I get regular blood tests to measure liver and kidney functions and other important levels in my body. Unfortunately on this occasion Januarys test results went ‘missing’. I am non the wiser as to where or how this happened, but I will attend another blood draw in the hope that I can have some numbers on paper soon.

“They never said it was going to be easy, but I am hoping it is going to be totally worth it”.