Today is our last full day in Germany. We met with Dr. Kroiss today to go over my plan for when I get home. The hospital recommends 3 different I.V.'s per week and 26 vitamins and supplements for 3-6 months post hyperthermia. Many of the vitamins are basic including vitamin B complex, C, D, selenium, zinc and magnesium. Other less common supplements include SAMe, Co enzyme Q10, L-Glutamine, and alpha-lipoic acid. The doctor explained that some of the supplements are more important than others. For example, for those that have extensive neurological difficulties and brain damage from the Lyme, he recommends supplements that target brain repair and detox.
There have been several couples from Australia admitted for Lyme treatment the last few days. I guess southern Australia is full of Lyme disease.
I am excited to come home. It has been a long 2 weeks. Aside from persistent stomach issues, I feel a little better than when I arrived. My pain is less severe on some days and my headaches are not as constant. This is promising!
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Friday, June 27, 2014
Post 2nd full body hyperthermia
My last full body hyperthermia was on Tuesday. I didn't remember much afterwards as I was more groggy this time. I didn't even remember the nurse putting in a catheter and moving me to a different room. I remember Chad coming in for a little bit to check on me. My body was warmer after this one. The day was filled with more I.V.'s and more treatments in the afternoon leaving little time for rest. I feel so tired and my brain is foggy as well. I just wish I could rest.
The conversations I have had with the doctors have helped me understand the treatments better. I am killing off the borrelia(Lyme) and other bad bugs but they have already done damage that I will need to repair. Often in Lyme disease, there are other problems, such as in my case; thyroid, adrenal gland issues, and hormone issues. It is important for me to address these when I get home as well as continuing the I.V.'s.
The conversations I have had with the doctors have helped me understand the treatments better. I am killing off the borrelia(Lyme) and other bad bugs but they have already done damage that I will need to repair. Often in Lyme disease, there are other problems, such as in my case; thyroid, adrenal gland issues, and hormone issues. It is important for me to address these when I get home as well as continuing the I.V.'s.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Meeting with Dr. Douwes
Monday, Day 8 of treatment
The last few days my kidneys haven't been able to keep up with the I.V. fluids resulting in edema in my legs and feet. I also feel like I swallowed a balloon. The doctor suspects some gallbladder and stomach inflammation after the hyperthermia. My stomach pain has lessened but I continue to be nauseous and do not have an appetite. Diuretics and thermal bath has been helpful to decrease the edema.
Today, Chad and I met with Dr. Douwes, head of the St.Georg Klinik. We discussed the clinic's success in helping people with Lyme disease. Throughout the last few years, they have made changes to their Lyme protocol. He expressed that in their experience, pain from Lyme disease is the most treatable symptom. Dr. Douwes stated that people often notice some immediate pain relief when completing the 2 week treatment process. Sometimes though, it may take awhile if there has been damage to the nerve endings. He noted that following the protocol is an important part of the treatment process.
Tomorrow is my 2nd and final Full Body Hyperthermia treatment. I am looking forward to getting this over with.
Below is Karin and Chad with Dr. Douwes.
Below is Karin and Chad with Dr. Douwes.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Frost Out Lyme's Fun Run/Walk
My friends have organized a fun run/walk fundraiser for me on Saturday, August 23, 2014 in Mukwonago. Please visit the website: www.frostoutlymes.net for more information. There will be kids activities, music, food and drinks, raffles and a bake sale. It will be a good time and I would appreciate your support!
Saturday, June 21, 2014
IV's and medical update
I have been getting various IV's throughout my treatment. Some include Vitamin C, Glutathione, Vit. B6, B1, magnesium, Rocephin, and sodium chloride with Selenase. I had to have my IV needle site changed as the first one wasn't working and hurt a lot. The nurses have trouble with my veins, so the doctor has to do mine. I continue to feel sick in my upper stomach and under my ribs. It hurts to move and lie on my back. I do not have an appetite and am not sleeping too well. The beds are quite hard so my shoulders/hips hurt from lying on my side. I have cold sores on my lips and nose that are common after the hyperthermia. They have been able to decrease my pain medication which is really great news. I have periods of time with little to no pain! I have no therapies on the weekends, only IV's. Today we hope to visit the Therme bath in town where they have a pool, hot tub, and a sauna.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Full Body Hyperthermia
Preparation for the full body Hyperthermia was more than we expected. A ECG, lung function test, liver ultrasound and other blood tests were done as preparation. I was put on a liquid diet 24 hours before the treatment was scheduled to take place. I also was limited to water and broth up until 12 hours prior to the treatment. In addition, on the day before, I had a colon flush and several I.V.s. An enema was given at 5:00am the day of the treatment. The doctor explained that I would spend 6 hours in the hyperthermia tent raising my body temperature to 107 degrees F (41.8 degrees C) for 2 full hours.
I was taken to the hyperthermia room which was very cold. There were several treatment beds that looked similar to hospital beds with various equipment and large lights above. The nurse was very nice but a little upset that I didn't take off my toenail polish. She hooked up electrodes to my ear and chest, pulse oxygen clip, a rectal thermometer and plugged in an I.V to my line. After a few minutes, the nurse said that I would fall asleep. The next thing I knew, I was lying in the bed looking at the nurse. She told me everything went very well. The next hour she was checking my blood sugar, oxygen, blood pressure, and temperature. The nurse put in a urine catheter as well. I was in a lot of pain in my back and I kept telling the nurse how much pain I was in so she went to get me some pain medication. I was also very droggy from coming out of anesthesia. Chad brought me flowers but I didn't remember! Below is a picture of me in recovery(with my beautiful flowers).
I was taken to the hyperthermia room which was very cold. There were several treatment beds that looked similar to hospital beds with various equipment and large lights above. The nurse was very nice but a little upset that I didn't take off my toenail polish. She hooked up electrodes to my ear and chest, pulse oxygen clip, a rectal thermometer and plugged in an I.V to my line. After a few minutes, the nurse said that I would fall asleep. The next thing I knew, I was lying in the bed looking at the nurse. She told me everything went very well. The next hour she was checking my blood sugar, oxygen, blood pressure, and temperature. The nurse put in a urine catheter as well. I was in a lot of pain in my back and I kept telling the nurse how much pain I was in so she went to get me some pain medication. I was also very droggy from coming out of anesthesia. Chad brought me flowers but I didn't remember! Below is a picture of me in recovery(with my beautiful flowers).
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Various treatments
Below, I am getting Laser Light Therapy.
This is Magnetic Field Treatment with Oxygen. I will be getting these 3-4 times per week.
Monday, June 16, 2014
Travel day/First day of Treatment
Our travel day was a long day. We left our house at 8:00am Saturday June 14th and arrived in Munich Germany 9:00am Sunday June 15th. We got a little sleep on the plane before starting a new day. We arrived very tired with a full day ahead of us. Once we landed, the shuttle picked us up at the airport to take us to St. George Klinik in Bad Aibling Germany. We walked around town a bit, it sure is beautiful.
We have had a few problems communicating with our friends and family. The power converter we brought, did not work. Magic Jack did not work possibly due to the power converter. WIFI is not available throughout the hospital. We are making adjustments and learning as we go. as of right now, face time, and email is the only way to communicate with our friends and family.
Treatment started on Monday with 5 I.V.'s and various therapies(laser, magnetic, ozone, foot detox, and colon). Karin is very tired and has felt sick most of the day. She is unable to eat as Hyperthermia is scheduled for tomorrow.
We have had a few problems communicating with our friends and family. The power converter we brought, did not work. Magic Jack did not work possibly due to the power converter. WIFI is not available throughout the hospital. We are making adjustments and learning as we go. as of right now, face time, and email is the only way to communicate with our friends and family.
Treatment started on Monday with 5 I.V.'s and various therapies(laser, magnetic, ozone, foot detox, and colon). Karin is very tired and has felt sick most of the day. She is unable to eat as Hyperthermia is scheduled for tomorrow.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
I.V.'s
I had my last I.V. last night until Germany. I leave in 2 days. The doctors will put in a PICC line when I get there on Sunday. I am excited for the treatment. I can't wait to get my life back!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
My Story
Welcome to my blog. Blogging is new to me so please be patient. The purpose of this blog is to share my Lyme treatment experience in Bad Aibling, Germany. The following is a brief history of my illness.
I have chronic Lyme disease as well as other common co-infections that are transmitted by ticks as well. I have Bartonella, Babesia, and Mycoplasma. These other infections on top of the Lyme, make my symptoms and treatment much more complicated. My symptoms started about 4 years ago with some pain in my hands, feet and jaw. I remember having pain in my feet when getting up in the morning and walking from my bed. Slowly, muscle weakness and fatigue started along with tingling in my face and other muscles. I had trouble holding my arms up to put on make up and curling my hair. Stabbing joint pain became more severe and spread up my arms and legs. I began to have periods of shortness of breath and heart palpitations. A few years later, I lost half of my vision in my left eye, a torn retina. I had to lie face down for 1 1/2 weeks for the recovery after eye surgery. Of course, the eye doctor said there was no correlation with Lyme disease. My doctor however, thought differently. Lyme is known to attack connective tissue in the body and vision issues are noted in the literature.
A year and a half of antibiotics did not get rid of the infection, it only destroyed my stomach. I have tried multiple treatments over the years including herbs, homeopathic supplements, rife/coiling, bee venom and photon therapy. I am on a gluten and dairy free diet, with no sugar and minimal carbs. I juice daily. I also purchased a infra red sauna to help with detox. I was told that if your body has difficulty with detox, you will become more sick with treatments and it will take longer to become well.
This last year has been the worst. On top of the stabbing pain which moves from joint to joint, the dull ache in my body does not go away. My nights are filled with tossing and turning from the pain and night sweats/chills. With little sleep, I am exhausted and depressed. My muscles and tendons hurt to the point of spasming. The headaches are so severe that I have hypersensitivity to light and noises and it hurts to move my head. The pain has moved more proximal into my shoulders, hips, neck and back. It hurts to walk, sit, stand up, and just move. I have not exercised in.....2 or 3 years. I have lost muscle mass and strength. I have a few good days in a week but most of the time the pain never goes away. It takes all my strength to get up every morning. Many days, I hope the day goes fast so I can go back to bed again. It has become very difficult at times to go on. My husband has been amazing. He will get up in the middle of the night to give me a massage. He has been there for me, always. I don't know what I would have done without him.
I started looking into other treatments about 8 months ago and my good friend told me about a woman who had gone to Germany with her daughter for hyperthermia and was completely cured. A glimmer of hope had surfaced. In Germany, they treat Lyme like cancer. They bring a person's body temperature up to 107 degrees for 6 hours. This high temperature kills cancer cells and infections including Lyme disease. I know, it sounds scary but what are my other options? The results other countries are getting with this treatment is staggering. I have talked to several people that have had great success. I have hope!
This is a lonely disease. No one can understand what I am going through unless they have experienced it themselves. What people don't understand is that many Lyme sufferers look absolutely normal, like nothing is wrong. I have had people tell me how good I look but they don't realize how horrible I feel inside.
Follow me on this blog and my experience in Germany to fight chronic Lyme disease and help raise awareness to help others get the treatment they need. My Germany treatment begins June 15, 2014 and will be completed June 30, 2014.
Sincerely,
Karin Frost
I have chronic Lyme disease as well as other common co-infections that are transmitted by ticks as well. I have Bartonella, Babesia, and Mycoplasma. These other infections on top of the Lyme, make my symptoms and treatment much more complicated. My symptoms started about 4 years ago with some pain in my hands, feet and jaw. I remember having pain in my feet when getting up in the morning and walking from my bed. Slowly, muscle weakness and fatigue started along with tingling in my face and other muscles. I had trouble holding my arms up to put on make up and curling my hair. Stabbing joint pain became more severe and spread up my arms and legs. I began to have periods of shortness of breath and heart palpitations. A few years later, I lost half of my vision in my left eye, a torn retina. I had to lie face down for 1 1/2 weeks for the recovery after eye surgery. Of course, the eye doctor said there was no correlation with Lyme disease. My doctor however, thought differently. Lyme is known to attack connective tissue in the body and vision issues are noted in the literature.
A year and a half of antibiotics did not get rid of the infection, it only destroyed my stomach. I have tried multiple treatments over the years including herbs, homeopathic supplements, rife/coiling, bee venom and photon therapy. I am on a gluten and dairy free diet, with no sugar and minimal carbs. I juice daily. I also purchased a infra red sauna to help with detox. I was told that if your body has difficulty with detox, you will become more sick with treatments and it will take longer to become well.
This last year has been the worst. On top of the stabbing pain which moves from joint to joint, the dull ache in my body does not go away. My nights are filled with tossing and turning from the pain and night sweats/chills. With little sleep, I am exhausted and depressed. My muscles and tendons hurt to the point of spasming. The headaches are so severe that I have hypersensitivity to light and noises and it hurts to move my head. The pain has moved more proximal into my shoulders, hips, neck and back. It hurts to walk, sit, stand up, and just move. I have not exercised in.....2 or 3 years. I have lost muscle mass and strength. I have a few good days in a week but most of the time the pain never goes away. It takes all my strength to get up every morning. Many days, I hope the day goes fast so I can go back to bed again. It has become very difficult at times to go on. My husband has been amazing. He will get up in the middle of the night to give me a massage. He has been there for me, always. I don't know what I would have done without him.
I started looking into other treatments about 8 months ago and my good friend told me about a woman who had gone to Germany with her daughter for hyperthermia and was completely cured. A glimmer of hope had surfaced. In Germany, they treat Lyme like cancer. They bring a person's body temperature up to 107 degrees for 6 hours. This high temperature kills cancer cells and infections including Lyme disease. I know, it sounds scary but what are my other options? The results other countries are getting with this treatment is staggering. I have talked to several people that have had great success. I have hope!
This is a lonely disease. No one can understand what I am going through unless they have experienced it themselves. What people don't understand is that many Lyme sufferers look absolutely normal, like nothing is wrong. I have had people tell me how good I look but they don't realize how horrible I feel inside.
Follow me on this blog and my experience in Germany to fight chronic Lyme disease and help raise awareness to help others get the treatment they need. My Germany treatment begins June 15, 2014 and will be completed June 30, 2014.
Sincerely,
Karin Frost
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