Not doing as bad at this stage in the game as I was last time I was doing these antibiotics. It’s almost a little unnerving. I’m almost worried that the fact I’m not in a total mess means that it’s not doing anything so I’m not getting a Herx reaction (from the build up of the toxins). I still have plenty of time for it to catch up with me so I will wait and see. I even managed a trip out for a hot chocolate today at the reservoir which is a pretty good achievement for me.

…and yes I needed something solid to lean on 😉

I’m feeling much brighter today. I do feel like I have the combined hangover from everyone who was out last night (annoying when you’re on the lime and soda!) but my vertigo isn’t as bad as I had expected. I’ve had a really chilled out day sewing, cooking and getting my moneys worth out of my Netflix subscription. I’m having dinner cooked for me tonight which I’m really looking forward to, its nice to not feel quite so sick today so good food is a highlight for a change! Speaking of cooking I’ve been heating myself up and I’m wondering if this is helping the treatment.

Its called a portable Infrared sauna, It’s supposed to help by clearing the toxins generated from killing the Lyme with the antibiotics. I thought it was worth giving a go as there is a theory that the bugs don’t like the higher temperatures and that could explain why I feel better when I’m in Sardinia – well that, or the never ending supply of Prosecco, I’ll try that next! I’m not sure if Jeremy Beadle is going to pop out and say its all a big joke, but at this point I’d try anything to feel better – I do look like I should be in an episode of Dr Who! Well, as long as it ‘exterminates’ the Lyme 😉

I managed to go to a yoga class in the morning which was probably a tad ambitious – kept wondering who the girl with the green tinge was staring back at me in the studio mirror was!

I was really pleased that I managed it though but had to return to the sofa after. It was my Mums birthday and unfortunately I was too ill to go out for lunch with her and my Aunty. I forced myself to go down the pub with my mum and all our family and friends in the evening which was fun, my family are never boring even when you’re the only sober one! Although, I think I felt worse than most of them will feel in the following morning and that’s saying something!

I’m still feeling pretty rubbish and really fed up with being on my sofa. I spent most of my energy trying to sort out my mum’s phone. It’s her first ever smart phone so its been quite a journey. When I had to explain why the letters weren’t alphabetical on the touch keypad I knew it was going to be in for a long day! Trying to distract myself with a bit of sewing (whose idea was it to make a dress out of a rug?!?) aided with gallons of ginger tea to help with the nausea 🙂

The fun has begun! I didn’t sleep well despite enough sleeping tablets (and every herbal remedy known to man) to take out a large rhino. I’m feeling really sick, headachy and totally out of it. Getting showered and dressed was a mammoth effort and has taken me most of the morning. To add insult to injury I have just realised that my jumper is on backwards, oh pants (probably those too come to think of it I’d better check!). Not moving from the sofa today as the rest of the house is moving far to much!

I woke up feeling like I’d had a rather heavy night on the double vodka’s at Jesters. Rather unfair as my Monday evening involved watching Made in Chelsea (don’t judge me!) and a cup of decaf green tea.

I’m feeling quite jittery, I think because I’m waiting for the horrible side effects to kick in like last time. Luckily mum came to the rescue (again) and took me to the sewing shop to get some material to make a dress, its always good to have a distraction.

I just hope it makes me as ecstatically happy as the lady on the pattern!

Well the good patch didn’t last long enough and I started to get decidedly iffy again. So the plan is another six weeks of the nasty antibiotics and hope that I pick up again, but for longer this time.  I had a really nice night down ‘the local’ on Friday in preparation for my housebound/T- total state and had a few glasses of wine. I’ve been feeling quite anxious about this as I had a really awful time on them last time, I’m really hoping that this time will be easier!

So day one hasn’t been to bad (only had one dose so far though) I managed to get to yoga this morning. There was a man covering the class as my yoga teacher was away. When he asked if anyone had any problems I kept my mouth shut as I have a list as long as my arm and I’m by far the youngest there, its just embarrassing! At the end of the class he called me over to talk about an old injury. I had an accident years ago and I still have a bit of trouble with it in certain poses. He too had had a similar injury and was giving me some advice. Little did he know that’s the least of my problems! When he started talking about difficulties walking I had to giggle to myself, I wish I could walk far enough that I could actually get problems with it. He told me that everyone has a very different journey with yoga and I need to be very patient as I’m going to have a very different one – if only he knew the half of it, I was more concerned about getting back to the flippin car!

Anyway, I’ve been on the sofa ever since but so far not to bad. Even had the energy to make spiralised courgette Pad Thai – gluten free isn’t all bad!

Let’s see what tomorrow brings 🙂

Well Sardinia was as awesome as I expected! After a couple of days the vertigo settled down and I managed to do some really relaxing yoga (we didn’t just stand and chat all day honest!)

As time went on I managed to do more and more, eventually even (attempting) Acroyoga. It was so amazing to feel like a ‘normal’ person for a while!

By the end of my time I even got onto chanting on the beach and meditation – well, if you can’t beat them join them and all that!

Alcohol wasn’t my friend initially after being on the treatment for so long, I was such a light weight. The girls were very supportive and with their encouragement by the end of the week I was the first one with her hand up in the air for a drink!

It really helped to have a good catch up and a natter with the girls, it’s so amazing to make such good friendships from a holiday four years ago. We always have such a good giggle no matter where we are:

Or what mode of transport:

As long as we can have a glass of Prosecco (or two!)

Thanks again to everyone who helped me get there. I’d had a really rough time on the treatment prior so to have such a wonderful time at the end of it really did make it bearable. My vertigo was very well behaved whilst away and the good patch lasted for longer than normal on my return. I’m really hoping this means that the antibiotics are having an effect, only time will tell…

I think the word that best sums up the last five weeks would be HORRENDOUS! The first two weeks I was pretty much bed bound, the next two sofa bound. The vertigo was so bad even laying still in bed was like being on ship being thrown around in the sea- far from fun!

I had a telephone consultation with my Dr and he felt it could be a good thing that my symptoms are so bad. It could be a thing called a Herx reaction. This is when the antibiotics kill off so much of the bugs that your system can’t clear them quickly enough, they then build up and heighten your symptoms. Of course, this could all be a red herring and it’s actually the antibiotics taking their toll as I’ve been on quite a concoction.

I also went to see a Neurologist who told be Chronic Lyme doesn’t exist (never write that on a Chronic Lyme forum – I think he’d be getting death threats if I’d let slip his name!), I just need Rehab and I’m out of condition. I did point out I’ve had lots of rehab before and it has never had a positive effect. To me, that doesn’t explain how I’m so episodic. One day I can manage things and the next I can’t. Unconditioned – I’d like to see him try and beat me in the pool!!

I’ve managed to get out of the house for the last few days but I’m not managing anything too exciting as I’m still feeling rough. It’s like I’m constantly hung-over, which is unfortunate as I’ve not had a drink in weeks. I’m also hardly sleeping which isn’t really helping matters.

I go to Sardinia next week which is quite worrying (airport!) but it has also been a great goal to aim for! I have been doing lots of healthy gluten free cooking so I definitely deserve a pizza (or two) and the occasional (very large) GnT 😉

I so hope that this will be worth it!

Well after the last post I quite literally fell on my ass! I was rather a fool to think things were going to be that easy. Things have been very up and down.

I went to see a GP in Sussex who has a special interest in Chronic Lyme Disease which was really interesting. We appear to be very limited for doctors in this country that actually treat or even believe Chronic Lyme exists. He was really nice and although he can’t be 100% sure, thought it was ‘pretty likely’ (got to love the certainty of modern medicine!) I had Lyme disease. He works alongside a herbologist and they both felt my immune system was pretty rubbish after all those antibiotics and I needed an six week mixture of herbs to boost it. Yes, I was rather sceptical but if it’s the only option you have you just give it a go. I was rather more cynical when during this course I came down with every ailment known to man. I persisted, even with the Lyme tea – and no, I didn’t get the munchies after!

Alongside this the Professor at the Hospital of Tropical Medicine has pretty much held his hands up and said he has no clue what’s really wrong with me and has referred me to his colleague who is a Neurologist. He seems to feel we need to go right back to the start and look at it with fresh eyes. I can see his point, and I really appreciate him for trying but I’m so tired of all this.

Anyway, I’ve since been back to the Lyme GP and he has now started me on a six week course of multiple antibiotics. My Dad reassured me that there were cheaper options should I so choose (that’s Beachy Head in the background).

I started them a couple of days ago and feel pretty awful. I can’t even have a drink or sit in the garden as they can cause skin hyperpigmentation, and we all know if anyone is going to have a reaction it will be me. Fortunately it ties in quite well for Sardinia which is in six weeks time. That glass of Prosecco in the sunshine with good friends will be all the more enjoyable! For now, it will be back to back episodes of Orange is the New Black to keep me from losing my marbles 😉