Hi, my name is Shauna.I am new here.I was dxⁱ with Ankylosing Spondylitis in July 09.Me and my antibiotic Dr actually believe it is reactive arthritis. Through my research I believe it started after a nasty parrot bite in Jamaica in May 07.I immediately had the symptoms of ReA right after. Parrots carry Chlamydophila Psittaci which causes ReA and so I believe this is what did it for me.I go see my AP Doc Aug 6th and hope to add zithⁱ and flagylⁱ and get a psittaci antibody test. I am currently on 200 mg doxyⁱ a day since April feeling a tad better but not a lot! Just wanted to introduce myself! Also take my vitaminsⁱ and just started NACⁱ.

Shauna

A Lyme Test test that Looks for antigens:

http://www.lyme-disease-research-database.com/lyme_disease_blog.html

http://www.centralfloridaresearch.com/

reminder to self to complete

Same (S-Adenosyl L-Methionine, Scientific Abstracts

http://www.protherainc.com/images/prod/abstracts/SAMe_Abstr.pdf

This week I switched to a new thyroid regiment. Instead of 100 mcg/day of Synthroid, I am taking now a combo of Synthroid 50 mcg + Armour Thyroid (canadian equivalent) 15 mg x 2/day.

I've been only a few days on this and so far the result is amazing. Some hours of the day I feel like a normal person (with the exception of the joint issues). I mean my head is clear and I can think. My "drunken" & unbalanced feeling is reduced to almost nothing. Though I do experience brainfog late afternoon. I am going to take my second dose of Armour earier in the afternoon today to counteract this.

My workout in the GYM yesterday felt very easy too and my digestive tract working just fine. I am just crossing my fingers it's going to last.

I didn't even notice how time went by. It's been 1 year and 9 months since I started CAPⁱ. When I started, I thought I'd be on it only for a year. Then I hoped to stop at 2 years mark but now I see that I may need a bit more time b/c I still have a few unresolved symptoms.

I am guilty though for taking about 3-4 weeks break from treatment this summer. It happened sponteneously. I ran out of meds, didn't refill on time, we needed to go away for vacation, oh well, many excuses. The truth is that I am burnt out.  I put myself back on track but I can't wait when the treatment will be over. 

I saw both my endocrinologist and my CAPⁱ prescriber this week. I have a painful heartbeat that's been bothering me mainly with some movements and deep breaths. So my endo wants me to take Advil in addition to my CAP. My CAP prescriber didn't have any suggestions in that regard but wants me to add Diflucan into the protocol for possible candida issues just b/c I've been so long on abxⁱ.

Right now I am taking Amoxicillinⁱ 1000 mg x 2/day, Clarith 500 mg x 2/day, Minoⁱ 100 mg x 2/day, Flagylⁱ 500 mg x 2/day. If I add Advil and Diflucan, would it be too many drugs for my poor liver? On the other hand, I'd like to try something for that painful heartbeat.

Any thoughts? Thanks for any input.

My previous LLMD who was my CAPⁱ prescriber moved out of state and I transitioned to another dr in the same practice group. Yesterday was my first appt. I was a bit apprehensive to change the dr but I am happy now I must say.

My new dr has a different approach to the disease in terms of that he treats whole body. If my previous provider just gave me CAP rx, this dr wants to address all my conditions - hypoT, hypertensionⁱ, nutritional issues, wants to check heavy metals as well. He even asked if I have a ObGyn and do regular pap smears.

Yesterday I took my first Flagylⁱ 250 mg, no reaction. Today took 2 x 250 mg and started to wonder, is it possible to develop resistance to Flagyl if taken in small doses? I'll be increasing the dose in future pulses if tolerated. My dr wants me to take 500 mg x 2/day for 14 days a month eventually.