Have antibiotics helped?
Yes, undoubtedly.
Have they been effective enough that I believe further treatment with them will have a major positive impact on my health?
No.
And more to the point, I believe there are underlying issues that must be addressed before I can get rid of these infections. To that end, I have enlisted the help of a doctor with a completely holistic approach.
My appointment was two days ago, Wednesday at 2pm. It was scheduled a week in advance. I was nervous about seeing a new doctor. First doctor appointments are always nerve-wracking because they require me to go over my long medical history, which is an unpleasant trip down a very spotty memory lane. Luckily, I had my mother by my side, filling in the gaps in my memory and supplementing my accounts with her own observations. But, let me go back for a second to say that I was especially nervous about this appointment for reasons I did not understand until it was over.
See, this doctor uses a method of assessment called Autonomic Response Testing (ART). It is a kind of biofeedback muscle testing pioneered by Dr. Klinghardt, a leader in the field of Lyme Disease treatment. While I am no stranger to muscle testing, I have never undergone this particular type of testing, which is more sophisticated and accurate than others. I knew there was a very good chance that this doctor would be able to detect dysfunctions in my body that other doctors had not been able to identify/pinpoint, and while that is exactly the reason I wanted to see a doctor who uses ART, that is also the reason for my elevated anxiety. I was terrified of what I might find out.
But in my case, ignorance is not bliss; it is an underlying current of anxiety that makes me sicker. So despite my fear, I went through with the appointment and found out some interesting factoids about the current state of my health:
- I am chock full of parasites! I even have them in my lungs. I had no idea a person could get LUNG parasites!
- My organs are riddled with mercury. Time for a heavy metal detox!
- I have major digestive issues. My symptoms made that pretty clear, but then the doctor asked me to stick out my tongue and, upon a single glance, said, “Whoa, YES, definite digestive problems."
- Thyroid issues, too!
- I have difficulty eliminating toxins; my liver is particularly overtaxed and angry.
There are more, but these are the major issues right now. I’m not surprised by his findings (except for the lung parasite; that’s just weird), just a bit overwhelmed by confirmation of what I already suspected. Suspecting I have underlying issues that need to be resolved before I can treat Lyme Disease and co-infections is one thing; having my suspicions confirmed in detail is something I need time to digest.
My friends reassure me that knowledge is power, and I know they’re right. Now that I know what’s going on, I can address each problem instead of crossing my fingers and hoping that X treatment, which lasts x many months, will eventually put a dent in the infectious soup living in my blood, tissue, and organs. Sure, treatment will take time and patience, but at least we’re no longer shooting in the dark.
I know that many people are skeptical of alternative medical practices, and they should be. Just as they should be skeptical of any medical practice, including those widely accepted by mainstream medicine. What I like about energy medicine (ART falls into this category) is that, in the hands of a skilled practitioner, it can illuminate root causes of problems, which can then be addressed, instead of simply treating symptoms. I’m also a fan of homeopathy and herbal medicine because, when used correctly, they don’t cause unnecessary damage to the body. They work with the body to strengthen its own ability to fight off infection, instead of against it, killing off both good and bad bacteria.
Of course, this is simply my opinion and there is no single correct way to regain health. If a certain method of treatment doesn’t sit well with you, trust your gut and go with what feels right. Right now my gut tells me I’m headed in the right direction. I can only hope this is the case and go forward from here.
