Whats FINALLY worked for me.

[drob31]

I think he has dropped the cardiology completely, and identifies himself as a naturopath. Because I sit for 2-3 hours twice a week with a tube in my arm, chatting with others, we are all really family there. The support is amazing, and I have seen some jaw-dropping healing in Lyme and cancer patients there. He focuses on finding and treating all the co-infections etc. which I think has also helped me.

Specific symptom-wise; intensive allergy testing showed I have leaky gut syndrome (literally everything I eat regularly was in my bloodstream), been taking supplements for ages for that, think I still have it tho

Babesiosis found, I think the Arteminisin and maybe the Valcyte helping that

Candidiasis, supplements for that

POTS and mild heart arrythmia, I add a bag of saline on days when my i.v. Is shorter, as CFS often causes low blood volume. I've also raises the head of my bed slightly to help with that. Major improvement.

IBS (for like 30 years) better since going gluten free, despite not being celiac

Interstitial cystitis, i.e. Irritable bladder, vastly better, again Arteminisin or Valcyte probably

Brian fog and depression, low dose naltrexone is a godsend, no joke. Vast improvement.

CFS, which I was diagnosed with 8 years ago (at first not so bad as long as I took it easy, it took a couple years to realize this was gonna be a major problem, was a sudden definite onset of viral-ish illness), I've tried most all the stuff you read about here, been to many doctors, and almost can't believe something is actually working. I've had short-term respites and energy boosts, felt better for a couple of months at a time, but NEVER felt like my muscles, lungs and heart were working "right" again until now. Crossing my fingers for myself and all who read this for further health improvements for all of us!

What tests did you use to determine all of the food you ate ended up in your bloodstream?

 

[Gingergrrl]

I think he has dropped the cardiology completely, and identifies himself as a naturopath.

Thanks for the info and I think a naturopath who used to be a cardio is a very good combination if they know their stuff in both areas.

but NEVER felt like my muscles, lungs and heart were working "right" again until now.

This is exactly my experience, that my muscles, lungs and heart are not working together correctly in unison. I am hoping that it is still possible that they can in the future and your story gave me hope even if our paths to healing will be a bit different. Am bookmarking your doctor though for future reference.

 

[Mary]

Is Dr. Gonzalez a cardiologist or naturopath? Does he see patients who do not have Lyme disease? I had some benefit from nebulized glutathione in the past but never tried the IV form. Am fascinated by your story (although I had horrible reaction to Valcyte so we are different in that way.)

Am tagging @Mary b/c curious if she knows your doctor?

@Gingergrrl, no, I am not familiar with Dr. Gonzalez. I just looked very briefly at his website, and I'm impressed. And he takes Medicare! Though I realize many of his treatments are not covered. Thanks for the tag!

 

[JaimeS]

Man, seems like an amazing doctor

 

[JPV]

As it is an opoid (heroin-ish), I'd rather rely on a reputable compounding pharmacy.

Just for the record Naltrexone is not an opioid... it's an opioid antagonist.

 

[JaimeS]

Something that blocks a receptor may have mild, similar effects, which is why antagonists may be balancing rather than solely activating or suppressing:

1) If your X is low, they provide a tiny boost in X-activity.
2) If your X is high, they block X from the receptor.

So LDN wouldn't be quite like heroin!

 

[Dufresne]

Babesiosis found, I think the Arteminisin and maybe the Valcyte helping that

I did incredibly well on wormwood and then artemisinin for a time, however it stopped working for me in 2009-2010. A couple years later I tested positive for babesia duncani. I suspect the bug developed resistance when I switched from wormwood to artemisinin, as is known to happen when treating with monotherapy. So seeing as you've tested positive for babesia I'd just suggest considering combination therapy.

Wormwood used to clear my brain fog completely, increase my energy, calm my excited nervous system, eliminate fasciculations, etc. I get the same relief from time to time nowadays when I tweak my babesia meds, so I'm convinced the bug is responsible for most of my troubles.

Congrats on your success. Keep going!

 

[Bansaw]

Has anyone got any guidance on how to take Arteminisin?
I am reading that its not good to take long term 7 days a week.
I've read people are taking Mon-Wed-Fri and then giving their body a rest. Or doing 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off.
Your body apparently builds up a resistance.
Any wisdom on whats the best take-rest schedule for Arteminisin is?

 

[frog_in_the_fog]

As it is an opoid (heroin-ish), I'd rather rely on a reputable compounding pharmacy. Cort recommended one at one point, I'm sure you can google it. But yes, the naltrexone made a WORLD of difference in my mood and motivation; the only disappointment with it was that it didn't help my muscular weakness.

Well actually, naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids, it is NOT an opioid. I started on LDN recently and have not experienced any ill effects so far. I use the dilution method outlined on a number of sites, and in this video.

 

[AlmostEasy]

I don't know much about arteminisin but your recovery sounds like classic anti viral recovery. Incredibly slow, but profound over time. That's generally how it goes with those. From what I read the 3 month mark is a reasonable amount of time to say you feel something from them.

And just to reiterate again LDN is not an opioid in any sense of the word. It blocks opioids and causes a rebound up-regulation of endorphins (endogenous opioids) of 200%-300% if taken at the right time. It also has other effects unrelated to this such as helping increase blood flow as well as microglial inhibition to dampen inflammation in the brain.

 

[Biarritz13]

I'm throwing this on here because I've searched online twice a week for six years, hoping to find anything to slow my disability. I've lost more strength and energy every year, until now. I'm at a point where I can only stand up for a few minutes, can't walk farther than the end of my driveway, and no longer drive myself: BUT I am finally, FINALLY getting better, not worse. I wish I could tell you what, specifically, in my regimin is helping, but like so many of us I take handfuls of supplements and meds every day. Most likely to be causing my improvement: Arteminisin i.v. once a week and daily oral; Curcumin i.v. once a week and daily oral; low-dose naltrexone daily; daily Valcyte. What I've tried that slowed my decline, but didn't reverse it; hyperbaric oxygen dives for almost a year; i.v. Glutathione, Myers cocktail, vitamin C; supplements of ATP and a dozen other things.

Hi Kathy,

I am glad this treatment plan has worked for you.

I just have one question, are you sure that it was Arteminisin in the IV and not Artesunate?

TY.

 

[frederic83]

I just have one question, are you sure that it was Arteminisin in the IV and not Artesunate?

Artesunate is a derivative (semi-synthetic) of Artemisinin. It is the artesunate that has strong antimalarial properties. Artemisinin is a molecule found naturally in sweet wormwood (artemisia annua). I don't know if artemisinin have some antimalarial properties, but artesunate is also antiviral for HHV6.

 

[Groggy Doggy]

@Kathyinca

I am so, happy for you!!!! It's so nice to hear of the great work the front-line doctors are going to improve the quality of life of their patients!!

 

[Biarritz13]

Artesunate is a derivative (semi-synthetic) of Artemisinin. It is the artesunate that has strong antimalarial properties. Artemisinin is a molecule found naturally in sweet wormwood (artemisia annua). I don't know if artemisinin have some antimalarial properties, but artesunate is also antiviral for HHV6.

and for ebv.

 

[frederic83]

@Kathyinca

Do you have a clear diagnostic (virus, bacterias infection...)? If so, can you tell us what it is?

 

[Groggy Doggy]

@Kathyinca

Do you have a clear diagnostic (virus, bacterias infection...)? If so, can you tell us what it is?

Sorry to intercept here. But this type of information is exactly what HHS needs to be involved with. HHS needs to fund a study to do the heavy lifting (not the sick patients). The study needs to contact the front-line doctors (globally preferred) and ask these types of questions (treatments that work, why treatments work, diagnostic tools to predict who is best candidate for a particular treatment, number of patients using treatments, etc.)

i feel this needs to be one of our September Millions Missing protest demands; to fund a study that collects this type information.

 

[JaimeS]

Good idea @Groggy Doggy ! You should suggest it:

http://www.meaction.net/2016/08/01/give-your-feedback-on-the-meaction-usa-protest-demands/

 

[edwardssusanb]

I'm throwing this on here because I've searched online twice a week for six years, hoping to find anything to slow my disability. I've lost more strength and energy every year, until now. I'm at a point where I can only stand up for a few minutes, can't walk farther than the end of my driveway, and no longer drive myself: BUT I am finally, FINALLY getting better, not worse. I wish I could tell you what, specifically, in my regimin is helping, but like so many of us I take handfuls of supplements and meds every day. Most likely to be causing my improvement: Arteminisin i.v. once a week and daily oral; Curcumin i.v. once a week and daily oral; low-dose naltrexone daily; daily Valcyte. What I've tried that slowed my decline, but didn't reverse it; hyperbaric oxygen dives for almost a year; i.v. Glutathione, Myers cocktail, vitamin C; supplements of ATP and a dozen other things.

Of course insurance doesn't pay for any of this except the Valcyte; I've found naltrexone for a buck a pill, and the rest is hella expensive and I just suck it up and pay it, grateful every day that I can cover it for another month. If you can just try the Arteminisin (also called artusinate) and Curcumin (derived from turmeric, the main spice in curry), DO IT. Mega-doses. Honestly I don't think the oral stuff helps even a fraction of what the i.v. does. Arteminisin is an anti-malarial that they're finding targets a wide range of things; Curcumin is a super-potent anti-inflammatory; Valcyte works against herpes 6, which is a "silent" virus found in many CFS patients; and Naltrexone is a very, very tiny dose of an opoid that clears brain fog, depression, and lack of motivation.

I've been sick for so long that it took a month or two to realize I was improving - suddenly I was asking friends over again, or wanting to organize or decorate a corner of my house, or cooking an egg. Big stuff for me! And just now, the most exciting thing of all, I realized that I didn't have to lower and raise my body with my arms helping to use the loo!! That sounds stupid, but it's been demoralizing that muscle weakness had robbed me of the ability to do something so simple as use the toilet. The deterioration of muscle has been the most bothersome and intransigent symptom I've had, and even just to stop it is thrilling.

So there you go. Everyone is different, I have no idea if my regimin would help others, and I can't even say if it's a synergy between these things and the 20 other things I still take. I will say though that these are all cutting-edge CFS treatments easily googled. Feel free to ask me any questions, and my best wishes to all of us walking this difficult path.

 

[helen1]

As it is an opoid (heroin-ish), I'd rather rely on a reputable compounding pharmacy.

@Kathyinca Just to clarify, naltrexone is not an opioid, it's an opioid blocker. This does supposedly cause the brain to produce more opioids on it's own. But it's definitely not an opioid.

 

[jeff_w]

Wow, hi everyone! I go to Dr. Miguel Gonzalez in Thousand Oaks, CA. He specializes in Lyme disease and alternative medicine, although he was head of cardiology at our hospital prior to that.

@Kathyinca - Have you been diagnosed with Lyme?