Main » April 2005
April 12, 2005
PICC Line
March 10, 2005. Just came back from my Lyme God meeting, which was at the 6-month point of IV treatment for the lyme. Seems we have a grip on the lyme but now we must address the 2 other ailments I'm plagued with. Babesiosis and severe yeast infection.
The babesia is a parasite infection similar to malaria! Unbelievable. The yeast is not what one may think of yeast infections. This is in my brain, which is making me feel like shit. Combined with the babesia, which attacks my red blood cells and basically also makes me feel like shit. So it's time for the next round on IV treatment. 500mg of Zithromax daily combined with 750mg of Mepron, YUK !!! Just switched to Malarone pills yesterday. Also 2 million units of Nystatin for the yeast and Toprol 50mg for my heart. I will get more into that in a moment so don't go away yet. Combined with the Effexor, Diflucan, Minocycline, Ambien, Carbatrol, Provigil, etc. Daily doses of course. Lets get to the good stuff.
March 15, 2005 I had an appointment to get my first infusion of Zithromax, which needed to be done in a hospital in case of an allergic reaction. I went to the hospital that put the PICC line in back in Sept.2004. I arrived at the facility, checked in, and then waited. I was called in 10 minutes later. Now my wife arrives and we were speaking to the doctor as he was preparing. I immediately told him that my PICC line was horribly done and I was having alot of problems with it in relation to my heart which I never had prior to the line being put in, and I wanted it fixed while I was there! " Ya-Ya, "O.K. we'll get an X-ray before you leave to see the placement of the line," he said.
Infusion activate. The button is pushed and the fluid flows into my body. "Ring, Ring" the phone screams out. I remember listening to his 30-minute conversation and it was driving me NUTS. He would burst out in laughter that would pierce my ears. I would say 10 or so minutes into the infusion, my heart really started flipping out and the nausea and irritability kicked in, with my right hand now holding up my head as I rapidly declined. But hey, the doc was having a grand ole time on the phone and didn't notice. Thirty minutes or so into it he came over to me and for the first time asked how I was doing. I told him my heart, my heart. Quick check with the stethoscope yielded PANIC!
At this point I went into shock, hyperventilating, convulsing,..... the whole nine yards baby, which I must say was quite a joy for my wife to witness. Trauma, Life in the E.R., well it seemed like that sitcom, can't recall alot but it was real bad, that much I do recall. I got transferred to another hospital that night, one that wouldn't kill me. Apparently what happened that dreadful day and night, was the PICC line that I mentioned prior was located in the right ventricle of my heart at which time the meds entered. Now after 6 months of this line being there with all the infusions over that time, kind of messed things up a little bit. The Zithromax entered the scene which is a very irritating drug, and fried my Perkinsy Tissues which are responsible for creating the electrical signal for my heart contraction. Bottom line, I SHOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THIS !!
But I did and I know why. I now know what my purpose is in life. To help others with this disease, as I have been doing all along. I ended up getting a new PICC line put in from a much better hospital, and the funny thing is the PICC line they removed was 65 centimeters long. The new one, 53 centimeters. Hmmmm, seems much smaller to me. The old line had 9 cm sticking out of my arm. BIG NO NO. Max. amount should be 3cm. Now I have to go to a special cardiologist to deal with the mess.
O.K., when will I get my first infusion done? First attempt failed, second attempt at the other hospital failed. They would not take the chance. I'm a marked man. March 22, 2005, third attempt, now at my local hospital with my doctors, 7:30 am. What a killer that was to get out of bed for. But I did and my father-in-law drove me so closure can be made and I can begin my daily infusions for the next 3 months at home.
Not so fast young man. I get there, register, am sent to the room and meet the nurse. The room is located in the ER. I told the nurse my history, gave my med list, etc. After 30 minutes sitting in the room she returned to tell me they would not infuse me because the other hospital, (the one that killed me) said I had an allergic reaction to the drug. WRONG!! You've got to be kidding me, I said to the nurse. I realized I would not get anywhere flipping out on her, so I politely said goodbye and left. Out to the cold I go waiting, for I did not drive there. Thank God for cell phones. I picked mine out of my pocket and calmly dialed my doctor's office. After demanding to speak with him, which only took 5 seconds, he picked up. I cannot write what I said because, well think about it. WHEN AM I GETTING MY INFUSION IS ALL I WANT TO HEAR OUT OF YOUR MOUTH RIGHT NOW, WELL JAMES, NO NO WHEN, WHEN, IF YOU LET ME SPEAK, OK GO AHEAD. Blah Blah.
I sat and waited 1 1/2 hours in the parking lot freezing my ass off. Then I had a thought as I was sitting on a curb staring down at all the sand from the winter's maintenance, and it was then I realized. I am just a mere spec of sand in the beaches of the world. Well I got my infusion the next day same place same time. DONE!
Next day I dragged myself to the first Lyme Disease meeting held at the town hall. It consisted of a panel of doctors and politicians there to hear the peoples stories. The doctors spoke first which was nothing but a bunch a crap. My hand was raised and I was the first one called upon to address the panel. I have never done anything like this before, but I approached the table, had a seat, and began to speak.
I SHOCKED THE WORLD THAT DAY. I spoke for about 30 minutes not about myself, but about the fact that people who are misdiagnosed are being killed by their treatments. That opened all their eyes. Just so happened the biggest news channel was there to cover it. I was a star that day. It was a very magical moment for me. Needless to say, I made the news that night and a lot of newspapers. The best part of it is I probably saved someone's life. My mission continues. Praise The Lord Jesus Christ for he is real .
Posted by Jamie at 12:55 PM | Comments (8)
Herxheimer Reaction
I'm Alive! Date: February 26, 2005. I don't even know where to begin so I will just let it flow. I remember back in October of 2004, thinking and anticipating to feel what a Herxheimer reaction felt like. For those who don't know, a 'herx' is when the lyme bacteria is killed off in areas that are infected. Toxins are released into the blood system, the kidneys get overloaded, and you have an onset of symptoms, some worse than others.
The good news is when one has a herx you just had a die off. Well needless to say I now know what it is like to experience this. I will start by saying IT WAS THE MOST HORRIFIC MENTAL, PHYSICAL , EVERYTHING, EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER ENDURED OR IMAGINED. I can somehow explain it by referring to a movie, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". I felt as if I was in an institution with a bathrobe on smoking a butt tightly clinched in between my fingers shaking as it entered my lips. I was mentally cooked! I recall my wife hugging me and we were both in tears. I was so pleased with the notion of being taken to the afterlife. It all made sense to me. My life insurance would take care of my family, but what about my 3 young children? Oh, no problem, I will watch them and be with them in spirit. I was convinced. Never wanted to inflict harm to myself, just was dillusional and wanted just to be taken.
WOW! During this herx I could not function physically, or mentally. Sleep, sleep, sleep. My doctors were notified of my situation and took immediate action. I needed to stop the oral doxycycline and just do the IV Rocephin. The doxy was killing too much. Woke up a couple days after and felt like I had just come out of a BAD dream.
I was lucky to have an appointment with " the big guy " within days of the herx. He was pleased at the fact that I just had a significant die off. He put me on some more meds for my mind, such as Carbatrol, Provigil, and Diflucan for yeast. He knows how to combine medications to yield a different effect that also enhances the effect of each medication also. BRILLIANT. I was told that good times were ahead . Actually, the time period was 3 months of IV Rocephin and I should snap out of it. They hit it on the head.
December 15, 2004 I remember sitting in my garage and gazing around the room. I suddenly got up off my chair and much to my surprise, MY BRAIN WAS WORKING AGAIN! I was amazed! I kept thinking of things and focusing. Unbelievable. I could feel happiness, excitement, LOVE, etc... ALL GOOD. As time passed I felt better and better. What a feeling it was to feel good, although my feeling good is a healthy person's feeling like crap. I have truly mastered the art of living one day at a time. Tomorrow didn't matter to me. What a great way to live. All good things come to an end as they say.
February 12, 2005, back in the saddle again. I just don't' feel like I did. Can't get out of bed, head tingles, not happy, music in my head constantly, whacked out in the morning, can’t focus, just existing right now. Had a Lyme Dot urine test 2-24-05. This test will hopefully capture the bacteria in the urine due to the dead bacteria from a herx, and the fondness of the bladder for the lyme like some sort of community swimming pool for them.
March 9, 2005, going to the big guy. Results will be back from urine and next move will be determined. I would have fulfilled my six months of daily IV Rocephin. "To be, or not to be, that is the question." How much did they find? Was it alive? We shall see....................................................................Jamie ----- --------
Posted by Jamie at 12:01 PM | Comments (1366)
