Current Meds: Benicar 40 mg Q6h; Modified Phase 2 abx; no other meds or supplements. History: Phase 1: 65 days on Benicar Q6H; 47 days Mino QOD (12 on 25mg; 16 on 50 mg 13 on 75 mg 7 on 100 mg) / Modified Phase 2: 23 days: Benicar Q6H; MP abx

For me like for many on the MP the journey started with a very hard look at where it all began resulting in a much better understanding of my own level of health prior to embarking on the MP. Why is that important? It helps to understand the progress on the MP and especially the IP responses. I started on the MP thinking I was quite fit. Yes, sure, had some problems over the years but I thought I was "getting" on top of them by finally doing something about my weight and level of fitness. I felt nowhere near as sick as the many other people starting out ...so...for me it was going to be a breeze. Following is a brief medical summary of what I "remember/know" now and then a description of my time in Phase 2 ...so far!

Endometrioses: 23 years: 1963 (beginning of menstruation at age 12) - 1986 (removal of ovaries). Undiagnosed until mid thirties. Severe pain on menstruation and ovulation culminating in ovarian cysts until they burst resulting in peritonitis (caused adhesions) and removal of first one then 4 months later the 2nd ovary. This put an end to it. Except that the operations introduced massive abdominal adhesions (scar tissue) on top of those already caused by the Endometrioses, the peritonitis and other abdominal surgery .

Gall Stones: 10 years: 1975 - 1985 (removal of gall bladder) recurring attacks first treated as peptic ulcer but subsequently diagnosed as gall stones. Lots of spasms of bile ducts and gall bladder. Spasms of bile ducts continued even after gall bladder removal. Operation introduced adhesions which cause periodic bowel spasms.

Stress incontinence: 22+ years: initially prolapse of bladder: 1985: repair operation. later developed into stress incontinence.

Bowel Problems: 25 years: 1982 - present. Initially obstructions caused by adhesions. Initial removal of adhesions resulted in small bowel resection. Recurring obstructions resulting in hospital stays and further surgery to remove adhesions. Some diverticulitis. Recurring inflammation leading to IBS (recurring bouts of diarrhea/constipation, abdominal pains). Diagnosed with leaky bowel in 2003; Polyps removed during colonoscopy. Hemorrhoids which play up (rectal bleeding/pain) from time to time especially when constipated.

Gastric Reflux: 20+ years: 1980's to present. Recurring spasms of esophagus. Slow emptying of stomach. Examination (gastroscopy) showed problem to lie in the bowels not in the stomach. Hence reflux related to slow emptying of bowels possibly due to IBS and the extensive adhesions.

Hypoglycemia: 30+ years : 1970's to present: Never really diagnosed. Symptoms of low blood sugar...self treated with diet. i.e when I experienced a hypo coming on I would very quickly grab some food! Note: no issues with this  since starting MP.

Pre-Diabetic & Insulin resistant: 5+ years : 2002 - present. Probably even longer. First experienced major issue with carb intolerance in 2002 but a bit blurry because I think this is actually also connected with the Hypoglycemia. Diagnosed in early 2003 as being diabetic whilst working in Malaysia but not confirmed on my return to Australia. Retested in mid 2003 but found to be pre-diabetic. Then re-tested in early 2006 and again confirmed as pre-diabetic and insulin resistant. Diagnosed with fatty liver in late 2003. Note: blood sugar stable since starting MP.

Hypertensive: 3+ years : 2004 - present. Probably even longer. BP was up and down for a while. On BP meds since mid 2004. Prior to starting MP was taking Coversyl and Tevetan and exercising but BP still fluctuating mostly too high. Note: blood pressure normal to low since starting MP despite no longer taking anti hypertensives (apart from Benicar).

Chronic cough and chronic bronchitis: 5 years 2002 - present. Started with a severe productive cough during a period of either viral or bacterial infection. Was living in Malaysia at the time. Colleagues told me it was a 90 day Chinese cough so I didn't do a lot to follow up on it....just waited for it to go away. It never did. In Australia was given cortisone inhalers and told not to expect it to clear up in a hurry. Causes lots of mucus in bronchial area which was at times so bad that I was afraid of choking in my sleep. Also causes recurring shoulder pain. Note: since starting MP cough has changed from uncontrollable spontaneous coughing fits to occasionally coughing up phlegm. Amount of mucus greatly reduced.

Rickettsiosis: 5 (+?) years : 2002 - present. Diagnosed in 2004. Explained the chronic cough and bronchitis. May well have been causing other issues long before the cough started. However it (and all it's other friendly CWD buddies) are also to blame for the IBS. And most likely the Endometrioses.

Peripheral Neuropathy: 1+ year 2006 - present. Could have been longer it is just that suddenly at the beginning of 2006 I realized that most of my toes (both feet) were numb. Neurologist performed tests and confirmed the Neuropathy which he put down to the pre-diabetic state.

Sinusitis & Tinnitus: 18+ years: mid 1990's to present: initially dizziness led to diagnosis of blocked sinuses. Lots of ear pain on flying. Dizziness due to blockage near ear drum. Remedy was recurring tubes implanted into ear drums to remove pressure. Eventually the blockage resulted in post nasal drip which seemed to relieve the pressure so no more tubes; causes lots of mucus and periodic nasal blockages. Recurring ringing in ear....was told it was a structural defect....ie the vein/artery too close to the hearing mechanism in ear causing me to hear the blood rushing through that vein/artery. Could never figure out why I would experience periods lasting years where I didn't hear this ringing! Mind you, apart from a very short period last year...since I have had the post nasal drip I have not had the ringing so probably the ringing was caused by the pressure the blocked sinus' put onto the ear drum/canal whatever. Note: since starting MP much less nasal congestion and a reduction in post nasal drip. No ringing in ears either.

Minor issues: Above are the major issues. On top of that there is stiffness in joints and muscles (put down to being unfit and getting older) Sensitive teeth (supposedly from too vigorous brushing) Note: much improved since starting MP, recurring leg cramps, migraines, lack of balance Note: much improved since starting MP, recurring Carpal tunnel syndrome, recurring palpitations, edema (more pronounced in left leg), recurring bacterial infections (since 2004: Pneumonia (2x), bronchial obstruction, cellulitis, c-diff infection of bowels - hospitalized on intravenous antibiotics 3 times), recurring backaches; ongoing battle with obesity - weight up and down and many many diets over the years (note weight continuing to drop since starting MP).

So you see I was quite healthy when I started the MP! And I REALLY knew (NOT!!!) what WELLNESS felt like! And I really believed that because until Jan 2007 I never had a diagnosis of anything as debilitating as CFS, Sarcoidosis, MS, etc. THAT THINGS WERE OK and the road ahead (on the MP) was A BREEZE. Now I have a much better understanding of Th1 disease. And I understand why the diagnosis is irrelevant. Many of us have the same symptoms. The DISEASE is Th1. Never mind what horrible label we are given along the way. In the end....it is all VERY DEBILITATING and the FUTURE is VERY MURKY. So...now that I know where I came from, where I have been (incredible how your mind likes to bury it) I am no longer surprised that the treatment may be slow and steady, may give me many Herxing experiences that would have shocked and surprised me had I not gone on this thorough journey into my past.....and I am READY TO FIGHT!

Insomnia: Increased; Fatigue: Increased. Feet herxing (burning hot, strange sensations): same initially then decreased a bit after week 1.General weakness: increased.

Fever: usual up and down from below normal (I would shiver and freeze) to normal (majority of time) to low grade and occasional fever.

Bowel Problems: recurring mild abdominal pain; recurring issues with bloating/wind; constipation increased; decreased motility also causing increased reflux (things not moving through the digestive tract), rectal bleeding and pain from Hemorrhoids increasingly more of an issue until almost intolerable so I had to stop the abx and wait for things to settle down again. Which they have and today I restarted the abx at a lower dose.

Backache: still an issue when active; ok when resting. Dizziness: Only occasionally if getting up too quickly or bending down. Feet/leg cramping: occasionally; Skin rash: developed a few days ago sandpaper like dry rash under arm. not itchy or painful;

Sinus: clearing but still blocked occasionally; some recurring ear aches, recurring (almost daily) sneezing attacks (like hay fever); Cough: much better but still coughing up phlegm several times a day.

Head pain: recurring headaches and pain in bones of head radiating out from ears and jaw. Sore eyes: not as bad as initially on MP but some days eyes are still sore...could be too much light inside.

Brain herxing: intermittent feelings of anxiety, panic, irritability etc. Exacerbated by exposure to sun.

Good news is I was able to dampen the IP symptoms above with use of extra benicar, some pain killers, one dose of valium and adjustment of MP abx's. I have now restarted modified phase 2 with the lowest doses of the abx's and will take it very easy pushing ahead.

Inge.

Last edited on Thu Apr 19th, 2007 08:52 by IngeD

Progress Report Tuesday 22nd May. (Phase 1 Alumni Forum)

Current Meds: Benicar 40 mg Q6h; Modified Phase 2 abx; Valium as needed; no other meds or supplements.
History: Phase 1: 65 days on Benicar Q6H; 47 days Mino QOD (12 on 25mg; 16 on 50 mg 13 on 75 mg 7 on 100 mg)
Modified Phase 2: 53 days: Benicar Q6H; MP abx combo 1
Modified Phase 2: 3 days: Benicar Q4H; MP abx combo 2

Finished the first abx combo in Modified Phase 2. In general all was tolerable apart from a couple of incidents that were contained fairly quickly with the help of great advise from our moderators.

It has now been 4 months on the MP and I continue to experience improvements in health as far as the Th1 illness goes. The IP sx's are all tolerable with the only constant difficult sx being the fatigue and intermittant bowel issues. However I find that the fatigue has been decreasing since swapping to the next abx combo. Following is a summary of symptoms.

Last edited on Mon May 21st, 2007 20:12 by IngeD

Progress Report Monday 9th July. (Phase 1 Alumni Forum)

Current Meds: Benicar 40 mg Q6h; Modified Phase 2 abx; Valium as needed; no other meds or supplements.
History: Phase 1: 65 days on Benicar Q6H; 47 days Mino QOD
Modified Phase 2: 53 days: Benicar Q6H; MP abx combo 1
Modified Phase 2: 15 days: Benicar Q6H; MP abx combo 2
Modified Phase 2: 34 days: Benicar Q6H; MP abx combo 3

I have now completed 5 months on the MP and so far improvements in overall health have been as follows:
Coughing and Chronic Bronchitis: coughing all but gone apart from coughing up small amounts of phlegm. This is a HUGE improvement. I used to have terrible asthmatic like coughing fits at the least provocation. It was an everyday allday occurrance. Any stress would set it off including talking. Copious amounts of congestion to the point that I felt scared some nights that I would choke in my sleep. Now I can count on one hand the number of times I cough....very mild cough ...a day!
Bowel issues: for the last month my bowels have been normal. No further IBS symptoms. This too is amazing. I have suffered for several years with IBS and even longer with periodic bowel obstructions caused by both the IBS and abdominal adhesions. This last month bowels have been normal. No pain. No diarrhea. No constipation. No bleeding. Not even any herxing! I am sure that there will be issues with IP in the future...but at the moment I am celebrating feeling normal!
Overall stiffnes in joints: I have much more freedom of movement. This was something that I noticed suddenly on the MP and a condition that over the years I had put down to getting older. Getting up used to be a slow affair. Stooped then slowly straighten and it would take a fair bit of walking to "loosen" the joints and feel no pain. Now....I jump out of bed...only thing that slows me down is occasional dizzy spells if I move too quickly. So...this is a bonus. Didn't realise it was part of Th1 until it went away!
Tooth sensitivities: much improved. Still some issues with hot/cold but nothing like it was before MP. I used to have a permanent toothache and had great difficulties chewing on one side. Now...I love eating nuts and eating tougher meats is no longer an issue. I had been avoiding all tough / hard foods and turned to eating mushy stuff, including lots of seafood, because of the pain of chewing. Well....that's gone. Just as well...considering the seafoods and eggs are now contraindicated
Hypertension: Only thing I take is the benicar. Even putting on a bit of weight when I strayed from the strict lowcarb diet did not cause high bp. I LOVE the benicar. It makes me feel so good to be off the 2 previous BP medications.

Blood sugar stable: I have had years of issues with blood sugar fluctuations. Diagnosed as insulin resistant, hypoglycemic and pre-diabetic. My blood sugar has been stable on the MP. Both when I measure it and also I have had no hypoglycemic attacks since starting MP.
Fatty Liver: first time diagnosed in 2003 and showed up on every xray since then. Recent xray showed liver as normal! Hurray!
Balance: was being treated last year for loss of balance but could not correct it with exercise. Was thought to be due to Peripheral Neuropathy. Still have the Neuropathy (BUT LOTS OF HERXING IN FEET) but my balance is almost back to normal. Can stand on one foot without having to hang on to furniture. Makes putting on socks, clothes and shoes so much easier!
Lung Capacity: much improved since starting the MP. Measured at 410 ltr in September last year and 440 in May this year!
Frequent flu's/colds/coinfections: Have had one brief cold since starting MP. In 2005 was hospitalised 2x , once with Pneumonia, once with cellulitis. In 2006 was hospitalised 2x, once with C-diff infection, once with bowel obstruction. In 2007 have so far managed to avoid the hosptial and the ER!

Those are the main isues that seem to have cleared up already. I am sure there will still be further IP with the above but the fact is that I feel so much better and not having issues with the above makes the IP much easier to manage. But ....IP I do have so I am still quite incapacitated. Not something I worry about because I celebrate the healing process!

Progress Report Tuesday 28th August. (Phase 1 Alumni Forum)

Last edited on Mon Aug 27th, 2007 20:56 by IngeD