I got tick borne illness last July 4th. Tick was on me probably 12+ hrs. Left a big bulls eye, and ate away the skin at the site of the bite. I have probably had 10-20,000 bites in my lifetime. But, this one got me. Next day, I had chills, fever, and all kinds of bad things. Spent the next month in bed, on antibiotics. Docs said that I would probably test positive for every tick borne illness out there, but the symptoms matched.
I have learned that the tick bite ruins the B vitamin system. So, I take B vites. And, Garlic. Garlic is a strong antibiotic, and has alot of B vites.
It definitely helps, I can tell when I take it. Fresh, with a bit of cheese, to get it down.
Docs say that I probably have 3-5 yrs of recovery. That's something I have not wanted to accept, and keep driving myself. My nerves are very rough. And, I don't sleep well. Usually up at 2-3 am, and cannot sleep. Or waken at around 6-7, in the morning, feeling like I did not sleep at all.
Equilibrium is off. I can walk fine, but standing still requires thought, so I don't fall over. It varies. Sometimes it is fine for a few hrs, then off for a few. Erratic.
Well, I found something that really helped. Himalayan Salt. To make a SOLE, you take a chunk of Himalayan salt, and dissolve it in water, until the water will hold no more, (About 26%) You are supposed to set the water in the sun, for some reason. I don't know. This makes a SOLE. (Pronounced "Solay", or something like that).
In the morning, you use a plastic spoon, (Non conductive) and add a teaspoon of SOLE to a 12 ounce glass of water, and stir and drink. It is a mildly salty drink of water. Then, wait to eat, at least 1/2 hr.
Yesterday, I had 2 hrs of feeling normal. It was great. I took it again this morning, and felt good until about 11:30.
It was the best feeling. A small streak of normalcy. For a while, 2 days in a row!
I hope this keeps on, and I hope my sharing my experience, can help any body else, with this sort of problem.
God Bless, and, may you never meet Mr Tick, with the poison....
Nate
I hope you continue to find normalcy! It eludes a lot of us!!
Sorry to hear about that, but glad you're finding something that helps. The pink Himalayan Salt reminded me of Dave Asprey and biohacking. Paleo (Bulletproof diet) cured my asthma/allergies of 30+ years. Amazing difference in one week.
I Googled biohacking tick-borne illness and found this link below.
Probably 50%+ of these people sell snake oil, but some are very helpful. Usually the hype comes in where they are selling a product. Thought some of this information may help. Bulletproof coffee is absolutely awesome for mental clarity and performance, as is a ketogenic diet. Not for long term use, but you can treat many metabolic problems using keto as a "reset". Wish you a speedy recovery.
From a few quick reads it sounds like the bite caused a sort of pathogenic adrenal fatigue. The link below is from Robb Wolf. He is a microbiologist and his book the Paleo Solution is what helped me so much. I had allergies, asthma, eczema, GERD, and new diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Three months of Paleo and the nodules in my lungs were gone (CAT scan verified), eczema gone, etc, etc. In is very looked down-upon by institutional medicine, but I can imagine why: I no longer need 4+ expensive medicines per month and three specialists. Paleo has said for a long time that good fats are good for you, main stream medicine is finally starting to come around on this one.
Thank you, Nate.
That kind of thing really does work. I'm very happy that you found it.
Someone knew that you needed it, so there it is.
God bless you too.
Don
Back in 85 I was working on cutting up an old ranch. Ticks were a daily deal. One day I got up not feeling well. Looked in the mirror and my eyes were glowing yellow. My legs had turned purple from the knees down. Then it got bad.
The doctor said it was rocky mountain spotted tick fever. Later docs said probably not. Bottom line is even without perfect answers our bodies are remarkably tough. Keep firing doctors until you find one that works hard for you.
Keep your attitude right and surround yourself with good people. You will be amazed what that can cure too...
Best of luck...
Do you have to hydrate more with that remedy? That would seem to throw the electrolytes off with that much salt. Akin to drinking sea water.
I think I am drinking less, actually. I think I retain water better.
Thanks every body for your good will toward me.
Ticks are really capable of some bad stuff.
N
I would definitely consult a doctor with adding that much salt to your daily intake. Salt has a really bad habit of drying you out, from the inside out, like that. This could put you in the hospital, seriously.
It is like adding .26 of a teaspoon of salt, but really a bit less than that, because the Himalayan salt, is part mineral. I know several concrete finishers who take salt tablets, to work all day in the sun.
I have had salt deficiencies, in the past, cramps etc, and carry salt with me, on the job.
Do you think this is very much?
Thanks for the comment. I guess any change, like that, it would be good to talk with them. No need to risk anything.
Does salt accumulate, over time?
Hmmm
Here is an article that explains it better than I could. It gives you the ratio's so that you can work it out for yourself.
Ultimately, from the article, you may need to up your hydration amount by 100%. However, I'm not a doctor, I didn't play one on TV, and I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night either.
Dang, Nate, that sucks! :excruciating: Having lived in AK all my life and very little time in the South, never had to deal with them thangs. Worst things I have to deal with are yellow jackets, mosquitos, stinging nettles and devils club. Fortunately I'm not allergic to pushki (cow parsnip). Hope you get better soon!!
-JD-
Kris, I read that article.
What I failed to mention, is that you only drink that potion, (One tsp of sole, in a glass of water) once a day, in the morning. It's supposed to be the first thing you drink. Then, wait 1/2 hr, before consuming anything else.
On a hot day, I was considering drinking a little more at noon.
That could accumulate to 1/2 to 3/4 tsp of salt a day, including all the other sources of salt in my diet....
You got me thinking now... how to keep up with my total salt intake.
And, what is accurate to tell doc..
N
Another update
I continue to take the SOLE, (So-lay) and continue to improve. Slowly. It seems to be continuing to help. I now add just a little SOLE to my drinking water, at night. And, sometimes during the day. It seems to be putting me back together.
I think that if I were taking it when I got the bite, that it would not have hurt me nearly as bad.
Anybody that has issues with dehydration, I'd recommend it.
It is not that expensive, and is doing alot for me.
N
Another update
> I continue to take the SOLE, (So-lay) and continue to improve....
It would be interesting to know if it is the Himilayan salt in particular, or if ordinary Morton's prepared and consumed in the same way would have the same benefit. Or perhaps an old fashioned salt pill.
A really thorough blood and urine testing might help speed your recovery if a mineral imbalance is giving you problems.
Another update
Hey, I don't know. I am not much for going to doctors.... having said that, I have 2 personal friends that are docs, and they both concurred that I should mess about and learn what works for me... because that they have treated lymes disease, and had varying results, after the antibiotics were done. I did the antibiotics, and now, I am trying stuff.
N
Another update
> Hey, I don't know. I am not much for going to doctors....
Neither am I, but if I had a chance to compress a 5 year recovery into perhaps a few months I think I'd take it. Life is too short as it is.
If there was a chance to compress it, I'd do it.
The docs tell me that I am on my own.
They tell me that medical science can look at alot of tests, but that there are many strains of tick borne illness. And, as many bites as I have had, I probably have antibodies to ever one of them. If I had not sustained 10,000 + bites, then maybe the tests would mean more. But, the salt is helping alot.
N
