I've received many of the same questions from those around me, and it's all been fair questions, but one I didn't know how to answer.
The basic question/s are "Why are you doing so bad again now, when you used to be better? How are you worse now than you were 2 years ago? What's happening?"
Well, I don't really know. I mean, I know why, and it's because I have been fighting like hell through a relapse while simultaneously trying to kill these parasitic infections in my body. However I can't tell you why this is so hard in comparison to other treatments I've done. Trust me, I did not estimate it being this hard. I do not make this statement lightly, but treating the parasites & protozoans has been the toughest part of my entire treatment. Harder than the Lyme & harder than the Bartonella, the C Diff, or any of the viruses. No one could have prepared me, I was very naive when I went into this.
Back in May I was doing SO good (well, good by my standards) before I began this, and it was just a slow little slip downward, coming to what I consider rock bottom yesterday.
I thought I would use this time to briefly discuss some clinical lab tests that are ran which can show you the level of parasitic infections in the body. Since 2007 my physicians have been checking a specific thing in my body called eosinophils. The eosinophil count is often indicative of having a parasitic infection. I took to asking my wise and well educated friend Clay Brown to explain this to you all:
As you know, eosinophils are a type of immune system cell knows as granulocytes. The most common granulocyte is neutrophils, and then there are eosinophils, basophils, and then mast cells. Mast cells are most commonly known for releasing histamine during a reaction of some type... They get their name because they are the "suicide bombers" of the immune system. Each type produces different proteins, enzymes, and cytokines. When the immune system is activated, either by trauma or infection, ganulocytes are stimulated to be produced in the bone marrow. They then travel to the site of trauma or infection and degranulate, or "explode" really. This releases all those enzymes, proteins, cytokines, etc, in hopes of killing bacteria or marking them to be killed by other immune system cells.
Now, it was long hypothesized, and later proven that in parasitic infections, the immune system will produce more granulocytes. This leads in turn to more degranulation by the cells themselves... In the case of eosinophils, one major molecule they release is the Eosinophil Catatonic Protein, or ECP.
Now it's odd, but for some reason in some individuals with certain infections, the Total Eosinophil count will be higher. This number is what you'd see on a CBC blood test... Sadly, modern medicine just calls this Hyper-Eosinophilic Syndrome, or HES. Now having HES does not mean that the person will have a high ECP, but almost always they do... I've even read of some NIH studies on people where they classified them as having HES and the individual was later diagnosed with Babesia. (Link here to study)
So, a normal ECP value for a healthy individual should be less than 10... In people with babesia or other parasitic infections, that number will be much much higher. This is really the reason LLMD's will check an ECP number to monitor such activity for infections and things.
Pretty interesting huh? My eosinophils have been chronically high. Like off the charts high. Higher then the high level on the scale most of the time it was checked. Eosinophils can be raised a bit due to allergies, but my allergies aren't that debilitating to have ever warranted that drastic amount of lab results. It was pretty obvious I had parasites and/or Protozoas going on in my body (infections like Babesia & Protomyxzoa are considered Protozoas & essentially a parasite). So in a sense I shouldn't have been shocked when treatment began & it was so tough, but still... I'm such an optimist I never am totally prepared. I always think that I will be the exception & have an easy time. Hey, at least I'm positive right?
Anyway, after a long fight we checked my levels again, and much to my hearts joy I saw the levels went down DRASTICALLY. I haven't seen levels this low ever, and my mouth dropped when I saw the screen. It was so encouraging to see that all the hard tough days were worth it.
The basic question/s are "Why are you doing so bad again now, when you used to be better? How are you worse now than you were 2 years ago? What's happening?"
Well, I don't really know. I mean, I know why, and it's because I have been fighting like hell through a relapse while simultaneously trying to kill these parasitic infections in my body. However I can't tell you why this is so hard in comparison to other treatments I've done. Trust me, I did not estimate it being this hard. I do not make this statement lightly, but treating the parasites & protozoans has been the toughest part of my entire treatment. Harder than the Lyme & harder than the Bartonella, the C Diff, or any of the viruses. No one could have prepared me, I was very naive when I went into this.
Back in May I was doing SO good (well, good by my standards) before I began this, and it was just a slow little slip downward, coming to what I consider rock bottom yesterday.
I thought I would use this time to briefly discuss some clinical lab tests that are ran which can show you the level of parasitic infections in the body. Since 2007 my physicians have been checking a specific thing in my body called eosinophils. The eosinophil count is often indicative of having a parasitic infection. I took to asking my wise and well educated friend Clay Brown to explain this to you all:
As you know, eosinophils are a type of immune system cell knows as granulocytes. The most common granulocyte is neutrophils, and then there are eosinophils, basophils, and then mast cells. Mast cells are most commonly known for releasing histamine during a reaction of some type... They get their name because they are the "suicide bombers" of the immune system. Each type produces different proteins, enzymes, and cytokines. When the immune system is activated, either by trauma or infection, ganulocytes are stimulated to be produced in the bone marrow. They then travel to the site of trauma or infection and degranulate, or "explode" really. This releases all those enzymes, proteins, cytokines, etc, in hopes of killing bacteria or marking them to be killed by other immune system cells.
Now, it was long hypothesized, and later proven that in parasitic infections, the immune system will produce more granulocytes. This leads in turn to more degranulation by the cells themselves... In the case of eosinophils, one major molecule they release is the Eosinophil Catatonic Protein, or ECP.
Now it's odd, but for some reason in some individuals with certain infections, the Total Eosinophil count will be higher. This number is what you'd see on a CBC blood test... Sadly, modern medicine just calls this Hyper-Eosinophilic Syndrome, or HES. Now having HES does not mean that the person will have a high ECP, but almost always they do... I've even read of some NIH studies on people where they classified them as having HES and the individual was later diagnosed with Babesia. (Link here to study)
So, a normal ECP value for a healthy individual should be less than 10... In people with babesia or other parasitic infections, that number will be much much higher. This is really the reason LLMD's will check an ECP number to monitor such activity for infections and things.
Pretty interesting huh? My eosinophils have been chronically high. Like off the charts high. Higher then the high level on the scale most of the time it was checked. Eosinophils can be raised a bit due to allergies, but my allergies aren't that debilitating to have ever warranted that drastic amount of lab results. It was pretty obvious I had parasites and/or Protozoas going on in my body (infections like Babesia & Protomyxzoa are considered Protozoas & essentially a parasite). So in a sense I shouldn't have been shocked when treatment began & it was so tough, but still... I'm such an optimist I never am totally prepared. I always think that I will be the exception & have an easy time. Hey, at least I'm positive right?
Anyway, after a long fight we checked my levels again, and much to my hearts joy I saw the levels went down DRASTICALLY. I haven't seen levels this low ever, and my mouth dropped when I saw the screen. It was so encouraging to see that all the hard tough days were worth it.
Visual reference of my levels through the months/years compared to now
What does this tell me? It tells me my fight is doing what I need it to, and to not give up. I can't give up now, I have to finish what I started so this can never ever get a leg up on me again. I have to keep the momentum going until everything is cleared out, which means until I feel well, and then many months after that (you can never be too sure). Now is do or die as I say, and I have to power through and stay focused on the goal at the end. My health.
I've lost a ton of weight during this, I'm back down to a lowely 92lbs and dropping, but that's the name of the game with parasites. They fight me for my food, especially when I'm trying to kill them off. They want to survive, so whatever I eat, they take half. Greedy little things right? If any of you have advice for weight gaining supplements please do message me or leave a comment. Sticking with the Lyme diet and trying to gain weight is quite a task if I do say so myself.
Thanks for reading, and as always, keep fighting!
xoxo,
- Christina
I've lost a ton of weight during this, I'm back down to a lowely 92lbs and dropping, but that's the name of the game with parasites. They fight me for my food, especially when I'm trying to kill them off. They want to survive, so whatever I eat, they take half. Greedy little things right? If any of you have advice for weight gaining supplements please do message me or leave a comment. Sticking with the Lyme diet and trying to gain weight is quite a task if I do say so myself.
Thanks for reading, and as always, keep fighting!
xoxo,
- Christina
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