Antibiotics, Arthritis Treatment

Having not used antibiotics in the past I have overlooked the need to replace the good bacteria! So now I am adding acidophilus and bifidus in the late afternoon for now and will check with my doctor later in the month to confirm if this is the best time of day for that. Also, I originally began taking Minocyline in early April. At that point I was so anxious to get results I took it upon myself to suppliment my prescription of 100 mg antibiotic with another 100 mg of another anti-inflammatory prescription that was in my cupboard. A few weeks into it the Herxheimer effect kicked in along with alot of gastro-intestinal bloating. This went on for six weeks.

As of my first posting in Aug. I had discontinued the extra dose, confessed to my doctor and had been taking only the 100 mg. prescribed currently. I was under the impression that I wasn't getting any results and had wasted most of the summer. Not so, I just didn't realize that the Herxheimer effect had started so quickly and lasted for about three months!

It is so important to be as educated as you can be concerning whatever disease you are having to deal with. Being the "patient" of a doctor in our culture assumes that you are turning yourself and the disease over to the doctor. To recover from disease you have to take charge, educate yourself, teach your doctor if you must. Just don't do what I did and take over without informing your doctor what you are thinking. A good doctor will listen to what you have learned and work with you not simply demand you take the drugs he is offering. Drugs cover the symptoms of RA! And while you enjoy the temporary masking and risking the side effects that in some cases are fatal; the disease is growing in strength.

It take some guts to start up conversation with a doctor and feel like you are prepared to make your wishes known. It's worth it! Your life and health are priceless. My next visit with a Neurologist who has been treating me for about six years is going to be my last. I don't need him anymore!  The migraine headaches are gone, I won't be needing anti-depressants anymore or pain meds. He's a great doctor, he talks with me, not at me and I have always been able to share my latest and sometimes wacky attempts at resolving my pain issues. On a personal level, I'll miss him. Maybe we can play poker!

Oct. 15 I will take a copy of "The Road Back" for him to read, I think he will be interested. Many of his patients die from brain tumors and incurable disease. Having a simple, no bad side effects treatment for RA will be something he may want to offer.

I am also going to loan a copy to my former family physician who was extremely concerned years ago when I told him that I had started taking Hydrocodone for  pain. At the time it was no problem for me! To be able to take a pill and be able to function, what's the problem?  After six years of taking Hydrocodone 500 mg. I packed it up and got rid of it.  It didn't work anymore and the side effects!