Stef Manning - Still Standing

I am ready to attack this head on.  I need help getting the $60K needed for IV antibiotics.  For those of you that can help, I implore you, and am indebted to you for your kindness and assistance.

Warmest Regards,

Hi everyone!

I have admittedly had a very rough past few months. I was diagnosed with a multitude of autoimmune disorders and diseases (POTS, lupus, fibromyalgia, Hashimotos, EBV, gastroparesis...) I also suffer with Type 1 diabetes since I was 7, but all of these recent failing health scares...diseases? Or symptoms of Lyme disease? That is the ultimate question. What to treat.

I believe that antibiotics will help as it had almost ten years ago. See my first post here on Tumblr that goes into that tale of woes and survival. Herxheimer reactions are common, but I had no idea how bad or for how long.

The symptoms that leave me bed bound are:

- light sensitivity so painful that it creates unbearable pain in my brain/behind my eyes that induces nausea

- falling and fainting due to heart rate issues, palpitations and body fatigue

- world spinning dizziness, accompanied by pouring sweats and nausea that will not desist

- PAIN beyond comprehension. All you want to do is be knocked out so you don’t have to suffer...joints, head, spine, ribs, muscles...however you move, sit, lay...all intensifies. Pain level: solid 9...ninjas with knives and clubs...see chart above.

- debilitating anxiety and depression due to not being able to depend on myself and my abilities as I had...but hoping antibiotics will give that back to me 🙏

:P  Oy vay...

I already had to take off two days of antibiotics after just 2 weeks of treatment.  It felt like I was reliving a nightmare, except not as much pain, which is a plus, lol

My herx reactions since abx have been:  vision loss, light sensitivity, vertigo, dizziness/falling down, brain fog, seizuring/spasms...very scary when I woke up the other day on the floor with my boyfriend above me asking if I was alright, and I had no idea how I got there.

I'm amazed at the energy spike in just a short time on LDN with my treatment...I'm noticing far better symptoms (tolerable lol)   I'm hoping this is not a fluke, but will continue to monitor as I progress with LDN...so far, looking great

Getting REAL sick of your shit, Lyme/Bartonella/Babesia....

I have been laid up all week.  Absolute muscle weakness, extreme lethargy, vision spots/comes and goes, vertigo making me fall, nausea, severe spasms and convulsions...and NOW I get to miss out on my girl's bachelorette party...I have been looking forward to this for such a long time :(  I'm so sick of Lyme making it's own plans, BUT, I do know this herxing is not as bad as previous times, so i have hope...keep on truckin' for now.

Ok…day 3 of my doxy/lev/azithro treatment. I’m trying to document my spasms and symptoms, but I can definitely share BRAIN FOG IS UP…epically up…joints not too bad with magnets, but muscle/nerve pain is tear inducing. Some spasms/light seizuring (yes I can categorize them based on severity now lol), light sensitivity/migraines, sweats and chills, vertigo (tripping a lot, falling down) and anorexia/no hunger/desire, so I’m forcing myself, feels awful, lol, but no nausea means I can approach the dilemma with that method. Other than lethargy, just trying to keep up, have intermittent rest and documenting the herxing are my priorities for now

I'm trying to read this book by Dr. Horowitz.  But, the brain fog, cognitive functions, mind trailing off (imagine the ultimate space out) make it hard as hell to get through, but I'm keeping my slow and steady pace.

Since it has been years since my diagnosis, I felt it would be good to share what has happened since my 2 years of oral antibiotics.

My symptom list has lessened greatly, as well as the severity.  I now have the following:  joint swelling and joint pain that most cannot imagine, brain fog and difficulty concentrating and forming words, gastroparesis, light sensitivity, vertigo/motion sickness, enhanced allergies to smells, neurotoxins, some nausea and anorexia on a much smaller scale,  involuntary muscle shakes and spasms (mostly in my legs,) lock jaw, lethargy, and every 4-6 weeks, like clockwork, I need to sleep for 2 days...I am a zombie...brain and body will not obey, they just give out.

Currently I am visiting a LLMD and another doctor that will hopefully get me on the PICC or intraveneous antibiotics I needed from the get go, but was denied, even after positive bloodwork for Lyme and co-infections.  THIS COULD CHANGE MY LIFE AND GET ME BACK TO A PLACE WHERE IT FEELS LIKE A "GOOD NORMAL," vs. the normal I've come to accept with this disease.  I'll keep you in the loop!

If you have any questions about neodimyium magnets, my treatment and so on, PLEASE let me know!  I have tried everything from cat's claw bark, traumeel, crystal therapy, heating pads, bengay, acetaminophen, Advil, Aleve...NOTHING worked like stronger pain meds which only lead to accusing looks and side remarks about my "having a dependency problem," which only destroys me emotionally...these people judging me cannot even begin to imagine the hell I've been through and face on a daily basis.  Otherwise, epsom salt in HOT HOT bahts, extreme pressure with wraps and heat work...and now these magnets.  It feels like all pain and pressure are released...I cried because I was astounded...the first real relief I've felt in years...but these are 250 lb pressure magnets, not easy for travel, they attract and deactivate a lot of items, so they are a stay at home tool for now unfortunately.

Stay strong!!!!!  THERE WILL BE A DAY YOU FEEL STRONG ENOUGH TO CARRY ON WITH MORE NORMALCY...just take it easy and DO NOT try to rush yourself!

LOVE and HUGS FOR ALL,