Ask anyone who knows me, they'll tell you: I'm one tough cookie. If you ever see me coming out of a doctor's office, looking like a deer in headlights, ready to cry, it's safe to assume something's wrong. I don't freak out easily.
Over the last year, I've had a lot of stuff happen: I've been unable to walk, fallen over from pain, choked/convulsed in my sleep, lost my ability to speak, cowered from light and sounds, had what felt like a heart attack, but nothing like this.
One minute, I was humming along...getting a colonic (to correct my blurry vision). The next, everything looked like this...
In disbelief, I stared at the tech's face, her lips and mouth out of focus..
"Ok...time to get off the machine. Tissues are here if you need them," she said.
"Something's wrong. Your face is moving," I thought in my head.
Me (trying to process what was happening): Something's not right. My vision is shaky.
Her (seeming more concerned with liability than my actual health): Once you're off, I'm sure you'll feel better.
Me (starting to panic): You don't understand. The room's vibrating. Are my eyes shaking?
Her (more impatient than concerned): Maybe a little.
Me (getting worse by the minute): I need a doctor.
The next 10 minutes are a nightmare: trying to get off the table, go to the bathroom, walk without falling, get dressed, and find someone who cares. In truth, she just left me there. Luckily, my LLMD's next door. Wide-eyed, I stumble over into his hallway.
"Dr. K," I catch him before going into a patient's room. "Can we talk?"
"What's wrong?" he says.
"I can't see straight. Everything's shaking."
"Don't panic," he says. "It's the lyme. It will pass."
"But, I am on high doses of Ivermectin...remember? Are you sure it's not toxicity?"
"Hmmm..." he says, looking into my eyes. "Cut back the dosing and sit down 'til it settles. Martha, can you help Kathy to the IV suite?"
On the way, I run into trusty sidekick who has a different reaction. She knows something's wrong the minute she sees me.
"What's going on?" she says, staring at my face.
"I don't know," I answer. "I can't see straight."
"Stick out your tongue. Let me see your eyes. Have you been to an Opthamologist?" she questions.
"No. Should I?"
"Maybe...just to be safe."
For a minute, I give her the low down: Ivermectin, blurry vision, colonic.
"I'm worried I'm poisoning myself," I say.
"You are," she answers. "We just need to see if it's too much..."
Reliably, she writes out a lab order to check my liver enzymes. She also suggests I contact Nurse Andi...the one who recommended my parasite protocol. Per her instuctions, I sit and drink herbal calm tea, in a room surrounded by IV patients.
It's been a rough few days: passing parasites, doing enemas, taking detox baths, getting colonics. It's one thing to talk about parasites, poo, having a good attitude, horse medications, etc. It's another to have the world flash in front of you and nobody knows why. Is it dangerous? Is it going to stop? Is it from the meds? Is it just another kooky Lyme thing?
I came home and slept for five hours. REALLY, I wanted to write about colonics and share my experience with you, but for now it's too much. In summary, I will say this: open is better than closed, the first one's really rough, I feel like somebody tore the stuffing out of me.
I was warned to be careful. "Colonics can really stir things up," I was told. Yes, my favorite earthy crunchy friend....It totally has.
Altered Today: Vision, Wormload, More Worries Over Medication
PS Nystagmus (a condition that causes the eyes to make rapid, repeated, uncontrolled movements) is what I believe I experienced today. To quote bettermedicine.com: "Acquired nystagmus may be a sign of a serious medical condition, including severe head trauma, toxicity, stroke, or inflammatory diseases or other conditions that affect the brain. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, has a sudden onset of nystagmus."
PPS Nurse Andy thinks my nystagmus reaction is from a B12 & thiamine deficiency -- a common problem for people with parasites. She wants me to start B12 shots immediately. I'm not so sure.
I am so sorry you have experienced this. This happened to me with Diflucan and Bactrim DS. I believe it was medication toxicity, and went away when I stopped both meds. Very very scary.
Posted by: Pam | 08/13/2011 at 09:58 AM
I know Pam. I thought of you right away and wondered if this is how it looked for you. Adreanna seems to think it's B 12 related caused by parasites. Since I've been having other vision issues, I'm not so sure. Think it's time to stop?
Posted by: Alter Everything | 08/13/2011 at 10:08 AM
Seriously, Kathy...let me know if you need me to help the next time you go to the doc. I am available. Love you.
Posted by: Jrsn1234 | 08/13/2011 at 12:37 PM
I wrote this on FB and wanted to repeat it here. Very concerned about you.
So sorry for the frightening experience you had. How are you doing today? Are your eyes better? Did you stop Ivermectin for now? I never heard of the lack of B-12 causing this--interesting. Definitely sounds toxin related, especially since it happened while you were getting a colonic. Was that your first one? You might be a bit sore and feel like you have the flu and become very tired from the colonic. It's normal to feel that way after your first one or two. I sure hope you are doing better today. Let us know how you're doing when you are feeling up to it.
Gary
Posted by: Gary | 08/13/2011 at 12:58 PM