Help? Direction?

[Guest guest]

I have been mostly a lurker on this list as I

began LDN

for a diagnosis that was incorrect (RA), but have found LDN to be of

great

benefit in allowing me not only to sleep through the night, but to also

awake

in good spirits. That has been a great plus to me. I also have knee

problems (not related to LDN or any disease) and sought many solutions

from

arthroscopic surgery (not very successful) to Synvisc injections (which

gave me

relief lasting several months, but not healing anything) to Prolozone

Therapy

(which helped tremendously at first, but I cannot afford more

injections).

In the process of seeking help for my knees an astute doctor

noticed other things about my body that happened slowly enough I did

not notice

them. He ordered an almost complete blood profile. I found out that I

have adrenal fatigue (not surprising as I had been on an off sick for

months

and having rarely been sick in my life), elevated CRP, low testosterone

(I am

female), a slightly enlarged liver and pancreas, slightly higher than

normal

cholesterol and blood pressure than what was normal for me in the

past..and

some others. I also had a good case of Epstein Bar Virus (which

explained why I

got sick so many times.) This doctor put me on low dose IV Vitamin C

and

Hydrogen Peroxide therapy.

After the second sets of IV's I developed a

Herxheimers reaction: a horrible burning and itching rash mostly on my

legs and

arms. I was more than unpleasant - it was scary. Neither the doctor

nor his head nurse did anything more than acknowledge this reaction. I

stopped the IV's. It took a week for the rash to go away. My skin got

thin as the blotchy rash and the itch dissipated. I went to another

clinic. I was told there that I was full of toxins (after what I have

read,

many of us are) and they prescribed high dose IV Vit. C. I had thought

it

was the hydrogen peroxide IV that caused the Herxheimers as it was

supposed to

(and I think did) kill off the Epstein Bar Virus. But the high dose IV

Vit. C gave me the same reaction. It was so unpleasant I was unwilling

to

do more. This clinic also offered nothing as a solution to the rash and

itching. So I have stopped all of the above and have seen no more

doctors.

But now I am getting VERY hot "flashes" mostly

at the

base of my skull as well as a prickly reddening of my skin ALL OVER. It

dissipates in about 20-30 minutes, but it is awful. When it occurs

(once

or twice a week) it is usually in the afternoon, so I doubt it has

anything to

do with the LDN (which I do not want to give up.) Once or twice in the

past month (after the IV treatments) I also got fairly strong heart

palpitations - they scared me - but they did not last long. I do not

know

what is happening to me and an afraid of something getting bad enough

to go to

a hospital where all they will do is monitor me, perhaps give me some

drugs

(without explanation) and charge me a bundle (and not having insurance,

they

will probably just dismiss me without a real diagnosis.)

Bottom line: what is going on? Where should I go for help? What can I

do

for myself? Could the LDN have ANYTHING to do with ANY of the above?

[Guest guest]

Hi

Seems like your post got lost with the highly discussed topic of sleep loss and

LDN.

I'm no expert, just a fellow LDN trialler, but 2 things came to my mind when I

read your post.

First, although you don't say how long you've been on LDN, is the post from Dr.

McCandless about how yeast and viruses can flare up while your immune system is

making initial adjustments on LDN:

" There is a phenomenon that happens to some people that as the immune system is

shifting (usually from T2 to T1) right after starting LDN, the immune system

drops and people get an infection, cold, flu, cold sore, etc. which is usually

short lived. Candida tends to overgrow or a virus will flare up. These

infections are usually short-lived unless something like candida and gut

bacteria needs treatment. " msg #100102

A flare up of Epstein-Barr virus seems to me to be just the type of thing that

could occur. It's not that the LDN causes these things, they're already there.

LDN gets your immune system ready to take them on, and the ensuing battle is

very unpleasant. Hopefully though, you come out on the other side much

healthier.

Second, could the rash be candida? I had a very persistent candida problem on

my skin beginning week 2 on LDN. It's taken months of otc creams, anti-candida

supplements, diet, prescriptions, etc. to get rid of it. A Dr. should recognize

skin candida. There's a wealth of information here on dealing with candida -

try a search.

My war was with candida, but I had no viral problems, I think because I was

already taking LarreaRx. It's a very potent anti-viral, and could help you

fight the Epstein-Barr virus. There's a page about it here:

http://www.taoofherbs.com/products/518/ViroxLarreaRx/LarreaRxVirox.htm

and a free online book about it here:

" Treating Herpes Naturally with Larrea Tridentata " by W. Dennis , Ph.D.

http://www.awakening-healing.com/Books/TreatingHerpesNaturally.pdf

The subjects of hot flashes and palpitations have come up here before. Maybe

try the search to see what's already been said.

Hope for healing with LDN!

Karyn

>

> I have been mostly a lurker on this list as I began LDN for a diagnosis

> that was incorrect (RA), but have found LDN to be of great benefit in

> allowing me not only to sleep through the night, but to also awake in

> good spirits. That has been a great plus to me. I also have knee

> problems (not related to LDN or any disease) and sought many solutions

> from arthroscopic surgery (not very successful) to Synvisc injections

> (which gave me relief lasting several months, but not healing anything)

> to Prolozone Therapy (which helped tremendously at first, but I cannot

> afford more injections).

>

>

> In the process of seeking help for my knees an astute doctor noticed

> other things about my body that happened slowly enough I did not notice

> them. He ordered an almost complete blood profile. I found out that I

> have adrenal fatigue (not surprising as I had been on an off sick for

> months and having rarely been sick in my life), elevated CRP, low

> testosterone (I am female), a slightly enlarged liver and pancreas,

> slightly higher than normal cholesterol and blood pressure than what was

> normal for me in the past..and some others. I also had a good case of

> Epstein Bar Virus (which explained why I got sick so many times.) This

> doctor put me on low dose IV Vitamin C and Hydrogen Peroxide therapy.

>

> After the second sets of IV's I developed a Herxheimers reaction: a

> horrible burning and itching rash mostly on my legs and arms. I was

> more than unpleasant - it was scary. Neither the doctor nor his head

> nurse did anything more than acknowledge this reaction. I stopped the

> IV's. It took a week for the rash to go away. My skin got thin as the

> blotchy rash and the itch dissipated. I went to another clinic. I was

> told there that I was full of toxins (after what I have read, many of us

> are) and they prescribed high dose IV Vit. C. I had thought it was the

> hydrogen peroxide IV that caused the Herxheimers as it was supposed to

> (and I think did) kill off the Epstein Bar Virus. But the high dose IV

> Vit. C gave me the same reaction. It was so unpleasant I was unwilling

> to do more. This clinic also offered nothing as a solution to the rash

> and itching. So I have stopped all of the above and have seen no more

> doctors.

>

> But now I am getting VERY hot " flashes " mostly at the base of my skull

> as well as a prickly reddening of my skin ALL OVER. It dissipates in

> about 20-30 minutes, but it is awful. When it occurs (once or twice a

> week) it is usually in the afternoon, so I doubt it has anything to do

> with the LDN (which I do not want to give up.) Once or twice in the

> past month (after the IV treatments) I also got fairly strong heart

> palpitations - they scared me - but they did not last long. I do not

> know what is happening to me and an afraid of something getting bad

> enough to go to a hospital where all they will do is monitor me, perhaps

> give me some drugs (without explanation) and charge me a bundle (and not

> having insurance, they will probably just dismiss me without a real

> diagnosis.)

>

> Bottom line: what is going on? Where should I go for help? What can I

> do for myself? Could the LDN have ANYTHING to do with ANY of the above?

>

[Guest guest]

I’m wondering if your skin rash could be a food allergy. My daughter had a similar problem with a rash and was tested for allergies. They found she was extremely allergic to anything with red food coloring and to rice, something that is extremely rare. If you don’t have the money to have the food testing, you could start a food diary and see if the rash occurs after ingesting something. A rash like this will usually show up within 4 hours, but it may be even 6-8 hours. Allergic reactions to food coloring is becoming more and more common as it is now put in so many things.

As for the LDN, I did have some hot flashes in the middle of the night for a while after I started it, but then I had gone through menopause without any at all. I assumed LDN was helping my body to adjust my hormones. I have never heard of anyone having a rash from LDN, but you could get a rash from whatever they use as a filler. It would most likely happen within a few hours every time you took LDN, though, and probably not the following afternoon as most of the LDN should be out of your system by then.

Judy HTo Health Through KnowledgeStarted taking Low Dose Naltrexone on January 20, 2009 for Fibromyalgia, Restless Legs Syndrome, Hashimotos Thyroid and PCOSLDNforFibro/

Help? Direction?

Posted by: "teddy" Teddy@... run4bear

Sun Apr 24, 2011 3:16 pm (PDT)

I have been mostly a lurker on this list as I began LDN for a diagnosis that was incorrect (RA), but have found LDN to be of great benefit in allowing me not only to sleep through the night, but to also awake in good spirits. That has been a great plus to me. I also have knee problems (not related to LDN or any disease) and sought many solutions from arthroscopic surgery (not very successful) to Synvisc injections (which gave me relief lasting several months, but not healing anything) to Prolozone Therapy (which helped tremendously at first, but I cannot afford more injections). In the process of seeking help for my knees an astute doctor noticed other things about my body that happened slowly enough I did not notice them. He ordered an almost complete blood profile. I found out that I have adrenal fatigue (not surprising as I had been on an off sick for months and having rarely been sick in my life), elevated CRP, low testosterone (I am female), a slightly enlarged liver and pancreas, slightly higher than normal cholesterol and blood pressure than what was normal for me in the past..and some others. I also had a good case of Epstein Bar Virus (which explained why I got sick so many times.) This doctor put me on low dose IV Vitamin C and Hydrogen Peroxide therapy. After the second sets of IV's I developed a Herxheimers reaction: a horrible burning and itching rash mostly on my legs and arms. I was more than unpleasant - it was scary. Neither the doctor nor his head nurse did anything more than acknowledge this reaction. I stopped the IV's. It took a week for the rash to go away. My skin got thin as the blotchy rash and the itch dissipated. I went to another clinic. I was told there that I was full of toxins (after what I have read, many of us are) and they prescribed high dose IV Vit. C. I had thought it was the hydrogen peroxide IV that caused the Herxheimers as it was supposed to (and I think did) kill off the Epstein Bar Virus. But the high dose IV Vit. C gave me the same reaction. It was so unpleasant I was unwilling to do more. This clinic also offered nothing as a solution to the rash and itching. So I have stopped all of the above and have seen no more doctors. But now I am getting VERY hot "flashes" mostly at the base of my skull as well as a prickly reddening of my skin ALL OVER. It dissipates in about 20-30 minutes, but it is awful. When it occurs (once or twice a week) it is usually in the afternoon, so I doubt it has anything to do with the LDN (which I do not want to give up.) Once or twice in the past month (after the IV treatments) I also got fairly strong heart palpitations - they scared me - but they did not last long. I do not know what is happening to me and an afraid of something getting bad enough to go to a hospital where all they will do is monitor me, perhaps give me some drugs (without explanation) and charge me a bundle (and not having insurance, they will probably just dismiss me without a real diagnosis.)Bottom line: what is going on? Where should I go for help? What can I do for myself? Could the LDN have ANYTHING to do with ANY of the above?

[Guest guest]

Could it be low immunity and stress induced eczema? I used to have a full body allergic reaction when i was under severe stress and ANY allergen was present. If i was really stressed out at work or about anything and I had to move some dusty boxes- I got full body hives(when I had never had allergies like that before to anything), didn't sleep for three days, 10 days of steroids, endless googling, the mystery of the itching was torture.....Ugh. Turns out I have eczema that worsens under stress and exposure to allergens, but usually won't break out under the influence of just one or the other. It might sound like a ridiculously simplistic suggestion to you now as it did to me then, but after three years and three nightmare breakouts-each lasting longer than two months- three years of elimination diets, doctors visits, and steroids, I finally got to a good immunologist in Prague who ran a bunch of tests. I just have eczema and need to avoid stress and allergens. After following her protocols, i haven't had any itching at all. For your sake, I hope you have something similar and/or treatable. I'm so sorry. I know the feeling. Doctors don't seem to understand the panic of itching without understanding why. It's horrible. Did the doctor check your thyroid? My rashi-ness and joint pain didn't start until my thyroid starting pooping out about 5 years ago. I'm only 32. Gross. Undiagnosed thyroid disease can cause a lot of your symptoms (misdiagnosed RA, thin skin, itching, high cholesterol) and if it were autoimmune Hashimoto's disease, it would also explain why the LDN helped you feel better. Don't know!Good luck to you,On Apr 26, 2011, at 9:53 PM, Judy Harford wrote:

I’m wondering if your skin rash could be a food allergy. My daughter had a similar problem with a rash and was tested for allergies. They found she was extremely allergic to anything with red food coloring and to rice, something that is extremely rare. If you don’t have the money to have the food testing, you could start a food diary and see if the rash occurs after ingesting something. A rash like this will usually show up within 4 hours, but it may be even 6-8 hours. Allergic reactions to food coloring is becoming more and more common as it is now put in so many things.

As for the LDN, I did have some hot flashes in the middle of the night for a while after I started it, but then I had gone through menopause without any at all. I assumed LDN was helping my body to adjust my hormones. I have never heard of anyone having a rash from LDN, but you could get a rash from whatever they use as a filler. It would most likely happen within a few hours every time you took LDN, though, and probably not the following afternoon as most of the LDN should be out of your system by then.

Judy HTo Health Through KnowledgeStarted taking Low Dose Naltrexone on January 20, 2009 for Fibromyalgia, Restless Legs Syndrome, Hashimotos Thyroid and PCOSLDNforFibro/

Help? Direction?

Posted by: "teddy" Teddy@... run4bear

Sun Apr 24, 2011 3:16 pm (PDT)

I have been mostly a lurker on this list as I began LDN for a diagnosis that was incorrect (RA), but have found LDN to be of great benefit in allowing me not only to sleep through the night, but to also awake in good spirits. That has been a great plus to me. I also have knee problems (not related to LDN or any disease) and sought many solutions from arthroscopic surgery (not very successful) to Synvisc injections (which gave me relief lasting several months, but not healing anything) to Prolozone Therapy (which helped tremendously at first, but I cannot afford more injections). In the process of seeking help for my knees an astute doctor noticed other things about my body that happened slowly enough I did not notice them. He ordered an almost complete blood profile. I found out that I have adrenal fatigue (not surprising as I had been on an off sick for months and having rarely been sick in my life), elevated CRP, low testosterone (I am female), a slightly enlarged liver and pancreas, slightly higher than normal cholesterol and blood pressure than what was normal for me in the past..and some others. I also had a good case of Epstein Bar Virus (which explained why I got sick so many times.) This doctor put me on low dose IV Vitamin C and Hydrogen Peroxide therapy. After the second sets of IV's I developed a Herxheimers reaction: a horrible burning and itching rash mostly on my legs and arms. I was more than unpleasant - it was scary. Neither the doctor nor his head nurse did anything more than acknowledge this reaction. I stopped the IV's. It took a week for the rash to go away. My skin got thin as the blotchy rash and the itch dissipated. I went to another clinic. I was told there that I was full of toxins (after what I have read, many of us are) and they prescribed high dose IV Vit. C. I had thought it was the hydrogen peroxide IV that caused the Herxheimers as it was supposed to (and I think did) kill off the Epstein Bar Virus. But the high dose IV Vit. C gave me the same reaction. It was so unpleasant I was unwilling to do more. This clinic also offered nothing as a solution to the rash and itching. So I have stopped all of the above and have seen no more doctors. But now I am getting VERY hot "flashes" mostly at the base of my skull as well as a prickly reddening of my skin ALL OVER. It dissipates in about 20-30 minutes, but it is awful. When it occurs (once or twice a week) it is usually in the afternoon, so I doubt it has anything to do with the LDN (which I do not want to give up.) Once or twice in the past month (after the IV treatments) I also got fairly strong heart palpitations - they scared me - but they did not last long. I do not know what is happening to me and an afraid of something getting bad enough to go to a hospital where all they will do is monitor me, perhaps give me some drugs (without explanation) and charge me a bundle (and not having insurance, they will probably just dismiss me without a real diagnosis.)Bottom line: what is going on? Where should I go for help? What can I do for myself? Could the LDN have ANYTHING to do with ANY of the above?

[Guest guest]

Sorry to hear what you have been through. Does NOT sound fun. In my life, I have tried MANY things. Since I was young actually. (Am 55 now.) My mother was into all natural stuff, but overused it and made me quite sick. It is only through the effort of continuing to try and find the answer for ourselves that we will find the answer.

That said, I would NOT give up, yet. Or ever! I don't think it has anything to do with the LDN.

Being on this list led me to try the Iodine Protocol. It has been very helpful. There is an Iodine group on that I belong to. Be prepared for LOTS of e-mails though. Even if you take the digest mode. Anyway, what I am trying to say is that there are many ways to heal and if LDN is helping you, then keep taking it. You might want to back down some and start going slower in upping your dose.

Others have found that some of these reactions are from having candida. That is another ball of "fun" that will stop the LDN from working at its full potential.

Lots of things to look into.

One thing that has been helping me is taking HCL with pepsin and probiotics. I am taking at least 5 with each meal. Then at least 2 probiotics in between meals. I no longer have constipation problems. (This has been a life long issue for me! Am very happy to have found relief for that!)

Anyway, I am blabbering. Am here to help, and am so thankful for those who do stick around. I continue to learn things here that I wouldn't have found out anywhere else. So, if you can stick around. Lots to learn and MANY good people here!

Glowing,

grace~

As Ghandi taught, the secret to life is to struggle against oppression and to fight for what is needed, but not to be attached to any particular outcome. Therein lies the secret of peace within the chaos."For every failure there's another course of action. When you hit a roadblock, take a detour." - Kay Ash