Hi Patricia,

I have had lots of Vitamin C infusions, and the office where I work does both types. If the doctor is telling you these will clear any but the most minor of infections, they are not telling you the truth. Vitamin C can help boost the immune system, but the body doesn't hold it, so it only lasts for a short period of time. I haven't heard of anyone in our office being cured of anything by hydrogen peroxide, though it can help symptoms with other treatments.

These kinds of infusions can be good when you have a cold or flu, but for most anything else they are really only supportive, not curative.

Personally, I like a Myer's cocktail better, which contains vitamin C, B vitamins, and minerals. It is more to react to, though so it might be better to start with individual supplements. Some can also be given as injections, rather than IV, which makes them less expensive.

Wikipedia on Myer's cocktail:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%27_cocktail

Majid Ali is one of the originators of hydrogen peroxide treatment. He is fairly reliable, but I have not seen the kind of improvements he describes. Anyway, here is how he describes it's use.
http://www.majidali.com/intravenous_hydrogen_peroxide.htm

If you decide to try these, start slow. IV can put a lot in the body very quickly, so whatever it is, you don't want it to be something you will react to.

Patricia, the link to hydrogen peroxide treatment tells how to use footbaths. It might be a safe way to be sure your husband would not react, at least at lower doses. It wouldn't promise that he wouldn't react to the IV, but at least it would be a safer way to try the exposure. Who knows, it might even be helpful.

I have heard of the use of foot baths for those who have lymphatic issues. Epson salts are commonly used, as well as hydrogen peroxide. It is simple, pretty safe, and might be helpful.

About the Lyme disease, absolutely check it out. You may have to be extremely careful how you treat, but if he has it, it is better to know than not.

Hi Patricia!
Im so sorry to gear your hubby has been having a bad time again. I was wishing that he was getting better. I would definitely talk to the people at NIH and your hubbys DR before letting the other Drs do things he might not react well to. I know how he feels. I was feeling so bad not too long ago. My IgE is 1330, I kept having one UTI after another, I had problems with lymph glands swelling and i have trouble with heat rashes if Im not careful. Lisa helped me by a suggestion just recently. I was feeling really bad and she suggested I try Allegra--something I had never done. As weird as it sounds, I feel so much better==at this moment I feel as if I have much of my life back again. It is totally amazing how much that one pill 2 times a day has made me feel human again.
Im sending hugs to both you and your hubby==you are in my prayers
hugs
Ramona

I've been thinking about vitamin C infusions for myself, but I haven't tried them.  The biggest concern for me is possible infection, which would trigger my mast cells in a big way (or worse), and I can only take a few antibiotics.  The other is whether the vitamin C could trigger my masto.

I know a man who had about a 5% chance of surviving a very aggressive cancer, and he attributes his 3-year remission (so far) to the Vit C infusions.  I don't know what to think, since he did a really strong chemotherapy course, too.  Tolerating things in an IV has been an issue for me, so I always have everything put in very, very slowly.

There is a lot of controversy about late stage Lyme disease.  I haven't read the details, but my friend said that doctors who treat itwith long term antibiotics can now lose their licenses.  I don't know if that's just in one state or all.  When I looked into it, about 5 years ago, the first treatment was several months of doxycycline.  This can cause mast cell issues in some people, so it would have to be started very slowly.

But, the real problem is to find a legitimate doctor who specializes in treating it.  Have you been to the ILADS website?  www.ilads.org  There is a doctor named Rafael Stricker, who is a Lyme specialist in San Francisco.  He is the doctor who diagnosed Amy Tan with Lyme's disease.  There's lots online about her problems.  He might be able to refer you to someone near where you live to check into this.  When I was researching this for myself, before my mast cell diagnosis, there was only one lab that was recognized as being able to get accurate test results.  It's called IGeneX.  They do a Western Blot test, and their analyses apparently differ from other labs.  I think it's important to read both sides of the controversy about Lyme diagnosis and treatment options.  There are a lot of charlatans out there, too, so be careful!  To begin with, the important thing is whether you or your husband remember a tick bite.
Personally, I would go see Dr. Strickler, if I thought I had it.  

Your husband is the luckiest man in the world to have such a strong advocate!  I remember reading the story of one of the Block brothers (of H & R Block), and what his wife did for him when he was very ill, dragging him to specialists around the country when he could barely move.  He survived because of her.  It was inspirational, and so are you.

Joan, late stage Lyme disease, just like masto, is very controversial. I have done a pretty comprehensive study of both the literature, and how patients do with and without treatment. I have been diagnosed with a number of tick borne infections, including Lyme, and have received a lot of treatment. While I am not cured, I am much better than I was at the beginning of treatment.

There is a wide spectrum of response, with some people completely recovering, some getting somewhat better, and some not improving at all.

ILADS is looking to try and understand why some don't improve, but Lyme is a very complex illness, with many strains of bacteria, a number of coinfections that affect the symptoms, and the bacteria can very successfully hide from the immune system. I have seen films of the bacteria entering a white blood cell, and coming out the other side coated in the DNA of the cell, so that the immune system cannot even see it!

There may be a state where the doctors can lose their license for treating Lyme, but usually they lose the license for some other reason, sometimes valid, and sometimes trumped up. Many states now have laws protecting the patients right to receive treatment.

Dr. Stricker is one of the California doctors. I saw him for two years, but he gave up on treating me because I react to macrolide antibiotics, and he told me he couldn't treat me without them, even though I do OK on other antibiotics. I don't see that he is a good doctor for anyone with a very complex case. He is not very flexible if you don't fit his ideas of how things work. However, he does know all the reputable doctors, and might provide a referral. If you want feedback on any of the docs, I know many of them, some personally, and others professionally. You need to find one that will work with you, and also your preferences as well as your needs.

Patricia, sounds like it was good to run!!!! They must have had something in with the Vit C to make him hot. Some of the B's will do that, as well as magnesium. They do it by causing the blood vessels to expand. I just worry when someone is as sick as your husband, if they don't do a little more investigating before they decide what to try.

I hope he does OK with the hydrogen peroxide.

Whew! Slept through the night (until 4am) but seems fine this morning, perky and happy. No miracles so far but not any worse,  he doesn't seem like he's starting to get reactive or anything strange going on!
Thanks for all your help and we'll see if he notices any difference in the next couple days.

Hi Patricia!
I would get a hold of your hubbys DR at NIH and ask them who they would recommend.. Didnt he see Dr Wilson?? Anyway, they would have good suggestions for you. Heres hoping he feels even better, very soon. Hugs to you both.
Ramona