My Experience with Using Ketamine in Lyme Treatment
Some days, my Lyme symptoms are so bad I’ll do nearly anything to soothe them.
It should come as no surprise that I’ve always been cautious regarding what I put into my body. I mean, there’s a reason I live holistically! Even as a teenager, I was always anti-drug. I was (and frankly still am) skeptical of putting something in my body that could harm me, that wasn’t well researched or could make my Lyme symptoms feel even worse… until I came across ketamine therapy.
Ketamine first gained traction in treating depression and anxiety for war vets. Shortly after, the auto-immune and chronic inflamed got word of its success and started to try ketamine treatments for pain management and truthfully, I became fascinated by its success for depression, anxiety, and pain.
So how does it work? In simplest terms, it’s believed that ketamine blocks pain receptors in the brain. More specifically, it has an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-inhibition mechanism (NDMA is a receptor that binds together glutamate in order to manage the thalamus, the brain’s most important and powerful pain center.) Once administered (typically via an IV), the ketamine blocks these pain receptors in the brain and patients experience relief from both chronic and acute pain.
Let me get real here: using ketamine, even under a doctor’s supervision, is a controlled high, which is why many people (including myself at first) are skeptical of giving it a try. Keep in mind IV ketamine use needs to be administered by an anesthesiologist and is coupled with other drugs to help support the side effects, such as nausea and dizziness. The first time I went for treatment I was very anxious and almost bailed. I’m too controlling to let go of my body and mind like that!
But I am so grateful I didn’t bail. Yes, I tried ketamine to manage my chronic pain, but an added benefit is the mental clarity I feel after treatment. During my ketamine treatment, I connect with a higher consciousness of self I see situations very clearly and answer my life questions.
These days, I do ketamine treatments once every month or so. I always make sure I have a blanket, my noise-canceling headphones, and water on hand to ensure a smooth treatment. I even created a ketamine Spotify playlist I listen to during treatments to help set my mood. The treatment takes about 3 hours, and post-treatment I’m usually feeling back to myself in 24-48 hours, though the benefits can last me three months. But the ability it gives me to move freely of pain and to lift my brain fog, to be there for my family and my business, it’s priceless.
If you’re interested in learning more about ketamine therapy for Lyme treatment, Dr. Ashraf Hanna of the Florida Spine Institute has done fabulous and easy-to-understand research. For a more scientific explanation, check out his scholarly, peer-reviewed journal article titled Effects of Intravenous Ketamine in a Patient with Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome for the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He’s also been on various local and national television programs (CBS News, Great Day Tampa Bay) which you can learn more about here.
Do you think you’d ever try ketamine for your Lyme disease, or perhaps any other chronic pain or mental illness you’re struggling with? I’m happy to share my personal experiences and thoughts with you. Email me at kenzie@holisticumbrella to chat, or DM me at @holisticumbrella on Facebook or Instagram!
Sending you health and healing xx