Kate's Health Log
@healthlog.kateviolette.com
A "director's cut" of @kateviolette.com 's medical journey: not just what treatments they're trying but why, and how they make medical decisions generally. Also various educational bits!
📋 ME/CFS, MCAS, lyme (plus bartonella, babesia), and mold toxicity
📋 ME/CFS, MCAS, lyme (plus bartonella, babesia), and mold toxicity
tl;dr - your best bet is usually to use whatever binder is best for what you're trying to help shuttle out of your system, and make sure to give it a wide berth in your daily meds timing so it's far enough away from other things
December 3, 2025 at 7:22 AM
tl;dr - your best bet is usually to use whatever binder is best for what you're trying to help shuttle out of your system, and make sure to give it a wide berth in your daily meds timing so it's far enough away from other things
s. boulardii is a probiotic yeast that doesn't gobble up nutrients or meds and binds to some things
chlorella is also a decent alternative, again, depending on what you're trying to target; I think there are some medications it should still be taken away from though
chlorella is also a decent alternative, again, depending on what you're trying to target; I think there are some medications it should still be taken away from though
December 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
s. boulardii is a probiotic yeast that doesn't gobble up nutrients or meds and binds to some things
chlorella is also a decent alternative, again, depending on what you're trying to target; I think there are some medications it should still be taken away from though
chlorella is also a decent alternative, again, depending on what you're trying to target; I think there are some medications it should still be taken away from though
fwiw my personal experience is that 1 hr seems to be sufficient.
If you want ideas for binders that *don't* need to be taken away from meds/meals, there are some but they may or may not be tailored to what you are trying to bind specifically. --
If you want ideas for binders that *don't* need to be taken away from meds/meals, there are some but they may or may not be tailored to what you are trying to bind specifically. --
December 3, 2025 at 7:15 AM
fwiw my personal experience is that 1 hr seems to be sufficient.
If you want ideas for binders that *don't* need to be taken away from meds/meals, there are some but they may or may not be tailored to what you are trying to bind specifically. --
If you want ideas for binders that *don't* need to be taken away from meds/meals, there are some but they may or may not be tailored to what you are trying to bind specifically. --
Yeah activated charcoal can be a sledgehammer.
I like G.I. Detox+ from Biocidin -- it does have some activated charcoal but it's a mix of different things so it's decently broad spectrum.
I'd still recommend taking that away from meds, some providers say by 1 hr, others say by 2 hrs --
I like G.I. Detox+ from Biocidin -- it does have some activated charcoal but it's a mix of different things so it's decently broad spectrum.
I'd still recommend taking that away from meds, some providers say by 1 hr, others say by 2 hrs --
December 3, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Yeah activated charcoal can be a sledgehammer.
I like G.I. Detox+ from Biocidin -- it does have some activated charcoal but it's a mix of different things so it's decently broad spectrum.
I'd still recommend taking that away from meds, some providers say by 1 hr, others say by 2 hrs --
I like G.I. Detox+ from Biocidin -- it does have some activated charcoal but it's a mix of different things so it's decently broad spectrum.
I'd still recommend taking that away from meds, some providers say by 1 hr, others say by 2 hrs --
realizing I haven't explained the whole Phases thing here yet -- I'll do my best to return to do that tomorrow!
December 3, 2025 at 7:08 AM
realizing I haven't explained the whole Phases thing here yet -- I'll do my best to return to do that tomorrow!
this is maybe going to be a lil pause & reset thing I have to do every so often as we're killing my lyme baddies
it would be great if I could just get Phase 2 and 3 spinning at perfect cooperative rates but how much I'm processing through Phase 2 is gonna come in waves so that's probs a pipe dream
it would be great if I could just get Phase 2 and 3 spinning at perfect cooperative rates but how much I'm processing through Phase 2 is gonna come in waves so that's probs a pipe dream
December 3, 2025 at 7:07 AM
this is maybe going to be a lil pause & reset thing I have to do every so often as we're killing my lyme baddies
it would be great if I could just get Phase 2 and 3 spinning at perfect cooperative rates but how much I'm processing through Phase 2 is gonna come in waves so that's probs a pipe dream
it would be great if I could just get Phase 2 and 3 spinning at perfect cooperative rates but how much I'm processing through Phase 2 is gonna come in waves so that's probs a pipe dream
Anyway, that's the latest big catch-up update from me, and hopefully I'll be able to dispatch more frequent, smaller updates in the future. :)
December 1, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Anyway, that's the latest big catch-up update from me, and hopefully I'll be able to dispatch more frequent, smaller updates in the future. :)
I'm pausing the houttuynia for today while I try some things to get my gut moving better, but am already looking forward to restarting it because I think I was getting some nice mast cell control help from it as a pleasant side effect. My muscles were somewhat improved--as evidenced by those walks!
December 1, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I'm pausing the houttuynia for today while I try some things to get my gut moving better, but am already looking forward to restarting it because I think I was getting some nice mast cell control help from it as a pleasant side effect. My muscles were somewhat improved--as evidenced by those walks!
There are *many* angles as to why you may not be passing regular (+ big enough) stools, and therefore lots of levers to pull in figuring out what will help.
I definitely get enough fiber, and water, and since the slippery elm didn't do much, I'm going to move on to bile related things like bitters.
I definitely get enough fiber, and water, and since the slippery elm didn't do much, I'm going to move on to bile related things like bitters.
December 1, 2025 at 11:28 PM
There are *many* angles as to why you may not be passing regular (+ big enough) stools, and therefore lots of levers to pull in figuring out what will help.
I definitely get enough fiber, and water, and since the slippery elm didn't do much, I'm going to move on to bile related things like bitters.
I definitely get enough fiber, and water, and since the slippery elm didn't do much, I'm going to move on to bile related things like bitters.
I'm still getting regular colonics (started back during the alinia which had a tendency to back me up), but I still need my intestines to be moving ok enough between appointments and they just aren't right now.
I tried brewing my own slippery elm tea for a few days, but that didn't do much.
I tried brewing my own slippery elm tea for a few days, but that didn't do much.
December 1, 2025 at 11:26 PM
I'm still getting regular colonics (started back during the alinia which had a tendency to back me up), but I still need my intestines to be moving ok enough between appointments and they just aren't right now.
I tried brewing my own slippery elm tea for a few days, but that didn't do much.
I tried brewing my own slippery elm tea for a few days, but that didn't do much.
--my intestinal motility is just not as good as it needs to be to support us killing a bunch of stuff off.
So my current puzzle is figuring out how to get my intestines moving better. A lot of the usual things are off the table (can't do magnesium citrate, nor high dose vit C, etc), so it's tricky.
So my current puzzle is figuring out how to get my intestines moving better. A lot of the usual things are off the table (can't do magnesium citrate, nor high dose vit C, etc), so it's tricky.
December 1, 2025 at 11:25 PM
--my intestinal motility is just not as good as it needs to be to support us killing a bunch of stuff off.
So my current puzzle is figuring out how to get my intestines moving better. A lot of the usual things are off the table (can't do magnesium citrate, nor high dose vit C, etc), so it's tricky.
So my current puzzle is figuring out how to get my intestines moving better. A lot of the usual things are off the table (can't do magnesium citrate, nor high dose vit C, etc), so it's tricky.
Last week I started houttuynia, an herbal treatment that focuses only on bartonella (no activity against borrelia or babesia). It also has anti-inflammatory properties that make it a good choice for folks with flamboyant MCAS.
I'm still only on a low dose (working my way up), but the problem is--
I'm still only on a low dose (working my way up), but the problem is--
December 1, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Last week I started houttuynia, an herbal treatment that focuses only on bartonella (no activity against borrelia or babesia). It also has anti-inflammatory properties that make it a good choice for folks with flamboyant MCAS.
I'm still only on a low dose (working my way up), but the problem is--
I'm still only on a low dose (working my way up), but the problem is--
So what's next for lyme (et al) treatment? Well, we're going to shift gears to focus on bartonella for a while--when patients are highly reactive to many things, it may mean the bartonella infection needs attention (bartonella is highly aggravating to the nervous system).
December 1, 2025 at 11:22 PM
So what's next for lyme (et al) treatment? Well, we're going to shift gears to focus on bartonella for a while--when patients are highly reactive to many things, it may mean the bartonella infection needs attention (bartonella is highly aggravating to the nervous system).
Since getting my amlexanox back in hand though, I bounced back pretty quickly, and have had a better past week and a half than what my Oct/Nov average baseline was.
I've been on a couple short walks recently, and am going to keep trying to go for walks where my HR stays in zone 3
I've been on a couple short walks recently, and am going to keep trying to go for walks where my HR stays in zone 3
December 1, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Since getting my amlexanox back in hand though, I bounced back pretty quickly, and have had a better past week and a half than what my Oct/Nov average baseline was.
I've been on a couple short walks recently, and am going to keep trying to go for walks where my HR stays in zone 3
I've been on a couple short walks recently, and am going to keep trying to go for walks where my HR stays in zone 3
Anyway, the golden thread helped, and I'm still on it. (My lyme doctor said it wasn't a terrible idea to try given that I've done well on it in the past, and green-lit me continuing to stay on it for a while.)
Then there was the week in Nov I was without an important med due to pharmacy fuckery:
Then there was the week in Nov I was without an important med due to pharmacy fuckery:
the good news: the MCAS doom is not nearly as bad as suspected it would be
the bad news: the muscle molasses is almost as bad as it could be; I've been quasi-bedbound and my friend has been helping with most meals bedside
the semi-good news: my refill was mailed yday so hopefully it'll arrive soon
the bad news: the muscle molasses is almost as bad as it could be; I've been quasi-bedbound and my friend has been helping with most meals bedside
the semi-good news: my refill was mailed yday so hopefully it'll arrive soon
on the minor bright side (if we can even call it that), for $20 the pharmacy will "expedite" it so I'll be without my med for approximately one week instead of two
anyway, sometime this evening or overnight, the week from hell will start
I have a small favor to ask--
anyway, sometime this evening or overnight, the week from hell will start
I have a small favor to ask--
December 1, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Anyway, the golden thread helped, and I'm still on it. (My lyme doctor said it wasn't a terrible idea to try given that I've done well on it in the past, and green-lit me continuing to stay on it for a while.)
Then there was the week in Nov I was without an important med due to pharmacy fuckery:
Then there was the week in Nov I was without an important med due to pharmacy fuckery:
--I decided to reduce my supplemental stomach acid somewhat, and started golden thread. (I've been on coptis chinesis in the past and have had great experience with it; it also helps with gut-driven MCAS doom, which I was really struggling with again in this Oct-Nov time period, pretty much daily.)
December 1, 2025 at 11:01 PM
--I decided to reduce my supplemental stomach acid somewhat, and started golden thread. (I've been on coptis chinesis in the past and have had great experience with it; it also helps with gut-driven MCAS doom, which I was really struggling with again in this Oct-Nov time period, pretty much daily.)
My best guess was maybe the alinia had altered my microbiome in such a way that something unsavory was proliferating. Also the ER doctor suggested I perhaps get worked up for a duodenal ulcer based on my symptoms. Not being in the mood to spend energy seeing a conventional doctor who'll do nothing--
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 PM
My best guess was maybe the alinia had altered my microbiome in such a way that something unsavory was proliferating. Also the ER doctor suggested I perhaps get worked up for a duodenal ulcer based on my symptoms. Not being in the mood to spend energy seeing a conventional doctor who'll do nothing--
October and November were kinda weird months. The first couple weeks off the alinia, I was doing decent and didn't seem to be losing any ground.
Mid-October I started to have some weird URQ pain and other liver-y type stuff, which culminated in an ER visit and lasted until kinda mid-November.
Mid-October I started to have some weird URQ pain and other liver-y type stuff, which culminated in an ER visit and lasted until kinda mid-November.
December 1, 2025 at 10:58 PM
October and November were kinda weird months. The first couple weeks off the alinia, I was doing decent and didn't seem to be losing any ground.
Mid-October I started to have some weird URQ pain and other liver-y type stuff, which culminated in an ER visit and lasted until kinda mid-November.
Mid-October I started to have some weird URQ pain and other liver-y type stuff, which culminated in an ER visit and lasted until kinda mid-November.
I was on alinia from the last week of June til Oct 1, when we had to stop it because my body was starting to throw a fit after each dose.
My guess is perhaps the babesia has rallied slightly since I've been off it; I look forward to returning to kill it more later (whether alinia or something else)
My guess is perhaps the babesia has rallied slightly since I've been off it; I look forward to returning to kill it more later (whether alinia or something else)
December 1, 2025 at 10:56 PM
I was on alinia from the last week of June til Oct 1, when we had to stop it because my body was starting to throw a fit after each dose.
My guess is perhaps the babesia has rallied slightly since I've been off it; I look forward to returning to kill it more later (whether alinia or something else)
My guess is perhaps the babesia has rallied slightly since I've been off it; I look forward to returning to kill it more later (whether alinia or something else)
(Both of those times were, I think, due to severely disrupted sleep due to MCAS hijinks, not over-exertion the prior day.)
I do really credit likely making progress on killing my babesia odocoilei for this reduction in ME/CFS metabolic crisis symptom. --
I do really credit likely making progress on killing my babesia odocoilei for this reduction in ME/CFS metabolic crisis symptom. --
December 1, 2025 at 10:53 PM
(Both of those times were, I think, due to severely disrupted sleep due to MCAS hijinks, not over-exertion the prior day.)
I do really credit likely making progress on killing my babesia odocoilei for this reduction in ME/CFS metabolic crisis symptom. --
I do really credit likely making progress on killing my babesia odocoilei for this reduction in ME/CFS metabolic crisis symptom. --
This has mostly continued to be true, which brings me up to about 5 months without a full-blown ME/CFS style crash. There have been two mornings where I've briefly experienced that metabolic danger zone, but it burned off within 2-3 hours, rather than the whole day being lost to it.
I'm now 3 months without an ME/CFS style crash. (Meaning where I am so severely metabolically limited it feels like if I move or even think too much that day I might credibly be risking my life.)
I still have bad MCAS flares and days where I feel like total sick person shit, but it's different.
I still have bad MCAS flares and days where I feel like total sick person shit, but it's different.
And I didn't want to talk about this sooner, because like anyone with this illness knows--ME/CFS has ups and downs. You can have a good week and then it's gone and you don't have another week that good for months.
But I haven't had an ME/CFS style crash in 2+ full months now, and that's amazing.
But I haven't had an ME/CFS style crash in 2+ full months now, and that's amazing.
December 1, 2025 at 10:50 PM
This has mostly continued to be true, which brings me up to about 5 months without a full-blown ME/CFS style crash. There have been two mornings where I've briefly experienced that metabolic danger zone, but it burned off within 2-3 hours, rather than the whole day being lost to it.
Thanks for this--and sorry for my delayed reply! :) (I just haven't updated this account in a little bit, you didn't cause any offense!)
December 1, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Thanks for this--and sorry for my delayed reply! :) (I just haven't updated this account in a little bit, you didn't cause any offense!)