Stopping the MP meds will not decrease your photosensitivity.
The Benicar actually activates the immune system so that it can sense and attack the intra-phagocytic bacteria. Your immune system will often continue to do this in the absence of antibiotics, and even in the absence of Benicar.
Thus, regular doses of antibiotics can be modulatory and may actually reduce your immune response, and the regular 48 hour (or extended cycles) may help to make the immune response fit into a predictable pattern.
Benicar: For those who are planning to stop the Benicar, it can be stopped abruptly. There is no need to wean it gradually.
The first recommendation to minimise symptoms.
If your Dr agrees: to minimise symptoms at any time, or if going out - as well as protecting from light, you can take an extra half tablet (20mg) Benicar any time during the cycle, or adjust the dosage to 40mg Q4H. see also in BenicarQuiklink many Members report chewing or sublingual gives faster absorption/relief..
The antibiotics: The antibiotics may be stopped. However, for some, the immune system may stay 'turned on' and there may be a need for some mino dosing (perhaps frequent) to dampen the immune response until it slows down and stops.
Once you start killing the bacteria, the macrophages which are engulfing the killed fragments will keep dying off for 40 days or so without any further help from meds. So immune response generally continues (at some level or other) after you stop the abx.
see Why and when do you recommend taking Minocycline frequently? the time between dosing can gradually be extended as the immunopathology slows and eventually stops.
Daylight: returning to daylight is an individual experience. NOTE: The light sensitivity is part of the healing process, and not due to the meds. However you adjust the protocol meds you will still have the same degree of light sensitivity at that same stage of healing. The light sensitivity rises and falls within the MP, while the Benicar dosing is ongoing throughout, thus it is not the Benicar but rather the healing.
Natural light > affects thru skin and eyes..
Artificial light > affects thru eyes / not skin..
You may wish to continue with some degree of protection suitable to your own situation. eg continuing to wear NoIRs and or protecting skin. see the effect of light on the brain.
Caution: Those with Cardiac symptoms should be cautious. Please be mindful that sunlight exposure might cause a flare in cardiac inflammation and cardiac symptoms. Diligent avoidance of sunlight is particularly important for the Th1 patient with cardiac symptoms to avoid a sudden severe cardiac event.
The sunlight you plan to expose yourself to could greatly exacerbate your symptoms. Taking a break from the MP does not give you a break from your illness and the effect the sun has on you.
Dr Marshall wrote: "As one progresses through Phase 2, the risk of setback from occasional exposures becomes less and less. Eventually the risk disappears (although you will probably never want to sunbathe again.
The only way to find out is to try a few 'baby-steps' and see I usually say it takes 18-24 months to get back to any sort of 'normal' sensitivities, though."
1,25D changes due to immune response or light or D exposure:
Dr. Marshall has created a diagram summarizing some of the key relationships between the body's hormones and 1,25-D.
You can access it at http://autoimmunityresearch.org/hormones.pdf
The aimor the key is to achieve and maintain a balance, ie tolerable symptoms (physically, mentally, and emotionally) as suited individually to you.
If you plan to go off the MP for a prolonged amount of time, you could be risking the bacteria finding the newly vacated inflammatory tissues a welcome place to multiply.
____________________ Barb: Dx Inflammatory Disease Endocrine Imbalance 2003| Depression| 24+ years not Dx| MP Aug04| ABC of MP| MP Search|
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* We can help you understand chronic disease, but only your physician is licensed to give you medical care * Always consult your physician before commencing or changing any treatment he/she has prescribed for you
I usually say it takes 18-24 months to get back to any sort of 'normal' sensitivities, though."
