Progress

piAbout a month ago I had a short-lived flare-up in my shoulder.  It was the first I'd had in months--probably since our Salome's Suitcase fashion show at Shadowdance back in November.  It really freaked me out and made me question if I am doing the right thing or if I should get on the hardcore drugs.  I've realized that that little flare-up is part of a much bigger flare that I am currently going through.  In the past two weeks I have had excruciating flares in both hands, right hip, and left knee.  So it looks like I'm going through a flare cycle. 

A question I often get is "Does it work immediately?"  Yes.  The local effects are immediate--after stinging, especially during a flare, I am not pain free, but my movement is markedly looser.  Sam came over this morning and we bumped up the number of stings from 4 to 5.  If you ever want to see my progress, you can go to my sting log.  There's also a link on the right side of the blog near the top. 

Bee venom therapy also requires constant maintenance.  I sting myself every other day whether or not I have any arthritis pain so that I get the systemic benefits of the venom.  But what I have learned from my reading is that an end is in sight.  I will not have to do this for the rest of my life.  I don't know how many stings total I will have to do (although the number might reach somewhere around 600 and I'm at 74 right now).  After the course of treatment supposedly I will be "cured" although I will periodically have to go through mini courses afterwards to prevent the RA's return. 

People often ask me if I feel great now, like the bees and the new diet are some sort of miracle cure that's not only going to rid me of my degenerative condition, but give me super hippie powers as well.  If only.  I mean, I *do* feel great in a lot of ways.  However, I am trying to retard the progression of the disease--that's as good as it is going to get.   The bees are not a complete cure.  They may prevent further damage, but what's already done is done and cannot be reversed.

To be honest, I still don't really know what to expect.  I asked my apitherapist if it is normal to have flares while you are undergoing BVT, and she said that the goal is not to have ANY flares.  Fine by me!  But she also said that it is difficult to know exactly what to expect.  Some people take a long time to respond and some don't. 

The standard RA meds take at least a month or 2 to begin working, and in the meantime you simply have to deal with it.  I don't know if the bees are the same way.  You wouldn't believe how much conflicting information is out there.  Some people say 2-3 stings every 2 or 3 days.  Some people say 4-6 stings, and some say 10-20--OUCH!!  Some people say to sting directly on the inflamed joint, others say not to do so.  I just don't know--it's all a big experiment.