A detailed story about my diagnosis and healing
+ answers to frequently asked questions
My Story
Hi, my name is Tiffany. I get asked a lot of questions about my lyme and mold journey and have been asked to retell it a thousand different times in a thousand different ways. I am documenting it here to share in the hopes you find the information you need to find your own healing. If you have more questions, please reach out to a doctor. Regenerative medicine doctors and lyme literate doctors are life saving in this journey.
First off, I probably have had autoimmune issues most of my life and didn’t know it. Mostly I had a lot of foot pain that was causing me to become slowly disabled, as well as other less severe issues around anxiety, exhaustion, cortisol, anemia, etc. Things came to a head in 2016 for me when I was diagnosed with lyme, and then again in 2021 when I moved into a brand new home that had mold hiding in the crawlspace. I have come back from near full disability with the help of my doctors including Dr. Perkins at Elevate Health in Portland, Oregon, Dr. Wood at NW Regen in Beaverton, Oregon, and most of all, Dr. Palacios and his team that operate out of Eagle Regenerative Medicine in Eagle Idaho and in Lake Oswego, Or (eagleregenerativemedicine.com) I highly recommend reaching out to Eagle Regenerative or another doctor near you if you have more questions.
Lyme Disease
Early Illness & Symptoms (2016)
I live in Washington and received treatment in Portland, OR and Boise, ID (where I have family).
After exposure, I never developed a bullseye rash, but I had a high fever the next day and rapidly developed severe symptoms:
- Cervical radiculopathy (lost use of one arm within days)
- Bell’s palsy
- Neurological symptoms
- Optical migraines
- Thrush
- Wandering joint pain
- Mouth ulcers
- Severe anemia
- POTS
- Extreme fatigue
- Increasing pain, disability, and worsening of symptoms over months
- More symptoms than I can remember
Diagnostic Timeline
Doctors knew something autoimmune was happening but misdiagnosed me several times:
- Lupus
- Parsonage Turner Syndrome
- Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder
I was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease six months later.
My tests were IGM positive and remained CDC-positive across the next several years.
In 2021, I retested and was IGG positive for Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia, and Epstein–Barr virus — this was after about five years of herbal treatment.
From 2023–2025, I tested fully negative for Lyme and all co-infections (both IGG and IGM), and have remained negative through multiple tests.
I consider myself cured, not just in remission.
Lyme Treatment (What Worked for Me)
Herbal Treatment (2017–2021)
I treated with herbs for years, including:
- Cat’s claw
- Black wormwood
- Biocidin
- Cryptolepsis
- Various antimicrobial herbal blends
I never took antibiotics.
Herbs provided some relief but symptoms never completely disappeared.
Resource: Dr. Marty Ross (Seattle) provides free herbal protocols and weekly Q&A sessions online. I found these useful.
Regenerative Medicine Treatments
These significantly helped with pain caused by Lyme and inflammation:
- PRP (platelet-rich plasma)
- Prolotherapy
- Prolozone (still use for residual joint damage)
These are often out-of-pocket but were worth it for me. Some insurance plans will cover prolotherapy. They have been vital in controlling joint and tendon pain.
IV Ozone Therapy (2021–Present)
I started ozone treatments at the same time I began SOT and experienced immediate improvement:
Benefits for me included:
- Reduced and eliminated body pain
- Clearer thinking
- Less irritability
- Better nervous system regulation
Tip: Ask to add procaine to the IV — this noticeably helped with brain fog and nervous system issues.
SOT (Supportive Oligonucleotide Therapy)
What it is:
A quick IV infusion that stops your body from producing the DNA/RNA of targeted infections (Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia) for about six months, giving your body time to eliminate them.
My experience:
- Began SOT in 2021
- After the first SOT for Lyme (burgdorferi), I had increased Lyme symptoms for four months, then major improvement
- The flare was noticeable but not worse than the illness itself
- I completed:
- Three SOTs for Lyme
- One SOT for Bartonella
My labs steadily improved until I went fully negative.
I quit all herbs after my first SOT and have not needed them since.
Cost & Access:
Not covered by insurance, but I believe it saved me thousands long-term because it allowed me to fully recover.
My doctor:
Dr. Palacios – Eagle Regenerative Medicine (Portland, OR & Boise, ID)
You can look up his clinic online. There is also a Facebook group called “SOT for Lyme.”
Current Lyme Status
- I remain fully negative for Lyme and co-infections for two years
- I do not have Lyme-related symptoms
- I do have some residual joint damage, which I treat with prolozone
- I also take Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) which helps during joint flares
Mold Illness & MCAS
Diagnosis
In 2021, I tested extremely high for nearly every mold strain.
This occurred just after moving into a house with severe mold contamination (plus likely prior exposures).
At the same time, I was IGG-positive for Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia.
As of my latest testing in mid-2025, I remain mold-positive, largely due to:
- Prior extreme exposure
- Ongoing sensitivity
- MTHFR gene variant, which slows detoxification
My home was fully remediated and confirmed 100% clean in July 2025.
I am retesting mold levels in early 2026.
Symptoms at Their Worst
At my lowest point with mold/MCAS, I was nearly fully bedridden:
- Could not walk to the mailbox
- Severe joint and muscle pain
- Hands curled inward and stuck
- POTS
- Severe anemia
- Extreme exhaustion
- Brain fog
- Hair loss
- Chronic flares
- Nearly total disability
Mold / MCAS Treatments (What Helped Me)
Most Effective Interventions
- Vitamin C IVs (3× per week initially)
- IV Ozone Therapy (10-pass series of 10 treatments)
- These two were the major turning points in regaining function.
Medications & Supplements
Recommended or tolerated:
- Vitamin C
- Glutathione
- NAC
- Iron
- Oregano
- Binders
- Nystatin
- Amphotericin
- Many more supplements as recommended by my dr based on my labs
Could NOT tolerate:
- Itraconazole
- Fluconazole
Both caused dangerous heart symptoms (PVCs, high heart rate).
These medications have black box warnings — so I remain off them.
Sinus Treatments
- BEG spray
- Amphotericin nasal rinses
Both were helpful for mold-related sinus issues.
Other Helpful Therapies
- IV ozone every two weeks — still the most helpful maintenance treatment
- Myers cocktail IVs (vitamins) — boost energy and clarity
- Iron IVs — helped with anemia
- Detox baths with Epsom salts
- I recommend FLEWD or soakness.com hydrogen peroxide bath salts
- Infrared sauna blanket — reduces pain flares. I have the Higher Dose brand.
- Air filtration
- AirDoctor is somewhat helpful but I ran several and was still breathing mold. Do not rely on air filters thinking they are protecting you
- I opened my windows as was recommended. This ultimately made things worse because I live in a wet area.
- Home remediation
- Cannot underestimate the importance of getting your home mold free. It’s the hardest part of this journey to find trusted remediators who are thorough and understand what is needed. If I could do it over – I would absolutely get rid of all carpets, and make sure there is no mold hiding in my crawlspace or basement underneath insulation. It is missed in inspections regularly. And get checked for bacteria, not just mold.
Where I Am Today
- I went from being nearly bedridden to mostly fully functional
- I rarely notice mold symptoms unless I’m exposed to a new mold environment
- When flares occur, they last 1–2 days (previously lasted months)
- Lyme remains negative and symptom-free, though I still am working towards being mold-free
- Ongoing maintenance includes ozone, prolozone, LDN, and occasional detox support
- I am now doing SOT treatment for EBV so that I can continue to reduce factors affecting my health. I have very high numbers and have had three SOTs. I noticed SIGNIFICANT increase in energy after the first one, with no side effects. Since then, I think it has incrementally improved my health with each SOT. I am about to test to see how well the third one did.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Diagnosis & Symptoms
Did you have a bullseye rash?
No, never.
How quickly did symptoms start?
Fever the next day, then neurological and systemic symptoms within days.
What symptoms did you have?
Neurological issues, Bell’s palsy, cervical radiculopathy, migraines, thrush, joint pain, mouth ulcers, severe anemia, POTS, exhaustion, and worsening disability.
How long until you were diagnosed?
Six months. I was misdiagnosed multiple times.
How long were you sick?
Since 2016. I treated for 5 years before finding SOT therapy, which is what worked for me.
Lab Testing & Results
What were your test results?
- Initially: IGM positive, CDC positive for several years
- Later (2021): IGG positive for Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia, EBV
- Now (2023–2025): Fully negative for all strains, repeatedly
Do you consider yourself cured?
Yes — I remain fully negative and symptom-free.
Treatment Questions
Did you use antibiotics?
No. My treatment was entirely herbal, ozone, SOT, and regenerative medicine.
What herbs helped?
Cat’s claw, black wormwood, Biocidin, and others — helpful but not curative for me.
What helped the most?
SOT, IV ozone, PRP/prolotherapy/prolozone, and various IVs – Vitamin C, iron and myers cocktails.
What is SOT?
An IV that prevents your body from producing the infection’s DNA/RNA for six months, giving your immune system time to clear it.
How many SOTs did you need?
- Three for Lyme
- One for Bartonella
Did SOT cause side effects?
The first one caused several months of increased Lyme symptoms, then major improvement. Later ones caused almost no reaction.
Did you stop herbs after SOT?
Yes — immediately, and I’ve never needed them again.
Where did you get SOT?
From Dr. Palacios at Eagle Regenerative Medicine (Portland & Boise).
Mold Illness & MCAS Questions
How did you know mold was a problem?
My labs were extremely high, and symptoms worsened dramatically after moving into a moldy house.
What were your mold symptoms?
Almost complete disability — pain, brain fog, anemia, curled hands, POTS, fatigue, hair loss.
What treatments helped most?
Vitamin C IVs, IV ozone, iron IVs, Myers cocktails, BEG spray, amphotericin rinses, detox baths, sauna blanket.
Why can’t you take fluconazole/itraconazole?
They caused dangerous heart reactions (PVCs, high heart rate).
Are you still mold-positive?
Yes, but the symptoms are now mild or absent unless I’m exposed to new mold.
How do you react to mold exposure now?
I get flares lasting 1–2 days but recover quickly.
Daily Life & Maintenance
What do you still do regularly?
- IV ozone every two weeks
- Prolozone for joints
- Low Dose Naltrexone
- Occasional detox baths or supplements
How functional are you now?
Much better — living a mostly normal life again.
Note: I am now doing SOT treatment for EBV so that I can continue to reduce factors affecting my health. I have very high numbers and have had three SOTs. I noticed SIGNIFICANT increase in energy after the first one, with no side effects. Since then, I think it has incrementally improved my health with each SOT. I am about to test to see how well the third one did.
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RESOURCES
For more information
http://www.eagleregenerativemedicine.com
http://www.elevatehealthpdx.com
Facebook group on S.O.T. for Lyme : https://www.facebook.com/groups/878349225900104/
More info on S.O.T.: https://projectlyme.org/supportive-oligonucleotide-therapy-sot-for-lyme/
What is prolozone? https://www.eagleregenerativemedicine.com/prolozone-therapy/
What is IV ozone? https://www.eagleregenerativemedicine.com/ozone-iv-therapy/
Detox Products (i am not an affiliate and do not get anything from this)
Higher Dose Sauna blanket: https://higherdose.com/products/infrared-sauna-blanket?variant=42906396426411
Hydrogen Peroxide bath salts: https://soakness.com/
Bath salts with magnesium: http://www.flewdstresscare.com
. Christa recommendation – Moor Mud Bath https://drcrista.com/products/natural-czech-moor-mud
CBD bath bombs for body pain: https://kushqueen.shop/
Free lyme support
Dr. Marty Ross’ Free guide on treating lyme with herbs – https://treatlyme.com/
Dr. Marty Ross free Q&A webinars https://treatlyme.com/lyme-webinar-marty-ross-md/
(note – he is not a big fan of S.O.T., obviously I disagree due to personal experience)
My healing journey 
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