Off antibiotics, now what?

I meant to post a long time ago about being off antibiotics, but then there was Christmas and then all of a sudden it was February, and I still hadn't posted.

I had my PICC line pulled the end of December.  I can't even tell you how good it felt to scratch my poor arm again.  And take a shower without having to worry about water getting underneath bandaging. 

But as good as it was to be off antibiotics, I still had to deal with lingering symptoms.  I think that's why it's taken me so long to post.  Stopping the meds should be a cause for great celebration.  BUT... I am still not better, or at least not better in the way I think I should be.  The fatigue is gone.  The muscle pains are gone.  The migrating joint stiffness is gone.  But I am still dizzy.  I had two weeks in January when I wasn't dizzy, and I thought maybe the Doxy had been causing some of my problem.  But, like always, the dizziness returned.  I also am still having this breathing problem that is either nerve damage or gastrointestinal. 

We ran a heavy metal test, and I just talked to my doctor last week.  My lead and mercury levels are slightly elevated, though my doctor doesn't usually treat in that range.  Given how sensitive I am to everything, though, we decided that heavy metal chelation was at least worth a shot, particularly since I got sick four days after I got a flu shot.  Another thing we discussed was getting another neurologist in the conversation, so I will be headed to Naples, Florida, this Spring to possibly try hyperbaric oxygen therapy. 

My mom has asked how much further I would go in seeking treatment for this dizziness, which is a pretty hard question to answer right now.  I think there are only a couple more routes to pursue before I would have to just accept chronic dizziness.  But for now, there are still options.  So we press on.