Marius' life was completely changed after a tick bite in August 2021. From being an active man, he now has little energy, and will soon become a father. For 10 weeks, Marius will test the IR SaunaPod to see if it can help him recover from his Lyme disease.
"I suffer from muscle and joint pain that comes and goes, fatigue, and nerve twitching. All of this affects my sleep and my ability to function in everyday life. Some days it's hard to even walk up the stairs. It's terrible."
WEEK 0 - Infrared sauna recommended by others in the same situation.
Marius was recommended infrared sauna by others in the same situation, who said that IR sauna is absolutely essential for them to function in their daily lives. When he discovered that Radiant Health was looking for participants for an infrared health journey, he decided to apply.
"I became curious whether infrared sauna could be a solution for me."
Marius had been cutting wood when he and his dog came home covered in ticks.
"Three weeks of antibiotics didn't help. I got worse and worse, and have been on sick leave since September 2021."
Living life with the brakes on
Marius had just started as an apprentice in tunnel work and bought a house with his partner. The plan was to renovate the house. In his free time, he used to go on long ski touring trips, go-karting, walk his dog, and travel. Now he feels like he's living life with the brakes on.
"Lyme disease has prevented me from being able to look forward to everything that's coming. I hope infrared sauna can help me get back out hiking and kiting, and get back on the track to drive go-karts. I hope for less pain and more energy, to be able to be more active and live life without limitations. I want to go back to work."
He has heard that infrared sauna can help the immune system.
"I've never experienced getting an infection like this. I'm almost certain that infrared sauna can help me," he says.
WEEK 3 - Muscle pain disappears and better sleep
During the first three weeks of his infrared health journey, Marius has found that muscle pain disappears while he's in the sauna, and he sleeps very well at night.
"I already think the sauna has had a good effect. I'm very positive," he says, and further shares that he believes everyone can benefit from an infrared sauna in their daily lives.
"I've already recommended my family buy their own."
Infrared sauna and PlayStation
The first thing Marius did when he received the sauna was to watch Radiant Health's user guide on YouTube for a quick introduction. After that, it was easy to integrate it into his daily life, which includes renovating his house, resting, and he has started new treatment for his tick-borne infection.
Marius has found a good sauna routine. He sets himself up in the evening before bed. The first week he started with 10 and 20 minutes at a time. Now he sits for 25 to 40 minutes, often while playing PlayStation.
"I needed time to get used to the heat. Now I think it's going very well. Twice I've experienced the muscle pain disappearing while I'm in the sauna. I sleep very well at night. Not least, I don't wake up during the night to go to the toilet, which has been a bit of a problem since I got Lyme disease."
Hoping for a brighter future
The tick-borne infection has resulted in many diffuse and varied ailments.
"Many days it feels like I've walked a 10-20 km mountain hike. I'm full of muscle pain and very tired. Other days I can feel much better. I received three weeks of antibiotics in Norway, which I improved from, but when the treatment was over, I got worse again and I've been on sick leave ever since."
In Norway, he is not receiving any more help. Marius has been told that three weeks of antibiotics is all they can offer him here.
"Now I've had to find other solutions. I am currently receiving treatment from German doctors with more expertise in the field. I hope for a brighter future with good help from Germany and that I've been able to participate in the infrared health journey. I hope I can get back to a normal everyday life. I want to go back to work!"
WEEK 6 – Pain relief, better sleep, and a healthier body
After six weeks on his infrared health journey, Marius is experiencing pain relief and better sleep.
He has become thinner and feels like he has a healthier body. In addition, he actively uses the sauna in his treatment for Lyme disease.
"It's been six exciting and positive weeks," he says.
His condition is still poor, and varies from day to day. It can also fluctuate throughout the day. Marius feels that infrared sauna helps him detoxify his body.
"I feel that the sauna helps me cleanse my body. I feel fresher and better before I take a new dose of medication. A good combination, I think. I'm certainly very positive about this so far."
Treating Lyme disease with Antabus
Marius' German doctor is treating him with disulfiram, better known as Antabus – a medication primarily used for alcohol abuse. The treatment is experimental, but studies conducted so far show that disulfiram effectively kills the microbes that cause Lyme disease.
When Borrelia bacteria die, they produce toxins that can cause a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. For many, IR sauna has become a tool to detoxify the body during this process, making the treatment better tolerated. Marius is now having positive experiences himself.
Pain relief and better sleep
Marius takes a sauna every other day.
"I sit for between 20-40 minutes, and I like to play PlayStation to make the time pass quickly. I get restless when I sit there," he smiles.
On bad days, some of the pain disappears while he's in the sauna.
"I feel like I get a break from the pain. It's nice to be able to relax a bit. I also like to have a session before bed, because then I sleep very well."
Everyday life otherwise is calm.
"I try to have something to do every day. I have a small dog that needs walks, so I walk him every day. Otherwise, I have some small projects at home. It becomes very difficult to start large projects when you're affected by Lyme disease. I hope the treatment helps so I can get back to work again, which is one of my big goals."
WEEK 10 – Less pain, better sleep and more energy
His 10-week health journey confirms what Marius was told by others with Lyme disease.
He experiences less pain, better sleep, and more energy, and finds that infrared sauna is very good as a complementary treatment alongside medication for Lyme disease.
"If I've been out or active, it's no longer the case that I sit on the sofa and can feel my body burning in pain. It's been pretty great to avoid the feeling of having no energy left when the day is over."
Not least, both his girlfriend and his sister say he has gotten thinner.
"Losing a few kilos isn't bad," Marius laughs.
He says he sweats a lot in his IR SaunaPod, which is a completely new experience.
"I'm soaking wet, as if I'd been swimming. I've never sweated as much as when I take a sauna," he emphasizes.
Infrared sauna, Lyme disease and Antabus
Both his doctor and other Lyme patients have advised Marius to take a sauna in the evening, right before taking his medication, to avoid "sweating it out."
"I feel cleansed after the sauna session and ready for a new dose."
He sits for 30-40 minutes while playing PlayStation.
"I think it's a good way to end the day with a good session before bedtime. Maybe put on new bedding. Then it's extra nice to go to bed."
Marius is currently taking a break from the medical treatment with Antabus, but will start again tonight. He has felt better in recent weeks, and finds that the sauna combined with medical treatment is a good combination. He feels the sauna makes the medication work better, or that the sauna helps him tolerate the treatment better.
"If I have a lot of pain when I sit in the sauna, it disappears while I'm there and I don't have to lie twisting and turning in bed because the pain keeps me awake. I sleep better and no longer wake up needing to go to the toilet at night."
Better than 10 weeks ago
He takes a sauna every other day, but is considering trying it every day with shorter sessions. Both for sleep, but also because he is restless and finds 30-40 minutes can feel long.
"I thought I would experiment a bit, and try 20 minutes every evening."
Since last time, Marius has worked on cars, walked the dog, and done small renovations in the house. The nursery is next on the list. He is preparing both the house and himself to become a father in September.
"I don't have any symptom-free days, but I feel better than 10 weeks ago. I have to give it time."
One of the few available tools
First and foremost, he hopes to be able to go back to work a few days a week, which is his big goal. Marius is in dialogue with his doctor, and they are discussing him trying one to two days a week over the summer.
Infrared sauna has become a good tool, one of the few, that is available to him and actually helps. He will continue to use it on his path to better health.
"I look forward to things easing up and I'm excited to be able to live life again without the brakes on."
Text: Trine Dahlman
Read the update on Marius' health journey ONE YEAR LATER!
