I just bought a portable FIR Sauna, mostly because I am really into detoxing because of what I learned when I was sick with chronic lyme disease and I still continue to detox to keep my immune system strong.

Anyway, I am really excited that I will be getting this portable Sauna for many reasons (mostly for detoxing). I also read that people lose weight though that was NOT my intention to buying the sauna but hey, if it helps me lose more weight, they would be great! Wondering if anyone else uses a FIR Sauna?

Toby

Good for you! Be careful of dehydration, though - this diet is very diuretic on its own, and add water weight lost through sweating in a sauna, you could be in trouble....if you start feeling lightheaded when you climb the stairs, you'll know you are getting dehydrated.

Toby....do you mine sharing your symptoms of Lyme disease and how you were diagnosed? I have rheumatoid arthritis and have joint pain. I know a sauna would feel great on my joints! I've tested negative for lyme but have heard that some tests aren't accurate?

Some of the contestants on Biggest Loser have talked about using a sauna the night before the final weigh-in for its water-draining effects. So any 'weight loss' isn't probably 'real' weight loss.

I always get nauseous when I get too hot, so I don't enjoy saunas, but if it's going to make *you* feel better, that's awesome!

Well, I bought this sauna (which hasn't arrived yet) for detoxing purposes only, not for weight loss and I know I must drink lots of water during the process. I did lots of research on sauna's before deciding on this one where I can regulate the temperature and this one has carbon heaters versus the ceramic heaters which have a bad reputation. I think they burn out too fast.

Leslie, of course I don't mind talking about lyme disease! You are correct that the majority of tests are inaccurate. The bottom line is the lab. The most accurate lab in the world is called IgeneX (Palo Alto, CA). I know people who live in Europe who have had their blood sent there.

When I was sick I had joint pain, extreme fatigue (slept all the time), severe brain fog, my legs really hurt me (and for about a year my legs became so weak that I needed to use crutches as I was falling down, not fun!).

After going to at least 50 different doctors during a 5 year time frame who couldn't give me a "real" diagnosis (was told I had chronic fatigue syndrome, fibro, etc.) I decided to research all my symptoms and I knew I had lyme. I finally found a doctor who sent my blood to IgeneX and sure enough, I had it plus a coinfection.

To be honest I was relieved to finally have a name for why I was so sick so I could start getting better which I did.

I used alternative medicine (botanicals from a well known doctor) plus detoxing on a daily basis which I still continue to do as we live in a toxic world, hence the reason I wanted this sauna so badly! I do some other things that may sound strange to others such as coffee enema's, parasite cleansing, etc.

I don't believe anyone is ever "cured" of lyme and I have been in remission for 4 years now! No symptoms at all. Woo hoo!

If you want anymore information, you can pm me. So many people have lyme disease and don't even know it and most doctors (I met them!) don't have a clue about this disease. If you google "Under Our Skin" you can probably watch a youtube video about it.

Toby

Toby, I'm so happy for you that you finally got answers to your symptoms and you are now in remission! I wonder how many people diagnosed with fibro and CFS actually have lyme? I go to another board ...that isnt about weight loss and they have folks there who tested positive for lyme by that same lab you mentioned. My problems are mainly my joints and my doc says I have classical symptoms for RA. Most people think RA is like your regular old arthritis but it is an autoimmune disease and can cause major fatigue....not to mention almost every joint hurts. Anyway...RA is a big part of my life but I'm not gonna let it rule my life (she says with determination)

That is another reason I like low-carbing. I can lose weight without having to kill myself exercising. I do walk in the neighborhood on pretty days and I wanna start the Walk Away The Pounds DVD again that was I was doing but winter has really bothered my RA and I havent been able to do that yet.

A good sweat in a sauna sounds good! My mom loves gardening and she has always says its good to sweat sometimes!

Hi Leslie,

Thank you for your kind words! Being in remission is great after suffering for so many years (I didn't care about gaining the weight back then because I just wanted to work on getting better).

Really sorry you are suffering from RA, I had RA and one doctor told me I had permanent knee damage but when I became better, my knee's were fine. I remember when I couldn't exercise at all, now I can do the Walk Away The Pounds (I do the 2 mile for 30 minutes) about 5 times a week. And sometimes I do the 3 mile walk. Were you ever checked for lyme by IgeneX?

I belong to another forum to help others and it amazes me how many people were first diagnosed with fibro, CFS, MS, lupus, etc. It's very sad and my heart goes out to these people who suffered for so long because they were misdiagnosed.

Do you do any kind of detoxing at all? If you could get start detox baths (warm water mixed with epsom salts and hydrogen peroxide) that may really help you feel better.

Toby

Thanks Toby! You must mean you had OA (osteoarthritis)? RA is systemic and is where your immune system attacks your joints. OA is localized to a particular joint and is the "wear and tear" arthritis from injury or age. Lyme disease and lupus, etc can certainly cause arthritis but it is not RA.

I was checked for Lyme several times but I'm not sure if it was Igenex. I'll ask my rheumy about this cause I grew up in the country and I was always outside.....lets just say I had to always check for ticks haha!

Ive heard of doing epsom salts baths and think i might try it!

I have an infrared portable sauna, but I haven't used it in years. I forgot about it until you mentioned yours. I remember that it was very relaxing and I really don't think about toxins that much, but I am sure it helps with that. I think I will get back into using it.

Well, my sauna arrived, I set it up (took me awhile to figure it out), plugged it in, took off my clothes, set up the chair inside, and waited. Lo and behold, it never heated up and I found out I received a DEFECTIVE Sauna! Oh no!

So I am returning this one and a new one will be sent to me.. I was so excited about this sauna and detoxing, oh well, at least I learned how to set it up. Can't wait until I get a "working" one... Ah, patience, patience.. Since I don't have a middle name I think I will give myself a middle name and it will be "Patience", LOL!

Toby

Elstyle, I could talk forever about toxins but this forum is not about that. I had chronic lyme disease and I am really into detoxing even though I am all better. Because I was sick I learned so much about toxins. Detoxing has become a way of life for me and I always wanted a sauna but couldn't afford one before.

Exercise is another great way to rid one's body of toxins. When I was sick I wasn't able to exercise but now I do! Plus it burns calories and gets my 53 year old body moving in the morning.

Toby

Toby, so sorry to hear about your defective unit! That's frustrating when you're dying to get started.

DH just installed an infrared sauna in our existing sauna; he wanted one because he's got issues with mercury, and needs to detox.

I'm not a big fan of regular saunas - the intense heat makes me really uncomfortable and sort of claustrophobic - but I tried the FIR yesterday and was fine with it. DH says it's good for weight loss as well as detoxing, something I'm a bit skeptical about, but what the heck? I'll give it a go for a month and see what happens. At the very least, I'll be getting rid of some toxins...

Hi Fressca,

Thanks, I can't wait to get my "working" sauna which is portable by the way as I don't have the money to get the "real" kind made out of wood. You are so lucky you have one! Mine is Infrared or will be, LOL! Infrared makes a huge difference.

I read that most people have too many heavy metals (especially mercury) in their bodies so that's great that you will be detoxing, let me know how it goes. I also drink "living clay" to bind up heavy metals, your DH may be interested in looking into that. Amazon sells it. If you google living clay you can read about all the benefits. And it actually tastes good too depending on what brand you buy.

As far as the heat goes, I can adjust the temperature, yeah, this portable comes with a remote control with a timer and all that.. I can also read during my "sessions".. As far as losing weight, I don't know about that but hey, if I lose more weight that's just an added bonus! I just want to keep detoxing as that keeps my immune system strong so I never relapse from the lyme. I never want to go through that horror ever again! Oh no!

Toby

Hey Toby...I'm just wondering if you got your new (working) sauna in and if it is working. Also, do you have PM? I wanted to ask you something.

Hi Leslie,

No, I didn't receive it yet.. Was told it could take a week, darn! Patience, patience..

I believe I set up my CP for PM's, the only way I will know for sure is if you PM me! I would be more than happy to answer any questions.

Toby