Here's a quick update, since I haven't been blogging a lot lately. First I'd like to point out that I haven't been blogging a lot lately because I've been busy living my life and am spending a lot less time laying around in bed or on our couch. Last Monday, (seven days ago) marked my 8th week of treatment at West Clinic. While I still have days where I don't feel great, they are becoming so few and far between that we have almost gotten back into the groove of normal life! It has been wonderful and exciting, and I am so, so happy.
For those of you that are new to my blog, I have been battling Lyme Disease since late summer of 2003, although I didn't know it was Lyme until I was finally diagnosed and saw an LLMD in January of 2009. By that time I was extremely ill, with a whole litany of issues that had all but shut me down both physically and cognitively. I did two years of combination antibiotic therapy followed by a couple years of somewhat normal health, but I haven't ever felt back to "pre-lyme-self" in about a decade. I began to relapse in November 2012, and by March of this year I could hardly function, requiring almost constant care for both myself and my kids anytime my husband was not home. It was crazy, stressful, frustrating and gave me a sense of hopelessness that I believe I have never before experienced in my life. It was pretty bad.
So, eight weeks in, I'm feeling 85% better, and usually, other than my treatment days, (which are now only once a week) I'm practically back to normal. I've been taking my kids for walks to the park, planning outings with friends and doing all sorts of "normal" activities that I haven't been able to do for quite a while now. Last month, my husband and I went on a week-long camping trip where we did several different hikes (4 miles long) on back-to-back-to-back days. In the past, on a really good day, I might have been able to do one of those. But then I would pay for it by being out-of-commission for the next 3 or 4 days. To be able to participate in activities like that 3 or 4 days in a row, and continuing to wake up the next morning feeling good, has been amazing. It's been awesome to see that I really am getting my strength and energy back.
I will continue treatment for probably at least the next couple of months, but I'm happy to do it, since I feel like I am really improving, in ways I haven't seen in the last five years. It's very exciting, and I'm loving being able to participate in my own life again!
Showing posts with label Treatment 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Treatment 2013. Show all posts
Monday, June 17, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Five Treatments Down...Sixteen to Go!
Thursday I had my fifth treatment for Lyme Disease at the West Clinic. As usual, I was pretty ill that afternoon and evening, with dizziness, nausea, muscle aches, light sensitivity and a terrible, splitting headache. But this time, by 9pm I noticed that I was feeling substantially better. Friday morning I awoke feeling refreshed and ready for my day...something that hasn't happened in a long, long time!
I could tell you all about the ASTONISHING improvement in my energy levels over the last three weeks; or I could tell you how I've gone from dealing with upwards of 30 Lyme symptoms in any given day, to perhaps 2 in that same time period. I could tell you how I go to bed feeling sleepy, ready to sleep and am now getting a good night's rest. Or I could tell you how I actually am having hunger pangs again when it's normal to feel hungry. I guess I would also need to point out that in spite of terrible exhaustion, insomnia is a major part of Lyme Disease; and that I had totally lost any appetite for food, including ever feeling "hungry," (in spite of not being able to lose any weight,) and that a month ago my husband pointed out that I never ate anything unless he made it and insisted I eat it. This was one of his major concerns that he wanted to discuss with the doctor on my first appointment. There are many other things I could point to or tell you about that have completely amazed us about the last three weeks.
For my part, I feel like telling you the things I've been ABLE to do in the last three weeks (that I have been UNABLE to do since I relapsed) might be the most effective illustration:
1) Wrestle, lift, dance with and carry my children around the house
2) Vacuum, sweep, do laundry, dishes and other household chores
3) Carry my children up the stairs and lift them into their cribs for naps & bedtime
4) Walk up the stairs without having to stop to rest halfway up
5) Walk around the house & up the stairs without being winded
6) Go to the grocery store, walk around and push the cart
7) Be able to get through the day without lying down once
8) Drive my car
In addition to being able to do all these mundane, ordinary every day things that most healthy people take for granted or even begrudge, I've also been able to do some really AMAZING things, especially considering that three weeks ago I could hardly take 5 steps out of bed or off the couch without being completely winded and exhausted. Some of the fun stuff includes:
9) Walking around the local mall for a couple of hours, including trying on clothes
10) Going out to dinner with my kids, husband and mother-in-law
11) Cleaning out and organizing my pantry
12) Canning 54 pints of food over the last week (a new hobby of mine)
13) Deep cleaning my house, going to bed tired and then waking the next day feeling rested and ready to go again
14) Going to a salon for a haircut & pedicures with my mother-in-law
15) Unloading groceries, luggage and kids on my own
16) Attending all three hours of our church services without being exhausted
17) Realizing that as I type this, I have NO PAIN anywhere in my body
I could go on and on, but I think that's enough to make my point. We are thrilled at the prospects of this new treatment. When we first heard about the clinic, we heard that people that were much SICKER than I were having these results. We were dubious. We were skeptical. We were nervous. It all seemed so strange and so different from everything we had been told that we needed to do. But there's something about having a debilitating illness that makes you open to trying just about anything. So we tried it, and now, I'm experiencing those same results that others had told us about.
Lest you think that I'm exaggerating, I will tell you that the day of treatment, and sometimes the day after, are a little rough....mostly "flu-like" symptoms for me. And, in my excitement and exuberance at having energy and feeling normal, I did "over-do it" one day, needing to take it easy the next day. But that's only happened once in these last three weeks. What I'm trying to say, is that while I've been feeling extraordinary compared to where I was three weeks ago, I don't want to misrepresent things. But I also need to qualify that statement by saying that compared with my two-years-long combination antibiotic therapy two years ago, this has been an absolute cake walk!
After dealing with Lyme Disease for a decade already, we're not naïve enough to think that this will be quick or easy. We've been warned that Lyme patients sometimes need 60 or 70 treatments before things resolve and they can go off treatment. By the time I have my re-evaluation in July, I will have done 21 treatments. But I'm perfectly ok with however long this takes. If I can enjoy this kind of quality of life, while I'm on treatment, it gives me so much hope for my future and getting back to my old self, the person I was 10 years ago before all of this started! I have so much hope of finally being able to organize my life and my family the way I have wanted to for so long, but have not had the physical or mental ability to do so. Finally, incredible hope for being able to be a hands-on Mom, to be able to really get down and play with my kids, and to be an involved and enthusiastic companion to my husband. These are the things that are most important to me, and they're the things that have been impacted the most by this illness. I can't tell you how relieved I am that I can pick up my kids when they cry for me, and I don't have to feel such deep sadness and guilt that I can't take care of them myself.
When all of this started happening back in November, I was disappointed. By February, when I had become virtually incapacitated once again, I was completely discouraged and feeling hopeless. Now, in light of having found this doctor and this clinic, I am so grateful for the timing in all of this. I realize that had I not relapsed while living where we do, I may never have heard about this doctor, this clinic or this treatment. People fly in from all over the world to be treated here, and we're only 90 miles away. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father, who provides for our needs and wants. And while He doesn't always lift our burdens completely, if we will allow him to guide us, He will show us how we can get through them successfully.
My next treatment is tomorrow morning at 11am. I would never have thought in a million years that I would actually anticipate going to treatments, looking forward to them as I would any other great event in my life. But I do! It seems as though I can almost feel my body getting stronger and more capable. It has been absolutely wonderful. I'll keep you posted, but for now, things are really looking up.
I could tell you all about the ASTONISHING improvement in my energy levels over the last three weeks; or I could tell you how I've gone from dealing with upwards of 30 Lyme symptoms in any given day, to perhaps 2 in that same time period. I could tell you how I go to bed feeling sleepy, ready to sleep and am now getting a good night's rest. Or I could tell you how I actually am having hunger pangs again when it's normal to feel hungry. I guess I would also need to point out that in spite of terrible exhaustion, insomnia is a major part of Lyme Disease; and that I had totally lost any appetite for food, including ever feeling "hungry," (in spite of not being able to lose any weight,) and that a month ago my husband pointed out that I never ate anything unless he made it and insisted I eat it. This was one of his major concerns that he wanted to discuss with the doctor on my first appointment. There are many other things I could point to or tell you about that have completely amazed us about the last three weeks.
For my part, I feel like telling you the things I've been ABLE to do in the last three weeks (that I have been UNABLE to do since I relapsed) might be the most effective illustration:
1) Wrestle, lift, dance with and carry my children around the house
2) Vacuum, sweep, do laundry, dishes and other household chores
3) Carry my children up the stairs and lift them into their cribs for naps & bedtime
4) Walk up the stairs without having to stop to rest halfway up
5) Walk around the house & up the stairs without being winded
6) Go to the grocery store, walk around and push the cart
7) Be able to get through the day without lying down once
8) Drive my car
In addition to being able to do all these mundane, ordinary every day things that most healthy people take for granted or even begrudge, I've also been able to do some really AMAZING things, especially considering that three weeks ago I could hardly take 5 steps out of bed or off the couch without being completely winded and exhausted. Some of the fun stuff includes:
9) Walking around the local mall for a couple of hours, including trying on clothes
10) Going out to dinner with my kids, husband and mother-in-law
11) Cleaning out and organizing my pantry
12) Canning 54 pints of food over the last week (a new hobby of mine)
13) Deep cleaning my house, going to bed tired and then waking the next day feeling rested and ready to go again
14) Going to a salon for a haircut & pedicures with my mother-in-law
15) Unloading groceries, luggage and kids on my own
16) Attending all three hours of our church services without being exhausted
17) Realizing that as I type this, I have NO PAIN anywhere in my body
I could go on and on, but I think that's enough to make my point. We are thrilled at the prospects of this new treatment. When we first heard about the clinic, we heard that people that were much SICKER than I were having these results. We were dubious. We were skeptical. We were nervous. It all seemed so strange and so different from everything we had been told that we needed to do. But there's something about having a debilitating illness that makes you open to trying just about anything. So we tried it, and now, I'm experiencing those same results that others had told us about.
Lest you think that I'm exaggerating, I will tell you that the day of treatment, and sometimes the day after, are a little rough....mostly "flu-like" symptoms for me. And, in my excitement and exuberance at having energy and feeling normal, I did "over-do it" one day, needing to take it easy the next day. But that's only happened once in these last three weeks. What I'm trying to say, is that while I've been feeling extraordinary compared to where I was three weeks ago, I don't want to misrepresent things. But I also need to qualify that statement by saying that compared with my two-years-long combination antibiotic therapy two years ago, this has been an absolute cake walk!
After dealing with Lyme Disease for a decade already, we're not naïve enough to think that this will be quick or easy. We've been warned that Lyme patients sometimes need 60 or 70 treatments before things resolve and they can go off treatment. By the time I have my re-evaluation in July, I will have done 21 treatments. But I'm perfectly ok with however long this takes. If I can enjoy this kind of quality of life, while I'm on treatment, it gives me so much hope for my future and getting back to my old self, the person I was 10 years ago before all of this started! I have so much hope of finally being able to organize my life and my family the way I have wanted to for so long, but have not had the physical or mental ability to do so. Finally, incredible hope for being able to be a hands-on Mom, to be able to really get down and play with my kids, and to be an involved and enthusiastic companion to my husband. These are the things that are most important to me, and they're the things that have been impacted the most by this illness. I can't tell you how relieved I am that I can pick up my kids when they cry for me, and I don't have to feel such deep sadness and guilt that I can't take care of them myself.
When all of this started happening back in November, I was disappointed. By February, when I had become virtually incapacitated once again, I was completely discouraged and feeling hopeless. Now, in light of having found this doctor and this clinic, I am so grateful for the timing in all of this. I realize that had I not relapsed while living where we do, I may never have heard about this doctor, this clinic or this treatment. People fly in from all over the world to be treated here, and we're only 90 miles away. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father, who provides for our needs and wants. And while He doesn't always lift our burdens completely, if we will allow him to guide us, He will show us how we can get through them successfully.
My next treatment is tomorrow morning at 11am. I would never have thought in a million years that I would actually anticipate going to treatments, looking forward to them as I would any other great event in my life. But I do! It seems as though I can almost feel my body getting stronger and more capable. It has been absolutely wonderful. I'll keep you posted, but for now, things are really looking up.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
1st Treatment at the West Clinic!
My first day of treatment at the West Clinic in Pocatello, Idaho began early. We live a little less than two hours away, so my husband and I got up early (and he took the day off from his Veterinary Medicine studies) so that we could make our 8:30am appointment on time. I was nervous, excited and a little apprehensive all rolled into one as we drove the 90 some miles to the clinic. During the drive, we talked about our five year trek since discovering I have Lyme Disease, how it has affected us, how we have learned and grown from the experience, and how we continue to be frustrated with the ignorance (and on the part of some medical professionals, arrogance,) that still surrounds this difficult illness. It has been quite the journey. We were both very hopeful at the prospect of trying a new approach to healing.
We arrived at the West Clinic just before 8:30am, along with 8 or 10 other patients, and walked into the busy waiting area by the front desk. It felt clean and professional, with friendly staff. The girl at the front desk asked for my name and told us it would be just a few moments while having me sign in. I had already filled out my new patient paperwork the week before when I received a packet in the mail outlining many of the various treatments offered and other helpful information, along with all my new patient forms. We also thought it was a nice touch that the packet included a map to the clinic and driving directions from Salt Lake City (the general route we would be driving.) It also included a brochure from a local hotel that has special rates for patients of the clinic.
This begun a busy day of meeting staff, including Alicia, the clinic's Lyme coordinator, (that's right. They have a Lyme coordinator,) whose daughter suffered with Lyme disease from age 3 until she was finally diagnosed and treated at the clinic at the age of 15. I could be wrong, but as I understand it, Alicia's daughter Sarah was the first patient treated for Lyme at the West Clinic. We had heard her story and were anxious for an update. According to her mom, Sarah has been symptom free for the last 3 and a half years and comes to the clinic once or twice a year for maintenance treatments. She now swims, bikes, hikes and enjoys a wonderful and normal life. You can learn more about Sarah's story by watching her testimonial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIkbzHMRN1s. Also, this news Story on West Clinic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTa_9SW3Nvk
Right off the bat, she said she could see that there was lots of "stacking" going on -- where the red blood cells were sticking to each other, clumped together. She explained that this kept them from getting the oxygen they are supposed to deliver around the body where it's supposed to go, which will cause extreme fatigue, and shortness of breath.
After several more tests, we met with "Dr. J" as everyone calls him - Dr. Jason West, the doctor that heads up the West Clinic. He was very sincere and took time to explain his philosophy and approach to healing. He explained that this was a totally different approach than the one we had previously tried, but that in his experience, it's extremely effective. Half of the clinic's patient base are Lyme patients from all over the US and the world, including places as far away as Australia. Dr. J explained that while he could identify spirochete cysts in my blood, as well as parasites in my blood cells, he didn't differentiate or distinguish between the bugs. This treatment was effective for all of them, unlike anti-biotics, so he wasn't really concerned with the specific types of bugs, just that they were there.
This is a good time for me to mention that, if you suffer from Lyme Disease, you probably know how expensive and difficult, (not to mention INACCURATE) the testing process is. This particular philosophy opens the door to so many very ill patients who have been denied care because they can't PASS the test to prove they've got Lyme. A test that the CDC admits is inaccurate up to 60% of the time! I have all my paperwork and test results from four years ago, actual documentation of my CDC positive Western Blot. I was one of the lucky ones that got a positive result. But those old test results didn't matter here: it's a shift in focus away from the specific bugs. The focus of this treatment is to change the environment, (your body) so that it's less favorable to the bugs, and strong enough to fight them off on it's own. I know...if you've got Lyme and you're reading this, your probably very skeptical. I promise you that we were, too. But after talking to so many people that have had success with this treatment, we felt like there's got to be something to it. The doctor talked to us for quite awhile, explaining everything, and took time to find out if we had any further questions when he was done.
Once we had met with Dr. J and gone over my tests and symptoms, they took me into a quiet room and got me set up for my treatment. Today's treatment would be IV Vitamin C, (to boost immune function, among other things,) Hydrogen Peroxide (to oxygenate the blood, among other things) and Hydrachloric Acid (to clean out the lymph system and kill the bacteria, among other things,) in addition to a session with the Rife Machine, which uses electrical pulses to kill bacteria. Dr. J said they were giving me a quarter of the dose we would work up to, but that it was better to ease in slowly. Got it. Once I was hooked up to everything, it was time to just sit back and relax.
When the treatment was over we headed home. About an hour into our drive, we stopped to get gas, and I got out to use the restroom. After a few steps, I realized that I felt very woozy, and had the familiar "floating" feeling that I had previously experienced with a herxheimer or herx reaction when I started treatment back in 2009. This reaction is literally caused by the "die-off" of the bacteria, because spirochetes release neuro-toxins when they die. When a bunch of them die all at the same time, the body becomes flooded with these toxins, and they can make you very sick. Symptoms of a herx can include sleepiness, nausea, headache, muscle aches and generally feeling terrible. They can also happen in the form of a worsening of all the Lyme symptoms you've already been experiencing. Many people describe it as the worst hangover you've ever had. I don't drink, so I wouldn't really know what a hangover is like, but they don't sound fun. :)
When I got back into the car, I told my husband how I was feeling. We were both actually happy, since this reaction meant that the treatment had been effective in killing bacteria. Once we got home, I crawled into my bed and tried to sleep it off. I was pretty uncomfortable that night, but woke up the next morning feeling a little bit better - still nauseated, sleepy, etc., but less miserable than the night before. My sweet husband had stocked our bedroom with soda crackers, my favorite Vernor's ginger ale, ginger candies and lemon water, all of which have helped in the past with my herx reactions. Whenever I'm experiencing a herx, I try to lay in my bed as still as possible, and let my body heal, reminding myself of everything that is going on inside me. During a herx, lying as still as possible is about all you want to do, since moving causes the nausea, dizziness and everything else to be worse.
Friday (the second day post-treatment) I woke up feeling about the same, but after a morning nap, I got up with energy, strength and feeling better than I have in months. I could do laundry, dishes, make my bed and clean my house for the first time in months! I got to play with my kids, change their diapers and carry them up our stairs without being totally out of breath. We were so happy! I almost expected that on Saturday I would be back in bed, just because I had done so much on Friday. The last time I was on treatment, I would have a good day and totally over-do it...causing me to spend the next several days out of commission. But Saturday I woke up feeling great, and after a full day of cleaning, organizing and playing with my kids, we all went out to dinner AND shopping, (something I haven't been up to doing in several months.) This morning, (Sunday) I attended all three hours of our church services, another thing I haven't been able to do in several months. By this afternoon, however, I started to feel like I was dragging again, and could feel myself getting out of breath on exertion. I'm really happy that I will be going back for my second treatment tomorrow. Obviously, it's too soon to really know how it will all work out, but I sure do feel a lot more excited about my future!
I will continue to document our journey through this treatment, since it's alternative and totally different than anything I've heard or read about Lyme over the last five years. Still, it makes sense to me, and my husband, who is a bit of a brainiac and skeptical of most things. Five years ago I wouldn't have been open to alternative therapy, but after everything that we've been through, I'm ready to try something different. Antibiotic therapy was difficult and extremely expensive, not to mention being hard on my body...only to end up back at square one two years after wrapping it up. If you or a loved one is struggling with chronic lyme disease, I would strongly encourage you to do your own research on this treatment. Be open-minded enough to look into it. I have provided a few of the links that we found as we researched it. For more information on Dr. Jason West, The West Clinic, and this alternative therapy, visit:
The West Clinic, Pocatello, Idaho: http://www.westcliniconline.com/
About Dr. Jason West/West Clinic: http://www.idchiro.org/dr-jason-west
Interview with Dr. Jason West: http://www.seasonsonthefly.com/blog/?page_id=89
Intravenous Hydrochloric Acid Therapy: http://www.tldp.com/issue/11_00/martin.htm
We arrived at the West Clinic just before 8:30am, along with 8 or 10 other patients, and walked into the busy waiting area by the front desk. It felt clean and professional, with friendly staff. The girl at the front desk asked for my name and told us it would be just a few moments while having me sign in. I had already filled out my new patient paperwork the week before when I received a packet in the mail outlining many of the various treatments offered and other helpful information, along with all my new patient forms. We also thought it was a nice touch that the packet included a map to the clinic and driving directions from Salt Lake City (the general route we would be driving.) It also included a brochure from a local hotel that has special rates for patients of the clinic.
This begun a busy day of meeting staff, including Alicia, the clinic's Lyme coordinator, (that's right. They have a Lyme coordinator,) whose daughter suffered with Lyme disease from age 3 until she was finally diagnosed and treated at the clinic at the age of 15. I could be wrong, but as I understand it, Alicia's daughter Sarah was the first patient treated for Lyme at the West Clinic. We had heard her story and were anxious for an update. According to her mom, Sarah has been symptom free for the last 3 and a half years and comes to the clinic once or twice a year for maintenance treatments. She now swims, bikes, hikes and enjoys a wonderful and normal life. You can learn more about Sarah's story by watching her testimonial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIkbzHMRN1s. Also, this news Story on West Clinic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTa_9SW3Nvk
After meeting with Alicia and discussing my case, including all the ups and downs of dealing with Lyme, she prepared a slide with a few drops of my blood to be reviewed under the clinic's dark field microscope. This was by far one of the coolest parts of the day. We were able to see everything she could see on the large monitor mounted on the wall. At the West Clinic they don't use the Western Blot, PCR or ELISA to determine Lyme. They can perform their treatment based on clinical diagnosis with your history, and they use the dark field microscope to evaluate what is actually going on - in real time - in your blood. It was really amazing.
Right off the bat, she said she could see that there was lots of "stacking" going on -- where the red blood cells were sticking to each other, clumped together. She explained that this kept them from getting the oxygen they are supposed to deliver around the body where it's supposed to go, which will cause extreme fatigue, and shortness of breath. 
In the slide she showed us of healthy blood cells, they are supposed to be all "floating free" and mine obviously aren't. We were also able to see little parasites actually wiggling around in my blood cells, most likely the babesia strains that I tested positive for back in 2009. Babesia is an infection of the red blood cells and can cause lots of problems. You can read more about the two strains of Babesia I have, Babesia Microti and Babesia Duncani, in these previous posts.
This is a good time for me to mention that, if you suffer from Lyme Disease, you probably know how expensive and difficult, (not to mention INACCURATE) the testing process is. This particular philosophy opens the door to so many very ill patients who have been denied care because they can't PASS the test to prove they've got Lyme. A test that the CDC admits is inaccurate up to 60% of the time! I have all my paperwork and test results from four years ago, actual documentation of my CDC positive Western Blot. I was one of the lucky ones that got a positive result. But those old test results didn't matter here: it's a shift in focus away from the specific bugs. The focus of this treatment is to change the environment, (your body) so that it's less favorable to the bugs, and strong enough to fight them off on it's own. I know...if you've got Lyme and you're reading this, your probably very skeptical. I promise you that we were, too. But after talking to so many people that have had success with this treatment, we felt like there's got to be something to it. The doctor talked to us for quite awhile, explaining everything, and took time to find out if we had any further questions when he was done.
Once we had met with Dr. J and gone over my tests and symptoms, they took me into a quiet room and got me set up for my treatment. Today's treatment would be IV Vitamin C, (to boost immune function, among other things,) Hydrogen Peroxide (to oxygenate the blood, among other things) and Hydrachloric Acid (to clean out the lymph system and kill the bacteria, among other things,) in addition to a session with the Rife Machine, which uses electrical pulses to kill bacteria. Dr. J said they were giving me a quarter of the dose we would work up to, but that it was better to ease in slowly. Got it. Once I was hooked up to everything, it was time to just sit back and relax.
When I got back into the car, I told my husband how I was feeling. We were both actually happy, since this reaction meant that the treatment had been effective in killing bacteria. Once we got home, I crawled into my bed and tried to sleep it off. I was pretty uncomfortable that night, but woke up the next morning feeling a little bit better - still nauseated, sleepy, etc., but less miserable than the night before. My sweet husband had stocked our bedroom with soda crackers, my favorite Vernor's ginger ale, ginger candies and lemon water, all of which have helped in the past with my herx reactions. Whenever I'm experiencing a herx, I try to lay in my bed as still as possible, and let my body heal, reminding myself of everything that is going on inside me. During a herx, lying as still as possible is about all you want to do, since moving causes the nausea, dizziness and everything else to be worse.
Friday (the second day post-treatment) I woke up feeling about the same, but after a morning nap, I got up with energy, strength and feeling better than I have in months. I could do laundry, dishes, make my bed and clean my house for the first time in months! I got to play with my kids, change their diapers and carry them up our stairs without being totally out of breath. We were so happy! I almost expected that on Saturday I would be back in bed, just because I had done so much on Friday. The last time I was on treatment, I would have a good day and totally over-do it...causing me to spend the next several days out of commission. But Saturday I woke up feeling great, and after a full day of cleaning, organizing and playing with my kids, we all went out to dinner AND shopping, (something I haven't been up to doing in several months.) This morning, (Sunday) I attended all three hours of our church services, another thing I haven't been able to do in several months. By this afternoon, however, I started to feel like I was dragging again, and could feel myself getting out of breath on exertion. I'm really happy that I will be going back for my second treatment tomorrow. Obviously, it's too soon to really know how it will all work out, but I sure do feel a lot more excited about my future!
I will continue to document our journey through this treatment, since it's alternative and totally different than anything I've heard or read about Lyme over the last five years. Still, it makes sense to me, and my husband, who is a bit of a brainiac and skeptical of most things. Five years ago I wouldn't have been open to alternative therapy, but after everything that we've been through, I'm ready to try something different. Antibiotic therapy was difficult and extremely expensive, not to mention being hard on my body...only to end up back at square one two years after wrapping it up. If you or a loved one is struggling with chronic lyme disease, I would strongly encourage you to do your own research on this treatment. Be open-minded enough to look into it. I have provided a few of the links that we found as we researched it. For more information on Dr. Jason West, The West Clinic, and this alternative therapy, visit:
The West Clinic, Pocatello, Idaho: http://www.westcliniconline.com/
About Dr. Jason West/West Clinic: http://www.idchiro.org/dr-jason-west
Interview with Dr. Jason West: http://www.seasonsonthefly.com/blog/?page_id=89
Intravenous Hydrochloric Acid Therapy: http://www.tldp.com/issue/11_00/martin.htm
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
My New Alternative Therapy
While searching for a new LLMD, we began asking around in our immediate circle of friends here in a small town in northern Utah. Before I get into anything else, I would just like to say that it is ASTOUNDING to me how many more people we know that actually know someone (other than me) who has been debilitated by and is currently battling Lyme Disease, over my experience four years ago. I think its a sad commentary on just how quickly this illness is gaining traction among the unsuspecting public. It truly is an epidemic that is being ignored.
Ok, that thought aside, I'll get on to the purpose of my post. As we began to talk to our friends, many people started contacting us, telling us that they had a family member or close friend currently being treated for Lyme. So we began to follow up on the information they were providing about different clinics, doctors and treatments, how much things cost and how they were all working out. We looked into several different options, but one clinic kept coming up as being very successful in treating Lyme. When we first looked into it, we discovered that they don't use antibiotics, so we thought that it wasn't for us. But when, in the space of one week, we received four other, separate, GLOWING reports about this same clinic from fellow Lymies, we thought that we better give it a closer look.
We discovered that they use many different alternative therapies in combination to do three basic things: 1) kill the infection, 2) detox the body and 3) heal & boost the immune system, so it can continue to keep infection under control. The doctor's opinion, that we can never fully eradicate the infection that causes Lyme disease - so let's heal and strengthen the body - so the immune system is properly equipped to deal with the infection on its own, really resonated with us. We did more research and found other information about the clinic, and continued to get referrals from various sources, also providing us with information, most of which I've listed below, with permission.
My husband is currently studying Veterinary Medicine and it's been interesting to get his perspective (and his professors' ideas & opinions) on various aspects of the Lyme puzzle. He's been researching the various therapies we've been looking into, and we're both very hopeful that this new therapy might provide some welcome relief. It's also something that I'm more comfortable with than drenching my body in antibiotics for the second time in four years. I have health concerns that I had prior to Lyme disease, and long-term antibiotic therapy is of particular concern because of that. My initial appointment is today, and I will give a full report on how it goes in a day or two.
Ok, that thought aside, I'll get on to the purpose of my post. As we began to talk to our friends, many people started contacting us, telling us that they had a family member or close friend currently being treated for Lyme. So we began to follow up on the information they were providing about different clinics, doctors and treatments, how much things cost and how they were all working out. We looked into several different options, but one clinic kept coming up as being very successful in treating Lyme. When we first looked into it, we discovered that they don't use antibiotics, so we thought that it wasn't for us. But when, in the space of one week, we received four other, separate, GLOWING reports about this same clinic from fellow Lymies, we thought that we better give it a closer look.
We discovered that they use many different alternative therapies in combination to do three basic things: 1) kill the infection, 2) detox the body and 3) heal & boost the immune system, so it can continue to keep infection under control. The doctor's opinion, that we can never fully eradicate the infection that causes Lyme disease - so let's heal and strengthen the body - so the immune system is properly equipped to deal with the infection on its own, really resonated with us. We did more research and found other information about the clinic, and continued to get referrals from various sources, also providing us with information, most of which I've listed below, with permission.
My husband is currently studying Veterinary Medicine and it's been interesting to get his perspective (and his professors' ideas & opinions) on various aspects of the Lyme puzzle. He's been researching the various therapies we've been looking into, and we're both very hopeful that this new therapy might provide some welcome relief. It's also something that I'm more comfortable with than drenching my body in antibiotics for the second time in four years. I have health concerns that I had prior to Lyme disease, and long-term antibiotic therapy is of particular concern because of that. My initial appointment is today, and I will give a full report on how it goes in a day or two.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Our Current Quest
Right now we are trying to figure out what to do. I MUST get back on treatment. I'm having all my old symptoms, plus new ones. In order to start treatment again, we've got to figure a few things out. This has become our quest lately, or at least my quest, and last night I apologized to my husband for having tunnel vision about it. It seems that its all I can think about, when I'm able to think clearly. It's hard not to think about Lyme Disease constantly, when I'm constantly dealing with the effects of it. So I'm trying to channel that tunnel vision into a productive, useful purpose. Might as well try to solve some problems. There are three basic things we need to do:
1) Find an LLMD We're Comfortable With:
First, we have to find a doctor, an LLMD with a lot of experience, who will be willing to take me on. We've been investigating different options that we've been able to find on our own, we've also been checking into references given to us by others. Additionally, I've checked in with a couple of resources that help with LLMD referrals. We were hoping to find someone closer than Seattle, which is where I travelled four years ago to be treated by an LLMD. I'm not sure that we're going to be able to find anyone we're comfortable with any closer than that. We need a doctor that is very familiar with Lyme Disease and it's co-infections. I've had this long enough, and I have enough co-infections to have a pretty complex case, although I believe that anyone with Lyme Disease has a pretty complex case. We just really worry about the level of experience with an LLMD. It's not enough just to throw antibiotics at this thing. And when you're talking about long-term, massive doses of antibiotics, it gets even trickier. My former LLMD used integrative medicine, a combination of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals or supplements all throughout my treatment. I really believe that this combination helped me get better faster, and with less complications and side effects from the antibiotics. We're hoping to be able to find someone who uses integrated medicine as well.
2) Figure Out How to Pay for It All
Finding a way to somehow come up with the money for me to start treatment again is probably our biggest obstacle. That old saying that goes, "beg, steal or borrow" might be very applicable here. We're not willing to steal, of course, but I think that we are to the point where we may be ready to beg and borrow. We've actually been looking into fundraising options and other ways to earn some extra cash. The cheapest treatment that we've found starts at $6,000 for a minimum 8 week commitment, but it goes up from there based on how sick you are, the type of treatment and medications required and how well you respond. That's not including travel expenses, lodging expenses, daycare or babysitting expenses for our kids, or any extra medical expenses that might arise out of treatment. Treatment makes you SICK, and it can require lots of other appointments and expensive tests to make sure that you're handling it all. It's not unusual for Lyme patients to spend $75,000-$100,000 out of pocket on treatment. We spent in that ballpark on my two-year treatment starting back in 2009. The only reason we were able to do that was because I had ownership in a business I was able to sell, and my husband worked two full time jobs the entire first three years of our marriage. It seems daunting, but I'm trying to remember that the Lord will provide. He always has, and He always will. Somehow. I'm also a big believer in that old adage that "the Lord helps those who help themselves," so we're praying hard and trying to get creative.
3) Continue On with Life Until Mommy is Better
The third thing we've got to figure out is how we do this while my husband stays in school. My husband is just finishing up his first year in Veterinary Medicine. It's a four year program, and it's all or nothing. If he had to withdraw from school for any reason, he would have to reapply, start over at square one, and we lose all the time, effort & money we've spent on this first year. Withdrawing from school is simply not an option for us. Having said that, it's going to be a tricky thing to coordinate me getting treatment, (and possibly being bedbound a great deal of the time it's going on) Bryan continuing in graduate school, getting the kids taken care of, and maintaining our life (bills, housework, etc.) all at the same time. When I first found out about Lyme Disease, and started on treatment, I was a single girl with a good job, but other than that, not many responsibilities. Treatment was hard, but I didn't have anything else to worry about but getting better. Now, my family is a huge concern to me.
All these things have added to the mix of things we're trying to figure out. At first when we realized that I was probably relapsing, I was not in a good frame of mind. I cried a lot and yes, I felt sorry for myself. And I worried about all of this stuff. There are so many unanswered questions. But for the last couple of weeks I'm in a better place, realizing that somehow it really will work out. I also had the realization (once again) that THIS IS IT. We each get one shot at life, and I'm smack dab in the middle of living mine. Whether I like everything about how it's playing out or not, this is my life. I can spend it being angry and bitter about things over which I have no control, or I can choose to focus on all the wonderful things I have in my life, and make the most of each day, in spite of what might be going on. I tried really hard to focus on those things the last time around, and I believe that it made a big difference. Lucky for me, I have a wonderful husband who also helps me to focus on those things. We are also blessed to be surrounded by wonderful family and friends, and with the Lord's help, we will figure it all out.
1) Find an LLMD We're Comfortable With:
First, we have to find a doctor, an LLMD with a lot of experience, who will be willing to take me on. We've been investigating different options that we've been able to find on our own, we've also been checking into references given to us by others. Additionally, I've checked in with a couple of resources that help with LLMD referrals. We were hoping to find someone closer than Seattle, which is where I travelled four years ago to be treated by an LLMD. I'm not sure that we're going to be able to find anyone we're comfortable with any closer than that. We need a doctor that is very familiar with Lyme Disease and it's co-infections. I've had this long enough, and I have enough co-infections to have a pretty complex case, although I believe that anyone with Lyme Disease has a pretty complex case. We just really worry about the level of experience with an LLMD. It's not enough just to throw antibiotics at this thing. And when you're talking about long-term, massive doses of antibiotics, it gets even trickier. My former LLMD used integrative medicine, a combination of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals or supplements all throughout my treatment. I really believe that this combination helped me get better faster, and with less complications and side effects from the antibiotics. We're hoping to be able to find someone who uses integrated medicine as well.
2) Figure Out How to Pay for It All
Finding a way to somehow come up with the money for me to start treatment again is probably our biggest obstacle. That old saying that goes, "beg, steal or borrow" might be very applicable here. We're not willing to steal, of course, but I think that we are to the point where we may be ready to beg and borrow. We've actually been looking into fundraising options and other ways to earn some extra cash. The cheapest treatment that we've found starts at $6,000 for a minimum 8 week commitment, but it goes up from there based on how sick you are, the type of treatment and medications required and how well you respond. That's not including travel expenses, lodging expenses, daycare or babysitting expenses for our kids, or any extra medical expenses that might arise out of treatment. Treatment makes you SICK, and it can require lots of other appointments and expensive tests to make sure that you're handling it all. It's not unusual for Lyme patients to spend $75,000-$100,000 out of pocket on treatment. We spent in that ballpark on my two-year treatment starting back in 2009. The only reason we were able to do that was because I had ownership in a business I was able to sell, and my husband worked two full time jobs the entire first three years of our marriage. It seems daunting, but I'm trying to remember that the Lord will provide. He always has, and He always will. Somehow. I'm also a big believer in that old adage that "the Lord helps those who help themselves," so we're praying hard and trying to get creative.
3) Continue On with Life Until Mommy is Better
The third thing we've got to figure out is how we do this while my husband stays in school. My husband is just finishing up his first year in Veterinary Medicine. It's a four year program, and it's all or nothing. If he had to withdraw from school for any reason, he would have to reapply, start over at square one, and we lose all the time, effort & money we've spent on this first year. Withdrawing from school is simply not an option for us. Having said that, it's going to be a tricky thing to coordinate me getting treatment, (and possibly being bedbound a great deal of the time it's going on) Bryan continuing in graduate school, getting the kids taken care of, and maintaining our life (bills, housework, etc.) all at the same time. When I first found out about Lyme Disease, and started on treatment, I was a single girl with a good job, but other than that, not many responsibilities. Treatment was hard, but I didn't have anything else to worry about but getting better. Now, my family is a huge concern to me.
All these things have added to the mix of things we're trying to figure out. At first when we realized that I was probably relapsing, I was not in a good frame of mind. I cried a lot and yes, I felt sorry for myself. And I worried about all of this stuff. There are so many unanswered questions. But for the last couple of weeks I'm in a better place, realizing that somehow it really will work out. I also had the realization (once again) that THIS IS IT. We each get one shot at life, and I'm smack dab in the middle of living mine. Whether I like everything about how it's playing out or not, this is my life. I can spend it being angry and bitter about things over which I have no control, or I can choose to focus on all the wonderful things I have in my life, and make the most of each day, in spite of what might be going on. I tried really hard to focus on those things the last time around, and I believe that it made a big difference. Lucky for me, I have a wonderful husband who also helps me to focus on those things. We are also blessed to be surrounded by wonderful family and friends, and with the Lord's help, we will figure it all out.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
That Little Black Rain Cloud in the Background
One of the hardest things about Lyme Disease is that even if you are lucky enough to successfully complete treatment and reclaim your life, it feels as though, somewhere in the background, constantly following and hanging over your head is this little black rain cloud. While it's little and very often unapparent to even close family and friends, it's always there...the possibility that your body may not be strong enough to continue to keep all that nasty bacteria at bay, and your active Lyme Disease will return in full force.
When I was able to wrap up my treatment in the fall of 2010, we knew that a relapse at some point was not only possible, but was in fact, very probable. If you have followed my blog you're probably aware that I, like so many people suffering with Chronic Lyme Disease, went for five-and-a-half long and painful years before I was finally steered in the right direction, (NOT by one of the myriad medical doctors that I had seen for my ever-declining health during all that long time,) but by a fellow Lymie, who herself along with her husband had been suffering with Lyme Disease for years. I was one of the lucky ones, and my test results were positive. This helped me immensely in terms of moving forward with the very expensive and difficult treatment process.
I am a huge believer that when it comes to major, life altering and chronic illnesses, you've got to use several criteria in any decision making process regarding your treatment plan. For us, in addition to trying to regain my health, our quality of life as a couple and my quality of life as a person, (treatment is horrible, and in fact, in the short term, many times A LOT worse than just being sick,) and our financial health as a family.
While the LAST thing anybody wants to be thinking about while dealing with a life-altering illness is money, financial considerations are front and center for most of us facing a major illness. I would say that Lyme Disease is even worse than your average illness in this respect, because of all the politics and the total chasm that has developed in the medical community over whether or not Chronic Lyme Disease even exists. This argument among medical professionals has created a loop hole through which insurance companies are able to jump to avoid being involved in the EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE treatment for Lyme Disease. This leaves those of us who have watched our lives crumble in front of us wondering how we'll even begin to start to try to regain our health. Like so many people struggling with this horrible illness, money was also a factor in our decision making process back in 2010. I just could not imagine myself on antibiotic treatment (with it's massive physical, emotional & financial demands) for 5 or even 10 years, which is sometimes the only way people with Chronic Lyme Disease are able to keep their debilitating symptoms at bay.
Long story short, (and trust me, it is a VERY long story,) after five-and-a-half years of unexplained illness, and another two years of intense and difficult treatment, my symptoms finally began to subside. I discovered wonderful nutritional supplements that helped immensely in terms of energy, strength and general wellness, and in October 2010, I finally made the decision to move on with my life. The last two plus years have been wonderful, with barely any thought of Lyme Disease. I still had fairly regular bouts with fatigue and joint pain, especially if I wasn't careful about getting enough rest, or if I pushed myself too hard. But with only these two symptoms, I considered myself extremely lucky, especially considering the length of time I had been sick before getting adequate treatment.
During those two wonderful years, and while I was finally healthy and off antibiotics, we were able to have two beautiful babies, who are the light and joy of my life. If for no other reason, all the physical pain, mental anguish and financial drain of a long treatment process was worth it for these two wonderful kids...and PLEASE...do not comment telling me about how we should get them tested because they might have Lyme Disease. DUH. I haven't made it ten years into this illness without a full knowledge and understanding of all the implications it has for me and the people I love most in this world. Thanks. I'm serious...PLEASE do not comment about that. I'm really tired of being asked if I'm aware that I could have passed it to them. YES. I AM FULLY AND PAINFULLY AWARE. And, that was part of our educated-decision-making-process before we started our family. We are very blessed and for the moment they are both very healthy and very happy babies.
Fast forward to 2012, and we had a very stressful summer with a major move, our second baby due, and my husband starting graduate school in Veterinary Medicine all within a three-week time frame in August 2012. The baby ended up coming early and was actually born on the day he started classes. Needless to say, it was an extremely stressful few months, and being in school these past six months has not been any less stressful. My husband's studies are extremely demanding, which means I've had to be home with the kids almost 18 hours a day by myself. Translated: I don't get any rest. Couple this with the fact that we are living in a new town where we don't have much of a support network per se, and that has made it more complicated for me. Needless to say, I was not careful in thinking about or planning for the amount of rest my body requires to stay healthy.
In October, after starting to heal and feel better from the birth of our second baby, I really thought I was on the mend and would "bounce back" any time, just as I had done a couple months after our first baby was born. Well, in mid-November that little black rain cloud that I talked about at the beginning of this post came to rest directly above me, and I started noticing for the first time in over two years, obvious symptoms of my own unique brand of Lyme Disease. (Did you know that each of us Lymies has our own unique brand of Lyme Disease? Well, we do. And if you have Lyme, you know exactly what I'm talking about. LD expresses itself differently in each person it infects, but over time you start to be acutely aware of the ways it expresses itself in you.) These symptoms were different than the fatigue and occasional joint pain I have come to expect and adapt to. These were blatant, clear signs that those terrible little bugs were starting to be active in my body again.
My husband and I started trying to make some changes, but just didn't have a lot of options. Still, it wasn't an everyday occurrence, and we were hopeful that with some rest and a little TLC, things might resolve. In December I unfortunately came down with the flu, or some sort of nasty bug, which took me a full 8 weeks to finally get rid of. After that, for the last month, I have been fighting with a steady increase in both the number and intensity of my old, pre-treatment laundry list of symptoms. In true Lyme Disease fashion, there are also several new symptoms thrown in, and for the past two weeks it's been very difficult for me to get out of bed or off the couch. I am also currently dealing with 15-20 different symptoms on a daily basis. If you are struggling with Lyme Disease, you will know exactly what I'm talking about.
It's a terrible thing to have to type, and I'm too disappointed and scared to ever be able to clearly articulate how I'm feeling in words, (oh wait...that might be another symptom...ha.) But I think it's obvious that these little critters have made a comeback, and we're going to have to figure out what to do to try to pull 'em out of hiding and kill 'em all off...AGAIN.
I will be blogging once again, since for me it's a healthy release. I really think it's therapeutic, since it's the only time I get to share my true feelings and thoughts, uninterrupted. It's also nice to have a permanent record of all the ups and downs of this crazy illness. Ironically, about six months ago, I started working to transfer all my blog into a book, since this has been a major part of my life for almost a decade. I have always loved scrapbooking and photo books, and journaling is not my strong suit. I was actually delighted to re-read most of this blog and find the detail with which I recorded so many things. I'm going to have to draw on a lot of the positivity, faith and hope of four years ago for this new path ahead. Please pray for our family, and wish me luck!
And with that, my fellow Lymies...I'm back. :(
When I was able to wrap up my treatment in the fall of 2010, we knew that a relapse at some point was not only possible, but was in fact, very probable. If you have followed my blog you're probably aware that I, like so many people suffering with Chronic Lyme Disease, went for five-and-a-half long and painful years before I was finally steered in the right direction, (NOT by one of the myriad medical doctors that I had seen for my ever-declining health during all that long time,) but by a fellow Lymie, who herself along with her husband had been suffering with Lyme Disease for years. I was one of the lucky ones, and my test results were positive. This helped me immensely in terms of moving forward with the very expensive and difficult treatment process.
I am a huge believer that when it comes to major, life altering and chronic illnesses, you've got to use several criteria in any decision making process regarding your treatment plan. For us, in addition to trying to regain my health, our quality of life as a couple and my quality of life as a person, (treatment is horrible, and in fact, in the short term, many times A LOT worse than just being sick,) and our financial health as a family.
While the LAST thing anybody wants to be thinking about while dealing with a life-altering illness is money, financial considerations are front and center for most of us facing a major illness. I would say that Lyme Disease is even worse than your average illness in this respect, because of all the politics and the total chasm that has developed in the medical community over whether or not Chronic Lyme Disease even exists. This argument among medical professionals has created a loop hole through which insurance companies are able to jump to avoid being involved in the EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE treatment for Lyme Disease. This leaves those of us who have watched our lives crumble in front of us wondering how we'll even begin to start to try to regain our health. Like so many people struggling with this horrible illness, money was also a factor in our decision making process back in 2010. I just could not imagine myself on antibiotic treatment (with it's massive physical, emotional & financial demands) for 5 or even 10 years, which is sometimes the only way people with Chronic Lyme Disease are able to keep their debilitating symptoms at bay.
Long story short, (and trust me, it is a VERY long story,) after five-and-a-half years of unexplained illness, and another two years of intense and difficult treatment, my symptoms finally began to subside. I discovered wonderful nutritional supplements that helped immensely in terms of energy, strength and general wellness, and in October 2010, I finally made the decision to move on with my life. The last two plus years have been wonderful, with barely any thought of Lyme Disease. I still had fairly regular bouts with fatigue and joint pain, especially if I wasn't careful about getting enough rest, or if I pushed myself too hard. But with only these two symptoms, I considered myself extremely lucky, especially considering the length of time I had been sick before getting adequate treatment.
During those two wonderful years, and while I was finally healthy and off antibiotics, we were able to have two beautiful babies, who are the light and joy of my life. If for no other reason, all the physical pain, mental anguish and financial drain of a long treatment process was worth it for these two wonderful kids...and PLEASE...do not comment telling me about how we should get them tested because they might have Lyme Disease. DUH. I haven't made it ten years into this illness without a full knowledge and understanding of all the implications it has for me and the people I love most in this world. Thanks. I'm serious...PLEASE do not comment about that. I'm really tired of being asked if I'm aware that I could have passed it to them. YES. I AM FULLY AND PAINFULLY AWARE. And, that was part of our educated-decision-making-process before we started our family. We are very blessed and for the moment they are both very healthy and very happy babies.
Fast forward to 2012, and we had a very stressful summer with a major move, our second baby due, and my husband starting graduate school in Veterinary Medicine all within a three-week time frame in August 2012. The baby ended up coming early and was actually born on the day he started classes. Needless to say, it was an extremely stressful few months, and being in school these past six months has not been any less stressful. My husband's studies are extremely demanding, which means I've had to be home with the kids almost 18 hours a day by myself. Translated: I don't get any rest. Couple this with the fact that we are living in a new town where we don't have much of a support network per se, and that has made it more complicated for me. Needless to say, I was not careful in thinking about or planning for the amount of rest my body requires to stay healthy.
In October, after starting to heal and feel better from the birth of our second baby, I really thought I was on the mend and would "bounce back" any time, just as I had done a couple months after our first baby was born. Well, in mid-November that little black rain cloud that I talked about at the beginning of this post came to rest directly above me, and I started noticing for the first time in over two years, obvious symptoms of my own unique brand of Lyme Disease. (Did you know that each of us Lymies has our own unique brand of Lyme Disease? Well, we do. And if you have Lyme, you know exactly what I'm talking about. LD expresses itself differently in each person it infects, but over time you start to be acutely aware of the ways it expresses itself in you.) These symptoms were different than the fatigue and occasional joint pain I have come to expect and adapt to. These were blatant, clear signs that those terrible little bugs were starting to be active in my body again.
My husband and I started trying to make some changes, but just didn't have a lot of options. Still, it wasn't an everyday occurrence, and we were hopeful that with some rest and a little TLC, things might resolve. In December I unfortunately came down with the flu, or some sort of nasty bug, which took me a full 8 weeks to finally get rid of. After that, for the last month, I have been fighting with a steady increase in both the number and intensity of my old, pre-treatment laundry list of symptoms. In true Lyme Disease fashion, there are also several new symptoms thrown in, and for the past two weeks it's been very difficult for me to get out of bed or off the couch. I am also currently dealing with 15-20 different symptoms on a daily basis. If you are struggling with Lyme Disease, you will know exactly what I'm talking about.
It's a terrible thing to have to type, and I'm too disappointed and scared to ever be able to clearly articulate how I'm feeling in words, (oh wait...that might be another symptom...ha.) But I think it's obvious that these little critters have made a comeback, and we're going to have to figure out what to do to try to pull 'em out of hiding and kill 'em all off...AGAIN.
I will be blogging once again, since for me it's a healthy release. I really think it's therapeutic, since it's the only time I get to share my true feelings and thoughts, uninterrupted. It's also nice to have a permanent record of all the ups and downs of this crazy illness. Ironically, about six months ago, I started working to transfer all my blog into a book, since this has been a major part of my life for almost a decade. I have always loved scrapbooking and photo books, and journaling is not my strong suit. I was actually delighted to re-read most of this blog and find the detail with which I recorded so many things. I'm going to have to draw on a lot of the positivity, faith and hope of four years ago for this new path ahead. Please pray for our family, and wish me luck!
And with that, my fellow Lymies...I'm back. :(
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