Tick Prevention

A quick update for anyone who has followed "My Walk With Lyme" I have been nearly symptom free for about 1 1/2 years. This is truly a miracle and I will go further into details in another blog post. (I took a long period off of writing because I was sick of writing about it and wanted to just think about something else, but I promise to write more in another post).

It's that time of year when everyone and their brother start finding ticks on their skin. This is particularly scary with the increased number of individuals being diagnosed with  Lyme disease. A disease that if not caught right away is extremely difficult to diagnose and unfortunately is still highly controversial; more on that later. For now, let's talk about how to better keep you and your family safe. 

DEET is the spray that we most commonly hear about and use for bug repellent. Although it does not kill ticks on contact, it is relatively safe for spraying on the skin. "Relatively" safe is the keyword here. In 2009, US News & World Report published an article entitled, 

Deet's Nastiness Extends to Humans. "DEET, the active ingredient in many bug repellents, doesn’t only cripple mosquitoes—it also meddles with mammals. A new study examining DEET’s effects on insects, mice and human proteins reports that the chemical interferes with a prominent central nervous system enzyme. This effect is magnified when exposure to DEET is combined with exposure to certain pesticides..."

An alternative and more effective way of killing ticks is Permethrin. Permethrin is derived from a chemical found in the chrysanthemum family of plants. IT SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED TO THE SKIN!!! Permethrin is more difficult to find than DEET so here is a link to purchase it on Amazon.

If you are going camping in the woods then you should really consider soaking/spraying the clothing items you will be wearing in Permethrin. You can find some helpful videos on treating your clothing at TickEncounter Resource Center.

The LymeNet Europe offers a list of pros and cons of using Permethrin and DEET

Pros and Cons:

• DEET needs to be applied regularly and can only work as it is evaporating. Permethrin works for weeks after it has dried inside clothing fibers.
• DEET is applied directly to the skin and can be absorbed through the skin. Permethrin is applied to clothing only and has limited contact to the skin.
• DEET has a detectable odor. Permethrin smells only until it dries.
• DEET does not kill or disable ticks and is a poor repellent. Permethrin works instantly and is extremely effective. It is the tick repellent of choice by the military.
• DEET can melt synthetic clothes like nylon. Permethrin causes no damage to any known cloth or synthetic fiber.
• DEET products are easy to find. Permethrin is hard to find and more expensive.
• DEET is an effective fish repellent.  (Permethrin is actually known to be very toxic to fish!)

Tick Prevention 101

1.  What to Wear -  Wear light colored clothing so that you can better see dark colored ticks. Tuck your pants into your socks making it more difficult for the tick to reach your skin.

2. Spray your clothes NOT YOUR SKIN with Permethrin.

3. Use essential oils on skin.

BUG REPELLENT - The Natural Way

As someone whose neurological system has been effected in a major way from ticks, I certainly don't want to use a product that could potentially continue to effect my neurological system. AND, I certainly do not want my children effected in a negative way. I am constantly spraying my kids for bugs during the summer. So, I choose to use bug & tick repellent the natural way. 

TOOLS

Dark Glass Spray Bottle (DO NOT USE PLASTIC, Essential Oils are so strong they can cause the chemicals in the plastic to mix with your recipe)

Distilled or Purified Water or Vodka (keeps sprayer from getting clogged)

Carrier Oil such as Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, or Sweet Almond Oil 

Essential Oil(s) - The two leading 100% Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil companies often have a bug repellent oil. Consider adding in cedar wood, geranium, and peppermint oil (about 20-30 drops each)

In a 4 oz dark glass bottle place the drops of essential oil(s). Add 2 TBLs of carrier oil. Fill the bottle with Distilled Water or Vodka. Shake Before Spraying. Spray on skin and clothing. 

***Many of you have already been attacked and need to know about proper removal. Please check out my post on  "Proper Tic Removal."

My Walk With Lyme & Kids

A lot is written about what it is like living with the late stage Lyme, but I haven't seen much about what it's like for the family members and friends. I can't really speak for them and their feelings; for certain it varies for each person. However, what I can share is how my children respond.

My kids, like many, wear their feelings on their sleeve.

Bye Bye Bugs

Last year I wrote an article about Tick Prevention. There is some really helpful information on that post and worth going back and reading. However, I feel inclined to update you on some information about repelling bugs, especially ticks! 

DEET is the spray that we most commonly hear about and use. Although it does not kill ticks on contact, it is "relatively" safe for spraying on the skin.

Pros and Cons:

• DEET needs to be applied regularly and can only work as it is evaporating. Permethrin works for weeks after it has dried inside clothing fibers.
• DEET is applied directly to the skin and can be absorbed through the skin. Permethrin is applied to clothing only and has limited contact to the skin.
• DEET has a detectable odor. Permethrin smells only until it dries.
• DEET does not kill or disable ticks and is a poor repellent. Permethrin works instantly and is extremely effective. It is the tick repellent of choice by the military.
• DEET can melt synthetic clothes like nylon. Permethrin causes no damage to any known cloth or synthetic fiber.
• DEET products are easy to find. Permethrin is hard to find and more expensive.
• DEET is an effective fish repellent.  (Permethrin is actually known to be very toxic to fish!)

"Relatively" safe is the keyword here. In 2009, US News & World Report published an article entitled, 

Deet's Nastiness Extends to Humans

"DEET, the active ingredient in many bug repellents, doesn’t only cripple mosquitoes—it also meddles with mammals. A new study examining DEET’s effects on insects, mice and human proteins reports that the chemical interferes with a prominent central nervous system enzyme. This effect is magnified when exposure to DEET is combined with exposure to certain pesticides..."

As someone whose neurological system has been effected in a major way from ticks, I certainly don't want to use a product that could potentially continue to effect my neurological system. AND, I certainly do not want my children effected in a negative way. I am constantly spraying my kids for bugs during the summer. So, being the Essential Oil Mama that I have become I am using bug repellant the natural way. 

BUG REPELLANT - The Natural Way

There are a lot of variations of bug repellant out there using essential oils. I am going to list the tools you need and a couple of the recipes. 

TOOLS

Dark Glass Spray Bottle (DO NOT USE PLASTIC, Essential Oils are so strong they can cause the chemicals in the plastic to mix with your recipe)

Distilled or Purified Water

RECIPE 1 (I am currently using this one, and having several friends use it as well. I will keep you posted if it needs tweaked - SUPER CHEAP TO MAKE THIS!!!!)

• 50 drops of
• 4 oz Distilled Water

In a 4 oz dark glass bottle place about 50 drops of . Fill the bottle with Distilled Water. Shake Before Spraying. Spray on skin and clothing. Safe for all ages. Lasts up to 5 hours(if using a smaller spray bottle it's about 12 drops of oil to 1 oz water)

RECIPE 2 (found this recipe on the Yankee Homestead Blog I have not tried. If I find that I need something stronger than TerraShield I will try adding these oils in. Also, if you plan on using Recipe 2 on children, you need to add 2 tsp of carrier oil such as Fractionated Coconut Oil so it doesn't burn their skin.)

• 25-30 drops Purify
• 25-30 drops TerraShield
• 20-25 drops Peppermint
• 25 drops Cedarwood
• 4 oz Water

In a 4 oz dark glass bottle place the drops of oils. Fill the bottle with water. Shake Before Spraying. 

Dr. Oz - Speaks Out About Lyme

I seriously started crying as I watched the 5 minute segment Dr. Oz did on Lyme Disease. Sound a little overly dramatic? Let me share with you why...
1. Tons of doctors and misdiagnosis.
2. More people are being diagnosed and more medical professionals are openly admitting that they don't know what they are looking for.
3. When they talked about how Avril Lavigne's close friends didn't believe or trust her diagnosis, I know exactly how that feels and how painful that is when you are suffering.
4. Antibiotics don't always work and not everyone gets a rash.

Let me explain these 4 points. I have been to tons of doctors and spent thousands of dollars trying to figure out what was happening to my body and how to treat it. Insurance doesn't cover Lyme after a month of antibiotics. It doesn't cover Lyme Literate Doctors. It doesn't cover the supplements that your body needs after it has been attacked by multiple bacteria that come along with tick borne disease.

The good news is that more medical professionals and the Center for Disease Control are admitting that there are way more cases of Lyme/Tick Borne Disease than originally thought. When Dr. Oz and an infectious disease doctor go on television and start talking about the misdiagnosis and what happens to people I feel hope that with more exposure, more research will be done and maybe in the future others won't suffer in the ways that those with Lyme do today.

Avril Lavigne's close friends were skeptical of her diagnosis. When a person is in severe pain, to the point that they can't walk, the last thing they need is for their close friends and family questioning their diagnosis or saying they don't have it. What we need is support and lots of it, for possibly a long time. Recovery doesn't happen over night; especially when it often takes months, maybe years to get diagnosed.

Hearing medical professionals say on National Television that antibiotics don't always work and not everyone gets a rash is music to my ears. They even mentioned this briefly on the Today show. For me, my symptoms started with the fatigue and muscle pain. Antibiotics are great if its caught early on. They can be extremely helpful. But they don't always cure. When a person gets a tick borne disease a host of other infections and bacteria often accompany it. They ravish your body and often need other treatments beside antibiotics. Something western medicine is not used to.

If you want to watch the segment on Dr. Oz you can by clicking here.

**IMPORTANT TO NOTE....Physicians in Missouri will often say,  "We don't have Lyme in MO. Lots of testing has been done and we don't have Lyme." I don't know. What I do know is that we have a host of other tick borne diseases and Lyme seems to be a catch all name. If you experience Lyme Symptoms, don't let that statement keep you from pursuing further testing. Find a Lyme Literate Doctor and get the help you need.

Celebrity With Lyme - Avril Lavigne

I wanted to share this story about Avril Lavigne. Often when celebrities are effected word starts getting out. I am thankful that Avril is telling her story. Below is a direct quote from Lyme Disease Challenge on Face Book. Want to make that clear for copyright.

"Why a Lyme Disease Challenge? Because even though Lyme Disease is the fastest growing epidemic in the world, patients, including, celebrities experience significant difficulty getting a proper diagnosis and effective treatment In People's cover story, Singer Avril Lavigne opened up about the devastating disease that kept her bedridden for months – and how she's fighting to recover. "I had no idea a bug bite could do this," says Lavigne, who believes she was bit by a tick sometime last spring. "I was bedridden for five months." "I felt like I couldn't breathe, I couldn't talk and I couldn't move," she says. "I thought I was dying." "There were definitely times I couldn't shower for a full week because I could barely stand," she says. "It felt like having all your life sucked out of you." Lavign describes how doctors dismissed her symptoms, blaming it on dehydration and exhaustion from her touring schedule. Like so many other patients, doctors refused to even test her for Lyme and when finally tested, standard labs failed to pick up the infection. Sadly, those suffering from Lyme Disease are often left to figure out the root cause of debilitating symptoms on their own due to unreliable tests and prevailing misconceptions. Dr. Richard Horowitz was interviewed by People Magazine this morning: http://www.people.com/people/special/0,,20826806,00.html (53 minute mark) During the interview, Dr. Horowitz explained the fallacies of standard lab tests for Lyme Disease that were developed to detect an antibody response to a single strain of bacteria when there are hundreds that impact humans (100 in the United States and 300 worldwide). Dr. Horowitz also explained that potentially deadly tick-borne pathogens can be transmitted in a matter minutes, not hours as some experts suggest. Based upon recent studies conducted by the CDC, Dr. Horowtiz states that there are between 1-2 million new cases of Lyme Disease in United States alone. Dr. Horowitz explained that if caught early, 75-80% are cured. Unfortunately, late stage disseminated infections cause chronic symptoms and are much more difficult to treat. Lavigne states that after treating for months (far longer than recommended by the IDSA, who claim you are "cured" after only a few weeks of antibiotics) she is now 80% better. While the Lyme Disease Challenge is fun, it is also extremely important because we are spreading awareness to dispel misconceptions about Lyme Disease and raising funds to support better diagnostic tests and more effective treatments."

For more about Avril Lavigne's struggle:

http://www.people.com/…/avril-lavigne-lyme-disease-bedridden

http://abcnews.go.com/…/avril-lavigne-struggle-lyme-disease…

Living With Chronic Pain

As I watch the snow fall this morning (one of my favorite things in all of the world), I am all to aware physically of how the white blanket effects me and others suffering with pain. The snow covers the ground in amazing beauty, but the cold air that accompanies brings a wealth of pain. 

Living with Chronic Pain is something that is hard to explain to people. I am not sure I have the words to describe it. Mostly, you just learn to function and determine not to let it rule your life. However, the truth is, no matter how much determination you have there is only so much you can do. When pain killers don't work, and you have doused yourself in oils and heat packs, you just look out the window and thank God for the beauty of the snow and that you have a warm home to sit and watch it from. 

Understanding a friend or family member who lives with Chronic Pain can be next to impossible. I found this list and I think it is helpful, because it says things pretty well.  

Trials / Temptations - Matt Chandler

I woke up this morning in pain. Could hardly move. I started sobbing, I was so frustrated. And then, I listened to this message. It's long, but it is full of God's word and exactly what I needed to hear today.
Matt Chandler - Trials/Temptations
James 1:2-4 "2 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4 and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing."

Paleo f(x)

I am so happy to share that I made it to bible study this morning!! Something I have been praying I would be able to do. It is no small feat; just trying to concentrate for 2 hours is challenging. So that is my "praise report" of the day.

On another note…
A friend of mine sent me this blog post about a teenager battling Chronic Lyme and how the Paleo f(x) diet has helped her. I really don't know much about this, but one thing I did find on their blog is about sugar addiction. I know from personal experience that sugar is BAD for people with Lyme. It is something that I go in spurts of really wanting, and when I give in I always pay for it. I would be very interested to hear from other Lymies who have found relief from a sugar free and or Paleo diet. Here is a video from the Paleo f(x) blog.
      "In this Paleo f(x)™ talk, Dr. Nicole Avena explains the concept of sugar addiction. Studies have shown that excess intake of carbohydrates can produce behaviors and changes in the brain that resemble drug addiction."

Faith Made Stronger

I want to encourage you to call upon the name of Jesus. If you are are hurting. If you feel week and need to be healed. If your faith is needs to be made stronger. Call on Jesus. In the name of Jesus there is strength, there is hope, there is compassion. 

 Ephesians 3:20-21

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

The lyrics to "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Hillsong United are powerful. 

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

[6x]
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

Oh, Jesus, you're my God!

I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

Watching thousands of people lift their hands and sing these words to the only one who can bring us through this life gives me chills. I hope this encourages you as it has me. May our faith be made stronger in the presence of our savior. 

Essential Oils for Arthritis

My arthritic symptoms are so bad lately. I know I keep mentioning this but the pain is terrible. I have decided that I am going to start an essential oil protocol to treat my swelling and achey joints. Here is the plan that I found on a site entitled Mama Balance. The oils listed are specifically recommended for arthritis.

Oils for Arthritis  -  Essential oils for arthritis include frankincense, rosemary, marjoram, peppermint, wintergreen, frankincense, eucalyptus and cypress (to increase circulation).  Oregano and Clove can work together to provide natural arthritis pain relief.                                              

Topical Application Blend 1 (apply to area as needed) 2 drops Peppermint, 2 drops wintergreen (diluted), 2 drops frankincense, 2 drops eucalyptus, 2 drops cypress                        

Topical Application Blend 2 (apply to bottoms of feet twice daily) 3 drops oregano, 3 drops On  Gurard (I use the On Guard specifically for my immune system)                                                                     **Deep Blue Rub on soar areas for relief

Navigating the Pain

Navigating through the pain of Lyme Disease is overwhelming. Lately, I have been so up and down with pain that it is wearing me out physically and mentally. There is extreme pain in my joints and my body shakes for long periods of time. I have moments where I want to move to a warm climate where the weather is steady year round because I feel like I have arthritis. If you know me, moving somewhere like this is totally not me. I love the seasons; even the rain and snow.

So, why 2 1/2 years after being bit by a tic do I still have such severe pain? The main reason that scientists believe is that there are residual effects from contracting Lyme. When a person is bit by a tic the bacteria can be killed with antibiotics. What people don't realize is that a person's immune system is likely lowered and they are susceptible to other diseases. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that,
            "Approximately 10 to 20% of patients treated for Lyme disease with a recommended 2–4 week course of antibiotics will have lingering symptoms of fatigue, pain, or joint and muscle aches. In some cases, these can last for more than 6 months. Although often called "chronic Lyme disease," this condition is properly known as "Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome" (PTLDS).
The exact cause of PTLDS is not yet known. Most medical experts believe that the lingering symptoms are the result of residual damage to tissues and the immune system that occurred during the infection."

The CDC, in 2013, increased the number of cases of Lyme Disease as 10 times higher than in years past. Many believe this estimate is not even close to the undiagnosed number of cases.
           "About 300,000 Americans each year are diagnosed with Lyme disease, according to new estimate released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week. That number is 10 times higher than the number of cases reported annually to the CDC."

A comprehensive plan to treating Lyme is essential. I believe antibiotics alone will not cure you if you are suffering with PTLDS. Most likely you will end up with other issues from long term use of antibiotics. I personally am on a comprehensive treatment plan to address the other physical side effects I now have. The issue is that regardless of being treated I still hurt, and bad!! Some days are awesome and then I suddenly I feel like I have been run over by a truck. There does not seem to be a clear cut path to recovery. I am following the best route I know to for now.

Never Alone

I rarely know how to start my posts, but I know I want to share. I want to share my story and updates of my walk with Lyme Disease so that others who are trying to navigate through Lyme, either themselves or with someone they love, know that they are not alone. Their symptoms are real. The pain is tremendous. The journey is very often long and treacherous. That being said, I believe with all my heart that there is hope!

Today starts my 6 month of treatment with Longevity Health. It has been up and down, up and down, up and down. My last post was about nearly throwing in the towel, but I decided to stay in the ring and go the distance (yes, I am a bit of a boxing or really UFC fan if you can't tell by the terminology).

This past weekend I was sick, my husband was sick, my child was sick and it was my birthday. Life around here was not fun and a part of me wanted to be resentful since it was my birthday. However, I still had a great birthday! I had a great party with my family and my dad, whom I am so blessed to share my birthday with the night before. The day of my birthday, although I felt bad and bummed out because of it, was still blessed.  I had my favorite wine, gluten free pizza and watched a great movie, Nocturna,  at home with my family. The movie is a great example of how we are never alone.

Even in the darkest hour, I, we, have someone with us; who is watching over us. I believe it's God who is watching over us. And I believe everyone faces the dark in their life. Regardless of if it is physical, emotional, relational etc., there are and always will be dark times. Times that we are scared and life is hard to face. We choose how we face the dark.

In the bible Christ's disciples had many opportunities to face dark times where they were scared and uncertain what was going to happen. One such time was in Matthew 14:22-31 they were in their boat while a storm was raging. Jesus started walking toward them, but they couldn't recognize him they were so afraid. But Jesus told them not to be afraid and that it was him. He even beckoned Peter, his disciple, to get out of the boat and walk toward him in the midst of the storm. This was a seemingly crazy request. Drowning likely was imminent. What did Peter do? He obeyed! He got scared and had to cry out for help, but he obeyed regardless of the outcome. The scripture goes on to say that the disciples worshiped God. He was watching over them the entire time.

We don't always make it back to the boat and God doesn't always catch us the way we want him too. Sometimes it is so dark we are like the boy in Nocturna constantly afraid. But God, is always with us. Asking us to trust him. To not give up. To know he is in control. Even if I never get completely well, I pray that I have faith to praise God in the midst of the storm. I am pretty sure I have written about this before and that most likely I posted this song. But I am posting it again because life's storms come and go, but we choose how we respond - in fear or in trust.

Not Throwing in the Towel

Happy New Year! It's 2015 and I am so thankful to say that my health is continuing to improve.

I started treatment with Longevity Health 4 months ago. The first month was so hard, the second month I saw improvements, the 3rd month was really hard. During the 3rd month I was super dizzy and fell several times. The falling was probably due to lack of sleep and an herb that I tried without consulting with my herbalist; won't make that mistake again. I also had major detox sweats during the 3rd month. I sweat a lot at night and always have, but the sweat I was sweating at night was so putrid. Not a body order smell - just nasty! Of course with detoxing, symptoms intensify. I had almost a week where I couldn't drive or do much of anything and I had to get back out my cane. I felt BAD and wanted to throw in the towel. Luckily, I seem to be on the up swing again. I sent my blood in and found that my body wasn't absorbing nutrients like it should. The doctor made adjustments to my medicines which seems to be helping.

Beside improvement of health in 2015, I have been using essential oils for nearly a year now. I use them daily and have found them very helpful in a lot of different ways regarding health. I have used various kinds of essential oils that are 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG).

My next appointment with Longevity Health is scheduled for March. Until then, I will continue with treatment from Longevity Health, OnDamed, Chinese Herbs and essential oils and hope to have continued improvement.

What Did I Expect?

Let me start by giving thanks that for each new day that God gives me. It would be easy for me to use this blog completely as a means to complain and express how horrible things can be. However, there is a bigger picture and I don't want to get stuck on the speck that I don't like. That being said, I also believe it is important to be real and share that sometimes circumstances in life just suck.

The past couple of weeks have been particularly difficult for me physically and emotionally. Unfortunately these two things thrive off of one another. I can feel bad, get upset about feeling bad and in return symptoms (especially neurological) get worse. This is why I recommend that anyone with Lyme have a psychologist they meet with regularly! It's a tough road to recovery and mental health plays a vital role.

For the past several weeks my symptoms of dizziness, shaking, and fatigue have been bad. I have felt like I have had the flu but worse. Several times I was so dizzy that I fell over. Of course with falling and major painful body aches I was afraid I was going to need to get my cane out again; something I haven't had to use for over a month now! Perhaps one of the most frustrating things was that I could barely get my kids ready for school, and I couldn't get them there because I couldn't drive in the condition I was in. This meant calling on others to help me out, and that is always difficult for me.

Asking people for help is not something anyone really wants to do. It means admitting that you are not completely self-sufficient and that you can't do life on your own. I personally HATE calling my friends and family and asking for help. I know it is inconvenient for them. Plus, it lets them know that I am not 100% and that is a bummer too. There is the good news: asking for help kills pride and gives others a chance to serve. Which of course is biblical and essential for spiritual growth and character building.

Since I have been doing so so so much better over the past couple of months, I wanted to brush my continued struggle under the rug. I wanted everyone, including myself, to believe I was well, that treatment was exactly what I needed, and no one need be concerned anymore. Treatment is exactly what I needed, but being 100% after a few months is unrealistic with the way that Lyme has ravished my body. My latest tests results showed improvement in areas! YAY!! However, the Spirochetes are still present. I am still going to Herx and sometimes at this point in the game and with the supplements/meds I am on, a Herx can last a couple of weeks.

Thanksgiving

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 
- Romans 15:13

My mother-in-law has been an amazing help to myself and my family for the past 6 months. She graciously comes and stays with us for several weeks at a time in order to help me get the rest I need to heal quicker. I can't begin to sing her praises and thank God for selflessness. A couple of weeks ago she went back home to do some needed work at her house and to give my husband and I some time alone while my parents took the kids to Disney. As life's twists and turns would have it, this past Thursday night she fell and broke her hip. This was extremely distressing news as she was in incredible pain and we live so far away we aren't able to be with her.

I am unable to drive long distances, I had been sick for 2 days prior, and my husband couldn't take off work. So, immediately my mom offered to drop her plans and take me to be with my mother-in-law and help me find her a recovery center. I was really worried about finding her a good recovery home that didn't make her feel like she was in a nursing home per se'. My sister and my friend loving loving arranged to take care of my kids until my husband was off work. I can't begin to tell you how thankful I was for family and friends that were willing to help out!

On the way to the hospital we stopped and ate dinner. Now, just so you know, eating out is a mess for people with Celiac!! Luckily a lot of places now have allergy lists for their food, but somehow I misread something or my food got cross-contaminated and I immediately got sick. Ugh!!! My mom had never seen this happen and she was stunned what an affect gluten can have on a person.

Mom and I arrived at the hospital that evening. My mother-in-law was in so much pain and could hardly move. We were able to pray with her and visit for awhile before we left for the night. Yet another friend graciously housed us for the night and fixed us breakfast in the morning. That night the trip and the gluten had really taken a tole on my body, so I had to go straight to bed.

The next day was a whirl wind visiting my mother-in-law and trying to find her the best place to stay. Let me just express to you how good God is!!! My mom just happened to think to call a friend that was familiar with several of the care centers around town, because her friend visits people who are sick. We called her and she immediately narrowed our list of 12 places down to 2. On top of that, when we went to see the place the admissions director just happened to be there (it was a Saturday, her day off). She took the time to take us around and explain how things worked. She was so very helpful and we felt like God had just made one of my primary goals of coming super easy. To top that off one of my mom's really good friends had gone through recovery at this place and also sang its praises.

When we got back to the hospital my mother-in-law was so relieved to hear we had found a good place and was nearly looking forward to going to the care center. Such a blessing, because as you can imagine no one wants to have to go to a "nursing home" and no one wants to put their loved one in a "nursing home." We were able to leave with my mother-in-law in good spirits and assurance that God was taking care of her.

Since then…this week has been really difficult. I realized that I am no where near able to travel that far right now. My body has been hurting and my symptoms have been worse. Luckily I have friends who helped me get my kids to school and take care of them for me. I have gotten some much needed rest and started to get my stamina back.

This week couldn't have made me more thankful for the joy and peace that comes with trusting in God. He feels me with hope, even when circumstances don't look hopeful. He gives me the strength to face every moment of every day; something very challenging when living with Lyme. He places people in our path to guide, help, and support when we need it most. This Thanksgiving I am most thankful the good and gracious God I serve.

Grumbles & Gratitude

I haven't written for sometime and there are always mixed reasons when I don't write. Usually, it is because I am trying to spend all of my healthy moments with my family and then when I don't feel good, I just don't feel like writing.

The past couple of weeks I have been struggling to look at the sunshine through the rain. My health has been doing so so so much better. However, what seems to be happening when I feel better is that I expect myself to do more, meanwhile forgetting that I am not 100%. Then I get super frustrated when I realize I am not 100% and that pacing myself and patience are still vital to full recovery. Stay with me while I go on a grumbling rant for a moment…
I am tired of needing help. I am tired of not being able to clean my own house. I am tired of depending on others to help me. I am tired of doctors appointments and drinking nasty things to help heal my body. I am tired of having to say "no" to 4 possible job positions in the past several months, because I am not at a place in life where I can work yet. I am tired of being negative and snippy and losing my temper because I can't seem to express to people what is going on with my emotions. Sometimes appearing well is almost worse than appearing sick, because it is almost impossible for people to understand or know that I am not 100%. And quite frankly, I don't want for anyone to know I am not well yet.

I really believe it can be helpful to express grumbles, but to stay focused on them is not in any way shape or form beneficial. So let me share with you just a few things that I am so thankful for…
I am thankful I serve a living God! I am thankful for salvation and the hope of eternal life with a God who loves us even in our darkest hours! I am thankful for the peace that comes from the Holy Spirit! I am thankful for strength from the word of God! I am thankful for an amazing husband who is so patient and loving regardless of his own stresses in life! I am thankful for 3 healthy and happy kiddos! I am thankful for family and friends who are willing to give up their own time and schedules to help out my family! I am thankful good doctors who have not given up on my recovery! I am thankful for a home and food to eat! I am thankful that my heater and air conditioner work! I am thankful I have been able to go on dates, attend church, and even the Irish Dancers Xmas Concert without getting super sick!!

These blessings far outweigh anything that I could ever begin to grumble about, and I didn't even begin to write the half of them. Yes, life is full of disappointment and hardships and sickness. We live in a broken world. But friends, JOY comes in the morning. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 138

Thanksgiving and Praise

Of David AND now of Kelly Myers And hopefully You too!

1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;
    for you have exalted your name and your word
    above everything.[a]
3 On the day I called, you answered me,
    you increased my strength of soul.[b]

4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth.
5 They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly;
    but the haughty he perceives from far away.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand,
    and your right hand delivers me.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

My Supplement/Medicines

Chronic Lyme is not only most likely under diagnosed but it also is very difficult to treat. That statement has all sorts of controversy in it, so let me just say that this post is directed to those who believe in Chronic Lyme and or who have been diagnosed with it. I have been through several treatments and I want to share with you my latest and why I think it might be of help to you.

First as you may know from previous posts that I went through a series of antibiotic treatments that seemed to help for a while, but in the end just left me with a bad digestive system. Then in the Spring of 2014 I had regressed so badly that I decided to begin an alternative treatment plan. This is something that was very foreign to me and not something I would have typically done as I have always grown up with "western medicine."

I am still doing my ONDAMED and seeing my Chinese Herbalist.

Sweet Relief

It has been almost 2 months since I went to Longevity Health Center in Atlanta and I am happy to say that I am experiencing relief in my symptoms.

During the first month of treatment my symptoms got worse and I felt horrible. I had tics that were manifested in a grunting sound. They would go on and on. They were uncontrollable and very uncomfortable often causing pain in my chest. I had an ONDAMED treatment to help reduce the tics. It took about a week and then they started subsiding. Praise the Lord I am rarely experiencing them now.

In September I sent my blood to Longevity Health Center to be looked at for the 1 month review. Things looked better but the spirochetes were still present. They changed my treatment up and have been focusing on my kidneys and mercury this month. The past two weeks have been the most relief I have experienced in a long long time. I have had more energy. For the first time in over a year I was able to go to church and not be a shaking mess from the sounds and stimulation. I have not had a seizure in a month. This weekend I went to a ball room dancing class and watched 59 kids for 3 hours go nuts at Flipz USA; I am paying for that today, but that I was even able to make it through was amazing.

Today I am resting because I am tired out and my body is responding to the tiredness. BUT…I feel better than I did!!! God is working in my body. I don't know what the next set of treatments will be like, but I am not worried about tomorrow - I am enjoying today.

Living the Real Life

I am glad, I am sad, My facial spasms make me mad.

I would like to tell you that everyday I live I am extremely thankful for all of the blessings God has given me. I would like to tell you that I never focus on the negative and that each morning I jump out of bed with a renewed hope. I think this is the face I try to show people but so I often I am just posing. I am the exact person that Brennan Manning talks about in his book "Posers, Fakers and Wannabes".

I realized

3 Strikes Your Out OR 3rd Times a Charm

Well, it has been about a month since I last wrote. That's a sure way to get people to forget about my blog!!! 
As, you may or may not know over the course of the past year and a half I have tried to get into the Mayo not once, not twice, but three times. The first time was before I got really really sick and was admitted to Barnes Jewish. I was rejected that time I think, because I had not exhausted all of the resources around me. Then the second time was recently. I thought for sure I would get in because I had exhausted all of the resources around me. Within a week of applying to the neurology department I was sent a letter stating that there was nothing more they could do, but if my doctor wanted to talk with the "on-call" doctor about it they could. So, one of my doctors offices called and finally convinced the neurology department to take another look at my case. In no time at all I received a third letter stating they would not see me.

I believe it is easy to look at this as 3 Strikes I am out, there is nothing more for me to do but sit in the dug out and feel dejected. OR, I can choose to look at the Mayo rejecting me 3 times as "3rd Times a Charm" and here is why…

Over the course of the past couple of years I have been blessed to attend a retreat in Atlanta, GA for mom's with adoptive kids called Created 4 Care. The first year one of the leaders of the retreat mentioned how she had been so sick and couldn't walk and had to hire help etc. I wasn't  personally to that state quite yet, but I was very close. When I inquired what she had, I found out she had had Lyme. Shortly after  the retreat, I too was diagnosed with Lyme. This past year I attended the retreat again and the lady was doing awesome. I found out she had never even been treated with antibiotics; even though it took her a year she was all better. AMAZING! I wanted to know where she had gone and what treatment she had done.

In the meantime at the retreat, right after worship, the lady sitting next to me asked me if I had Lyme. Kind of an out of no where question! I told her yes and she proceeded to tell me she had been looking for me because someone had mentioned me to her and that I had Lyme. She was excited to have happened to sit by me (this is not a small conference people) and wanted to talk to me about herself and her friend's experience with Lyme. She had been struggling for years and but she had just gone to a doctor with her friend there in Atlanta and was thinking about going to see him. Her friend had had Lyme and was better after about a year of treatment. Guess what, she went to the same doctor that conference leader had gone to.

So I took this all in and thought it was cool and that I should see what kind of treatment this doctor did and if there was anything like it in MO, because GA is kind of far to be going to the doctor. When I got back I started some alternative treatments and seemed to be getting some better but progress was slow, which is why I finally decided to try the Mayo. I was super unsure about the Mayo and I kept praying and having friends pray about getting in because I believed that if that is where I needed to be God would get me in. However, I felt very very unsettled about it. When I didn't get in I started thinking about this place in GA and started considering going there as a real possibility. I was not content to sit in the dug out just because the Mayo wouldn't get me in. I was not content to go back on antibiotics that would continue to destroy my gut and not heal my Lyme. I was not content to be told that my problems were neuro-psychological when I had therapists telling me they did not believe this to be my issue.

So, I made an appointment and I went to GA. It was about an 11 hour trip that turned into about 13 hours. This might not sound bad but I don't travel well these days so by the time we arrived I was a shaking mess. On the up side it was great to actually be able to spend one-on-one time with my husband for that many hours with no interruptions. I think the appointment is something I am going to have to write about in another post because it is too interesting to not give you details. Right now, I am off to rest. Please check back soon, I have so many blessings to share.