One of the things I love the most about muscle testing or A.R.T. is that my Lyme Disease treatment or protocol changes often to adapt to the changes happening in my body. I think this method works really well for me because I get to find out what to take, when to take it, how much to take, and it's not a guessing game any more. I finally feel like I know that each and every pill or drop I ingest is actually doing something beneficial for me and I no longer feel like I'm just taking handfuls of pills and hoping that something will work. Instead I'm taking just what I need and it is working.
This is my current treatment plan and it's the smallest, easiest protocol I've had since I started treating in 2008. YAY!!!!
Morning
4 drops MC-BAB-1
1 dropper Jernigan Yeast Ease
1/2 tsp. Neuro-Antitox II Basic
- Apple Cider Vinegar formula
Pekana Basic Detoxification & Drainage Kit
-15 drop each apo-Hepat, Itires, and Renelix
1 tsp. Silvercillin Liquid
2 Ashwagandha 400mg
1 Unique E -400 IU
3 IsoCourt
Afternoon
2 Food Based Multi Vits
3 IsoCourt
1 dropper Jernigan Yeast Ease
Night
1
Melatonin SR 3 mg.
1 Low Dose Naltrexone 4.5mg
4 drops MC-BAB-1
1/2 tsp. Neuro-Antitox II Basic
- Apple Cider Vinegar formula
1 tsp. Silvercillin Liquid
1 dropper Jernigan Yeast Ease
1 Dr. Ohhira Probiotic
1 energetix Flora Synergy
1/2 tsp Ferrum phos homeopathic remedy
in 1/4 C. water then take 1 tsp. under tongue each night
once a week take 12 pellets instead
I'd love to hear what you're taking that works and if you've taken any of these things. Questions and comments always welcome, but remember if you don't have anything nice to say it might be better not to say anything :-)
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
Fantastic News!
I've been on the new protocol that includes Bicillin injections for just over 5 weeks now. For the most part I have been feeling really good. The twitching has stopped and I can feel my symptoms lifting. I'm sleeping less, have more energy and the brain fog is lifting!!!! Hooooraaayyyy!
It's been really nice finding out that underneath all the layers of sickness and funk I'm still there and I'm still me. As my energy returns I'm discovering just how deeply this illness has effected my entire life. I hadn't fully realized that it permeated every single moment of my life. I had grown so accustomed to lyme "normal" that I didn't realize I was so tired I was moving though space and every moment of my life in a way that wasn't fully authentic. As my symptoms lift I find, for example, that I can suddenly climb stairs without effort, in fact I can bounce up them again. My week little voice has got it's uumph and confidence back. I'm feeling creative and I'm up and moving around most of the day. I even went swimming and to a festival! It's been really nice to discover myself shinning through as the fog begins to lift more then it has in years. When it happens I sometimes think to myself, "Oh yeah, here I am and check me out, I'm freaking awesome!" It's a really, really good feeling.
SO...I had an appointment with my doctor last night and we retested all of my issues and my supplements. The results were surprising. Both the doctor and I we expecting improvements in both how I feel and in my numbers, but we had no idea how good it would be.
Remember that 1= really bad problem 3= active and needs work 5= barely detectable 0= not present
In other words, the higher the number the healthier I am, but the ultimate goal is all zeros.
Test Dec '11 1/12 4/12 5/12 7/5
Lyme 4 4 2 1 0 (we triple checked)
Babesia 3 2 2 3 5
Bartonella 3 2 2 3 0
Parasites 0 1 5 0 0
Viruses 4 3 3 4 4
Mycoplasma 4 4 4 4 5
Yeast/mold/fungi 3 3 4 4 3
Bacteria 3 2 3 4 2
Neurotoxins 4 4 4 3
Metals 4 4 4 3
Interpretation: WAAAAAAHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! (happy dance)
After starting the Bicillin I started feeling better and better until about a week ago when I started to have some symptoms creep back. It looks like taking the Bicillin for 5 weeks did a little number on my tummy and now I've got an increase in yeast and gut bacteria and toxins. These things are to be expected and are likely the cause of my remaining symptoms. It's a tad disappointing to feel funky after feeling so fantastic for several weeks, but at least I know for sure that we are making progress and that I'm in the home stretch right now.
So as of now my doctor says we can't say that I'm cured because there is a chance that he can't detect the Lyme because it's gone into a dormant cyst form, but he said we can say that at least for yesterday I didn't have Lyme!!! He's guessing that as we're making progress and peeling off the layers of illness my body will heal and my immune system will get stronger and things will continue to progress faster and faster (double wahoo and one more happy dance!!!!!!). He's estimating that I'll be better or almost totally better in 2-3 months!!!!!!! No one has ever said that before. I have always been told a year - year and a half for the last 4 years. Things are getting really exciting around here.
What surprises me the most about this great news is how fast it happened. I've been sick for so long and I feel like I've tried everything. The spring was really rough for me, I was twitching so bad and for sooooo long that I was beginning to think I might just have to accept that life was as good as it was going to get. I never expected that 5 shots in the ass would be enough to cause such a dramatic improvement, let alone a possible remission of Lyme. It just blows my mind that one day I can be sick as all get out and then just weeks later feel better then I have in years. It really is amazing.
For now, we've adjusted my treatment protocol. It's focused on the last bit of babesia, yeast, toxins, and bacteria in my gut. It's the smallest protocol I've had since I started treatment in 2008. I'll do another post with the details very soon. I have to be extra careful with my diet, so no more gluten free cookies for a while. I'm really excited to find out what life will be like after the rest of these nagging symptoms lift and are gone for good.
Keep on keeping on!
It's been really nice finding out that underneath all the layers of sickness and funk I'm still there and I'm still me. As my energy returns I'm discovering just how deeply this illness has effected my entire life. I hadn't fully realized that it permeated every single moment of my life. I had grown so accustomed to lyme "normal" that I didn't realize I was so tired I was moving though space and every moment of my life in a way that wasn't fully authentic. As my symptoms lift I find, for example, that I can suddenly climb stairs without effort, in fact I can bounce up them again. My week little voice has got it's uumph and confidence back. I'm feeling creative and I'm up and moving around most of the day. I even went swimming and to a festival! It's been really nice to discover myself shinning through as the fog begins to lift more then it has in years. When it happens I sometimes think to myself, "Oh yeah, here I am and check me out, I'm freaking awesome!" It's a really, really good feeling.
SO...I had an appointment with my doctor last night and we retested all of my issues and my supplements. The results were surprising. Both the doctor and I we expecting improvements in both how I feel and in my numbers, but we had no idea how good it would be.
Remember that 1= really bad problem 3= active and needs work 5= barely detectable 0= not present
In other words, the higher the number the healthier I am, but the ultimate goal is all zeros.
Test Dec '11 1/12 4/12 5/12 7/5
Lyme 4 4 2 1 0 (we triple checked)
Babesia 3 2 2 3 5
Bartonella 3 2 2 3 0
Parasites 0 1 5 0 0
Viruses 4 3 3 4 4
Mycoplasma 4 4 4 4 5
Yeast/mold/fungi 3 3 4 4 3
Bacteria 3 2 3 4 2
Neurotoxins 4 4 4 3
Metals 4 4 4 3
Interpretation: WAAAAAAHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! (happy dance)
- This is the first time I have had 3 zeros!!!!
- parasite free for two months in a row!
- NO more bartonella
- NO more Lyme (fingers crossed)
- Almost rid of mycoplasma AND babesia
After starting the Bicillin I started feeling better and better until about a week ago when I started to have some symptoms creep back. It looks like taking the Bicillin for 5 weeks did a little number on my tummy and now I've got an increase in yeast and gut bacteria and toxins. These things are to be expected and are likely the cause of my remaining symptoms. It's a tad disappointing to feel funky after feeling so fantastic for several weeks, but at least I know for sure that we are making progress and that I'm in the home stretch right now.
So as of now my doctor says we can't say that I'm cured because there is a chance that he can't detect the Lyme because it's gone into a dormant cyst form, but he said we can say that at least for yesterday I didn't have Lyme!!! He's guessing that as we're making progress and peeling off the layers of illness my body will heal and my immune system will get stronger and things will continue to progress faster and faster (double wahoo and one more happy dance!!!!!!). He's estimating that I'll be better or almost totally better in 2-3 months!!!!!!! No one has ever said that before. I have always been told a year - year and a half for the last 4 years. Things are getting really exciting around here.
What surprises me the most about this great news is how fast it happened. I've been sick for so long and I feel like I've tried everything. The spring was really rough for me, I was twitching so bad and for sooooo long that I was beginning to think I might just have to accept that life was as good as it was going to get. I never expected that 5 shots in the ass would be enough to cause such a dramatic improvement, let alone a possible remission of Lyme. It just blows my mind that one day I can be sick as all get out and then just weeks later feel better then I have in years. It really is amazing.
For now, we've adjusted my treatment protocol. It's focused on the last bit of babesia, yeast, toxins, and bacteria in my gut. It's the smallest protocol I've had since I started treatment in 2008. I'll do another post with the details very soon. I have to be extra careful with my diet, so no more gluten free cookies for a while. I'm really excited to find out what life will be like after the rest of these nagging symptoms lift and are gone for good.
Keep on keeping on!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
These are a few of my favorite foods
People often ask me what I eat if I can't eat wheat, dairy, and about a zillion other things. Well, I've made a list for you of some of my favorite foods. Hopefully you'll find some inspiration here. I'm sure you'll discover that my diet is anything but boring. Comments and questions are always welcome. Bon apetit! Did I spell that right?
Breakfast
Scrambles - scrambled eggs with whatever I can find in the fridge ( potatoes, spinach, zucchini, asparagus, turkey sausage, tomatoes, rice, black beans, tomatoes, chard, kale, quinoa, leftovers, etc.)
Toast and scrambles eggs - I like udi's breads and bagels and Food for life's english muffins
Homemade Muffins - pumpkin or fresh blueberry are my favs
Pancakes - usually homemade, but occasionally Trader Joe's GF if I don't feel well
Crustless Quiche - There is a recipe on my blog
Breakfast Sandwiches - Bagel, egg, turkey sausage, turkey bacon or sliced lunch meat, cheese (daiya), spinach, pesto (homemade), tomato
Quinoa - I'll cook it with stock and then top it with eggs and spinach and maybe some turkey sausage
Pigs in a blanket muffins - Just make muffins, but use pancake batter and stir in breakfast sausage and bake - YUM!
Omelet - stuff with your fav fillings
Lunch
Most of the time I eat dinner leftovers for lunch or I snack heavily, but sometimes I will make something just for lunch.
Turkey Sandwich on Udi's bread - When I get really inspired I'll use pesto, sundried tomatoes, olives, cheese, spinach, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, sprouts, etc.
GF mac n cheese - I make it with Earth Balance and rice milk to lower the amount of dairy
Turkey dogs - no bun
Nachos
Frozen GF pizza
Frozen GF chicken nuggets
Tuna on thin rice cakes or rice crackers
Salad
Green apple and cashew butter
Taquitos
Grilled "cheese" sandwiches
Canned soup
Thai noodle soup - similar to top ramen
Dinner
Most of my meal planning revolves around dinner. I find that there are often enough leftovers for lunches and the extra ingredients can be used in breakfast and lunches.
Stir Fry and Rice - I usually use chicken and lots of veggies and top with GF sauces from San-J or I make my own
Fried Rice - Can be made with Stir Fry ingredients, I usually use chicken and veggies and GF tamari soy sauce, ut you can use any leftover meat or even tofu
Taco night - crunchy or soft corn tortillas, ground chicken or turkey, black beans, rice, and all the fixins
Nachos - Use taco night left overs and pile 'em high for nachos. I like to get chips with flax or something as healthy as possible
Enchiladas - I'll use any leftover taco night fillings and add potato, chard, spinach, olives, green beans, or any other veggies I have available, roll into GF tortillas and top with green enchilada sauce. I like the GF tortillas at New Leaf the best, but I'll use teff I can't find them.
Roasted Chicken - I get a whole chicken, brine it over night and bake it with carrots and potatoes
Chicken Soup - After we've eaten most of the chicken I'll make soup out of it. Sometimes I add quinoa, GF noodle, or rice, but always use lots of veggies
Cornbread and Chili - I like Pamela's mix the best, just top with black bean chili and you're done!
Baked Potatoes and Chili - Same as above. Sometimes I make my own chili other time I used canned.
Chili Dogs - self explanatory
Hearty Salad - This is an everything but the kitchen sink type salad. We try to eat this once a week or so to be sure we're eating enough veggies. I make a typical salad with garden veggies and we'll top it with any number of things - chicken, turkey bacon, sunflower seeds, pumpkins seeds, cranberries, raisins, sliced apple, toasted nuts, GF croutons, beans, sprouts, mandarin oranges, cabbage, anything
Burgers - We'll get ground turkey or chicken and mix it with fun stuff like fresh garlic, parm cheese, pesto, sun dried tomatoes, etc. and let it sit for at least an hour before we grill 'em. I usually top mine off with agave sweetened BBQ sauce, cheese, tomato, and wrap in romaine leaves. I've come to prefer it without the bun.
GF Pasta - right now my favorite is quinoa pasta, but some of the brown rice ones are good too. I have two styles of sauce that I alternate between. One is dairy free creamy pesto with veggies and the other is homemade tomato sauce made with whatever I have
Pizza- homemade GF crust topped with all kinds of yummy stuff
Creamy Polenta - topped with mushroom sauce, pesto, or marinara and cheese
GF beer battered fish - I usually use talapia or cod
Homemade veggie sushi - just make sticky rice and julienne a bunch veggies and roll 'em up
Crustless Quiche - recipe on my blog, just bake yummy stuff with scrambles eggs and call it dinner
Apricot Teriyaki Chicken - recipe in the 1000 GF recipes cook book
Bruchetta - I'll make GF french bread and my own bruchetta topping and pair it with salad and call it dinner
Thanksgiving dinner- roast turkey breast, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad
Sausages - we like the sundried tomato chicken sausages at TJ's because they don't have intestines
Felafel Balls with salad and rice or quinoa
Tamales - usually store bought, but sometimes we get homemade ones from local families
Side Dishes
Homemade fries or potato wedges - I like to use sunflower oil and itallian herbs
Carrot fries - slice like fries, top with high heat oil and sea salt and bake at 425 until slightly blackened
Quinoa - add flavor by cooking with stock
Brown rice
Salad
Grilled veggies - we like zucchini and asparagus the best
Veggies sauteed in garlic and butter
Carrots and snap peas in creamy carrot "butter"
Steamed veggies
Cucumber and tomato salad
Asian Cucumber cups
Green Beans with olive oil and lemon
Baby Carrots and hummus
Mashed Potatoes and Gravey
Sweet Potato fries
Snacks
Homemade granola bars
GF pretzels
Green apple with cashew butter
Fresh Fruit
Fruit Leather
Nuts - mostly cashews
Popcorn (rarely)
Corn chips and salsa
Fresh veggies with hummus
Dried fruit
GF crackers
Rice cakes - I like the thin ones the best
Pumpkin or sunflower seeds
Breakfast
Scrambles - scrambled eggs with whatever I can find in the fridge ( potatoes, spinach, zucchini, asparagus, turkey sausage, tomatoes, rice, black beans, tomatoes, chard, kale, quinoa, leftovers, etc.)
Toast and scrambles eggs - I like udi's breads and bagels and Food for life's english muffins
Homemade Muffins - pumpkin or fresh blueberry are my favs
Pancakes - usually homemade, but occasionally Trader Joe's GF if I don't feel well
Crustless Quiche - There is a recipe on my blog
Breakfast Sandwiches - Bagel, egg, turkey sausage, turkey bacon or sliced lunch meat, cheese (daiya), spinach, pesto (homemade), tomato
Quinoa - I'll cook it with stock and then top it with eggs and spinach and maybe some turkey sausage
Pigs in a blanket muffins - Just make muffins, but use pancake batter and stir in breakfast sausage and bake - YUM!
Omelet - stuff with your fav fillings
Lunch
Most of the time I eat dinner leftovers for lunch or I snack heavily, but sometimes I will make something just for lunch.
Turkey Sandwich on Udi's bread - When I get really inspired I'll use pesto, sundried tomatoes, olives, cheese, spinach, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, sprouts, etc.
GF mac n cheese - I make it with Earth Balance and rice milk to lower the amount of dairy
Turkey dogs - no bun
Nachos
Frozen GF pizza
Frozen GF chicken nuggets
Tuna on thin rice cakes or rice crackers
Salad
Green apple and cashew butter
Taquitos
Grilled "cheese" sandwiches
Canned soup
Thai noodle soup - similar to top ramen
Dinner
Most of my meal planning revolves around dinner. I find that there are often enough leftovers for lunches and the extra ingredients can be used in breakfast and lunches.
Stir Fry and Rice - I usually use chicken and lots of veggies and top with GF sauces from San-J or I make my own
Fried Rice - Can be made with Stir Fry ingredients, I usually use chicken and veggies and GF tamari soy sauce, ut you can use any leftover meat or even tofu
Taco night - crunchy or soft corn tortillas, ground chicken or turkey, black beans, rice, and all the fixins
Nachos - Use taco night left overs and pile 'em high for nachos. I like to get chips with flax or something as healthy as possible
Enchiladas - I'll use any leftover taco night fillings and add potato, chard, spinach, olives, green beans, or any other veggies I have available, roll into GF tortillas and top with green enchilada sauce. I like the GF tortillas at New Leaf the best, but I'll use teff I can't find them.
Roasted Chicken - I get a whole chicken, brine it over night and bake it with carrots and potatoes
Chicken Soup - After we've eaten most of the chicken I'll make soup out of it. Sometimes I add quinoa, GF noodle, or rice, but always use lots of veggies
Cornbread and Chili - I like Pamela's mix the best, just top with black bean chili and you're done!
Baked Potatoes and Chili - Same as above. Sometimes I make my own chili other time I used canned.
Chili Dogs - self explanatory
Hearty Salad - This is an everything but the kitchen sink type salad. We try to eat this once a week or so to be sure we're eating enough veggies. I make a typical salad with garden veggies and we'll top it with any number of things - chicken, turkey bacon, sunflower seeds, pumpkins seeds, cranberries, raisins, sliced apple, toasted nuts, GF croutons, beans, sprouts, mandarin oranges, cabbage, anything
Burgers - We'll get ground turkey or chicken and mix it with fun stuff like fresh garlic, parm cheese, pesto, sun dried tomatoes, etc. and let it sit for at least an hour before we grill 'em. I usually top mine off with agave sweetened BBQ sauce, cheese, tomato, and wrap in romaine leaves. I've come to prefer it without the bun.
GF Pasta - right now my favorite is quinoa pasta, but some of the brown rice ones are good too. I have two styles of sauce that I alternate between. One is dairy free creamy pesto with veggies and the other is homemade tomato sauce made with whatever I have
Pizza- homemade GF crust topped with all kinds of yummy stuff
Creamy Polenta - topped with mushroom sauce, pesto, or marinara and cheese
GF beer battered fish - I usually use talapia or cod
Homemade veggie sushi - just make sticky rice and julienne a bunch veggies and roll 'em up
Crustless Quiche - recipe on my blog, just bake yummy stuff with scrambles eggs and call it dinner
Apricot Teriyaki Chicken - recipe in the 1000 GF recipes cook book
Bruchetta - I'll make GF french bread and my own bruchetta topping and pair it with salad and call it dinner
Thanksgiving dinner- roast turkey breast, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad
Sausages - we like the sundried tomato chicken sausages at TJ's because they don't have intestines
Felafel Balls with salad and rice or quinoa
Tamales - usually store bought, but sometimes we get homemade ones from local families
Side Dishes
Homemade fries or potato wedges - I like to use sunflower oil and itallian herbs
Carrot fries - slice like fries, top with high heat oil and sea salt and bake at 425 until slightly blackened
Quinoa - add flavor by cooking with stock
Brown rice
Salad
Grilled veggies - we like zucchini and asparagus the best
Veggies sauteed in garlic and butter
Carrots and snap peas in creamy carrot "butter"
Steamed veggies
Cucumber and tomato salad
Asian Cucumber cups
Green Beans with olive oil and lemon
Baby Carrots and hummus
Mashed Potatoes and Gravey
Sweet Potato fries
Snacks
Homemade granola bars
GF pretzels
Green apple with cashew butter
Fresh Fruit
Fruit Leather
Nuts - mostly cashews
Popcorn (rarely)
Corn chips and salsa
Fresh veggies with hummus
Dried fruit
GF crackers
Rice cakes - I like the thin ones the best
Pumpkin or sunflower seeds
Friday, June 1, 2012
My current Lyme Disease Treatment Plan
People often ask me what I'm taking to treat Lyme Disease, it's co-infections, and all the assorted symptoms and related issues that come along with it. I've put together a list of what I take and provided links to helpful resources as often as possible, just click on the colored words to get more info about the product or it's use. Please feel free to comment or ask questions.
Morning
3 drops MC-BAB-1
1/2 tsp. Neuro-Antitox II CNS/PNS
- Apple Cider Vinegar formula
1/2 tsp. Silvercillin Liquid
2 Ashwagandha 400mg
2 Andrographis 400mg
1 Acetyl -L-Carnitine 500mg
1 Unique E -400 IU
2 Food Based Multi Vits from Advanced Nutritional System
3 IsoCourt
2 Isoquercetin 100 mg.
Afternoon
1 Acetyl -L-Carnitine 500mg
2 Food Based Multi Vits
3 IsoCourt
1 Lithium Orotate
1 Vitamin D3 5000 IU
Night
2 Melatonin SR 3 mg.
1 Low Dose Naltrexone 4.5mg
Pekana Basic Detoxification & Drainage Kit
-15 drop each apo-Hepat, Itires, and Renelix
3 drops MC-BAB-1
1/2 tsp. Neuro-Antitox II CNS/PNS
- Apple Cider Vinegar formula
1 tsp. Silvercillin Liquid
2 Andrographis 400mg
1 Magnesium Taurate 125mg
1 Acetyl -L-Carnitine 500mg
1 Lithium Orotate
2 Isoquercetin 100 mg.
1 Dr. Ohhira Probiotic
Soon I will Be adding Smilax and weekly Bicillin Injections
Morning
3 drops MC-BAB-1
1/2 tsp. Neuro-Antitox II CNS/PNS
- Apple Cider Vinegar formula
1/2 tsp. Silvercillin Liquid
2 Ashwagandha 400mg
2 Andrographis 400mg
1 Acetyl -L-Carnitine 500mg
1 Unique E -400 IU
2 Food Based Multi Vits from Advanced Nutritional System
3 IsoCourt
2 Isoquercetin 100 mg.
Afternoon
1 Acetyl -L-Carnitine 500mg
2 Food Based Multi Vits
3 IsoCourt
1 Lithium Orotate
1 Vitamin D3 5000 IU
Night
2 Melatonin SR 3 mg.
1 Low Dose Naltrexone 4.5mg
Pekana Basic Detoxification & Drainage Kit
-15 drop each apo-Hepat, Itires, and Renelix
3 drops MC-BAB-1
1/2 tsp. Neuro-Antitox II CNS/PNS
- Apple Cider Vinegar formula
1 tsp. Silvercillin Liquid
2 Andrographis 400mg
1 Magnesium Taurate 125mg
1 Acetyl -L-Carnitine 500mg
1 Lithium Orotate
2 Isoquercetin 100 mg.
1 Dr. Ohhira Probiotic
Soon I will Be adding Smilax and weekly Bicillin Injections
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Doctor's Visit
Last night I went for an appointment with my Lyme doctor. I've been having a lot of neurological symptoms lately so I was really looking forward to seeing him.
We reviewed my current symptoms: fatigue, involuntary movements, tingly arms, difficulty walking, slowed speech and cognitive function. In general I feel like if only I didn't have these few really debilitating symptoms I would be doing really well. I can feel the old me trying to rise to the surface but it's as if I'm weighted down by these few major issues. We also reviewed the list of my old symptoms and celebrated having so many of them resolved.
Then we moved on to muscle testing or ART as some people call it. We tested for my current infections and compared them to my last visits. He uses a ranking system where 1 is the most active or biggest problem, 3 is present but not incredibly active, 4-5 is detectable but at a verylow level, and 0 is not present at all. Here is an over view of my ART results.
Test Dec '11 1/12 4/12 5/12
Lyme 4 4 2 1
Babesia 3 2 2 3
Bartonella 3 2 2 3
Parasites 0 1 5 0
Viruses 4 3 3 4
Mycoplasma 4 4 4 4
Yeast/mold/fungi 3 3 4 4
Bacteria 3 2 3 4
Neurotoxins 4 4 4
Metals 4 4
Looking at my results we can see that in general I have really good numbers. Pretty much everything is at a 4 except for babs and bart which are 3s (present but not reeking havoc). I have gotten rid of ALL parasites. I think my effort to avoid sushi has helped with this along with some good supplments. I'm doing pretty well except for a raging case of Lyme Disease.
What I find really interesting about this method of testing is that it often explains how I'm feeling. I had said that I felt like if I cold get these last few really awful symptoms to clear I would be feeling great and i think I was right. Once I get this Lyme under control I should be feeling a lot better because I'm not dealing with as many big infections any more.
The next thing we did was to test all of my current protocol. We discovered that as usual I'm really sensitive to a lot of things and about half of my treatment was no longer working for me. Taking so many things that my body was no longer liking might also have been contributing to me not feeling so well these last 4-6 weeks.
We removed all of the stuff my body didn't want, adjusted the doses on a few items, and then added in just a few new things to treat this raging case of Lyme. I left with a good understanding of what is happening inside my body and a significantly smaller protocol which made me happy.
One of the best lessons I have learned since doing this muscle testing is that sometimes when I think I'm not getting better, that's not the case. Instead it sometimes is just a switching of dominance in my my infections. One month I may feel very neuro, another month short of breath, and another my gut may be hurting. I've learned to recognize that just means that things are changing. As I clear out one infection another rises to the top and I attack it. In general, my results are getting better and I'm on a good path.
I'll be doing another blog post soon with my new protocol, but for now I'll share that he wants me to go back on antibiotics for a little while. I tested well for Bicillin injections. He thinks 4-6 weeks at one injection a week should perk me back up. If it doesn't knock out the entire infection we will rotate to something else because after a while the Lyme bacteria adapt and it looses it's effectiveness. I'm not looking to the pain that comes along with the injections or the ensuing herx reaction, but I am really excited about feeling a lot better and kicking Lyme in the ass once and for all.
Questions and comments always welcome.
We reviewed my current symptoms: fatigue, involuntary movements, tingly arms, difficulty walking, slowed speech and cognitive function. In general I feel like if only I didn't have these few really debilitating symptoms I would be doing really well. I can feel the old me trying to rise to the surface but it's as if I'm weighted down by these few major issues. We also reviewed the list of my old symptoms and celebrated having so many of them resolved.
Then we moved on to muscle testing or ART as some people call it. We tested for my current infections and compared them to my last visits. He uses a ranking system where 1 is the most active or biggest problem, 3 is present but not incredibly active, 4-5 is detectable but at a verylow level, and 0 is not present at all. Here is an over view of my ART results.
Test Dec '11 1/12 4/12 5/12
Lyme 4 4 2 1
Babesia 3 2 2 3
Bartonella 3 2 2 3
Parasites 0 1 5 0
Viruses 4 3 3 4
Mycoplasma 4 4 4 4
Yeast/mold/fungi 3 3 4 4
Bacteria 3 2 3 4
Neurotoxins 4 4 4
Metals 4 4
Looking at my results we can see that in general I have really good numbers. Pretty much everything is at a 4 except for babs and bart which are 3s (present but not reeking havoc). I have gotten rid of ALL parasites. I think my effort to avoid sushi has helped with this along with some good supplments. I'm doing pretty well except for a raging case of Lyme Disease.
What I find really interesting about this method of testing is that it often explains how I'm feeling. I had said that I felt like if I cold get these last few really awful symptoms to clear I would be feeling great and i think I was right. Once I get this Lyme under control I should be feeling a lot better because I'm not dealing with as many big infections any more.
The next thing we did was to test all of my current protocol. We discovered that as usual I'm really sensitive to a lot of things and about half of my treatment was no longer working for me. Taking so many things that my body was no longer liking might also have been contributing to me not feeling so well these last 4-6 weeks.
We removed all of the stuff my body didn't want, adjusted the doses on a few items, and then added in just a few new things to treat this raging case of Lyme. I left with a good understanding of what is happening inside my body and a significantly smaller protocol which made me happy.
One of the best lessons I have learned since doing this muscle testing is that sometimes when I think I'm not getting better, that's not the case. Instead it sometimes is just a switching of dominance in my my infections. One month I may feel very neuro, another month short of breath, and another my gut may be hurting. I've learned to recognize that just means that things are changing. As I clear out one infection another rises to the top and I attack it. In general, my results are getting better and I'm on a good path.
I'll be doing another blog post soon with my new protocol, but for now I'll share that he wants me to go back on antibiotics for a little while. I tested well for Bicillin injections. He thinks 4-6 weeks at one injection a week should perk me back up. If it doesn't knock out the entire infection we will rotate to something else because after a while the Lyme bacteria adapt and it looses it's effectiveness. I'm not looking to the pain that comes along with the injections or the ensuing herx reaction, but I am really excited about feeling a lot better and kicking Lyme in the ass once and for all.
Questions and comments always welcome.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Unpredictibility of Chronic Illness
One of the hardest parts about living with a chronic illness like Lyme Disease is the unpredictability of it. Each day when I wake up I have no idea how I am going to feel and what I will be able to do that day. I start each day with good intentions of feeling great and a list of things I'd like to do, but things don't always go the way I'd like them to. Today was one of those days.
Today I woke up feeling pretty good. I was excited about the beautiful weather and I was able to get a quick start to the day. I went out for a really nice appointment with my chiropractor and dropped off a prescription at the pharmacy. One the way home I started feeling withdrawn and tired. I think I yawned 5 or 6 times on the 10 minute drive home. I thought maybe I would need to take a nap this afternoon, but by the time I had made it upstairs, gone to the bathroom and walked into the kitchen to try to make lunch I was moving at the speed of a snail. I found myself standing in the kitchen, slightly hunched over, silently staring at the sandwich fixings my husband had set out. I wasn't moving or talking and I found myself wondering why he was moving around in the kitchen so fast and how I was going to find the energy to make a sandwich for myself.
Then I realized it wasn't him who was moving fast, it was me who was moving slow. Within a matter of minutes I had gone from perky and ready to tackle my to do list to total space cadet and barely able to stand. My husband noticed and asked how I was doing and I told him I didn't feel quite right and that I didn't think I could make a sandwich because I was going down hill fast.
As I was saying that my leg and arm contracted and I began to have a series of big involuntary movements that I call twitching. I guess it's sort of like a tick or a spasm. It doesn't hurt at all and I'm so thankful for that, but when it happens it sort of feels like my brain partially shuts down. I get slow both physically and mentally, I become very weak, my speech slows, I have a hard time standing, and I become extremely exhausted.
Lucky, my husband was right there and he knows just what to do to help me get through these random blips. He put me on his back and gave me a piggy back ride to the bedroom where he set me up with my laptop, water, and made my sandwich for me. He gave me a few words of encouragement and then let me rest for a while.
About an hour later I had to get up to go to the little girls room. I was slow and jerky in my movements, but I made it there. I tried to go from the bathroom to the kitchen to get some water with lemon to help with detox ( I think these episodes come on most often when I'm toxic and I had just upped my dose of Bab-1 and Bb-1), but I couldn't walk that far. I took a few steps and tried to talk to my husband, but it was too much for my brain and I had to lay down on the floor to rest.
This video is of my trying to get up off of the floor and walk by myself just a few minutes ago. You'll see that I need to use a chair to get myself up off of the floor and that the effort of trying to take just a few steps is making things worse and finally I just get so exhausted that I fall back to the floor to rest and continue twitching. Sorry it's sideways, I can't figure out how to rotate a video. If anyone knows I'd love to learn how.
I wanted to share it with all of you so you could see what this
twitching I keep referring to looks like. I also wanted to share it
because May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and I one of the messages I
want people to hear about Lyme is that it is serious, it can effect your
life in really big ways if you don't get god treatment right away. The
symptoms are different for everyone and this just happens to be one of
mine.
I'm happy that this is something that only happens occasionally, that it doesn't hurt, that I'm not having seizures or dying, that it is happening less often, with less severity and with shorter duration (it used to last for weeks or months, not just days or a week at a time). I'm also glad that I'm learning how to deal with it to minimize it as much as possible, and that my husband is here and knows just what I need when this happens (I couldn't get through this without him), but it sure makes life unpredictable.
I'll likely spend the majority of the day resting in bed or on the couch because it gets better when I sit or lay down and worse when I try to get up and move. I'll have to reevaluate my to do list for today and postpone most of the items until this passes. The hardest part is that I have no idea how long this will last. It could be just most of today or I could be like this for a week.
I've come to terms with this limitation as best as I can. Sometimes I get really disappointed about not being able to be up and doing things, but I try not to linger in that feeling. Mostly, I just try to avoid situations that seem to trigger it and give in to the resting when my body demands it. Sometimes though, I wish other people were a little more understanding of how this effects my ability to do things. It's hard for me to plan things far in advance or commit to things that would demand a lot of time and energy (like getting a job or traveling) because I never know how am I going to feel and what my body is going to let me do at any given moment.
Have any of you experienced something similar to these movements? What caused them? What did you do about it? How did it effect you? Leave me a comment and tell me your stories, I'd love to hear them.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
It's been a long while since I last posted.
I apologize to those of you who follow along and have been wondering what is going on.
Let me begin by saying that I'm fine. No need to worry.
When I ask myself why I haven't written anything, the thing that comes to mind most often is that I'm just so very sick of being sick. I've been avoiding writing about my experiences as a way of detaching from everything going on. I'm guessing some of you can relate to needing some space from it all and trying to live a "normal" life.
In the fall we moved. We found out that our house had a mold problem and that I was being affected by it. When we moved I tossed out a huge stash of empty pill bottles that I had been saving as evidence of what the last few years have been like. I decided to toss them out because I wanted the move to be a fresh start and I didn't wan to bring my illness with me. Out of curiosity, I counted the empty bottles and discovered that I had saved 170 of them!
I think that avoiding my blog was similar to throwing out my pill bottles, it was one more way to try to separate myself from actually being a sick person.
As time has passed, I've felt bad for leaving some of you hanging, for not being there as support for others, and I felt like I should post something to at least say please don't worry, I'm doing alright.
In addition, I discovered that I'm starting to miss some of my blog friends. Although I've never met most of you, we sure know a lot of intimate details about each other. The support we give and get is unlike any other. Thanks for being my blogging friends.
A lot has happened in the last several months and I want to catch you up to were I am now. I think the quickest and easiest way for me to do that is a bullet list so here goes.
Please feel free to leave comments and ask questions. I'd be happy to talk about any of this, especially if will help you understand what my life is like or support you in your process of moving closer to health.
Love, health and happiness to all of you!
I apologize to those of you who follow along and have been wondering what is going on.
Let me begin by saying that I'm fine. No need to worry.
When I ask myself why I haven't written anything, the thing that comes to mind most often is that I'm just so very sick of being sick. I've been avoiding writing about my experiences as a way of detaching from everything going on. I'm guessing some of you can relate to needing some space from it all and trying to live a "normal" life.
In the fall we moved. We found out that our house had a mold problem and that I was being affected by it. When we moved I tossed out a huge stash of empty pill bottles that I had been saving as evidence of what the last few years have been like. I decided to toss them out because I wanted the move to be a fresh start and I didn't wan to bring my illness with me. Out of curiosity, I counted the empty bottles and discovered that I had saved 170 of them!
In addition, I discovered that I'm starting to miss some of my blog friends. Although I've never met most of you, we sure know a lot of intimate details about each other. The support we give and get is unlike any other. Thanks for being my blogging friends.
A lot has happened in the last several months and I want to catch you up to were I am now. I think the quickest and easiest way for me to do that is a bullet list so here goes.
- We moved into a newer, cleaner, warmer, bigger, and mostly likely mold free (if that's even possible) condo and we LOVE it!
- I'm having more better days that are better then ever and my bad days usually aren't quite as bad or as often when compared to last spring when the dystonia first kicked in
- I have a new LLMD who does ART (autonomic response testing) or muscle testing and is helping me make progress. The bonus is that his office is only a block and a half from the new house!
- I have a new chiropractor and no longer have to travel to SF for any doctor visits HOORAY!
- The new chiro also does craniosacral, frequency specific microcurrent, nutrition consults, and is a shaman so I'm getting a lot of support from her as well
- I finally got approved for SSDI!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best news ever!
- Along with that I now have Medicare
- I was able to get my student loans forgiven because of my disability (currently in probation so nothing is final there, but at least I don't have to pay anything right now)
- I'm exercising a little bit every now and then. A walk around the block, or a few bicep curls every now and then is all I can do without going into a tail spin, but hey, it's better then nothing
- I'm taking fewer pills and more tinctures and have a smaller protocol overall
- My test results are slowing improving
Please feel free to leave comments and ask questions. I'd be happy to talk about any of this, especially if will help you understand what my life is like or support you in your process of moving closer to health.
Love, health and happiness to all of you!
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