New Tests

So I'm slowly getting back test results from my Dr. It's intersting for my scientific brain to analyze all this data about my body. I find it fasinating and so confusing.

What I understand at this point is that the tests for Lyme and co-infections are detecting less which either means the level of infection is down or my immune system is thrashed and not producing antibodies. I'm leaning toward both. Both because I think my Lyme symptoms have generally improved over time, but I'm left with some lingering damage and side effects which need to be cleaned up. But I also know that my immune system is weak because my CD-57 test results came back at 38 which isn't much of an improvement over my last one of 22 many months ago. My Dr. says it's like my immune system doesn't care and has given up.

I also tested positive for two parasites one is an unknown parasite(possibly from exposure to pets?), and the other is enterobius vermicularis which is a very common pinworm. See this site for more info: http://www.earthtym.net/ref-pinworms.htm
I'm going to need to go on an anti-parasite protocol soon, just waiting for the call on which one. He says this unknown one may be what's wrecking my digestive system. So, hopefully getting rid of these will help my gut ballance out and then my immune system can rebuild and repair. That would be really nice.

My rsults for candida came back negative. I find this part confusing becaues I've currently got a nasty case of oral thrush in my mouth which is candida. I'd like to talk more about this with him.

I had some other tests that weren't so hot, but I can't remember what they were and I'm waiting for my copies of them. I'll let you all know how it goes and what additional info I recieve.

I've also gotten the okay to reduce the number of meds I take down to the truly essential. I've been doing this for about a week now and already I feel a little bit better. I think I was taking too much and I suspect many of the things I was on were causing the digestive upset. I won't get any more specific then that. Not everyone wants to hear potty talk and I can respect that. :-)

And, finally the last change is that I'm borrowing an Earthing Band from my freind Ashley. It plugs into the gound socket of the outlet and helps to ground the electrical current of our bodies. I'm on day 4 now and I think it's helping me to sleep deeper and I think my brain fog is a bit better. I've heard lots of other Lyme patients say it's been a great tool for them so i figured I might as well try it. The science behind it makes since to me and someof my friends have done lots of research on it so hey, no harm done, why not?

For more infor on Earthing check out: http://www.earthinginstitute.net/

One more step in the right direction. YES!

Are you better yet?

People are starting to ask me this question. It seems that I've crossed some sort of imaginary line where I'm just supposed to be better now. Well guess what, I am better then I was in the Spring of 2009 when I had pneumonia, could barely walk, and was in so much pain I wanted to scream. I'm also better then I was a year ago. My energy has improved, I have more good days, I'm barely ever in pain I can't tolerate, and I can walk through the entire grocery store without my knees hurting at all.

But I'm not all the way better yet. I still require 10-12 hours of sleep a night, have issues falling asleep, my memory comes and goes, I have neurological issues like not being able to spell or type correctly (thank goodness for sell check), my digestion is way out of whack, and when I push myself too hard I pay for it with extreme fatigue, and long recovery times. But I am slowly, repeat slowly, getting better and figuring out the big picture of what is going on with my entire health, not just Lyme.

See one of the things that I think people aren't really aware of is that Lyme Disease is really just a nice tidy way to say my whole body is super messed up because I have an infection(s) that cause damage to all parts of my body, especially major organs and tissues. When I say I have Lyme I really mean that I have tick born illnesses plus other health problems that may or may not be related. The doctors who treat Lyme understand that it can affect the entire body and so they take a holistic approach to investigation, diagnosis and treatment. As symptoms come and go and treatments succeed or fail my doctors get more information about what is happening in my body. So right now I know that I have Lyme, possibly Bartonella (we know I had it at some point), candida, and adrenal fatigue. I won't be "better" until I've addressed all of those issues and it's going to take some time.

Please know that I'm planning on having a big party when I'm all better along with getting back to my previous life. I'll be sure to announce it to everyone when that day arrives. Until then, please don't ask me if I'm better yet. I promise, I'll tell you when I am. However, I do appreciate it when you ask how I'm doing today or lately. It's nice to know that you care or are concerned. Please ask me how you can support me in my journey to wellness, or when you can next spend time with me. Please tell me about what's going on in your life and please keep inviting me to things even though I sometimes can't attend, it's nice to be included. Please celebrate the small things with me and know that I'm doing everything I can to find the best doctors and the best treatments possible. I'm trying everything I think might help in hopes of finding that one thing that works for my body with my allergies, and sensitivities, and current state of health. I'm not just sitting around doing nothing. I'm fighting for my life, for my health. I may not be entirely better quite yet, but I am better then I was before and that's already a huge success.

If you are interested in another Lyme patient's perspective on this topic please check out this link: http://freeideasblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/question-is-not-are-you-better-yet-but.html She has done a great job of explaining why some people with Lyme need a long time to get "better".

And here's the link to the blog of a well known Lyme Literate Dr who has another way of explaining why some of us just don't feel better even after trying lots of things.
http://www.drjerniganblog.com/articles/infections/630

Magnesium Giveaway #2

So, the guys at Remarkable Redwood Remedies were so pleased with your interest during the first giveaway they've offered up 4 more samples for you to try. They're so generous! If you missed out on the first giveaway, here's your chance to soak in some incredible magnesium chloride bath crystals.

Magnesium is so important for our bodies I can't believe I didn't know more about it before. It helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, kidney stones, heart attacks, it calms the nerves, prevents blood clots, helps with nearly all digestive and eating related issues, relaxes muscles, dilates blood vessels, keeps toxins out of the brain, relieves muscle cramps and menopause symptoms. What amazing stuff this is!

Magnesium comes in many different forms. These bath crystals are magnesium chloride. This is different from Epsom salts. It's easily assimilated and metabolized by the body, does not create an unwanted laxative effect like oral magnesium and Epsom salt can, less is required to get the desired effects, it's affordable compared to other effective types of magnesium, and trans dermal(through the skin) absorption is the most effective way to use it.

~Directions~

As a tub soak: To create a soothing, relaxing, and sensual sensation Add 2-3 handfuls to a hot bath and soak for up to 30 minutes. Initially you may experience extreme relaxation and even feel tired. This product can also be used as a foot soak.

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY for the Remarkable Redwood Remedies Magnesium Bath Crystals:

*** Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and your email so I can let you know you've won ***

1. share the link to this blog post on facebook, twitter, or your blog then leave a comment for each share
http://kiwikeri.blogspot.com/2011/01/magnesium-giveaway-2.html#comments

2. share the link to the Remarkable Redwood Remedies website on facebook, twitter, or your blog and leave a separate comment for each share
http://www.remarkableredwoodremedies.com

3. leave a separate comment with a fact about magnesium chloride that I haven't mentioned

4. share your personal experiences with using magnesium chloride products

For each entry leave a separate comment. Four lucky winners will be randomly chosen on February 13th.

For more information on this product or to order some for your bath check out www.remarkableredwoodremedies.com

To see the first blog posting and learn lots about magnesium read the original blog post: http://kiwikeri.blogspot.com/2011/01/remarkable-redwood-remedies-magnesium.html

For more information and a fellow lymies take on magnesium check out the Lymenaide blog at http://lymenaide.wordpress.com/?s=magnesium

Good Luck and happy health to all of you.

What to Eat: Asian Cucumber Cups

I've never made these until tonight. I've only eaten them once. It was at a craft show that had catered hors d'vours. I though tonight I'd try to recreate them. It was really easy and very tasty.

Ingredients:

English cucumber
tomatoes
rice vinegar
gluten free tamari or soy sauce
toasted sesame oil
sesame seeds



Instructions:

1. cut 1 medium or 2 small tomatoes into the smallest and most uniform pieces you possibly can. A firm tomato and a good knife help with this. Try to make little cubes if you can. VERY LITTLE.

2. Put toms. in a small bowl and add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon each of gluten free soy sauce or tamari, toasted sesame oil, and rice vinegar then stir till evenly coated. If you don't have all of these you can get by with just the rice vinegar.

3. Peel stripes into an English cucumber. These are the type that come wrapped in plastic. WHY? Does anyone know?

4. Cut the cucumber into thick slices about 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch. You should be able to eat it in one bit like sushi.

5. Take a small spoon a scoop out a bit of the cucumber leaving a little cup inside it. Be careful not to scoop to deep.

6. Using a spoon fill the cucumber cups with the toms and then sprinkle with sesame seeds.

7. Enjoy!

Results are light, crisp, and delicious. We enjoyed them along side a citrus stir fry. My husband liked them and asked if they were faux sushi which gave me the idea to try and add flakes of seaweed to the tomatoes for an extra bit of salty Asian flavor. Also try it with black sesame seeds for a little more fun.

I love getting comments, questions and feedback so please try it and let me know what you think.

Crustless Quiche

Here is one of the items that regularly shows up on my weekly menu at home. To most it's quiche without the crust for us it's disappearing leftovers quiche. We call it that because it's a great way to get rid of all sorts of leftovers and random nubs of things hanging around.

In this particular one I used sun dried tomato chicken sausages, potatoes, chard, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, veggie cheeses, zucchini, garlic, onion, and seasonings. It was one of the best versions I have ever made. It's so yummy and so easy to make. My husband likes it, it's filling, and makes great leftovers. You can even eat it for breakfast the next morning.



Some other ingredients that go well in this dish are:

rice of any kind or flavor
lentils
broccoli
bacon
any leftover meat
hash browns even frozen ones
yellow squash
mushrooms
quinoa
or anything else you can think of

HOW TO MAKE CRUSTLESS QUICHE:

1. preheat over to around 375

2. pull out all leftovers and assorted veggies from fridge

3. cut all veggies into small pieces trying to keep sizes uniform

4. put all your veggies into a glass pie pan, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt pepper, other seasonings ex. turmeric, Italian seasonings, garlic or garlic powder, etc. and stir until evenly coated

5. add meats and cheeses and stir again

6. fill pie pan close to full with yummy nibbles

7. Crack lots of fresh eggs, add a splash of milk (I use rice milk) and whisk. Usually requires 8-12 eggs

8. pour eggs into pie pan until all veggies and meat are covered with egg. You may need to crack more eggs if you have a lot of goodies in your pan.

9. cover with foil and carefully transfer to oven.

10. bake until mostly solid, then remove foil and bake until a knife comes out clean or the eggs in the center look fully cooked.

11. Bon appetite! (did I spell that right?)

Please try this recipe and leave a comment with your opinions, variations, suggestions, etc. I love getting ideas from others.

PS. Sorry about the quality of the photos. I've got the jewelry photography down, but I'm still working on how to photograph food. Also the lighting in the kitchen is weird. I'll figure it out someday.

upcycled by ash: Lymetastic Giveaway

Please check out this incredible giveaway from my friend Ashley. She's giving away the handmade clutch she took with her to the Turn the Corner Gala this past fall. What an awesome gift.

upcycled by ash: Lymetastic Giveaway: "YAY a giveaway. I feel like it has been forever since I did a giveaway. This month's giveaway item is the fantastic clutch I made for the ..."

The Do Not Eat List

I, like most Lymies, have quite a long list of foods I can not/should not eat. I created this list after several visits with a naturopath, allergy testing, and listening closely to my body. Here is what is on my do not eat list which I have hanging on my fridge just in case I can't remember.



Cow Milk
Lactose
Anise Seed
Aspartame
Maple Sugar
Gluten
Carob
Casein, Cowmilk
Chili Powder
Corn
Cocoa
Equal
Ham
Whole Wheat
Wheat Bran
Pinto Beans
Mushrooms
Cane Sugar
Corn Sugar
Cheddar Cheese
Barley Malt
Pork
Sacchrin
Beet Sugar
MSG
Rye
Date Sugar
Superheated Vegetable Fat
Sweet and Low
Whole Wheat
Barley
Navy Beans
American Cheese
Coca-Cola
Honey
Hops
Horseradish
Liver
Peanut
Tea
Pineapple
Kidney Beans
Chocolate
Soy
Almonds
Mango


Lucky for me many of these foods weren't in my diet to begin with. Many of these foods I can handle in small quantities infrequently, but others make me sick almost instantly. What do I mean when I say they make me sick? Well it depends on the food. For example, significant ammounts of sugar makes me itchy and not able to sleep especially in chocolate. Chocolate also makes me break out. I was so in denial of this for forever, but when I quit my skin clears up a lot. Milk makes me flemy right away. Wheat makes me bloated, tired, stuffy headed and in pain. I also think it makes me sneeze. MSG causes such bad migraines I nearly always throw up. Lovely isn't it? Mango causes sores in my mouth that scab over. Almonds cause canker sores. Most beans cause major stomach upset and digestive issues. I could go on and on.

I've learned over the last 3 years what bothers me and what doesn't. How much of each thing I can handle with out major side effects. However, the most important things I have learned have come from really being strict about this diet.

At first I was freaking out and wondering what the hell I was going to be eating. I used to be vegetarian and survived somehow on mostly sugar, carbs, dairy, and soy. I also felt like crap. What was I going to eat? It took me a while and but I figured it out. I had to stop thinking about what I couldn't eat and start focusing on WHAT I COULD EAT. Along the way I tried a lot of foods that I used to think I didn't like and found out that if made properly they're not so bad. Some are even good, like asparagus and quinoia. Yum.


Most importantly I learned that nothing tastes as good as feeling great. Once I stopped eating all these foods I started feeling a lot better and most of my sinus issues went away along with a lot of other symptoms including pain, insomnia, itching, extreme fatigue, and digestion issues. What I had thought was seasonal allergies was really food allergies. Crazy! Stop eating wheat and dairy and BAM I can breathe again. Awesome!

I can't even begin to tell you how much better I feel when I really stick to this diet. It makes a big difference. I had no idea just how much of an impact what we feed ourselves has on our daily lives. I get it now.

I still eat some of these things in moderation or on special occasions or if there really is nothing free of these ingredients, like at a party for example. But in general I try pretty hard to stay away from them and the payoff is worth it.

It's not always easy, but the longer I've been doing it the easier it has become. At first I would have the hardest time passing up the tempting warm fresh baked cookies from the Pacific Cookie Co. downtown or frozen yogurt with my husband, or the box of See's candy at Christmas. Okay, I did eat a piece at Christmas this year, but I refrained from eating all of my most favorite ones like I would have years ago. I of course suffered a few days later when I woke up with red splotches on my face. Damn acne, damn See's candy tasting so good. However, now when I see things like a loaf of bread, pizza, muffins, and creamy cheese I don't see yummy foods that I want and can't have. Instead I see tonixs, pain, ruin and an invitation to the feeling like crap party. I don't even want to eat those things any more. Al least most of the time I don't. Occasionally I'll crave something that I'm not supposed to have and now I am able to see that it's either a component of that food that my body wants like the calcium in the cheese or the carbs in the pasta or it's one of the many infections living in my body trying to get what it wants to eat. I am now better able to see that it's not me who wants the sugar it's the candida and bacteria in me that do and I'm not about to feed them!

What I have learned is that life is much better when I avoid these foods and stick to a diet of lean meats and lots of veggies. I have gotten in the habit of taking food with me nearly every time I leave the house, especially if I'm traveling. If I don't I'll end up eating whatever is easiest and paying for it in the long run.

Sometimes I'll hear other Lymies complaining that they don't feel good. I'll ask about their diet and most of the time they say they know they should stop eating things but haven't done it yet. I don't understand that. We don't have control over many things in our lives, but we do have total and complete control over what we put into our bodies. How could you consciously choose to continue feeling really crappy? I don't get it.

I think part of the reason for a lot of lymies or people on specific diet in general is that they're stuck in the phase of not knowing what to eat if they take all of these things out. People tend to focus n what they can't eat instead of what they CAN enjoy eating. Over the last 2 and a half years of being on this diet I've figured out some really great things to eat. In fact I'd say that my diet is the healthiest and most diverse it's ever been, even compared to when I thought I was being healthy as a vegetarian.

I've made it my intention to help out my fellow Lymies and friends in general by sharing some of my kitchen tips, tricks and recipes for eating well when you have a long DO NOT EAT list like me.

Please stay tuned for more blog posts about what you can eat and be prepared for some yummy treats. I hope you find out that nothing tastes as great as feeling good!