Goodbye to this Blog

You can now find me on Facebook as Lyme Jewel or at www.lymejewel.blogspot.com

Portable Sauna

So, I finally decided to open my portable far infrared sauna that arrived from Amazon a month ago. I briefly used it this evening just to test it out. So far, so good. I'll slowly do longer and hotter sessions.

Bone Broth

My doc says bone broth heals the gut. So much for vegetarianism. Boiling the bones of an animal is not my goal in life, which is why I'm glad my husband does it for me. We buy a whole organic chicken, throw it in a pot, boil it for an hour, remove the meat from the bones, then boil the bones with chopped up organic carrots, peas, green onion, and celery. We add a lot of sea salt, too. I just eat the soup for dinner every single evening before I take my mountain of supplements. The whole pot lasts me an entire week. I think you're supposed to boil the bones for a really long time, or leave them in a crock pot for 12-24hrs to get the actual nutrients from the bones.  

Disability & Insurance

Time for a vent

So, we have Critical Illness insurance. I'm looking into filing a claim 'cause my poor husband can only work so much in order to pay for all my treatments. Technically, I was diagnosed Positive for Babesia two months before we got the insurance, found out I had Lyme from a microscope 1 month before we got it, and just found out I have 3 other infectious diseases. I guess only one of which is CDC actually "POSITIVE". So there are so many stupid loopholes and pitfalls or whatever you want to call them. I am SO SICK yet don't really have proof??? I will talk to my doc and see if she can look into it for me. But she's an Osteopath, not an actual MD. Does that matter?

Also, I was looking into disability lawyers and found "Only taking cases for people older than 30 and younger than 65". SERIOUSLY?? I am 29. So what does that mean??? Try again in 2 months when I actually turn 30? Then what proof do I have that I need financial assistance??? My MRI's don't show much as far as my wrecked pelvis ligament. No imaging can show my hidden injury. My chiropractor is the only one who can feel it. And my diseases are hidden, too!

HOW HOW HOW am I ever going to get help when I can't prove I need help?? The CDC and insurance companies and everything that is supposed to be there to help people like me, so far, are impossible to get through to.

I just don't know what to do. I'm such a "gray area", yet sicker and in more pain than some people who are on disability.

I want to work. I want to dance and swim and walk my dogs and pick up my son. I WANT to work. I don't want to sit on my butt collecting disability. But I need to collect something. I'll just have to pray.

(Sorry if this post doesn't make sense. My brain fog and sensory overload is severe right now).

Iodine, Copper, and Zinc

I got my Iodine, Copper, and Zinc results back. Clearly I am deficit in Iodine. I don't believe in "reference ranges" all that much because we are all SO DIFFERENT! I googled Iodine information and I am very anxious to start my supplement. I am glad to see my Copper is normal, and it looks like I'll be needing Zinc. I have had Zinc deficiency symptoms. 

Lyme wrecks everything. Everything is thrown off.

If you have Lyme, it's never JUST Lyme.

Chelation, Myers, & Glutathione IV

So I've gone to the wellness center twice now and have had 2 treatments. One on Monday and one on Wednesday. They say you should give yourself at least a day between so your body can detox what was done. For some reason, the IV HURTS SO BAD! IVs never hurt me at the West Clinic. They're gonna dilute it next time to see if it helps. It feels like my bone is bending in my arm. I feel a zombie fatigue and nausea after the treatments. I get a chelation push to bind heavy metals so they can come out of my tissues? Then I get a Myers IV (b vitamins, vitamin c, etc). Then I get a glutathione push. There's 30 minutes between my chelation push and my Myers. The Myers lasts 30min so it's an hour treatment. The last 30 minutes are SO PAINFUL. I just breath through it. I really have NO idea why they hurt so bad. 

Infrared Mat

My wonderful chiropractor lent me her infrared mat. So I put it on my recliner and turned it on during a football game (which I sometimes can't watch due to sensory overload). It took a while to heat up and then my leg symptoms started. It's a burning fizzing RLS type feeling in my whole legs. Some twitching. My foot arches cramp a little and some of my toes will move on their own. I remember this happening last time I used the mat. I don't see this as a bad thing. It's doing something to my body. 

I think I am going through healing crisis lately because my SI joint has flared so bad AND my 3.5yr old csection scar feels a LOT newer. My SI joint ligament feels newly injured. My upper back at the base of my neck has been seizing, too. My new protocol is definitely doing something. 

Ionic Foot Detox Spa

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003U4ZKRQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1446086851&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=ionic+detox&dpPl=1&dpID=51pcD-TTpYL&ref=plSrch

Above is the link to the Ionic Foot Detox Spa I bought off Amazon. I really think it helped me when I was doing treatments in Idaho so I got one to keep at home. I finally used it for the first time with the help of my husband. It has an infrared belt for pain, which I really needed tonight. I strongly believe I need to detox right now, and I feel a noticeable difference after I use these. 

Capsules

I have so many capsules I have to take and they are so huge. I CANNOT swallow them. I've been so upset and have felt so hopeless. I tried dumping capsules into smoothies but it was so rancid tasting. It tasted like I was taking poison chemical dirt or something. So I went to Good Earth Natural Foods because I thought I previously saw empty capsules for sale there, and thank goodness I was right!!! I bought the tiniest size they have and I can swallow them! I squeeze the big capsules so they're easy to pour into the tiny ones and down they go. They are 1/4 of the size I was supposed to swallow. I am just so grateful! The impossible has been made possible! It will be very tedious and time consuming to do all this but so very worth it!!!

Antibiotics

So I am on 5 days of antibiotics for my klebsiella. I have been terrified of antibiotics since I received my Lyme diagnosis. I don't believe in long term antibiotics and I know how they affect Lyme disease. However, short term for infections like this I agree with. I also trust my new doctor. I was literally so afraid to start my first dose so I had my mom come spend the day with me. So far so good except I'm having Parkinson's symptoms which come with herxing. It could be from Lypo C and/or the Cipro. I have to cut up the pill and take it in 6 pieces and it tastes like I'm putting Comet cleaning powder in my mouth. It's so sick and I'm so relieved I only have to do it for 4 days. So far so good on probiotics too. My monster headache is a little lessened but still very present. I have sensory overload right now and am shaking. I'm still sick with a cold. My temperature yesterday was 100.1 and my blood pressure was very low. 86/65 or something around there.

Lots of New Info

So, all my lab results came back. Here is what they say:

Klebsiella Pneumonia (intestinal bacterial overgrowth)

Lack of Lactobicillus (good bacteria)

Low grade, chronic, Epstein Barr Virus

Low grade, chronic, Mycoplasma Pneumoniae (Lyme Co Infection)

3 MTHFR gene mutations that severely affect B12 and Folate (test yours through 23andme.com)

Heavy metal toxicity from Tungsten, Tin, Mercury, and Cesium

*Still waiting on results of Iodine, Copper, and Zinc

I still have Lyme, too much Cortisol, SI Joint Dysfunction, Babesia, etc etc etc

So my plan is as per my new doc:

B12 Shots once a week for 6 weeks (I had my first today. It made me feel calm and sleepy but a few hours later I have one of the biggest headaches I have ever had).

5 days of Cipro Antibiotics (twice a day) with:
               Probiophage (2/day)
               Microdefense (3 at bedtime til gone)

After I'm done with 5 days of Cipro:

Continue with Probiophage (2/day)
Continue with Microdefense (3 at bedtime)
Start Naturethroid
        Gluthithione
        GI Revive (2/day)
        Magnesium Glycinate
        Adrenal Stress Relief (2 at wake and 2 at lunch)
        Super Multi Plus  (4 capsules/day) NOT ON IV DAYS
     

I have to do 20 IV's of Chelation Therapy with Myers Cocktail and Glutathione Pushes and I think Phosfilditycholine or however you spell it?

Do Liver Gallbladder and Kidney/Bladder support during IV's

LDI Shots will be a last resort

All for the rest of the year with some Wellness Classes too.

I get a special Hawaiian health massage next week and the week after that I get OMT? Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy? Not sure if that's what it's called.

So my life is back to pills and IVs and being sick and herxing and detoxing.

But I'm ready.

Storm Flare & Update

I have been doing pretty well since discontinuing IV treatments. I personally think I was loaded with dead Lyme bugs and my body has actually had time to flush them out. I've got a new Osteopathic Doctor at a wellness center an hour from me and am waiting for bloodwork results to come back.

Meanwhile, as usual, horrendous weather is flaring up every Lyme symptom I have. It's definitely a tea and broth day. 

I've also got some sort of sickness that is having a hard time manifesting itself due to my wonky immune system. I did get a silent migraine that made me lose all sense of taste and smell.

I've just been living off of Vitamin D, Iron, Lypo C, Magnesium, Silver, and sometimes Liquid Minerals. Sometimes I add electrolyte packets, too. A lot of this is from watching Claudia Orgill's YouTube Channel Healthy Preparedness.

I'm iffy on liquid minerals, though, since I'm waiting on heavy metal results. I did a stool test, too. I'm happy my new doc had me do tests I've never done.

I've also found Vega One, which seems to have a lot of good in it. So far, so good. I love having nutritional shakes.

Socializing

Since I have been chronically ill, with 100+ symptoms that wax and wane by the hour, I can't help but think about how I come across to people. I literally must seem rude, anti-social, bipolar, and/or completely disinterested in others. I must seem like a horrible friend or family member. I must seem selfish. I think people who really know me know I am not those things. I'm a helper, I'm a listener, I'm friendly. But it is NOT possible to be any of those things if I don't have enough oxygen at the moment. It's not possible if I have sensory overload at the moment. If I'm in pain, if I'm nauseated, if I'm dizzy. It takes SO much mental, physical, and emotional energy to socialize. My autonomic nervous system malfunctions whenever it wants, and it works whenever it wants. One minute I act completely fine to people, and the next they probably think they pissed me off., which could not be further from the truth. I'm plagued by too many symptoms that come and go. Any one of them could hit me any second out of nowhere. It's very draining on all levels. I also think I bum people out who tell me I look like I'm doing better. Yes, I probably do, AT THE MOMENT. How are you feeling? I'm ok AT THE MOMENT. It's all just up and down. I can't help people like I would like to. If you're in an airplane emergency, you need to put the oxygen mask on yourself before assisting others. I have an oxygen mask, but it's defective. It's unpredictable. Therefore, someone else will have to assist you until further notice.

Paleo Chicken Salad

Coconut Wrap

Organic Chicken grilled in Olive Oil with

Sea Salt

Baby Spinach

Avocado (instead of mayo)

Organic Alfalfa Sprouts

Gala Apples

Grapes

Organic Celery

Green Onions

Raw Cashews

Podcast on Late Stage Lyme and Paleo Diet

Teen Blogger Gabriella Schneider talks about her Late Stage Lyme and living Paleo

https://s3.amazonaws.com/nourishbalancethrive/podcast/Gabriella.Schneider.on.2014-11-04.at.11.29.edited.mp3

Protocol For Now

Morning:

Pure Lean Shake w Supergest

Lypo C & Iron

Vasculin, Cataplex B & E

Afternoon:

Osteo Calm w Sea Salt & Lemon

Lypo C

Vasculin, Cataplex B & E

Silver 

Evening:

Iron

Lypo C

Supergest

Cataplex B & E & Vasculin

Diet:

Organic Cage Free Eggs

Gluten Corn Soy Dairy Free Cereal

Almond Butter

Pineapple Watermelon Cantelope Banana

Organic Salads w Quinoa

Chicken w Turmeric Olive Oil Sea Salt

Paleo Boulder Cookies

Coconut Milk, Avocados, Coconut Wraps

Organic Mustard, Raw Cashews

Coconut Oil

I have been advised to start eating liver and grass fed butter to raise my cholesterol and iron but I think my stomach needs some more testing and TLC before I start loading it with things I know don't sit well with me

IV #42 + Lab Results

So I got my labs back. My vitamin D, iron, and cholesterol are all dangerously tanked! I need to eat eggs, liver, grass fed butter, double my vitamin d supps and my iron supps. A good bit of news is my Hashimoto antibody levels are at 2 now!!! The disease has literally reversed. I saw Borrelia on the Asyra, though. So I still need to fight Lyme. I'm doing a foot detox now and just had a Vitamin C and B IV. 

So, today is my last day at The West Clinic for financial reasons. My mom has spent so much time, energy, and money taking me up here every single week and my husband has worked so many extra hours to pay for it. I am going to try and sustain myself with Lypo C and possible Vitamin B12 shots which I got a prescription for today. I need to get copies of my labs, too. 

For my POTS condition I'll be taking Vasculin and increasing electrolyte intake

Oh another positive note is I've gotten my blood sugar up. I guess it's always like 51 fasting and sits at 80 all day but I noticed after eating tons of fruit, agave, and honey I felt pretty good. I think I need those kinds of sugars. Really sugar is a no no but hopefully that's refined sugar. I'm only eating natural forms of it I think. I had a good couple days because of it I think. I THINK.

I will be searching for someone local to help me on the rest of this journey since it's unrealistic to always go to the clinic and over $10,000 later, I'm out of money. They definitely helped me and I love the staff and it's been torturous at times, but very pleasant at times. I've made treasured new friends and learned so much. The winds of change are blowing, though. I just need to find which way to go. I have a few ideas, though.

40 + 41 UV Light

For my 40th treatment I tried the new UV light therapy they have at the clinic. The needle hurt so bad, and I didn't feel any positive effects, but there were MANY people who felt great. I wish I responded normally to treatments but I just don't, and that is a fact. I've never been able to maintain a 30 or 40% improvement. I've danced between 5-40% for 2 years now, with and without treatments. Something is missing with me. Something on a cellular level I think. I don't respond normally to chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, supplements, nothing. I always have such a positive attitude when I try new things, but it's to no avail. For my 41st treatment, I did a huge custom bag. I woke up last night feeling like my heart was trying to escape out of my chest. It was terrifying. I have headaches now, too. I did the new foot detox they have at the clinic which usually helps me, but it didn't. The doc loaded me up on supplements again which I appreciate and will take them perfectly for a month. I have Cataplex B, Cataplex E, Cardio Plus (which I think is supposed to be Vasculin), and SuperGest which I haven't tried yet. I'm taking liquid iron and Lypo vitamin C. I'm waiting for lab results on my thyroid, iron, vitamin d, and lipid panel. 

 

Bedridden & Avenues

I don't know why but I feel like if I get out of bed, my heart and lungs won't be able to sustain me. I'm not usually bedridden so I don't know what's going on. I do know that I am so exhausted from these death-like episodes that I don't even want to get out of bed. I feel like if I stay in bed, the episodes can't get me? I feel very numb today. Reading Claudia Orgill's stuff has gotten me through the day, though. I am also depressed about money. I just spent $500 on a portable sauna and ionic detox spa. These things have helped me in the past so I figure I better just own them. I'm just afraid they'll break or suddenly not help me. Tomorrow I am going to make some calls and pursue some new avenues in my fight against Lyme. I will still be continuing my IV's at the West Clinic as long as my credit cards permit, I just feel like I need some local attention, and more attention at that. I just feel so bad how expensive I am. My sickness affects others around me, not just me. More treatments tomorrow. I've flat out lost count. I have never recovered this week. I had several good days in June, but in July I could count the number of good days on one hand. I'm so hammered, especially this week with no good days. I at least thought I would manage one. I had a few good hours I guess but most hours are turmoil. I continue to put on a fake happy face, though. Well, not all of it is fake, I just don't want to drag people down.

Paleo Wrap

Coconut Wrap

Avocado

Mustard

Chicken

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Turmeric 

Sea Salt

Lettuce

YUM