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Borreliosis - Relapsing Fever - Lyme Disease & Other Tickborne Illnesses Information & Support |
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My Update!07/29/2002 - 8/15/2003 Wow! It's been nine years since I was first diagnosed with Lyme disease! How the time flies. The good news is that I have not lost any ground since I got off my prescription medications (Fall, 1996) and routine self-medication for Lyme disease (1997). In fact, I've gained more ground over time. I stopped regular self-treatment with colloidal silver by the fall of 1998. I went through a couple years of self-evaluation for what I thought might be recurring active Lyme infection symptoms. Post-treatment evaluation can be a very subjective challenge as any symptom that pops up is compared to the nearly countless list of Lyme symptoms one has experienced. What was recognizing recovery like? Tricky!!! "Deja vu all over again?" That's what it seemed like with every little headache or muscle pain, whatever the cause might be. But what I ended up concluding is that:
I had an MRI done a couple years ago related to the tremors which only showed a small cyst type lesion on my brain, not related to Lyme and not a concern. I take Inderal for the tremors. It doesn't work completely and it's optional that I take it. I just don't like trembling like an old woman when I'm only in my forties. So I take it. I am thankful I was not (mis)diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and wrongfully medicated for that. 1999: I tried a few months of Prozac during a "slump" when I had little stamina. Though while on Prozac, I seemed to become "more agreeable" of a person around family and PMS was nearly non-existent, I quit because I did not like the side effects and did not ever plan to stay on this sort of medication as a lifer though it seems that what many doctors expect. It seemed this med allowed me to have a "more generic" type personality, but that's not really me. I am happier being myself and depending on God to help me be "more agreeable" when I'm inclined to respond otherwise. The Prozac experience gave me the opportunity to see that I did fret over some things that really don't matter, like whether or not your husband takes the same route you take to get to the store. So once I learned that sort of thing by experience on the medication, I could see I don't want or need to stay on prescriptions; I just need to think a little more before I speak and not sweat the little differences in life between me and somebody else. I lost about 30 lbs. thanks to Atkins Diet over several months in 2000. But no thanks to me and my slacking off around the holidays and other special events, I put it back on. The diet definitely worked and I was not starved or chemically off-balanced by it. I just failed to maintain the loss (or avoid more than a 5 lb. gain). 10/03/02 Update: I'm back on Atkins (3 weeks now) and losing weight as nicely as last time. Now I know the ropes. I aim to never gain back more than five pounds once I reach my goal. We'll see how it goes. Health-wise, I'm doing great! Doing more than I ever dreamed of activity wise. Thanks be to God! I take supplements like red clover, evening of primrose oil, Progestacare cream and multi-vitamins ("Health Insurance" brand from Manchester, CT) with the works (selenium, co-enzyme Q10 and more) to keep on an even keel and to supplement my diet. I use a little homemade Colloidal silver (not made with salt!) when I think I may be coming down with something too. As of Aug., 2003, I've maintained a 15-20 lb loss and hope to gradually take off the remaining excess weight over the next several months. I took up scheduled physical exercise by joining Curves for Women in Nov., 2001. I love the program. It goes quickly with all the different equipment you use in 30 minutes. I have even more stamina and muscle tone than I ever expected, even at my current weight. I've lost mostly inches, not much weight as I need to diet to help with that. My shoulders are doing great with no recurrence of encapsulitis or pain. If Curves had been around sooner, I would have joined even when I was on treatment for Lyme as long as my doctor had approved. It is so invigorating and affordable too. I've thought a lot about opening up a Curves someday when I'm done home schooling my children! 10-2002 I'm keeping up with Curves for Women too. I don't find it boring like other means of exercise as there is variety-- every 30 or 40 seconds you do a different thing for 30 minutes altogether. Ladies, if you haven't tried it, don't knock it. Go try it. See for yourselves how good it feels and how quickly the 30 minutes passes! (I don't have stock in this, but I wish I was an owner!) Aug., 2003; Still no return of shoulder pain! I love Curves so much, I have accepted a part time job at a local club! Amazing! A job that actually relieves stress rather than create it! That's a rare find. To sum it up, I feel great! I still need to lose some weight and accept occasional, rare arthritis that flares up with drastic weather changes, caffeine consumption, and/or and allergy attacks. I don't think I have active Lyme infection any longer. I think the strain of bacteria I had responded slowly but surely to the variety of antibiotics I was on and the homemade colloidal silver I followed up on for several months post-antibiotic treatment. Finally, to anyone off antibiotics, post-Lyme treatment, I empathize with you. When you have symptoms, trying to determine what symptoms are from active infection, residual damage, the flu, or some other infection going around is not easy. Any illness that causes body aches, joint pain, exhaustion and brain fog seems like Lyme again. Lyme can cause some permanent damage. We have to accept that and deal with it as best we can. On the other hand, one may be riddled with poorly controlled allergies, and/or still carry active infection, have been re-infected, or have acquired another tick-borne illness or another systemic illness (especially Candida!) or even a sluggish thyroid. Do whatever you can to strengthen your immune system. Knocking out the weaker enemies gives you more strength to fight the long battle of Lyme disease. Do you hate the thought of allergy shots? Don't knock them till you've given them a reasonable try. If you really have allergies, once they are minimized by an appropriate form of treatment, you will see and feel significant improvement regarding your immune system and your stamina. Sick and tired of being sick and tired. Yes, I've been there, and back! I know recovery from stubborn cases of Lyme disease is possible. Are you currently battling Lyme? Don't give up. Any measure of improvement should be sought after and appreciated. The less demands on your immune system, the better you will feel. Whenever possible, don't fight the battles alone. Put your trust in the true God who loves you and really cares about you. Ask Him to direct your path (Proverbs 3:5,6) and seek the support of others who care about you and either know about Lyme disease or don't mind learning more about it along with you. Never underestimate the power of prayer and what God can do for you. |
"Never give up. Never surrender." (Galaxy Quest)
The information presented in these pages is for resource
and educational purposes only. Nothing herein is intended to be medical advice.
Only your physician can give medical advice! |
"Never give up. Never surrender." (Galaxy Quest)
The information presented in these pages is for resource
and educational purposes only. Nothing herein is intended to be medical advice.
Only your physician can give medical advice! |
My Update!
