When Life Gives You Lyme... Make Limeade!

After a 5 months hiatus from blogging… this girl is back! Welcome October! We meet again… although, in a much improved condition than the previous year. October 14, 2016, I began treatment through a local LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor). Initial lab results revealed I had 4 vector-infections: Babesia, Bartonellosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Classic Lyme. Additionally, I had several viruses: MTHFR mutations, Parvo B19, Influenza A, Coxsackie A and B, HHV 6, Mycoplasma Pneumonia and Epstein-Barr.  I had my first port placed on November 14, 2016 at Menorah Hospital. November 29, 2016, several medications were added to my treatment plan - sleep aids, biofilm “breaker downers”, antimalarials, human plasma, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, Glutathione, and an oxygen canister.  December, 2016, I experienced my first port infection. The port was removed and a PICC line was placed. Mid December, 2016, I developed multiple clots in my arm where the PICC

“You’re shattered like you’ve never been before. The life you knew is in a thousand pieces on the floor. Words fall short in times like these. When this world drives you to your knees; you think you’re never going to get back to the you that used to be.” Who is familiar with the above lyrics? While boarding my 9:30 PM flight from Chicago to Kansas City last week, my phone vibrated, notifying me that I had a text message. My sister, Kim, had sent me a message with an unknown artist and song title. “Tell your heart to beat again” by Danny Gokey. I turned my phone off and buried my face into Blake’s chest. The overhead lights inside the plane faded while everyone prepared for take-off.   First, let’s rewind a bit. Friday, March 24th, marked the last day of cycle 1 for me. The following week, March 27 - April 2, was considered an ‘off week’ - no antibiotics (infused nor orally). The three weeks in March prior to the 27th were manageable. I averaged two bad days a week - not too sh

It’s been a month since I last posted on my blog. Things have been very busy around here!  After continuous Herxheimer reactions and helpless days, I decided a change was definitely in order.  A friend recommended I go to Washington, D.C. to meet with Dr. Jemsek. Dr. Jemsek is an infectious disease specialist in Lyme Borreliosis and tick-borne infection.  I was fortunate enough to talk with Dr. Jemsek at my initial consultation along with one of his nurse practitioners. The doctor and nurse practitioner both agreed I was a candidate for IV treatment. The 6 page list of daily medications I was taking was quickly eliminated. The doctor’s suggestion was to end all medications except Doxycycline. He prescribed Diamox, Klor-Con and Vitamin C to be taken twice a day for headaches. He started me on Neurontin twice a day for nerve pain and Trazodone and Klonopin for sleep aid.  Dr. Jemsek’s treatment protocol is essentially chemotherapy. Considering the current state of my body

Happy New Year! The slogan this year is “Don’t be mean in ’17.” I like it! As my 8 year old daughter would say, “I dig it.”  One of my all time favorite quotes is, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” The first time I saw this quote was when reading the book, Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton. I read the entire book out loud to my mom during our 6 hour road trip from home to Rochester, Minnesota. We were on our second or third trip back to Mayo with high hopes for answers.  Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Ponder that, would ya? I’ve had several people throughout my journey say to me, “Things could be much worse.” You know that horrific sound of fingernails on a chalkboard? That comment is identical to that sound! Make it stop! I’ve never understood why people say that. In my 28 years of existence this is by far the worst thing that has ever happened to me. Things could be worse? I’d say