"What Is The Most Resilient Parasite?"

                                                   Dom Cobb – Inception - 2010

“What is the most resilient parasite? A bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm?

An idea.  Resilient, highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain, it’s almost impossible to eradicate...”

Doc Brown was an astute medical detective. I remember one of his patients telling me,

 “I’ve been to ten different doctors, took all these tests, and not one doctor knew what was wrong with me until I came to Doc Brown.”

Yes, Doc Brown knew what to test for and what labs to use. Doc Brown had a game plan for attacking all the bacteria, viruses, etc. He had a game plan for improving your immune system. He had a game plan for getting each patient well. Sounds promising? Sounds like this could work? But there was one problem.  A BIG problem. And I never saw it until I observed my son at a monthly doctor’s visit. (See A Lyme State of Mind)

Doc Brown focused more on the disease than on the game plan to get well. You could say he was obsessed with finding the cause of every patient’s symptoms. He tested – relentlessly. As a result, his doctor’s visits were depressing and overwhelming.  True, on one hand, it’s a step in the right direction to know what you’re infected with and to start treating. But, on the other hand, it’s emotionally devastating to find out that you are the unwilling host to not one but MANY resilient pathogens causing havoc in your body. And pathogens, like the Bb spirochete and mycoplasma, have no cell wall, therefore could never be cured!

“Oh my God,” I cried, “I could never be cured!” “My son could never be cured!”   How in the world can you get better if that horrible idea is stuck in your head?

 YOU CAN’T!!!

My son dreaded doctor’s visits. He dreaded getting the test results and hearing about all the bacteria, viruses and parasites he was positive for. And the truth was, he just wasn’t feeling better.

He was following Doc’s game plan.  Take antibiotics, and /or other drugs for bacterial infections, anti- virals for the viruses, supplements and herbs to support the organs and immune system, probiotics, vitamins and minerals, etc.

Sounds like a game plan! So what possibly could be the problem? Why did I have that gut-wrenching feeling that this game plan wasn’t working?  Why did I feel that this wasn’t the way for us to be healed? What was the problem?

GREAT SCOTT!

DOC BROWN HAD THE FEAR!!!

He was terrified of ticks spreading disease. He was terrified of bug bites developing into chronic disease. He was terrified of walking on the grass! He was terrified to be outside!

But, most of all, I believe, he was terrified that most of his patients would not recover.

My heart sank as I watched the despair creep up in my son’s eyes while Doc was going over his chronic symptoms and writing out a refill prescription. That was the defining moment for me. My son had finally realized that he had chronic symptoms. Persistent, chronic symptoms that Doc could only hope to relieve but not heal.

That was when I knew I had to seek out an alternative way to better health. I had to leave this system.  I had to find a way to eradicate the parasitic idea of “chronic disease” from my thought process. And my son was the catalyst. My son’s chronic condition motivated me to go out on a limb and seek out a treatment that was relatively new. A treatment that was foreign to me. A treatment that did not involve conventional medicine. This decision ultimately changed our lives for the better.

There was no denying that Doc was doing his best and going above and beyond helping incredibly sick people and children. But the fact was that I had yet to meet one of Doc’s patients that were healed of their chronic problems. There were patients that did improve with Doc’s treatment plan. But most were resigned to their fate that they will face chronic issues for the rest of their lives.

I couldn’t accept this. I believed that my son and I would regain our health.

Within a few months, I began holistic treatments with Dr. Lovejoy and my son started the Allergie-Immun therapy* soon after. A year later, I also began the Allergie-Immun therapy. And I’m happy to report that our “chronic” days are now behind us.

Thankfully, my son never got caught up with THE FEAR.  He still loves to play a pick up game of soccer every now and then. And he especially loves to fish. But what he loves most is being symptom free, having his life back and feeling “normal” again.

Energy is life and health. Missing energy stands for sickness and death...A lot of secrets in energy have been physically and scientifically decoded…

Conventional medicine is still attached to a mechanistic conception of the world…”Allergie-immun” concentrates on the energetic field only...

From the Patient Information pamphlet for Allergie-Immun

*I have no financial interest in allergie-immun and do not make any commission off of any sales.

"Fear Leads to Anger. Anger Leads to Hate. Hate Leads to Suffering."

Yoda – Star Wars Episode1: The Phantom Menace (1999)


Here I go again – another Star Wars quote (See Listen to Your Gut ) but how could I resist? I’m in the process of dissolving my fear of bug bites leading to chronic disease. Do I still have THE FEAR? Well, what do you think? I’m working on it! These rewired thoughts don’t change overnight. But, I truly feel that I had a chronic disease. It’s in the past. (Notice I said HAD!) And I also realized that I was angry! I was angry at myself for getting sick! And I suffered because of this thought.

When I was first diagnosed with Lyme disease, I thought that all I needed was a course of antibiotics and I would be back to normal. But, what I didn’t know at that time was that I was already in late stage Lyme. I knew something was wrong. I knew my symptoms were chronic. I knew being spacey, tired, woozy and achy every day wasn’t normal. But I also knew that the GP who prescribed the amoxicillin for me, knew very little about Lyme and I needed to find a LLMD. He couldn’t help me. I was on my own. And I was scared. I had to find an investigative doctor who understood how to treat chronic Lyme. For the first time in my life, I had to find a doctor that was out of network. I had no choice. I knew a ten minute doctor’s visit wasn’t going to solve my problem. And I certainly wasn’t going to wind up like this:

Thought I’d put in a little comic relief :). But, as you can see... there is a dark side...

The ugly truth is that there is a lot of misinformation and ambiguity surrounding Lyme disease and its treatment. It is a known fact that many LLMDs in the country (mostly members of ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) have disputed the CDC's and IDSA'S (Infectious Disease Society of America) recommended 2-4 week course of antibiotics for the treatment of Lyme. The CDC doesn’t recognize chronic Lyme disease. According to the CDC, patients with lingering symptoms, after taking the recommended course of antibiotics, have a condition called “Post-treatment Lyme disease Syndrome” in which “the exact cause of PTLDS is not yet known...”

There has been a huge debate over the treatment of Lyme. Many doctors have been actually targeted by state medical boards and have lost their licenses, for prescribing long term and intravenous antibiotics for their patients.

Award winning documentary, Under Our Skin, is a heart-rending and illuminating look at this controversial hidden epidemic. “Through dramatic stories of those who have been affected by the disease, the film shows how controversies concerning diagnosis and treatment are leaving patients abandoned by the mainstream medical establishment. As Lyme sufferers visit specialist after specialist, so many are told that their problems are “all in their heads.” Many are misdiagnosed with incurable and often deadly syndromes. Some lose their jobs, their health insurance, their life savings, and even their lives…”

So why is Lyme so mystifying? And how can it be so easily misdiagnosed by so many doctors? The answer lies in one word – testing. As the film points out, “standard testing is unreliable.” A negative test result could still mean you have the disease. Lyme is very complicated to diagnose (See Damn! We’re in a Tight Spot) The Bb spirochete likes to change forms. It likes to hide in your organs and soft tissue. And many times, it’s not alone. Co-infections such as, Babesia, Anaplasma and Bartonella, often are transmitted by the same tick that transmits the Lyme bacteria. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Only a competent investigative LLMD will know what other pathogens to test for and the appropriate labs to use. But there is a catch. Competent LLMD’s are few and far between. Many patients have to travel to another state for treatment. Most do not take insurance. Most of the labs that are the most reliable are private labs and are out of network. Supplements, herbs and possibly homeopathic support, may be an additional out of pocket expense.

A typical office visit including supplements may run a patient a couple hundred dollars. Lyme and co-infection testing could cost anywhere from $400.00 to well over $1,000.00. And then, last but not least, are the health insurance companies, who many times refuse to cover the long term Lyme treatment.

Patients are literally caught between a rock and a hard place. It’s no wonder why there is a tremendous amount of fear among Lyme patients. It’s no wonder why there is so much anger toward the “mainstream medical establishment” that defines Chronic Lyme as "Post-treatment Lyme disease Syndrome" – cause unknown. It’s no wonder that there are a lot of sick people out there who are misdiagnosed, mistreated and misguided by a broken, complacent system.

I was one of the angry patients. I hated myself for getting a complicated disease that caused financial burden and emotional stress for my husband and children. What frustrated me the most were the lengthy and costly treatments and testing that seemed to never end. It wasn’t until I brought my younger son in to see Doc Brown that I realized that this wasn’t working for me anymore. I had an epiphany. And it hit me while I observed Doc at a monthly doctor’s visit. I realized that my son and I would never be healed if we stayed with this doctor. I realized that I would always be chronically sick if I stayed within this system.

I had to leave…for my son’s sake.

I had to leave…to be healed.

To be cont…

"I Must Not Fear...Fear Is The Mind-Killer..."

From the Ben Gessirit “Litany Against Fear” - Dune (1984)

"Even though I fear bug bites leading to chronic disease, I believe that I have the power to be completely healthy and whole. Even though I fear chronic sickness, I believe with the guidance of God, I will dissolve this fear.”

I was in a surreal daydream. As I continued to tap and recite my personal Litany Against Fear, I suddenly felt lightheaded, weak and exhausted. My brain felt fried! My thoughts were unclear! I felt shell-shocked! Was this therapy that powerful?  I could hardly stand up from Dr. Gurevich’s examining table. My session with Dr. Gurevich was over for now, but I wasn’t ready to go home yet.  I certainly was in no condition to drive. So, I continued my litany and tapping with Dr. Gurevich’s assistant, in another office, for another half hour or so, until I was calm enough to drive home.

Before I left his office, Dr. Gurevich informed me that I had been experiencing a kind of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder over my first tick bite!  My anxiety over bug bites manifested into an anxiety disorder! Ay Yi Yi!  This was the psychological component of the neuropsychoimmunological loop - my fear of suspicious bites, triggered my fear of chronic disease, (aka Lyme), then triggered my immune system to react.  

Did tapping and affirmations actually bring this “mind-killer” to the surface? Was this why I was feeling so drained and shell-shocked?  Was this why my head was so fuzzy?

There was no question that my mental, emotional and physical states of being were responding in unison. And what was the connection?

FEAR!!!

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD can happen to anyone who has experienced some type of traumatic episode in their life. I’ve always associated it with war veterans or victims of some type of terrifying event. But PTSD symptoms vary and can be hard to diagnose. Many people that have been diagnosed with chronic sickness or a devastating disease may have PTSD and are not aware of it. I was not aware that I had this “common” anxiety disorder.

And then it hit me! I was reliving MANY fears every time I got a suspicious bug bite.

I was reliving the fear that crept up inside of me when I was told that I had a persistent and complicated disease that would always be with me. I was reliving the fear that I was too powerless to fight this disease. I was reliving the fear of no one understanding what I was going through.  I was reliving the fear that somehow I was doomed and that I’d never be completely healthy and well.

These fear-laced thoughts were very real to me. I believed in these thoughts.  But these thoughts weren’t helping me. These thoughts were depressing my body, mind and soul. These thoughts were making me sicker.

                                                                                     

So now I’m in the process of changing these destructive thoughts and beliefs to healing frequencies. I’m in the process of changing my health and well-being. I’m in the process of rewiring harmful thought patterns to healing affirmations. And reciting affirmations are now a part of my life.

Through my affirmations, I have found a spiritual connection that I’m just beginning to understand. When I ask for the guidance of God or the Universe, I believe that I’m not in this struggle alone. I’m not asking God to heal me. I’m asking God to guide me and help me to heal myself.

 I’m asking God to help the healer within:

“I am ready to be well…I am ready to be completely well.”**

“I am willing to be well; My heart, brain, liver, breast….is able to heal and be totally well again.”**

“I give myself permission to be free of chronic disease from now on; I let go of every problem that causes my condition to occur and persist.” **

“I let go all of my beliefs that I will stay ill;  I let go of every problem that is blocking me from expressing God’s will through my thoughts, feelings, words, works and actions.”**

**   selections of affirmations prescribed by Dr. Gurevich

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” - Buddha

"...I Think I'm Getting The Fear..."

Dr. Gonzo – Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Here I was, over one thousand miles away from my home, and I was getting The Fear. Not the crazy, paranoia drug-induced kind of fear that Dr. Gonzo was experiencing. But the crazy, paranoia, Lyme-induced kind that I associated with suspicious bug bites.

I was on a mini-vacation in Florida and I was bitten by some flying insect, which left a suspicious mark.  The bite wasn’t anything like the supposed Lyme-infected mosquito bite that caused me to relapse in September. The bite was smaller and had a light pink circle around it. It grew to about the size of a 50 cent piece. By the next day, it was the size of a nickel. Still, the uncontrollable panic and Fear trigger from my tainted past, burst my happy bubble and sank me into a depressed state in a matter of minutes.

“Here I go again,” I bemoaned. “I can’t believe this is happening.” Of course I had the repellent on me, but it was a windy day. I didn’t think I needed it. But, thankfully, I had the doxycycline on me and I started to take it the next day, just in case.

When I saw Dr. Goodsoul the following week, he had another diagnosis for me. I was reacting emotionally. I had what he called a “neuropsychoimmunological” response. Very simply, my fear of suspicious bites, triggered my fear of chronic disease (aka chronic Lyme), which triggered my immune system to react.

The mind is very powerful. Your thoughts and emotions can influence your health.

Through muscle testing, Dr. Goodsoul discovered that I was still emotionally reacting to my first tick bite. I still felt the The Fear of Helplessness. The Fear of Hopelessness. The Fear of Isolation. The Fear of Depression. The Fear of Chronic Sickness.

I had unknowingly imprinted this fear as a regular thought pattern. I often wondered if my fear of biting bugs can actually attract biting bugs in my direction. Was this possible? I remember having a fear of Lyme disease before I became sick with Lyme. I thought about it every time I would walk on the grass. Could my fear of Lyme (plus other factors), help to depress my immune system to the point where I got sick? Does fear really attract fear?  Can Fear make you sick?

Holistic practitioners see the mind, body and spirit connection. Dr. Goodsoul knows the devastating effect that negative emotions have on your health. Can unresolved fears make you sick? Absolutely! Can negative emotions attract more negative emotions? Yes, again!   Can my unresolved fear be resolved? Yes!  

So, as I lay on Dr. Goodsoul’s examining table, I started to recall that moment in my life when I discovered the first horrendous bite that lead to chronic Lyme. Dr. Goodsoul gave me purple (emotional) glasses to calm me down. While wearing the glasses, I gazed at his hand as he hypnotically made a figure eight pattern above my face.

Now, comes the interesting part…I started to tap, using all my fingers, on specific acupuncture points. As I tapped I recited my Fear:

“I’m afraid of bug bites leading to chronic disease. I’m afraid I will never be completely well. I’m afraid that I don’t have the power to be well. I’m afraid of chronic disease.”

I felt almost nauseous from this huge emotional upheaval that was raging inside of me. I was hearing words that I didn’t want to hear. I had to face something I didn’t want to face. What had been at the back of my mind, every minute of every day, was now exposed.

I began to hoarsely hum as I continued tapping. Tears were streaming down my face. All I kept thinking was that I had to go on. I had to finish this. There was no turning back.

Before we went to the next step, Dr. Goodsoul turned to me and said:

“So, what did you learn?”

What did I learn? I never expected him to ask me that question. I took the glasses off ,  collected my thoughts and whispered haltingly, “ I’m afraid of chronic disease.”

“Yes. And now you are going to begin to dissolve this fear.”

So, I resumed tapping. I was prompted to say powerful statements to undo what I had done to myself. I was now saying spiritual and emotional words of affirmations:

“Even though, I fear bug bites leading to chronic disease, I believe that I have the power to be completely healthy and whole.”

“Even though, I fear bug bites leading to chronic disease, I believe that through God’s guidance and help, I will be completely healthy and whole.”

“Even though, I fear chronic disease, I give myself permission, through God’s light and love, to be completely healthy and whole.”

I was asking for God’s guidance and help – in Dr. Goodsoul’s office.

We are all spiritual beings, after all. And sometimes, we need extra help – from within.

The greatest mistake in the treatment of diseases

Is that there are physicians for the body and

physicians for the soul,

although the two cannot be separated.

-PLATO (427-347 BC)

To be cont…

 www.livinglyme.com

"Damn! We're in a Tight Spot!"

Ulysses Everett McGill in O Brother, Where Are Thou? 2000 

O brother, I was in a tight spot alright! Here I was, sitting in Dr. Goodsoul’s office and freaking out over the devastating news that my old infection was re-activated.  And it was from a mosquito bite, no less. Did this mean that mosquitoes could transmit Lyme? Or, was there something in the mosquito’s saliva that somehow triggered the spirochetes to re-enter my bloodstream and cause symptoms?

As of now, there is no scientific evidence proving that mosquitoes can transmit Lyme to humans. But there is published scientific data that shows the presence of the Lyme Bb bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) in mosquitoes as well as tears!

Dr. Lida Mattman, a nominee for the Nobel Prize of Medicine, was a brilliant bacteriologist who devoted close to fifty years researching spirochetes. She was able to extract and study Lyme spirochetes from mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, fleas, as well as urine, semen and blood.

In her revolutionary book, Cell Wall Deficient Form: Stealth Pathogens, she identifies the pleomorphic Bb bacteria as having the ability to convert from a spirochete to other forms, such as the cyst form, the cell-wall deficient form and bio-films. The problem with these “morphed” forms is that they are very hard to treat. The cyst (a tightly coiled sac of spirochetes), the CWD (lacks a cell wall) and the bio-film (which is a colony of cysts) are resistant to many antibiotics.  Dr. Mattman’s research also shows that the CWD or cell-wall deficient bacteria, may be responsible for many chronic illnesses, including Lyme, MS, ALS and Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Goodsoul was very familiar with the “morphed” forms of Lyme and he didn’t waste a minute. He looked at me and said, “You must have ozone irradiation intravenous therapy and you must start as soon as possible. Can you start treatment today?”

I knew nothing about this new therapy but did I have a choice? If Dr. Goodsoul recommended it to me, it must work. And considering all of his other therapies benefited me so far, I knew this was what I had to do. So as his nurse practitioner was prepping me for the IV, Dr. Goodsoul explained that this therapy was actually two therapies in one.

“First, blood is withdrawn and injected into the saline solution. Oxygenated ozone is bubbled into the blood and mixed. Then, this blood solution is exposed to ultra-violet light as it is re-infused into your body.”

Dr.Goodsoul raved how this therapy helps the body to function at a more efficient state. It oxygenates the blood and cytokine* cells so that the body can combat bacteria  (including spirochetes), viruses, parasites, bacterial yeast, and the bio-films. The best part was that there were no side effects. I needed eight weekly treatments to halt the extent of the infection. The procedure lasted about 45 minutes and the only time I experienced a significant herx (die-off reaction) was after the first treatment. I was so spacey that I went through a stop sign on the way home. I arrived home safe but I must admit it was a challenge to keep my mind steady and focused on the road.

My foggy thoughts kept on straying to the AI drops. I knew I had to re-submit my saliva to the allergie-immun lab as soon as possible. But the problem was that my therapy had been finished two months ago. I was worried. Would they honor my original account and not charge me for a whole new course? “Well,” I thought,” there was only one way to find out.”  

So, when I got home, I wrote them a note explaining that I was re-infected, and along with my saliva sample, mailed it to Germany that very day.

Sure enough, about three weeks later, another round of drops had arrived in the mail. The analysis revealed chemical, energetic and biological disruptions. And to my delight, they didn’t charge me any additional fee.

It took just one more round of drops and the completion of the ozone therapy to get my health back to my previous state.  The Lyme is in remission and I’m feeling good again.

Dr. Goodsoul believes that it is possible that mosquitoes and biting flies could transmit Lyme. So do many other LLMD’s. And so do many Lyme patients who can’t recall being bitten by a tick. It’s true that the nymph deer tick is the size of a pinhead. Ticks also secrete an anti-inflammatory into their saliva when they feed. Therefore, many times they go unnoticed.

So far, research and funding is only limited to ticks. This may change in the future. Public awareness and data are the key factors. Suspicious bites from flying insects should not be ignored. If there is enough data, then maybe researchers like Dr. Kerry Clark could open up a whole new can of microscopic worms (aka spirochetes!)

Dr. Kerry Clark, associate professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the University of North Florida, has devoted his life to researching the cause and transmission of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. He would “love to investigate if wild mosquitoes contain Lyme Borrelia DNA.” But he needs info from YOU!

Send clear digital photos of your bite (put a coin next to the bite for size comparison). Include the date (clipped from a newspaper or magazine) in the photo, a full body shot and a description of your experience and symptoms, if any.

Send data to Dr. Kerry Clark – kclark@unf.edu 

And at the same time, send a copy of your info to the CDC – CDCINFO@cdc.gov  or http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/   and your doctor, too.

It took me three months to get out of my “tight spot.” I will never know if that mosquito that bit me was indeed infected with Lyme. But my gut tells me that this wasn’t an isolated incident. I believe many of us who have been exposed to Lyme in the past are at a higher risk for re-infection.  The good news for me is that the fear of relapse and returning to a chronic state of sickness is fading away.

Now my road to healing will lead me into another path. 

My road to healing will lead me to another dimension.

My road to healing will lead me to answers.

“I cannot tell you how long this road shall be, but fear not the obstacles in your path, for fate has vouchsafed your reward. Though the road may wind, yea, your hearts grow weary, still shall ye follow them, even unto your salvation.”

Blind Seer – O Brother, Where Art Thou?

*cytokine - a protein secreted by the lymph cells that affect cellular activity and controls inflammation. (Encarta Dictionary)

                                                                                                          

"Yoo Need Protehshon"?

 Paul Serone, skeevy Paraguayan snake poacher in Anaconda (1997)

I’ll bet you never heard of the schlocky horror-action film, Anaconda. Jon Voight, who stars as the sleazy, snake-obsessed, Spanglish speaking villain, Paul Serone, is a riot as the crazy bad guy. His performance is a must-see for B-movie fans! My husband happens to do an uncanny Paul Serone impersonation. Sometimes he’ll sneak up behind me and whisper in my ear, “Yoo need protehshon?” It’s become an inside joke between the two of us and never fails to give us a good laugh. Ironically, I recently found new meaning behind this absurd question. And my response was no joke!

I love being outdoors. I love communing with nature.  I love the longer days, the blooming foliage, the scent of spring – you get the picture. But I hate what undeniably comes along with all this beauty – BUGS!  I don’t despise all bugs - just the ones that spread disease.

As far as I can remember, I have been sensitive to bug bites. When I was a baby, my arms would sometimes swell up from mosquito bites. I’ve never had severe allergic reactions to any bites, but nevertheless, it was, and still is, a big problem for me. When I was a kid, I used to spray Off liberally all over my exposed skin until I smelled like chemicals and glistened in the summer dusk. As an adult, I’ve replaced Off with Skin-So-Soft, essential oils and health store brands. These are a healthier choice and are almost as effective. Yes, Deet is powerful but it’s a neurotoxin, so I won’t use it anymore.

The point is, that if I remember to slather bug repellent on ALL my exposed skin, I’m in good shape. I’m more or less protected. But, if I were to miss a spot on my skin (let’s say the back of my thigh), and its buggy out, I will without a doubt, get bitten on this missed spot. This has happened so many times, I’ve lost count.

So, why am I making such a fuss? It is a known fact that ticks spread Lyme and other diseases. What is not known is that it is possible that Lyme disease can be spread by mosquitoes and biting flies. How do I know this? I’ll give you one guess.

Last September, my husband and I went to the shore for the weekend. We were walking to the beach and, out of no where, I was zapped on my inner thigh, by a hungry mosquito. I was completely caught off guard. I wasn’t wearing any repellent. The bite became intensely itchy and inflamed. Within two days, it spread to two inches in diameter. There was a lighter ring around the perimeter. It looked nasty. It looked like Lyme.

In the past, I’ve had many suspicious bites that were the result of being bitten by flying insects. By suspicious, I mean bites, larger than a quarter, that were irritated and spread out to almost two inches in diameter. When I was bitten before, I was already positive for Lyme, so I couldn’t tell if I was experiencing new symptoms. I remember Dr. Doolittle examining one highly unusual bite and exclaiming, “Only ticks spread Lyme. This must be a histamine reaction.”  I knew it wasn’t a tick bite(it was on the front of my thigh), but I was given a course of new antibiotics to play it safe.

Years later, I was bitten by a mosquito, while I was at an evening Little League game. The bite blew up to almost three inches in diameter. Doc Brown, who was treating me then, immediately put me on antibiotics and within one week, I was experiencing a Herxheimer (die-off) reaction. I wasn’t retested, but I knew I was re-infected.

But this time, I was in remission. I was feeling great!  And I was crossing my fingers that the bite was just a histamine reaction. So, I made an appointment with Dr. Lovejoy, who was able to see me the following week. She tested me and when she told me I was positive, I had that sinking feeling all over again.

Well, I thought, I’ll go on a course of doxycycline and I’ll be fine.  The problem was that I wasn’t feeling fine. I was feeling tired every morning and spacey 24/7.

By the time I saw Dr. Goodsoul, I was on the doxy for three weeks. He re-tested me and not only was I still positive, but the new bite re-activated my dormant Lyme. A course of antibiotics was not going to be enough. I needed to do something more radical and aggressive. 

I was in a state of shock. And to think, this was from a stupid mosquito bite!  And during the summer months, mosquitoes are everywhere!  How could I protect myself from mosquitoes in the future?  And would I have to worry about green heads or gnats, too?

I need protection, all right! I need protection from blood-sucking mosquitoes. I need protection from vampire biting flies. I need protection from viper ticks.

It’s a creature feature action-packed  monsterama outside. And I’m the bait!

But, wait a second…there is hope. (At least a 40 foot man-eating anaconda isn’t after me!) And I know  what I need to do.

I must keep a filled prescription of doxycycline at my fingertips – at all times. In hindsight, I realized that if I started the antibiotics within a few days after I was bitten, I more than likely would have nipped it in the bud.

So that’s my “protehshon”…and that’s my answer…for now.

To be continued…

Listen to Your Gut

“Use The Force, Luke…trust me.”

Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars (Episode IV:  A New Hope -1977)

  

Luke did indeed “listen to his gut”, used The Force, blew up the Death Star, and was honored as a hero by Princess Leia and the Rebel Alliance. He felt and believed in the words of Obi Wan Kenobi. The legendary Star Wars story may be fiction but the idea of believing and listening to a feeling “that will always be with you” is very real.

Believe it or not, “listening to your gut” can save your life!  My classic example is the Allergie-Immun drops. I had a feeling that the drops could help me and I was right.

Within one year since I started the drops, I joyfully became aware that my environmental and seasonal allergies were gone. Intolerably itchy, watery eyes, a persistent stuffy nose and sinuses,  and sinus headaches and infections from exposure to dust mites, pollen, mold, fresh mowed grass (the list goes on) since God knows when, are now a thing of the past.

The drops also helped to alleviate all my anxiety issues. As a result, I don’t freak out over – anything!  And this includes my health. I don’t feel like I have chronic health problems anymore. I can actually say that I see myself in a different light, altogether. I see myself now as a work in progress, with layers of complex issues slowly becoming resolved.  

Presently, I have no Lyme symptoms. I am in remission for the first time in 14 years. (Actually the second time, which is another mind opening story that I will share with you in a future blog.)  I may not be symptomatic, for now, but who knows what the future will bring? I’m not out of the woods, yet. I still have more layers to peel away. I still have more work to do. And, of course, I’m aware that I can easily be re-infected, so I have to be careful. I have to protect myself. What can I say, I’m just one of those lucky people who are sensitive and can pick “things” up easily.

The AI Drops and Dr. Gurevich’s therapies brought my health back. But when you’re a sensitive creature like me, and vulnerable to whatever is blowing in the wind, you realize that you needed protection – super duper protection.  My gut was telling me that bug spray wasn’t enough. My gut was telling me that I needed to find some serious multi-dimensional protection. That is protection on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level.

This meant one thing – I had to change. In order for me to continue my healing process, I had to change the way I thought of myself .And I knew that this wouldn’t be easy. Physical protection is a no brainer. Anyone can do that.  But the other levels. That was another story.  Dr. Gurevich could show me the way, but I had to do the work.

Luke, my intuitive Star Wars buddy, listened to the advice of Obi Wan, but it was his ultimate decision in the end to follow his gut.

 I, too, had a life changing decision to make. Could I learn a new way of thinking? Was I open to a new way of believing?  Was it possible to relearn what I had been taught all my life? Was it possible to be reprogrammed to think that I had the power to protect myself? Was it possible?

Well…what do you think?

What does your gut tell you?

“Search your feelings…”