April 5 2016

I've been quiet on my blog for a bit so I thought I would write an update today. Since my last post I started IV therapy again and also a new medication that targets the infections in a similar but different way than antibiotics. I did have a flare but Dr C. asked me to try push through and see if the flare would settle. It eventually did and I'm glad I did what he asked (I was so close to stopping!) and things went very well and I was noticing some improvements that I haven't experienced in so long; the main ones were my mind was clearer and that was a very strange feeling at first to be able to think without so much effort. I found I was able to follow conversation better and had less word loss and mind blocks. I also found I had increased energy, I was able to increase my daily walking time from 5 minutes to 10 minutes, had less muscle and joint pain and pain overall and less muscle twitching and night sweats. So pretty good improvements for about a month on the medication, the herbal tincture and IVs.

Then the flu came through our house and I of course had to catch it! I'm not sure I remember having the flu quite so bad but I got through it. I'll be honest and say after that I am considering getting a flu shot next year... glad I have a bit of time to consider that before I need to decide. Unfortunately I had to stop all my meds for about 10 days as my doctors wanted me off them for an additional 3-5 days of feeling well again to let my body rest and recover properly. I was pretty sick and my high fever seemed to really mess up my hormones and cause problems, I also lost 7 pounds in under a week which is sad, I work very hard for every pound! Kyle was also recovering from the flu so he was home to help take care of me and the kids and also drive me so I could get an IV. If we both had to get the flu it was nice that we got it one after the other so when we were at our worst we could take care of each other. :)

During all that the Lyme and co-infections had a good opportunity to progress and take hold again and I've taken quite a few steps back. It's been discouraging once again to be experiencing symptoms I was finally getting relief from. But I am back on all my meds now and feeling relieved to be over that now and am noticing some little steps in the right direction again.

The IVs are going well and I'm currently getting vitamin C and glutathione once a week. We were alternating glutathione and hydrogen peroxide every other week but the HP was too much for me in one day as I was experiencing herxing after them. Herxing is good because it tells you that it is killing off bacteria but the goal is not to kill off so much at once that you herx but to find the dose that you can handle without that. So since the glutathione seems to help me so much more we are sticking with just that and Vit C for now. I am thankful these treatments are possible because they help relieve so much pain for me!

I also finally had my rheumatologist appointment at HSC in March. It went better than I thought... I almost didn't go as I haven't had very good experiences or much help from the medical doctors I have seen since this all began but decided why not. I'm glad I went as the doctors I saw at rheumatology took things more seriously than I expected and have referred me to see more specialists and ordered various tests to be done in the next eight weeks. I'm not sure if anything will come of that but I think it's good to get as many things checked out as they think necessary and I'm glad they are finally digging deeper. If anything else is going on it will be important to know. I think what concerns them most now is the length of time I have been so unwell, maybe at first they hoped it wasn't as bad I was saying and that it would go away. They are aware I have a positive American Lyme disease test but as it's not a Canadian test they cannot acknowledge it. They said "it is an interesting document". According to the USA I am diagnosed with Lyme disease by CDC standards but in Canada I am still not yet diagnosed. They did send me for more testing for Lyme here but I am not sure which tests they did as I didn't really take a good look at the blood work requisitions as I was tired and there was a lot of stuff they were testing (they filled up nine tubes and then another three the following week!) If anything comes of any of this or my upcoming tests I will be sure to share it here.

We thank you all for your continued help and encouragement in various ways and also for your continued prayers. They mean more than we can say.

The Weaver - author unknown

My Life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.

Not til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares,
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
Who leave the choice with Him.