The sign that I have the right health practitioner is that I can leave our appointments feeling encouraged. I am not confused or doubting our treatment strategy. She answers my questions and I can see that there is a plan with lots of good options. Having options is so important to remaining hopeful along this extensive road to recovery.
Yesterday, I had a follow-up consultation with my nurse practitioner to discuss my treatment plan over the next two months. I would like to enjoy this holiday season as much as possible. As of now, the detox and die-off reactions are manageable. Thankfully, Nurse P. agreed with me and we decided we would only make some minor adjustments.
These are the areas that need attention over the next two months.
1. Currently, I have an elevated liver enzyme.
I have been taking Rifampin for almost four months. The national website, LiverTox, reports that 10% to 20% of patients can experience a short-term elevation in liver enzymes while taking this medication. In my case, my ALT enzyme (Alanine Aminotransferase) is mildly elevated. The exact mechanism is not well-understood as to why this occurs in some people. At this time, I do not need to discontinue the medication, but I need to carefully monitor my liver enzymes while taking it. I have begun to take a liver support supplement called Hepa Plus to help my liver metabolize this medication better. I will also be having blood work done every 3 weeks to see if my level has remained buy soma online cheap stable or perhaps even lowered.
2. I am still exhibiting signs of hypothyroidism.
Although I am taking Nature-Throid, my previous dose increase did not seem to bring my thyroid levels into the normal range. In fact, there was no change.
Enter Rifampin again.
Rifampin has been shown to induce cases of hypothyroidism in some patients. This is very likely why I did not see an improvement in my numbers despite increasing my thyroid medication. I will be raising my dose again and will also have to keep close tabs on my thyroid levels. Hopefully, getting my thyroid into the normal range will improve my energy. This has been difficult to achieve.
3. I am currently in the midst of doing a second cycle of Alinia.
Alinia is a medication that has activity against parasites, bacteria and some viruses. With one pill, we have been able to target multiple organisms. When I finish this course of the medication, I will be switching to treatment using colloidal silver. I have some limited experience with colloidal silver in the past, so I am interested to see how it combines with the rest of my treatment.
We will revisit my treatment plan again at end of January. At that point, I anticipate some significant changes.
Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear how you prepare for the holidays. Will you be changing treatment strategies or keeping things the same?
It has literally been years, decades maybe, since I have eaten anything that even remotely resembled a pancake. Maybe it’s the sudden and drastic change in temperature that I now find myself craving some sort of comfort food. Below is the recipe I adapted from Wellness Mama to help satisfy my hankering for pancakes.
Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/4 cup of pumpkin purée ( I used Farmer’s Market brand from Whole Foods)
1 Tbs of walnuts
1/8-1/4 tsp of cinnamon (I love cinnamon so I used 1/4th tsp)
Small pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup of your favorite berries (I used blackberries)
Coconut oil
Grass-fed butter if tolerated
Directions:
1. Whisk together the eggs, pumpkin, cinnamon and small pinch of sea salt
2. Add in walnuts and whisk a few more times
3. Warm pan over medium high heat (I used a cast iron skillet).
It was pretty good and I ate the whole stack! I did miss a bit of the sweetness of a traditional pancake so I think the next time I make this recipe, I will blend in a 1/3rd of a banana or so.
Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite paleo pancake recipe? Please share!
Okay, so maybe blogging didn’t literally save my life. It has however been a crucial part of my healing journey this past year.
I recently passed my first anniversary (or blogiversary) on The Lyme Road. When I began the blog, I intended on a place where I could process my feelings and work through the pain and difficulty of a prolonged, gloomy season in my life. I hoped that by writing bits and pieces of my story, I could boost my spirits. I wanted to let go of the past and embrace the possibilities of my future.
My intention was to inspire myself to keep believing that I could live joyfully while enduring a chronic illness. On October 26th, 2013, I pressed “Publish” for my first post. Much to my surprise, friends, family and strangers read the post. Even my very busy doctor took a moment out of his day to view it and write a comment!
I never really considered others might be interested in the story I had to tell. I didn’t imagine people would actually be following my progress! I am honored that my story has served as encouragement to others. I am so grateful to all of you who have continued to read my posts, comment on them, email and message me!
Blogging has been an amazing platform to help me cope and aid in the healing process.
8 Ways Blogging has Been Crucial to My Healing Journey :
1. It boosted my self-esteem.
I had lost a lot of my life to illness. My confidence had been badly shaken. Blogging helped me realize that I still had gifts and talents to share with the world that weren’t dependent on whether I was well. I accomplished a post if I just kept working a little at a time.
2. It gave writing back to me.
When I was a child, I used to spend hours in my room writing story after story with abandon. In growing up, getting older and getting a real job, I lost that passion. Years of text books, heavy with medical and therapy jargon, had stifled my creativity. Even though I may only ever make enough money for a monthly trip to Chipotle, blogging has allowed me an avenue where I can explore my creative side. It feels so good be to writing again!
3. It’s provided me with free therapy.
I held on tightly to painful memories not knowing how to safely release them. Through the power of words, I was able to cry and grieve my heart’s most buy soma online overnight distressing moments. The result has been a profound understanding that although there is difficulty in life, hope can fill me. That’s ultimately what I want for myself–a life filled with hope.
4. It gave me a social life again.
I do my blogging at home while sitting on the couch or lying in bed. I could not have guessed that I would meet such a kind, helpful group of people online. I am lucky enough to have developed real friendships with several of these people. I know that as I connect and network with other bloggers, I will continue to meet some wonderful people.
5. It allowed me to take risks.
I have always loved to take a risk, learn a new skill or try something different. For years, I had to extinguish that desire and make the pursuit of healing my number one priority. I was too weak, too sick and too tired to dream of embarking on an adventure. Blogging has help me to find courage to try something new again.
Shortly after I began writing, I guest posted on a few other blogs. Then, I decided to take a chance and submit a few posts to Mind Body Green, a huge health and wellness website…
6. And blogging showed me that I still have a lot to learn.
The first post I sent to Mind Body Green was not the easily sharable format they use on their website. My second post to them sounded like I was trying to sell something. I realized I needed to take time to learn and develop a writing style that is unique to me.
I have time to make mistakes, learn from them and take more risks.
7. It taught me that support can come from unexpected places.
Of course, I expected that my family and a few close friends would read my blog. What I did not expect however, is that support, empathy and encouraging words would come from other people’s mothers, old high school classmates, ex-colleagues and strangers from around the world! It truly has been a blessing to me and a source of great comfort.
8. It has helped me to see I have a choice.
I have a choice to not let my heart be in turmoil over my current circumstances. I can daily choose to renew my thinking by focusing on good, pure and lovely things. In almost every post I write, I am attempting to illustrate this simple equation:
Focusing on the good equals more peace in my life.
Focusing on the bad equals more anxiety and confusion.
I seriously think I know every inch of my apartment. I have seen paint chips fall and new cracks form in the walls, evidence of the passage of time. I know what floor boards are unusually smooth, so instead of walking forward, I can choose to slide around in my socks.
I know which corner there is likely to be a spider hiding and which windows to look out to see squirrels jumping from the neighbor’s roof onto the treetops. This has been my view for the majority of the last four-and-a-half-years.
It would be false to say that there has been no improvement, but rather the improvements are often slow in coming and akin to the unhurried speed of watching paint dry.
I reflect upon this last year of treatment somewhat heavy-hearted. The ache of isolation is still present. The burden of years of not working and mounting medical expenses weighs heavy upon me. Fatigue-ladened days and almost nightly bouts of insomnia have left me drained. Still determined, I continue on with my treatment. However, no amount of resolve can change the ruthlessness that is Lyme Disease. If it were up to willpower, I would find myself healed by now.
I am glad I finally know I have Lyme Disease. I am grateful I have had the last 12 months to begin treating it, and hopefully, begin beating it. The pain of the difficulty of the last four-and-a-half-years still lingers though. The challenges are still great. The weariness is setting in.
“What changed? I thought you were doing better.” you may be asking.
“Better” is always relative to a bar that has been set quite low.
I began a new treatment protocol three where to buy lady soma products months ago. It is intense and much like a Cancer patient undergoing chemo to attack the cancer cells, a Lyme Disease patient must undergo an aggressive treatment to attack the multitude of infections hiding in the body. At times, the treatment seems severe, even cruel, but the hope of a better quality of life and the desire to live compels me to press onward.
Normally, I write about the areas where I have experienced improvement during my treatment and set goals for the areas in which I would like to see further progress. This time however, I am penning an honest look at the ups and downs of living with a chronic illness. Sometimes, time passes with little to no improvement. Presently, this is where I find myself.
I am reminded of a passage I once read in a book called God Calling.
“In a race it is not the start that hurts, not the even pace of the long stretch. It is when the goal is in sight that heart and nerves and courage and muscles are strained almost beyond human endurance, almost to breaking point.
So with you now the goal is in sight…”
This illness continues to stretch my faith, perseverance, endurance and hope in many unexpected ways. Despite feeling strained, I choose to believe that although I might be bruised, I will not break. I trust that better days are yet to come and I hope to be able to write about some of them in my next treatment update. For now, I am still taking it one day at a time.
A while back, I was contacted by Erica from the blog Suffering The Silence about doing a guest post for their site. Of course I said, “yes!” and am pleased to announce the post went up today. It is entitled The Deep Endand I am very excited to share it with you.
“My legs were too weak to stand and my brain too broken to sleep. I spent buy soma watson brand online most of 2012 and 2013 lying agonizingly in my bed. Days became weeks. Weeks became months. Over time, my 10-year battle with Lyme Disease seemed impossible to overcome.” – For the full article, go to: http://sufferingthesilence.com/jenny/#sthash.wzdpOo3k.dpbs
As always, please feel free to leave a comment below.
The bacteria are called “Brucella.” The illness caused by those pesky bacteria is called “Brucellosis.” I have just completed week three of my Brucellosis treatment. Time files when you’re having fun (read with sarcasm). I have been uncertain how to effectively address this topic as there is not much info regarding Brucellosis in the Unites States. After all, this bacterial infection has supposedly been eradicated from much of the U.S., but somehow, I now find myself being treated for it. I know others that have tested positive for this infection. Perhaps it is not so rare after all.
How is Brucella transmitted?
First, Brucella can most commonly be acquired by humans through the consumption of infected meat and dairy products. This infection is not limited exclusively to cows. Deer, chicken, bison and other animals can be carriers of this infection as well.
Almost makes me want to become a vegetarian. Bleh!
Second, the bacteria can also be transmitted when human skin wounds come in contact with tissues, secretions or excretions of infected animals.
Isn’t that a lovely thought. Yikes!
Third, if any of those infectious materials I spoke of in the previous two paragraphs become aerosolized (like a mist of spray coming out of a can), Brucella can also be inhaled.
That’s a little scary.
Lastly, it can be acquired through the bite of an infected tick and like all tick borne infections, if not caught and treated early, it can lead to a whole array of chronic problems.
What symptoms might someone who has been infected with Brucella display?
Some of the symptoms associated with an infection of the Brucella bacteria include weight loss, abdominal pain, joint and back pain, insomnia, depression, constipation and fatigue. Since these symptoms can often be indicative of other illnesses, the level of difficulty to accurately diagnose this infection is quite high.
How can Brucella be detected?
Brucella can be detected in a traditional manor by using a Brucella Antibody IGG/IGM screen. If the Brucella Antibody Screen is positive or equivocal, a Brucella Antibody with bacterial agglutination is done for confirmation. Brucella was detected in my friend using these tests.
Alternatively, Brucella was detected in me using the FDA approved device the Zyto Scan. I will eventually do a post on the Zyto Scan in greater detail, but suffice it to say I was initially a huge skeptic about the concept of biocommunication between my body and a computer. My Nurse Practitoner, along with one of the country’s leading Zyto Scan practitioners and I teamed up on a phone call to do a remote scan. The results were unbelievably accurate. Symptoms I had told doctors about, symptoms I hadn’t even mentioned yet and even previous blood work ALL showed up on my scan. In addition to confirming the areas I knew were problematic, the Zyto Scan also revealed a serious Brucella infection. My Nurse Practitioner compared my scan results to my clinical presentation and conferenced about my case with a leading physician in the treatment of tick borne diseases. She concurred that Brucella is one of the underlying co-infections that I am in fact battling.
I have not spent much time on farms or near farm animals in the United States, so that seems improbable. I am not a big meat eater and I do not enjoy cooking, so even more unlikely is the chance that an open wound I might have had came in contact with tissues or bodily fluids of an infected animal. What is however more realistic, is that I obtained this infection through one of two ways–a tick bite (and we already know I have had at least one of those suckers) OR from my summer spent in the Dominican Republic years ago where farm animals openly roam the streets and Brucellosis is more prevalent. Whichever the case may be, this is a question that will never have an answer.
How is Brucellosis treated?
Most people with Brucellosis will recover in 2 to 3 weeks even without treatment. In cases like myself where the illness has become chronic, Brucellosis is typically treated with a combination of two antibiotics for two or more months. For my situation, the combination we are using is 600mg of Rifampin once per day and 100mg of Doxycycline twice per day. These medications have to be taken at specific times so as not to interact with one another. Sadly, relapses are common.
My Treatment Protocol
Below, I have included my new treatment protocol. I have my alarm set to go off multiple times per day to remind me of when to take the lengthy list of medications, herbs and supplements.
Medication Schedule
8:30: Nature-Throid and homeopathic adrenal supplement 9:00: 600mg of Rifampin 10:00: Eat breakfast and take:
200mg of Hydroxychloroquine
B12
Methylfolate
B6
D-ribose
Brain/Nerve Cleanse if needed
Lymph drops
Vaccine Detox Drops
Vitamin C
Interfase Plus (for biofilms)
Glutamine
Ginko Biloba
12:30: 100mg of Doxycycline 2:10: Take Samento 2:30: Eat lunch and take:
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
K2
D-Ribose
Probiotic
Sacc B
Glutamine
Ginko Biloba
Lymph Drainage
Vaccine Detox
Homeopathic Adrenals
6:10: 30 drops of Samento 6:30: Eat Dinner and take:
Lymph Drops
100mg of Diflucan
9:00: 100 mg of Doxycycline 9:30-11:00: Bedtime
Querectin
1 Drop of Ashwaganda
Clonazepam
Soma
5-htp
GABA
Melatonin
Magnesium Glycinate
This phase of treatment has not been easy. About two weeks ago, I began to be hit quite hard with the dreaded “herx” reaction, where there is an exacerbation of symptoms as the bacteria begin to die-off. I have tried to continue with my usual detox protocol in an attempt to combat those symptoms (light exercise, detox baths, infrared sauna, etc.), but I am once again finding myself feeling very depleted. After having spent most of 2012 and 2013 being bedridden, depletion is a scary place for me to be. I am going to resume a more consistent acupuncture schedule as that has proven to be an extremely beneficial adjunct to my treatment. I will also try my best to remain hopeful and optimistic that this too can be conquered and continue to carry with me the belief that better days are yet to come.
Although the past three weeks have been difficult, there is still the potential that this could be a positive turning point for me in my healing from Lyme Disease and it’s co-infections.
Are you battling Brucella? I would love to hear from you! As always, please feel free to leave me a comment.
Last week, I had my eight-month follow-up phone consultation with my Lyme Literate Nurse Practitioner. During the past four months, my full time job has been to diligently continue to follow my treatment and detox protocols. It seems it may be helping! For the first time in many years, I am ever so slowly and gradually climbing up the mountain, rather than continually tumbling down it. At this time last year, I was still bedridden and isolated from virtually everyone and everything. I wondered if there would ever be light in the midst of such a dark situation.
Well, the light came. It came in the form of celebrating healing milestones, things I hadn’t done in years. It came when I challenged myself to believe whole-heartedly that there were better days ahead. Most importantly, it came when I stopped telling myself I could no longer participate in life and began taking small risks believing I could live a more abundant life again. Although this journey is still marked with tremendous ups and downs, I am so happy that the light finally seems to be shining!
These Are The Areas Where I Have Seen Improvement:
1) I am still treating my Lyme Disease and co-infections with a combination of medication, supplements and herbal antimicrobials. About three months ago, I was able to achieve taking the full doses of all of my medications. This is huge for me as I typically am very chemically sensitive regardless of what the substance may be.
2) After some trial and error with treating my hypothyroidism, I have found that I can tolerate Nature-Throid. I am slowly increasing my dosage over several weeks but am confident that I will be able to get my thyroid levels into a healthy range by my next treatment update in 4 months.
3) I have been able to make small increases in the supplements that I take to support my body’s ability to detoxify Lyme toxins through a process known as methylation. Supporting the methylation cycle will, over time, boost my immune system and increase my energy. Fatigue has been one of my most intense and relentless symptoms.
4) When symptoms allow, blogging about my journey to wellness has allowed me to connect with some wonderful people throughout the world. I really enjoy writing and am grateful that this passion reemerged in the midst of my struggle with a chronic illness.
5) When I began Lyme treatment last November, I committed to completing a 20-session restorative yoga program as part of rehabilitating myself from months of prolonged bed rest and 4 years of inactivity. For 8 months, I have struggled with fatigue, aches and pains as I work my way through each session. I can feel that I had gotten a bit stronger. When I am finished with the program, I plan to purchase myself a piece of Pilates equipment called the reformer so that I could begin some gentle resistance training. I have greatly missed having movement and exercise in my life and I look buy pain o soma online forward to the day when I can include it as part of my daily life with some amount of consistency.
6) I will begin attending a monthly Lyme Disease support group in the city of Chicago. Our first meeting will be in August but we already have a Facebook forum online. I am very excited to be connecting with my fellow Lyme fighters as I try to break some of the isolation this illness has caused for me.
These are the areas I HOPE will continue to improve over the next 4 months:
1) A new infection has surfaced in me called, Brucella. It is a difficult to treat infection and the relapse rate is very high. I am fortunate that my Nurse Practitioner will be able to consult with the world-renowned Lyme Disease specialist, Dr. Horowitz, on my case regarding a proper treatment protocol. This will almost certainly require the use of multiple antibiotics taken over a long period of time. I am nervous about this and anticipate that I may take a couple of steps backward in order to move further ahead eventually. I should have my new treatment plan in a few weeks and am hopeful that all the rebuilding my body has done over the last 8 months has prepared me to undergo this treatment.
2) I hope to see an increase in my energy and a higher degree of functioning. I am anxious to accomplish this new healing milestone.
3) I would like to see my thyroid levels reach the normal range, as I believe this will be key in helping me see an improvement in my energy levels.
4) I will continue to address the genetic defect I have in my methylation cycle through specific supplementation and aim to be able to increase them to the appropriate doses for optimal functioning.
5) I would like to see my ability to sleep continue to improve as well as my ability to nap.
6) I want to continue to reconnect with friends, both old and new.
7) I would like to have a noticeable increase in strength and endurance as I continue to implementing a reconditioning program.
8) For two years, my wonderful husband has kindly been my chauffeur to nearly everywhere. I would like to feel strong enough to drive by myself whenever I need to or want to go somewhere. Hopefully, you will see a pic of me wearing a driving cap soon!
My eight-month consultation ended with my nurse saying, “We are on the right track and you have done a wonderful job of combining various treatment strategies into your own unique protocol.” This illness has taken more determination, more perseverance and more strength to continue to forge ahead than I can ever truly describe. I know that my battle is not yet over, but I do find comfort in knowing we are on the right track and I finally feel as though I may actually be beating Lyme instead of the other way around.
When I began treatment 6 months ago, I made a decision to share my successes publicly, via social media and blogging, with my friends and family. I had hoped to paint a picture of someone who could overcome the adversity in her life and emerge changed and victorious. The truth however is that recovery is very tricky, with lots of twists and turns along the way. There is much trial and error involved in finding a treatment strategy that will yield even slight improvements. I often do not post about these difficulties, shielding my friends and family from seeing the full spectrum of just how destructive this illness is. After reading a recent statistic from the online medical journal PLOS that Lyme Disease is 6 times more prevalent than AIDS in the US, I knew I had to convey the most realistic image of what battling Chronic Lyme Disease is really like. With Lyme Disease becoming a global pandemic, my story could very easily be the story of you or someone close to you. So here ya go. The 9 truths about this illness you won’t see mentioned on my Facebook page…until now.
1. I am still homebound more than 75% of the time.
Since I have chosen to really only reveal the moments that I feel are celebratory in nature, no one sees the moments where I am too weak, fatigued or in too much pain to get out of bed for days and sometimes even weeks. I am not a partaker in the selfie craze and don’t post sick picks. Believe me! Although you are not seeing pics of me in the throws of my illness, I am still very much in the midst of fighting this battle and unless remission comes to pass, I will likely be fighting it for a very long time.
2. I am still very isolated by this illness
As you can imagine, since I am primarily homebound, the majority of my time is still spent alone. Only on a rare occasion will I feel well enough to see someone in-person. I don’t say this to invoke pity but rather to encourage those who may know someone who is chronically ill to reach out to them from time to time. It does not require much. Just let them know they are still cared for and not forgotten.
3. I wake up everyday, take inventory of how I feel and decide if there is enough fuel in the tank to do something or go somewhere.
Most of the time there is not. The days I feel bad still outweigh the days I feel good. Instead, I stay home and try to come up with creative ways (like blogging) to pass the time until a day comes that I can “do” something again- which is an excellent lead in to my next point.
4. I often have to give myself a pep talk just to get out of the house.
Fatigue, pain, a burning brain and spinal cord are constantly present. Somedays I have the capacity to tolerate this and can rally myself to go out for a few hours here and there. These times are still in the minority though but I hope with continued treatment, leaving the house will one day be something I can do without much thought.
5. You will likely not be able to tell if I’m having a “good day” or a “bad day” by a photo.
Oddly enough, some of my best pics were taken on the worst days. This is most likely due to the fact that knowing I felt so ill, I made my hubby take 25 pics before I finally found one that I deemed buy watson soma online overnight delivery “postable.” If you saw the other 24, you probably could guess I wasn’t feeling well that day.
6 The road to recovery is actually quite bumpy.
There is no one-size fits all approach to treatment. Some use IV antibiotics. Others take oral antibiotics. Still others, myself included, are using a combination of medications, supplements and herbal antimicrobials. Nearly all of us will see several doctors over the course of our illness and try various treatment approaches until we hopefully find one that begins to get us on a healing path. Even when we find a suitable treatment we must contend with recurring Herxheimer reactions, or Herx for short. This is a sudden and exaggerated inflammatory response caused when injured or dead bacteria release their endotoxins into the blood and tissues faster than the body can comfortably handle it. An exacerbation of old symptoms, as well as a flare up of new symptoms, can occur. The very treatments that aim to make us well can, for a period, make us feel much sicker.
7. Bizarre symptoms pop up almost daily.
When my brain starts burning, that’s weird. When my facial muscle starts twitching, that’s annoyingly strange. When I awake in the morning to an ankle that feels like it was broken sometime during the night, that’s just bizarre. The sudden and exaggerated inflammatory response that I spoke about in number 7, can cause a wide range of migrating and unpredictable symptoms. Be glad I do not post those on Facebook. You would not be able to keep up with them!
8. Lyme Disease treatment is most likely not covered by insurance and patient’s are forced to pay out-of-pocket for some or all (in my case ALL) of my treatments.
Yes, you read that correctly. I have paid out-of-pocket for every single doctor’s visit, lab test, medication, supplement, herb and Lyme treatment I have received for the last 4 years. Sadly, my scenario is not uncommon as Lyme Disease places an enormous financial burden on those of us who have it. This sum of money amounts to hundreds if not thousands of dollars per month depending on the treatment a patient may be undergoing. 43% of us are not able to work (myself included) due to the severity of our illness making the financial strain even more stressful.
9. Despite me being ill, my husband is still as lucky to have me as I am to have him.
In the last few years, I have had several people make the comments to me, “You are lucky your husband stays with you.” or, “You are lucky to have him.” Yes, those statements are true, however I am not less of a person because I am ill. I still have the same heart, interests, sense of humor, etc. We still spend hours supporting one another and making each other laugh to the point of tears. My husband does not look at me and see a sick person. He sees me and notices that my uniqueness has not disappeared.
Well, there you have it. The inside scoop. An honest look at what living with Chronic Lyme Disease is truly like. You will likely not see these topics appear on my Facebook page anytime soon, but know that my journey is far from over. The very essence of having a chronic illness is that it is invariably, going to recur again and again. Ingrained in me is the desire to persist so I will still continue to fight in the hopes of one day achieving a full recovery. I look forward to celebrating many more healing milestones and experiencing life in full again with my friends and family.
As an Occupational Therapist and chronic illness suffer, I am passionate about sleep. After all, sleep truly is the most important occupation you will ever engage in throughout your life. Sleep is vitally important for us to heal and rejuvenate, but for some of us, it has become a near impossible endeavor.
Sleep can be impacted by several factors including extreme stress, illness, hormonal imbalances and a poor sleep regime. I first became an extreme insomniac in 2010, when I lost the ability to sleep altogether due to Chronic Neurological Lyme Disease. One day, I was sleeping 10-12 hours a day. Two month later, I was no longer able to sleep at all. In a quest to one day return to a blissful night’s rest, I have combined my own professional understanding of the mechanics of sleep with numerous books, articles and consultations with experts in the fields of Sleep Medicine, Lyme Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Adrenal Fatigue. In part one of my post, I have compiled a list of basic sleep strategies recommended to help promote sleep. In addition to treating the underlying condition triggering your insomnia, it is imperative that you tighten up your sleep hygiene to ensure it is not contributing to your inability to have a refreshing night’s slumber. My hope is that you will find at least a few unique tips that you have not yet tried in your mission to overcome insomnia.
Finding Your Sleep Rhythm
1. Find time to go outside during the daytime hours, preferably in the morning, to get exposure to natural light. An average of 20 minutes of exposure without wearing sunglasses is generally recommended. The sunlight needs to reach the pineal gland in your brain via the optic nerves in your eyes. This exposure to sunlight will increase your brain’s production of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin, which remarkably, is a precursor to melatonin. Warning: Do not stare directly at the sun when outside. Doing so can increase your risk of developing cataracts.
2. Give your body the opportunity to establish a daily and nightly rhythm by going to bed and getting up at the same time each day.
3. By 10:00pm, you should stop watching tv, using the computer or your cell phone. The light from those devices may cause your body to still think it’s daylight and may halt the production of melatonin to induce sleep.
Dietary Considerations for Insomnia
1. If you have not already done so, you should quite smoking. Nicotine acts as a stimulant which can make it difficult to fall asleep. Also, nighttime nicotine withdrawal can cause you to awaken.
2. Do not consume alcohol before you go to bed. For a variety of reasons, this can decrease the quality of your sleep.
3. Do not consume caffeine after 4:00pm. This includes stimulating coffees, sodas, teas (besides herbal teas) and chocolates.
4. If you have frequent nighttime urination, reduce your consumption of liquids near bedtime.
5. Eating a small snack of protein and fat, such as a handful of cashews or walnuts, before sleep can be very helpful. This can promote a more restful night’s sleep by stabilizing your blood sugar. Low blood sugar in the middle of the night can create a surge of adrenaline buy soma usa causing you to wake up. If you find yourself waking in the middle of the night, eat another small snack normalize blood sugar before returning to bed.
Your Bedroom Environment
1. You should not use your bed for watching TV or doing work.
2. You’re room should be a cool, comfortable temperature.
3. Make your room as dark as you can or consider purchasing a sleep mask to keep out as much light as possible.
4. Continually watching the clock can perpetuate sleep problems so be sure to place the clock at an arm’s length and facing away from you.
5. If you have a partner that snores, you may need to consider buying a pair of ear plugs. If the snoring can still be heard through the ear plugs, you may want to sleep in a different room until you can find another method that enables you to sleep soundly despite the snoring.
Preparing for Sleep
1. Incorporate some mindful breathing when you first lay down to sleep to help relax the mind and body. Place one hand on your heart and the other hand on your belly. Inhale through your nose as you direct your attention to the rising of your belly as your lungs fill with air. Exhale through your nose as you feel the lowering of your belly as oxygen is gently expelled from your lungs. Repeat this sequence for 5-10 minutes.
2. Practice Corpse Pose. Lie on your back with your neck comfortably supported and your arms out to the side with your palms facing upward. Straighten your legs and let them roll outward. Allow your body to become heavy on the bed as you inhale and exhale with the natural flow of your breath. Permit your body to sink even further into the bed as you come to a state of total relaxation. Remain in this position for 5-10 minutes.
3. If you find your mind racing, worrying or problem solving while trying to fall asleep, get up and take a few minutes to write down all of your thoughts in a journal until you cannot think of any more. Set those concerns aside and return to bed. Repeat this exercise as often as needed to calm an overactive mind.
Natural Sleep Aids
The following is a list of supplements often recommended by Integrated Health Practitioners to assist you with getting a restful nights sleep. Please consult with your physician regarding dosing, side effects and drug interactions before incorporating any of these into your nighttime routine.
Additional Resources
The following three books are books that I personally have found to be particularly useful in my mission to beat my chronic insomnia.
1. From Fatigued to Fantastic, Jacob Teitlebaum, M.D.
2. Revive, Frank Lipman, M.D.
3. The Triple Whammy Cure, David Edelberg M.D.
In my next post, I will provide some additional tips and resources for those of us whose insomnia, despite having a solid sleep hygiene program, continues to persist. Don’t lose hope! This can be a frustrating situation to endure, but it is one in which improvement can, and often is, found.
Since the beginning of my illness, I have always chosen to be very open about sharing my experiences with others. Somehow I felt that the burden to hold in “the truth,” was more painstaking than being honest about what was going on in my body. The full severity of my illness was probably only known to my family and close friends, but I was happy to share my story with anyone who asked. I believe, like the above quote states, that others can find meaning in my personal story. Below are the 5 reasons why I chose to and continue to choose to remain open about my health struggles:
1. Chronic Lyme Disease is called the “great imitator” for it’s ability to mimic other illnesses.
Patients are often misdiagnosed with conditions such as MS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, ALS and Parkinson’s. Treatments aimed at these other diseases, generally do not yield much improvement for patients when the root cause is in fact, an underlying infection from the Borrelia bacteria or one of it’s pesky co-infections. I had been diagnosed with a list of ailments including Interstitial Cystitis, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Chronic Pelvic Pain, Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, Hypothyroidism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome –ALL of which can be symptoms of Lyme Disease. Many will remain undiagnosed unless enough awareness is raised for the idea that these other “illnesses” may instead be symptoms of Chronic Lyme Disease.
2. The profound fatigue, pain and neurological issues that often accompany Lyme sufferers is very isolating.
We are often forced to quit our job and stop participating in social or leisure activities. Many of us become housebound and bedridden for significant periods of our illness. I persevere in telling my Lyme story in the hopes that those buy soma 350 struggling the most will read it and feel encouraged that improvement can come no matter how desperate the circumstance may seem.
3. Lyme Disease is not well-known, well-researched or well-respected in the medical community.
By speaking and writing about Lyme Disease, I am able to contribute to the grassroots efforts of fellow Lyme sufferers to increase the understanding of this illness. The more information available to patients, the public and the medical community, the more people will notice that this is a real and disabling health crisis in our country today.
4. I have found strength in numbers.
Through attending support groups, uploading photos on Instagram, posting my status on Facebook and Twitter and blogging, I have been able to connect with so many wonderful people from around the world. Each of us are striving in our own way to have victory over our respective illnesses. As a result of sharing our stories, we have been able to encourage one another in the midst of the dark times and celebrate milestones during the better times.
5. I am passionate about being an advocate for myself and others with Lyme Disease.
Navigating the complexities of finding an accurate diagnosis and pursuing proper treatment can be very overwhelming for patients and their families. Despite my healthcare background, I too found obtaining a proper diagnosis and treatment plan challenging. Now that I feel I am on a better road to achieving wellness, I write openly about my treatments so that others may have some additional ideas and resources to discuss with their physicians.
I believe the more honest and real I am about my battle with Lyme Disease, the more people can be helped by my experience. Tell me, why have you chosen to or not chosen to tell your story?
