My Lyme doctor has said many times over the years that we are missing something. He’s taken me down several roads that have proven to be part of the equation and have been helpful – but symptoms still linger or return.

I asked him recently if he thought I still had Lyme. So he ordered new Lyme and co-infections lab work. Specialty labs have made improvements in recent years – so I hoped we would be able to see clearly that the diseases were no long part of the problem.

I was so happy the first time my lab work showed positive. I had lived for years with symptoms doctors – didn’t know what to do with me. So having proof of a treatable disease was thrilling. 

This time – I truly hoped it was gone. I took oral and intramuscular (IM) medications for the first year and added intravenous (IV) to the mix for the next 4 years; followed by 3 more years of natural medicines. Antibiotics, anti-malarial, anti-parasitic, anti-viral – so many infections to attack.

I got my test results which shows that I still have active borellia burgdorferi (Lyme) and bartonella henselae. Babesia appears to be inactive.

He also tested me for brucellosis – a bacteria found in cattle. Doctors have been connecting brucellosis to Lyme disease in recent years. My test showed an active, chronic infection.

SYMPTOMS

Brucellosis is similar to bartonella. 

It can affect pretty much every part of the body, and symptoms can vary from person to person. The most common symptoms being:

• Joint pain
• Fatigue
• Encephalitis 
• Meningitis

I’ve had all of these – still do. 

HOW DID I GET IT?

Brucella comes from animal products (such as raw meat or unpasteurized dairy). I’ve been vegetarian for 40 years and I don’t recall ever having unpasteurized diary. So I can only speculate where I got it.

One of the ways it can pass is by contact with the blood of animals. In 1999, I spent a couple weeks on an Angus cattle ranch in Idaho. They were having an auction where they would serve hamburgers. I volunteered to make the patties, so they brought me several giant, dark plastic bags filled with fresh ground beef. 

I reached into the first bag and pulled out a mass of beef. Blood dripped down my arms. It was so gross, but I powered through and pressed together over 500 burgers. That very well could be the culprit. 

Plan of Action

I’m so thankful for a doctor who understands me and who is on the same page. He knows I’m highly reactive to medications and strong remedies – so we are continuing to treat as naturally as possible, focusing on:

• Cervical Instability – specialized physical therapy (Bay Area) & continue with neck exercises and cervical curve correction
• Infections – using low dose immunotherapy (ldi)
• Toxicity – BIND, bentonite clay & cholestriun
• Parasites – essential oils (oregano, black walnut hull, rosemary, clove & cinnamon) – only during the full moon as that’s when they are active
• Cellular health protocol – continuing the core cellular and downstream detox support

I have been developing a daily routing that focuses on these areas:

• Food (shopping, baking, prep) – I want to do a little each day and not crash myself trying to do everything at once
• Remedies – too many protocols overwhelm my system, prioritizing is important, but can be hard
• Neck exercises & weights 
• Detox & therapies (3 days / wk)
  • Sauna
  • Ionic foot bath
  • Power plate
  • Lymph massage
• Fascia stretching – it’s important to loosen the fascia tissue

Be kind to yourself. You’ve been sick a long time – it’s ok to let your body continue to heal. I have to remind myself of this every day. I hope you remind yourself too.

Reminder: it’s ok to have a pity party just don’t unpack and live there