Contrary to what local medical professionals believe, Lyme disease is highly active in Tehama County and California. I was bitten by two ticks during June of 2006. I know to watch for a bullseye rash - which never came. Whew! A few days later, tho, I developed a horrible respiratory infection, followed over the next…
Gettin Real Is Really Hard
I’ve been stuck. It seems like I start a new protocol, I do ok for a month or two, and then I crash (headaches, high pain, high hr, short of breath, cognitive issues like word finding and short term memory, digestive, rashes, etc etc - you name it, I get it. Most of the time…
Wits End
To be at the end of ones emotional or mental limits. Every Lyme patient feels this way often - sometimes every day. It’s nearly impossible to not feel frustrated, sad, even hopeless. The trick is to find your way back to feeling hopeful and encouraged. I woke up this morning short of breath, heart rate…
Dysautonomia
Shortness of breath - high heart rate - low bp - dizziness - weakness - nausea - all caused by an autonomic nervous system that just doesn’t work right. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) connects organs to the brain stem or spinal chord - mediating heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, pupillary response, metabolism, digestion,…
Recognizing Lyme Carditis
Lymedisease.org Video I often chock up chest pain to some random episode caused by Lyme or one of it’s co-conditions. Know the signs of Lyme carditis and when to get help.
The Joy of Life
I hate being sick. Hate it. It’s impossibly hard most days. I cry. I get mad. I feel hopeless at times. It’s ok to have a pity party just don’t unpack and live there! But I choose how to live with this sickness. I choose love. I choose joy. Yes - it’s a choice. Every…
What’s In A Name??
I suffered sickness and pain for many years without a diagnosis. I saw a multitude of doctors - most of whom dismissed me as a hypochondriac when I started to list the multitude of symptoms. They would say things like: “Imagine yourself feeling better, and you will”“Let’s work one symptom at a time - what’s…
Overcomer
I wake up by 5am every day...no matter what time I go to sleep or how much I wake up. 5-7 am - that’s it. That’s all I have. Every day. 2 hours, 3 max. I get so discouraged when I start to feel the warmth of illness pour over my body. My feet begin…
7 Year Blog Journey
Today marks 7 years since I began sharing my story here on WordPress. My First Post Here - Why I Started a Blog I haven't been consistent and I'm sure sometimes my posts didn't make sense to anyone but me. However I pray that at least some of what I've written has resonated in some…
Thriving Through a Crash
It's not enough to just survive. One of the most frustrating things about this illness is not knowing what triggers a crash. It's all guesswork! I started new meds, I visited a place that I believe had mold, the weather changes, moon changes, dormant disease popping up - my body reacts to all of this.…
PhilippiJoy 