PAIN is one of the hardest symptoms to explain - mainly because it’s not a single symptom. Pain happens in lots of places for lots of reasons and with differing degrees of severity and duration. When you have an acute injury to a specific body part, doctors ask you to describe your pain (achy, dull,…
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is one of the co-conditions that often comes with tickborne disease. I’ve had it under control (mostly) but wow this flare is intense. Today Yesterday I’m so itchy! Benadryl (oral and topical), cromolyn sodium, HistDAO, Singulair, Xyzal, and stinging nettle are the go-to’s for me to calm it down. But understanding…
Sometimes when people hear about some of my symptoms, they offer advice suggesting that I have something else going on. For example, I say I have neuropathy and they may say “it sounds more like diabetes”. I get it - I do the same thing in reverse. Tell me you have ME/CFS or fibromyalgia or…
Fatigue & Update
I’ve been in bed most of the day every day since 1/1. Pain has been higher, I’ve had rashes, headaches and digestive issues - but that’s not why I’ve been in bed. Fatigue is. Fatigue is one of the hardest issues I deal with on a daily basis. And it’s one we don’t talk about…
Why Can’t You … ?
One of the most challenging aspects of chronic Lyme disease is that its neurological effects are often dismissed or misdiagnosed. On a call yesterday, one of my daughters doctors (who treats one of her symptoms) questioned why my daughter hasn’t been able to do one simple task on a regular basis. I diplomatically explained (again)…
Knowledge Is Fluid
From a cup I got at Hansa (Biologix Center for Optimal Wellness) Knowledge is fluid. But I think when most of us learn something, we commit to that bit of information as static fact and never really explore that there may be new, conflicting even, information that changes the picture. In 2008, when my daughter…
Update: this article addresses common eye and vision issues in Lyme patients: https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-affected-eyes-visual-rehab/ It’s official - I wear glasses all the time. I’ve needed bifocals for at least a decade but I’ve never been able to adjust to them (or progressives). My daughter and I both have perceptual processing issues. We have tried a lot…
Alpha-Stim
A family member shared with me that she was prescribed a product called alpha-stim to help her sleep. My daughter and I both have sleep issues so I looked into it and learned that it does so much more. There are 2 versions: AID - for anxiety, depression & sleep. AID uses Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation…
Pain That Takes Your Breath Away
The last few days have been rough - I just feel awful. I’ve slept a lot and when I try to get up, my bp drops and I start to feel like I’m gonna pass out. This morning I woke up feeling better, a little energy, brain function. I was sitting with my family having…
Brain Fog Is No Joke
Working memory disfunction can one of my most frustrating symptoms. I used to be a master of switch tasking - I could have multiple projects going at once and flip back and forth between them as needed. There have been many times when just switching from one app on my phone to another causes me…
PhilippiJoy 