Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[jerseyangel]

Donna--"moon body" good one!

Funny what we'll do to feel better

[rinne]

maybe we should all write a book together:

"The Rachelville Chronicles, from Dairy to Lyme, Aliens to Auxigro: How to Get Yourself Off the Couch and Onto your JetSki"

Yes, lets and we must stick with the title you've come up with, it is a true picture of who we are. LOL

Thank you Bev!!! What a journey you have been through!

Okay, I'm feeling group huggy again! I may walk the halls until I find someone to hug!

What an incredible journey you have been on, I am so glad that you are here, I love your posts.

I could use a hug, wish you were here. Actually when I stop to think about it, this thread is an ongoing virtual hug for me. Okay group hug.

They have hard evidence

ROTFLMAO

Andrea, sorry it is an ostrich kind of day for you. Can you find time to do some small thing for yourself, a bath or tea or ?

I think people's awareness of Lyme is going to change in the near future. I have heard of a group of Canadian Lyme patients who are so frustrated with the current system denying Lyme that they are suggesting that if that is the case there should be no problem with them donating blood and then informing the public. I do not agree with this, I think it is the wrong thing to do but I also think it speaks to the desperation people feel.

I think "The Rachelville Chronicles, from Dairy to Lyme, Aliens to Auxigro: How to Get Yourself Off the Couch and Onto your JetSki" will change the world in the way in needs to be changed - POSITIVELY.

[jerseyangel]

Andrea,

What's the matter--did I miss something?

[jerseyangel]

Ok, I went back and answered my own question

I hope as the day's gone on, it's gotten better, Andrea. It's so sweet that in the middle of it all, you found time to post greetings to all of us

Come back and chat when things settle down

[DingoGirl]

oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh...so many things.....happiness and hope in Rachelville....for some of us, and crummy days for others (Andrea, Laura, Rinne, hoping things will be better soon).....such is life, but thank God we are in this together. LOVE SURGES all around.

I have a dear friend, known her 41 years (we were in nursery school together), and very close to three of the four siblings in her familiy (considered marrying the brother - OMG I should call him, he still wants to marry me and actually he can afford to support me in the manner to which I am accustomed )....she hasn't lived in California for over 20 years, so doesn't know my day to day. She saw me when I was SO sick last Christmas, her husband's a doctor and said....you really don't look well, are you seeing doctor? But last night, she says on the phone, Well, have you gotten a job?? I almost burst into tears....she's such an understanding person, but I heard judgment in her voice.....NO, I said, and this is the first time in 28 years that I"m not working, or looking for a job, or working AND looking for a job.....I need to rest and recover. And I wanted to say - GEEZ, do you think I LIKE having no money, no immediate goal, too much time on my hands....and not knowing exactly what physical and mental condition in which I'll find myself from day to day??? I have winnowed life down to the dearest and most supportive ones...

Bev, your story was so moving....I had no idea you'd been through all of that. I can definitely relate....what I DON'T understand is how you've accomplished so much (a freaking doctorate???).....I think when I was younger, I had the stamina, hence the degree and teaching credential when I was periodically SO depressed I wanted to die....just kept pushing and relying on periods of mania to get through. Now......I am so, so weary.....the kind of tiredness that seeps into bones, soul, spirit and mind.....just in a period of recovery and rest. those closest to me think this is best.....it is very hard for me to do this, however.

Love having you all here....such support, esp. on the days I am just too tired to leave the house, and I unplug the answering machine to as not to bear the onus of returning calls.

Big group hug to all - - how about at a remote mountain lodge, pristine lake, brisk winds (maybe some snow), drinking gluten-free hot toddies by the fire and with a chef preparing us ALL the delicious dietarily-appropriate foods we can eat......tons of hot guys....a dingo sitter....a nanny for the little ones....

okay....back to reality....gotta walk the staring dingos.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Alison,

Good to see you parachute in once in awhile.

Did I miss anyone? I hope not.

Been a rough day so far and I haven't even been up long. Seth's schedule is so far out of wack. Talitha has been having major problems this morning. These are days I want to be an ostrich.

Love you guys.

I'd love to parachute in more often, but somehow I just can't manage to get all the household/pt/exercise/practice/feedthekids/helpthekidswiththeirhomeworkandgetthemtobedontime done!!!

The house is a wreck, I let the laundry pile up and the washing machine is now begging for mercy. How do you manage and homeschool at the same time????? Hope the kids settle down for you by tomorrow....

[DingoGirl]

I'd love to parachute in more often, but somehow I just can't manage to get all the household/pt/exercise/practice/feedthekids/helpthekidswiththeirhomeworkandgetthemtobedontime done!!!

The house is a wreck, I let the laundry pile up and the washing machine is now begging for mercy. How do you manage and homeschool at the same time????? Hope the kids settle down for you by tomorrow....

um....how you do it is you just avoid it and ignore it and.....Lord of the Flies....let everyone fend for him or herself.......

[AndreaB]

Alison,

What housework? Kids like to play with the duster....haven't found it again, yet. Hubby usually does the laundry on the weekend. Dishwasher takes care of the dishes. Etc.....

Cooking is my big problem right now. Haven't tried to figure out much in the way of tasty things the kids would eat, that we can eat. Just spent 10 fortunes stocking up on meat. We order stuff online.

Part of my down mood is that I don't get outside much even. Might drown in the weeds. Can't go out during the summer to take care of them because of my allergies. Hoping next year will be better with being gluten free for a year by then. The other part is the downward spiritual slide. I know what I need to do....I just need to do it.

Susan,

That cabin sounds pretty good right about now. I've been longing for a break, but (see above, spiritual) and also my attitude needs adjustment. Hubby has been great about picking up the slack. He's a hard worker.

I need to extracate myself from being on here so much. Like Rachel has said, I get sucking into the vortex. I will keep my focus on this thread....will probably let the fun ones slide for awhile, or at minimum, just read.

[jerseyangel]

Hi Andrea,

Do what you need to do for yourself--everyone understands. Sometimes it's necessary to take a few steps back, and re-think and re-charge. It's good that you have Mitch working with you--things are better when you work as a team!

Feel better

[Mtndog]

You guys rock!!!! Miamia- the aprtment thing was VERY subtle- that's why it took us so long to figure out until it became VERY evident that we'd go away for a weekend and i'd feel great and like clockwork, Monday morning I'd wake up feeling like I'd been run over a 16 wheeler full of gluten and soy. Ouch!

SusieQ- I have not accomplished that much. Honestly, teaching middle school full-time was harder. With the schedule I had I was really lucky. My first year in the program my mom got sick and died of stomach cancer but my classes were at night so I could be with her during the day and then go to school at night. My 2nd year I wasn't feeling tHAT sick so I made some good progress. Luckily, my third year, the year I was REALLY sick I had some INCREDIBLY understanding professors. Seriously. I had the same professor for my 3 hardest classses and she worked so hard to accomodate me. Wouldn't have made it this far without her.

I was also lucky having classes at night because I would usually start to feel better later in the day (hmmm... spend night in bedroom, feel like hell till later then just start to feel a little better and ooops... time to sleep again. 100% convinced the mold was in the ceiling above our bedroom and bathroom.

Also, I could study in the a.m., take a nap before class and then go. I would NOT have made it without some incredibly accomodating people.

[Green12]

:wub:

Hey, I figured out how to do the little lovey-dovey guys

Just wanted to keep the love fest going

rinne, I forgot to ask you a couple of pages ago, is there a link or source of information for the Vit C/salt protocol???

Would go back, but might get lost.....

Hang in there Andrea I think getting outside daily for a little bit, even just 20 minutes, would do wonders for you. Can you put Seth in the stroller and take Micah and Talitha out on a nature walk of some sort? I used to do that when my niece was younger, she loved searching for bugs and collecting rocks, collecting leaves, to take home and do an art project with.

Mia Mia, how are you doing??

um....how you do it is you just avoid it and ignore it and.....Lord of the Flies....let everyone fend for him or herself.......

Susie, you kill me

Lord of the flies.....everyone fend for themselves......

[Rachel--24]

I don't know how much of my story I've told in one place, but I want to write this down for people who aren't finding any answers yet- because you will. It's long so bear with me.

Bev,

Wow.....I never knew your whole story. You've been through it....I'm glad you found out about the legumes!! I did know about that part....but had never known about all the stuff that went on before that. So was it really the apartment? I know you never found out what it was in the apartment but are you alot better now that you're outta there?

Hi again Rachel.

I finally found your thread. I lost it for a while. I e-mailed last week. So you do have lyme? Wow. I'll let you know what my test say when I get them. What treatment are you getting.

Laura

Hi Laura!

We have 2 Laura's here now....not good for my brainfog ...somebody needs a nickname I think... Oh....didnt the other Laura say she wanted to be called Alien???

ROFL...I love the alien baby...especially now that I know its not living inside me.

Susan...glad you incorporated it into the title!! PERFECT

Oh...sorry...Laura has no idea what the heck I'm talking about.

Yes, I tested positive for Lyme. I had one test that was weak positive and then another test that was positive and now my doc wants a third test to confirm the diagnosis but we pretty much know I have Lyme.

I'm not getting any treatment yet.....just found out Monday. I have MCS (multiple chemical sensitivities) and cant tolerate much of anything. My Dr. wants to concentrate on detox first. He says everything is compromised right now....including my liver. I cant jump into any treatment or I'll most likely get really sick....we're gonna take things really slow for now. I'm also testing for other problems as well....mercury toxicity is one thing we need to find out about. I think I might have this on top of the Lyme so my Dr. is gonna check into that for me. The Dr. wants a better picture of everything thats going on with me so he can figure out the best way to treat the Lyme and whatever else may be going on.

Were you getting the Igenix test? Yeah...please post when you get the results. I hope if you're getting tested for Lyme its from Igenix and not any other lab....the other labs are far less sensitive and from what I've learned they're pretty useless. Sorry if this is a repeat....I sometimes forget stuff.

I'm glad you found us though.

OMG....there is soooo much love and hugginess in Rachelville today!!

How great is that!! Oh....and Julie has figured out how to use the little lovey dovey emoticon!

Just a great day all around.

Well work wasnt so great but thats all behind me now.... life is good again.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Alison,

I've been longing for a break, but (see above, spiritual) and also my attitude needs adjustment.

I got compulsive about getting the kids outside when my oldest was 2. I make them go out and run around EVERY DAY. If it's raining, we put on rain gear and have an umbrella parade or go puddle stomping. If it's snowing, well, at least that's easy!

I'm bad though--I don't let them watch TV or play on the computer Monday--Friday, but here I am on the computer, tap-tapping away!

[Mango04]

Hi Rachel - your use of emoticons lately is so.....artistic. You seem so happy. Yay

I haven't been posting much but I'm trying to keep up. Sending happy positive get better soon vibes to all.

Has anyone noticed how many guests have been reading this thread lately? There's always lots of them whenever I'm here. Hi guests (Bet they don't yet know they're reading an epic thread authored by aliens. Hope they're learning something anyway).

ps I LOVE the book title

[Rachel--24]

Rinne,

The reason I stumbled on the page about Rebecca Wells was because I was doing a google serach on MCS and Lyme. I found her site and saw that she too had MCS....I was feeling kind of alone as far as that symptom goes.

The chemical sensitivities is what caused the Dr. to think about Lyme....he was saying that its very common with Lyme disease yet I dont usually see it on the symptom list. I wanted confirmation on that.

Well....I seem to need confimation for *everything*....there is so much scientificness out there. Its not enough for me to know that I have Lyme.....now I have to know everything about it....how I got it....how I'll treat it and all the other stuff in between.

The Dr. mentioned again to me how many people with Lyme also have multiple chemical sensitivity. I hope in my case thats whats causing it because I tend to think its from the mercury.....however it would be great if I didnt have to tackle that problem too. I'm thinking its inevitable though...because of all the weird reactions from the mixed metals on top of the unsafe amalgam removal. Thats when I became chemically sensitive.

I might learn more about the MCS from the test I'm having on Tuesday. I dont know anything about how this electronic testing works and because I always need to understand the science behind everything...I guess I'm kind of skeptikal....not really understanding this.

Julie says it is good though and I trust her.

Oh....I think my Dr. is great too and he really likes this test so I'm going with it. Cant wait to tell you guys what happens....theres so much going on inside me I wouldnt be surprised if the machine just goes completely haywire!

Hi Rachel - your use of emoticons lately is so.....artistic. You seem so happy. Yay

Mango...I hadnt noticed my increased useage of emoticons..... and artisticness even!

Yeah...I'm feeling pretty up about the recent developments...I feel like the biggest weight has been lifted off of me...I can BREATHE now.

Obviously I'll have a long long road ahead of me. The Dr. said its gonna be really hard. I'm up for it though...I know what I'm dealing with and thats the most important thing. I'm moving onto phase II now.

How are things Down Under?? Gosh....how long have you been there now? Are you almost coming back?

Its always great to "hear" from you.

[dlp252]

Would go back, but might get lost.....

I went back yesterday and it took me 2 hours to find my way back!

[Rachel--24]

Has anyone noticed how many guests have been reading this thread lately? There's always lots of them whenever I'm here. Hi guests (Bet they don't yet know they're reading an epic thread authored by aliens. Hope they're learning something anyway).

You're right Mango....there are 8 guests right now.

Hello to all of the guests.

[Green12]

I haven't been posting much but I'm trying to keep up. Sending happy positive get better soon vibes to all.

Has anyone noticed how many guests have been reading this thread lately? There's always lots of them whenever I'm here. Hi guests (Bet they don't yet know they're reading an epic thread authored by aliens. Hope they're learning something anyway).

ps I LOVE the book title

Yay Mango, so good to see you You must post a koala picture or something from your stay down under so we can live vicariously.

I noticed that about the guests too, at one point I saw there were 14 Everyone tuning in to the saga that is "The Rachelville Chronicles, from Dairy to Lyme, Aliens to Auxigro: How to Get Yourself Off the Couch and Onto your JetSki"

I might learn more about the MCS from the test I'm having on Tuesday. I dont know anything about how this electronic testing works and because I always need to understand the science behind everything...I guess I'm kind of skeptikal....not really understanding this.

Julie says it is good though and I trust her.

Oh....I think my Dr. is great too and he really likes this test so I'm going with it.

Rachel,

Sorry you had a not so great day at work. Yes, I agree, put it behind you and hopefully tomorrow will be a much better day

I try not to question the electronic testing I just know for me, it was always spot on. It's kind of like Patti and I talking about kinesiology, may not make scientific sense but it always seems to correctly identify troublesome triggers. For me, the major things it picked up on was all of the different strains of bacterias, viruses, fungis, candidas, parasites (pathogens of all varieties ), mercury and other heavy metal toxicity, and histamine, as well as food, chemical, environmental stressors.

I am looking forward to hearing about your experience with it and all of your thoughts about it.

[Mtndog]

Mango- I love it- little do the guests (Hi Guests!) know that they ARE reading a thread authored by aliens. Nice aliens though.

Lots of "wubbing" today.

Rachel- to answer your question, I think the apartment was the final straw. If you have a compromised immune system, you're that much more sensitive to mold. I definitely can't eat gluten or legumes EVER but I think the apartment was killing me! I still have days where I'm really tired, but on the whole I'm napping less, my night sweats have gotten much better, no D, no nausea, no vomiting, much less joint pain. I think my body is gradually letting it all go. bye Bye!

The other thing I realized about our apartment was that we were on the 2nd floor with no deck so I spent very little time outside. I'm someone who needs to be outside for my mental health at least a little while every day. And when we did go outside, there was no privacy 9anot to mention the flock of 50 pigeons my landlord was feeding). My friend Brian said our place had really bad feng shui and that it's not good for a place to have no outside access. I actually belive him. I've been sitting outside constantly. I planted some flowers. I bought bird (NO NOT PIGEON) feeders.

The other thing was that apartment he'd a lot of stress for me. It was where I lived when my mom was sick and when she died. Every night for about a year and a half, I would just sit in the kitchen and cry so I'm sure all those memories didn't help. After she died, I couldn't even cook. I would just break down.

I think it was a combo of physical and psychological (and some bad feng shui )

[Green12]

Lots of "wubbing" today.

I was just going to say the same thing, lots of "wubbing", I think that's so cute.....

I "wub" you all

Beverly, I believe in that stuff, the energy of a place. It does sound like your aprtment had a fair share physical issues, but also emotional and spiritual. It's good that you got out and are starting fresh with a clean slate in a new space. Good things ahead, I am sure!

[rinne]

(Bet they don't yet know they're reading an epic thread authored by aliens. Hope they're learning something anyway).

LOL Yes, welcome and please join in, we are always happy to meet new folks.

"A thousand petal lotus is born out of the dirtiest of muddy ponds" ~Rainbeau Mars

What a beautiful expression Julie, it reminds me of the last line of a Buddhist meal chant, "May we exist in muddy water with purity like the lotus."

This link has a printable salt/c protocol and links to other sites.

Open Original Shared Link

I've been thinking about what you said Rachel about herxing, I think you said die off and that you wondered about how good it was to be so sick, do I have that right? On the CanLyme site most of the people are using ABX and herxing hard but they don't seem to be doing anything else, one person who was dreadfully ill was eating TV dinners. EEK! I wonder if people taking just antibiotics don't set themselves up for relapsing because their bodies never get strong enough to tip the balance toward health and that many of the things they consume in fact promote their bodies being hosts for it. I had mentioned before that they have done a study that shows that if you have been bitten once then if you are in a room with others who have not been bitten the tick will go for you. I wonder if it is possible to change our bodies in such a way that we are no longer attractive to ticks, although of course we would still like to be attractive.

[Rachel--24]

I try not to question the electronic testing I just know for me, it was always spot on. It's kind of like Patti and I talking about kinesiology, may not make scientific sense but it always seems to correctly identify troublesome triggers.

Julie,

I was actually scheduled to take the test today but I rescheduled it for Tuesday. The thing is....the Dr. told me to bring the supplements he wants me to try adding in....he wanted the lady to test them to see if any of them are problematic. When I called to make the appt. the woman told me the same thing...to bring anything with me that I might want tested.

After I hung up I got to thinking.....I have ALOT of supplements at home in Manteca....stuff that I know I react to. I'm gonna bring a couple of these "bad" supplements....just to see what happens.

So thats why I rescheduled...so I can pick out some supplements this weekend.

Yeah...its probably bad of me to try and "test" the test....but I just cant help it.

My mind will not be put to ease unless I can know the machine is telling the truth.

[DingoGirl]

Beverly, I believe in that stuff, the energy of a place. It does sound like your aprtment had a fair share physical issues, but also emotional and spiritual. It's good that you got out and are starting fresh with a clean slate in a new space. Good things ahead, I am sure!

Yes Beverly - - the abode can mean so much - lest we forget my "House of Terror" and that whole bad thing.....Bev - - I always feel so sad when I read of your mother dying, obvoiusly way too young. I hope you factored in your grieving, also, in that long period of time. It just wipes your body out....you've been through so much. So glad you're out of your House of Mold and Bad Pigeons.

Yes, many guests, I wonder if they think our book title is crazy....

Rachel - yes, definite artisticness wtih the emoticons!

[AndreaB]

Rachel,

Now I'm even more curious as to what this test tells you.

Rinne,

If I'm reading correctly, the people herxing are also eating tv dinners. I wouldn't think that would help either. Isn't herxing a good thing?

Bev,

Glad you're out of that apartment. Sounds like an awful place not to mention the memories.

Susan,

Great title to "the book".

Julie,

Hi.....you've got mail.....from about 2 hours ago if you haven't checked.

I like the "wub" emoticon too.

[Rachel--24]

I wonder if it is possible to change our bodies in such a way that we are no longer attractive to ticks, although of course we would still like to be attractive.

Yes Rinne.....attractive is good.....attractive to ticks on the other hand...not so good.

I would like to make myself as undesireable as possible.

I hope they dont like ice cream.

Someone pm'd me....she had found this thread I think from a google search on mercury and Lyme....she has tested positive for both. Shes already been on Lyme treatment...not sure how long though. Coincidently shes being tested for Celiac. I guess her first Lyme Dr. told her to stay off of gluten....later she switched Dr.'s and her new Lyme Dr. told her she didnt need to be on a gluten-free diet. She went back to eating gluten and is now having some problems.

I'm so glad I'm already gluten-free, have had my amalgams removed, on the cleanest of diets (except the ice cream)....I think all of these things are *key* to recovery. I remember reading that when treating Lyme its not a bad idea to get the amalgams out....it can make a big diference. It makes sense too...its been proven that amalgams leak. If you already have a compromised immune system from something like Lyme....that mercury thats leaking out has got to be doing some damage to the recovery process. I would think it would keep taxing the immune system....not a good thing when Lyme is already an issue. I think that might be why Lyme patients seem to also have mercury toxicity....I'm betting its only the ones who have amalgams or eat lots of tuna.

I think in my case the Lyme was suppressed by my immune system until I had the mercury exposure. I think because it was probably large amounts of mercury vapors....it just totally brought down my defenses and the Lyme took off. Not to mention that the mercury is likely still sitting there....taxing my immune sytem and causing its own set of symptoms.

I am sooo much in agreement with you about the people who are taking antibiotics and still eating a regular diet and making no lifestyle changes. TV Dinners....OMG.

I will never forget how bad off I was before making these changes....even if I had been diagnosed back then and being treated with abx....there is NO WAY I could have recovered....I just know that with everything inside me.

When I read stories of people taking antibiotics for years and not getting better....its the first thing I wonder about.....what are they eating....how are they living??

I think once we are this bad off and the disease is chronic....we cant expect to just take antibiotics and thats gonna do it. I think we have to take all the stressors away....really take a load off the immune system....give it a chance to fight. All of the things that are pulling the immune system down (mercury and gluten would be 2 likely things) will be enough to keep the Lyme strong.

The difference in my health just from the diet and lifestyle changes is mind blowing to me....it really is. Anyone that saw that changes in me can attest to this....it was dramatic.

At first the Lyme was taking me down...it had me in every way....it was taking everything from me. Now...I'm in control...it doesnt have me the way it used to....but its a real struggle to stay on top.

It makes me believe our own immune system is the most valueable weapon we have....we need to make it as strong as we possibly can. TV dinners, alcohol, sugar, gluten, stress, mold, chemicals, etc....its all gonna pile up on an already weakened immune system and thats when the Lyme will get ahead. Thats what I believe and thats why I think alot of these people dont get better. A mainstream Dr. is not gonna talk to someone about diet and lifestyle changes and the affect it will have on the whole recovery process.

I think thats why its so important to educate ourselves.....we have to be in charge of our health. Like the Dr. told me....its gonna take alot of work on my part and its gonna be HARD....I know its all on me...if I dont do the right things....I'm not gonna recover. No antibiotic alone is gonna fix this.

I'm gonna do whatever it takes and I'm glad I'm going into it somewhat educated about what my body needs and doesnt need right now. All of the things I've learned along the way have pretty much set the stage for this....it was all to prepare me...only I didnt know it at the time. Nothing was a waste....every bit of it was important.

Anyways...I got off track.

This lady who pm'd me....very nice....she wanted to let me know that if I'd already been tested the results might not be accurate if they came from a lab other than Igenix. I was happy to tell her I'd been tested and my Dr. only uses Igenix for Lyme testing.

I hope she pops in here....she's ahead of all of us...shes already been diagnosed and is on treatment and also already diagnosed for mercury. I think we can learn from her and she can learn about Celiac from us.

Oh...she also mentioned that she didnt quite know what the link is between mercury and lyme. Since this keeps coming up I'm thinking there is some kind of link.

My only 2 thoughts on this are....first, its most likely that we cant handle the burden of mercury exposure and our bodies arent detoxing as well as a healthy persons would.....it reaches toxic levels and further compromises the immune system.

My second thought is far more "out there"....I was wondering if the ticks could be in some way attracted to a body that is burdened by mercury.....if they can "sense" the mercury and come to us because of it. That weekend in Tahoe (when I suspect I was infected) I ate a chip and my amalgam filling broke....I sawllowed half of it with the chip. Maybe a broken amalgam was leaking more mercury? I think its weird that I got bit at that time...I wasnt even camping....I was staying at a timeshare but did walk through the woods next to the timeshare.

I dunno...I think there is definately a link though...most likely the first theory. I hope so anyway cuz my second theory is way more creepy.