Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[DingoGirl]

And Susan, details?

WHAT, are you kidding? ME give details? ha ha ha ha ha I won't go into specifics, but I feel I have really turned a corner in my recovery from my relationship. I was starting to understand this recently...and yesterday R's best friend (whom I've known most of my life) came into work...chatted with him and his wife, and it's the same old story about R, but worse actually since there are many more crises in his life that he's of course taking care of and enabling (oh, his friend did mention that R goes into two-day depression ABOUT THE BULLDOGS every time they lose PRAISE GOD I don't have to deal with it . I have just been feeling ecstatic that I'm not with him. And then, last night, well, it's the first guy I've been interested in and attracted to in so long, I have seen him there two or three times but paid him no attention. It was SO much fun....he was young but very interesting, traveled the world for 18 months w/ a backpack, and mostly third-world countries. JUDY - he is from Pennsylvania but the opposite end of the state from you. We will see, nothing to tell and no details yet, miss Enquiring Mind Rhonda. The important thing for me though is that I realized how much I am healed from my unhealthy and unsatisfying relationship. that makes me overjoyed as I realize that God has answered my prayer.

Maybe age doesn't matter, Rachel? Who knows.....some of these younger guys are just SO much more fun and less emcumbered.....but dang, I ain't no spring chicken.....

oh and Rinne, there is SO very much a Lyme green beetle in your future.

Hello to everybody, Laura, we await your news and hope you are not too exhausted, everybody else, I must get busy around here - squalor is starting to creep in in my bedroom and I must tackle it.

[AndreaB]

I have my Dr. appt. tomorrow....I wonder what he will say about treatment. Also, what about co-infections?? Dont we need testing for those now?? I think Igenix tests for co-infections. I'll have to ask the Dr. about it. I'm pretty sure there were co-infections in the bioset test but she never told me if I responded to any.

The BioSET lady is more positive about my recovery I think. My Dr. seems more grave and more serious about it. When I ask if I'll get better he just says "It will be HARD."

Is it even possible to get all the way better??

Rachel,

I'm at a loss too. I would think you'd get better. Maybe those people and doctors aren't taking agressive measures. If they aren't willing to, or don't, look at some of the alternative treatments then maybe there isn't as much hope of recovery. Sounds like the antibiotics drive the disease further into the body. Isn't that what I read.....or am I getting confused with something else.

Susan,

You usually hear about the man being older than the woman. I think a lot depends on a man's maturity. Let's face it, I'm sure there are a lot of men both older and younger that are immature for their age. Conversely, there are also men (older and younger) that are more mature than their age. It all comes down to whether you can work it out....like Rachel's mom.

Hi Rinne!

[CarlaB]

Here's my problem with younger men ... I had Morgan when I was 25 ... if a man was 13 years younger than I, he'd be 12 years older than Morgan ... which of us would he choose??? That would be too weird.

Funny you single women talk about not flirting and we married women still do it!! There was a guy at Starbucks I used to flirt with all the time ... he was 21, I was 39 ... lot of fun ... safe though because he knew I had a husband and six kids as we used to go in there all the time ... he told me one day that if he didn't know about hubby and kids he'd ask me out! I told Adam ... TOTALLY made me feel young and attractive!! My hubby's best friend is a terrible flirt ... maybe that's why his wife hates me

[CarlaB]

Rachel, I am curious, I know you were tested by Enterolab and that you used to be dairy-free. Were you tested for casein? My casein came out positive, and I expected that it was the reason I wasn't getting better and got off it in June. Today we took the kids to see a movie and I had popcorn, Reece's Pieces, and a Coke. I feel fine ... I'm sure the popcorn and Reece's had casein ... I know you eat ice cream, so I was wondering if you tested positive and if any dairy does bother you.

I figured that the diet my doc had me on wasn't making me feel one iota better, so I had what I wanted today ... except for gluten -- I know that would make me feel bad! I've actually felt pretty good this weekend. It will be very interesting to get the Lyme test because it sure seems that the reaction I had for the past month could easily be explained as a herx. The salt actually tastes REALLY good to me, so I must really need it. My stomach is settling down some and I have more energy than I've had in three months ... enough energy that yesterday I organized our bedroom some (I hadn't done that since we moved in), and I actually asked Adam where the bank statements were so I could balance the checkbook this week!

[Rachel--24]

Rachel, I don't think that doctor understands that you wouldn't even be sitting there if you didn't have the strength of ten women and as for it being HARD, I think you can take hard any day.

Thanks Rinne.

Yeah....that Doc just doesnt KNOW me yet!

[AndreaB]

It will be very interesting to get the Lyme test because it sure seems that the reaction I had for the past month could easily be explained as a herx. The salt actually tastes REALLY good to me, so I must really need it. My stomach is settling down some and I have more energy than I've had in three months ... enough energy that yesterday I organized our bedroom some (I hadn't done that since we moved in), and I actually asked Adam where the bank statements were so I could balance the checkbook this week!

I'll be waiting for your results from Igenix also Carla. It sounds like it would be positive with what you've mentioned of your childhood/younger years.

That's great that you have some more energy!

[rinne]

Hi Andrea.

Susan, it is wonderful to hear you feeling so positive. It is unfortunate for him that he lost someone as special as you, as for his depression over the losses of his team, what can I say?

I've been thinking about what you said Rachel, yes they are very ill. I wonder whether they took antibiotics without detoxing and the mercury and pesticides have dumped back into their bodies over and over again, I wonder if they took pro-biotics and suspect they might not have. I wonder if they continued to eat processed food...... but all these thoughts I realize may only be my way of coping with how devastating Lyme can be and the ways in which it has already damaged me. Naturally I am convinced that undertaking this alternative modality of healing is the smart way to go and I look for evidence to back me up.

One thing I do know for sure is that I am not nearly as ill as many people who are ill, and now that I know what it is I feel confident that I can work with it not only through diet and lifestyle but on other levels as well.

I had an interesting experience this week with Hoffman, he had sent me home with Noni and Samento to take and information sheets with protocols for both of them. When I heard from his assistant to take them I found that I had Noni and Burbur was indicated on the Samento sheet so I had emailed him and asked for clarification about that and some other information on the Samento sheet. I was unimpressed that he had simply given me a protocol sheet that was for a doctor to use and not specific to me, I found myself starting to think, oh great now you've trusted someone who is not paying attention and this in NOT what you need and I just stopped and realized it was all just information, I didn't need to attach a judgement to it, I needed to be clear about what I needed, that was it. Once I was clear about that he phoned me and we talked about the protocol and I realized that the protocol sheet he gave me was an opportunity to interact with him.

I think I am finally beginning to understand that breath to breath we choose the pillows or the rocks.

[Rachel--24]

Rachel, I am curious, I know you were tested by Enterolab and that you used to be dairy-free. Were you tested for casein? My casein came out positive, and I expected that it was the reason I wasn't getting better and got off it in June. Today we took the kids to see a movie and I had popcorn, Reece's Pieces, and a Coke. I feel fine ... I'm sure the popcorn and Reece's had casein ... I know you eat ice cream, so I was wondering if you tested positive and if any dairy does bother you.

Yup...I was tested for casein...it was negative. Well it was barely negative...it was a 9. I hadnt been eating dairy for a few months before the test but in my mind now.....it doesnt matter. I listen to my body over the results of any food testing. Thats what my Dr. said as well....listen to your body. Thats why he was kind of left with his mouth hanging when I said my body loves ice cream.

He said ice cream would be the worst thing ever for me right now...same with the BioSET lady. She's de-sensitizing me to everything so that I can eat healthier foods....and NOT eat ice cream everyday. But right now I have no choice...I cant eat "healthier" foods.

I react to yogurt, cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, butter, basically everything except my one brand of ice cream....which I'm still eating everday.

Its got nothing to do with casein...its chemicals. I cant eat fermented or aged stuff...so yogurt and cheese are out. Most everything in the dairy dept. has got chemicals, hormones, msg....all kinds of stuff my body isnt liking. I didnt even do well with the homemade ice cream I was eating awhile back. I was reacting to something in the cream. Its got nothing to do with casein or I wouldnt be able to eat this one type of ice cream that I eat everday.

My BioSET test showed a reaction to ALL dairy products, casein, whey, and everything from top to bottom having to do with a cow or goat.

I realize eating the ice cream isnt great for me...its got sugar. However, I'm not in pain after I eat it and nearly EVERYTHING else causes pain. I reacted to nearly every food on the test but I do have to eat. Thats why that lady needs to fix my malfunctioning immune system....so I coould eat more stuff.

Oh...most of the foods that it says I CAN eat....I really cant because either I cant find it organically grown or its ruined by Auxigro. So even the good stuff isnt good.

Anyways....just because my immune system freaked out and started reacting to everything doesnt mean that I cant eat these foods for life. I'll be able to eat more and more things as my health improves.

[CarlaB]

Thank you for explaining, Rachel. My casein score was over 30, and it wasn't like I drank a big latte or something, but I know if I got as much gluten as I did casein, I would be very ill. I used to drink lattes every day, I ate cottage cheese, kifir, yogurt, etc. None of it seemed to bother me and I had it daily. But because of my Enterolab score on the casein, and because I wasn't feeling better, I cut it out. I never felt any different eating it or not eating it. I guess until I get healthy again it would probably be best to leave it out, but it certainly is difficult to be motivated to do that when there doesn't seem to be much of a problem with it.

[Rachel--24]

Also Carla,

If you start feeling bad...I would be more inclined to think its because the popcorn, reeses and coke are LOADED with chemicals and bad things. Things that will make anyone who is sick feel worse. I would probably DIE if I ate those...maybe not today....but in a few days I would feel like death.

OMG....I want a COKE so bad though! Its like I can taste it right now...I want it. I used to LIVE on soda. Sometimes a 6 pack a day....I never drank water because water had no flavor and was boring to me. I have gotten used to water but a soda sounds mighty good right now.

[CarlaB]

Also Carla,

If you start feeling bad...I would be more inclined to think its because the popcorn, reeses and coke are LOADED with chemicals and bad things. Things that will make anyone who is sick feel worse. I would probably DIE if I ate those...maybe not today....but in a few days I would feel like death.

OMG....I want a COKE so bad though! Its like I can taste it right now...I want it. I used to LIVE on soda. Sometimes a 6 pack a day....I never drank water because water had no flavor and was boring to me. I have gotten used to water but a soda sounds mighty good right now.

ROFL!! I was most worried about the sugar. Oddly enough, processed food has never bothered me. I don't actually drink much Coke, I ordered one with a lot of ice, I let the ice melt a little because I dont' particularly like Coke, but I have to have it with popcorn. I'm most worried about the sugar as I get a little hypoglycemic, so I just need to be sure dinner has some healthy protein and fat so I don't wake up in the morning with a sugar hangover. I have been like this for years. I finished off Adam's Reece's, it wasn't a whole bag ... but I did have a lot of popcorn. I have eaten healthy and taken supplements for YEARS and a junk-food binge now and then has had little affect on me, even since being ill. It's not an every day thing though. I got into organic and health food over ten years ago, so it's really a way of life ... that's probably what's saved me in the end from getting even sicker than I have been. My main complaint is fatigue.

[rinne]

I figured that the diet my doc had me on wasn't making me feel one iota better, so I had what I wanted today ... except for gluten -- I know that would make me feel bad! I've actually felt pretty good this weekend. It will be very interesting to get the Lyme test because it sure seems that the reaction I had for the past month could easily be explained as a herx. The salt actually tastes REALLY good to me, so I must really need it. My stomach is settling down some and I have more energy than I've had in three months ... enough energy that yesterday I organized our bedroom some (I hadn't done that since we moved in), and I actually asked Adam where the bank statements were so I could balance the checkbook this week!

I am so pleased to hear that you are finding energy with the salt/c Carla, I can't say enough good things about it. The salt tastes good to me, I feel like I am being restored by it.

Dingoing an idea, do I understand this? It is when you have a brilliant thought that you wish to share with others but it is gone in a dingo of a second and you share the dingoing of it even though the idea is gone?

[CarlaB]

I am so pleased to hear that you are finding energy with the salt/c Carla, I can't say enough good things about it. The salt tastes good to me, I feel like I am being restored by it.

Dingoing an idea, do I understand this? It is when you have a brilliant thought that you wish to share with others but it is gone in a dingo of a second and you share the dingoing of it even though the idea is gone?

That is correct about the Dingoing of an idea!!

I really do feel like the salt/c is helping ... even if it ends up not being Lyme, for some reason it is helping. I wonder if there are other diseases it helps?

[Mtndog]

Off to bed. Just got home from the pub where my niece works. I flirted - heavily - for the first time since the breakup. wow. It was so much fun....the nicest and kindest and most funny geologist.....but he is 10 years younger. Hah, he doesn't care but *I* do......... But the point is, I felt so free and recovered from that heinous relationship, it felt like such a step of healing for me. did I mention he is a fly-fisherman and wants a cabin more than anything? We had a lot in common.

Don't get all excited everyone....I mean Bev. But it was a great sign of progress for me.

goodnight friends.

Me????????? Get excited? Can I help it if I want you to fall madly in love and be swept away by a muscular, outdoorsy man to a cabin the mountains where you live appily-ever-after (and I can come visit!)

[DingoGirl]

I think I am finally beginning to understand that breath to breath we choose the pillows or the rocks.

okay confess Rinne, you are secretly a published writer Not kidding, your phrasing is just....magical.

Dingoing an idea, do I understand this? It is when you have a brilliant thought that you wish to share with others but it is gone in a dingo of a second and you share the dingoing of it even though the idea is gone?

in a dingo of a second OMG this is precisely it....yes it is about trying to re-capture the epiphanic thought that was brilliant and try to impart this brilliant insight but it is gone, as a vapor, and then you still try to spit something out onto the page anyway......or NOT.....

[Rachel--24]

Sounds like the antibiotics drive the disease further into the body. Isn't that what I read.....or am I getting confused with something else.

Susan,

Andrea,

I think its the steroids that drive the Lyme deeper into the tissues.

Rinne,

I think there MUST be something to lifestyle changes and Lyme treatment. When I read the statements of those people.....how they say they pray for death and when they speak of their pain, their inability to think at all, getting lost while driving...etc. All I could think about was THAT WAS ME....everything I was reading was me....I prayed for death every night....I got lost all the time while driving...I couldnt focus on anything. I could NEVER have been on this message board typing away everyday like I have for the past 14 months.

I couldnt even get out of bed and my pain was EXCRUCIATING.....I would have welcomed death during that time.

I could relate to every word written by those people....but since I changed my diet a year and a half ago...I am not that same girl who wishes to die. I dont get lost when I go places, I can remember things, my joints and muscles hurt but not anywhere near like it used to be. Everything is different and all I changed was my diet and chemical exposure.....I have not even been treated for Lyme yet at all and I have improved this much. I think its more improvement than I would experience by aggressively treating Lyme with antibiotics yet never changing my diet.

[DingoGirl]

Me????????? Get excited? Can I help it if I want you to fall madly in love and be swept away by a muscular, outdoorsy man to a cabin the mountains where you live appily-ever-after (and I can come visit!)

gaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh I don't know how muscular he was.....but he was quite smart and quite interesting, he is working on saving the San Joaquin river as his master's thesis....water issues are quite controversial in the West and I am rather passionate about them.....I happen to know enough just to provide entertaining and somewhat informed banter.....he almost fell out of his chair when I brought up east vs. westside farming, selenium and the Kesterson heinosity......he was out of his mind...... Between that and the goofiness I knew I had him at hello

Yes of course Bev you can come visit us at our cabin But maybe we should go on a date first.... (I mean this guy and me, not you and I, dear Bev)

[CarlaB]

So, Susan, is this admitting that there will be a date with this guy in your future???

[Rachel--24]

he almost fell out of his chair when I brought up east vs. westside farming, selenium and the Kesterson heinosity......he was out of his mind...... Between that and the goofiness I knew I had him at hello

This is sooo cute Susan. Will you be meeting him at the pub again? Sounds like this could be a fun distraction for you. A distraction that could lead to a CABIN in the mountains!!!

[CarlaB]

I think there MUST be something to lifestyle changes and Lyme treatment.

I think this is true for many issues. I have been into health food for years ... I've tried various diets (not to lose weight, but to get healthy) even before I was really ill. I just found I had better energy. I think this lifestyle bought me more years of health than I would have otherwise because whatever I have, I have had for a LONG time. I remember feeling this way in high school. I also have had other times in my life that I've felt the way I do now. I've read a lot about natural hygeine and done many of the cleansing practices it recommends, including juicing. People have thought I was crazy for a long time, so this gluten intolerance really doesn't surprise them at all ... in fact, that's probably why so many in my family won't be tested ... it's just the next wacky diet of mine. In the end though, I think that's why I made it to now without having to address this before.

I had a bad infection that required antibiotics about 4 years ago ... it was suspected to be a chlamydia infection in my lungs from a pet bird that was sick when we bought it and died. I was treated by 21 days of doxycycline. After that my knee hurt so bad I couldn't even bend it. It was after that that my TMJ disorder was finally bad enough that I needed to fix it. I never bouced back from that ... it was shortly after that that I figured out that wheat made me sick.

Okay, gotta go ... family needs me.

[AndreaB]

Susan,

You must keep us posted on this guy.......sounds interesting.

Rachel,

Thanks for the correction.

I think both you and Rinne are on to something with the lifestyle/diet changes.

Rinne,

Glad you were able to talk to the doctor and get some things cleared up.

Carla,

That's interesting about your dairy.....I'll be watching for updates.

[DingoGirl]

hmmmmmmmmmm......let's not put the cabin before the horse, girls..... A date, we will see, he is known as a very kind person at that pub, goes there about once a week.....but if something actually happens in my life, you will find me shockingly quiet on the subject

[rinne]

Rinne,

I think there MUST be something to lifestyle changes and Lyme treatment. When I read the statements of those people.....how they say they pray for death and when they speak of their pain, their inability to think at all, getting lost while driving...etc. All I could think about was THAT WAS ME....everything I was reading was me....I prayed for death every night....I got lost all the time while driving...I couldnt focus on anything. I could NEVER have been on this message board typing away everyday like I have for the past 14 months.

I couldnt even get out of bed and my pain was EXCRUCIATING.....I would have welcomed death during that time.

I could relate to every word written by those people....but since I changed my diet a year and a half ago...I am not that same girl who wishes to die. I dont get lost when I go places, I can remember things, my joints and muscles hurt but not anywhere near like it used to be. Everything is different and all I changed was my diet and chemical exposure.....I have not even been treated for Lyme yet at all and I have improved this much. I think its more improvement than I would experience by aggressively treating Lyme with antibiotics yet never changing my diet.

I am astonished that you have been able to recover that much just through the changes you have made, I completely agree. I have never been as ill as the people on the clip or on the site but like Carla have been known as a health nut, eating organically when others couldn't understand why. I seriously think that MSG and other additives pump up the bacteria making everyone even sicker.

gaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh I don't know how muscular he was.....but he was quite smart and quite interesting, he is working on saving the San Joaquin river as his master's thesis....water issues are quite controversial in the West and I am rather passionate about them.....I happen to know enough just to provide entertaining and somewhat informed banter.....he almost fell out of his chair when I brought up east vs. westside farming, selenium and the Kesterson heinosity......he was out of his mind...... Between that and the goofiness I knew I had him at hello

Yes of course Bev you can come visit us at our cabin But maybe we should go on a date first.... (I mean this guy and me, not you and I, dear Bev)

Susan, have you read, "Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water"? Great book if you are interested in water issues.

And no I am not a secretly published author but I may start taking all your comments to heart. You'll be the first ones I tell.

I think this is true for many issues. I have been into health food for years ... I've tried various diets (not to lose weight, but to get healthy) even before I was really ill. I just found I had better energy. I think this lifestyle bought me more years of health than I would have otherwise because whatever I have, I have had for a LONG time. I remember feeling this way in high school. I also have had other times in my life that I've felt the way I do now. I've read a lot about natural hygeine and done many of the cleansing practices it recommends, including juicing. People have thought I was crazy for a long time, so this gluten intolerance really doesn't surprise them at all ... in fact, that's probably why so many in my family won't be tested ... it's just the next wacky diet of mine. In the end though, I think that's why I made it to now without having to address this before.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Also Carla,

If you start feeling bad...I would be more inclined to think its because the popcorn, reeses and coke are LOADED with chemicals and bad things. Things that will make anyone who is sick feel worse. I would probably DIE if I ate those...maybe not today....but in a few days I would feel like death.

OMG....I want a COKE so bad though! Its like I can taste it right now...I want it. I used to LIVE on soda. Sometimes a 6 pack a day....I never drank water because water had no flavor and was boring to me. I have gotten used to water but a soda sounds mighty good right now.

Premature Post!!!

Can you have carbonated water? We make our own sodas for special occasions with grape or orange juice , or lemonade with a squeeze of lime, mixed with carbonated water--yum! No caffeine, no refined sugar, no preservatives, no chemicals. Would that tame your craving?

Question about the Lyme and mercury--if Lyme binds to mercury, why are they not excreted together? Do the antibiotics push them across the blood-brain barrier? Do the antibiotics contain mercury in the first place?

[Rachel--24]

Premature Post!!!

Can you have carbonated water? We make our own sodas for special occasions with grape or orange juice , or lemonade with a squeeze of lime, mixed with carbonated water--yum! No caffeine, no refined sugar, no preservatives, no chemicals. Would that tame your craving?

Question about the Lyme and mercury--if Lyme binds to mercury, why are they not excreted together? Do the antibiotics push them across the blood-brain barrier? Do the antibiotics contain mercury in the first place?

Carbonated water is out for me.

I also cant have fruit juice.

Yup....I am stuck with purified water for the time being.

Maybe in a few months I'll be able to have juice from organic fruit. We shall see. I can get creative and make all kinds of yummy drinks once I have more choices.

Mercury doesnt get excreted because it is stored in the body's tissues. It doesnt travel in the bloodstream....it just sits in the tissues. Also in a toxic body...where the liver and organs are unable to detoxify...the body simply cant eliminate toxins efficiently. When there is significant heavy metal toxicity...chelation is necessary in order to pull the mercury from the tissues....but in order for this to be safe as well as successful...the organs need to be detoxifying efficiently. Its all very complex and confusing.

As far as I know the antibiotics dont contain mercury....I dont know that they push Lyme or mercury accross the blood-brain barrier either. Both mercury and Lyme are quite effective at crossing the blood-brain barrier all on their own.