“Hope”
It took me a year to get an appointment with the Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) in Pennsylvania. It was hard to believe that there was a one year waiting list. This is evidence, to me, of what an epidemic Lyme & TBD (Tick Borne Diseases) are in our society. I cannot imagine how a very sick person could wait one year for an appointment. Thankfully, I was still in treatment with the Nurse Practitioner in Washington, D.C.
It’s pretty much a coincidence that this new doctor has the same name as my mom. However, this brought me such comfort and hope that she would take care of me just like my mom always did when I was a young child. Who takes better care of you when you are sick than your mom? I have to give credit to my wonderful husband, dad and sister. They sure have helped me so much through the years, but for me it wasn’t the same as my memories of mom’s TLC (tender, love & care)!
This new doctor did a thorough review of every organ & system in my body. She took a very detailed history of my health and all the symptoms I had been suffering from. She checked for any underlying infections i.e. viruses, parasites, yeast, etc that might be suppressing my immune system and making it harder for my body to fight these TBD. She looked into my genetics to see if they could be playing a role with immune dysfunction. She did more blood work. She also used IGeneX and Fry Labs.
After my blood work came back, I learned that I had another co-infection, Babesia. I also learned that I was predisposed for weaknesses in my immune system because of my genetics. I have a sensitivity to mold and I had deficiencies in my methylation cycle. This is a pathway that manages or contributes to a wide range of bodily functions including detoxification, immune function, maintaining DNA, energy production, mood balancing and controlling inflammation. The methylation cycle helps the body respond to environmental stressors, to detoxify, and to adapt and rebuild. If methylation is not functioning properly this may contribute to many chronic conditions. There are supplements to take to improve the methylation cycle. I also was advised that I had heavy metal and biological toxin overload.
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I began treatment. It was different this time. This doctor was determined to clean up my body and eliminate all the toxins. She explained that this was a very important piece to obtaining optimal health. I once again began an antimicrobial protocol to fight the TBD, break down biofilms and detox my body of toxins. I began to take supplements to support and improve my bodies methylation cycle. I was advised to have all the amalgam fillings in my mouth removed to improve the heavy metal toxicity that I was suffering from.
I needed to have my home evaluated for mold. Mold is a normal part of the environment and it is not surprising to find some type of mold in your home. Because of my genetics, a tiny amount of mold in my home is not okay. My body cannot process the toxins that mold release into the environment. These toxins cause inflammation in my body. If I am trying to heal from TBD, my body cannot be in a state of inflammation from mold toxins. I needed to remediate the very normal (low) levels that were found in my home.
Presently, I am getting stronger with each passing day. I still have bladder and pelvic flares but I have not had a flu-like illness followed by arthritis in almost two years. I am so happy to share that I see progress. I believe that I still have flares and pain at times because my body isn’t doing the best job of eliminating toxins. Yet, I know there are other things that I still have not tried to help improve detoxing, one being infrared sauna. At my last appointment with Dr. Alyssa, she shared with me that she purchased an infrared sauna for her office and it will be available for her patients use within the next few weeks. I am super excited to begin infrared sauna treatments. Infrared sauna helps the body with so many different things including detoxing and methylation. This is really great for me because my body has deficiencies with both of the processes.
Writing this story has also been a big step in the healing process for me. I do believe that in order to be healthy you need to heal the body, mind and spirit. Writing about my journey has helped me to see where I have been and how far I have come. I shed some tears writing about those years of struggling without any answers but feel so empowered to see that I never lost hope, stayed in faith and found the help I needed. I feel so blessed and thankful to be on this path of healing.
I have had a lot of support over the years. My dear husband, dad, sister and children have been through hell watching me suffer all these years without any answers. However, as I previously shared with you in Chapter 2, their love is what kept me strong.
We are all on our own journeys through life, with our share of both good times and hard times. We all have stories to share and lessons we learned. An important lesson that I learned from living with a chronic illness is that doctors are human beings and may not have the answers to help you. But don’t let this get you down. Continue to pray for strength and hope, and keep searching until you find the doctor that can help you!!! It’s so important be your own advocate when it come to healthcare.
A special thank you to Dr. Alyssa for creating this blog to promote awareness, and to share our stories to help others suffering with TBD. I look forward to reading the next person’s story, whom Dr. Alyssa invites to share on the blog. Dr. Alyssa’s passion to make a difference inspires me! Dr. Alyssa’s treatments help/helped me so much over the years and I consider her another “Angel” on my journey to be healthy!
Thank you again for following my story!! I hope this story, my story, will help someone. I also hope it will get the message out about how much change is needed to diagnose and treat TBD. If you are suffering from Lyme and TBD please see a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor. There is hope!
I look forward to keeping you up-to-date with my progress and advocacy work by blogging again one day!
Blessings to you for good health & happiness,
Megan