My OperaChronic Lyme Disease
Wednesday, February 9, 2005 12:44:40 AM
Twenty-nine years ago, my life was a mess. Someone shared the story of Jesus with me and a couple of weeks later, alone in the middle of the night, I accepted Christ. As I remember, I told Christ that if He really existed, I needed Him to come in and fix up my mess of a life. And you know what? He began working that very night. Ever since that night, my life has become less messy with each passing year!
It was several years before I realized that I had been born again (the correct translation is born from above from John 3). Since then, I have spent thousands of hours studying and teaching the Bible while being married to a Navy guy and birthing and raising four children in various Navy cities in the US and Japan. Now the oldest is 28 and the youngest is 21 and my husband is now a retired Navy guy working at a hospital. We haven't had to move for seven years! That is a new personal record!
With my Mom job behind me for the most part, there is time to deal with some health issues I have had for at least 21 years, since the birth of our last child. As it turns out, I have a disease with a name and not just a bunch of wierd symptoms. Two months ago, I was diagnosed with two forms of Chronic Lyme Disease and numerous problems that have been caused by those diseases.
I decided to write a journal about this new journey of physical healing in light of the the parallel journey of spiritual healing. I know God is using everything in my life to draw me closer to Him. And the Lyme is just the tool God is using right now.
Whether I achieve physical healing or not is not the point. It is the journey and my growing relationship with God that ultimately matters. So whether this story ends with physical healing or not, there is sure to be spiritual healing along the way. And that is the real story to be told.
In the past two months, I have learned a lot about Chonic Lyme Disease. In addition to being extremely hard to diagnose, it mimics all sorts of other diseases. It often is cyclical in nature, so you might feel well for a while and then feel really crummy and then well and crummy etc.. That cycle was and is my life! For years, I have told people that I have low energy and require lots of sleep. People have accused me of being lazy. I suppose that is what it looks like from the outside.
In October of 2004, I began going to a doctor that is willing to go the extra mile in helping patients with chronic problems. Two of my friends go to her and have bugged me to make an appointment with her. After ignoring them for several years, I finally filled out an extensive life history form, collected as many of my old medical records as I could find and spent two hours with her and her nurse going over all of the history and records. As a result of that first visit, they had suspected that I had Chronic Lyme Disease. The next step included various tests and a lot of blood work to assess the specific functioning of the various systems in my body.
It wasn't until Dec 2, 2004 that all of the reports were in and I met with the doctor and her nurse again. It was then that I was diagnosed with Lyme and began a treatment plan to correct the various system breakdowns and to begin getting rid of the Lyme. Since I have two forms of Lyme, I am taking antibiotics and an antifungal daily for four months to kill off only one of the forms of the Lyme. After that, I will be treated for the other form.
Because I was deficient in certain things, I am taking lots of supplements to correct the deficiencies. For example, zinc, CQ10 and B12 were pretty low in my bloodwork. So now I take those things to make up for the deficiencies. I think I counted over 30 different pills and things I am taking each day at various times of the day. At first it was really difficult to remember what to take when. Eventually, I came up with a system that worked using pill containers I bought at the grocery store. Now it isn't a big deal unless I am not home during the day for long periods. Invariably, when I have gone out to eat, I have fogotten to bring one or more of the medicines. Any change in my routine messes up the schedule. Thankfully, my life is pretty routine these days.
In addition, I was given a diet to follow. It is called the Nightshade diet and it supposed to help people who have chronic pain. Within a week, all of the pain I have had for the past 20 years was gone. When I am not careful to eat correctly, the pain returns. Never ever dreamed that a diet could take away pain. But there you have it! The biggest problem with the diet is trying to eat out. Nearly every time I have tried to eat at a restaurant, I have ended up with pain because I ate something that is not on the diet without knowing it. It is frustrating and I am inclined to not eat out for the time being. However, I am truly grateful that I am able to control the pain with my diet most of the time.
After two months of therapy, I am feeling much better overall. There are isolated days that I don't feel great, and I still get tired and need to take naps. However, I am really encouraged by the very evident positive changes so far.
In March, I will see the doctor again. At that point, she thinks we will be able to start dealing with the other form of Lyme. It will probably not go away so quickly and easily as this first one. I have a few friends who are much sicker than I am with this other form of Lyme. The treatment is difficult and long. I admire their patience with all they are experiencing and the chronic pain and nausea etc. that goes along with the treatments. It is not unlike chemotherapy in that you often have to feel worse before it gets better. Not everyone experiences really bad symptoms from the treatment, but most people I know seem to feel awful through it. I have decided not to cross that bridge until I get there.
Meanwhile, I am keeping busy writing and teaching Bible studies. Right now I have four classes. Thankfully, three of them are the same course. One is a pilot study for a new course I have been working on for the past year. God has provided me with a family of women through these classes. They pray for me and I for them. We share our joys and pain. We are growing in the Lord together.
There are probably a lot of people out there with chronic problems that are suffering from Lyme Disease. Perhaps my journey will be an encouragement to them.
God bless you,
Beth
Hosea 6:3
It was several years before I realized that I had been born again (the correct translation is born from above from John 3). Since then, I have spent thousands of hours studying and teaching the Bible while being married to a Navy guy and birthing and raising four children in various Navy cities in the US and Japan. Now the oldest is 28 and the youngest is 21 and my husband is now a retired Navy guy working at a hospital. We haven't had to move for seven years! That is a new personal record!
With my Mom job behind me for the most part, there is time to deal with some health issues I have had for at least 21 years, since the birth of our last child. As it turns out, I have a disease with a name and not just a bunch of wierd symptoms. Two months ago, I was diagnosed with two forms of Chronic Lyme Disease and numerous problems that have been caused by those diseases.
I decided to write a journal about this new journey of physical healing in light of the the parallel journey of spiritual healing. I know God is using everything in my life to draw me closer to Him. And the Lyme is just the tool God is using right now.
Whether I achieve physical healing or not is not the point. It is the journey and my growing relationship with God that ultimately matters. So whether this story ends with physical healing or not, there is sure to be spiritual healing along the way. And that is the real story to be told.
In the past two months, I have learned a lot about Chonic Lyme Disease. In addition to being extremely hard to diagnose, it mimics all sorts of other diseases. It often is cyclical in nature, so you might feel well for a while and then feel really crummy and then well and crummy etc.. That cycle was and is my life! For years, I have told people that I have low energy and require lots of sleep. People have accused me of being lazy. I suppose that is what it looks like from the outside.
In October of 2004, I began going to a doctor that is willing to go the extra mile in helping patients with chronic problems. Two of my friends go to her and have bugged me to make an appointment with her. After ignoring them for several years, I finally filled out an extensive life history form, collected as many of my old medical records as I could find and spent two hours with her and her nurse going over all of the history and records. As a result of that first visit, they had suspected that I had Chronic Lyme Disease. The next step included various tests and a lot of blood work to assess the specific functioning of the various systems in my body.
It wasn't until Dec 2, 2004 that all of the reports were in and I met with the doctor and her nurse again. It was then that I was diagnosed with Lyme and began a treatment plan to correct the various system breakdowns and to begin getting rid of the Lyme. Since I have two forms of Lyme, I am taking antibiotics and an antifungal daily for four months to kill off only one of the forms of the Lyme. After that, I will be treated for the other form.
Because I was deficient in certain things, I am taking lots of supplements to correct the deficiencies. For example, zinc, CQ10 and B12 were pretty low in my bloodwork. So now I take those things to make up for the deficiencies. I think I counted over 30 different pills and things I am taking each day at various times of the day. At first it was really difficult to remember what to take when. Eventually, I came up with a system that worked using pill containers I bought at the grocery store. Now it isn't a big deal unless I am not home during the day for long periods. Invariably, when I have gone out to eat, I have fogotten to bring one or more of the medicines. Any change in my routine messes up the schedule. Thankfully, my life is pretty routine these days.
In addition, I was given a diet to follow. It is called the Nightshade diet and it supposed to help people who have chronic pain. Within a week, all of the pain I have had for the past 20 years was gone. When I am not careful to eat correctly, the pain returns. Never ever dreamed that a diet could take away pain. But there you have it! The biggest problem with the diet is trying to eat out. Nearly every time I have tried to eat at a restaurant, I have ended up with pain because I ate something that is not on the diet without knowing it. It is frustrating and I am inclined to not eat out for the time being. However, I am truly grateful that I am able to control the pain with my diet most of the time.
After two months of therapy, I am feeling much better overall. There are isolated days that I don't feel great, and I still get tired and need to take naps. However, I am really encouraged by the very evident positive changes so far.
In March, I will see the doctor again. At that point, she thinks we will be able to start dealing with the other form of Lyme. It will probably not go away so quickly and easily as this first one. I have a few friends who are much sicker than I am with this other form of Lyme. The treatment is difficult and long. I admire their patience with all they are experiencing and the chronic pain and nausea etc. that goes along with the treatments. It is not unlike chemotherapy in that you often have to feel worse before it gets better. Not everyone experiences really bad symptoms from the treatment, but most people I know seem to feel awful through it. I have decided not to cross that bridge until I get there.
Meanwhile, I am keeping busy writing and teaching Bible studies. Right now I have four classes. Thankfully, three of them are the same course. One is a pilot study for a new course I have been working on for the past year. God has provided me with a family of women through these classes. They pray for me and I for them. We share our joys and pain. We are growing in the Lord together.
There are probably a lot of people out there with chronic problems that are suffering from Lyme Disease. Perhaps my journey will be an encouragement to them.
God bless you,
Beth
Hosea 6:3
