My story

Well, this probably should have been my first post, but when I started writing my "About me" section I realized I needed a little more space.  Here's the highlights of my life with Lyme disease.

I started having weird, random health issues about 18 years ago.  I went to multiple doctors, got multiple diagnosis, and multiple treatments, but no improvement.  It wasn't until I looked up the symptoms of Lyme that I realized I had it.  I found a doctor that treated patients on a clinical diagnosis, because my blood tests came back negative.  He told me that I had probably had Lyme for a couple of years already.  I took oral antibiotics for about 3 years, and even thought I was the poster child for probiotics I still ended up with Candida, Reflux, and other digestive problems.  I continued looking for a doctor who could prove that I had Lyme - at that point I was still very reliant on lab tests  Plus,after seeing so many doctors who told me there was nothing wrong with me, that it was all in my head, I guess I needed something scientific as validation of my illness.

I found a wonderful infectious disease specialist who ran an IgG/IgM and found that I still had very high Lyme levels (titers) - I finally had my proof!  They also found that I had severe bilateral peripheral neuropathy in both my arms and legs, which had been previously misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel and muscle cramps.  So, I continued with antibiotics, I even did a couple rounds of IV's.  I was better - I really wouldn't call it better, I would say I had improved, I was functional and could go back to work.  I was also told that even though my lab tests came back positive, that I couldn't possibly still have Lyme.  Then, the doctors decided it was Fibromyalgia caused by the Lyme, and put me on SSRI's.  The meds helped with the pain, but it also made me a feel really apathetic about life.  I look back now and see how my performance at work was seriously lacking, as was my parenting - it was like I spent a couple years with a three-glasses-of-wine buzz .  I was too lax about everything.  Now it makes me really angry because the first few years of my son's life are kind of a blur.  But that all changed about 5 years ago when the meds completely stopped working.  I tried all of the other meds out there, but nothing worked.  I've since figured out that if there's no serotonin being produced in your body, the SSRI's can't work.  And my body wasn't producing any serotonin because - guess what - I still had Lyme, and it was causing all kinds of neurological problems.

The next year & 1/2 was hell.  I barely slept, lost about 30 pounds and was a nervous wreck - fun times, lol!  Before any of this stuff started I was a really calm person - my family would tease me and say that if I was any more laid-back I'd be dead, lol!  My boss called my her rock and said that I was "unflappable".  That's the person I really am, and will be again, but I'm getting off topic...

One thing that I've learned about having a chronic illness is that you have to develop a sense of humor about it - do everything you possibly can to get healthy, and never stop trying - but you have to learn to go with the ups and downs and stay positive.  Otherwise, you'll go insane!

So, by the end of year 14 or so (some of the time blurred together) I still had Lyme, Fibromyalgia, Candida, Restless Leg, neuro issues (slurred speech, brain fog, difficulty forming sentences, etc.) digestive problems, chemical sensitivities, heavy metal toxicity and a ridiculous number of food allergies.  At this point I realized I needed something more than what antibiotics and other prescription meds could offer, and started looking into alternative treatments. 

Thank God that I did.  I saw a homeopath that helped tremendously.  It didn't cure my Lyme, but it helped me get my sanity back, and helped reduce a lot of my other symptoms.  I also started seeing an MD that uses alternative treatments for Lyme because he was seeing better results with the alternative treatments than with abx.   I've seen about a 40% improvement, but the fact that I have heavy metal toxicity is complicating the treatment of the Lyme.  Apparently, Lyme is a very smart little bugger.  It messes up you immune system so you can't eliminate the heavy metals.  Everyone comes in contact with them, and ingests them, and most people can eliminate them without a problem.  But, if your immune system is compromised they start to build up in your system.  The Lyme spirochetes are cleaver enough to hide with the heavy metals, and the treatments can't get to them.

That's brings me up to date.  And, this is why I'm trying ASEA.  My brother starting taking a little while ago for it's general health benefits, and to improve his athletic performance.  He brought a bottle for me to try at Christmas, and I started checking out their website.    I have to say this is the coolest stuff I've ever heard about, or taken.  And over these many years I have tried dozens of treatments, and "cures" but this is the first time I've ever believed so strongly in any health supplement.   After talking about it with my husband he even decided to became a sales associate - and I'm his number one customer.  My Mom is taking it to help control her blood sugar, and my three sisters are taking it because they want to feel younger, healthier and have more energy.  One of them is also taking it to treat a recurring sinus infection that's been bothering her for years, and she's already seeing improvement (but that's her story, not mine...  I'm getting off topic again).

I guess that's why I started this blog.  No one should have to deal with chronic illness, or any illness for that matter, when there is something that can help.  No one should miss out on living their life as a healthy person.  I feel so strongly about ASEA that I feel obligated to share it with others.  Okay, I've given you my beliefs about ASEA, if you'd like more info I've added links at the bottom, and I hope you check them out. 

Now, back to my recovery blog...