Lymenaide

From- Kara Carey

1 whole chicken breast and 2-3 thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
–OR–
1 lbs tofu cut into strips or cubes (put as much or little as you like)

1/4 C apple juice concentrate
2 TBSP brown sugar (can omit or substitute)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
1 large apple, peeled and diced
2-3 cups butternut squash, diced

put juice, brown sugar, spices in crockpo – stir. Add squash and apples first, then chicken or tofu. Cook 3+ hours on high. Can thicken broth with tapioca/corn starch. Enjoy!

From- Kara Carey

1 – 1 lb package firm tofu, drained and cubed
2 8 oz cans tomato sauce
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/2 tsp garlic powder
pepper
1 small can diced green chilies or jalapenos

Combine in pan and warm. Serve over rice or as taco filling (use rice tortillas) with desired toppings. I used to add corn to it sometimes. Enjoy!

I feel very lucky and very sad. I feel lucky because I have wonderful Lyme literate doctors. I feel sad because I see that so many others do not have wonderful Lyme literate doctors.

I read so many posts and comments from others asking about antibiotics, vitamins, supplements, therapies, detox, diet. We as a whole seem to be looking to each other for the answers. That scares me.

I love your support, but I only trust my doctors when it comes to what I should to be putting into my body to get better. Like I said, I am lucky.

I am sad, I feel like others are left stranded grasping for help, and coming up empty.

I have been reading a book that I would recommend to all of you out there who are searching for medical advice. Or those of you who are just interested in the subject.

Connie Strasheim’s book INSIGHTS INTO LYME DISEASE TREATMENTS. I would not actually say that she wrote the book. It is better than that. She had 13 Lyme literate practitioners answer questions and share their Lyme treatments. Reading the book is like reading an interview. They practitioners pretty much just spell out their treatment methods right there in the pages of the book.

Insights into Lyme Disease Treatment

From the Back Cover:

Connie conducted intensive interviews with thirteen of the world’s most competent Lyme disease healers, asking them thoughtful, important questions, and then spent months compiling their information into organized, user-friendly chapters that contain the core principles upon which they base their medical treatment of  chronic Lyme disease.

The specific practitioners interviewed were chosen for their expertise and experience in treating Lyme disease. Their backgrounds span a variety of disciplines, including allopathic, naturopathic, complementary, chiropractic, homeopathic, and energy medicine. Two European physicians were also interviewed.

All aspects of treatment are covered, from anti-microbial remedies and immune system support, to hormonal restoration, detoxification, dietary and lifestyle choices. Furthermore, the book ponders patient and practitioner challenges of treating chronic Lyme disease, and offers helpful insights to the friends and families of those coping with chronic illness.

This is the paragraph in question from the article OSCAR DOCUMENTARY SCANDAL: THE REAL REASON THAT TOO MANY GOOD MOVIES GOT LEFT OUT. by Owen Gleiberman, published on EW.com.

Yet as I look over this list, I see far too many movies that don’t belong there — and, frankly, too many that made it because they were about subjects that rendered them “worthy.” Take, for instance, Under Our Skin, a documentary about Lyme disease that embraces, with bits and pieces of skimpy evidence and a whole lot more paranoid leftist fervor, the notion that “chronic Lyme disease” is a condition that the medical establishment is locked in a conspiracy to deny the existence of. The filmmakers actually bungle what should have been their real subject (that the belief in chronic Lyme disease has become something of a cult, one that can ruin the lives of the people who think they have it). But the bottom line, to me, is that Under Our Skin is not a very well-made movie. It played in theaters for about two minutes, and frankly, that’s more or less what it deserved.

I am pretty sure you are all as offended as I am. The Lyme community is doing a great job leaving comments and telling this author where to stick it. Add your comment. We need to show them just how many people are affected by Lyme and how it is ignorant statements such as this that keep Lyme in the shadows.

The author is of course entitled to his own opinion about whether or not UNDER OUR SKIN is worthy of an Oscar. However he should keep his commentary to only cinematography and film production. He should not be basing anything on his beliefs about a disease he obviously knows nothing about.

Return of the Sock

I know that my health is improving because yesterday I bought socks. I was so confident that the time had finally come to make this purchase that I bought five pairs. Today I am, again, wearing real socks!

You are probably wondering, “what in the world is she talking about”. I can see where it would be hard to connect the dots from health milestones to socks.

This is a big achievement for me. I have not worn socks for over a year! One of my many Lyme life adjustments.

sock impostor

Last summer I started getting pain or discomfort in my calves if I wore socks. The sensation would remain even after I had removed the cotton boa constrictors threatening to squeeze the life out of me starting with my legs.

I tried again every few weeks but the results were the same.

By November I had resigned to Ugg boots and those plush microfiber things that masquerade as socks.

The milestones of our return to health can be just as quirky as our symptoms. Just like our symptoms our milestones are real, celebrate them. I did, I did not buy any Target discount socks. I went to REI and bought some nice merino wool footsie warmers!

Yesterday morning I may have overreacted a little. Every morning I check my email. there is always at least one Google news alert regarding Lyme disease in my inbox. Generally the articles hardly pique my interest. Half the time they are not even about Lyme disease at all.

This morning was no different, the article was called, Swine Flu: How not to be Stupid. It was essentially about being safe and smart about protecting yourself from swine flu. I have to admit, the article is not a bad article at all. It is simple, to the point and despite the topic, fun.

Except for this jab in the third paragraph-

…More people have died from Lyme disease in the last 300 days than from swine flu. Who even knows anyone who’s had Lyme disease…

EXCUSE ME! “Who even knows anyone who’s had Lyme.” Well OK, I have to admit that I actually did not know anyone who’d had Lyme before I got diagnosed, but that is because of ignorance. Exactly like this statement, written out of ignorance.

Now if you know me or if you have been following my blog for any amount of time, you know that I am all about staying positive and this may seem totally out of character. Well, I was angry. I believe that one of the main problems Lyme disease is faced with is ignorance. The lack of awareness and education of the disease is appalling.

I decided to write a letter to the editor to tell her how I felt and suggest she and the author spend some time becoming educated about Lyme disease.

Then I went and harassed my twitter friends until they started re-tweeting (RT) my call urging, or I guess after so many tweets I should say demanding, they also write to the Editor. Thanks Tweeple.

Now here I am urging you to do the same. It does not have to be a response to this particular article, but I encourage you to respond to articles you agree and disagree with to help spread the word about Lyme disease. If there is no media interest in the topic there will be no change. We need our voices to be heard. We need to be a part of the Lyme education process. No one knows more about the realities of our disease than we do.

Friend or Foe

Lyme the great impersonator. It can get in to every cell in your body; brain, blood, organs. It can hide itself from the immune system. It can cause symptoms that mimic all sorts of other ailments. It can even effect the nervous system. Borrelia and it’s side kicks, Babsesia and Bartonella (among others), are on a mission to invade and conquer.

What if we could infiltrate their armies and take them down from within? Imagine harnessing their evil powers for good. Borrelia would be forced to rewire the nervous system instead of short circuiting it, and babesia to clean the blood instead of infecting it!

Sounds way too far fetched right? Well, maybe not.

Experiments have proven that bacteria can be manipulated and reprogrammed! Did you know that genetically modified strains of E. coli are being used to produce anti-malarial drugs? Scientists have genetically engineered a virus called M13 to mimic nerve tissue and promote re-growth. They envision using this “viral scaffolding” to help the paralyzed. Bioengineers envision a day in the not so distant future when microbes instead of causing disease, will be used to cure us of disease. (1)

Generally speaking, the idea of genetic modification scares the bejesus out of me. Most of my concerns stem from the fear of biological weapons and just plain old greed. Not to mention the theories and admissions that governments around the world have experimented with borrelia as a biological warfare agent.

There are two sides to every coin though. You cannot ignore the potential benefits of genetic modification. There is undoubtedly good to come from these biological advancements.

On the completely innocent side, is this story of Biological Engineering Students at MIT.

The students were stuck in a lab for hours waiting for E. coli to grow. B-o-r-i-n-g, and apparently, E. coli does not smell very good. It stinks, like poop. Tired of spending hours in a stinky lab, the students decided to remedy the situation by pulling the DNA out of a cell from a petunia plant and putting it into the E. coli cell. Instead of smelling like poop, the E. coli and the lab, now smelled like wintergreen!

This all makes me wonder about the possibilities for Lyme when it comes to the Western Fence Lizard. Have you heard about this fantastic creature? Something, entomologist suspect a protein, in the lizards blood kills the Lyme disease bacteria in the bellies of juvenile ticks! These ticks are no longer infected. They might still suck your blood, but they will not give you Lyme. (2)

How fantastic is that! I am all for harnessing the power of that protein, modify away! I think in the mean time, I might get a few as pets.

Western Fence Lizard

____________________________

SOURCES:
1. Kean, Sam. “The Quadrillion Bug Inside You” mental_floss Nov-Dec 2009, 39-41

2. Russell, Sabin. “Lizards Slow Lyme Disease in West” SFgate.com April 1998

The story of the students at MIT comes from an excellent podcast that also weighs the pros and cons, the fears and fantastics of messing with Mother Nature. It is called, (SO-CALLED) LIFE from WNYC radiolab.org

Lucy

I have been struggling a bit lately with the fact that my dog sleeps in my bed. She spends at least half the day curled up on the bed and at night she sleeps under the covers with her head on a pillow. I know it is ridiculous but it is also so darned cute!

She was crate trained by her breeder but, has demanded that she sleep in the bed since the day we brought her home. We tried for a while to make her sleep in her own bed. The reality is we like her with us. Yes, we are pathetic, we do not have any human kids and we call our dog our doghter.

I came to a realization about the sleeping arrangements today. If I kick the dog out of the bed because I am afraid of ticks, I am going to have to kick my husband out too.

Honestly, he is more likely to have ticks than she is. In the summer he often works as a landscape gardener or habitat manager and we live in an area with high tick populations. He is an avid outdoors man; hiking, biking, climbing, you name it he does it.

The dog, on the other hand, is confined to the house and the yard choosing to spend the majority of her time inside. She scares the birds, deer, rabbits, mice, and any other potentially tick infested creature out of the yard. Of course she does energetically welcome my husband home everyday and we should probably consider him a high risk.

Am I scared of reinfection? Yes and no. Of course I am worried about another tick bite, but I am not going to live my life in fear of a stinkin’ tick!

Regular Latte

Reverse Latte-

Enemas are recommended for detoxification purposes, something we as Lymies need to be doing a lot of.

If you have yet to experience one, the thought probably sends you running with your hands firmly attached, protectively, to your backside. I know I was horrified at the notion.

For many of us they have just become a part of our routine. A love hate relationship and a fun topic to joke about with other reverse latte regulars.

There are all sorts of articles on the web expounding the benefits of coffee enemas. You can also find 100s of post by people detailing their “first time”, some of these stories are so funny you will cry!

What I want us to do here is create a resource of tips and tricks for the novice and experienced coffee connoisseur.

Here are a few of mine-

1. My set up-

• I lay an old yoga mat on the bathroom floor.
• I put a hand towel on the mat in the appropriate area.
• a pillow for my head
• magazine to help the time pass
• a watch, don’t forget to have a way to keep track of time!

2. If you buy a cheap douche/enema kit from the drug store, use the douche nozzle instead of the one provided for enemas. Why? Read this THE TIME HAS COME.

3. Don’t let the water get too cold. I find it much easier to take when the water is a little warmer.

Please share with us.
If you have any questions, do not be afraid to ask, you are among friends!

Thank you to the friend who shared a few tips with me the other day. It made a world of difference.

Related Posts-

THE TIME HAS COME
ENEMA TAKE 2
ENEMAS AND COLONICS

my little friend

I have worms.

I discovered them about a month ago. It was after my second ever coffee enema. Nine hours after the morning reverse latte, three of them showed up all by their lonesome selves, much to my disgust and surprise.

I only told a few people. I was embarrassed. I know that it is “normal”, a lot of us have worms and other parasites but, well, I mean…just..YUCK!

I knew that I should keep them, but seriously, I was so horrified I could not flush them fast enough. They were not really gross. They looked like smallish smooth earthworms. They were about three inches long, pink on one end and fleshy translucent on the other. I deduced that the pink was because, gulp, they had been feeding on me. Not my favorite thought.

You should have seen the look on my doctors face when I told him about my little friends. I swear he was excited! Well, whatever floats your boat. He looked truly disappointed that I had disposed of the little beasts.

I was sent home with a collection kit should my slimy visitors show up again.

Well, today was the day. Always vigilant I had a peek  just to check for them. There they were taunting me, “HAHA, how do you propose to get us out of the toilet now?” Evil little bastards. But, I am industrious, their escape plans were foiled by my plastic forks and rubber gloves.

I can not believe I have to admit this, I was excited at their reappearance. Why, I have no idea. I guess somehow I am intrigued by the cornucopia of living organisms within me.