here we go

Just back from my appointment with my practitioner, and we are ready to begin the "induction" phase of my treatment! This is where we slowly build up the ammo before what she calls the "nuclear annihilation" (tee hee).... I came home with 7 prescription orders. Four of these are antibiotics, and the rest are for sleep, pain, and muscle cramps (I only plan to use those if I'm desperate, but she insists that the body won't heal if it's not sleeping or if it's constantly in pain, which I get, so here's where my old all-natural hippy ways may get stretched a bit!). I also have several herbs at the ready as well to help with herxing and detoxing, and a monster bag of epsom salts, hydrogen peroxide, and herbs for daily baths and foot soaks. It'll be like living at a spa (not!). She has me following a protocol that moves in "rounds" or "cycles". I will begin the first 3 week round on Monday, as it's easier to keep track of on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule. She is starting me off on what she says are "baby" doses, but in reality, they are what most would typically receive for a regular (not chronic) infection. Each of the antibiotics address different issues. At the end of the first week (and every 3rd week thereafter), I'll head to Lab Corps and have what's called "safety labs," to make sure my body is handling everything well. Every third week, I'll be off of all meds, and it's touted that these are the times I'll start feeling improvements, subtle at first, but noticeable.... they are evidently like breaths of fresh air in a sea of stinkiness! I will also be going to another local doctor a few times in the next few weeks to receive magnesium infusions.... this is supposed to help with my fatigue and muscle pain that are expected to worsen a bit as we dive into treatment. While I have a plan, what happens from here on out is a mystery. It's quite possible I could start herxing rather quickly, or I may not feel ANYTHING until the next round when we increase things if all goes well. Everyone is different. So we shall see! We are taking everything in stride.... although truth be told, I'm super duper, stubbornly determined to go to the beach at the end of the month as planned, no matter what. I will have just ended my first "off" week, so hopefully, I'll be feeling pretty good.... and will begin my second round while we're there. Call us crazy, but we've even scheduled a little kayaking tour, and the woman said she'd tow me if need be! Squeee! I'm trying not to worry about my workshop happening on the 21st (although truth be told, I am a natural born worrier). I will have just ended my second week of antibiotics, and so if I do have intense herxing, it could throw a wrench into my plans. But again, maybe (and hopefully) not! Unfortunately, there's no magic crystal ball to foretell how it will all unfold. So here is where I learn to trust in the universe. Trust in myself and in my choices. Trust in the the understanding of the women who are just as excited to be in circle as I am. Trust that all will be well no matter what happens. In other news, I took Zoe to our family doctor yesterday to have some bloodwork done. While she's a pretty healthy kid, there's not been a day in her life when she hasn't complained of being tired several times a day.... and this whole Lyme thing has had us wondering. So she had some blood taken (poor girl didn't like that), in order to investigate her iron levels and do a thorough thyroid workup... and of course, we requested a Western Blot. We feel very blessed that our family doctor is on board with all of this... she even said that even though "they" (the CDC) keep telling them (the docs) that there is no Lyme in North Carolina, she is seeing more and more cases. The good news is that eyes are opening. Slowly but surely.