I was thrilled that on Monday, when I first took my meds and herbs, that I didn't get too nauseous. My tummy got gurgly though, and so I took one little Zofran and it seemed to do the trick to dissuade anything else from happening. I am not a good thrower-upper. I fight it. The last time, I fought it literally until I passed out! So my doc, with an oh-so-endearing sneaky smirk on her face, has encouraged me to say a little affirmation each night... "it's okay to throw up... it helps get the bad stuff out... it's okay to throw up... it helps get the bad stuff out..."
But honestly, I'd prefer just about any symptom over that. Perhaps I should be knocking on wood about now?
Of course, I have had plenty of nauseous moments since that first day.... like yesterday, I woke up that way. Not the kind of nausea that has you running for the bathroom, but instead, the kind that has you wanting to lie perfectly still so that you don't stir anything up. I was just fine as long as I didn't budge. It lasted a while... I actually took the kids to a movie thinking it would be a good distraction, but it took me twice as long to drive into town, because I drove like an old lady, knowing that anything too jarring might rock the boat. Even the previews were a bit much, especially the high-action adventurey ones where everything on the screen is moving. So this must be what it's like to have motion sickness! Thankfully it passed by the time the movie was over.... and I was able to drive home like a normal person.
But by far my biggest issue this week has been the pain in my joints. It seems whenever I start a new medicine, my elbows, especially my right one, becomes utterly incapacitated, and my ankles are tender and sore. It was the worst on the first day, and seems to be getting better, but I constantly have to remind myself to be gentle with my body. Perhaps that is the gift of the nausea/motion sickness... it keeps me resting, slower, quieter.
On another less disgusting note, I've talked to three separate friends this week who suspect that they have Lyme disease. I helped them each sort through their symptoms and options as far as testing and doctors go... but what's funny is just how much it helped ME to support them in that way. As mentioned almost daily on the Lyme Support boards by people all over the world, this can be a lonely disease. Not only are you dealing with the unpredictability of how you'll feel from one moment to the next like most chronic illness sufferers, you are also right smack in the center of the big controversial tug-o-war between the doctors who believe it can be chronic and those who don't. So sharing and supporting and helping makes me feel less alone and is important for my own healing.
Yesterday, NPR aired a show about Lyme Disease on the Diane Rehm Show. I will say upfront that it left me feeling quite pissy. There was a lot of misinformation given by two doctors who specialize in infectious diseases and strictly follow CDC guidelines. It was only when Dr. Neil Spector, an oncologist from Duke University, began talking that it really got interesting and familiar and a bit heated in moments. He was given a death sentence after unknowingly struggling with Lyme for a decade left him with only10% heart function, requiring him to actually have a heart transplant. His story is quite amazing really... I did some digging, and found this really great interview with him on the People's Pharmacy.... incidentally it's free to listen to or download for the next couple of days, so if you're interested, check it out HERE. I've also ordered his book.... Gone In a Heartbeat: A Physician's Search for True Healing.
Let me just say that if any one of you ever has a question about Lyme, please ask me. And if I don't know the answer, I'll ask my doc. It's important that we start spreading accurate information, rather than the mumbo jumbo that sadly most doctors report. Like my neurologist who didn't want to test me for Lyme, because according to him, Lyme doesn't exist in North Carolina. Like those who tell you as long as it was attached for less than 48 hours, you're safe. Like those who test you with the Elisa, which is falsely negative 50-75% of the time. These things have been proven otherwise, but no one is paying attention. Some days I feel like a freak, like I'm touting conspiracy theories, like I'm just crazy.... sigh.
This week:
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday: Septra, Ceftin, Mepron (a bright yellow slime taken with a spoon that tastes like nothing but chemicals), & Artemisinin
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