Lady of Lyme
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • About
  • Products I Love
    • Supplements & Meds
    • Makeup & Skincare
    • Food & Diet
    • Apps & Organization
    • Gift Guides
  • Resources
    • Symptoms/Resources
    • Lyme Vocabulary
    • Printables
    • Books & Reading
  • Features
  • Testing
  • Contact
  • Treatment Info
    • DesBio Treatment Facts
    • My Treatments
    • Treatment Blog

What Keeps You Going?

10/3/2018

5 Comments

 
There have been many times (usually in an email or during an interview) when I am asked where I find my strength and positivity to keep going.  But when I’m asked that question I almost always hesitate at first, because while I know my answer I’m afraid it will come across as cheesy or contrite. It’s also difficult to sum it up in just one quick little answer, because to me it’s bigger than just a few words. So I thought I would take this time now to answer in depth and from my heart.
 
I know the hip thing now-a-days is to give an answer like, “well the Universe just guides me,” or to credit meditation and positive energy. And while yeah meditation is soothing, it’s not going to save me in the darkest moments. I’m talking about moments where the pain is so consuming, and the light at the end of the tunnel looks dim. It’s those moments where the thought of a life not spent in pain feels implausible. It’s the months of depression that rip away every ounce of joy I had for things I loved before. In those moments I can only be sustained by my faith in God, and knowing that He is in control. Because even when I can’t see a bigger picture for my life, He can. And even when I don’t know which way to turn next, He does. Now I know at this point a handful of you reading this are asking some variety of question like, “if your God is so good, why does he let you suffer?” That’s a valid question, and I’d love to give my perspective on this issue.
 
There have been many moments in my life where I was very upset that something I really wanted did not pan out. Big plans went haywire, and I was mad at God for not giving me something I thought would improve my life. And by not getting what I wanted I suffered a lot, and a lot of difficult things happened. It’s not easy to cope when you think you’re making strides, only to get horribly thrown off course. I cried a lot and said “why God why?” only to see months (sometimes years) later that my unanswered prayer was a gigantic blessing in disguise. I’ve had times where the bullet I dodged by not getting what I wanted (and seemingly “suffering” because of it) was leaps and bounds better, because I would have suffered immensely more if I got my way. I’m talking life-altering consequences. In the moment when I asked for it I couldn’t possibly see the big picture, but He could. And I’m telling you now, when you have that “aha” moment where you finally see the boulder you missed, it will shake you to your core. And it will make you grateful that you are not the one in control or wielding all the power.
 
On the flip side, I’ve been able to look back 6+ years and see a small yet pivotal moment which put the ball in motion for an event which would change my life for the better. And to further make my point about how I’ve seen God work in my life I’m going to share a story. This story really illustrates the kind of long unfolding plans God has for us that we can’t always see from our small bubble.  The story will be in a different font for those of you who want to skip to it, but trust me if you’ve made it this far it’s worth the read.

 
After I got accepted into college at the University of Louisville I had to attend a weekend summer orientation. When I called to schedule my weekend I was told I called just in time because they barely had any spots left for the dates I was requesting, but luckily I had just got in. Fast forward to orientation; I arrived at the college, signed in, and got a key to my dorm room for the night. When I put my stuff down in the room I saw that my roommate had been there before me because all of her things were already on the bed. I looked at her luggage, took note of how cute it was, and walked out to join everyone in the quad for a day of lectures and tours.

I met my group and attended a few mandatory lectures. Afterwards we were given the opportunity to choose which other smaller presentations we wanted to go to. I chose one on Greek life. There was limited seating so I found one of the last spots towards the back of the room. I should note that I'm pretty shy by nature around people I don't know. So when I sat down I planned to just keep to myself like I usually do. However, the girl next to me had different plans because she started talking to me and complimenting me on my shoes. I nervously said “thank you,” assuming that would be the end of the convo, but she was very outgoing and the kind of person I felt instantly drawn to. We ended up talking during most of the presentation about our shared love of fashion and became fast friends who did everything together for the rest of the day. I was elated to have met a friend and someone I connected with so quickly.

When the time came for us to go up to our rooms for the night imagine my shock when I found out SHE was my dorm roommate with the cute luggage! Out of at least 5,000+ other students I could have been paired with, it was her. Now at this point I thought okay this must be fate, but I wasn’t quite sure how. After the weekend was over we exchanged numbers and had promised to keep in touch over the summer, but as most teenagers do we both got busy saying goodbye to our high-school friends & that fell by the wayside. In fact I had actually lost her number when I got a new cell phone. So imagine my surprise when come Freshman move in day she reached out to me! After that the rest was history; we became instant best friends and stayed best friends all throughout college and beyond, even living together a few times here & there. What’s important to note here is that through her I met one of my other close college friends whom I would also go on to live with (she’s important).
 
Many of you know that college is a chaotic and trying time on its own, but it was also the time when I first started to become sick. It came on slowly in a way which was manageable at first and only became unmanageable as the years passed. However, by the grace of God I made it through college and then got the bright idea to move all the way to California to further my education. This was the time when my house of cards crumbled and I got much too sick to take on a full time class load, internship & caring for my health all at once. At this point I had to move back to Louisville to take my health more seriously. I decided that I would split my time working & traveling to see Doctors while attempting to take online classes. The only trouble was I couldn’t find a job anywhere. No one would hire me for part time work because I was “over qualified.” I spent months looking for a job and going to interviews, but many seemingly great prospects fell through which left me incredibly frustrated.
 
Stay with me here, I’m almost to the finish line! That’s when the close friend who I met through my dorm-room BFF said her old job had an opening and that she would recommend me for it. Because of her I got the job (yay) working with children who have special needs. During my job training I was required to take a visual acuity test in order to get trained on the program so I could administer it to the children. It was during this visual acuity test that I had a pivotal moment, because I actually failed the test horribly. My boss at the time was really concerned and told me that healthy adults absolutely shouldn’t be failing such an exam. With her urging I took the results straight to my mom who found a Neuro-Opthamologist who not only discovered my brain damage but also referred me to the Doctor who ultimately diagnosed me with Lyme Disease.

 
For those of you who skipped through that mini novel, I’ll summarize. Had I never met my dorm-room BFF on that fateful day, I never would have met my other close friend who got me the job which saved my life. There are A LOT more twist and turns in this story which make it even crazier, but for brevity I stuck with the important points. You see, at the time I was diagnosed in 2011 I was running on fumes. I had quit school altogether, I could barely drag myself out of bed to make it to work by noon, and I was withering away from barely eating. I was at a breaking point, and after 5 long years of getting nowhere with Doctors who couldn’t find the source of my pain I finally had an answer. I live in Kentucky, and when I was diagnosed I had never heard the words “Lyme Disease” in my life. Not one Doctor up until then was even close to figuring it out, and if you only knew how deeply weak and sick I was when I finally got diagnosed you’d understand why it came at such a pivotal moment. And without those chain of events happening I know without a shadow of a doubt I would have collapsed in bed a few months later and had no idea why, with no plan for relief. I can’t look at that story and NOT think “whoa, I have an awesome God.” He knew I needed an answer, and He set the ball in motion years prior to make sure it would happen.
 
So yeah, I guess you could say I’ve seen God work in my life in such deep ways that I trust Him. I trust that he has my best interest at heart, and I understand that He isn’t some kind of magical genie. God isn’t someone who is to bow to all my mortal wishes and give me everything I ask for. That’s not how it works. In this thing called life we navigate it day by day the best we can, and having a God who I can trust with my whole heart to guide me towards His light is something that grounds me each and every moment.
 
See the thing is, I’m only human. I have free will and I make my own day-to-day choices. And sometimes those choices are harmful, or would lead me down a destructive path, and God has saved me on multiple occasions by putting up roadblocks. Other times he has set me on a path which was long and seemingly random, but had a much deeper meaning for my life. I pray each and every day for God to guide me, and to intervene if I’m veering off course. I trust His will even if it isn’t my own wish or will for my life. I trust His plan, because I know my plan is flawed.
 
So there you have it. That’s why I am so deeply rooted in my faith, and it’s why it requires more than just a cheesy one-sentence answer. My strength comes from knowing I don’t always need to be strong, because God can be strong for me. It’s knowing that I don’t always need to be in control, because He is. And it’s recognizing that the power is not within me, but it’s grounded in Him. If you aren’t firmly planted in something which will hold you through the trials and the dark times then surely you will lose your grip. I don’t always discuss my faith in length on this blog because to me it’s private & it’s difficult to articulate. But I hope to live my life in a way that spreads so much love that its undeniable that Christ is within me. And when others look at me & see my heart, I hope that they see someone with a bright light that loves others unconditionally. And that’s all due to my fortress, which is Jesus.
 
Simply put, I don’t lose my grip because I’m being held up by something much MUCH larger than me.
 
Xoxo,
Christina
5 Comments

The Fragility of Life

9/4/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
There is a fragility to life that you become acutely aware of when you dive into the chronic illness community. It's that constant reminder that life is precious, and it's to be cherished even in the most trying of times. Our society is so built on waiting for things to be perfect before we can be happy or our lives can start. But what if we could meet life right where we are and choose to be grateful for it anyway? When you see how fleeting life can be and how hard fought each breath is, it reminds you to stop living in the sorrow of what pains you and rather in the light of being present. 

I believe Jordan Peterson stated it so eloquently when he said,
"In order to stay alive it's necessary to get the balance between death and life right. Because death keeps you alive. Your cells die and regenerate all the time. And if they die too much, then you die. And if they don't die enough well then you also die, because you end up with cancer or something like that. You have to get the balance between death and life just right in order to survive."

To appreciate the juggling act that the human body must do to keep you upright and functioning is to understand that the breath you are taking right now is hard fought. Every breath we take is at it's core the one thing which connects us all, no matter our background, race, or religion. It's the one thing everyone on this earth can be grateful for, no matter what circumstances lie ahead. Because to breathe is to be alive. And to be alive is to have a say in this world; it's to change this world forever by leaving an imprint all your own.

Hands down one of the most taxing parts of being a part of the chronic illness community is learning that friends you've made along the way lost the battle to their illness. There are always two feelings which pierce my soul in that moment: grief and sadness that they didn't make it out on the other side, and an extreme sense of gratefulness that I am still here. Why am I here and they aren't? Why did God spare me and not them? I don't know. I will never know until I can ask Him myself one day. But until then, it serves as a shock to my core that wakes me up from any pity party I might be having for myself.

"Wake up Christina, your life is right in front of you. Cherish it. Grasp it." 

Yes I always tell people to feel how they need to feel, and to never compare their struggles to others because trials and tribulations hurt for everyone. But the one thing we can all agree upon is that we are here, we are alive. And there are those who fought like hell through their illness who are not. And to be given the blessing to fight another day, another hour, another moment is in and of itself a gift. So even if you feel like you are in a moment where there is absolutely nothing that you feel grateful for, simply take your hand and place it over your heart. Do you feel that? It's your heart beating and your chest expanding to breathe another breath. 

I want to share a story from someone who inspires me; not for her courage to have lived in the face of adversity, but for her persistence to thrive despite it. Claire Wineland recently lost her battle to CF after a failed lung transplant, but I will never forget something she said during an Instagram Live Q&A about a week before her surgery. She was on the wait list for new lungs, and although she was very ill she was looking for a new apartment and planning for her future (often over taxing herself in the process). When asked why she didn't just wait to do all of those things after she got her transplant and could live again, she responded very eloquently by saying that she doesn't want to resent her life; she wants to cherish it and live it on her terms while she is still here to do so. Perhaps that sentiment feels much larger now in her passing, but it serves as a sharp reminder of the fleeting nature of life. If we wait to be well or to have ideal circumstances to be grateful and see the beauty around us, we may life a live of only grief.

​Claire was a bright light who lived a thousand lifetimes in the time most of us live just one. She squeezed the goodness out of every moment, and if you didn't see her oxygen tank you would have never known she was even ill because she spoke of life with such a joyful poignance that it will stay with me forever. 

​"Life is not just about being happy. It's not about how you feel second to second. It's about what you're making of your life and whether you can find a deep pride in who you are and what you've given."


xoxo,
Christina
0 Comments

Crohns & C.Diff & Pericarditis, Oh My! (Health Update Post)

8/20/2018

6 Comments

 
If you chuckled at the title of this post then you get a gold star! Oh how I love the Wizard of Oz, I couldn't resist a little play on words! And also, whoa am I long overdo for an update post. I know I won't be able to include everything because as most of you know there are usually about 100 things going on at once. But, I'm going to just focus on the most recent and most asked about topics now. In many ways I am improving, so it's not all doom and gloom. Sometimes these update posts can seen a little more of a downer, but honestly I feel with each little hiccup I learn something new to add to my arsenal and ultimately move me towards the final goal of complete healing.

I'm going to break this post down into sections by topic, mostly because it's a lot of info that isn't all that cohesive, and also because some people might only be interested in one aspect or another. 

Crohns
Last year I wrote my post about learning that I had developed Crohn's disease, and I said that I would update this blog as I learn ways to manage it etc. Well, truthfully that took a whole lot longer than I expected and I still don't have a perfect grip on it. I had to learn my Crohn's triggers which were way different than just a food intolerance (which can be easier for me to identify). I noticed right off the bat that dairy was a hard no, and although I can get away with some cheese sometimes it has to be very low in whey and lactose (such as cheddar). A heavy cheese like mozzarella is a huge no-no, as is milk or butter. With each trigger I removed it was like a weight was lifted off of me and I was one step closer to taking the damaging inflammation down a notch. For many Crohn's patients fixing their diet is enough to put them into remission. This isn't always the case of course, but for a large swath of patients it does a lot of good so I couldn't ignore it. I finally also learned that yeast was a huge trigger, and actually it was probably the biggest. Many years ago I cut out yeast on the anti-inflammatory diet and I was yeast free for at least 3-4 years. But then I added it back on occasion for things like cinnamon rolls, croissants & other bready foods which require it. It went fine and dandy for a long while, but I didn't realize what a large trigger it was for Crohn's until I did some research. I learned about something called ASCA. What's that you ask? Well..

From Lab Tests Online: The test for anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) is used to help distinguish between Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), the two most common types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Testing usually includes detecting two different classes of ASCA in the blood, IgG and IgA.

I had actually had this test ran as a part of my Crohn's testing and my antibodies were very high. This means that I have a lot of antibodies created against Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, which just so happens to be the same yeast that makes bread rise. When I eat yeasted food those antibodies attack, and the level of inflammation and damage in my colon grows exponentially. It wasn't until I cut out yeast cold turkey that I felt a huge difference and realized what a large trigger it is for me. That alone was a really big key that believe it or not took way longer to realize than you'd imagine. Some other triggers common with Crohn's that also applied to me are small seeds and nuts, as well as FODMAP's like onions and garlic. None of these came up on any kind of food intolerance testing, because they don't create an IgG or IgA mediated response, but rather it irritates the Crohn's disease itself and sets off a flare. So it took a whole lot of trial and error and food charting to get a grasp at what was keeping the disease so activated. Once I slowly learned and eliminated the worst offenders I got a semblance of my sanity back. At the time I was diagnosed with Crohn's I was eating about 4-5 foods safely and that's it. I lived on liquid shakes and was in agonizing stomach pain around the clock. I'd say diet was my first big step in the positive direction, and I would also say it took me a good 8-10 months to fully understand all of my triggers.

In terms of having Crohn's in remission that hasn't happened yet, although I have had stretches where things calmed down a great deal. It fluctuates between feeling better/healing or having something trigger it like stress or eating a food I'm not ready for (more on that later) and going into a flare. Treatment wise I have tried a lot, and none of it was traditional steroids due to having Lyme disease and it being too risky. I will do a separate post on this but the most success I've seen has been with immunotherapy, which has been a real God-send in helping my overreacting immune system to calm down. Crohn's is autoimmune in nature and it caused me to have so many severe food intolerances and sensitivities that almost everything hurt to eat. These were your standard food intolerances where when I ate something my body didn't like (which was almost everything), my mast cells freaked out and released a ton of histamine into my body. Immunotherapy is what allowed me to go from eating 4-5 foods to having the wider ranging diet I have now. While I haven't tackled my Crohn's triggers like dairy, yeast or eggs, I have tackled many food intolerances and have been able to broaden what I can eat which has been a huge blessing. Immunotherapy is a very slow process, but I hope to keep seeing benefits. I've had to stop and take breaks from it a few times along the way due to unforeseen circumstances (many which I discuss below), so it's taking me longer than expected. But any step in the right direction is important to me. I will make a whole list of non-pharmaceutical items which have helped my Crohn's because I have tried a lot of things and quite a few have been amazingly useful. So if that area interests you, whether you have Crohn's or just struggle with tummy troubles then keep an eye out for that post soon! 

PT & OT
Being bed-bound does so much damage to the joints & muscles, and I didn't realize that until I noticed how many parts of my body hurt when I did every day regular movements. Doing something as simple as sliding my right foot forwards and backwards made my knee pop and cause searing pain. Stretching to scratch my back would make my whole back seize up and lock up. Many people think that when you feel a little better you just go back to every day life and boom all your muscles come back and everything is fine. That however is not the case. Many of the small muscles you don't even think about can atrophy from being unused and won't build up properly unless you help it along. An example I give is if you have ever been skiing think about how sore you were the next day. Skiing uses muscle groups you don't really make use of in day-to-day life and in order to become a skier you need specialized training and practice to strengthen those up. The same goes for me. So many of my muscle groups have atrophied and just walking around won't fix it. However, doing the wrong exercises and just jumping back in with the wrong work-out can create irreparable damage too. You need to know which muscles have atrophied in a way that it pulled other bones or ligaments out of proper alignment and that has to be fixed first. My entire body is out of alignment from years spent curled up in a ball with my heating pad from abdominal pain. My hips, my knees, my spine, you name it! Doing PT and OT has been very slow and steady, and I don't have anything big to report just yet, but I've only been doing it since May with a brief hiatus in July (more on that below). The purpose of PT and OT isn't to get buff, it's to heal and strengthen the weak areas of my body damaged by atrophy that is causing me daily pain. I'll see more results as the months pass by and I'll keep this updated! 

C Difficile
C-Difficile has become my biggest nemesis, and the fact that most standard sanitizers in the healthcare industry don't kill the spores is something that still makes me mad. (What is C-Diff?) Being immune compromised like I am means having to take incredibly careful precautions to make sure everything around me is sterile. I am a clean freak through and through. However I can only control that on my end, and I don't have any control of what other people do or don't do. This mostly applies to people in the healthcare industry because they clean their devices such as thermometers and blood pressure cuffs with alcohol based wipes which do not kill C-Diff spores. I appreciate that they kill things like the flu virus, but all it takes is one tiny c-diff spore to infect someone. When you have a low immune system you know it is inevitable to pick up illnesses when you mingle with those from the outside world. I am super duper cautious, often going above and beyond, but situations out of my control led me to pick up C- Difficile yet again. I say 'yet again' because this is my 4th rodeo with it since my first bought in 2013. The first time I had it I wrestled with eliminating it for over 6 months but then I stayed clear for a long while. I then had one in 2015, and one in 2016 into early 2017. I was clear for over a year until low and behold I picked it up again very recently. It took me a pretty long time to realize it was c-diff and not just a Crohn's flare up (2 weeks to be exact). During that time it did a lot of damage to my already damaged mucous membranes, and it's really dangerous to have on top of Crohn's, so this has been a real adventure to say the least! C Diff is notorious for being difficult to kill, and because of how much it weighs down my immune system I couldn't do my immunotherapy at the same time. My treatment protocol to completely eradicate the C Diff is a 2 month treatment + a follow up 10-20 week pulsing to make sure that no spores comes back. I have faith that if I am diligent I can heal all the damage it caused in my colon. I also want to do a post on everything you need for C.Diff including cleaners you must use that kills the spores etc. So many post ideas, so little time!

Pericarditis
​The last of the recent life updates is another rather bizarre situation I had in July. It came on rather suddenly one night then I awoke to feeling like I couldn't catch my breath. I am used to having air hunger, which is a sensation of not being able to breathe but when you check your blood oxygen saturation it's A-ok. This trick helps me know its just a sensation and while it's uncomfortable I know it isn't life threatening. However, this time when I checked my oxygen levels they were down to 93 (normal is 98/99). I also felt like I couldn't get air in or out properly and I had a weight on my chest. Eventually I got back to sleep and had hoped it was just a weird fluke, but as the days passed it only got worse. I felt like someone was sitting on my chest, my chest hurt, breathing was difficult, and I got out of breath chewing my food or trying to speak. My oxygen levels dropped to 89 and I felt both terrified and miserable. At this point we knew it wasn't just some "weird Lyme thing" and this was actually something which needed attention asap. First things were ruled out like a PE or anemia, and when those came back clear I had other further testing with X-ray, echocardiograms, EKG and Spirometry. Let me tell you, I do not miss endless testing and worrying! But I did get an answer to what was plaguing me and it was Pericarditis. Pericarditis is an inflammation of the sac around the heart, most often caused by a viral infection. And while I had an answer there wasn't anything else I could do but take anti-inflammatory meds and wait it out with rest and plenty of hydration. The virus tends to run its course in 2-3 weeks, which isn't too long, but when you are living it then it can feel like an eternity. Things like eating or speaking were painful and difficult. I had to get help with showers and afterwards it took me hours to recover because with the low oxygen levels all the blood would leave my arms and legs upon exertion and go numb. I would lay flat after minimal walking and feel my arms and legs be ice cold, tingle, and be numb while I was also very faint. It was the strangest feeling, and it kept me in a state of panic almost constantly. It really wasn't until about 2.5 weeks in that I felt the first signs of the fog lifting. From there it was a more steady improvement and by the 1 month mark I felt back to normal.

Pericarditis is not really a common thing to pick up, so it was a strange experience and it reminded me to be grateful for my immune system. Since I had the C-Diff I had an even lower than usual immune system, and that left me open to further infections despite my precautions. This experience reminded me that while my immune system is usually a bit more fragile, I would definitely take that over the situation I had with C-diff and Pericarditis at the same time. When I had 2 infections at once pulling my body down it was unsettling to know that I had very little natural defenses left to protect me. That was a scary feeling, and it reminded me that my normal, slightly subpar immune system isn't so bad after all! It's all about perspective.

And that puts us at now. I am diligently taking my meds for C Diff and hopefully after that I will be able to ease back into the immunotherapy to help repair some damage left behind in my colon from this infection. I'll try to do more update posts so it isn't all so jam packed next time, but this was just meant to be a quick update of new things which I haven't had a chance to discuss or share yet. So while it wasn't all encompassing I hope it was useful to those of you who so kindly follow along!

xoxo,
Christina
6 Comments

The Night Is Quiet

7/9/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
The night is quiet. It’s quiet in a way that brings peace to some, and weariness to others. There’s something about being awake while the whole world is asleep that amplifies the feeling of loneliness. It’s almost as if all the collective souls in rest create a shift in the atmosphere... it’s quiet, but suddenly I am starkly aware that I’m left alone with my thoughts in the darkness. And right on cue my mind begins to race, now free of the all the daytime distractions which safely kept me from overthinking. With nightfall every piece of worry and grief I have tucked away comes rushing out, flooding my thoughts and drowning my mind.

Somehow everything stings a little sharper, hurts a little deeper, and feels a little bigger after nightfall. Old wounds become rediscovered, and a highlight reel of anxiety plays on a loop at max volume. I try to find the pause button and search desperately for mute, but there’s simply no peace under the moonlight.

4am knows all my secrets, and it knows all my pain. It’s a strange camaraderie, built on the foundation of sharing so much between the silence. We both know the drill, and we know that our time together is short yet melancholy. I patiently await the first rays of sunlight, the first chirp of the birds outside my window, and that soothing feeling that people are awake in my world again.

I’ve always been told that when a new dawn breaks, last nights problems won’t feel quite so large. And it’s always held true. By the morning all my thoughts declutter, and my fears scurry away to the part of my mind which waits to be accessed at night fall. It’s the most dependable part of my day; creeping in like clockwork at midnight & leaving dust in its wake at dawn.

But perhaps the greatest irony of my life is that while I reckon with the challenges of the night, I am also very taken by all the celestial bodies in the sky. I have always looked up at the stars & instantly felt small, yet special. Their brilliance reminds me of how large this universe is, and yet I’m still a unique being created and loved by a God who made it all. When I photograph the Milky Way it never stops being enchanting to every ounce of my soul. The night sky is where my childlike wonderment is revived, but it’s juxtaposed by the weariness it brings once my head hits the pillow.

I suppose the night will always be my friend & foe. But for now I recognize my worthy opponent & work towards a truce.

xoxo,

Christina
1 Comment

One Small Act of Kindness Can Change The World

6/18/2018

6 Comments

 
Picture
I have always believed that one small act of kindness can create a ripple affect & change the world. It often feels like it's just one small drop in the bucket, but all those little drops come together and overflow. 

A few years ago I did a Random Act of Kindness project where each month I found someone in need and curated a surprise care package for them with the help of a family member or friend. They never found out it was me, unless the family member I worked with told them, but I preferred to stay anonymous. I did this for 12 months & it was a really incredible experience. I followed it up with Random Acts of Kindness - Part 2 the following year and took on two more recipients. I know how isolating it is to be sick with a chronic illness, and my heart is always hurting for those who are alone and struggling as well.

Then, as many of you know I had the big May Giveaway & that included $11,000+ of healthcare items that many of you received! It was an incredible experience, but I still want to do more.

So this year I wanted to try and rally this community of amazing warriors & see if we can help one family in need. If we can change the life of this one family struggling with Lyme Disease as a collective effort, how incredible would that be? And before you close out of this post, please hear me out. My goal is raise $1,000 and that means that even just donating $1 or $5 will collectively add up, and if you hear what this will go towards then I believe you will understand what a HUGE impact it will make.

I want to help a wonderful fellow warrior named Phoebe. I met Phoebe via the connections I made during the Giveaway, and we began to chat about our various stories and experiences with Lyme etc. I learned that she is a Mother to two amazing children who are sadly also ill (just like Phoebe is) with Lyme disease. She is divorced and has sadly had to put most of her money into a continuous legal battle on that end, and on top of that she lost her home to mold and had to leave every single bit of their possessions behind. She lost it all, and her children lost it all too. They are now sharing a small room in a relative's home as Phoebe tries to afford treatment for her children amidst rebuilding her life and fighting for custody. 

Now Phoebe is not someone to outright ask for help from others. She tried for a very long time to get assistance from various Lyme grants for treatment for her children. Unfortunately, organizations like LymeLight Foundation require certain test results for them to give out Grants (as is the case with other orgs), and Phoebe does not have the funds to pay for these tests. I was the one who approached her and asked if she would allow me to try and help. If she could just get the 2 DNA Connextions tests ($500 each) for her 2 children then she could get the set up with LymeLight Foundation & that is her biggest goal. She never once asked for anything for herself, it was always about her children first and how she can get them the treatment that they need ASAP. 

Phoebe created a GoFundMe about a month ago when someone else offered to help her and asked that she create one. However, when it got made that person backed out and it just sat there collecting internet dust. I asked her if she would be willing to have faith in me that through this amazing community of readers we might be able to rally together to help her. $1,000 is all she needs to get her children into treatment and help give them a chance at a healthy life. I KNOW that if everyone who reads this donates even $1 that we can achieve that. The GoFundMe is set at $5000 because the person who asked her to create it set that budget, but Phoebe is specifically asking for $1,000 (just to clarify). Please donate any amount you can, and further PLEASE share this. Share this post in groups, share it on social media, text it to friends, email it to family, etc. Whatever you can do on that end will help immensely. 

You can read the full story about Phoebe HERE on her GoFundMe page, and if you want to speak to her personally please email me at cskova01@ladyoflyme.com and I will gladly put you in touch. 
Read Phoebe's Story Here
If you made it this far, thank you for reading. I will send a personal note & small token of my appreciation to each and every person who donates, as a thank you for rallying with me.
  • For every $1 Donation I will send you a handwritten note
  • For every $15 or more Donation I will send you a handmade mini canvas artwork. NOT made with any paint, but rather metal elements (no glue, VOC's or fumes of any kind)

If you make a donation on either tier I will see on the GoFundMe, but in order for me to have your address you will need to email it to me. So once you're done with making the donation just email me at cskova01@ladyoflyme.com and I will get your item out to you! I know that we can change the lives of these kids for the better, and Lyme Disease does NOT need to ruin their whole life. Together we can stop this, and we can made a difference. 

Thank you,
Christina 
Picture
6 Comments

Lady of Lyme Giveaway: Thoughts & Reflections

6/11/2018

0 Comments

 
I had planned to write this post as soon as the Giveaway finished so I could do a whole recap of my thoughts, emotions, feelings etc. But then I was reminded by my body that I'm not quite as healthy as I'd like to fool myself into thinking, and I promptly crashed for about a week. During this time it felt like no amount of sleep was enough, and I could barely wake up to eat or drink. This was very appropriate though, given that the theme of the Giveaway was Lyme Disease Awareness Month. This disease makes life very unpredictable, and often when you think you've got the upper hand it reminds you that you don't. All month long I was genuinely just praying that I would be well enough to get through the whole month, and I think I ran on pure adrenaline and determination. But then, by the time June rolled around, the entire house of cards I had built came crashing down. So I slept slept slept, and then slept some more. 

I don't share that story as a "poor me" or anything even remotely close. It's more so to point out the great irony of it all, and also to say just how thankful I am to have successfully gotten through! I want to focus more on that and less on the crash afterwards, because truthfully even a year ago I wouldn't have made it past the first week. So, for me it's all a big personal victory!

Now, on to the Giveaway itself!

I want to say a sincere "Thank You" to each and every person who participated & made this so much fun. This might sound extremely cheesy, but I feel like I met some wonderful people along the way. It's a little bit more tough on Facebook to properly connect with others because as a 'Page' I can't have actual friends or follow any individual people. However, I felt like everyone I saw time and time again sort of became a friend as I recognized names & had a few private chats via DM's. Much is the same on Instagram & Twitter, I loved hearing from people all over the World & again I know this sounds cheesy but it truly made me feel less alone.

The biggest reason I wanted to create this Giveaway was so help others isolated by invisible illnesses feel heard & seen and loved. I didn't imagine that along the way it was actually ME who would end up feeling all of those things. The complete outpouring of kindness from so many of you who lifted me up & reminded that you saw all the work that went into it meant so much. I really can't fully express how special each nice message was. I can only hope that all of you who participated (and hopefully won too), felt a little bit of that magic as well.

And that brings me to my next topic. During the whole Giveaway I cycled between joy for all the amazing items these companies donated, thankfulness for my Sponsors, and also sadness because I still wanted to do more. Each day when I was typing up the entries for the drawings I had this immense feeling of sadness that I didn’t have the means to make everyone a winner. Drawing a winner always left me sad for those who didn’t get it, and wishing so badly that I could do more. When I started this whole Giveaway event I went into it thinking, “wow, I have over $10,000 worth of stuff, this is going to do SO much!” However as the Giveaway kept running that perspective got lost on me, and all I could focus on were all of those who didn’t get chosen and who I wasn’t able to help.
 
I had to remind myself (for my own sanity) that I am one person. Rather, I am one sick patient who is fighting just like all of you, juggling my health and trying to heal from a disease that took so much of my life. I don’t have a company behind me, or any big donors or trust funds, nor do I even have a local support group of fellow advocates. It’s just me, and I am one person. What I can realistically do given my current situation is limited. And that’s a tough pill for me to swallow, because I have always been someone who wants to fix every wrong in this world, and I get so wrapped up in it that I forget to think of the flip side of the coin.
 
I’m mad that patient’s get forgotten & left out to dry with invisible illnesses. I’m livid that Lyme is being denied by the IDSA/CDC while people are left to suffer or die. These are the things that keep me up at night. In a perfect would I would be like Oprah 2.0 and open a pro-bono clinic where I could give everyone treatment, access to a dietician, a therapist, and all the detox/pain relief devices you could imagine. I daydream about winning the lottery one day and doing just that. Even if God willing I am healed of these dreadful illnesses, my heart will never walk way from advocacy for one simple reason: the patients. So many of you have touched my heart in ways I cant express, and I’d never be that person who got well and forgot. Quite the contrary, if I was healthier I would do more because I wouldn’t be so sick, exhausted & running on fumes like I am now.
 
But for now I am here in life. I am just a patient, with a blog, doing what I can. And for that, I am proud. I am over the moon at the success of this event, and just how wonderful and gratifying this entire experience was. The final count was $11,800 worth of items which were donated & distributed to over 320 winners! 

So I would like to end this post by saying a heartfelt THANK YOU to each and every donor who selflessly gave their products to this Giveaway to help make the lives of 300+ people that much brighter. And I want to Thank my generous Sponsors who believed in my vision and invested their money into this Giveaway so that I could afford to ship all the items (some overseas), and pay for those items which couldn't be donated but were desperately requested. Knowing that these Sponsors had that faith in me is what kept me going throughout it all. So, thank you Hopkinton Drug, LymeWell, Kings Daughters Medical Center & Deerbusters.

​If you were one of the winners and have a photo of your winnings that you can share, please email me at cskova01@ladyoflyme.com. You can also send it via a DM on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and if you have a little blurb to share about the item then I'd love to hear that too! I won't include your full name, but I wanted to make a little collage! So please do send me that if you are able! I know that many of you have posted photos on social media to share items and thank you SO much for those! 

I am happy to say that this Giveaway has opened up some doors for more Giveaway items here & there throughout the summer, so keep an eye out for that! For now I am going to take a mini break from this blog to rest & recoup! I will still be around, but if it takes me longer to reply to an email or see a social media post/message then please know thats why! I'm just giving myself a little extra TLC :)

-Christina


0 Comments

2018 Lady of Lyme Giveaway: 31 Day Recap!

6/7/2018

3 Comments

 
In an effort to declutter my blog from 31 individual posts, and to make it easier to see everything in one spot, this post will be a collection of all 31 Giveaways! This way you can see what items were included & also who won each of the items! If you want to simply see a list of all the winners please go HERE, it's a Google Doc that has everyone listed. 
If you want to read more about the Lady of Lyme Giveaway & why I created it then please check out my blog post on that HERE. 

So without further adieu lets jump into it! 

Giveaway #1 - Schmidt's Naturals

Picture
To kick off the Giveaway we have a prize pack from Schmidt’s Naturals for 4 lucky winners! Schmidt’s Naturals creates all natural, chemical & aluminum free deodorant, and fluoride free toothpaste. They scent everything with essential oils and don’t use any harsh chemicals. If you’ve ever wanted to make the switch to more natural personal care products, then you will love this Giveaway! I personally love this brand, and as I am a huge fan of everything Lavender I am in love with their Lavender deodorant! It smells amazing & really keeps me dry and smelling fresh with 0 allergic reactions! If you tend to have chemical sensitivities or mast cell type reactions to most items then this company is a safe bet! The prize pack will include a Deodorant and Toothpaste duo, so you can try them both out!

If you want to check out the products for yourself, or if you want to buy them for yourself you can find the toothpaste here & the deodorant here! 

Winners: Katie D, Macy H, Jenna M, Mona H


Giveaway #2 - 100 Relax Wraps Hot/Cold Therapy Wraps

Picture
For Day 2 we have a HUGE Giveaway! Relax Wraps has donated 100 hot/cold therapy eye wraps for 100 lucky winners! These eye wraps are filled with 100% Flax seed and can be put in the freezer for cold therapy, or put in the microwave for heat therapy. Use it for headaches, migraines, insomnia, stress, sinus pressure & more! Relax Wraps is a wonderful family owned company who hand makes each and every item in Nashville TN. They are an incredibly generous and patient oriented company who takes great care in making sure all of their products will provide the best relief possible. I love their wraps, and they come in so many fun prints! They have an entire store full of wraps of all different sizes. What’s great about their larger sized wraps is that it also doubles as a weighted blanket for anxiety relief as well!

You can find Relax Wraps online at:
Relax Wraps Website
Relax Wraps Facebook Page
Relax Wraps Twitter Page
Relax Wraps Instagram Page

Winners: Too many to independently list for this one


Giveaway #3 - Tick Tock Naturals Insect Repellant & Candle Duo

Picture
For Day 3 we have an incredible Giveaway from Tick Tock Naturals. They have generously donated Tick Repellant Spray & Candle Sets to 4 lucky winners! Tick Tock Naturals was founded by Dr. Susan Eisen, a holistic chiropractor who is all too familiar with Lyme Disease herself. After fighting this disease she was determined to create a natural organic tick repellant that would allow her to go outside without fear. Tick Tock Naturals is created with 100% essential oils, and completely non toxic! The candles are great to use outside on your patio to stay safe from mosquitos that also transmit many diseases. 

If you want to check out the products you can find the repellant spray here & the candle here.

Dr. Susan Eisen is very active in the Lyme Community, she is a member of the Benefit Committee for Global Lyme Alliance, and has partnered with LivLyme Foundation & Project Lyme. The spray she created is truly luxurious and a safe alternative to DEET, which is full of harmful chemicals.

You can find Tick Tock Naturals online at:
Tick Tock Naturals Website
Tick Tock Naturals Facebook Page
Tock Tock Naturals Instagram Page
Tick Tock Naturals Twitter Page
​
Winners: Aimee T, Margaret O, Dawn C, Jennifer L


Giveaway #4 - Thermotex Far Infrared Heating Pad

Picture
For Day 4 we have an amazing Giveaway item from Thermotex. They have generously donated a Platinum Far Infrared Heating Pad ($250). What makes Thermotex heating pads so special is that they are engineered to relieve pain and inflammation with far infrared heat therapy that penetrates 10x deeper to increase blood flow. The Platinum System boasts 3 patented heat inserts which provide targeted safe infrared heat to every part of the body. Within just 20 minutes of use the infrared wavelengths penetrate 2.36” into the treatment area. These heating pads are incredible, they reach so deep & give a lot of relief. If you have joint pain, body pain, muscle pain, stiffness or inflammation then you will love this mat!

You can view the Platinum Mat here, and you can see their entire collection of Far Infrared items here. They have also generously given my readers a coupon code if you want to buy a mat for yourself or a friend. If you don't win the item or you want another one you can use code "LadyofLyme10" to get 10% off the entire online store. They have a ton of items ranging from mats all the way to pet beds if you have a cat or dog who has arthritis pain. 

You can find Thermotex online at:
Thermotex Website
Thermotex Facebook Page
Thermotex Twitter Page

Winner: Meghan V


Giveaway #5 - TWO $50 Lucky Vitamin Gift Cards!


Read More
3 Comments

Meet The Giveaway Sponsors!

4/30/2018

0 Comments

 
I had a big dream for the Lady of Lyme Giveaway, and none of it would be possible without the help of these 4 incredible sponsors. I hand picked and personally reached out to each one, sharing my event and asking them to help me make it a reality. I feel so grateful that they said yes and are helping to bring this Giveaway to life! An event of this magnitude takes a lot of time, resources & work, but without them it wouldn't be possible at all. So please show some love to them, because they are all supporting the chronic illness community!

Hopkinton Compounding Pharmacy

Picture
I have been using Hopkinton Drug for years to make my compounded pure Cholestyramine powder. Cholestyramine is a powerful toxin binder, and it is very tough to find it pure (without added sugar and fillers), and when you do find it its often incredibly expensive. It's financially out of reach for a lot of patients until they discover Hopkinton Drug! The prices at Hopkinton are leaps and bounds lower than the competitors, and they ship all across the United States! They also have incredible prices on things like Low Dose Naltrexone, which is another common med that Lyme patients take. 

Hopkinton Drug attends many Lyme & Mold illness conferences, so they are right there at the table working with practitioners. They do a lot for this community, and genuinely care about their patients. They have always worked to compound and source the most needed meds, and I really appreciate a company who puts patients first. And it's not just in words, it's in action. How many pharmacies do you know of who attend Lyme & Mold conferences on a regular basis? I love their dedication, and on top of that their service is fast, dependable & they have a helpful staff who can take care of any special needs you may have!  
Picture
Hopkinton Drug is a compounding pharmacy located in Hopkinton Massachusetts. In our state of the art compounding lab, we create hundreds of different medications to meet our patient’s specific needs. Hopkinton Drug works with physicians nationwide.

We compound wide range of medications for adults, children and animals. Our extensive formulary of over 12k formulations includes compounded medications for Functional/Integrative Medicine, Lyme Disease, Mold Illness, Detoxification, BHRT, Thyroid, Pain, Dermatology, Pediatrics, Dental and more.

One of our specializations is working with practitioners who diagnose and treat bio-toxin illnesses such as Lyme disease and mold illness. We compound many medications in the support of patients with these conditions. These medications include but not limited LDN, VIP, BEG Spray, EDTA with Silver, Cholestyramine, Liposomal Antibiotics and many others. In addition, we prepare herbals in capsules such as; Liposomal Artemisinin, Liposomal Mimosa Pudica, Mimosa Pudica, Liposomal oregano, and Liposomal Curcumin. 
​
If you would like to know more contact us at:
Hopkinton Drug Compounding & Wellness
52 Main St.
Hopkinton, MA 01748
Phone: 800-439-4441 opt #2 or x117
Fax: 508-435-5983
Email: pharmacy@rxandhealth.com  
Website: www.rxandhealth.com
You can find Hopkinton Drug online at:
Hopkinton Website
Hopkinton Facebook 
Hopkinton Twitter

LymeWell

As a patient there are two things that are universally true: You will have a lot of supplements to take, and even then you will read articles about other supplements you should also be taking. For me personally I love to research and learn, so when I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease I had so many questions. I wanted to make sure I was taking everything my body needed to be able to heal, but what I didn't realize is that would end up feeling like a full time job. Taking a laundry list of supplements is like a juggling act, with each one running out at a different pace, and feeling like you are constantly spending money.

Throughout my Lyme journey there has been nothing I valued more than convenience. My life is chaotic and busy on its own, and if anything can help make my life easier as a patient then I am all for it. That's exactly why I am so excited to have LymeWell as a sponsor! I talked to Chris, the founder of LymeWell at length about his company, his product & his story, and I was so impressed. Chris is also a fellow Lyme warrior who understands the in's and out's of this disease, and he became determined to create a product that could make Lyme patient's lives easier. He noticed that across the board almost all LLMD's tell their patients to take the same handful of supplements. This make sense of course, because the recommendations for supplements is based on what is most often depleted or needed for a patient fighting Lyme. However, this list could be pretty long and Chris wondered why no one made a supplement that combined them all. To be honest this is a question I always had too! I wished someone would just combine everything into one thing I had to take. So, Chris did just that! He created his company, LymeWell, and he packed 9 of the most common supplements & nutrients into one powder. You simply take a scoop a day in water, in a smoothie, or however you'd like. The ease and convenience of it can not be topped, not to mention the amount of money you will save not buying them all individually! 
Lymewell’s Lyme supplement is gluten free, nut free, and manufactured in the USA in a cGMP and FDA-compliant facility.
Picture
Picture
You can find LymeWell at the following links below:
LymeWell Website
LymeWell Facebook Page
LymeWell Twitter

King's Daughters Medical Center

Picture
Picture
King's Daughters Medical Center is located in my hometown of Ashland, KY, so I am very familiar with their work. Although up until about the age of 18 I hardly ever found myself at the Doctor, so most of my experiences with their care have been since getting ill with Lyme Disease. 

My world got turned upside down when I had to move home and start around the clock Lyme treatment. Things got rough very quickly, and I was bed bound 99% of every day. This was when King's Daughters Home Health came into my life, and they have been such a lifesaver for me. Their nursing staff is kind, helpful, and has come out to my house at all hours of the night when I needed them. They provide me with IV's and other care in the comfort of my own home, and they have made this entire experience so much easier for me. As a patient it is difficult enough going through the treatments, and having a caring nursing staff by my side anytime I need them is a God-send. They offer a wide range of services, from IV therapy to physical therapy, to nursing aids, occupational therapy, cardiac care & social services. 
​
​I have always had great experiences with KDMC, and I got very friendly with their Imaging Center pre-Lyme diagnosis when I had to have what felt like endless scans & tests. They have a big beautiful Imagining Center that is spacious, accommodating (lots of machines running at once), and has always been timely. I normally dreaded having to get yet another X-Ray or CT, but I would go out of my way to drive home from college just to get my tests ran at KDMC. Every single nurse and Doctor that I have worked with has always been compassionate & understanding about Lyme Disease. This illness can feel stigmatizing, but I have received nothing but support and quality care since Day 1. 

King's Daughters is located in what's known as the "Tri-State Area" which is where Kentucky, Ohio & West Virginia meet. They have many locations all across all 3 states, as well as a large multi-building campus in Ashland, KY. They have world class care, and people travel from far and wide to be seen by their Doctors. Among the accolades KDMC has racked up throughout the years are: Named one of the nation's 'Top 100 Hospitals' by Solucient, named as one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers," ranked the #1 Hospital in Kentucky for Patient Safety by CareChex, and a Heart & Vascular center that is in the top 5% of the Nation. 

On top of all of that, when I approached King's Daughters to become a sponsor they jumped at the opportunity to help serve the chronic illness community. It's rare to find a hospital who understands and cares for those with Invisible Illnesses, and not just in words but also by action. Their partnership with this Giveaway shows their support for everyone facing an illness like Lyme Disease, and I am so thankful for their generosity. 

You can find KDMC online here:
KDMC Website
KDMC Facebook 
KDMC Twitter
KDMC Instagram
Picture
Picture
Left: KDMC Main Campus, Right: Center for Advanced Imaging

DEERBUSTERS

Picture
One of the questions I get asked the most by those who have Lyme disease (or are close to someone with Lyme), is "what can I do to protect my home from ticks?" Once you've been bit by a tick and it has turned your life upside down, the mere act of walking out on your own lawn feels terrifying. And, with each passing year the tick populations are multiplying at an alarming rate. Everywhere I look I see articles like, "A Tick Explosion is Coming This Summer," and its a scary thought. 

​If you are someone who has asked the question of, "how can I feel safe in my own front lawn?" then you definitely want to pay attention to this sponsor, because their sole work is stopping ticks before they ever get a chance to enter your yard.DEERBUSTERS is the industry leader for deer fencing and garden fencing options across the United States. Established in 1984, they have been wildlife and exclusion experts for over 30 years, and they really know their stuff. They are a one stop shop to get everything you need to protect your home, from deer fencing accessories to full systems & kits. Deer fencing is by far the best thing you can do for your home and your family to stop ticks from entering your lawn. If you stop the source of the ticks before they ever find a way onto your lawn to begin with then you can feel safe walking & playing in your yard again.

Ticks travel on large animals such as deer, and small animals such as mice & rabbits. This is also where they pick up the many diseases they carry, and as these animals run across your yard the ticks drop off and now become ready to latch onto you as soon as you set foot on your lawn. When you put up deer fencing you stop these animals from coming onto your yard to begin with, thus stopping the carrying of ticks onto your property. ​

Below is a short video showing you how to measure/install the fence on your property:
The idea of Deer fencing can feel overwhelming at first, because there are so many options and things to take into consideration. Through DEERBUSTERS I was lucky enough to get introduced to Peter Aquilina, the man behind DeerDefence.com, and someone who has not only been in this business for 15+ years, but also someone who has fought Lyme disease himself. There is no one who is more passionate about deer fencing and prevention of ticks than Peter, and I learned so much from speaking with him. Peter works to install deer fencing (such as the kind you'd buy from DEERBUSTERS), and he is a wealth of knowledge on knowing exactly what works and what doesn't. His life's work is stopping the spread of ticks & helping others stay safe, which is why he so graciously agreed to write up an easy to read guide on which deer fencing to pick. It explains how the business has evolved over the years as deer have become smarter, and which fence is going to give you the best bang for your buck. I will link the PDF below, but I just had to mention this snippet, because I found it to be extraordinary...

"It has been proven through at least 3 scientific studies since 1998 that good deer fencing will reduce tick counts inside the deer fence perimeter by an average of 83%!"
Deer Fencing Quick FAQ Guide - Peter Aquilina
File Size: 36 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Picture
If you are looking for deer fencing for your home (especially as summer is just around the corner), there is no one who is more knowledgable & talented at installation than Peter. He knows his stuff and will make sure that your home is fully protected. Peter owns and runs DeerDefence.com which operates in the Northeastern United States. He can also help answer any questions & connect you to a deer installation expert in your area.

DEERBUSTERS carries kits & fencing, which many people choose to install themselves. They certainly make it incredibly accessible to do, carrying full kits containing everything you would need & they have a great step by step video on how to install the fence. Think of DEERBUSTERS as the one stop shop for everything in deer prevention & fencing & think of Peter as the muscle who steps in to get the fence up. This is a great option for someone who doesn't have the strength or ability to install it themselves.

DEERBUSTERS is dedicated to stopping the spread of ticks, and along with selling deer fencing they also have a wealth of info on Tick Prevention & sell tick remover tools on their site. In fact, one of the upcoming Giveaway items will be from DEERBUSTERS, as they so kindly agreed to also donate Tick-Ease tick remover tools!
Picture
The best part of deer fencing, is that with the right fence it is barely visible! It still makes your yard feel large and open, while keeping the deer and rodents out. It really is the best of both worlds! 

If you tried to copy the benefits of deer fencing by only spraying your yard with repellant, you would have to spray your yard every single day to get the same amount of protection. Yes, you heard that right.. every single day! No one has the time nor energy for that. Deer fencing is a one time installation that keeps your home protected with no extra added work afterwards. That is definitely my kind of protection! 

I want to give a huge thank you to DEERBUSTERS for being a sponsor who shares the passion for helping patients & for Peter to imparting his knowledge on me and agreeing to share with all of you. I never realized how close to home this issue was for me until 2 weeks ago when I went outside for 5 minutes, walked across my lawn & came inside to find a tick on me. It was a very small lone star tick, and it frightened me. My own front yard felt like a war zone with ticks & disease, and it's incredibly upsetting. Deer fencing is what makes the difference between seeing your lawn as a place to feel relaxed vs a place of fear.

​Again, please check out DEERBUSTERS to see everything they offer & please reach out to Peter if you have any needs in the Northeast, or if you want to ask him any questions! 
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

ANNOUNCING: The 2018 Lady of Lyme Giveaway! Win Over $10,000 in Prizes!

4/23/2018

14 Comments

 
Picture
I have a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! I’ve been working on a secret project all year for Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and I can finally share it with you all! The 2018 Lady of Lyme Giveaway will officially begin on May 1! Throughout the entire month of May there will be a new Giveaway launching every single day of the month! There are over $10,000 in prizes to be given away to all of you lovely people in the chronic illness community. I took a poll on my Twitter in January asking what items you’d like to receive in a Giveaway & then I worked very hard to make it happen. All the items are tailored to fit the needs of patients & there are so many incredible gifts that I can’t wait to share with all of you. Each day will be a surprise, but a few teasers are ionic footbaths, aromatherapy, gift cards, accessibility items & SO MUCH MORE! So how will it work?
 
This Giveaway will be running on all of my social media platforms from May 1 - May 31. That means that for each Giveaway item you can enter via Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. You can choose to enter only on one platform or on all platforms, it’s completely up to you! If you aren’t following me yet you can find me here on Instagram & Twitter & Facebook. Winners will be chosen at random at the end of the Giveaway period. 

I will have a few Giveaway items which will be blog exclusives. This means that it will only be listed here on my blog & you can enter just by filling out a form (no social media needed). So if you are someone who doesn't use social media you can still get in on the fun and win some stuff! Make sure to check back during the month of May to catch the blog exclusive Giveaways, they will popping up on surprise days!  
 
I am SO excited about this Giveaway. It’s my way of acknowledging that I see ALL of you, and I hear your struggles. I don’t just have this platform to share my story, but also to give back in any way I can to all of you fellow warriors. 

There are so many events & gala's in the chronic illness community, but many patients can't attend because of financial constraints or physical constraints such as being bed bound. I had this dream to create a big virtual event that included everyone no matter what. This Giveaway is all inclusive, it doesn't cost anything, and you can participate no matter what kind of financial or physical state you might be in. Come one, come all! 

And lastly yes, I am doing this all by myself. I have no help, it's just me. I began this endeavor in January and have been working on it every single day, rain or shine. I have been determined to create this, and when I put my mind to something there is very little that can stop me. With that being said, none of this would be possible without my Sponsors and of course the companies who donated their items. So please, show these Sponsors & companies some love! When I reached out to them with this big idea they trusted me and helped me launch this dream, and I am so grateful. 

Look out for a post later this week all about my fabulous Sponsors! I have 4 amazing companies who helped get this Giveaway off the ground, and I look forward to introducing all of you to them! They are 4 companies who all have a personal connection to Lyme disease in some way and really care about helping patients. So that will be up for you tomorrow!

Thank you so much for joining me on this adventure, and don't forget to come back to participate starting May 1! If you want to be reminded you can sign up for email updates over on the right hand side of this page (or at the bottom of the page on mobile). That way you won't miss this Giveaway or any of the wonderful items! 

xoxo,
Christina
14 Comments

The Secret To Happiness? Living for YOU

3/25/2018

0 Comments

 
Here’s one thing you should know about me: I love to eat. The word “hangry” might as well be my middle name, because when I feel deprived of my cravings I get crabby & grumpy fast. Now in contrast, my brother is someone who eats to live. He couldn’t care less about what he eats, he just sees it as a way to sustain life. I on the other hand, live to eat. I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember, and when we went on family vacations I’d spend my breakfast browsing through the local leaflets & phone directory to pick out dinner options. I was a bit of an odd ball growing up, but those stories are saved for another day. 

I digress..

When I had to go on the Lyme Diet the first 2 things I gave up were gluten & sugar. I remember those next 3 weeks so vividly because not only did I have a heck of a sugar hangover from withdrawal, I was also supremely grumpy. I felt like there was absolutely nothing I could eat because everything I had loved also had gluten in it. I call myself a “carbnivore” because I’d be just as happy eating a loaf of bread and a cheese plate for a meal as most other people would be with a steak. I’ve never been keen on meat, but boy do I adore those sweet sweet carbs. During Thanksgiving I am known to eat all the side dishes while the actual Turkey on the table has 0 priority in my eyes. 

Point is, I thrive on carbs. Now another thing you should know about me is that I am very thin & I’ve been this way since I was a child due to my genetics. This can be both a blessing and a curse, because it’s hard work to put on weight yet very easy to lose it. That sounds fine and dandy until you combine it with something like Lyme or Crohn’s & then things get bad fast. I require high calories & high fat or I waste away quickly. My daily worries now consist of me asking myself “am I eating enough?” on a loop 24/7. It’s exhausting.

I love to eat & the Lyme diet was a tough adjustment. I saw other bloggers who did similar diets eating mostly all vegetables, lean meats and green smoothies and I thought, “this is my own personal nightmare.” There wasn’t a carb to be found anywhere & while I tried this super strict “healthy plant based lifestyle" I found that I kept dropping weight, my mood was terrible & I felt completely unfulfilled. 

Then my mom (bless her) sat me down and we decided that we had to change how we approached my diet. This was also around the time that Pinterest began picking up steam, and a treasure trove of recipes were at our fingertips (bless you too Pinterest). We decided to take all of my favorite foods & simply alter them to become “Christina friendly.” This way I could still have pizza, pasta, cupcakes & enchiladas, but they would be gluten free, sugar free, soy free, corn free, mostly dairy free etc. And you know what I found? I felt great, I was putting on weight, and I felt happy and fulfilled. 

You might ask, "that was quite a while ago, how are you doing now?" Well, I still eat veggies daily, I alternate in lean meat a few times a week & we keep a variety of dishes in rotation; from Italian, to Mexican, to Hungarian, to American & everything in between. I follow my body, listen to how it responds and act accordingly. This works for me, and it makes me feel so good. When we recreate a lasagna or stroganoff that is “Christina friendly” it feels amazing and mentally keeps my spirits up as well. 

So what’s the point of telling you this? It’s just to say, you do you. Follow what works for you & don’t ever let the internet shame you into feeling like you have to do something a certain way. It’s nice to see people eating these colorful plant based veggie heavy diets, but realistically that looks like torture to me. I can’t sustain on that & I got tired of feeling like I was somehow not being “zen” or “clean enough” if I ate differently. I got tired of new documentaries preaching go me about what is good and what isn’t good. Truth is I could meet someone and we could both be avoiding gluten, dairy, eggs, sugar etc & it can look 2 totally different ways. That’s fine. In fact for a long time I used milk, cheese & butter in my diet because I didn’t feel better or worse when I did and it helped a lot with my weight. And eventually I had to remove dairy because my stomach said, “enough” and then we changed course. It’s been an ever evolving and shifting diet as I factor in food allergies/intolerances, but I told myself that I refuse to feel deprived. I refuse to be mentally stressed out or shamed for what I do or don’t eat. I have to survive & what helps me do that is my prerogative. What helps you survive & fight your illness is your prerogative. You do you, and if it feels good for your body and soul then keep at it. 

I don’t often discuss my diet in detail on this blog because for one, I’m not a chef. My mom is the chef in our household & she holds all the secrets to how she makes the magic work in the kitchen. Two, I eat by my cravings. I follow what I crave & adapt the recipe to fit. No joke I often watch tv and someone will eat something that looks tasty, which then sparks a craving, and my family instantly knows it will be tomorrow’s dinner. Same with sweets. If I had $1 for every time the Great British Baking Show inspired a dessert, I’d be very wealthy. And thirdly, when I have a Crohn’s flare up I go back to a liquid diet (bless you Kate Farms), and that can last anywhere from a day to a week to several weeks. It’s ever changing, and I just go with the flow. Sometimes I have periods where I do half solid food & half liquid shakes. It is what it is. But when I can eat, I go all out.

Moral of the story, while the internet is a great big inspiring place, don’t let it box you in. Eat what feels good, eat what your body allows. And if it doesn’t look picturesque or like someone’s colorful Instagram feed that’s still A-okay. Take it from me, if you focus on living for YOU then life will feel a lot more free. 

xoxo,
Christina
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Enter your email address to subscribe to new posts:


    Follow @ladyoflyme


    Follow Lady Of Lyme (@ladyoflyme)

    10.2k Followers, 618 Following, 51 Posts - Follow (@ladyoflyme)


    Categories

    All
    Crohn's
    Educational Posts & Info
    Gift Guides
    Giveaways & FREE Resources
    Health/Life Updates
    Interviews & Features
    Lyme Awareness
    Quiz & Polls
    Reflective Thoughts
    Things About Me

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2022
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

© 2011 Lady of Lyme™. All Rights Reserved.

Terms and Conditions  - Privacy Policy
Connect with me:
Facebook
Twitter
Contact   About   Email Me


Lady of Lyme is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.