Picture of my flavored olive oils. Infused with limes, oranges, mushrooms and sage, dill and a butter flavor.
Day One
My two weeks of detoxing and preparing for the Disulfiram journey has ended and this morning I took my first pill. The dosage I have been prescribed is 250 mg. I am starting at a 1/4 of a pill, M-W-F for 3-weeks. Yes, I am starting out slowly. I’ve dealt with this disease for over 36 years, I can handle 1 more year, if that’s what it takes. What I thought was interesting was discussing this drug with the pharmacist. She simply said avoid alcohol. She didn’t clarify to the extent that I have researched. I think this is a warning to all….make sure you do your homework and make sure you are doing your own due diligence. Although the pharmacist should have also mentioned caffeine, vinegars, alcohol carrier, she did not. I brought them up to her and after a few moments she then acknowledged and confirmed what I was telling her. Take this as a warning, they will not tell you everything and you need to make sure you are taking precautions for yourself.
Last weekend we went to Chicago for the weekend and although I prepped for the meals out, I actually used very little of what I prepped.
Home brewed detox tea in smaller capped bottles one for each day. The two spray bottles held my flavored oils for spritzer on salad since I cannot have any dressings and the smaller bottles were selective herbs and pink Himalayan sea salt.
I was able to go through the menus and make up what I could have, telling the waitstaff what I could and could not have and the chefs did an amazing job.
For breakfast the first morning, we ate at Beatrix, I was able to have a coconut milk chia pudding with banana, toasted coconut, puffed rice and a diced up peach. It quite delicious especially with the mint on the top.
Coconut milk chia pudding with banana, puffed rice, toasted coconut and diced peaches.
For dinner, we went to Tavern on Rush and had a wonderful selection on the menu for everyone. I was able to order a baked potato , a side of grilled vegetables and a side of olive oil with some herbs. I basically at the grilled veggies with the potato with the Olive oil herbs they gave me. It was quite delicious.
Baked Potato with grilled vegetables. Asparagus, red and green peppers, zucchini,and onion with a nice lemon on top.
On the last morning the first place we wanted to dine was closed so we opted for option 2 and went to Hub 51 where the menu choices were a little more challenging. What do you eat when even the potatoes have milk and butter in them? I mean, telling them you are a GF Vegan that also cannot have anything with alcohol and vinegar is not easy. What they came up with however was fabulous.
We had a great time, and going into today I felt more comfortable on this journey. I am prayerful that I have prepped and given myself full disclosure on what it’s going to take and how to protect myself from falling down. We will see.
I’m on my second week of prep prior to beginning my journey with Disulfiram. No coffee, no tea other than the raw herbs I steep and boil, no vinegar or alcohol in anything.
I turned in my prescription the other day. The pharmacy techs are always so nice and cheerful, well, most of them are. That day was no different. They chit chatted away as I picked up a previously ordered scripts and when I handed them the new one for Disulfiram the tech that took it, after a long pause of studying it, stared at me with a face of disbelief. It was as if she thought she had finally put all the pieces together. She thinks I’m an alcoholic. My kids and husband think I should have explained myself, however, the pharmacy does not need to know why. My daughter said that she thinks the tech was finally able to understand why I’m always happy. hahahaha. Nice!
As I roamed the isles looking for a toothpaste, I was astounded to find that many have alcohol in them. I looked through all of the non-fluoridated natural toothpastes and could only find one that did not. The day prior to that, I was putting plain spices from the spice cupboard on my salad with some olive oil and I pulled one out that was for veggies. It was a veggie blend. I almost just shook it on without looking and then I decided to just look at the ingredients, only to find vinegar. Yes! They had dehydrated the spices and they vinegar on them. When shopping at Costco, we looked at a salsa and again vinegar. I am used to reading labels so this is not hard, and I know what likely will have vinegar, it’s the little things that I didn’t expect it to be in that has me even more cautious.
Last night we went out and I ordered water. Since I don’t usually drink soda, but I cannot drink coffee, alcohol or tea, I thought I’d try a Sprecher soda, in a bottle. A bottle won’t have the HFCS in it and I know they make it with local raw honey. Thank goodness I haven’t started the DSF yet. Believe it or not it had two extracts in it. Yucca and Vanilla. Well extracts have alcohol carriers. I would be sick if I had already started it, since I didn’t realize it until after I drank some of it. This makes me even more cautious that I need to be sure I am prepared to go out to eat. Taking even more caution with what ingredients are being used.
Today I am prepping to head to Chicago this weekend to meet up with some friends and for a meeting. I will provide pictures of what I took with me to make sure I was being safe with my meal choices.
I have recently been in touch with some very old friends, and by old, I do not mean in age. They were people who touched my life many years ago of whom we lost touch due to the turning of everyday life. Women who brought me joy, laughter and the safety to be myself. These women have been not long forgotten, and the friendship misplaced for only a period of time. Although Facebook and social media brings challenges, it is also a place to reconnect. From new friends that are destined to be lifelong friends, to lifelong friends that are destined to be new. I am blessed to be able to say that God has been renewing my broken spirit and refilling my empty soul.
The last several years I have been feeling lost in the upheaval of our church, saying goodbye to friends, being the mom of adult children, and just the everyday disappointments of family, earthly life and expectations. Each day, for the last few years I found myself becoming more and more “aged” with critical judgements of all the things that “didn’t go my way” or the “way I thought they should be”.
The Lord was always near and waiting for me to pursue Him with not just my eyes in scripture, yet with my whole heart. Don’t get me wrong. My prayer life has never faltered and my faith never wavered. I just have felt a “quiet” in my heart, that I have not felt in a very long time. Being unable to dance through each day knowing that there is so much more to every day living on earth. Sin is ever rampant, not just in unbelievers, yet also within our Christian community, making my emptiness ever so exasperated and enlarged. I never ask “why God”, nor do I question His will. I do however, sit back, still as a chipmunk who is hunted by the cat, and stare off wondering when will enough be enough.
More recently, I have confessed to the Lord that I needed Him to close that gap and help me to seek Him without distraction. What the Lord did in answer to that prayer, was bring forth a friend of my past whose adult journey parallels in so many ways my own. Her faith has been unwavering. She is a woman of God who has been used to reach out to me, fulfilling that desired hope in human kindness, with a Godly perspective.
The Lord has also helped me to see how often Satan feeds my mind with lies. I have been lost in thought, in everyday life, and in “time consumers” rather than focusing on what is most important. I have felt lost in my worship due to so many unspoken circumstances. For me, it was the bringing forth a new friend who shares a bond of sisterly encouragement. The Lord shared with me, the comfort in knowing that the woman leading our group has a common bond through a bible study that I have so missed. In learning this, my heart warmed and I felt a peace I have not felt in years. The Lord has heard my prayers and has not disappointed. It’s all been in His timing, not that of my own. Praise God for His mercies. Relying on him and trusting in him is all he wants from us. As difficult as it is sometimes, we find peace in the most unexpected ways. He brings forth iron to sharpen iron in the middle of the tea party. He keeps that cup that is tipping from falling off the edge and fills it to the brim with weight that is immeasurable, keeping it stable.
Friend, are you lost in the busyness of life that you have not sought out the One true love of your life? Have you given your time to Him so that He can fill you with springs of living water? Are you nourished so that you may grow? Have you prayed for the Lord to bring you closeness with Him? I encourage you to take all of your cares, lay them at his feet and pray not for him to send you a savior, as you already have one in Jesus Christ, yet to pray that you can see the blessing in every circumstance and that if you are unable to see the blessing before you at this very moment, that you will be given the eyes to see it when the Lord is ready to show you. How about putting away social media long enough to refocus our attention on the one true media outlet that can change out lives, bring us peace and give us grace to overcome all that is before us on a daily basis.
For two dear friends, I am reminded of these verses.
Romans 8:26-30 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercede for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
I am excited to share that my latest adventure in the travel business has been obtaining my certification in Autism Travel. I have received my Certified Autism Travel Professional Certification and am creating a business plan to help my clients enjoy their experience in traveling with their families.
I have a website for my business and have begun blogging more about travel opportunities that I hope you will take a look at and sign up to receive.
Do you have a bucket list? Do you have a list of places you want to see or places you would like to explore? Well at Family Focus Travel by Sherry, you can start planning your next vacation and checking off destinations.
I have started a newsletter that I hope will be informative on new adventures and information to help travelers feel they are “in the know” when it comes to travel. To begin, I have started with Disney and the new adventures that are arriving to both Disneyland and Disney World.
Won’t you sign up for my newsletter? Freedom in Travel will help you find your adventure.
Most people do not remember being bitten by a tick or remember a rash. Take a look at letter D. Perhaps that’s because they never saw the grain of sand?
I woke up this morning to another call from a friend whose one child is treating for Lyme disease, while two others had ticks pulled off of them this weekend. A fourth child they had treated a years ago and they are discussing the symptoms of a fifth child needing testing. I am so grateful that my friends can call me and ask me questions about doctors or where to send the evil critter that made the human body a host for destruction. Without experiencing the hell of Lyme disease first hand, I never could advise.
Are you a skeptic? I was once as well. In fact, I remember giving books on natural remedies for viruses and bacterias, diet and more, to individuals we were praying for in church who were afflicted with Lyme. Little did I know, God would offer me the opportunity to experience the pain and agony of Lyme. I remember praying that should God allow me to recover rather than die, I wanted to use the experience I endured to help others and bring awareness and education to those who do not know otherwise, as I once was. Would I change what I experienced for good health? Nope! I would not. Why? The way I look at it, I was given an opportunity to experience what so many experience so that I can give back. Give back to a community that is not being heard. Give hope to those who have lost all hope and to be an example of what others can attain.
Newsweek ran a story recently that Lyme is expected to affect over 2,000,000 people in the next year. Whether or not you agree, the science and the statistics are not unproven. Most of these folks are undiagnosed, or wrongly diagnosed and not getting the help they need for remission. Some may also be improperly treated, as we know that more and more doctors are not educated in proper treatments. For some reason, even hospital administrators are having their hands tied to the IDSA treatment protocols rather than the ILADS. The infectious disease doctors are not allowing Lyme patients to be given the help needed. They stop willing doctors from CME courses that would give them the tools for proper diagnosis and treatment. Why? Question of the day as we celebrate Lyme Awareness Month.
If you know someone who is battling Lyme, give them a hug, lend them an ear, make them a meal or just be a friend. Many have lost relationships due to a lack of understanding,
If you have not seen Under Our Skin, please watch it. It is on Amazon Prime at this time. Check your local theater listing as well as sometimes there are showings during the month of May as well.
Prevention is key. Make sure that you are protected from ticks by wearing light colored clothing, socks over pants and treat with Deet products or Permethrin. Make sure to do tick checks not just on yourself or your children, but also on your pets. (I should also note that this disease is not limited to deer ticks…any insect or arthropod MAY be infected and transfer. NOT ALL DO, but they MAY.)
To all the Lymies out there, I stand with you, fight with you and pray that we will one day have a voice that will be heard. Ticks bite and we fight! (Motto from Wisconsin Lyme Network)
Many of you know that I started my own business and I believe I posted that here as well.
I am a travel agent at Family Focus Travel by Sherry. Â I specialize in ALL things travel with highlights on Disney travel. Â I do have a website and a Facebook page dedicated to my travel services. Â Head on over to them and check them out.
My most recent post focuses on the dedication Disney has for caring for it’s clientele with disabilities. Â If you are not already following me on my business site, please go ahead and check it out.
My daily dose of reality is that now that I am feeling better I am working. Â Working more than I have in years. Â From starting my own travel agency to growing Wisconsin Lyme Network, all while continuing to treat my Lyme and keep the house up. Â Gee whiz, it’s an exhaustive process let me tell you.
Last weekend I attended a medical conference on Lyme disease and it was amazing. Â I learned more than I think I needed to know. The good the bad and the ugly of the disease that plagues so many. Â I makes me want to get involved more and more. Â Especially now that our children are for the most part on their own. Â ( still living here yet they do their own thing….)
I wanted to share two of my last posts from both my business as well as the WLN. Â I will do this periodically as both are dear to my heart.
Many of you know that Lyme is dear to my heart as our family has been directly affected by this debilitating disease. I am an advocate in finding ways to help others afflicted
5 years ago I was so sick that I couldn’t get to the end of the driveway without the use of a wheelchair, I slept 18-20 hrs a day, the pain I experienced was so bad that no one could touch me, I could recognize faces yet could not remember names, I could not remember how to get to destinations I had driven to for 6 years so I gave up driving (aren’t you all in WI glad I did?), I could not speak in complete sentences, my bloodwork mimicked Lupus and MS, and to say the least I was a complete mess.
Lyme disease is the top vector borne illness currently and it can no longer be ignored. I am working, or I should say volunteering, as President of the Wisconsin Lyme Network, where we are giving a voice to those who are too sick to do so. We are educating and bringing awareness through speaking engagements, farmers market stands, attendance at medical conferences, social media, walks and more. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit that operates on donations. I am asking all of you to consider your 2018 charitable donation to be directed in this way.
Not aware of Lyme disease? Here are a few highlights:
Children, especially 6-10 year old boys are most commonly affected; they are the ones rolling around in the grass, in the woods and climbing trees. Lyme is not however, discriminating and affects ALL ages
Facial Nerve Palsy is one of the most common manifestations of Bb; the bacteria we call Lyme
Vertigo is a significant symptom
There are an estimated >400,000 new cases in the U.S. EACH year; Breast Cancer has an estimated 242,476 (as of 2015 CDC website)
Lyme is transferred NOT JUST BY deer ticks; any insect has the potential to carry the bacteria we know of as Lyme; Mosquitos, fleas, lice, spiders, any tick, etc. They have tested them folks, this is not a joke. Personally, I know of three cases in one year alone just from mosquitos in one state. They spoke of this at the ILADS medical conference….
In WI, surveillance of Bb has been going on since 1980. This is not a new disease.
EVERY state has reported cases with the exception of Hawaii. Those cases in Hawaii are believed to have been contracted outside of the state.
This is just a short list of symptoms and documentation. The symptoms are great, the bacteria’s are very real, this is not going away and we need to be educated.
Won’t you help us? Thank you in advance dear friends.
Did you know? WLN is a 501(c)3 nonprofit? All of us working with WLN are volunteers who do not benefit from any of the funds that we raise.
How do we raise the funds? At this time we are taking donations through several avenues. Our website allows people to make donations through paypal and a receipt of the donation will be sent directly.
Amazon Smiles. We are set up to receive donations as well and you should receive a receipt.
Facebook also has a donation site that one may choose to make contributions.
We have been receiving donations from each of these and this is what has helped us fund our updated new website, our logo, supplies for our farmers market display, sending one doctor and two Lyme advocates to this past ILADS conference.
What does the future look like for WLN?
Our future in 2019 looks like this:
A Lyme Mini Conference and a Lyme Walk, and sending 2+ doctors for training who have not already been Lyme trained.
How can you help?
If you need to make a last minute donation for that write off, please consider the Wisconsin Lyme Network as a place to donate.
Thank you for your support in reading my blogs and keeping me in your thoughts everyone. Â I know I am absent from this blog quite often yet I am working on it. Â :). Â
The Lord has blessed us this summer with spending time with extended family, to our son’s trip to Scotland and competing in the Worlds and the safety and healing of Sydney’s ankle.  Now fall is here and I find that I have completely lost track of time and not written here for quite awhile.  When I think about it I consider my words and realize I don’t have much to say so I think about writing the next day only to forget.  Hence the problem with a blog that should be kept up weekly.  🙂
Anyway, moving forward I’m planning on spending more time here, especially with a new treatment plan coming for the Lyme and co-infections that are once again active and causing issues.  This disease is nothing short of interesting.  Plus, school is in session for our last child in HS .   Not to mention her healing and surgeries yet to come along with her rehab.  I’m sure the weather will keep us indoors shortly enough.  🙂
Anyway, if you find the time and could pray with me on my own health that would be wonderful. Â I’m seeing a new doctor and looking into doing some traditional treatments for my Lyme. Â Not sure if that means IV antibiotics or oral, I’ll find out in early Oct. Â This means that even though I’m bad right now, it will only get worse as the little buggers die off and we work on getting my adrenals back in working order. Â In the mean time I’m reading as much as I can on the meds used and making sure I understand each one.
I’m also seeing a cardiologist next week as I’ve been having some chest discomfort and some periodic pains that have been hanging around since July.  I know…I should have gone sooner.  Let’s just say it’s been a long summer and I have put myself on the back burner until now.  Since I had some heart surgery 23 years ago it’s enough of a concern that they are working me in next week and I’m limited as to what I can do right now.  No exercise and no walking long distance.  Of course that order went out the window last weekend when I had to walk from the RV to the stadium for the college football game while also pushing my daughter in the wheelchair.  Guess I’m still breathing and still moving around so all is well.  🙂  Praise God for the ability to keep on going and to keep focused on the things that really matter…like my family!
Anyway, I’ll try to keep up with the blogging if you would pray for my own personal healing as well.  Maybe we will find some great things come out of both.  🙂
God’s care for his people is sufficient! Â There can be no doubt. Â Joy comes from knowing who He is, what He has done for us, what he has provided for us, and what we have to look forward to in serving Him. Â Â I sat in amazement the other night in church as the teaching was on Approaching God from Psalm 131. Â It was a very nice follow up to what I had previously that morning posted on my blog. Â It wrapped up my thoughts and was like a gift handed back. Â I just had to share it here with you. Â Hope you will take the time to listen.
