My LIFE WITH Lyme Disease (And WHat actually helped me!)

After 10 years of chronic pain and illness, I was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease and Coinfections in 2019. To be honest, it feels like a lifetime ago. Back then, I had just started this page in an effort to connect with others dealing with similar symptoms and embarked on a journey that I had no idea would entirely change my life. For years, I shared my experience - all my ups and downs, which turned into more of what you see now which is sharing health tips and my education. When I say that I have been where you are I really mean it. I have seen multiple doctors, I have searched for answers. I have taken medications, been gaslit, and have cried in frustration and pain. I tried a million things and spent way too much money (they always say lyme isn’t a poor man’s disease, which is ironic considering anyone can get it). The journey isn’t linear which makes it difficult to share but I promise I will write a book one day. For now - I aim to show the light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is just a glimmer. I aim to empower others to advocate for themselves and to provide hope, because so many times in my journey I needed that hope. 

Everyone is different and everyone’s “cocktail of illness” is different. Because of that, what works for some may not work for others. All I can do is share the support that actually helped me along the way. Here are some of the big things below:

1. Nutrition + Herbs
   1. When I was in the thick of illness, I was covered in hives. It took time to figure out which foods worked and which didn’t but once I healed the inflammation in my body, I began to tolerate more foods. As a clinical nutritionist (and human being), I am not a fan of restrictive dieting. I am a fan of intuitive eating and eating the foods that make YOU feel good. For me that was following a plant-based diet. I didn’t go low histamine or do paleo or an elimination diet because I was already miserable. Plant-based felt right and made me feel great. I found so much inspiration there and ended up writing a plant-based cookbook. I also believe in testing to find out which foods cause inflammation within the body - working with a nutritionist who can do things like FIT tests to check this can help to narrow down which foods are a real issue before cutting out the standards like dairy and gluten. 
   2. Following an herbal protocol offered me the first signs of healing. I was taking what felt like a million supplements at the time but as I tell many of my clients, it’s only temporary. My overall approach with herbs/supps is to go in phases and focus on killing the bacteria (anti-microbrials, anti-bacterials), then add in rebuilding/healing herbs to nourish. For myself and my clients I often tailor this bioindividually, but a great start is the protocol in Dr Rawls book, Unlocking Lyme. 

 

1. Practitioner Team
   1. Finding my squad and saying no to what did not feel right. I was diagnosed by an LLMD, which is a lyme literate doctor, and was so grateful to have received a diagnosis HOWEVER, he placed me on several rounds of antibiotics, which made me super sick and I chose to leave his care. I tried many doctors before landing with a local rheumatologist who was willing to work with me on my care. Also, as a clinical nutritionist I took my nutrition/supplements into my own hands as I was qualified to do so. I recommend finding the right team for you and your needs. It’s like dating, see who you like, who is willing to listen and who makes you feel the best. Websites like https://projectlyme.org/ can help you find practitioners who specialize in Tick Borne Illness near you. 

 

1. Detox + Lymphatics
   1. I would be nowhere without supporting my lymphatic and detox pathways. Honestly, our bodies know how to detox but when you are chronically ill there are a lot of factors clogging up those pathways and causing stagnation. Flowing the lymph can reduce inflammation, water retention, and overall help those toxins see their way out. I talk SO much about the lymphatic system so for more tips on that visit my IG page, YouTube or check out my class Go with the FLOW to learn more. 

    

1. Nervous System Work + Embodiment
   1. The nervous system is the controlling system for our entire body and brain. Getting out of fight/flight and working on my nervous system was a game changer for me. I teach about this in my class Find your NERVE, but the main tools that have helped me are meditation/breathwork, frequency music, acupressure and movement. After years of wanting to be detached from my body, I had to do a lot of work to come back in and feel safe. This involved tapping, intuitive movement, affirmations and working with a therapist as well. 

 

1. Community 
   1. Prior to starting my IG page in 2019, I was in a dark place. I didn’t want to continue living my life this way and I felt so isolated and alone (even though I had an amazing family surrounding me). When I began to connect with others and find I was not alone, I started to find my way forward. I believe in finding your tribe and lifting each other up. I hope that my story and my sharing, helps others to feel less alone on their journeys. 

I hope you found this helpful, I have a lot more to come! Please comment if you are enjoying the blog and share with anyone who may benefit from it!

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