It’s been a long week and I am struggling to make clear enough thoughts as I sit down to type tonight. After sharing last week about the symptoms I’ve been experiencing, and hearing from many of you with some stories about your own symptoms, I wanted to share some more information.
I’m hoping to share all of this to ultimately bring hope and encouragement to you or someone you know that is battling your own “mess” right now and help you see it as a “beautyfull mess” with eternal hope!
During the last 24 years I have seen countless doctors, specialists, naturopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists, practitioners, you name it… I’ve likely seen one! I was diagnosed with mono, EBV, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Short Term Memory Loss, Wilson’s Syndrome, Chronic Migranes, Pituitary Cushings, Pernicious Anemia, Crohns Disease, Candida, being Post Menopausal at 28years old, was told I was simply wired backwards, had a doctor say I was CRAZY, I have been turned away from Sleep Clinics two times, finally was seen by a sleep specialist and they said I slept fine, and was told by at least two doctors that they were done seeing me and had nothing they could do to help me. I have been tested for M.S., ALS, tumors, cancers, auto immune diseases, etc… I have had crazy long needles inserted into my major muscles and shock waves (I am sure there is a technical term for this) sent through the needles… basically, I was shocked from the inside to run extensive testing on my muscles and nerves.
After ALL of this including years of many trips over the mountains to our Health University, a trip to a world renowned Hormone Specialist in Arizona, tons of trips up north of Seattle to see a Neurolink Practitioner (he helped me some!), and expiring our local options too… the only thing that has ever stuck as a diagnosis (pretty sure this was strictly for insurance purposes… when we used to have insurance) was Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Now, don’t get me wrong; I am not saying I am defined by a diagnosis or code at all, however, to receive proper treatment you must know what you are dealing with first.
My husband (Cory), my mom, and myself have long believed that I had Lyme Disease, yet any doctor I would ask here would look me straight in the eye and say this disease didn’t exist on the West Coast. Period. I was told that even if I did test positively for it, I would not be treated for it by them as they did NOT believe in it… eventually laughing the thought off entirely, they would each move onto more testing, more asking me to tell my story over and over again.
Finally… this year after taking about 16 months off of seeking any help or doing anything to help alleviate these symptoms (we were completely worn out and didn’t feel like there was any fight left in us.), I had a Rolf (structural alignment massage-like technique that proved to help me with my severely tight muscles that aggravated constant migraines.) appointment and the Rolfer told me about her friends practice that had just moved to Bend! I was trying to be hopeful to look into him, and Cory agreed it was time to get back into seeking help and finding answers.
I have been seeing this new Doctor/ Naturopath and appreciate that he believes that “I am my own best advocate”, He immediately advised me to have a binder of ALL of my test results, notes, etc… He views myself, Cory, and the Doc as a team and equally listens to our ideas while sharing his own of course. We have run extensive tests, and I know there are still more to come, however I finally have confirmation of a Chronic Lyme Disease diagnosis along with late stage Babesia, Bartonella, and there will likely be more co-infections found in further testing.
I will be posting treatment options as I walk through this. I am really struggling as I am midway through my second week of chasing this terrible disease… but I will post as often as I can!
Please share these posts with others… I am excited to help others struggling with Lyme, or other tick born diseases seek help, find answers, and encouragement in the middle of the mess, and ultimately pray for God’s healing!
Sincerely, Dani
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6
You know those times in your life where you feel like you are stuck in an “ugly rut”? Nothing seems to go right, there is more dark than light, more yuck than yummy, more saying NOOOOO than yes, you get the picture! These seasons are REAL. They are not fun. In fact, sometimes they are simply awful, terrible, and seem unbearable. Yet, God allows us to walk through them. He brings us out on the other side. He uses this time to refine us, teach us, change us, bring us closer to Him, and ultimately to show His glory! Sometimes it is truly the worst that brings out the best… like the saying “beauty to ashes”. We’ve all heard it. When you look back on these times of trials, have you seen the truth in the saying? He is still there… cling to Him, His promises, His word.
