Month 9 Update

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to briefly give an update on how things are going. The last month or so I have been really struggling with pain, fatigue, stress, and being sick. I developed pretty bad bronchitis again and unfortunately have not been able to get rid of my cough. My pain is intense, which Dr. Michael said can be normal as there is a lot of neurological pain (which equals repair) during this time period with regards to the stem cells. I talk to him periodically, and he is always willing to help.

On the flip side, I am still able to function day to day without having to take a vast amount of sick days and I am still able to enjoy time with family and friends.

I recently stumbled upon a treatment center in Brunswick, ME by the name of Therapia that is about 40 mins from me and is solely focused on Lyme and other chronic illnesses. They offer various treatment options including ozone therapy, naturopathic IV theory, saunas, etc. I have been going there for treatment for about a month now. Last week Dr. Penner did an ozone injection in my neck to see if it would help with some of my pain. It helped for a few days and I am told I will have to do 5 or 6 rounds of these injections. Dr. Michael also suggested an IV to help with my pain.

I am working with Dr. Penner to hopefully get what is needed for this IV treatment with the hopes that it will alleviate some of what I am feeling. Nonetheless, this facility has been great; everyone working there is affected by Lyme or chronic illness in some way, whether it be themselves or loved ones, and Dr. Penner is very helpful and knowledgeable.

I continue to try my best to get as much rest as possible, but with the summer semester and my internship winding down and my wedding two months away, getting some much-needed rest in has proven to be quite difficult. Thankfully after the wedding, I will have 2 months off before having to return back to school for my final semester.

Before I leave you, I wanted to mention how difficult it can be to eat healthy when dealing with so much. My life is non-stop and eating gluten free, dairy free, sugar-free and everything else free is not only time consuming, but also expensive and unfortunately time and money are not things I always have an abundance of. I do try my best to eat healthy as much as I possibly can and I know that not following a strict diet can contribute to some of the pain I am feeling, and that is something I am trying to deal with and overcome. With that being said I want to commend those who are able to do this 24/7 but also acknowledge the reality of how challenging it is for most people. Managing all the components of this disease (eating right, having the least amount of stress, remembering to take a vast amount of supplements at different times of the day, getting enough sleep) is not easy, it can be depressing and oh so overwhelming.

I would encourage so many of you struggling to make sure you find time for yourself and the things you enjoy in the midsts of all of it. Self-Care is huge, not only in my profession as a social worker or as someone who has Lyme disease but just as an individual in general.

That’s all for now! Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

With love,

Abby.