Saturday, November 23, 2013

DoTerra Essential Oils and Lyme Disease

I've recently been introduced to DoTerra essential oils.  The interesting thing is, I've always been drawn to oils, but never even considered the fact that some oils can be ingested and used as medicine.  While that may make some people laugh, and I sort of laugh at that now that I know differently as well.  Essential oils are opening up and entirely new medical world to me now and it's so exciting! 

A fellow lymie introduced the oils at one of our Lyme support meetings.  I knew right away that it was going to be my next treatment.  I researched quite extensively before diving in and am now a DoTerra consultant.  I've talked to so many people who are now lyme free - after many other unsuccessful treatment options.  I learned the importance of starting very slowly, so that is exactly what I am doing.

I started yesterday by using a dropper and carefully placing a drop of oregano oil into a pill capsule.  You can buy empty pill capsules at Walgreens or most organic markets.   Oregano oil is a hot oil and can burn your skin, so you have to be very careful.  Since it is a hot oil, I would advise against using it on your skin - even with a carrier oil.

I didn't notice anything after taking the drop yesterday.  However, today I am feeling a little uncomfortable which is a typical herx reaction for me.  It's not unbearable at all, but it's there.  I'm going to continue with one drop the remainder of the week before moving up to two drops. 

The oregano oil is meant to be taken for 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off within the Lyme protocol.  There are many other oils in the protocol, but as I mentioned, my intention is to start very slowly.  I will continue to update as I increase dosages and such. 

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Work, School and Lyme disease

I lost my job last January.  Losing my job was actually quite a blessing.  I worked from home, but even that prooved to be too much more times than not.  Sitting all day at a desk become very uncomfortable.  My legs and finger tips would go numb.  The light on the computer screen would often be too much to look at.  I would find myself extremely fatigued.  Needless to say, there was a small celebration in my house when I lost my job.

My LLMD upped my treatment when she knew I wasn't working.  It was probably the toughest couple months of treatment.  We were targeting Babesia and my brain felt swollen - maybe it was!  I had horrible thoughts.  There were a few times I wanted to check myself into a mental hospital.  Somehow, I made it through that....during hard times I always try to remember that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.  Lyme is like climbing a mountain with many peaks.  You go up and then down, up and down, up and down.  The entire thing is hard, but just when you think you can't take anymore, you reach a valley. 

I did have a few months where I felt really good and focused on job hunting.  I applied to over 100 jobs during that time frame.   Over the course of the year, I applied to over 200 positions.  So many of the positions seemed like they would be a perfect fit, but many had over 500 applicants.   Portland, Oregon has a horrible job market.  Granted, I could have taken a job waitressing or working at a grocery store, but I wasn't willing to take such a significant pay cut in comparison to my previous position.   Looking back, I can see that a job wasn't in the cards for me.  I was supposed to take another route.  It seemed that going back to school was the best answer.  So that is exactly what I have done. 

I'm grateful that things worked out this way.  Like most chronic Lyme Sufferers, Fall hit and hit hard.  All of my symptoms came rolling back.  Extreme Fatigue.  Dizziness.  Anxiety.  Numbness.  Joint Pain.  The list could continue for quite some time.  I was so thankful I didn't have a job.  There is absolutely no way that I could have worked through the last few months.

As far as school goes, it too has been a struggle.  When my symptoms are high, I have a hard time under the florescent lights.   It's also tough to see students flying through all of their homework.  It seems I have to put in three times as much time as most students.  My brain works much slower than it used to.  Processing words can be difficult sometimes and my memory just isn't there. 

It's also very difficult to treat Lyme while in school.  Herxing would cause symptoms to flare and I can't imagine managing my class load feeling any worse.

I'm determined to get my health back - whatever it takes!  And when I do, I'll be better prepared for the working world.  Until then, I'll continue following this trail up, over, down and around the mountain.

Keep on keeping on.....

Kara

Living with Lyme disease - published article

Here is an article that was published in The Frederick News Post that I found intersting.  It's always nice to see others can relate to the dark cloud Lyme can create for people, but the better part is that almost everyone learns to live outside of the cloud.  Lyme people are very strong - we have no other choice.  We are fighters.  Keep on keeping on!

Lyme Story