When I had to stop antibiotics a few years ago, I thought I would never get better. I could not continue even IV abx, even though I was feeling so incredibly great on them, finally, because of ongoing acute pancreatitis. It was too dangerous to continue. I felt hopeless. I found a holistic doctor in NYC that helped me get to 90%. Not immediately, but it happened quickly thereafter, and then I had some ups and downs, but I have continued his protocol, and I credit that (among other things) with helping me to the next and final level of healing. But I had to have had those years of herbs and antibiotics first. I don't think his protocol would have worked for me, anyway, without that prior antibiotic treatment. Though I am not a big fan of drug-based therapies when there are viable holistic alternatives, I think most of us who have or had Lyme understand that the disease progresses so rapidly that antibiotics are often necessary. Many of us were so sick that we could not function without the assistance of antibiotics. 'Function' was, honestly, a stretch.
Even during my treatments with this NYC doctor, I did my first 2 hour hike (in over 7 years) and couldn't believe I was doing that! I was ecstatic. A week prior I was barely able to make it 2 blocks to the subway (I moved to NYC for a few months, and was able to live with a friend to do this treatment). In retrospect, I MAY have overdone it by splurging on a 2 hour hike. But I was still so elated.
One of the things that I will stress in the guide when I write it is KEEPING POSITIVE and EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. I don't mean suppress your sadness, anger, frustration, confusion, or hopelessness. Feel it by ALL MEANS. I felt them a LOT. But also remember that being sick and alone and unable to lead a normal life can cause a downward spiral in your head. One negative thought, and down it goes. I found myself in that position a lot. I often was stuck and just could not handle it. But in the times I picked up the phone and called my amazing tribe of friends who were like family to me, they would tell me I would make it. They knew it, they said. It was impossible for me to NOT beat this disease, they would tell me. They were right, but it was hard to always believe.
Even if you have one friend or family member that can do that for you, it is priceless. In my opinion, BELIEF and HOPE are some of the few things you can control.
I went on the online support groups and went to in-person support groups ALL the time. For years. I was devastated because everyone was so sick and I thought I would remain that way forever. Though I learned SO much from the people I met online and at those support groups, and was so grateful for their help, after a while, I slowly stopped going to the support groups (online or in person) because it was too hard emotionally to handle. Please note I learned SO much from the support groups, and they provided a support that nobody else could. Nobody else UNDERSTOOD this crazy disease, but emotionally, it was too much for me to be constantly engaged.
After arming myself with tons of information, I just had faith in what I was doing, trusted my gut, and got my hands on all the books, CDs, and videos I could that talked about healing and positivity.
When a big change occurs in your life it forces you to change direction. Sometimes the new path may not be easy, but you can be absolutely certain that there is magnificence for you on the new path. You can be absolutely certain that the new path contains things that you could not have experienced otherwise.
When we look back at a negative event that occurred in the past, we often see how in fact it transformed our life. We see how that event directed us toward a life that we would not change for anything.
I am currently working on another post that will outline a number of holistic treatment options if (1) antibiotics are no longer an option for you; (2) you want to integrate some holistic treatment options into your protocol; or (3) you want to switch from antibiotics to holistic treatments. I didn't think it was possible to heal from Lyme completely with holistic treatments. But it is….more soon!
Keep the faith. What your MIND believes, your BODY CAN achieve.
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