A Breakfast for Lyme Warriors

My Morning Breakfast

It's been a while since I last posted. I hit a pretty bad spot in my struggle with Lyme. I had some relationship stuff (unless you're extremely lucky, you know what I'm talking about) and lots of stress, in general. I was also eating an extremely low-carb diet in order to aid in some serious things going on with my gut. My typically 120lb body dropped to a measly 102. Not good.

I needed a way to gain weight in the healthiest way possible. A little over a month ago, I started eating a fatty (but healthy fatty breakfast). Now I'm up to 109 and my body seems to be filling out relatively evenly instead of all going to one place.

In the image above, I've got: (L-R):
- Almond butter, freshly ground (I did it myself) with no added ingredients (for the apples & for protein)
- Greek God Traditional/Full Fat Yogurt (for the healthy fats) with flaxseed (Omega-3 fatty acids) and raisins (natural sweetness), and local honey (for spring time pollen sensitivity)
- Organic grits (okay, not sure what good these do other than increase my Southern charm)

On the plate:
- Sliced, organic Cameo apple (fiber + keeping the doctor away)

- Organic, local blueberries (anti-oxidents + giving my taste buds a party)

- 3 local, organic, pasture-raised eggs, cooked medium-well (for healthy cholesterol & healthy fats)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. All of the nutrients included, especially the flax + anti-oxidants, are an essential way to get the day rolling!

I currently don't exercise because of my heart, but I really should. I'm not allowed to do cardio, but I can lift weights and perform other muscle-building rituals. Now that I'm finally putting on some healthy fat, it will be easier to transform to muscle.

My goal is to reach 115 by mid-Summer and start transforming that into muscle in order to reach a healthy-120.

Along with my daily supplements, my weekly rife machine (which will hopefully increase once I talk to some people who are familiar with rifing to help me with a few things I'm confused about), my occasional Colloidal Silver sprees, and minimizing on the stress in my life, I may actually have a chance to show the world that this thing can be beaten without antibiotics and all the magic tricks that cost a bazillion dollars.

I am lucky that I don't have seizures. I do have full body twitches and my brain's occasional inability to communicate with my muscles. This leaves me on the floor in a heap, in need of human assistance to get me into bed. These moments are triggered by severe exhaustion coupled with stress. So, I will say that those who have full-on seizures will most likely need to spend a little more money than the rest of us. :(

And just to be an even-Stephen, I'll take this light-hearted blog and end it on a bit of an emotional note. My friend Alisa updated her Lyme vlog recently, and she shared a song that she wrote during a time (we all know too well) that she's going through in trying to understand where her journey with Lyme is taking her. It's the most beautiful song I've heard in a long time. She says it's not catchy, so why is it stuck in my head? The melody gives me chills, and her voice is so soothing. Prettiest voice on the planet!

Ladies & gentlemen, meet Alisa (subscribe to her on YouTube!):

http://www.youtube.com/user/AlisaLymesJourney

Stress and Lyme

It seems to me that stress is one of the largest battles a Lymie faces.

Through stress and negative energy, our bodies flare up and become painfully inflamed. Therefore, it's important to weed anyone out of our lives that causes stress or negative energy. Some things, people cannot help and it's not their usual habit to be negative, so we try to power through those situations with an open mind and deal with the inflammation the best we can.

But what about outward situations like a washer & dryer ruining all of your clothes? Or a giant tree smashing through your home and your car?

Those are just a couple of things that have impacted me in a way that I can't really begin to explain. Losing our home was impossible. My boyfriend and I were living in a 1974 Airstream Sovereign. It was amazing. See?

More photos of the Airstream: CLICK HERE

Then, at 7:15am on the morning of August 8th, this happened:

More photos of the damage: CLICK HERE

The hardest part about this was that we had sold the airstream to a really cool actor/musician in Texas for $9000. She was coming to pick it up with her boyfriend and her dad in only 11 days.

We were using the money for a treatment center and the ability to take a very-much-needed cheap vacation.

When the tree fell, I screamed and cried like a small child. I yelled at the tree, asking it "why" and basically went through the list of everything I had lost in that instant. It wasn't until much later that I was grateful to be alive. I was so angry and felt so terrible, I am still dealing with those emotions.

Often, I get stressed/inflamed with the threat of anything being taken away from me. My boyfriend was offered a job in an exotic location that we could only dream about, but the idea of uprooting my entire life stressed me out - when I spent years traveling cross-country wishing I could escape and see other lands. My whole perceptual world is so screwy right now.

Most recently (about an hour ago), all of my clothes were ruined by my washer & dryer.

But there are still other stressors in between that I can't seem to deal with. I've tried adrenal supplements, herbs, etc. I don't know how to chill-ax and just embrace life's difficulties.

I was so much stronger before all of the symptoms reared their ugly heads back in 2008. In 2010, I discovered it was Lyme. In 2011, I discovered that I may have had it my entire life and that my family may have it. So, I encouraged my sister to get tested - and what do you know? She's positive.

Anyway, I just needed to vent about a few things. I really don't have any advice to give. My Disability was denied and we're struggling to get by. 

I have stopped seeing my doctor entirely because we can't afford it. I can barely afford the treatments I'm taking now. Much less even imagine Christmas shopping. Ha!

If anyone happens to be reading this (who does NOT have Lyme) happens to be well-off enough to contribute to my life having any quality whatsoever, I have a PayPal account: stellanoir@gmail.com

Any and all donations go 100% toward medical needs such as supplements for Lyme, borderline anemia, fibromyalgia, etc.; special inflammation diet (which only consists of vegetables, beans, protein mix, and fish); pain management (physical therapy and chiropractic); and a refill on an anti-fungal prescription. Hooray for trying to stay afloat. Right? Merry Christmas. Bah, humbug.

And to think, I was once a member of a sketch performance troupe of Sugarplum Elves whose only purpose was to spread cheer. My, how the times have changed.

Before (I'm "Sneaky" - the one on the right):

After:

Awesome.

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Pecan-Pumpkin Pie for Lymies!

This Thanksgiving, I was a little sad because I've been on the Lyme Solution Diet for roughly 6 months. I've had a lot of trouble with it, so I've basically been eating the same boring (but healthy) meal every single night.

The Lyme Solution Diet is a diet that allows your body to be rid of all inflammation. How awesome is that? After a while, you should be able to add more things back into your diet and continue to have zero inflammation. The only problem with me is - I haven't been able to add anything back into my diet without being inflamed.

So, for the past week or so, I've been rolling my eyes at inflammation. I'd rather be able to eat a little bit more (while avoiding the important things) and deal with lots of pain for a little while, than be painless, but still lethargic and trapped on the same boring daily meal of brussels sprouts, carrots, broccoli, beans, eggs, and an apple - every single day.

Yesterday was no exception. After all, it was Thanksgiving! According to the Lyme Solution Diet, I am allowed to try pumpkin at this point - I just never had the opportunity. So I decided to make a pumpkin pie + add fresh pecans from the Gulf Coast in Alabama that we scooped up on our recent visit to the beach.

Anyway, let's get down to business. This pie was DELICIOUS. I haven't experienced any adverse reactions and have shared it with my "healthy" (as in "not sick") friends who have agreed that it is - indeed - delicious (and they had a "normal" pumpkin pie of their own to compare it to). It's moist, rich, and absolutely perfect.
The holiday season isn't over yet, so there's still time to bake this delicious treat for yourself or a loved one with dietary restrictions!

Also, if you live near Whole Foods or Earth Fare, pick up a can (or order it online) of Farmer's Market brand organic pumpkin. Or - if you happen to have a real pumpkin, you'll need about 15oz scooped out.

INGREDIENTS & RECIPE:

- 1 15oz can Farmer's Market organic pumpkin - 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg - 1/4 tsp ground ginger - 1/4 tsp ground cloves - 1/2 tsp salt - 2 eggs, slightly beaten - 14oz sweetened condensed milk replacement:

- 6 cups of unsweetened original flavor almond milk - 3/4 cup of agave nectar In sauce pan, combine almond milk and agave.  Warm mixture over medium-low heat until mix begins to bubble. Reduce heat to simmer, mixing continuously until sauce is reduced to ½, is slightly golden and is the consistency of a light syrup. Cool to room temperature.

- 1 9" gluten-free deep dish pie shell

- 2 cups rice, almond, or coconut flour - 1 tsp sea salt - 1/4 cup cold water - 3/4 cup solid vegetable shortening (not margarine!)

Combine the flour and salt. Take about 1/3 cup of the flour and mix it together with the cold water. Cut the vegetable shortening into the remaining flour until crumbly. Add the flour and water and mix just until a dough is formed. Roll onto a lightly floured surface to about a 1/4 inch thickness. Roll to a 1/8-inch thickness and gently press into a pie tin.

* Egg alergy? Replace the 2 eggs with a whole ripe banana (mashed up) -
(OR - 1/2 cup of applesauce)
+ 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder.

DIRECTIONS

Mix pumpkin and spices together. Add remaining filling ingredients. Mix slowly, just until thoroughly mixed. Pour into pie shell. Decorate with freshly cracked pecans. Bake at 425º for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350º for an additional 32-40 minutes. Remove pie and allow time to cool.

*Tip: After 32 minutes at 350 degrees, perform a "pumpkin pie doneness test" by inserting a knife into the pie (but NOT in the center of the pie...insert the knife about 1 1/2 inches away form the center.) Pumpkin Pie is done when the knife comes out clean. As the pie cools on the wire rack, it will continue to bake the center. That is why it is not recommended to conduct the test at the center of the pie.

Let me know how it turns out!

Remember - feel free to purchase a pre-made gluten-free pie shell.
I don't think there is any such thing as a pre-made sweetened condensed milk replacement, though.

Thanks for stopping by.
Hope you enjoy!

Ups & Downs

Wow.

From couch-bound to riding a bicycle and playing in the sun to being couch-bound again.

The weather can do some tricky things to folks with Lyme. Especially cold weather. My prayers are going out to all my fellow Lymies who have roommates that are being strict about the heat situation in the home - enforcing low heat and demanding you wear layers.

I cannot tell you what a nightmare it was for me while I was living in Seattle with the extreme low pressure system and cold, damp rain. I had a roommate who was willing to spend thousands on material possessions and hundreds each week on going out to bars and drinking, but was tight when it came to the electric bill. The heat was kept on 60F - which might be tolerable for normal, healthy folks. I suffered tremendously and lived in enormous amounts of pain. Suffice it to say, I am no longer friends with this person (even though we grew up together).


At some point, you have to learn who your friends are, then simply walk away from the ones who are hurting you with their unfeeling irritation toward your situation. You should first try to inform them, though. Give them a chance or two. Then, when that fails, just walk away! If you're stuck with them, DEMAND WARMTH. I don't care if you have to throw a fit for it and have an awkward living situation - it's better than the pain that will result in being cold.

So, here I am in chilly North Carolina, couch-bound. I recently took a trip down to Orange Beach, AL with my boyfriend (which added to our debt, but it was so worth it) and it did wonders for my pain. I was able to ride a bicycle around a neighborhood block and do some walking. I knew that I could do so much more if I just wasn't so weak. All I would need is the right climate to become strong! So we are seriously considering relocating very soon.

Here's a little video we made on the topic:




It's also important to have a temperature regulated home. Never turn the heat OFF to conserve energy while you're not at home. Think of your power bill as a medical bill! Keep it warm and well ventilated in your bathroom while showering - because you may well know that a chilly bathroom can make showering a long and painful experience.

Anyway, those are my thoughts/tips. I'm writing to you from the couch right now. I'll post again soon about some serious issues I've been having. Some things I'd like to share in hopes of relating to some other Lymies.

Take care, warm hugs, & thanks for reading!

~KT

Couch-bound

I don't mean "couch-bound" like - that's where I'm headed - no... I mean I am bound to my couch more than ever these days.

I can see the trees shaking violently outside as the wind whirs and dances around them, sending a message that Winter is on its way.

Winter.

Such a cold word.

Such a painful word... for Lymies, especially.

We should all go live on an island together with a temperate climate of avg. 70F year round. I personally wouldn't mind it getting up to 90F every now and then with a nice breeze. Mmm, Summer. My favorite season of all. 

Summer is also wonderful for a Lymie, considering many who lack energy or the ability to exercise can at least get some energy from a light swim. :)

Otherwise, so many of us spend our days sitting and staring - mostly at a computer. Couch-bound.

I used to sit in that chair - for months - this Summer. I have since relocated to the couch. My house doesn't have central heat, so I rely on one baseboard heater in the living room and one in the bedroom. I'll put a little space heater in the bathroom prior to showering.

The cold air and the warm water = the most painful experience. Showering becomes less frequent and I become more miserable. I can barely talk myself into getting out of the bed because of the cold air while under the warm covers.

What does it feel like? you ask.

Hmm.... You know that feeling when you're standing in the snow without clothes on and you're soaking wet? Probably not, but imagine it anyway... Mix that with the feeling of your body going numb, tingling (like poor circulation or a limb being asleep) with each impact of every tiny little drop of water or cold air. It doesn't seem to matter what temperature the water is when the air is cool, it's going to be painful. It also doesn't seem to matter how much you layer your clothes, the uncomfortable attack of irregular temperature creates unimaginable pain. A cold face + warm body = irregular temperature = pain!

Surprisingly, nothing like this experience happens (or at least far from it) when the weather is warm or you're living in a house with regulated temperatures in every room. I dream of finding an affordable home with central heat.

Unfortunately, my boyfriend is the only person making an income between us while I can't work (he waits tables), so we really can't afford it.

So here I sit.. uncomfortable and exhausted.. each and every day. I keep wishing I could just strap on my roller skates and sail off into the abyss with a smile on my face and the wind in my hair... but I shake my head and bat my eyes and suddenly, I'm just here... sitting on the couch... starting a blog on blogger.com. :\

I'm going to use this blog to vent my thoughts and talk about life, and hopefully connect with other Lymies, while informing friends/family all about the many magical wonders (yeah, right!) of Lyme Disease.

Welcome to my crazy world. Enjoy. :)



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