How we Deal with Chronic Illness

I have recently been reflecting on the healing journey we have been on this year. Almost 9 months ago we received a diagnosis of Lyme Disease and started treatment soon thereafter. I was expecting the lab results we received just based on the research I had done previously on Lyme and had already prepared myself by preparing for the next steps that would follow a diagnosis. We had already decided on a doctor and a course of treatment. Lyme positive or not we knew the symptoms we needed to treat and were ready to recommit ourselves to a better quality of life. Since Brian had experienced symptoms for years it was hard to stay vigilant on treatment especially when we had previously been given a smorgasbord of diagnosis'.

A few things that have been vital to this journey have been non medical. I grew up with parents that were more holistic with decisions related to health so I was more open minded than Brian was initially to some of these options. He quickly came around however. When you are in pain everyday for years and something makes you feel better you start to change your opinions on what seems crazy and ridiculous. All you care about is that it helped to relieve your pain, and when very little does that, when something is successful you begin opening up to other options.

Below is a list of things we have found helpful in the healing process thus far:

Detoxing: We have tried varying forms of detoxing but all have had the same result, they improved how Brian felt by getting the junk inside him causing havoc out. We have increased water intake, done detox baths (epson salt, baking soda, ginger), and sweat as much as possible (running, saunas, anything that increases body temperature).

Limiting Stress: Stress can lower your immune system and cause a lot of other wacky things to happen to your body so the more you can limit your stress the healthier you will be. Stress is not avoidable but it is manageable.Your immune system being strong is vital in the fight against and auto immune disease like Lyme.

Being outside: Benefits of fresh air and sunshine are highly unappreciated. No matter how sick you are you can sit outside, and doing so will help.

Routine: There were and are days where going to work and school are hard but going and having a routine and a focus outside of this disease has helped immensely. As a wife of a chronically ill person having my own things to focus on have been huge, it is easy to get wrapped up in helping your spouse but at times you need to take time for yourself so that you come back refreshed and rejuvenated and able to give them all that they need. For Brian, having things to keep him busy keep his focus off how he is feeling. It is easy when you are home to feel sorry for yourself and to feel hopeless, not allowing yourself so much time to dwell on the negative helps you to have a positive outlook. You can focus on all that you have and can do and positive energy heals you.

Diet: What we eat has a huge impact on how we feel.  Stop drinking soda for a week and you will know what I mean. That first week of no soda you will feel like crap but after that week you will feel better than you have in a long time. Continue the experiment by drinking soda again. A few sips later you will remember how drinking soda makes you feel. The problem is we don't listen to our bodies and continue eating and drinking things that our bodies don't like. Listening to our bodies and eating foods that it "likes" makes a huge difference. This is why metabolic diets are so effective.

Exercise: It helps relieve stress, helps increase energy, and brings fresh air into your body to help purify it. Exercise has become a part of our daily lives. Some days we run a few miles, and do weights and others we just stretch but no matter what you do getting your body moving helps so much.

Decreasing inflammation: I was surprised by how much inflammation came up in my research. Food is a huge contributor to inflammation and Lyme causes inflammation. So if your lifestyle causes an increase in inflammation it will make a lot of symptoms appear and makes existing symptoms unbearable some days. Diet and exercise help to decrease inflammation. As do many of the other items above.

Sleep: Sleep is the best way to heal. When you rest you allow your body to relax and to do what it needs to do to fight. Going to bed early and being on a routine is vital. Getting 8 hours of sleep is the goal. Some people need less, so listen to your body, it will guide you on what you need.

Its interesting, I started this post weeks ago and things had been pretty stable at that point in regards to Brian's health, we'd gotten into a routine. Then we went on vacation where the weather was great and there was no stress and Brian's symptoms were at bay and we had an incredible week with very little pain or discomfort. Then we came home and with the mix of travel and shock of cold weather to his body we have had a hard week.  Harder than he has had in a long time. Its hard to go from such a great week to such a hard one but its something we have gotten use to. Travel is always hard on him, and so is the weather. Every season change he has to readjust to things, and cold weather is the hardest and where he experiences the most symptoms. But in the end we know what has worked for us before and we know what we need to do so we just keep going. Hopefully we will be able to get to a point someday where every day is like they were in St Lucia, one day he will feel no more pain.