I have not written a post in quite some time now. I have been going through some physical challenges since this summer. It seems that lyme disease does not want to let go of me right now and that is complicating the rheumatoid arthritis. You cannot treat both diseases at the same time so something has got to give and it has been and will continue to be the RA treatment until I am convinced that the lyme disease is gone for good.
I have spent the better part of the past 4 months without the RA treatments that in the past were working for me. So the challenge right now is finding some natural ways to deal with the inflammation and pain of rheumatoid arthritis without it countering the lyme treatments. I am trying right now to find the right combination of diet and supplements that will give me the best results.
This is a new development for me. Over the past 8 years I have never gone without medication for such an extended period of time. It has caused me to question a great many things. In the beginning I was mostly afraid. I almost feel like the medication was somewhat of a crutch for me. I am not saying that we shouldn’t seek out medication for RA. What I am saying is that maybe I didn’t look into some of the other options available to me because I didn’t have to. The medication worked so well that there really wasn’t any need to look further.
I feel like I am embarking on a new direction for my health. It is a little scary for me. There is a certain amount of comfort that goes with handing over the control to the doctor. But now that I have made the decision to take an alternative route, I am feeling empowered that I am in control of my own health and I am hopeful that this will be the right decision for me and my family.
I am hoping that I will be able to post more in the future and keep you up to date on my progress. But for now I am trying to focus on my health and healing and trying to take each day as it comes. I am truly grateful to everyone who has expressed their love and support. It means more than I can say.
Tags: arthritis, disease, health, lyme, lyme disease, RA, rheumatoid, rheumatoid arthritis
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On long term antibiotics for my Lyme Disease all my arthritis has resolved even in my hands where x rays showed signs of RA. Life is a joy but it has been a very long uphill struggle no quick fixes with Lyme. I do hope you are seeing a LLMD and not being treated following IDSA guidelines.
Good luck.
Jo-Ann, I have often worried the last few months when not many posts came out from your blog if that meant you weren’t feeling well. I am sorry to hear that is the case.
I absolutely loved this post. I felt like I could have written it myself. As you know, I am following a strict diet right now to clean out my body and do some repairing. It is hard work!!! Yet, with each day I feel empowered by the ability of my own body to repair. I like that I have a say in what happens to my overall success. By really eliminating foods that do damage to my body, I have put the control in my own hands to help manage RA and anything else that comes my way. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to reading about your adventures. Please know that I am hear to listen if you need someone.
So glad to hear you are feeling better, and hopefully the lyme disease is gone. RA makes getting better from other conditions difficult. It is actually the meds that complicate things, isn’t it? Hang in there. Better days will come.
I am so sorry you are still in Lyme hell! Do keep us up-to-date on your adventures in alternative medicine. I still dream of finding an alternative, safe treatment that could keep me on my feet long enough to have another baby.
I have started an arthritis blog now, BTW, so do drop in if you have the time!
Thanks so much. I am in the process of finding a LLMD. I need to know for sure what is going on with my body so that I can get on with the business of living again.
I will stop by and read your blog and welcome to the world of blogging. The bloggers I have met are some of the kindest most genuine people I know. I have started keeping a daily health journal in an effort to determine what works and what is not. I look forward to sharing my adventure.
You are absolutely right Lana. It is the treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that prevents the treatment of lyme disease and many other ailments. Thanks for your positive words. It is just another valley and there are peaks in my future I am sure.
Thanks Cathy,
You are truly my inspiration on this journey. I have always believed that it was possible to handle this disease with alternative means. You and your story have given me the courage to take the first steps. The most important thing that I have learned over the past several months is that regardless of my treatment options, I am going to have to deal with flares from time to time and a flare is a temporary state. It is my body trying to communicate with me and it is up to me to find the best way to handle it. Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. It means a great deal to me.