For those of you who don't know, I am an actress. I've always been an actress and I always will be an actress. I've found that my acting helps me get through the challenging days of treatment and I realize that what I'm going through now, is going to help me become a better actress.
I've had to cut back on acting, while going through treatment. It's incredibly hard on my body and the long hours drain me physically and mentally. This is something that upsets me greatly, right when the water started flowing, the drain got plugged! So when a friend who worked with me several years back contacted me, in hopes of working together again, I could not refuse! My energy level has been increasing and my mental fog has lessened some. I'd like to say I'm over the "bad hump" of treatment, but I'm no longer naive about this illness, and I'm fully aware of the ups and downs.
Stela & Syd are mindful of my condition, and I'd worked with them in the past, so it seemed safe and stress-less.
This project is about Lyme Disease and I could not be more happy to be a part of it! I'm very excited to announce, I'm back at it...kind of. I'd have to say this is my most passionate project to date.
We put together a last minute, public service announcement, for a global social cause, that we based on Lyme Disease. This is a global competition, that has the potential to be seen by many! It is a 60 second spot, and you can believe, it's near impossible to tell my story in 60 seconds. But it worked! Here is the link below.
When you consistently feel like a fish swimming in a fish bowl, watching the world go by from the inside, it's refreshing to have others reach out and show support. Every time that happens it pulls me a little closer to the surface of the water.
Lyme Disease awareness month is coming to an end and I feel like it has been a success. I've done my best to spread awareness, and the support from others that I have received feels amazing. I was lucky to have been able to put two of my passions together and create something worth sharing.
A friend reached out from Nova Lash, wanting to #TakeABiteOutOfLyme
My wonderful co-workers stepped up to the Lyme Disease Challenge.
My sister and her little ones took a bite out of Lyme for me.
Thank You, to those of you who have contacted me or have taken my advice. I couldn't be more happy for those who I touch with my story. I've helped more than one person by sharing my adventure and I only hope to help more. There is talk of an upcoming documentary, to help open peoples eyes to the growing epidemic of Lyme Disease and it's co-infections.
The big question is...What's next for me? Becky is feeling a bit better and there are offers on the table.
This song has been on repeat in my ipod.
And this is what I look like when I'm contemplating major life decisions...
Not all Lyme patients have the same kind of schedule. This is how a typical day of killing Lyme looks like for me. I always feel like I should be doing more though.
5:30amWake up and take my thyroid medication on an empty stomach. There is a large percentage of Lyme patients who have trouble converting there t4 to t3. This really slows metabolism and causes weight gain. So a compounded t3 is needed as well as t4. Eventually the thyroid will balance itself out and medication won't be needed. This could have been the reason I struggled with my fitness goals over the last 4.5 years. I ate a clean diet of 1200 calories and gained weight!
7am Breakfast My breakfast needs to be allergen free, intolerant free, and low in sugar, or I'm off to a really shitty start. Sugar feeds the bacteria and is one of the worst things to consume while on a shit ton of antibiotics.
I typically eat a coconut wrap with turkey meat, (that just says turkey and salt as ingredients) lettuce, some kind of fermented food, like sauerkraut, and maybe avocado if it's around.
I've added a smoothie to the rotation:
Blueberries, sea vegetable powder, coconut oil, plain unsweetened soy milk,collagen powder, water, spinach, carrots, pomegranate juice, and sunflower seed butter. I don't recommend trying this one, it's disgusting, especially if you have no appetite. Coffee, I will not give up my coffee, I've given up too much already :)
Antibiotics go down the hatchet with breakfast, along with my B6, to keep my brain active in the dream department.
9am Pills, pills and more pills These are usually gagged down at work. They are my probiotics, cell support, active B vitamins, immune support, vitamins, antioxidants, you name it. This usually stirs some questions... In the morning, the pills don't go down easy.
Snacks and lunch Snacking (and my thyroid problem) helps me to keep the weight on. Here are some of my favorite, and only treats I consume, really. Eating high quality, non-GMO, organic food is necessary, this means no chemicals, dyes or weird natural flavors. I also need to avoid dairy, gluten, grains, sugar, nuts, my known allergens and known intolerances. My allergens are random, some examples are dill, wheat, almonds and nectarines. I'm known to make up new food groups, in order to eat.
My lunch is usually a salad with loads of veggies, homemade dressing, or chicken and vegetables.
All day, as much lemon water as I can drink, sometimes a kombucha, cell food, chlorophyll, and milk thistle, in water. Maybe some dandelion tea, coconut oil and antioxidants, like blueberries. Keeping your body alkaline is extremely important, this prevents Lyme bacteria from thriving.
Random during the day things, I might have some blood drawn. It's really important to have the liver checked monthly, to see if it's holding up from all the antibiotics. So far, so good on mine.
I'm told I have "good veins"
I try to hit up the infrared sauna when I can, it helps regenerate cells and I have lots of damage to mine. I would love to be able to enjoy a massage once a week, but that doesn't happen :) I also try to do some kind of exercise, whether it's with my training clients, at home, or a walk. I've been appreciating beauty on my walks lately.
2x a week I have my IM Bicillin injections, this means that I am now visiting my non LLMD doctor twice a week to have them administered by a nurse, in the doctors office. I've grown to love my injections, they help with my energy and mental clarity, so much. I'm currently off for a week, waiting on insurance drama and I'm back to my lethargic, dyslexic, word changer, and slurrer of a self.
Looong needle
My IM Bicillin injection video below
5:30-7 Dinner Again this usually consists of protein, veg and fat.
Pill form antibiotics are taken again with food.
8-9pm millions of other pills, in the evening, these go down a little easier.
My easy to transport pill box for sleepovers
Sleep 9-11 So important when you are trying to regenerate your body and cells. Sleeping problems are common amongst Lymies. In order for me to get good sleep, I need to "get sleepy" around 9pm. This means get in a dark room, maybe look at a book, (not able to read just yet) a cold eye mask helps for some reason and melatonin.
I also foam roll the pain away, take epsom salt baths almost nightly. Run around to pharmacies, take naps, call insurance companies, call my doctor, call my other doctor, cook, take another nap :(
grocery shop, heating pad, work about 30 hours a week, and try to do fun stuff when I can.
Most of my stress on a daily basis is usually caused by insurance companies. I'm deathly afraid of medication not getting covered by insurance. I'm also horrified that I will be unable to continue treatment for multiple reasons.
On the weekends, I try to have a little more fun, I'm off my brutal antibiotic Fri-Sun, so here I can enjoy a glass of wine or two.
Basically, my day revolves around getting rid of Lyme disease which makes me feel like a total outcast most days, and of course, my days are nothing like they used to be. :)
p.s. This includes none of my personal life drama, which is also a total nightmare.
