Thursday, September 20, 2012

Showing Improvement!!!

I have had my ups and downs lately. More ups than downs which has been good! I was recently in Redwood City, California meeting with my doctor. The practice that I go to is compiled of one Naturalpathic Physician, Dr.Mischa Grieder, one physicians assistant, Yvonne Lin and the main Medical Lyme Physician whom is Dr.Steven Harris. I see either Dr.Harris or Dr.Mischa Grieder every 3 months and in between that time I have a phone consultation once every month in between appointments. Since last seeing Dr.Harris in May of 2012, I continued to have phone consultations with Yvonne Lin. My IV medications had been switched to Invanz and Clindamycin and Glutathione. In switching off of the Ceftriaxone which is my staple medication, I began to slowly go back downhill. By the time I went to my appointment on September 6/2012, I was back on crutches because my legs were numb, my brain had slowed down as well as my speech, I was quite stiff and was quite shaky. My face started to droop on the left side, mainly my eye and my mouth which looks like bells palsy but it doesn't take long before it settles back down. It is always very upsetting relapsing with all of these symptoms again, but they do settle down, the question is when and how long? I saw Dr.Mischa Grieder and was put back onto the Ceftriaxone and continued with the Glutathione as well. We dropped the Clindamycin and the Invanz. Within 3-4 days I was walking normal again, I could drive and even remember what my name is!!!

While being at the clinic, I had my first two IV injections of Ceftriaxone in the lab. The lab is awesome! There are super comfy leather rocker/recliners to sit in while getting your infusion which can take an hour to hours. I was there from 12:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. so I got to meet other girls that have been battling lyme disease as well. It's never nice to say that you are glad they have lyme disease as well but its nice to hear their stories and know that I'm not the only one battling this disease. These girls were very nice and very open with what they have been going through. I feel bad for them, most of them live by themselves, they sleep all day, which I do that most days as well...lol. But they don't really have anyone to help them make meals or even given a reason to get out of bed everyday. I am very greatful that I have family and especially my kids which gives me the biggest reason to get out of bed. I am doing much better which means I am walking without aid, I can speak clearly and my mind is clear and working the majority of the time. I still battle a lot with fatigue and pain, those are probably my biggest symptoms that are still not under control. The scary symptoms that pop up whenever they feel like it are shakiness, my legs stiffen up and go numb, my eyes glaze over and my mind feels blank. The only things that will resolve some of these symptoms are bumping up some of my muscle relaxants in order to get the shakiness under control, sleep and massage also work very well for these symptoms. With my eyes and my mind, lots of sleep and time are the only things that seem to work.

Things I've been doing is taking care of my flowers outside. I have quite the flower garden this year, thank-you to my mom who has helped me with picking them out and planting them. I have never had any flowers planted in my yard to take care of so it is a learning process but I love watering and taking care of them. They are all still alive!!!

I am also very proud of my little guy Zachary who has started Kindergarten this year. Ethan and I walk him to school and walk back to pick him up. It's not a long walk but it's definitely long enough for me. I am so happy that I'm still out of my wheelchair and I am able to walk him to school. It's a big accomplishment and an uplifting feeling that I can actually walk Zachary to school. For the past 2 years I haven't even been able to get off the couch to walk from our house to the school bus which parks at the end of our driveway. There are parent events such as meet the teachers and get a tour of the school. The next night the school is having a family movie night so I'm looking forward to that and also being able to meet other parents. I haven't been able to meet many people around here because I spend 95% of my time laying on the couch.There are a few girls with kids in Zachary's class so I am slowly meeting new people which is very exciting!

I'm really hoping things continue going in a positive direction. It's slow but at least I'm improving. Being able to participate in school meetings and swimming lessons has been something I've been looking forward to for a long time. With Zachary going to school every day for the mornings, it gives me time to spend quality time alone with Ethan. We get to color, work on writing his name, or reading a book. The point is, is that it's quality time with just Ethan and I.