With the help of James Hayes-Bohanan,
Trying to navigate the newest waters of blogging technology.
Will also be posting this as a new page on FaceBook -
Going by the title of the same name -
And am re-posting the first entry there before adding this one.
Thank you, Kathy Begin Fontaine, for suggesting that.
Hoping to reach people -
Know that I'm reaching some -
Continuing to be validated when meeting people
Almost each and every week
That either know someone with Lyme or have had Lyme themselves.
So this seems necessary. I
n the absence of truly being helped -
Across the board -
With the health issues that arise as a result of Lyme.
In sum,
The nature of my Lyme Disease circumstances and challenges
Were with regard to the inflammatory nature of Lyme,
Its resistance to (being killed completely),
And flare-ups that presented themselves
As different conditions throughout my body every 4-6 weeks –
Almost on schedule.
Because I was bitten in the small of my back,
And didn't know for .... several days? a week?
Not until the blood engorged tick practically fell off of me ...
I was infected, it appears, through my nervous system fairly quickly.
But, before going on with the health journal entries
That I'd mentioned would be coming up next,
It might be better to begin closer to the present here -
And then go back.
This is a work in process:
THE NEW NORMAL
Here I am, over two years later, since contracting Lyme at
the end of June, 2015.
This is the New Normal:
~ Respecting my threshold – and that I have less
stamina, particularly later in the day.
~ Going to bed earlier, most nights. Most often in bed around 9. Used to be 10 ish.
(Then up around 5, or 6 – 7 if I’m ‘sleeping
in’.)
~ Lying down to close my eyes and rest my brain
For at least 15 minutes most days.
For at least 15 minutes most days.
~ Honoring an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Doing the Eat Thoughtfully Cleanse for the last 1 ½ weeks with Cathy Sloan Gallagher;
I was down 10 pounds....
(and within about 36 hours, I was up 2 pounds after reintroducing carbs back into my diet. Snack pastries from a lecture I gave earlier in the week that they’d offered me to bring home for my family – which I ate… and eventually had to throw away in order not to eat).
Now weight is back down again.
Less weight means less stress on joints and heart and lungs and all that.
Doing the Eat Thoughtfully Cleanse for the last 1 ½ weeks with Cathy Sloan Gallagher;
I was down 10 pounds....
(and within about 36 hours, I was up 2 pounds after reintroducing carbs back into my diet. Snack pastries from a lecture I gave earlier in the week that they’d offered me to bring home for my family – which I ate… and eventually had to throw away in order not to eat).
Now weight is back down again.
Less weight means less stress on joints and heart and lungs and all that.
The Anti-Inflammatory Diet impacts the inflammatory nature of Lyme:
Throughout my body, something is damaged and vulnerable –
And easily susceptible to inflammation.
For me it has primarily been my brain and my lungs.
At times my head is tender to the touch, and it feels like it is swollen -
Just close to the scalp.
Exacerbated asthma has been the lung issue - sometimes turning into pneumonia.
Throughout my body, something is damaged and vulnerable –
And easily susceptible to inflammation.
For me it has primarily been my brain and my lungs.
At times my head is tender to the touch, and it feels like it is swollen -
Just close to the scalp.
Exacerbated asthma has been the lung issue - sometimes turning into pneumonia.
Main things I've been focusing on for the maintenance of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet:
*Limiting Carbohydrates -
(Especially refined ones from more processed white breads, etc. that use white flour and white refined sugar)
Is the biggest challenge,
So opt for the whole grains wherever possible,
Which are also more filling and sustaining.
(Especially refined ones from more processed white breads, etc. that use white flour and white refined sugar)
Is the biggest challenge,
So opt for the whole grains wherever possible,
Which are also more filling and sustaining.
*Limiting Caffeine -
Had black tea and didn’t feel well shortly after.
It started to affect my vision and my head hurt.
The barometric pressure change that rainy morning was probably contributing to it.
But I need to have even more limited caffeine: green teas and herbal teas.
No coffee.
Had black tea and didn’t feel well shortly after.
It started to affect my vision and my head hurt.
The barometric pressure change that rainy morning was probably contributing to it.
But I need to have even more limited caffeine: green teas and herbal teas.
No coffee.
* Limiting Alcohol –
Having it be the exception.
Having it be the exception.
* Limiting Dairy and Eggs -
I didn’t miss dairy or eggs that much on the Cleanse, so that’s good –
Other than passing cravings for pizza. J
Because I had enough good fats in the Cleanse: coconut milk, avodacos, fish, chicken, good olive oil, and butter was the one dairy item that was 'Cleanse approved'.
I didn’t miss dairy or eggs that much on the Cleanse, so that’s good –
Other than passing cravings for pizza. J
Because I had enough good fats in the Cleanse: coconut milk, avodacos, fish, chicken, good olive oil, and butter was the one dairy item that was 'Cleanse approved'.
*Limiting Sugars –
Which is related to all of the refined carbohydrates, which metabolize more quickly to glucose – so not as filling or sustaining, and affect blood sugars.
Which is related to all of the refined carbohydrates, which metabolize more quickly to glucose – so not as filling or sustaining, and affect blood sugars.
*Adding fermented foods -
Which are naturally probiotic,
Such as good sauerkrauts or kim chi.
Which are naturally probiotic,
Such as good sauerkrauts or kim chi.
*Adding garlic often -
Which is a natural anti-biotic, and turmeric, which is naturally inflammatory.
Which is a natural anti-biotic, and turmeric, which is naturally inflammatory.
~ A quieter voice -
I always regret it when my voice is, either, more resonant-in order to carry in a larger space or outdoors, or loud-in order to be heard over a classroom of students or with my son (when people aren't listening).
I always regret it when my voice is, either, more resonant-in order to carry in a larger space or outdoors, or loud-in order to be heard over a classroom of students or with my son (when people aren't listening).
~ Limiting commitments –
For me, it’s in the evening. Limiting that.
My mother recently, said there were two things she set her day to doing.
She had issues with blood platelets, Renaud’s, CREST, GAVE,
So, two things a day:
Working with her historical commission and a church committee, for example.
For me, if I do a work shift then a meeting,
Or a work shift and then a game with Graham,
Or work shift and chores -
My limit has been reached.
For me, it’s in the evening. Limiting that.
My mother recently, said there were two things she set her day to doing.
She had issues with blood platelets, Renaud’s, CREST, GAVE,
So, two things a day:
Working with her historical commission and a church committee, for example.
For me, if I do a work shift then a meeting,
Or a work shift and then a game with Graham,
Or work shift and chores -
My limit has been reached.
~ Have to be ‘in the moment’ –
My words,
My hands,
My legs and feet –
Or I drop things
Or trip/mis-step,
Twist syllables around or say the wrong word.
(Just lovely that my son imitates my speech errors. I’ve learned to ignore it.) ...
Sometimes the error is a good thing:
Like putting the $2,000 transfer to summer savings in the checkbook –
Twice.
So I found an extra $2,000 when balancing the checkbook! J
My words,
My hands,
My legs and feet –
Or I drop things
Or trip/mis-step,
Twist syllables around or say the wrong word.
(Just lovely that my son imitates my speech errors. I’ve learned to ignore it.) ...
Sometimes the error is a good thing:
Like putting the $2,000 transfer to summer savings in the checkbook –
Twice.
So I found an extra $2,000 when balancing the checkbook! J
~ Enjoying 30 minute Shiatsu appointments
With Jill Chapman, as regularly as my checkbook will allow.
Was living for shiatsu for a while -
Since felt so poorly most of the time.
Love Shiatsu. Highly recommend it.
With Jill Chapman, as regularly as my checkbook will allow.
Was living for shiatsu for a while -
Since felt so poorly most of the time.
Love Shiatsu. Highly recommend it.
~ Enjoying green light drinks
At the Green Light in Duxbury,
When my travels to go clamming there allow.
Ginger, Apple, Cucumber, Spinach, Celery, I think....
So good. Highly recommend it. :)
At the Green Light in Duxbury,
When my travels to go clamming there allow.
Ginger, Apple, Cucumber, Spinach, Celery, I think....
So good. Highly recommend it. :)
~ Trying to not sweat the small stuff –
Or the big stuff… is a challenge.
Or the big stuff… is a challenge.
Feeling like I’m in a bubble most of the time.
~ But having faith in the brain’s ability to adapt and
learn
And circumvent damaged areas of the brain.
More on that later.
~ Try to meditate every day.
Very important for a Type A personality.
It’s come out of how to cope with the neural and vision strain of every day…
The condition reminds me to stop and breathe.
Just breathe.
The challenge for a Type A is that, as soon as I start to feel better,
I think I can do what I’m used to doing –
And what other people have grown accustomed to me doing;
And then I’m burning the candle at both ends;
And my system can’t take it now.
And circumvent damaged areas of the brain.
More on that later.
~ Try to meditate every day.
Very important for a Type A personality.
It’s come out of how to cope with the neural and vision strain of every day…
The condition reminds me to stop and breathe.
Just breathe.
The challenge for a Type A is that, as soon as I start to feel better,
I think I can do what I’m used to doing –
And what other people have grown accustomed to me doing;
And then I’m burning the candle at both ends;
And my system can’t take it now.
~ Avert my eyes from lights –
Any kind of bright light or reflection of light onto something light –
Includes the TV,
Grey hair of a fellow church goer in the bright sunlight, c
Candlelight, firelight, car lights...
A large light colored rock in the sun triggered an ocular migraine...
Any kind of bright light or reflection of light onto something light –
Includes the TV,
Grey hair of a fellow church goer in the bright sunlight, c
Candlelight, firelight, car lights...
A large light colored rock in the sun triggered an ocular migraine...
~ Vocally 'tone' almost daily….
As a form of internal massage and way to change the brain waves.
Please look it up.
As a form of internal massage and way to change the brain waves.
Please look it up.
~ Massage my forehead and eyebrows.
Part of the locations used in acupuncture visits
(With Janet Cabrera of Good Life Acupunctur&Holistic Therapies in W. Bridgewater, MA)
Part of the locations used in acupuncture visits
(With Janet Cabrera of Good Life Acupunctur&Holistic Therapies in W. Bridgewater, MA)
~ Breathe:
Sitting in the YMCA blood pressure machine –
Was able to bring my blood pressure down – twice –
In a very short time - just focusing on my breath.
Sitting in the YMCA blood pressure machine –
Was able to bring my blood pressure down – twice –
In a very short time - just focusing on my breath.
~ Be around people who are good for my health and well-being.
Along the lines of setting boundaries...
Maybe that means being more on my own, so that there’s peace;
And trusting in the support of my community:
My ‘village’ as Kathleen Howland had referred
To the support she saw on my FaceBook page.
Along the lines of setting boundaries...
Maybe that means being more on my own, so that there’s peace;
And trusting in the support of my community:
My ‘village’ as Kathleen Howland had referred
To the support she saw on my FaceBook page.
~ Shifting from a career as a music therapist
To work in the classroom
And working outside at gardens or farms -
So that I don’t have to bring work home with me
Or prepare beforehand.
The shift from one vertical career climb
To another adjacent career
Requires a cut in pay/taking a step backward.
Adjusting to that.
But less pay is better than NO pay,
Which is the case if you can’t function enough to get to a job.
Also, I’m then not the one in charge.
That's a good thing.
I had an interview recently where they asked how that would be for me:
Not being the one in charge?
They’re always careful how to word it.
I imagine they put it differently when they’re talking with each other.
To work in the classroom
And working outside at gardens or farms -
So that I don’t have to bring work home with me
Or prepare beforehand.
The shift from one vertical career climb
To another adjacent career
Requires a cut in pay/taking a step backward.
Adjusting to that.
But less pay is better than NO pay,
Which is the case if you can’t function enough to get to a job.
Also, I’m then not the one in charge.
That's a good thing.
I had an interview recently where they asked how that would be for me:
Not being the one in charge?
They’re always careful how to word it.
I imagine they put it differently when they’re talking with each other.
But people don’t realize how much I've worked
collaboratively
WITH other people.
It’s the nature of what music therapists do.
And then I also had to do that as a self-employed contractor –
With all of the administrators at sites –
And also with all of the classrooms
With all of the different teachers, different therapists, different assistants and different families.
WITH other people.
It’s the nature of what music therapists do.
And then I also had to do that as a self-employed contractor –
With all of the administrators at sites –
And also with all of the classrooms
With all of the different teachers, different therapists, different assistants and different families.
~ I 'preface' my behavior with a short explanation –
Such as when substituting with a 5th grade class,
I told both of the classes that came through the one classroom I was covering
(They do team teaching) –
That I had Lyme Disease –
And that it affects my short term memory
And it affects my speech.
That sometimes I twist my words around,
And that I’m sensitive to light and sound –
I don’t want to have to raise my voice.
Such as when substituting with a 5th grade class,
I told both of the classes that came through the one classroom I was covering
(They do team teaching) –
That I had Lyme Disease –
And that it affects my short term memory
And it affects my speech.
That sometimes I twist my words around,
And that I’m sensitive to light and sound –
I don’t want to have to raise my voice.
~ I prefaced a talk with the WB Ag Lecture Series
(On how our local community gardens came to be)
With the mention that I had Lyme Disease almost two years ago,
And that my words sometimes get twisted or mixed up…
And this is on cable television.
Ah well. It is what it is.
?????
(On how our local community gardens came to be)
With the mention that I had Lyme Disease almost two years ago,
And that my words sometimes get twisted or mixed up…
And this is on cable television.
Ah well. It is what it is.
Wary of the long term ramifications
Of a nervous system infected with the Lyme Borrelia bacteria.
Medical professionals don't know enough.
Not any where near enough to help all of the people infected with Lyme,
And other tick borne diseases.
?????
A question I have for medical and other health professionals:
What is the nature of the inflammation that results from Lyme?
Both short term and Long Term?
Not looking for an answer right here.
But shouldn't it be addressed in the research and effective intervention?
What is the nature of the inflammation that results from Lyme?
Both short term and Long Term?
Not looking for an answer right here.
But shouldn't it be addressed in the research and effective intervention?
?????
Would like to continue with more now:
Sifting through what I've written already
For the book I've been working on
As I have continued to add entries,
And knowing that there are relevant parts interspersed here and there...
This New Normal entry was originally written in April
And edited some because of that,
With other things having taken place since then....
Ah well...
My brain and my eyes are telling me, 'no'.
All done for now.
Sifting through what I've written already
For the book I've been working on
As I have continued to add entries,
And knowing that there are relevant parts interspersed here and there...
This New Normal entry was originally written in April
And edited some because of that,
With other things having taken place since then....
Ah well...
My brain and my eyes are telling me, 'no'.
All done for now.
Thanks for reading.
In health and wellness,
Until next time -
--Lisa
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