Weekend Dress Rehearsal

---

---

– When all else fails, buy a lotto ticket and go home –

I had a plan.

I am not sure why, but for the past month or so I have had a lot more energy and a lot less brain fog.  I have been gradually increasing activity to try to avoid any sort of crash.  Last weekend, the box with the crossbars for my car was finally opened and they were installed.  Last night, the SUP carrier was attached.  I decided to wait until the morning to inflate the board.  The board was purchased last year because it was lighter than my previous board and because it was bigger and so easier to balance on – allowing for a less strenuous ride.  Before the end of the night, I had found my waterproof camera and started charging the battery. All systems go for morning launch.

This morning I woke feeling a little off but still good. I got a cup of coffee and started to inflate the board.  The point of inflating it at home instead of at the lake was because the loud motor seems so disruptive when the water is still glass and the boats are still on shore.  Apparently, it also seems disruptive at 8am in my neighborhood.  I brought the board into the garage and closed the door, hoping to muffle the sound at least a little.  Eventually, I caught on that I had hooked the air compressor up wrong and was not getting any air into the board.  That fixed, the hose then popped loose halfway through and the board lost a good bit of the air.  So, started again but this time holding it on to make sure it stayed attached.  

The board was loaded but I was dripping with sweat (it gets hot/humid early) and my legs felt shot.  The last few SUP outings I tried prior to being diagnosed with Lyme, taught me that  pushing through the feeling I was having would pretty much lead to a short and disappointing outing.  

Trying to roll with it, I decided that if my legs were going to be wobbly today, I would try out the kayak seat attachment.  I took it out of the bag to make sure I knew how to use it and made adjustments to my paddle.  I also decided to pick a closer lake and then went inside for some cold water and a rest break.

Time to roll out.  I headed down the road and was a good bit away from the house when I realized that I forgot my fanny pack life vest (picture with link).  No problem I thought, I have my leash and a regular vest in the car so I will be legal.  I started planning out how to adjust the leash from the regular attachment to a kayak conversion position.  My brain then fired off a Red Alert.  I forgot the center fin.  The detachable fin was still sitting on top of the garbage can.  I hit the next turn lane and headed back to the house.  I pulled into a gas station to take a minute to plan and, well, to get gas.  

Vacation Slide show! With a side of Bug Bite Prevention.

Spent some time at a cabin surrounded by the Ocala National Forest. Ahhhhh.

Bug bite prevention ideas below.

Click a photo to start a show.

dirt road

 

I spent a lot of time outside during the day and at night.  I have 3 mosquito bites and no found ticks.  The bites may have come from the first day I was there when the car was stuck in a mud hole and I was caught out without any protection.  That’s a story for the next post.

First, spray shirts, shorts, hats, socks, and shoes, to be worn in the woods with Permethrin. Take clothes outside and spray.  Let dry prior to packing.

Second, ideas for while you are out:

If you get bit:

Ticks

Mosquitos

 

 

Rose Theory of a Health Journey

I have had a hard time finding a way to explain why I am even on a search for better health.  I needed to be able to explain it to myself.  I was not as concerned about what others thought.  It never really occurred to me to try to explain it outside my own ego.

When fighting Lyme and company, there has always seemed to be something just not right.  We are missing a puzzle piece somewhere.  Various infections, hormones, nutrition….it always seems much more difficult and complicated than it should be.

I believe that I have found a way to explain it to myself.  The theory will not fix anything but thought I should share it in case anyone else could use it.

The Rose Theory

I first moved into my house over 10 years ago.  As a new home owner I was excited to fix up things and put to use all of those hours spent watching home improvement shows.  One thing that I really wanted was a beautiful rose bush.  It was a peace rose.  I tended to it as Google said I should.  I watered it often but careful not to over water it.  I sought advice on what fertilizer to use and when to apply it.  I made sure it received all the nutrients it needed.  I trimmed it as directed.  I was very attentive to its every need.  If I was doing everything just right, there were a few beautiful blooms as a reward.

Spread Positive Jam On Toast

A friend gave a gift from a company that has a mission to share meaning and positive energy.  It is a pretty cool idea.  You think of one or two words that are meaningful to you.  The word can be a goal or an intention, or just something meaningful.  They press the word into a metal circle and you choose if it is on a bracelet or necklace.  Example words are love, grateful, compassion, purpose, and surrender.  The company is running behind due to a record number of orders and sent an email apologizing. The email included a link to free music.

What is your word?

In the spirit of sharing positive energy, here are some YouTube versions of songs on the album. 

SUP Saturday Rebellion

Patience, recovery, and rehab…

I teach it. I preach it. I skipped it.

Lil’ Red’s whispers grew in my ear.  

Echoing, bellowing, 

“Let’s go to the river,” He shouted.

I ventured out for a short stand up paddle boarding session today.  Tie down straps did not work, the launch fees increased from 3 to 10 dollars.  The crowd started by 9AM when the grounds used to be ghostly until closer to 10:30.

My legs were shaky and my balance faulty.  There were no falls or splashes.  It was clear that I had skimped on my preparation.  My flexibility was surprisingly constrained when transitioning from kneeling to standing.  The muscles in both feet have been spoiled.  A few minutes later, I was back on shore.

It was nice to be back out on the water!

With new exercises in mind, I put Lil’ Red away for another day.

 

Lyme Disease Challenge

 

I am not going to call anyone out for the challenge, not even Ralph 🙂

However, everyone is welcome to help raise awareness and research funding for Lyme Disease!

A special thanks to my friends for providing the cast and the location!!

Organic Online Shopping: Thrive and Pete’s Paleo

I love to shop from the couch.  I thought I would share two of my new favorite hangouts.

Thrive:

Bone Broth Magic Jello

 

 

This is the magical moment after letting bone broth cool.

 

Putting My Head in the Sand – hiding from lyme

https://edmwimg.wordpress.com/tag/head-bury-in-sand/

My Last doctor’s appointment was a couple of months ago.  My cortisol was low.  My pregnenalone was non existent.  My brain was in meltdown mode.  I began using pregnenolone supplements.   The benefit was being able to finish sentences.  The anti-benefit was that the left side of my brain seemed to lose contact with the right side.  However amusing and adventurous it is to think “change radio station” then reach for the garage door opener, I knew the fun would have to come to an end.  When I forgot to turn my car off when filling up with gas, it became apparent that maybe I should stop the supplement.  What amazes me is that there are healthy people taking it just for a little memory boost.

I am back to talking like a fairly intelligent being and have stopped all supplements except Vitamin D and Lymphomyosot.  My vitamin D level was 37 while taking 10.000 IU daily.  I am trying different brands but still no joy.  At least it is up from 15.  The lymphomyosot keeps the lymph moving.  I am still dairy free and low sugar and gluten.

My blood pressure and cholesterol are up. (105/70 and 163) I think that is good. It just sounds so counter culture to declare that a positive. I do not get dizzy nearly as often and I have been able to stop adding salt to everything. I am pretty sure that it is more because of the weight that I have gained in the past 6 months rather than any miracle cure.  Whatever…

So, I decided to just ignore everything until next year.  The story I tell myself is that I just need time to recover and rebalance after all of the antibiotics.  The truth is more likely that I am just sick of going to doctors and taking pills.  Either way, it will be a nice little vacation.

I did get a cool new toy that seems to have gotten rid of neuropathy symptoms in my feet!!

“The Richway Amethyst BioMat Professional 7000MX is an amazing healing tool that has changed thousands of lives for the better.   It’s most important function is to produce far infrared rays of light that penetrate deeply into the body, warming all the cells and tissues evenly throughout.  These rays are produced by rows of amethyst crystals that cover the entire surface of the Bio Mat.”

 I found a used one with a full warranty from a licensed dealer and made the plunge.  It is a FDA approved medical device but like most things for sale, the hype around it is a bit much.  It did help me, so, I guess I will add to it.  Some people sleep on it, but I find far less than comfortable. You are laying on crystals, why would it be comfortable?  I have taken naps on it.  If nothing else, the BioMat is a giant hot pack that happens to have negative ions and and infrared rays.

 

 

Adrenal Fatigue – One year later

It has been about a year since test results showed that my cortisol and aldosterone levels were really low.  Click for first post on symptoms and causes.

I did not wish to wait until my next doctor’s visit to test again so I found the lab they used and requested a cortisol test.  If I retest aldosterone levels, it will have to wait for a regular MD visit and traditional lab work.

Drum rolllll:

Before

After

Something seems to be working!!

I also did an AM blood sample that showed a level within the normal range.

For a few weeks prior to the test, I was not taking any adrenal support supplements.  I was still using an increased amount of salt in the form of Himalayan salt.