Welcome

I noticed that there are quite a few new followers (maybe 3 or 4) in the last few days. So I wanted to take the time to welcome you guys to the blog. I'll do a proper post in a few days on this blog, but wanted to do a quick run down.

Over on the right of the blog (if you're following via just going to the blog you'll see this. if you're using google reader you won't .. so take a moment to click on over to the blog from google reader) there are three links. One is a welcome to my Lyme Life. One is my background story (which is extensive). Then there is a third that lists a lot of my important Lyme posts in one place.

Welcome again. Hope you find information you're looking for in those locations.

Have a great day.

my magic bottle

Last night I finally pulled out the magic bottle.

It's called Dioxychlor.

I took 10 drops last night and 10 drops this morning. I woke up with a small sore throat (the last few mornings it's raged for over an hour. This morning it only lasted 5 minutes) without nasal drainage pouring out of my nose.

My nose is still giving me issues, but it's no where near like the past few days. My cough though is still pretty bad. So bad in fact that I almost got sick because of the forcefulness of the cough. Hopefully that will die down in a few days with the Dioxychlor now on my regiment.

cold update

feeling worse and worse every day. I'd hate to go to the doc in the box. Last time it wasn't pretty.

is about to

pull out the big dogs for my little "cold."

One is named Colloidal Silver. The other is called Dioxychlor.

Just depends on which "taste" I desire. This nose/throat mess is getting on my last nerves. Waking me up at 6am on a perfectly good sleep in day!

These two separately did a world of good for my LD. I think they might jus tdo the same for my cold. So here we go to find them.

PS. no lectures on how CS is going to turn me blue. I know it's NOT because I only take 2 tbsp a day. That blue man rubbed it on his skin (his own homemade kind at that) and drank it by the bottles full.

Many photos of Christmas

We chose to have a quiet fun Christmas at my parent's house this year. We arrived around 9am and stayed until nearly 5pm. We had a marvelous time, but I missed the days of having Christmas in the mountains with my Grandparents.

The big gift this year was a Wii for Dad. For the first time ever, he got clued. He's usually the clue writer, clue placer and the clue giver, but never the clue recipient. I had the best time writing clues (which I did last year as well for my husband's clue gift ~ which you might remember was also a Wii). Never heard of a "clued gift?" Well let me explain. Sometimes there is a rather large item that you want to give, but instead of just giving the person the gift ... there is a bit of anticipation. The unspsecting person opens up a normal looking gift. In the gift, there is the first clue to where the second clue is. They realize right away that they've been "clue gifted."

Usually 2 to 4 lines per clue are written. Sometimes it's only 3 places and other times it's 5 or 6 places. I'm sure if we really wanted to be annoyingly fun .... we'd have 7 or 8 clues. The first time somoene got clue gifted was me back in good ole 1995. It doesn't happen every year, but it's fun none the less. Whenever I'm the clue writer, I try to give little fun clues inside each clue about what the gift might be. Whenever the final gift is unwrapped .. it's more of a "aha" that's what that clue meant. Generally clues are found somewhere in the kitchen, in the bathroom, and for the first time ever ... one had to walk outside in the cold to find one in the mailbox.

IF you were really lucky, you saw one right here on my blog yesterday. I had it scheduled to post right about the time he would come to the computer for the last clue. VERY hard to schedule. If you've never done this, I suggest you give it a try. Just as a sample of what you might write:

Now that you've found your next clue
It's apparent what we've done to you.
Your next hint or so I've been told
Is where you keep things very cold.

(this was clue number 3 ~ and he had to find the clue in the freezer).

On to the photos of the day.

I took these photos using my new telephoto lens that santa brought me for my camera. The lens has automatic and manual focus. I discovered that I really like the manual focus on this huge lens that is quite heavy indeed for my unsteady hand. I took these photos from a pretty good distance away.

Row 1: Left is the new Nativity Scene. Right is a few candles, water globe and willow tree angels along with the ends of a couple of band director "magical sticks."
Row 2: Snow babies that my Dad painted years ago. They make me smile.
Row 3: Left is the dish that is a MUST. Granny's Mac & Cheese. Right: Trumpet on Tree

The next few photos were taken with our regular lens for the Olympus SLR. We use this lens for traditional picture taking. We can also use the manual focus on it as well as the automatic focus, but we have to change that setting with the camera body instead on the lens itself.

Row 1: Left:My new Willow Tree Angel. Right: Rob with our new birdfeeder
Row 2: Help with my ever needy hair (and check out the velvetta cheese box in my lap)
Row 3: We always get some sort of goodies. Left: Junior Mints Right: Beef Stick

Guess what we did ....

If you said ...



you might be right.



We decided since we were going to get up early and go to my parent's house .. that we should go ahead and exchange tonight.

Other than the GPS which had already been given .. and well used. I received two new lens' for my Olympus SLR camera. LOVE THEM.

Took this beauty of a picture from the kitchen of my house into the living room.

Bring the Rain

Quick Crud Update

I no longer have that headache. Ya know the one where your head is so suggested you feel as if your eyes and teeth wanna pop right out? Yeah that one. It's gone.

I no longer have that back ache. Ya know the one where you feel as if you just wanna pull the spine right out of your back and you'd feel better? Yeah that one. It's gone.

I no longer have that fever. Ya know the one where no matter how much Tylenol you take it just won't go down low enough? Yeah that one. It's gone.

What do I have?

A cough due to post nasal drip. It's not pleasant when it happens and it catches me and others off guard. It will probably be there another few weeks. But prayers works people, pray it goes away by Christmas morning.

A bipolar nose. One minute it's drippy and the next it's stuffed up. It's so confused. Honestly I think it's all in my head (haa haa. little Lyme humor there).

Fatigue. I think I'm so tired from resting so long.

Well I have to run off to work. Okay maybe not RUN. That would be a long run. It takes me 40 to 45 minutes by car. :O

Crowd Crud Part 2

I wanted to update folks on my crud condition. Last night I continued to get worse. My fever climbed, my cough worsened, my nose wouldn't stop running. I was just plain ole miserable. In fact, I was so miserable that for maybe the 4th time since it's airing ... I missed Survivor Live. I have NEVER missed the finale live ... :=( So I'll be watching to see who won last night and hoping that I don't get spoiled at work or on the radio.

So yes, I woke up feeling much better this morning. My nose has improved (and usually it's horrible first thing in the morning) and my fever is GONE. It went from 101 last night to back to normal 97.5 (for me that's normal). I took some Tylenol last night, but haven't had any in over 9 hours.

I will tell you though that majority of the time, I start fighting it off and then I relapse. So today could be a great day, but tomorrow could be worse than yesterday.

SOOOOOo in knowing this about my body, I am going to continue to work on fighting this illness by boosting my immune system with shakes and taking OTC meds that will help me keep the symptoms at bay. I hate taking medications, but ... I do not want to be sick Christmas morning.

Crowd Crud

So it never fails if I get around huge amounts of people that I get sick.

It starts off slow. First I don't feel quite like myself. Then my nose starts to get the drippy feeling. Following the drippy nose is the sore throat from the nose draining down the back of my throat. Then I feel feverish (and majority of the time I actually get a fever). I begin to cough and the bones in my face begin to ache.

I must have been Glutton For Punishment a second time. Remember in August when I went to two parties in one day? Well as you all know, a week ago Saturday I was at a graduation for my brother. The crowd in that room was crazy ridiculous. However, I didn't even think about potentially getting sick. Last time I got sick was at the beginning of October.

Well after my crowd infestation on Saturday, I was forced into another crowd situation on both Wednesday & Friday. On Wednesday we had a meeting at work which included many people from other child care centers. On Friday, we had our Christmas party at the bosses house which included lots of hugs from friends. I didn't even THINK about the possibility of getting sick from any of these parties. However, on Thursday and Friday guess what I started doing? It didn't even dawn on me until now, but I began to sneeze. Quite a bit. Would people remind me that when I start sneezing that I need to double up on the Vitamin C?

I am almost positive I know where I got this, but it simply never fails. Go to crowded events and I get the crud. I pray this doesn't turn into Bronchitis. It would be simply lovely to have Christmas Day without Bronchitis. (This is also why we are tempted every year to have Christmas early because we don't want the pictures of me looking horrible ~ always get this really red nose like Rudolph).

So please pray that the sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever goes away quickly and swiftly. Wow I sound like a Nyquil Commercial. :P Add sore throat to that and you have my list. Though I'm not for certain about the fever. I've not tested it yet.

update: I tested it an hour ago after an hour of tylenol. 99.8. Whatapain.

He was tempted.

So last night I had a Christmas party at my boss' home. Upon my return, I slowly and carefully walked in the house to avoid waking up m husband. He was still awake which surprised me considering it was past midnight. I was still walking around without lights on and I tripped over a roll of wrapping paper. He then turned on the lights at the same time I turned towards the computer and I saw a box sitting on my keyboard.

I realized that my husband was tempted. Tempted to buy one more item. Tempted to see the look on my face.

My husband placed Santa's gift on my keyboard. It was not wrapped. It was actually just the box of the item without the item in it. It is a beautiful GPS unit which will come in quite handy. I get lost easily. This should assist me and help me feel more confidant in going to new places.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeee.

He was tempted. I'm glad he was.

Temptations

Go ahead fess up. How many of you have ever been tempted to open up your Christmas gifts a tad early? When you were children ... how many wanted to find the hiding spot in your parent's closet to take a sneak peek of gifts? How many actually did? (Hi Mom, I tried to find them, but you hid them really well and I was really short)

Well since I've become married, I can count on one hand finger how many times my husband and I have waited until Christmas morning to open up our presents. We have no patience. It has nothing to do with us wanting to open up our own gifts, but we want to see the look on our spouse's face when they see the special things we've picked out for them.

One year when I was at my sickest, we did something even more unconventional. I bought all my presents, he bought all of his presents, we wrapped our own gifts and then that morning it was a surprise about what the other picked for themselves.

I am determined to wait until Christmas morning. I have 8 nights to be patient make my husband be patient. A few weeks ago, we purchased an elliptical machine to replace his recumbent bike. Since this was such a pricey item, we decided that no more money would be spent on his Christmas. So he has three items under the tree to open. Now I on the other hand have quite a few. Every night Rob says, "You want to open up just one?"

Now presents are like Pringles: You can't have just one! He'd hand me one. I'd open it and then he'd hand me another. I'd open it. Then he'd have to open one. Then I'd have to open another. It happens this way every year. This year, I am determined to resist temptations.

Jeffrey the graduate

Jeffrey receiving his degree in front of a packed gymnasium.


Jeffrey showing off his degree holder for us.



Jeffrey turning his tassel.



Dad, Mom, Jeffrey and me.

My brother the graduate

My brother graduated college today.

This is a grand achievement of spectacular fashion.

I am so proud of my little brother.

Lots of photographs were taken.

Lots of laughter was had.

Tears were on the verge of being shed.

I can now say that I am the big sister of a college graduate.

My parents can say that all of their children are college graduates.

What a moment for our family.

What a moment for Jeffrey.

Way to go Jeffbo.

Way to go.

New to the blog?

If you're new to the blog, there are several specific blog posts that will help you get to know me better. Here is a repeat of something I wrote in early November. If you ever have any questions, don't feel too shy to ask. The only stupid question is the one unasked. Feel free to leave your email address in the comments and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

My name is Jennifer and this is my blog. I have been actively fighting this world of Lyme Disease and co-infections since March of 2007. I've also dabbled in mineral deficiency, Progesterone Deficiencies, Heavy Metal Toxicity and other health issues. I had a PICC inserted into my right arm July of 2008 and I battled with it every day to keep it in for almost 7 months. There were several moments where it probably should have been pulled, but between my wonderful nurses, doctor, picc line insertion team and husband ... we managed to keep it in as long as I needed it. We used it up to the night before it was finally pulled. My background story can be found here.
Other important links can be found here.

I've used regular antibiotics, supplemental therapies, IV vitamin & minerals, yeast battling medications and chelation treatment. I know there is more that I have used, but the most important part of my protocol was keeping the Candida (yeast) at bay. I feel as if the IV vitamin & minerals did the best at keeping my energy levels up. I had an extremely experimental IV which I used for well over 7 months (probably more like 9 months) which isn't available any more. I feel like that IV did more for more than anything else I have tried.

Now while that stuff pretty much rules my life, I am a person. I live my life the best I can with the skills that I have and the love I receive. My husband and I have been coupled together now for 12 years. This coming April, we will celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. He has been with me on almost every single doctor visit I have endured. He's only missed ONE hospital visit and that one was just a quick check on my picc line when I was having an allergic reaction to the cleaning solution. I wasn't even there that long. He's supported me with his quirky sense of humor and determination to get to the root of my health issues. Google was his best friend when I spiraled out of control in 2006/2007. He is the one that found my Lyme Doctor, he is the one that diagnosed me, and he is the one that ensured that I filled out the paperwork to get to see my Great Oz of Lyme.

We have two delightful and mischievous dogs. We rescued both. One is a lab mix that we rescued from the SPCA. He is about 8 to 9 years old. We rescued him when he was about 8 months old. We also rescued a Dachshund from a house. I went over to this house with a friend of mine to donate clothes for the mother. When we arrived, there was a terrible stench that greeted us. The house was full of children and pets. I mentioned how many pets they had and the lady said they were trying to get rid of one of them. I found this lovely scared overweight Dachshund under the couch. I told the lady I would take her to the SPCA and find her a home. I fell in love and she's been under our loving care ever since. I speculate she's around 10 to 11 years old now. She's definately no longer shy, but does get scared at new people. She's no longer overweight either!

I work in a child care facility. Originally, I worked full time in a preschool classroom. However as time went on, I became in charge of my center's reading program. I did both teach in the classroom and run the private reading program. Then it became crystal clear that I was struggling doing both well. I would spend 2 or 3 hours outside of my classroom and only have my class 3 to 4 hours (and two of those hours would be at nap time). So I had a choice to make. Do one or the other or feel like a failure at both. Even though I was still doing both quite well, my health was starting to fail and I needed to focus on as few things as possible. I could have done either, but my passion was the reading program.

So now, I teach 3 & 4 year old children how to read. I also dabble in the Math program as well. It's quite a rewarding job to know that the children I send to Kindergarten already know how to read before getting there. A lot of the children I have taught in the past are now in Academically Gifted programs. It makes me so proud to know that they took the basics I taught them and expanded into very gifted students. A few months ago, I saw one of the students I taught at 3 and 4 and she's now in 3rd or 4th grade.

There are several things that I love. I love taking photographs (especially of flowers, trees and clock towers), watching Carolina play basketball, collecting angels & snowmen, reconnecting with old friends and watching TV (especially So You Think You Can Dance). I used to be in the marching band and winterguard. I love to go to competitions to see my alma mater perform. Speaking of Alma Maters, I went to Western Carolina University and performed in the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band for one semester. So any chance I get to see WCU perform, I grab it. That band is one awesome band. Youtube does not do it justice. If you ever get the chance to see WCU perform live ... take it! You will not be disappointed.

Again, welcome to the blog. I hope you'll take this opportunity to learn more about Lyme Disease by looking over to the right and checking out some older blog posts.

Trip to the beach

On Monday, I took a trip to the beach. I enjoyed my time talking and laughing with an old friend. Pretty much was an eating and lots of talking trip. I didn't walk on the beach, but I saw the ocean. Funny thing happened. Funny only happens to me funny ... not funny humorous in any kind of way funny.

So in September of 2008, we went to the beach ... Upon our return I wrote this:

****
We were on our way once again and made it to the first bridge. Now bridges, they frighten me. A few things other than bridges frighten more more (heights, the S critter, tunnels, etc.). Bridges over water ... they frighten me more than regular bridges. Now we had to go over this bridge to get to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We not only had to go over ONE bridge ... we had to go over TWO bridges. One of those TWO bridges was one of those "fancy dancy" bridges that opens up in the middle when a boat happens to need to go through. Wanna guess what happened when we were on the bridge? If you said, "the bridge opened up while you were on it" you just won 17,000 points. And just like on the Drew Carey show, they aren't good for anything.


***

So now that you've reread this doozy of a paragraph, know that since we made it all the way to the ocean that we had to go over one of those fancy dancy draw bridges. And guess what happened while we were on it ..... IT OPENED UP! *gahhh*

Anyways had awesome food with an awesome friend.

Just Jennifer

How many of you have different versions of yourself? Come on speak up. You know it's true. When you're around strangers, you act one way. When you're around family, you act another. When you're with coworkers, there is a completely alternate side. There are many sides to me.

There is the absolute strong side. This side of me will not admit weakness. This side of me will not let anyone in to see the how badly I feel. I have shown this version to almost everyone at one point or another. I really had to utilize the strong side when I was getting sick and did not realize what was going on to my body. I did not want anyone to know how badly I felt or that my body was failing me. The strong side is the side that won't let me travel because I don't want people to see that I fail at something or that I am directionally challenged. At the very peak of my illness, it was very difficult to keep this strong side focused because I needed help. It was difficult to ask for help because asking for help meant showing that my body was failing me. There were only a few people that I confided in for assistance.


It's this strong version of me that I really want the world to see, but sometimes the weak side slips out when I least expect it. The weak side is the version of me that houses the tears. Sometimes it causes uncontrollable crying and sometimes it causes me just to mope around the house feeling a tad bit sorry for myself. However, I usually don't let this side show too often nor to too many people. Then there is the crazy Jennifer. I show her when I'm feeling either extremely comfortable or extremely uncomfortable in a situation.

A few years ago, I became Lyme Jennifer. Lyme advocate extraordinaire. Pretty much all my thoughts were about Lyme. It's hard not to be Lyme centered when everything you do involves Lyme Disease and treatment.

I have some friends that I am strictly strong Jennifer around. Some of these people need my strong side while others could understand my vulnerability, but I just don't let them in. There are others that see more of all of me, but there are very few that see just Jennifer. Sometimes I wonder if I've ever seen just Jennifer. I saw her this week for the first time in a really long time. It felt good to laugh, shop, hang out with friends and not be worried about getting home in time for a treatment. I know I should be taking these supplements and I know that if I continue not taking them that a relapse could occur, but it feels so good to be Just Jennifer.

Who do you just wanna be?

My favorite ornament

My favorite Christmas tree ornament came from my Granny's tree. Every Christmas, we would stay there for Christmas week. Upon arriving, I would run to the tree and try to find my favorite ornament. I'd twirl her and loved her. I loved it when I got to put her on my own tree. Now every time I unwrap her, I twirl her in my hands before placing her on a branch.

*shhh*

I was very bloggy in November. I suspect December will be a quieter month on the Blog Front.

I've got a very busy month ahead.

Tomorrow I'm heading to Wilmington to eat lunch with a friend from my old homestead. Then later this week, 6 days to be exact, my brother graduates from college! This is a very exciting day. I'll probably do a proper graduation post for him later. Of course, tis the season for family gatherings and doctor's appointments. Rob has his follow up in a couple of weeks. I found a new use for my IV pole. Today as I was hanging up m y clothes, I realized I was hanging the button down shirts on it to be able to button one or two buttons before hanging them in the closet. Though, I think I prefer last years usage:



I realized a few days ago that I never finished, or started for that matter, a project I wanted to get off the ground. That's to find photographs of my friends and me and putting them in one photo album. I'm slowly putting photographs in a folder on my computer that I want to print. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Enjoy the silence. Just know, I'm doing very well.

We can go home again

This past Sunday I woke up and decided that I needed to be in this special place. Things kept popping up that told me that maybe I shouldn't go, but I ignored those signs and went anyways. First I tried to leave the house and realized I left the directions. Then I got in the car and realized I had no gasoline. I went ahead and got gas and then missed the highway I needed to take. After all these things were out of the way, I headed down the road with only a little bit of reservation and a full tank of gas.

About 2 hours later, I pulled into the driveway and took a deep breath. I changed into more appropriate shoes (IE less comfortable) and stepped out of the car. I grabbed my trusty bible from 1987 and decided it was time to check things out. I walked into the back building and saw not a soul, but rooms that made me smile. I thought about all the children's laughter that had filled the rooms. I wandered around for about 10 minutes before heading to the front building. I carefully opened the front door and entered. Then the second door opened for me and there was a man that I used to see every single Sunday. His smile was a sight for sore eyes and I entered ....



Every single eye was on me. Some people recognized me right away while others took a few glances. I was given a gift that day. A gift of remembrance. A celebration of my return that no one was expecting. I was greeted with smiles, hugs and memories. I enjoyed my Sunday School class which included sitting between two of my best friends from so long ago. I suspected that they might be there given it was Thanksgiving Sunday, but I wasn't for sure. After all, they both have lives of their own. The service itself was a beautiful reminder of the Advent Season. It was a beautiful reminder of how children are our future. I realized it was so long ago when I sat on those same Burgundy steps listening to a similar Children's Sermon.

Then, the pastor put me on the spot and asked I come to the front in the middle of church to talk with the children. I was petrified to be standing in front of all the adults that used to care for me, but I squatted down low and did what I do every day. I talked with the children. Then, I lit the first Advent Candle with a little boy who was there visiting with his Mom. His Mom used to be my best friend at church. Upon lighting the candle, I swiftly made my way back to the pew sitting next to this little boy's Uncle who was also one of my closest friends. After church, I was invited to their home and enjoyed 3 hours of food and fellowship. We talked about the past and the present. We talked about the good parts of our lives and the not so good parts. In the 7 some hours I was there, I felt as if I had never left at all. Twenty years was erased quickly.

You can go home again. :o)

It's a miracle

Our Tree is put together.
Our Tree is decked out with lights and ornaments.
Our Tree is decked out with MORE lights than normal and a different strand of garland.

And it's only two days after Thanksgiving. That my dear friends is what I call a miracle.


Don't understand the miraculous nature of this event? Well two years ago I could NOT put up a tree. I could not celebrate the birth of Christ with the tradition of putting together a tree with a star so bright on top that it guided the 3 Kings to witness Christ's birth. I just had to simply be simple in knowing that the spirit was in my heart, but not my home.

So it's a miracle that the tree is put up.

It's a miracle.

So here is me: A tree hugging, Eric Montross loving, ornament putter upper Jennifer!

Straight No Chasers

Oops. Guess you'll have to be patient. :o) Instead of your regularly scheduled UNC Varsity picture post ... Enjoy this:

Happy Birthday Mom!

And I sent you an even BETTER video through email.

Happy Birthday Mom!

What are you thankful for?

Today is a day to give thanks for all that we have been given. What are you thankful for?

What are the things you've heard?

As a chronically ill patient, I have heard the gambit of things that have just blown my mind. Some were said from friends, family, nurses, and even doctors. The one that gets me every time I think about it is when a Rheumatologist told me, "That shouldn't happen."

So my question for my blogger friends is this: What is the most eye brow raising thing that someone else has said to you during your illness? Use MckLinky here to enter your answers. :) I left some my real life examples for you to go by. :o)

Gift Idea

Hey ladies ... share this with your friends and family. Get a great gift AND support a Lyme Disease patient all in the same breath. First just look at it. It's beautiful. Second, it was designed with a special person in mind. This necklace was designed and dedicated for Jessica Stevens. Jessica is a 21 year old who suffers from Neurologic Lyme Disease in addition to Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. Alone, each one is painful, but together it's severely debilitating and painful. Jessica has spent the last 3 years of her life paralyzed. She is unable to sit or walk or even eat. Lately to battle these illnesses, Jessica has been in Mexico participating in a Ketamine study.

You can follow Jessica on her blog at: www.hopeforjessica.blogspot.com

Lymelinks is an etsy shop that sends profits to Lyme charties (and some pieces are made for Autism charities too), but recently decided to "adopt" Jessica. So for each one of these necklaces that are sold, the proceeds benefit the her so her family can pay medical bills. Later, there are plans to create a matching bracelet will also benefit Jessica. Lymelinks plans to adopt one Lyme patient each year.

Usually, the necklaces will ships within 2 to 14 days. Jessica's necklace is on a 19 3/4 " silver plate chain. It has a sterling silver awareness ribbon bail and a 22 mm swaroviski crystal pendant. Jessica's necklace is only $26.95 with a shipping cost of 2.50 to 3.00 to the United States. So for less than $30.00 you can not only have a beautiful necklace, but also a memento to remember Lyme Disease and help Jessica.




Want to learn more about Jessica's Ketamine Study?

Watch this news story on her, "Counting on a Coma."



And check out Lyme Links other pieces of jewelry ...


Lymelinks Webpage

I know the family that created this etsy site in person. They are a wonderful family. The mom has Lyme Disease along with her two children. I met her at my LLMD's office shortly after I was diagnosed. Her children had yet to be diagnosed at that point.

JV Game

Here are the photos from the JV game I attended with my husband a week ago Sunday.




UNC JV team at the Free Throw line and number 42 is watching the ball go into the basket.



UNC JV team attempting a Three Point shot.


These boys fight for every shot.


There were several injuries too.


including a pretty bad blood nose. But best of all,

And Eric Montross too. :o)

Lil Piece of Me

Thomas Wolfe wrote a book called You Can't Go Home Again. There are places in my past that I love. On Monday November 16th, I took a road trip to a place that I have longed to be since I was last there. While my memories of this place decrease with each year that I live, what I do remember is how much I love the friends I made and moments I had.

One of my favorite places was right here ...



in this nook, I read many books. I probably would have read every book in that library had stayed there long enough. As I walked into the library, the familiar smell of books hit me. The kind Librarian greeted me just as she (well not that exactly Librarian that would be kind of scary eh?) had done well over 22 years ago.

From this spot, I drove on to another place I spent a lot of time. I spent a lot of time on slides, Merry Go Rounds and seesaws, but I spent a lot of time sitting right here watching people come into the building.




This building: Our Church.


Then after spending some time around the swings, merry go round and seesaws, I drove down past where I used to live. I must say it looks exactly how it does in my memory. I snapped a quick picture while driving past and went onto my former elementary school. I only took one photo because the building made me sad. This part was condemned a few years ago and they have recently built a new elementary school combining the students from another school with "ours." What memories I have from this building.



Then I realized that I can go back and see some old friends that I haven't seen in 21 years. That would be nice. We've all aged, but we're all essentially the same people. And guess what ... we can go home again.

Interviewed by Lyme Girl

I was interviewed by "Lyme Girl" a few weeks ago and she posted the question & answer session on her blog. If you're interesting in reading, check it out here.

Know there is one mistake which hopefully will be corrected soon. I started blogging September of 2008 instead of March 2008. I started treatment March of 07 and I'm thinking she just mixed up my answers. Ya know being that she is a Lymie! :) Much love to ya LG. :D

Pride of the Mountains

Now for a rather large rememory about me choosing a college.

When it was time for me to choose a college, I knew that I wanted a university in North Carolina. I knew what I wanted and I knew what I didn't want. I knew that I did not want to spend a plethora of money on application fees to different universities when I could only attend one. I had a preference to stay close to home.

Fate had other plans. During the time in which it becomes more important to choose different universities, I was introduced to a couple of people that went to Western Carolina. These people were band people geeks just like me. They were former students of my band director and they helped us out quite often with our music & drill.

Our band was on it's way to one of the biggest competitions of our high school career and it was going to be our first time marching on turf instead of grass. Mr. Bob Buckner and the Western Carolina Marching Band invited us to come and practice on their field. As soon as our buses arrived onto campus, I fell in love. It was the time of year that mountains are covered with colorful leaves. I marched on that field and knew in a moment that I had to go there.

photo taken Nov. 1, 2008 taken from home side looking at visitor's side. The purple & gold seats were not there when I attended WCU. The band took up about 1/7 of the stands in the front section you see. Now I want to say they take up about 3/7 of the stands in the front section you see.


Shortly thereafter, I was recruited to the band program by Mr. Buckner and his wife. She wanted me in her guard program. I knew I wanted to be in this blossoming band. I knew that if I didn't participate I would regret it the rest of my life. I knew that this band program was going to balloon into something quite spectacular.

Photo of Bob Buckner, the man responsible for getting me to Western Carolina. :) I even spent the night at his house one cold snowy evening.




Between the gorgeousness of the university, friendliness of the students and the up and coming band program, I knew that Western Carolina University was the place I had to be. Now the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band is the only collegiate marching band to give me down right chill bumps. In fact, it has become extremely difficult to impress me after seeing this program grow into the Sudler Trophy Program.

The Sudler Trophy is an award bestowed on one university marching band each year. The award does not represent the winner of any championship, but rather a band surrounded by great tradition that has become respected nationally. No school may be honored with the award twice.

Western Carolina Pride of the Mountains Marching Band is the most recent recipient of this award. The past few years I have gone to WCU to see them and this year I went to a local band competition to watch them perform their 2009 show. It is spectacular. If you're interested in seeing anything by them, check out youtube. Put in the search button Pride Of the Mountains and many videos will come up. This year, WCU has 350 to 400 marching members and in the last 10 years alone the band has grown by 120 members. I marched in the Fall semester of 1995. Here is part of what I saw at our local band day on October 31, 2009.






While, I didn't choose a college "close" to home ... Western Carolina is home in many ways. I love to go "home" once a year to see the growth of the university. Even at my sickest, I went for the healing properties of the mountain air.

Go CATS. :o)

My friend Cindy

Cindy is an online friend of mine. I don't remember how we "found" each other, but I love reading her blog. She is so creative. Cindy has CF (Cystic Fibrosis), but that is not what makes Cindy so special. Cindy spreads her sunshine to others.

Several times in the past, Cindy has thought about opening up an online shop for her creations. She has finally done it. "Sunshine by Cindy" opened recently and she's having a give a way on her blog. Check out my friend's etsy website and check out her Yo yo Clip giveaway.

My Rememories

With my recent trip to UNC and also a spontaneous trip I took on the 16th, I have been thinking about my rememories. What you say? Rememories isn't a word? I'm going to post a few of my rememories starting with this post.

The first rememory is how I came up with the word. I was full of Lyme, but I didn't know it. I was mixing up all my words. Sometimes I couldn't think of the word phone, but instead I would say, "I need to use the ya know the thing you talk on." Or if I needed to find a pencil, I'd say, "Where's that thing with the lead and pink thing on the end?" It was frustrating, but did prove humorous (but I would have said humory) at times. There was the time where I swore the word was rememory. I said in perfect intonation, I was rememory today about the time .....

I was trying to say remembering or having a memory, but instead the word rememory came out. What's worse is that I couldn't understand why my friend was laughing at me. When I was told, I swore that I was using the right word. Bless my poor word finding heart.

A more recent rememory only happened a week or two ago at work.

I rarely post about work because I prefer to keep that part of my life separate from the blog. However, I have to share the funniest thing that happened about a week ago.

Part of my job has me teaching children letters, sounds and words that begin with those letters. Well this little boy was going through about 5 letters telling me the letter, a sound and a word for the letter. When we got to the letter B, he said, "B says 'buh' for 'bum'."

Because I wasn't sure I heard him correctly, I asked, "What is that?"

That's when he told me, "Well I don't know, but it rhymes with Drum and it starts with a B."

Kelly Currin Morris

Update: 2:30pm. I just found out that Dental records have been used to confirmed that the skeletal remains belong to Kelly Currin and her husband Scott Morris has been charged with murder in addition to setting fire to their home.

***

On October 3, 2008 ... I urged my readers to help find Kelly. Today our Sheriff's Office is holding a press conference to disclose some latest details of the case. Yes, this case is STILL ongoing. Yesterday however, they may have found something. The details are slow to release and may be an assumption of the news, but according to our local news channel (which may or may not be accurate), they found skeletal remains and have taken Kelly's husband into custody.

Please pray for this family that I went to MS & HS with. I know last night must have been incredibly difficult as have each night since her disappearance. I believe the press conference will be held around 4pm Eastern Time, but am not for certain.

This was my original post:

I know I do not not have a huge following nor are the people that read my blog in the Granville County area of North Carolina, but if by chance you are ........ please help them find Kelly. Obviously the longer a woman is missing, the worse the outcome. The other thing you can do is pray that the family can find her.

There is a missing lady from the town I grew up in. I went to high school with her and her brother. I did not know her, but was acquaintances with her brother. Kelly was friend's with many of my friends however and still lives in the same county.

She has been missing for a month now. The facts that are known are this:

Kelly is 28 years old. She has two children and married to a man named Scott Morris. The authorities have found her car which had her keys, purse and cell phone a mile from her house shortly after her disappearance. Kelly's house was on fire and burned down the same day she disappeared. According to the authorities, Kelly has not been found in the home.

The family has offered a 30,000 dollar reward for information that leads to finding her. I saw this on a comment on WRAL's story on her.


"On behalf of the Currin family, we are requesting any and all available personnel for a continued missing person search in Granville County. We will meet at the Orange County Rescue Squad in Hillsborough at 0630 Saturday morning. We will meet at the Currin Construction company on the northwest corner of Old Weaver Trail and NC Highway 50 in Wake County just south of the Granville County line at 0700. Please pass this along to anyone and everyone that you know so we can get as large a group as possible. We have been asked about horseback and ATVs. All are necessary and greatly appreciated. Please forward this email to all those you know and any listserv you may be a part of to help gather those who can work beside us to assist the Currin Family and the Hollis Family in bringing their daughter home." by member: betty8i

Very Lucky Story

So I was very lucky to meet Eric Montross before the start of Carolina's Basketball Game.

It all came together like pieces of a puzzle. First piece was that someone gave me two tickets for the Carolina Game. On a whim, we decided we would try to go to the Dean Dome to see the JV play which was scheduled to play 3 hours before the Varsity team. We parked and walked to the Dean Dome.



Entrance A looked locked up so we walked around to Entrance B and noticed a door open. We again took a chance. There was someone standing in the door so we asked if it would be alright for us to go watch the JV game. The man kindly said that we could go in and sit anywhere we wanted for the JV game. We sat down in the very first row! When the JV played, we could feel the vibrations in our legs from them playing. It was awesome!

The JV team is pretty much "unknown" to the general public. They play often to very few people. I would say in this 21,000 + capacity dome that there were at most 200 people watching the JV team. Here they are during a time out.



I'll post a more extensive post on the JV team on a later date, but ... I was taking photos of the JV boys and saw him ... See Eric Montross in the back ground of this photo .. the big bald and beautiful man wearing the red tie?



I must have taken a dozen or more from Row A. Then the JV game ended. After being asked by a few people if I'd take their photos, we talked about just going over there and saying Hi. I was very nervous, but after conversing with an usher


(these are the Ushers before they started ... Ushering) I was all convinced to walk over and take my once in a lifetime opportunity.

After all what is the worst that can happen? I could pee on myself, pass out, or he could just be downright rude. I was certain that he wouldn't be rude and I certainly didn't have to go to the bathroom ... so the worst that could happen was me turning 1,000 shades of red and passing out. Then what would happen? Can you imagine Eric Montross picking little ole me off the floor? *gasp* I would have passed out again!

So we walked over there and after standing there for what seemed like 10 minutes (but probably was really only 2 or 3) .. a man moved as if he were standing in our way. I motioned and said that I was trying to speak with Eric Montross. He got Eric's attention and when Eric stood up ... I thought I was going to pass out right then and there. I forgot he was 7 feet tall! I was looking at a giant! He reached out his hand for a handshake and .. I must say that his hands were very soft and warm. I was expecting a hard-roughed hand shake and I got a nice warm soft hand instead. It was a pleasant surprise. I told him a couple of stories about how I gave him the largest coke we had back in 1990 and how my camera had a "find Eric" button on it. He had wonderful eye contact and I felt about 10,000 shades of red. I guess it didn't come out though. After my stories, I asked if he would mind if I took a photo with him. I was thrilled when he said yes! He even made sure that the photos came out so that I wouldn't be disappointed when I got home.

Funny thing is that I was standing a step or two up .. otherwise my face woudln't have been in the photograph. I think I'll stay on cloud 9 million for a while simply beause of my two hand shakes, but then ....he touched my back! I showed great restraint because I really just wanted to rub my hand over his head .. :O So there ya go, the story of how I got to meet my favorite basketball player of all time!

Cloud 9 million for Montross

This was me in November of 2008 standing beside Number 00, Montross' jersey. I had a picc line in. I had long unhealthy hair. I was waiting to get it cut when I felt a bit better. I wanted to cut out that thickness and the years of medications. I had no idea that one year later ... I'd be the luckiest fan alive. Some people call it obsession, but I call it dedication.



One year later, I am on cloud 9 million. I'll tell the story later, but here my dear readers is a dream come true. Eric Montross is my Michael Jordan.



Another hint: I am not that tall and he is not as short as he appears. I was standing up a step or two just so we could get our faces in the same picture, *sigh* My dreams came true last night. I am so stoked.

Very lucky

You know I said at the end of yesterday's post if I was lucky, I'd be able to see my favorite former player Eric Montross. Well I must give you a hint for tomorrow's post.

I was *VERY* lucky.

I am on cloud 9. Take that back. I'm on cloud 90. Take that back. More like cloud 90 Million.

In, out, from , on (another UNC post)

Guess where I am tonight. :o)

Thanks to a friend that works at UNC, I have the privilege of being at the UNC vs. Valpo game right now. Shortly after the exhibition game, he kindly asked if I wanted to go to the UNC Valpo game. He said, "it's in the nosebleed section," but my response is that there are no bad seats in the Dean Dome. The key word to that statement is the word "IN" the Dean Dome. If I didn't have tickets, I'd be OUT of the Dean Dome watching it FROM my couch.

He brought me the tickets and they were ON my fridge waiting to be used today. They are only my 2nd *real* tickets (usually when I order tickets to exhibition game, I print them off at the computer because there is an option for that) and my 1st real tickets to an actual game (opposed to the exhibition game I go to every year). I'm so stoked to be IN the Dean Dome right now! If I was lucky (because i'm writing this post ahead of time), I was able to see the JV team play too.

If I am really lucky, I am able to see Eric Montross. My favorite player from the early 90's. I think I must be his most dedicated fan. :D

So You Think You Can Dance

I know it's been a few days since the episode aired, but I wanted to get my background story up sooner than later.


My top 5:

Russell & Noelle: I was completely shocked by both in this routine. It was my favorite performance. I'm glad that the judges let North Carolinian Noelle stay in the competition just so we could see this great routine by a new choreographer. All of the street dancer are just blowing me away in this competition and Russell is no exception.

Channing & Victor: First of all, this is MY kind of routine. After taking a respite of dance, I took a class in college ... and we focused on different types of dancing each week or two. So I just melt when I see special pieces like this.


Ashley & Jakob and their cane: I said once before that lighting can really make a routine. The lighting of this routine was absolutely awesome. So far in this show, my favorite moments are happening after the dancing ends though. Jakob says, "I don't know what moment you're talking about." What I love about Jakob is that in this routine he's so awkward in his dancing that it looks smooth and choppy at the same time.

Kathryn & Legacy: AWESOME. I think that they both won in this routine. :o) Adam wasn't too happy with the "adorable" that Kathryn gave, but I loved it. Legacy amazed me with his ability to do this routine. He shouldn't be able to do that and he did (Yes HE DID ... yeah I know I'm still not Mary Murphy).


Kevin & Karen: I love these two together so it's not a surprise that I loved this routine. So they cracked me up with their bobble save at the end of the dance. They are still near the top of my leader board. This routine was my least favorite of the three that they have done, but it was still very good.

Questions?

Does anyone have any questions after reading my background story?

Jennifer's Background Story

While I have told my story of how I got diagnosed, I am not sure that my entire story has been told. For those of you that know me in person ... you may not have even heard parts of this story. It's not because I didn't want to share, but because it just didn't seem important to tell you everything. I've probably left parts out in this story (not because I want to, but because I've forgotten bits and pieces of the journey). This is a VERY long post. I do not want to bring it down into separate posts so what I will do is break it down in parts. So you can read bits of it at a time if you need to.

Part One:

I spent 12 years fighting for a diagnosis. I had no idea what was wrong with me. It all started off in 1995 right before I left for college. I had a tick bite. Then shortly after also had some vaccinations and I speculate that those vaccinations also played apart in my severe illness. Fast Forwarding 10 years, I got even worse after another vaccination (Tetanus). I was seemingly fine until I got to college. First morning of classes I sat up in my bed forgetting where I was.

Keep in mind that this would be seemingly normal because I had been in the same bed for the previous 18 years. However, I now surmise that the momentarily lapse was the beginning of a multitude of problems. I forgot where I was so I forgot that I was in a bunk bed. I sat up and knocked my head pretty good. There was blood and a pretty good contusion, but doctors said that I was fine. I didn't even realize either the blood or the contusion was there until I got to class and this guy told me that I had blood running down my face. I don't know which was scarier ... that I had blood on my face or that I didn't FEEL the blood running down my face to know that it was there prior to being told that there was blood there. I was just grateful that I didn't have a concussion.

Part Two

It wasn't long after that I began to have these episodes. Some episodes were quick and benign while others were more obvious. Due to my childhood epilepsy and conk on the noggin, I went to a neurologist who confirmed that I was indeed having seizure activity. Even after medication, my seizures grew progressively worse. It got to the point where I needed to go to UNC hospitals


for a week of testing. I've never felt so alone b.c those doctors were actually suggesting that I was making it all up. That they were strictly for attention and possibly due to stress. They said they didn't know how, but the tests at the WCU hospital were all wrong and that the new tests didn't show any seizure activity. I was told to discontinue all my anti-convulsants and "live" with the episodes. Then, I was mandated to therapy before I could return to school.

I continued to have these episodes until probably 2001. In addition to these episodes, I'd have moments where I'd completely lose track of time. I'd "wake up" in class and not know how I had gotten there. I also began having these spells. I would wake up in the middle of the night with sweats. Immediately, nausea would hit. Shortly after I would be in the bathroom vomiting. This would happen at least three times a week. The sweats would be so bad that I would have to change the sheets on my bed and the mattress would be soaked. I could barely get to the bathroom in time.

Sometimes the RA would find me passed out on the bathroom floor lying in my own vomit after a seizure. I became a recluse b.c I never knew when these moments would come. I just lived with them. No doctor would help me. They suggested that I was Pregnant (if I was, It would be a miracle by God for one and for two the longest pregnancy ~ two years plus .. I think not) or had an Eating Disorder or just an Anxiety Disorder, but no one would even do simple blood work to rule out any illness.

Part Three:

When I started dating and eventually married Robert, he convinced me to see a doctor about the cold sweat/vomiting/diarrhea part of the episodes. I finally saw a nurse practitioner (NP) that seemed understanding. She did all these blood tests and one suggested that I might have a Thyroid problem. I was relieved and scared at the same time. Then a second test came back and my Thyroid was deemed normal. She suggested that it was all in my head too and sent me on my way with antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. I was devastated by her drastic change of opinion. I decided to take them anyways b.c I was desperate for help. At this point, they did help some because I was a wreck just living with the symptoms. But, they didn't help even in the slightest with my physical symptoms. However before I even had seen the NP, the seizures had gone away. I was thankful for just the slightest reprieve.

Sometime in 2003/2004 time frame, I felt a lump in my breast. I was in for the scare of my life when the ultrasound tech scanned my breast. After taking longer than I thought it would to find the lump, she said, "Oh wow. Hold on let me go get the Doctor." He came in and asked her for a few more scans. I immediately ran back to my NP who sent me to a surgeon that specialist in breast lesions. Once the surgeon saw my scans, she suggested a biopsy which would include cutting out the entire lump. I also talked to her about my birth mark which was a heart shaped mole on my right leg. Since I was being put under for one surgery, we both decided that it would be beneficial to go ahead and remove the mole at the same time for biopsy. It had grown in size over the last few years and the color had changed slightly. What if I had cancer and that was causing the episodes? I was terrified, but hopeful for answers.

Part Four:

Well both things came back clear. Praise God for small miracles. However, I started feeling worse. My nausea/cold sweat episodes were worse than ever. About twice a month I'd wake up with severe cramping. Also, I would have episodes of severe vertigo and dizziness. I went to the ER several times that year because I felt the world moving around me. I could barely walk from the bed to the bathroom without having to crawl because of the extreme dizziness. The doctors would listen to my symptoms, give me an IV of Ativan and send me on my way. One night (I think it was in 06, but the dates are really running together now), I awoke in tremendous pain.

I refused to wake up my husband because I felt I had woken him up too many times in the previous few weeks. I just went to the couch and doubled over in pain. I tried everything from heat to food to going to the bathroom. Eventually, I wound up waking my husband and we went to the ER. I was insistant that it was probably gas, but upon several scans of my belly they discovered that my gallbladder was infected and had gall stones. I wasn't even given time to think twice. In less time than it took to get the scans, I was headed back for surgery to remove my gallbladder.

I was thrilled and hopefully that all my GI problems would go away. thought my troubles were over. If I knew then what I know now, I would know that surgery was just the beginning of my troubles. A few weeks after that surgery, I was bit by a tick. I didn't realize it at the time because it was hidden. I kept having this itch. However, my body itched all the time so I figured that was it until I finally decided to look. There it was. A huge blood sucking tick attached to the back of my knee. I went to my neighbor's house to get it removed because it was in such an awkward place that I knew I would never be able to remove it safely. After it was gone, I thought nothing of it. While somethings got better after surgery, somethings got worse. I began to have joint pain and extreme fatigue. Then it happened, I got the flu. I thought, "Are you kidding me? ... Surgery, Tick Bites and the FLU? Come on now. This is ridiculous."

Part Five:

I went to the Urgent Care with my flu like symptoms and for some reason mentioned my tick bite. They immediately said I had Lyme Disease. They were kind and compassionate and sent me home with two weeks of Doxycyline. They informed me that sometimes Lyme tests come back negative that quickly after the bite, but that they were positive I was Lyme infected. If I didn't feel better at the end of the antibiotics, I should come back immediately. I was surprised that not only did they give a blood test, but they gave me treatment! I had no idea how surprising this would actually turn out to be.

Each day on the antibiotic I felt better. Within a week of finishing the antibiotics, I felt immediately worse. The flu was back. ARE YOU KIDDING ME I thought. I went back to the Urgent Care and they said that sometimes strains of Lyme Disease are particularly tough and that they would give me the 2nd round of antibiotics. They sent me home with 2 weeks of Amoxicillian.

About the same amount of time upon finishing the antibiotics, I felt the same thing. Extreme fatigue was the worst. I would fall asleep sitting at stop lights. It was horrible. I started having tingling in my legs and arms, muscle weakness, extreme dizziness, cold sweats, joint pain and the symptoms just go on and on. I went to my regular doctor and told her all of this. She sent me home with four weeks of antibiotics and said that if I did have something bacterial (she said that I also had a terrible ear infection) that it would clear up with that. It was during these four weeks of antibiotics that I walked right into a glass door. *gasp* I was horrified. Some points I felt worse and at some points I felt better. At the end of the four weeks I finally felt better, but two weeks later the symptoms came back.

Part Six:
I was shocked. During this whole time, she also started me on some anti-inflammatories to help my joint pain. Only one gave me a tiny bit of a reprieve ~ Celebrex. She had given me a sample of the drug and it helped slightly so she wrote a prescription (at this point I had wasted tons of money on prescriptions so she wanted to see if it would work first). Then it happened. Insurance DENIED the prescription and it was way too expensive to pay out right. I spent two hours on the phone with the insurance company to tell them how much this particular drug had helped. They said I needed to try FIVE more anti-inflammatories before they would approve the Celebrex.

Each of these other meds caused me extreme G.I problems. Celebrex was the only one that didn't have me running to the bathroom. Finally the insurance company approved the medication. But since I was only getting worse and based on my previous history, my doctor's office suggested that I might have something else. I was sent to a Rheumatologist to be tested for lots of things (one of them was RA Arthritis and the other was Lupus, I don't know what else can't remember). All those tests came back normal. The thing that cracks us up to this very day is the answer that the Rheumy gave us after we told her that my joint pain went away while I was on antibiotics. She told us "that shouldn't happen." She sent me home with Neurontin to help with my severe headaches and joint pain. At this point, muscle weakness was pretty severe. I couldn't' even open up a jar of baby food or squeeze the bye bye buggy to make it work. I was falling asleep at work.

Part Seven:

My regular doc became alarmed at the muscle weakness and sent me for an MRI of the brain. Then suggested that I probably had MS and sent me to the neurologist. The Neurologist that read the initial MRI and forwarded me to another Neurologist saw a suspicious area on my scan He wrote that it appeared that I had some sort of lesion, but he couldn't be sure what it was so he forwarded me to another Neurologist. That Neurologist suggested that the lesion was merely from old damage such as a bump on the head or old seizure activity.

Then he suggested that I was still having seizure activity. So he had me undergo several painful tests all of which came back negative. On the first appointment with the Neuro, he increased the Neurontin to help ease my headaches even further and suggested that if I were having seizures that the Neurontin would ease those as well. However, my EEG proved that I had normal activity. After seeing him for approximately three times with no improvement, my husband and I began to research on the internet.

At this point, I felt that they were treating the symptoms, but not the "disease." I honestly thought that if I kept going at that rate that there would be an autopsy to find out cause of death. I told Rob that I wanted him to sue every doctor after autopsy. So we started doing research on Lyme Disease. Since it was the only thing I "definitely" had (though eventually all the tests came back negative), we researched it to death against my doctor's advice and realized that there were specialists in Lyme Disease that might help.

Part Eight:

My husband emailed the NC Lyme Disease Foundation president and received an email with two recommendations. One of the two had been in the news in North Carolina and we were wary of whether to go see him even though we knew he was probably the better of the two. However, we knew that the 2nd physician didn't just have Lyme blinders on. He specialized in other weird things (ala Dr. House) and I decided to send him a letter of my whole story (which is pretty much what I've told you today). He called me personally and offered hope. However, I had been given hope before. So while I was hopeful, I wasn't going to go into the appointment full of naivete . We scheduled an appointment for the end of February beginning of March of 2007.

When I went to his office that morning, the doctor listened to me for over an hour. Up until this point, I had seen any physician at any appointment for the most 15 minutes. Most appointments with physicians prior to this were less than 5 minutes. One was even under one minute. Not this appointment. This one lasted over an hour. He asked my husband and me numerous questions. We answered. I'll never forget the words out of his mouth, "Jennifer, I know what you have and I can help. You have Lyme Disease. It is written all over your forehead. I will tell you why all of your test results have been wrong and we can work on a plan together to fix you." I'll never forget how I felt when I stumbled out of his office for the first time. I felt hope. For the first time since 1995, I knew that someone cared and listened. He put all the pieces of this convoluted puzzle together.

I've been seeing him now ever since. I finally got that positive Lyme Disease test. I didn't need the physical proof, but it was nice to see it on black and white that LD was indeed one of the problems. As much as I've endured the last 14 plus years, I hope that it helps someone in a small way. I rarely tell my full story because it brings back so many painful memories. I put this out here .. all of it today ... because I hope it helps someone. Friend or Stranger.

****
On May 22, 2010: I wrote a post on "Waiting" that also goes along with my background story. Check it out if you are interested.