RE: Question for the group re: hope and attitude

[Guest guest]

Dear Kate,

Thanks for reaching out.

We all have our times of feeling discouraged or despair, and it may be in a

group like this that we find how others get through such times.

I've had debilitating symptoms for many years, and only recently realized that

i may have lyme disease and co-infections.

There are many ways that i " cope " . Actually, there is often a sense that i'm

actually thriving....yes, thriving....even as symptoms are very difficult.

What helps me is feeling that place beyond body, beyond thoughts, beyond

circumstance. Meditation has helped me profoundly all these years. If I can't

sit up to meditate, i lie down, with my knees bent, resting comfortably.

I have a wonderful library of books that speak to the Soul. Thich Nhat Hanh,

Pema Chodron, Gangaji, Adyashanti, Eckhart Tolle, Goldsmith. The Tao Te

Ching. For me, these teachers help me to realize the Beingness, beyond life

circumstance.

Some people have other teachings that speak more directly to their heart.

There are times when despair hits, and in these moments, just resting and

allowing everything to be as it is....a powerful practice. Beyond constantly

trying to " fix " or " heal " or moving away from discomfort....feeling the

spaciousness that can simply allow rather than resist. This practice helps me

profoundly.

Symptoms for me are always moving and changing.

If i can stand or sit or lie down on the earth, there is some wonderful calming

balancing that happens. Also breathing clean air whenever possible, outdoors.

Of course i " do " many things to improve my health, especially herbs. Finding

ways to rest internally, however, seems to be the most important element for me.

Finding ways to serve others (as little or minute as they may seem) is another

thing that " helps " shift perspective and focus.

I'm looking forward to hearing how other people respond to your questions.

Peace and ease to you,

yarrow

>

>

> Hi, I was just wondering if anyone here has made great strides toward getting

better from chronic lyme disease, using the Buhner core protocol, or any other.

>

> I suppose I am just looking for some positive thoughts that there is a way to

come back from this. I'm feeling discouraged lately with my lingering symptoms.

>

> Also, I wonder how those who were misdiagnosed [yet tried to figure things out

by seeing different doctors, etc.] are handling their anger or frustration about

all of it? I was diagnosed in October, but it's just hit me lately how all of

those months of being misdiagnosed have caused so much suffering and basically

wrecked my year. I feel very angry, but at some point I know that I need to let

it go. Yet every time my skin is burning or my fingers feel numb, I think of

the many doctors I saw who did not figure this out for me. [i am also mad at

myself for not knowing more about lyme as well.]

>

> I know that hanging onto negative thoughts will not help me one bit toward

getting better. I just wonder how everyone else here has coped.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Kate

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kate,

I'm 17 months into abx treatment and 3.5 months into the Buher protocol. I

think the Buhner herbs are helping me but it is too soon to tell how much. I've

been on max dose for 2.5 months except andrographis which I had to stop one

month in when I reached max dose and got bad hives. The protocol has opened my

mind to natural healing. I used to feel upset as I'd choke down the pills

wondering how I was going to do this for the full stretch. Now as I slowly take

each capsule, I focus on how thankful I am that these plants exist and imagine

it going to work and helping heal. BTW, eleuthero has been the herb that has

the most obvious positive benefit for me. I believe in the others, its just

that eleuthero stands out as having an immediate positive effect on the way I

feel.

In general I'm a really positive person but chronic Lyme chips away at that. I

was very angry at the MDs at first but I was just so sick for months there was

nothing I could do about it. I couldn't think straight (lost 21 IQ points!!)

enough to write letters, file complaints, etc. All energy had to go toward

learning about Lyme and seeking treatment. About 9 months into treatment when I

started to feel better I thought about filing complaints, trying to correct the

system so others would not have to deal with this. But I felt so good at times

I was excited to have my life and some activities back again and the fight

became less important to me. Then I relapsed. The relapse was MUCH harder to

handle than the original illness because I had a lot less hope for recovery. I

had to face the possibility that this IS my life now and I wondered if the year

of treatment was all for nothing.

I do try to focus on the positive aspects of my life, of which there are many.

Lyme has increased my levels of patience and understanding and made me

appreciate little things so I try to be thankful for that. I try to take pride

in accomplishing what I can. I was always someone who did lots of stuff and was

involved in everything so it's been really important to me to feel like I'm

still getting things done. Of course, my " to do " list is very different but it

still helps me feel good to focus on the things I CAN do. I've found

prioritization is key, always keeping in mind my true goal, health. If I think

taking action (writing letters, filing complaints, etc) will make me feel

better, I do it. If it is only going to frustrate me further, I avoid it.

One of the major roadblocks to positive thinking with Lyme is the way it invades

our CNS and directly effects brain chemicals causing feelings of depression,

anger and incredible sadness. I try very hard to compartmentalize these

feelings. I acknowledge them, attribute them to the way my brain chemicals are

interacting that day and then get busy with a task that will result in positive

feelings. Sometimes this works!

Hope this helps, best of luck in your recovery.

-

[ ] Question for the group re: hope and attitude

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone here has made great strides toward getting

better from chronic lyme disease, using the Buhner core protocol, or any other.

I suppose I am just looking for some positive thoughts that there is a way to

come back from this. I'm feeling discouraged lately with my lingering symptoms.

Also, I wonder how those who were misdiagnosed [yet tried to figure things out

by seeing different doctors, etc.] are handling their anger or frustration about

all of it? I was diagnosed in October, but it's just hit me lately how all of

those months of being misdiagnosed have caused so much suffering and basically

wrecked my year. I feel very angry, but at some point I know that I need to let

it go. Yet every time my skin is burning or my fingers feel numb, I think of the

many doctors I saw who did not figure this out for me. [i am also mad at myself

for not knowing more about lyme as well.]

I know that hanging onto negative thoughts will not help me one bit toward

getting better. I just wonder how everyone else here has coped.

Thanks,

Kate

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate,

Certainly frustration even despair are understood in coping with this miserable

disease!

Glad you have found us here.

I suggest you go to the home page of this group and click on " files " . There you

can read the stories of some successes with the Buhner method.

(mine is among them- and feel free to e-mail me if you have any question about

my progress)

And keep reaching out here and asking questions, or just ask for support.

You will be well-received.

Good luck to you,

ellen

>

>

> Hi, I was just wondering if anyone here has made great strides toward getting

better from chronic lyme disease, using the Buhner core protocol, or any other.

>

> I suppose I am just looking for some positive thoughts that there is a way to

come back from this. I'm feeling discouraged lately with my lingering symptoms.

>

> Also, I wonder how those who were misdiagnosed [yet tried to figure things out

by seeing different doctors, etc.] are handling their anger or frustration about

all of it? I was diagnosed in October, but it's just hit me lately how all of

those months of being misdiagnosed have caused so much suffering and basically

wrecked my year. I feel very angry, but at some point I know that I need to let

it go. Yet every time my skin is burning or my fingers feel numb, I think of

the many doctors I saw who did not figure this out for me. [i am also mad at

myself for not knowing more about lyme as well.]

>

> I know that hanging onto negative thoughts will not help me one bit toward

getting better. I just wonder how everyone else here has coped.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Kate

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kate,

The one suggestion I have is patience - OK, and be consistant. We have been

sick for so long, it's going to take us a long time to see the relief.

I have been taking Cat's Claw for over a year and can pretty much function

tho I have days where I am sicker than a dog. Think quality of life. Strive

for the good days and appreciate them when they arrive. Be thankful everyday

you're alive....at least that's what I do. Even the bad days - and I've had

a few lately.

PM me if you want to chat. In the beginning - the folks on this board got me

thru alot - just reading their thoughts and knowing someone else was going

thru what I was.

_____

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Katenyc5@...

Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 5:24 PM

Subject: [ ] Question for the group re: hope and attitude

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone here has made great strides toward

getting better from chronic lyme disease, using the Buhner core protocol, or

any other.

I suppose I am just looking for some positive thoughts that there is a way

to come back from this. I'm feeling discouraged lately with my lingering

symptoms.

Also, I wonder how those who were misdiagnosed [yet tried to figure things

out by seeing different doctors, etc.] are handling their anger or

frustration about all of it? I was diagnosed in October, but it's just hit

me lately how all of those months of being misdiagnosed have caused so much

suffering and basically wrecked my year. I feel very angry, but at some

point I know that I need to let it go. Yet every time my skin is burning or

my fingers feel numb, I think of the many doctors I saw who did not figure

this out for me. [i am also mad at myself for not knowing more about lyme as

well.]

I know that hanging onto negative thoughts will not help me one bit toward

getting better. I just wonder how everyone else here has coped.

Thanks,

Kate