A Time to Heal

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

I am the mother of two girls, ages 6 and 8 and my husband and I have just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. This has been a big year. My 8 year old daughter has an autoimmune illness called PANS which was triggered by chronic lyme, probably passed from me to her in utero. This summer I finally found the right treatment using a protocol of specific herbals in combinations with a set of supplements to support her body and immune system. Almost all (maybe all?) of her symptoms are gone. PANS/Lyme is a chronic autoimmune illness so it can flare again, but I think I am not equipped to handle those flares I should be able to keep her well by quickly treating symptoms as soon as they appear. Treat the symptoms, quiet the cytokine cascade, gently target the microbes, and support the immune and detoxification systems. 

I know autoimmune disorders. I have lived with them and watched them tear apart my beautiful little girl until she was a shadow of herself. I have watched the life come back to her eyes and the joy to her soul. I KNOW autoimmune disorders, inflammation, toxic overload, methylation, glutamate and NMDA receptors so this next part should be easy. So why does it feel so big and so scary and so hard?

I have been diagnosed with Litchen Sclerosis. I got the news earlier this spring but it seemed sort of benign. The topical steroid would treat the symptoms and the condition may flare and settle throughout my life. It didn't sound like too much of a big deal. Minor case. Easy peasey.  I almost canceled my follow-up appointment yesterday. I decided to go in because I wanted to ask about another symptom in the affected area to see if it was related. The look of concern on the doctor's face is one I will not soon forget. It hit me then, that this is to be taken seriously. The LS has spread. A new ointment and instructions to use it more frequently and we'll follow-up in 4 weeks.

A quick search of FaceBook support groups brought the reality front and center in my mind. Severe disfigurement, pain, and permanent damage were common results of the progression of this illness. There are links to lyme disease bacteria, and a some people, are treating naturally with great results.

So I know what I have to do. This is my body throwing yet another warning sign across the bow - DO SOMETHING. Do something now before it's too late for you. Not too late for the LS, although that is a terrifying thought based on those FB group posts - but too late to live a long life, well in to my senior years, healthy and happy enough to enjoy my children and this world. Too late to live out the second half of my life with joy and peace.  Too late to turn around the damage I've been doing with sugar and processed foods and toxins. I know what I need to do and now is the time to do it. I got this. Let's go.

Strength. Love. Hope.