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Blog Posts Tagged lyme information | Wellness with Adele | Adele Cole

lyme information

My Lyme Healing Story: Hope Found (Part 3)

My Lyme Healing Story: Hope Found (Part 3)
In case you missed anything up to this point, check out Parts 1 & 2 HERE: 


We’re going to pick up right when I was diagnosed with Lyme but hadn’t had PROPER, ongoing treatment yet. However, as you read about in Part 2, I experienced a healing breakthrough with 2 modalities: myofascial release and homeopathy/alternative medicine (which also involved lifestyle and diet changes).

I finished out high school doing a bit better because of these 2 forms of alternative medicine and by sheer determination. I did NOT feel like my health was reliable or predictable though. I felt on edge and identified as more of a “sick person” than I’d like to admit. 

Despite not feeling well I had my eyes set on working in healthcare or health sciences as a career. Through some debating and one major change in college, I became a nurse. Before my 22nd birthday I was married to an amazing man who fully supported (and still does!) my health and healing journey, graduated, passed boards, and got a job at a prestigious local hospital in an ICU there. 

My career at that point went well, but my health wasn’t great. And working day/night rotating shifts didn’t help at all. In fact, in some ways I started getting worse. 

I wasn’t seeing any alternative medicine practitioners, but was still getting my myofascial release pretty regularly. 

I was also still accruing autoimmune/rheumatological diagnoses, including being worked up for lupus. Additionally, my hormones were getting a bit whacky - a variety of symptoms were popping up, and eventually, I would also be advised to begin a PCOS workup (which I never did do and I do not have at this point). 

This was when I started looking hard at how my circumstances were impacting my health. I realized my job wasn’t helping me heal, and in fact, seemed to be making things worse. We wanted to start a family but I wasn’t well enough to make that possible. So I approached my boss about taking a different position on the unit since I really didn’t want to leave a place I loved working. Thankfully a new, less stressful position for me was able to happen - I went part-time day shift and my health started improving almost immediately. It’s no surprise I had a positive pregnancy test a few months later. 

Early in pregnancy, my husband’s (Cam) boss and his wife actually began treatment with a local Lyme Literate Nurse Practitioner and were telling Cam about it. Of course, my hubby’s ears perked up and he told them *I* also had a Lyme history. They told me to watch the documentary Under Our Skin and consider reaching out to their Lyme provider, especially since I was pregnant. 

I watched the documentary almost immediately. I was in shock. It confirmed SO much and also scared me a bit too. But this was a “helpful” type of fear, I like to call it, that pushed me to take ACTION - for myself, and my baby now too. 

I called the LLNP my husband’s boss was seeing and she got me in within weeks. The bonus for me was that she is also a nurse midwife, so she REALLY could help considering my stage of life/pregnancy as well. Spoiler alert:  I’ve been with her ever since and she’s AMAZING at what she does!


Stay tuned to read the next installment SOON where I’ll share how it went FINALLY getting connected with a capable and reputable specialist. 


Let’s make sure you’re connected with me so you stay plugged in to allll the holistic healing goodness and community that’s there for YOU! Hop into Lyme-y & Crunchy for all kinds of Lyme healing encouragement!

Lyme & Low Energy: Why The Heck Am I So Exhausted!? PART 1

Lyme & Low Energy: Why The Heck Am I So Exhausted!? PART 1
At a time in my life when I was supposed to be living my best life, dreaming of the future, and take on each day head-on, I was instead nearly bed-ridden, exhausted constantly, sleeping over 15hrs every single day, and diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). 

At the time, we didn’t yet know I actually have LYME eating away at my cellular function and energy levels. It was literally sucking the life out of me. 

Lyme disease and coinfections can be a BEAST in terms of symptoms. Most people complain about crippling fatigue at one point or another.

But what’s going on exactly? And what can we do about it to get our explosive energy back?
Read more...

Tricky Tick-y Part 1: The Basics

Tricky Tick-y Part 1: The Basics

I have had Lyme, co-infections, and autoimmune conditions more than half of my life now. While I would never consider myself an expert, I've learned some tidbits along the way that may be helpful to those wondering where to turn next if they have reason to be concerned for Lyme themselves.


The fact is, ticks are tricky little buggers, and ANY tick bite should be taken seriously in order to minimize and/or prevent ongoing complications.


Most people hear “tick” and immediately think “Lyme disease.” I too still go there automatically in my mind. But what people should most definitely be aware of is the variance and trickiness in the world of ticks. Let's unravel some basics together here - a "beginner's guide on what you should know about ticks," more or less.



What are we even dealing with here?


Ticks are arachnids and external parasites. They are vectors, or carriers and transmitters of diseases. They feed on their host’s blood, and in that way can transmit, through their saliva, any microbes they are carrying and picking up along the way. Not every tick infects someone it bites with microbes or disease. But the people that ARE infected do risk many symptoms, some ongoing, and even death from tick-borne illnesses. 



What symptoms are we talking about?


Symptoms you can experience from tick-borne illness vary WIDELY, as basically ANY body system can be affected by tick-borne illnesses. In regards to Lyme disease specifically, ILADS, a non-profit, international, multi-disciplinary medical society, dedicated to the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Lyme and its associated diseases, lists possible major/main symptoms on its website. Here’s a summary taken directly from www.ilads.org: 


Common Symptoms and Signs of Early Lyme Disease


  • Erythema Migrans rash (EM); see description below

  • Fatigue, malaise

  • Flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, arthralgias, myalgias

  • Stiff neck

  • Dysesthesia

  • Lymphadenopathy

  • Facial nerve dysfunction leading to weakness or paralysis of facial muscles (often mislabeled as Bell's palsy)

Common Symptoms and Signs of Disseminated and Late Lyme Disease

  • Fatigue

  • Multiple red rashes (EM’s)

  • Severe headaches and neck stiffness

  • Joint swelling and/or pain

  • Neuropathic symptoms - nerve pain, numbness, hot/cold sensations, tingling

  • Cognitive dysfunction

  • Memory impairment

  • Unprovoked pain which may interfere with sleep

  • Palpitations or chest pain, shortness of breath

  • Lightheadedness, fainting

  • Gastrointestinal symptoms

  • Psychiatric symptoms- including depression, anxiety, and mood changes

Some research has shown that Lyme should be considered in the differential diagnosis of rheumatologic and neurologic conditions, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, somatization disorder and any difficult-to-diagnose multi-system illness. 

Are all ticks out to hurt me!?

 

This chart shows a variety of tick types and possible infections they can carry and transmit. However, it’s also important to know that this is all variable. For example, many people claim only Deer Ticks can carry Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), and even then, have to be attached for many hours to transmit it to the host. That simply isn’t always hard and fast truth. What IS helpful is to remove ticks ASAP to reduce transmission rates, and to seek treatment, particularly if you suspect you are infected with a tick-borne illness.



But how do you know? What should you do if you are bitten?


Here’s the thing, at the end of the day, the way I see it, you have 2 main choices: 


    1) if you are bitten by any tick for any amount of time, you could start treatment immediately (ideally with a SPECIALIST - we will talk about that more later!) and continue it for 6wks or more or 


    2) if you are bitten by any tick for any amount of time, you support your body to fight possible infections and monitor indefinitely for symptoms, which could show up at any time for any number of reasons (including other health issue triggering the tick-borne illnesses to rear their ugly heads, stress-induced flares, toxic-related flares, etc). 


At the VERY least, you may want to send the tick into a certified lab to be tested for Lyme and other co-infections. For Pennsylvanians, we like to use this lab, which offers some free testing options.

You can look up other testing options through a Google search of your state or on the 
ILADS website



Coming up!

Next, I plan to talk more about your next steps after a bite...and more! So stay tuned for the rest of this Tricky Tick-y blog series! (Find the next post HERE.)


If you want to learn more about healing NOW, check out my guide to start your healing journey today right HERE.


**Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional here to diagnose, treat, cure, or otherwise influence your medical journey outside of the guidance of a medical professional. I am simply sharing my own journey and what I have learned along the way. Please find a doctor you trust and discuss any medical concerns or treatments with them. Also, please know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases through my site at no extra cost to you.

Meet Adele

 
          Half my lifetime ago I was expecting to be permanently disabled or even dead at a young age unless I found a way back to hope and health. As a result of a mystery illness, I was nearly bed-ridden as a teenager. Sometimes I had to CRAWL up the 7 steps to my bedroom to get to bed because I couldn’t walk that far. I HAD to nap every single day. I was in *constant* burning, aching pain throughout my body and experienced exhaustion and brain fog so bad I could barely communicate. I had quit all sports, babysitting and other jobs. My ambitions, successes, sense of self, and LIFE were slipping through my fingers. I had been misdiagnosed with autoimmune conditions for years only to finally discover that Lyme disease and co-infections were the primary culprit of my medical mysteries. At the time of my diagnosis, I was spiraling into depression, helplessness, and hopelessness.  I had no idea where this journey would take me, but I could not see a light at the end of it, and that was just plain scary.
 
          My mom took me to many doctors, but none specialized in Lyme and tick borne illnesses. They all treated the symptoms I was having as best as they could, but I was still getting slowly worse, or having side effects from medications I was being put on. So my mom and I sought alternative options out of desperation. Homeopathy, diet changes, proper supplements, and rest finally started to lead me into healing and the fog started to lift. During that time, myofascial release from a certified massage therapist was one of the most helpful modalities I tried. She used essential oils too, and that was officially my first introduction to their power. All of these alternative options helped me survive, start to thrive, and begin the next leg of my journey: becoming a nurse. I thrived in a career that combined science, research, and helping others through their suffering and health goals. In my young adult years, I finally had the opportunity to continue my treatment and health journey with a Lyme specialist, which has helped me heal more fully than I ever would have thought possible 10yrs ago. 

          I knew that as I got married, started a family, and was working on healing my body, I had some big goals: 1) to be there for my family and to be able to care for them fully and 2) to have a non-toxic home and life in order to live our best lives. My cousin shared with me some of her journey, which had similarities to my own. She was using some things I was already curious about, including essential oils and specialized supplements. I was HOOKED after the first sample I tried! I could now clearly visualize the next steps of my healing journey - hope had returned!
              
          Now, I have endless hope. I can LIVE LIFE. This is the healthiest I’ve truly been since about age 14 and I’m thriving! I’ve been able to advocate for my own 4 babies, 3 of whom have ended up with Lyme too. I’m dedicated to using my nursing background and love of education in combination with appreciation for functional medicine and alternative therapies to help everyone I can. My hope is renewed. I am empowered and equipped. I’m enjoying and embracing the journey and want to help YOU to be able to have all of that too!

          If you're ready to link arms with me and walk this journey together, please reach out! I'd LOVE to hear from you!


**Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional here to diagnose, treat, cure, or otherwise influence your medical journey outside of the guidance of a medical professional. Please find a doctor you trust and discuss any medical concerns or treatments with them. Also, please know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases through my site at no extra cost to you.

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