Heidi's Journey Toward Wellness
Donation protected
My Journey To Wellness...
Hello friends and family! I am anticipating many changes in the coming months, as I begin a renewed effort to continue on my journey to wellness. I found out last week that I tested positive for Lyme Disease. Having played, worked, and lived in the woods literally my entire life, all over New England, it did not come as a real shock. My reaction was a mix of “wow, finally an answer” and “oh shit, Chronic Lyme...that’s a loooonnngggg road to recovery.” But, I guess this journey is just taking a new turn, as this road to recovery has already been looooonnnnnnggggg….and hopefully I can now truly heal!
As many of you know, following a fantastic trip to Mexico in 2012, I began to feel very sick. I was put on various antibiotics and anti parasitics in the weeks following, which seemed to only make my symptoms worse. My body didn’t absorb any nutrients because of GI distress, causing me to lose over 20lbs. After several expensive tests sent out of state, I was diagnosed with Candida and have been diligently gluten and sugar free ever since. However, I didn’t seem to ever really “get better”.
I have spent the last 3 years seeing a multitude of specialists throughout Massachusetts. I have undergone extensive testing, and have been written a prescription for each of my numerous symptoms. I recently received a statement from CVS regarding my prescription history and noticed that in the past two years I have paid $750 dollars out of pocket for my prescriptions….yikes.
Despite my chronic illness I managed to make it through Boston University’s School of Education, getting a Masters in physical education, and a certified K-8 Physical Education teacher. My health declined throughout the summer as I worked full time running the Swampscott Sailing Program. I was experiencing extreme fatigue/exhaustion, major bruising, GI issues, weakness and pain, irritability, poor concentration, high anxiety, etc.
Early this Fall, I began, and quickly ended my first year of teaching for a multitude of reasons. Having been thrown into a very stressful work environment, my many symptoms were exacerbated - debilitating fatigue, feeling extremely overwhelmed, muscle and joint pain, migraine headaches, loss of appetite, GI issues, cognitive impairment, irritability...I can only describe it as an overwhelming feeling of depletion. I had made it through grad school, had become a teacher (the hardest job on Earth for sure), only to feel like it was truly unsustainable, and that I literally could not keep up. I don’t think my healthy self could have kept up with the expectations of that particular school environment, and I knew I certainly could not now, as my health declined under the constant state of stress.
Following my decision to leave my position, I reached a breaking point. I have had to accept that I can no longer even be physically active 2 days in a row without becoming extremely exhausted. As my health has declined, my ability to do what I love has become more and more difficult. I have also had to accept that I must put my health first, and that I cannot work full time if I expect to recover and beat Lyme Disease. I have been substitute teaching and working at Eastern Mountain Sports, and have recently been approved for MassHealth Insurance- however my bank account has gone from “struggling grad student” to “okay folks-we just hit negative numbers”. I have had so many out-of-pocket expenses this Fall both on doctors, tests, and nutritionists, that put so much additional stress on keeping up with student loans and daily living expenses. Having always taken pride in my ability to take frugal to the extreme, put myself through college and be financially responsible since my first job, it is humbling/humiliating/ugh. So, I am working on accepting where I am at today, and also know this is too shall pass.
Recovering from Chronic Lyme disease takes a great deal of physical, mental and emotional dedication to wellness. It is an extremely difficult bacteria to kill off, and often people feel much worse before they feel better. I have been researching non stop and have consistently read that it will be a long and hard journey back to health. But thank god for amazing friends and the best possible family I could ask for to keep me going! No, seriously… THANK GOD!
I am hopeful about the doctor I am seeing this week, and am determind to do whatever I can to be in better health- special diet, supplements, yoga, meditation, rest, epsom salt baths, accupuncture, therapy, etc! I am invested in healing my mind, body, and spirit and invite you to be a part of it!
Recovering from Lyme Disease also costs a ridiculous amount of money, and requires seeing Lyme Literate Doctors, specialists, doing alternative treatments such as acupuncture, yoga, taking supplements, antibiotic treatments, et cetera, most of which ARE NOT covered by health insurance.
Here is where these funds will be going:
(All paid for out-of pocket)
Dr. visit to get Lyme Disease Test in October $250
Igenex Laboratory Complete Lyme Test $500
Lyme Literate Doctor in December $500
Multiple supplements $100/mo.
Total expenses Sept-Dec 2015: $1,350.00
Continued treatement estimate $500/mo.
I am humbling asking for whatever support and love you can give to help me, as I take a promising step on my journey to wellness. I plan to put my all into fighting Lyme Disease, and am hopeful that I will be able to recover and once again be able to do the things I love to do!
Thank you,
Heidi
Hello friends and family! I am anticipating many changes in the coming months, as I begin a renewed effort to continue on my journey to wellness. I found out last week that I tested positive for Lyme Disease. Having played, worked, and lived in the woods literally my entire life, all over New England, it did not come as a real shock. My reaction was a mix of “wow, finally an answer” and “oh shit, Chronic Lyme...that’s a loooonnngggg road to recovery.” But, I guess this journey is just taking a new turn, as this road to recovery has already been looooonnnnnnggggg….and hopefully I can now truly heal!
As many of you know, following a fantastic trip to Mexico in 2012, I began to feel very sick. I was put on various antibiotics and anti parasitics in the weeks following, which seemed to only make my symptoms worse. My body didn’t absorb any nutrients because of GI distress, causing me to lose over 20lbs. After several expensive tests sent out of state, I was diagnosed with Candida and have been diligently gluten and sugar free ever since. However, I didn’t seem to ever really “get better”.
I have spent the last 3 years seeing a multitude of specialists throughout Massachusetts. I have undergone extensive testing, and have been written a prescription for each of my numerous symptoms. I recently received a statement from CVS regarding my prescription history and noticed that in the past two years I have paid $750 dollars out of pocket for my prescriptions….yikes.
Despite my chronic illness I managed to make it through Boston University’s School of Education, getting a Masters in physical education, and a certified K-8 Physical Education teacher. My health declined throughout the summer as I worked full time running the Swampscott Sailing Program. I was experiencing extreme fatigue/exhaustion, major bruising, GI issues, weakness and pain, irritability, poor concentration, high anxiety, etc.
Early this Fall, I began, and quickly ended my first year of teaching for a multitude of reasons. Having been thrown into a very stressful work environment, my many symptoms were exacerbated - debilitating fatigue, feeling extremely overwhelmed, muscle and joint pain, migraine headaches, loss of appetite, GI issues, cognitive impairment, irritability...I can only describe it as an overwhelming feeling of depletion. I had made it through grad school, had become a teacher (the hardest job on Earth for sure), only to feel like it was truly unsustainable, and that I literally could not keep up. I don’t think my healthy self could have kept up with the expectations of that particular school environment, and I knew I certainly could not now, as my health declined under the constant state of stress.
Following my decision to leave my position, I reached a breaking point. I have had to accept that I can no longer even be physically active 2 days in a row without becoming extremely exhausted. As my health has declined, my ability to do what I love has become more and more difficult. I have also had to accept that I must put my health first, and that I cannot work full time if I expect to recover and beat Lyme Disease. I have been substitute teaching and working at Eastern Mountain Sports, and have recently been approved for MassHealth Insurance- however my bank account has gone from “struggling grad student” to “okay folks-we just hit negative numbers”. I have had so many out-of-pocket expenses this Fall both on doctors, tests, and nutritionists, that put so much additional stress on keeping up with student loans and daily living expenses. Having always taken pride in my ability to take frugal to the extreme, put myself through college and be financially responsible since my first job, it is humbling/humiliating/ugh. So, I am working on accepting where I am at today, and also know this is too shall pass.
Recovering from Chronic Lyme disease takes a great deal of physical, mental and emotional dedication to wellness. It is an extremely difficult bacteria to kill off, and often people feel much worse before they feel better. I have been researching non stop and have consistently read that it will be a long and hard journey back to health. But thank god for amazing friends and the best possible family I could ask for to keep me going! No, seriously… THANK GOD!
I am hopeful about the doctor I am seeing this week, and am determind to do whatever I can to be in better health- special diet, supplements, yoga, meditation, rest, epsom salt baths, accupuncture, therapy, etc! I am invested in healing my mind, body, and spirit and invite you to be a part of it!
Recovering from Lyme Disease also costs a ridiculous amount of money, and requires seeing Lyme Literate Doctors, specialists, doing alternative treatments such as acupuncture, yoga, taking supplements, antibiotic treatments, et cetera, most of which ARE NOT covered by health insurance.
Here is where these funds will be going:
(All paid for out-of pocket)
Dr. visit to get Lyme Disease Test in October $250
Igenex Laboratory Complete Lyme Test $500
Lyme Literate Doctor in December $500
Multiple supplements $100/mo.
Total expenses Sept-Dec 2015: $1,350.00
Continued treatement estimate $500/mo.
I am humbling asking for whatever support and love you can give to help me, as I take a promising step on my journey to wellness. I plan to put my all into fighting Lyme Disease, and am hopeful that I will be able to recover and once again be able to do the things I love to do!
Thank you,
Heidi
Organizer
Heidz MP
Organizer
Boston, MA