Wendi Health Update: Battling Lyme Disease

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Jim thought it was important for me to update everyone about my health, especially since so many of you have been sending emails, etc., and I haven't responded.

I do appreciate all the love and concern (thank you all so VERY much!), but it's painful for me to type for very long. This update is going to most likely bring about some more pain, but I don't want you to keep worrying about me and my health. So, I'll share what's been going on.

There's an antibiotic that will decrease the pain temporarily if you have Lyme disease (it won't help the pain if it's caused by anything else), and I was able to obtain some of it. So far, today is day five on it. And here's some great news: The pain started lessening on day three -- the aches completely gone, leaving only sharp pains when I move my joints in certain ways. I'll be on this antibiotic (and possibly some others for "co-infections" that sometimes come with Lyme, but I won't know until more blood tests are done and the Lyme specialist reviews the results).

I really don't like taking antibiotics, but this is a serious disease and the longer the body takes to recover from it, the more life-long the symptoms can be. To make this less typing, I'll just bullet many my symptoms:

Rash that started off small and spread to the size of a quarter (circle in shape), on my neck under my hair;
Aches began around the time the rash was noticed;
One day I told Jim that I felt kind of warm, as though I had a fever, and I felt like there was something going wrong in my body (first time since going raw that I experienced a feeling like this);
Some mood swings (again, hadn't experienced this since going raw);
Headaches;
At times a numb, tingling feeling down my right arm and hand;
Aches progressed to more and more joint pain;
Difficulty sleeping through the night;
Joint pain progressed to point of excruciating, debilitating pain (searing pain that causes bouts of sobbing and slight depression);
Some heart pain -- comes and goes. One night it was quite severe;
Pain so severe that I now require help getting dressed;
Pain moves around from shoulders, to wrists, to elbows, to neck, to feet, and knees are creaky sounding;
Pain is not symmetrical, but it is always constant in right shoulder (closest to the rash);
Vision at times is shaky (as though things are vibrating);
Ears are ringing at times (this never happened in the over three years of eating raw foods);
Glands are swollen and throat is sore at times;
Foot (mostly heel, but radiates up through ball of foot) feels sore sometimes first thin in the morning;
Stiff neck;
Fatigue at times;
New, smaller and lighter rash appeared close to original rash -- this new one started the size of a pencil eraser and has spread to the size of a dime.

That's all I can remember right now. Every single symptom listed is part of Lyme disease.

I don't think I'm experiencing many of the neurological symptoms because, for five days, I did a water fast, trying to aid my body in fighting this. After that the heart pain left, headaches stopped, the numb/tingling arm sensation cleared up a lot, and the sore heel/foot pain mostly went away. The stiffness in my neck lessened a great deal at that time, as well.

It wasn't easy fasting for five days, but I felt that my body needed me to help it in that way. Perhaps if I was under a doctor's supervision, a longer water fast would have helped my body completely heal on its own. I'll talk more about the water fast another time, though, as it's a topic all on its own. Since the water fasting, I've been eating *very* simple meals (which Jim prepares, because even chopping vegetables causes extreme pain).

I've eliminated all sweets (fruits, dates, etc.) and have been pretty much eating according to Dr. Gabriel Cousens' Phase One Rainbow Green program. I'm trying to not consume too many calories, since excess calories and sugars can feed the Lyme bacteria.

Once I began taking the antibiotic, the overall achey pain that I was continually feeling went away. Now I only experience pain when I'm moving my joints in certain ways, or doing something repetetive (like typing, holding the phone, holding a raw taco while eating last night, or using any force to open something/chop something).

The pain is severe, but it has gone from a level 9.5 down to about a 6 on most days. I never thought I'd be taking an antibiotic, let alone crying for joy that I was able to obtain it and put it into my body. But, that's the point I'm at right now.

The medication seems to be helping me, for which I am extremely grateful. I know it sounds really weird, but it was as though my body never even recognized the Lyme bacteria. It entered my body and began to wreak havoc and pain, without my body even knowing what was going on.

How can a raw diet/lifestyle help people cure themselves of horrible things like cancer, yet my raw body can't even fight off Lyme bacteria It's all very confusing, frustrating, and scary to have this happen.

To be extremely vibrant, full of health and happiness for years and then to be hit with this ... it makes me feel like I'm getting old at an accelerated pace. Jim, who has been the most loving caretaker, has arranged for a raw food potluck meetup at a nearby healing spring (click for info) where I'll soak in the water and recieve a massage (to see if the waters can aid my body in healing). It will be nice spending time with my raw food friends ... and if any of you can make it, I'd love to see you there.

So, that's my update. I'm under the care of a Lyme specialist who's having more tests done, I'm on medication, and I'm doing as much as I can do to help my body heal on its own, as well. Meditation is extremely helpful, but it's not easy entering a meditative state when you suddenly find yourself in excruciating pain because you moved your arm the wrong way.

Thank you so very much for all of the love and concern. It means so very much to me ... and please forgive me for not writing back in a timely manner. It just hurts a lot to type right now.

?I love all of you so very much and I'm extremely grateful for each and every one of you here in the Pure Jeevan family!

Love,

Wendi

XOXOXO

Original Comments

Below, we have included the original comments from this blog post. Additional comments may be made via Facebook, below.

On September 15, 2009, WendiDee wrote:

Jim titled this. ;-) I'm not really *battling* anything. I'm trying to accept it all and help my body in every way possible to heal and return to a place of vibrant health again. *giggles* I'm not into violence. ;-)

*blows kisses to everyone*

On September 15, 2009, Fruitfulvine2 wrote:

Good to know that the pain has decreased. I prayed for you when I read this. Thanks for sending out the tweet about this post.

On September 15, 2009, bitt wrote:

Wendi, I am so sorry to hear of your illness. I know what it's like to be in severe pain and also to be sick even when raw foods are supposed to make you well. You just have to think maybe it would be a lot worse if you didn't eat raw. Lyme Disease is serious and you are doing everything you can. Keep fighting it. We are here for you.

hugs,
Aimee

On September 15, 2009, Chris wrote:

No great words of wisdom here, but I'll be like Job's friends when they were doing the right thing and just sitting with him. Thanks for sharing and know that I and bunches of other people are praying for you and/or sending good vibes your way!

On September 15, 2009, Motormouth wrote:

Very glad you were able to find a Lyme specialist so quickly!

On September 15, 2009, Patty and Denny wrote:

Thanks for the update, it is so sad to know what you're going through - imagine how much worse it would be without the loving support of your family, that's one positive aspect of it all ... perhaps it's a karmic cleansing that is saving you from other, more horrible, things (who knows, you might have been Genghis Khan in a previous life [feeble attempt at humor]). You can count on a whole bunch of added prayers coming from our end.

On September 15, 2009, bluwren wrote:

Glad that the antibio seems to be helping, Wendi. The joint pain that goes with Lyme Disease is very similar to that caused by rheumatoid arthritis -- I have RA, so I do know how difficult it can be to find a serene place in your mind from which to deal with it. Do try heat on those painful joints -- a heating pad of some sort and even a nice, hot bath can be very soothing. Rest a lot. Pace yourself. Make sure you're getting enough protein so your body can fight better. And please, don't beat yourself up because you caught this disease. We can be very healthy overall and still get knocked down by illness. It has nothing to do with what you've done right, or wrong.

My best wishes to you. I hope the antibio and your determined efforts to be well get this under control quickly. Keep us apprised of the situation when you can -- we care.

On September 15, 2009, Joanna_Steven wrote:

Oh Wendi, I hope you get better really really soon! Having pain like this all the time is horrible, and I think you did the right thing in taking the antibiotics. I understand your frustration too. I feel so good right after feeling so bad for so long, that just thinking of the possibility of getting sick makes me panic. Many of us are just not used to the idea of disease, let alone the pain that comes with it.

I think your case is different from cancer and all that. With cancer, the body is supposed to stop the proliferation of cancerous cells, and with raw, it can do its job again. We all have cancerous cells that are killed off everyday. With Lyme, it's more difficult. Our body doesn't deal with the bacteria everyday, so curing it is a very different thing. Don't beat yourself up :)

I send you lots and lots of love <3
Joanna.

On September 15, 2009, Yardsnacker wrote:

So sorry Wendi! Hugs! I heard that the chemtrailing is causing lyme like diseases. Just putting that out there. I hope that the antibiotic will have done it's trick and you'll be juicing rainbows soon!

xo

Sam

On September 15, 2009, RawBin wrote:

glad I had a chance to talk to you for so long the other night. It never occured to me that holding the phone might have been painful to you. Can't wait to see you this weekend,
love, hugs, kisses,
~Rawbin

On September 15, 2009, Denise wrote:

Surely it's a good thing that your house didn't sell back when you wanted so badly to sell it. I imagine traveling, and living rather tight in a motor home, would
have made this season of your life more difficult? Take care....we're rooting for you!

On September 15, 2009, Rubarb wrote:

Wendi, you are such a precious soul. Thank you for sharing about everything going on. I'm praying for you and know that you'll get through this and inspire all of us.
love,
Barbara

On September 15, 2009, Errigal_lass wrote:

So sorry that you have been suffering with all of this, dear one. Know that you are in thoughts and prayers along with everyone here. You are giving your best in helping yourself heal. Love and Blessings, Tracey

On September 15, 2009, Blaq Berry wrote:

Love to you, Wendi. Mounds of it. My heart is sending to you what all cannot be transcribed here...

~BB

On September 15, 2009, debbiedoesraw wrote:

Wendi
Raw does not conquer all, but I sure that if you had contracted this when you were "old self" you would have already been hospitalized and possibly.. well, I don't want to think about it!
mUch much love and healing vibes to you. What a blessing family is at times like these. Wish I lived closer so I could help too.
love you
deb

On September 15, 2009, kevan wrote:

Dear Wendy
Thank you for sharing your experience with Lyme disease. Your story will help so many people on different levels. Beside the obvious benefit of helping others deal with Lyme disease there is a very real problem that we who live raw seem to think that nothing can or will ever happen to us. We are meant to suddenly become superman/woman. Nothing can beat our supercharged immune system. Not true. We will fight off loads of things that people on a normal western diet will succumb to. Some times we will get it but recover far quicker then we would ordinarily have done. Other times, times like yours, we have to accept that we do have to see it through and keep our bodies strong while we go through the process.

There is another benefit of your sharing your story. Most people reading this will have the same view that I do about the pharmaceutical industry. I hope to never have to touch any one of their products ever again. The way that they have handled medication for chronic illness is nothing but diabolical. But not everything is bad and many real advances have taken place in the field of medicine. Thank you for being honest. Maybe it will help someone in a similar position to you.

On September 16, 2009, sherylmiller wrote:

Thanks for sharing Wendi!

Here's to more sunnier days when you can enjoy them pain free!
Thanks for being you!

sheryl
canberra
australia

On September 16, 2009, 8Lois_Keesey6 wrote:

Wishing you the best and the speediest of recoveries through this ordeal. It's good to see you are able to smile when you can. You have so many supporters and believers in you, keep your chin up Wendi.

Lois, (High School friend of Jim's)

On September 16, 2009, rubyvroom wrote:

Wendi.....I had no idea about any of this. I am soooooo sorry that you are having to go through this, but I know you and this life experience will only increase your compassion and aid your gifting of helping and healing others.

I offer my love and my most sincere prayers for your complete recovery.

BIG LOVE to YOU!!
Penni

On September 16, 2009, cazore wrote:

Hi Wendi,

I hopee you feel better soon, have you tried www.worldwithoutparasites.com they have a zapper that gets rid of Lyme disease it is so effective I bought everyone in my family one...good luck Carrie x

On September 16, 2009, Robyn wrote:

Wendi, so sorry to hear that you are in so much pain. I really appreciate the fact that you took the time to update. I'm glad you consented to get antibiotics. You might consider an herbal protocol after your antibiotics are done. I'm sure Melissa can hook you up. Reiki is also something that can be very helpful during times like these for both you and Jim (and KDcat too if she wants). I wish I were closer to offer this to you. It breaks my heart that you are in so much pain. Love and light to you, Jim and KDcat.

On September 16, 2009, Tanisha Marshall wrote:

Hi Wendi, I hope you get better soon. I've never dealt with Lime disease I hope that you find pain relief soon.

Sometimes I wonder why raw food can't heal diseases like Lyme's as well.

On September 18, 2009, tinaintheraw wrote:

Hi sweet Wendi! I am so glad to hear there is progress in your pain level!! It is a long process, but it sounds like you are starting to chip away at this nasty thing. I know it is hard to accept that our beautiful raw bodies may contract something or not be able to fight something off (I have this struggle somewhat now myself), but thank goodness you started out healthy....can you even imagine what kind of state you would be in if you had been unhealthy at the onset of all this? Trust in your healing and let all other thoughts melt away. You are healthy, you are healing, you are wellness...

Sending you much love and positive energy luv,
Tina

On September 22, 2009, goddessdurga wrote:

Hi Jim,

I'm writing to you not Wendi because I'm not sure she's accessing email. I was reading Laura Bruno's (Lazy Raw Foodist) blog today and learned via this post that her husband recovered from Lyme: http://laurabruno.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/raw-...

She may be a resource for you guys.

Hope all is well otherwise.

Elizabeth

On September 22, 2009, LISweetsue wrote:

Wendi,

Was wondering where u were. Spg;adu caught the rash and have started therapy to heal yourself See yourself feeling perfectly healthyreallt soon!!!
huggggs
love & light
Candysue