I haven't wanted to deal with Lyme Disease for awhile. Mostly because it's an identity I don't want but also because I have been steadily improving and spending time doing other things.
Hope is something that helped me through the very dark days. I used to search for those people who got well and went back to their lives-- maybe not entirely but enough to make it worth living.
So at my six and a half year mark, I want other fellow lymies to know that my life is so much better. I have a few days every other month or so when symptoms put me in bed but it usually is due to my own bad decisions about consuming sugar, white flour or caffeine. Or if I don't sleep for a couple nights due to stress.
The science is getting better. Since I began treatment, Dr. Eva Sapi and Dr. Alan MacDonald have discovered the presence of biofilm made by the Borrellia burgdorferi. http://www.canlyme.com/Sapi_et_al_2011.pdf
This means that antibiotics alone may not get rid of all the forms of the organism. By including enzymes which destroy biofilms in treatment protocols, outcomes may be better.
I believe my own healing took a dramatic leap forward when I began taking the supplement Nattokinase. Actually, I took a supplement called Endovan for endometriosis which contains nattokinase. I suffered from severe endometriosis and was about to undergo surgery when an online search revealed this enzyme that could dissolve fibrin.
After only a month taking 5 pills a day, my endometriosis pain was significantly less and now, a year into the supplement, I have no pelvic pain whatsoever and my lyme symptoms dramatically improved. Could it be that the biofilms were broken down and my immune system better able to kill the infection?
Dealing with this illness has changed me. The greatest change being my views about alternative medicine. If not for my trail and error with many supplements, natural doctors and alternative modes of healing and detoxification, I would not be doing as well as I am. I am a firm believer in the mind body connection and the fact that antibiotics are not a cure, food and lifestyle are the best medicine for this disease.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The 2010 Lyme Disease Symposium at UNH
The Challenges of Lyme Disease: Emerging Research / Pediatric Care
Saturday, May 8th, 2010
Dodds Hall Auditorium
University of New Haven
300 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT
8:00am -8:00pm
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Charles Ray Jones
Special Guests: Dr. Alan MacDonald and Polly Murray
For more information go to www.newhaven.edu/news-events/69548
or contact Eva Sapi Ph.D. 860-459-9242, or email her at Lyme2010@evasapi.net
I will be at the conference and the paintings in last blog will be on exhibit. Please come learn more about Lyme disease!
Saturday, May 8th, 2010
Dodds Hall Auditorium
University of New Haven
300 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT
8:00am -8:00pm
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Charles Ray Jones
Special Guests: Dr. Alan MacDonald and Polly Murray
For more information go to www.newhaven.edu/news-events/69548
or contact Eva Sapi Ph.D. 860-459-9242, or email her at Lyme2010@evasapi.net
I will be at the conference and the paintings in last blog will be on exhibit. Please come learn more about Lyme disease!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Art and Science
Welcome.
It is my belief that medicine is still an art and a science despite the desires of a health care system that demands clear cut answers and economical treatments.
Early Autumn, Ashlawn, oil/panel, 16 x 20, $1000 Jerry Weiss
Some illnesses are black and white. The tests for them are accurate and the treatment protocol is clear cut.
Late stage Lyme disease is not. Tests are inaccurate and treatment that would have worked at the time of the tick bite are not effective once the infection becomes entrenched.
Fisher Field, oil/panel, 8.5 x 11, $400 (framed), Adrian Waggoner
"Wet Paint for Lyme Disease Research" was an event held on July 12, 2009 in downtown Stony Creek, Branford. This fundraiser was organized to support the research of Dr. Eva Sapi at the University of New Haven.
She and her staff have identified a unique characteristic of Borrelia burgdorferi that may explain why it is so difficult to detect and treat. It is called a biofilm. This sticky substance is created by the spirochete to protect itself from the immune system as well as treatment.
Fisher Air, oil/panel, 9 x 12, $400 framed Adrian Waggoner
The event brought over 25 professional artists together for one day to paint en plein air and sell their works in a silent auction later in the day. Before the auction, Dr. Sapi spoke about her research which drew over 100 people in attendance.
Fir at Linden Point, oil/canvas, 20 x 24, $650 Paula Billups
To keep the project alive, these 20 paintings from the day (and some donated) will travel to the university May 8, 2010 for an exhibition during the Lyme Conference to raise money and draw continued attention to Dr. Sapi's research findings. 50% sales will go to the artist and 50% to research. All paintings on this blog are in the exhibition and available.
Stony Creek Church, oil/board, 6x8, $100 Margaret Dean
Porch on Hillspoint Rd. oil/board, 6 x 8, $400 Margaret Dean
About The University of New Haven Lyme Research Group
"The University of New Haven established Lyme disease research 7 years ago. To date, over 50 graduate students have received training in Lyme disease related research. The Lyme disease research group has identified an alarming increase in the co-infection rate in deer ticks, including discovery of novel co-infections such as mycoplasma species.
Stony Creek, w/c, 9 x 17, $185 framed, Molly McDonald
Stony Creek Beach, w/c, 9x17, $185 framed, Molly McDonald
Creeker Suite, w/c, 9x17, $185 framed Molly McDonald
In February 2008 the Lyme research group received two grant supports from the Turn the Corner Foundation, which will allow the group to investigate novel ideas for Lyme disease research. The Lyme disease research group also has a website www.unh-lyme.org with educational materials such as Dr. Steven Phillips educational DVD's.
Fall at Bauer Fram, madison, o/c, $175 Paula Solimene
Furthermore, the University of New Haven has held three National Lyme Disease Symposiums during the last three years (2006-2008) with over 200 attendees. Both symposiums were generously supported by the University and by the College of Art and Sciences.
Chester Mill Pond, o/c, 16 x 20, $250 Patricia Barone
In the Fall of 2007, the University of New Haven begun one of the largest tick counting and Borrelia testing surveys in the North East (testing over 50 sites in Fairfield County). The uniqueness of this survey is that the tick collection is being done at school yards, public parks and playgrounds, to evaluate exposure of our children to tick borne diseases.
Lunar Temple, 12 x 12, mixed media, $300 Ralph Levesque
As of June 2009, the University of New Haven has collected ~1500 deer tick samples and tested ~900 samples for Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) infection. The overall Bb infection rate was 72%, ranging from 51%-94%.
Sailboat at Stony Creek, oil/panel, 6x8, $150 K. Ruggiero
The group also studies different forms of Borrelia bacteria to better understand how Borrelia can hide from the immune system and from different therapies.
Stony Creek, , oil/board $400 Ken Dorros
Halls Point, , oil/board $400 Ken Dorros
With collaboration with Dr. Alan MacDonald, our group discovered that Borrelia is capable forming a protective layer around itself – called biofilm – which could render it to be resistant to antibiotics and provide a logical explanation as to why extensive antibiotic treatment for patients with a tick-bite history could fail.
Our final goal in this project is to identify antibacterial agents that are effective in killing Borrelia burgdorferi without inducing biofilm, or even capable of destroying Borrelia burgdorferi in biofilm." Dr. Eva Sapi
Hannah's House, 9 x 12, oil/panel, $175 Gayle Asher
The artwork that you see in this post will be exhibited at UNH this weekend May, 8 from 10-5 during the Lyme conference. If you want more information contact kim@ruggierogallery.com --- 50% proceeds go to research at UNH and 50% to the artist.
Brainerd's II, 6.5x8, acrylic/board, $75 Diana Perron
It is my belief that medicine is still an art and a science despite the desires of a health care system that demands clear cut answers and economical treatments.
Early Autumn, Ashlawn, oil/panel, 16 x 20, $1000 Jerry Weiss
Some illnesses are black and white. The tests for them are accurate and the treatment protocol is clear cut.
Late stage Lyme disease is not. Tests are inaccurate and treatment that would have worked at the time of the tick bite are not effective once the infection becomes entrenched.
Fisher Field, oil/panel, 8.5 x 11, $400 (framed), Adrian Waggoner
"Wet Paint for Lyme Disease Research" was an event held on July 12, 2009 in downtown Stony Creek, Branford. This fundraiser was organized to support the research of Dr. Eva Sapi at the University of New Haven.
She and her staff have identified a unique characteristic of Borrelia burgdorferi that may explain why it is so difficult to detect and treat. It is called a biofilm. This sticky substance is created by the spirochete to protect itself from the immune system as well as treatment.
Fisher Air, oil/panel, 9 x 12, $400 framed Adrian Waggoner
The event brought over 25 professional artists together for one day to paint en plein air and sell their works in a silent auction later in the day. Before the auction, Dr. Sapi spoke about her research which drew over 100 people in attendance.
Fir at Linden Point, oil/canvas, 20 x 24, $650 Paula Billups
To keep the project alive, these 20 paintings from the day (and some donated) will travel to the university May 8, 2010 for an exhibition during the Lyme Conference to raise money and draw continued attention to Dr. Sapi's research findings. 50% sales will go to the artist and 50% to research. All paintings on this blog are in the exhibition and available.
Stony Creek Church, oil/board, 6x8, $100 Margaret Dean
Porch on Hillspoint Rd. oil/board, 6 x 8, $400 Margaret Dean
About The University of New Haven Lyme Research Group
"The University of New Haven established Lyme disease research 7 years ago. To date, over 50 graduate students have received training in Lyme disease related research. The Lyme disease research group has identified an alarming increase in the co-infection rate in deer ticks, including discovery of novel co-infections such as mycoplasma species.
Stony Creek, w/c, 9 x 17, $185 framed, Molly McDonald
Stony Creek Beach, w/c, 9x17, $185 framed, Molly McDonald
Creeker Suite, w/c, 9x17, $185 framed Molly McDonald
In February 2008 the Lyme research group received two grant supports from the Turn the Corner Foundation, which will allow the group to investigate novel ideas for Lyme disease research. The Lyme disease research group also has a website www.unh-lyme.org with educational materials such as Dr. Steven Phillips educational DVD's.
Fall at Bauer Fram, madison, o/c, $175 Paula Solimene
Furthermore, the University of New Haven has held three National Lyme Disease Symposiums during the last three years (2006-2008) with over 200 attendees. Both symposiums were generously supported by the University and by the College of Art and Sciences.
Chester Mill Pond, o/c, 16 x 20, $250 Patricia Barone
In the Fall of 2007, the University of New Haven begun one of the largest tick counting and Borrelia testing surveys in the North East (testing over 50 sites in Fairfield County). The uniqueness of this survey is that the tick collection is being done at school yards, public parks and playgrounds, to evaluate exposure of our children to tick borne diseases.
Lunar Temple, 12 x 12, mixed media, $300 Ralph Levesque
As of June 2009, the University of New Haven has collected ~1500 deer tick samples and tested ~900 samples for Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) infection. The overall Bb infection rate was 72%, ranging from 51%-94%.
Sailboat at Stony Creek, oil/panel, 6x8, $150 K. Ruggiero
The group also studies different forms of Borrelia bacteria to better understand how Borrelia can hide from the immune system and from different therapies.
Stony Creek, , oil/board $400 Ken Dorros
Halls Point, , oil/board $400 Ken Dorros
With collaboration with Dr. Alan MacDonald, our group discovered that Borrelia is capable forming a protective layer around itself – called biofilm – which could render it to be resistant to antibiotics and provide a logical explanation as to why extensive antibiotic treatment for patients with a tick-bite history could fail.
Our final goal in this project is to identify antibacterial agents that are effective in killing Borrelia burgdorferi without inducing biofilm, or even capable of destroying Borrelia burgdorferi in biofilm." Dr. Eva Sapi
Hannah's House, 9 x 12, oil/panel, $175 Gayle Asher
The artwork that you see in this post will be exhibited at UNH this weekend May, 8 from 10-5 during the Lyme conference. If you want more information contact kim@ruggierogallery.com --- 50% proceeds go to research at UNH and 50% to the artist.
Brainerd's II, 6.5x8, acrylic/board, $75 Diana Perron
Brainerd's Garage, acrylic/canvas, 18 x 24, $350 Diana Perron
Thanks to these amazing professional artists for participating in this event. Your help and encouragement is a blessing.
Stony Creek, o/c, 14.5 x 6, $500 framed Diane Aeschliman
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