LYME Voice

About My Guest: Dr. Lauren Tessier has undergone training as a CIRS Certified Physician specializing in the treatment of biotoxin illness due to mold and water-damaged buildings.  Life After Mold,  uses a patient-centered approach to help recover those that are suffering from mold-related illness.  An individually tailored, patient-centered approach is taken, employing a combination of Functional Medicine and Naturopathic Medicine. Key Takeaways: I had become a “mold canary.”  Finding and managing mold is a very insidious process. You realize a year into feeling bad that you are dealing with mycotoxins, mold fragments and it is triggering histamine response issues. It doesn’t happen overnight. (5:00) Learning to understand MOLD and the remediation process for myself has made me a better practitioner because I know how to help people who can’t afford to spend $10,000-$20,000+ on remediating their houses. Which is more common than not. Living with mold sensitivities often comes with warning signs. For example: If your nose starts to tingle when walking into a certain space. You can learn to work with these sensitivities and move on from it. There is hope.   Patients often feel shame and confusion when presented with the reality that MOLD could be triggering symptoms. (14:00)   I have fought so hard to find physicians that would ask questions, investigate, or think outside the box. I would welcome a physician who was problem-solving on my behalf.-Sarah MOLD comes in a lot of different flavors: Fungal, fungal infections, CIRS and mycotoxins. Bioaccumulation can cause you to be sick for years after exposure (20:00) The body should be able to handle mycotoxins. But if your cup of mycotoxins gets to full, you will begin having symptoms. If your detox pathways are already blocked, just a little bit of exposure to mycotoxins can push you over the edge. (21:20) Neurological and hormonal issues are triggered by mycotoxins.   Many people don’t notice symptoms until they start to impact the nervous system. (migraine and light sensitivities) 23:00   CIRS-Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (Dr.Shoemaker put a name to this in the 1990s). A starting agent (exposure, severe stress, auto accidents) puts the process of inflammation into gear (GI distress, chronic pain, respiratory issues, skin issues). Where to start? Ready to start your journey of recovery? Call for an onramp session with Dr. Tessier (30:00)   IEP’s-Indoor Environmental Professionals (some are MOLD illness literate)    Go to ISEAI.org to find an Indoor Environmental Professional. (33:00)   Testing your home-It is complicated. Be ready to have a dialogue with the contractor. Use a “tester” that is different than the contractor who will be “doing” the remediation.    Go to ACAC.org- for additional certified contractors What to look for? Your contractor should come in with TOOLS!  Particle counter, Thermography imaging camera (temperature differences can indicate MOLD), Slide impact vacuum, Hyper Barometer. Ask-Do you door in wall air testing? (40:00) About 25% of patients get better simply from getting out of the moldy environment. (50:00) Favorite forms of  DETOXing-Taking charcoal, sauna, binders, well call (generic available), glutathione. NAC-Everyone should be on this biofilm buster. Good for general lung health. Tolerated better than glutathione.    “I’m in love with NAC”-Dr.Tessier (900mg capsule) “MOLD and Lyme go hand and hand because they BOTH suppress and alter the immune system.”-Dr.Tessier (58:00)   MTHFR (Yes, and….) Connect With My Guest: https://www.lifeaftermold.com/ Links Kangen Water- http://www.lymewater.com/ Envita Medical –Envita Medical Lyme Voice Facebook  The Lyme Voice Podcast- Lymevoice.com Lyme Documentary-Disappearing From Society, Life with chronic Lyme in 14 minutes…Documentary Little Bite, BIG TROUBLE, available on Amazon –Children’s book about Lyme disease Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com Tick Warriors “Insect Repellent”  https://tickwarriors.com/ Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com Medical billing services MedicalBillGurus.com

About My Guest:   How do you explain your absence from society? How do you explain the lost years?    “I was busy saving my life”-Georgia Wood   Georgia Wood started battling Lyme in highschool while training as an elite skier. After years of confusion, not being heard and ongoing treatments, she now hosts the Blooming With Lyme Podcast where she inspires people “To NOT give up their voices.”    Key Takeaways:   I kept saying to my parents “something is wrong.”   I was trying so hard to be normal. I knew something was up but I couldn’t get anyone’s attention. Don’t lose your voice. If you know something is wrong, keep saying it. A Gamechanger for me was writing a poem to my family that finally broke through. Hearing other people speaking out about their experiences with Lyme helped me to further understand the illness. Removing myself from a toxic living environment was a gamechanger.  I have days where I have to go “MIA” in order to build myself back up.  If you continue to take small steps, they may not seem like much, but they add up.   I run on “sheer willpower.” -Jessica Donaldson   If I find myself going downhill, I learned to turn on comedies. Laughter really is great medicine.    I was tired of hearing doctors say “we will try this and see what happens.”   What did you gain from having Lyme? EMPATHY, EMPATHY, EMPATHY. I have a deep appreciation for being able to move my body or workout. I have learned to appreciate time with people so much more. Lyme takes away so much.    What you are going through is NOT permanent.   Get out and exercise. Find a good counselor who you can trust. I have a good support team (friends, counselor, an understanding family)  Anyone can go to college. Not anyone can FIGHT Lyme disease.    How do you explain your absence from society? How do you explain the lost years? “I was busy saving my life”-Georgia Wood     Connect With My Guest: @GeorgiaW00d on Instagram Blooming with Lyme Podcast Links Kangen Water- http://www.lymewater.com/ Envita Medical –Envita Medical Lyme Voice Facebook  The Lyme Voice Podcast- Lymevoice.com Lyme Documentary-Disappearing From Society, Life with chronic Lyme in 14 minutes…Documentary Little Bite, BIG TROUBLE, available on Amazon –Children’s book about Lyme disease Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com Tick Warriors “Insect Repellent”  https://tickwarriors.com/ Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com Medical billing services MedicalBillGurus.com

About My Guest:   Jackie Shea-Life, health and business coach.  Key Takeaways: Lyme acted as a catalyst for me to go IN to the darkness and heal it all. Indonesia for ozone treatments, went to Florida for peptide treatments, saw healers, herbal protocols.  Insomnia, hair loss, depression, muscle twitching, joint pain, fibro pain I gave myself over to the spiritual, emotional and physical work.  Casting a wide net of support lightened the load. Give up the illusion that western medicine (alone) will save you. I felt a level of abandonment by doctors. Everything with Lyme is a process...I felt abandoned by medicine, my family, friends who could no longer be friends.  All these identity layers were starting to go away: my looks, my confidence, my brain, my feistiness, my adventurist spirit. What happened is that I had to find my soul, my spirit. Common variable immune deficiency-  Mindset-Moment. I had spent a lot of time just waiting for the illness to be over. So I could “go back” to life as it was.  Two different perceptions of reality:  This illness is an obstacle. This illness is part of my life’s journey.  If you understood the reality that you might be sick for another two years, what would you do differently?   Engage with life in whatever ways you can. (even if it is from your bed)   Victim vs. Ownership (Fault vs. Responsibility) I was the victim of getting bit by a tick. And responsible for everything I did with it. It pushed me to a new level of responsibility and ownership over my life.  You have to take full responsibility for where you are in life so that you can get out of self-pity (victim mentality) so that I could get into gratitude, be present in the moment. So that I could live well while feeling bad. Responsibility and ownership over my life experience. Waiting to be well. Takes away from what your life could be.  Who you once were. Remember, years ago, before getting sick. That person that you are longing to get back too, no longer exists. Saying goodbye to who you used to “identified as” is a grievous process. “We don’t bounce back, we bounce forward.” Confronting your illness is a journey worth taking. People heal differently. A lot of healing from Lyme comes from throwing shit (protocols) against a wall and seeing what sticks. We all heal in different ways and use different tools. You have to try them and see how your body responds.  Healing, was really a journey of self love (self compassion, inner child work, trauma work, gratitude work, meditation, communication) I had to try all sorts of things, and listen to my body, and see what it liked and what it didn’t like.”   I was always trying to have Self-Love, illness made self-love a life and death decision.  If I didn’t learn to love myself (while being sick), I was going to spend the rest of my life being sick and miserable.  Inner Child work: When you do not know how to take care of yourself, ask yourself what the inner child inside you needs. When you are little, you need other people to meet your needs (food, shelter, love, laughter, food). When you are an adult, you need to learn to meet these needs yourself.  You. If I have a need, it is my responsibility to verbalize that. I have to take responsibility for meeting your own needs. Being responsible for meeting your own needs is what saves a relationship. Sick and in a relationship? Taking full responsibility for meeting your own needs. Don’t…. Our own sense of worthiness comes into play multiple times a day. Changing your living space is very impactful (don’t let your surroundings feel bad)  Everything in your view should bring you joy.(get rid of, organize, focus on joy) Find what works for you...infrared sauna, massage, acupuncture, trauma therapy. Be willing to ask for help. Then, be willing to keep asking.  Fear of asking for help...You can ask for as much support as you need. People might say no, that’s ok. The work is not done once you get well. You will not simply go back to normal. You have to practice functioning “well” over and over as new settings present themselves. Healing, rebuilding your life, has been an immense journey.  Rewriting the stories we have unconsciously repeated so that we can fully heal.  Shaman belief: We control 80% of our reality. 20% is….I can do the work I need to do to get well, but we don’t control the outcome.  Illness required me to be 1000% more focused on my life. It calmed me down enough to say this is what I want, and this is what I’m going to go for. Value system, I spend my time with people I actually want to be with.I do work that is important to me.  my priorities are clearly laid out within my value system. Because I’m not driven by distraction, I can be with myself, I have more self seteem and self love, I’m able to be alone, I’m able to accomplish and focus on the things that really matter to me.  Connect With My Guest: Self care checklist https://jackieshea.com/   Healing Out Loud Podcast: https://jackieshea.com/podcasts/ We know that the only way out is through but it would help to have a tribe on the journey, right? Somewhere along the way, writing stopped feeling like the most efficient and enjoyable way for me to get this info out there, and creating a podcast dedicated to healing—the feelings, the facts, the options—germinated in my mind.  I am in love with producing my podcast. I get to interview people from all over the world who have extensive knowledge around illness and/or wellness and inspire me to live an even richer and fuller life. Each hour-long episode is jam-packed with vulnerability, self-care tools and very practical solutions to heal. I learn so much and grow more inspired after every interview. I love my tribe- Jackie Shea Resources Mentioned: Option B by Cheryl Stranberg  The Pain Chronicles by Melanie Thernstrom The Magic of Tidying Up- Self compassion by Kristen Neff ?   Links Kangen Water- http://www.lymewater.com/ Envita Medical –Envita Medical Lyme Voice Facebook  The Lyme Voice Podcast- Lymevoice.com Lyme Documentary-Disappearing From Society, Life with chronic Lyme in 14 minutes…Documentary Little Bite, BIG TROUBLE, available on Amazon –Children’s book about Lyme disease  Tick Warriors “Insect Repellent”  https://tickwarriors.com/ Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com Medical billing services MedicalBillGurus.com

It is possible to enjoy the holiday season with a few tips, tricks, boundaries and mindsets! The holidays are tough! Aaron And Sarah discuss Top 5 Mindsets for making the most of the holidays while battling a chronic Lyme disease, chronic fatigue or chronic pain.  Thank you to this week’s sponsors: Tickwarriors.com Safe Insect protection for you your family, pets, and livestock. Use LYMEVOICE for a 10% discount on all first-time orders!!!   Envita.com medical Integrative medicine specializing in chronic Lyme and many other chronic conditions and co-infections.   MedicalBillGurus.com Talk to Daniel today at Medical Bill Gurus will help reduce medical bills and provide assistance to patients navigating a complicated medical system. Links Kangen Water- http://www.lymewater.com/ Envita Medical –Envita Medical Lyme Voice Facebook  The Lyme Voice Podcast- Lymevoice.com Lyme Documentary-Disappearing From Society, Life with chronic Lyme in 14 minutes…Documentary Little Bite, BIG TROUBLE, available on Amazon –Children’s book about Lyme disease  Tick Warriors “Insect Repellent”  https://tickwarriors.com/ Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com MedicalBillGurus.com

About My Guest:   My battle with Lyme Disease was easily the most difficult experience of my life. A journey that lasted almost 3 years, that included more than 15 doctors, several incorrect diagnoses, and countless days where I wanted to give up. One of the worst parts of my illness, besides my symptoms, was my loss of identity. I am a singer/songwriter. I love my job and everything that comes with it. The traveling, the writing, the performances, and especially interacting with audience members. So much of my life was wrapped up in my job. When I got sick, all of it was taken away. Are you still a writer when you haven’t written anything in years? Are you still a singer if you never sing? I was scared that my illness would take away what made me unique, and what made me proud of myself.   Key Takeaways: “If you are listening to this. You are my HERO because you haven’t given up.” “You are NOT crazy” Finding a community of people who understand Lyme is HUGE! The Garcia Protocol-Chelation and ozone therapy helped save my life I don’t know if I believe in God, but I do believe in chelation!”-Jesse Ruben Generation Lyme is a community of young people battling Lyme disease.https://www.instagram.com/generation_lyme/?hl=en So many people at treatment had positive attitudes, but that wasn’t me. “This sucks, I hate this, my life is over.”  I hated going to bed because I knew I was going to wake up worse. “Lyme takes everything about your life that makes you happy, and takes it away from you.”-Jesse Ruben Besides all the physical aspects, the mental aspect is so hard to deal with.  “Treating people for depression while battling Lyme disease is like washing the dishes as the house burns down.”-Jesse Ruben Loss of identity The fear of coming out of remission is IMMENSE and can last for years. You can’t participate in your own life. “The Sucky-Pit of Lyme”-Jessica Donaldson The chaos of Lyme disease creates lasting PTSD.   “This is just a disease that a shit ton of people have.”-Jesse Ruben “Lyme patients are finding ways to heal; because they HAVE too.”   Educating medical professionals will be a big part of Because you are so isolated because your family and friends think you are crazy.  It is hard to advocate for yourself when you are being told your symptoms are all in your head by medical professionals. Carrying around upset, guilt, frustrations Jesse Ruben wrote “You are not alone anymore” to describe his experience battling Lyme disease. It feels like you’ll never be cured. When each day is worse than before.   I know what it feels like, so you’re not alone anymore.   Years of your life get taken. When everyone who cares is helpless. I know how it is when it (Lyme) doesn’t make sense. Forgive the people in your life who “don’t get it.” Who say things like “You might need to just move on with life.” So many patients are years into treatment and still saying “Something is WRONG”  Life doesn’t go back to the way it was before. The illness changes the trajectory of your life.     Resources Mentioned:  Generation Lyme is a community of young people battling Lyme disease.https://www.instagram.com/generation_lyme/?hl=en  Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv4SpCgsFGA Contact My Guest:  JesseRuben.com Thank you to this week’s sponsors: Tickwarriors.com Safe Insect protection for you your family, pets, and livestock. Use LYMEVOICE for a 10% discount on all first-time orders!!!   Envita.com medical Integrative medicine specializing in chronic Lyme and many other chronic conditions and co-infections.   MedicalBillGurus.com Talk to Daniel today at Medical Bill Gurus will help reduce medical bills and provide assistance to patients navigating a complicated medical system. Links Kangen Water- http://www.lymewater.com/ Envita Medical –Envita Medical Lyme Voice Facebook  The Lyme Voice Podcast- Lymevoice.com Lyme Documentary-Disappearing From Society, Life with chronic Lyme in 14 minutes…Documentary Little Bite, BIG TROUBLE, available on Amazon –Children’s book about Lyme disease  Tick Warriors “Insect Repellent”  https://tickwarriors.com/ Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com

Can we wire our brain to heal from chronic illness? … Yes, we can!  Author Annie Hopper shares triumphant stories of people who have recovered from chronic, mysterious and often disabling illnesses and relays the science behind remapping the brain for healing.    In 2008, Hopper founded The Dynamic Neural Retraining System, a drug-free, neuroplasticity-based healing approach to rewire chronic illness disease patterns in the brain as seen in Chemical Sensitivities, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and many other chronic illnesses.   Key Takeaways: Author Annie Hopper is on a global mission to take the mystery out of mysterious illnesses. Recovering from medical PTSD is possible. Feeling invalidated by a lack of recognition. Limbic system dysfunction. “I came to this (DNRS) by way of suffering.”-Annie Hopper Electric hypersensitivity syndrome, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. “I felt poisoned by my environment.” (cellphones, chemicals, detergents) “I had become someone I didn’t know.”-Annie Hopper I was so consumed with trying to stay alive that there was no room for joy in my life.”  Thought and behavior patterns impact the way the brain is receiving information. Threat mechanism Limbic system trauma loop-immune, gut, brain inflammation cycle. Limbic system impairment. Pathways of the past-Pillar of recovery. When they come up, redirect the thoughts.     IMAGINE-A Recovery Tool  I-Intention M-Motivation (expect at least 6 months of practicing for 1 hour a day) A-Awareness and Association (Your senses will convey impaired signals) G-Gratitude and Gains (We are naturally wired to see what is wrong before we notice that is right or good.) I-Incremental Training N-Neurological and Emotional Exposure-dampen the threat response, flood your body with happy hormones. E-Environmental Awareness       Resources Mentioned:  The Brain That Changes Itself-Available on Amazon   Contact My Guest:  For General Inquiries and to speak to a DNRS™ representative, call: 1-800-947-9389.  General questions can be answered by email within two business days at [email protected] Thank you to this week’s sponsors: Tickwarriors.com Safe Insect protection for you your family, pets, and livestock. Use LYMEVOICE for a 10% discount on all first-time orders!!! Envita.com medical Integrative medicine specializing in chronic Lyme and many other chronic conditions and co-infections. MedicalBillGurus.com Talk to Daniel today at Medical Bill Gurus will help reduce medical bills and provide assistance to patients navigating a complicated medical system. Links Kangen Water- http://www.lymewater.com/ Envita Medical –Envita Medical Lyme Voice Facebook  The Lyme Voice Podcast- Lymevoice.com Lyme Documentary-Disappearing From Society, Life with chronic Lyme in 14 minutes…Documentary Little Bite, BIG TROUBLE, available on Amazon –Children’s book about Lyme disease  Tick Warriors “Insect Repellent”  https://tickwarriors.com/ Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com

Protecting People, Pets & Property from TICKS   About My Guest:   Dr. Jennifer Platt has decades of experience in public health and environmental program development.  She has led the creation of nationally recognized, award-winning education programs and has spoken extensively to audiences of all sizes.    Dr. Platt’s personal experience with tick-borne illness led her to create TickWarriors in 2016, which provides eco-friendly tick protection for people, pets, and property. The pervasive need for education and awareness led Dr. Platt to co-found TBC United in 2018 with Beth Carrison.    Key Takeaways: Non-toxic alternatives to Deet and Permithian.  While working on her doctorate in public health from the University of North Carolina in 2011, Dr. Platt contracted Ehrlichiosis. She was later confirmed to also have Lyme Disease and Babesia. It was an illuminating experience to feels so poor on the inside, and look so normal on the outside. Eco-friendly tick prevention. At the 2019 Liv Lyme Summit...the topic of PREVENTION was forefront. Daily Tick checks-all the soft areas. Throw your clothes in the dryer after being outside. Ticks can survive in water, but HEAT kills.  Tick Born Conditions United -Education.Research.Advocacy-TBC United is dedicated to the urgent need to provide health care providers, affected patients and their families, and employers with the latest research, science-based knowledge, and innovations to diagnose and treat tick-borne diseases. Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS), an allergy to red meat which can be caused by a tick bite, is life-threatening. Too few health professionals are aware of Alpha-gal Syndrome (or Alpha-gal Allergy) and, as a result, thousands of patients (male and female) remain undiagnosed while suffering from numerous debilitating ailments. The Tick Act-Recently renamed the Kay Hagen Tick Act. The Tick Act got started when Congress made a requirement years ago to have a federal tick-borne disease working group. Funding for education, research, medications. It is headed to the Senate soon!         Connect With My Guest:   Jennifer Platt, DrPH CEO and Founder, TickWarriors Cofounder, TBC United https://tickwarriors.com/ [email protected]    Resources Mentioned: People: BioUD- Insect Repellent for Skin & Clothing Treatment – proven more effective than DEET in controlled studies to repel ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects. The active compound is from the wild tomato plant; this compound is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a biopesticide – recognized as less toxic than conventional pesticides.The active ingredient is also classified by the Food and Drug Administration as a flavoring agent that may be safely used in food. The BioUD® formulation contains emollients, is non-flammable, and is not a plasticizer. You can use this on your skin and on your clothing.https://tickwarriors.com/product/bioud-insect-repellent-clothing-treatment/ BiteBlocker®’s proven effective Insect Repellent now in a highly effective waterproof formulation tough enough for extreme environments and safe for the entire family. This Xtreme botanical formula provides protection from bites for up to 8 hours against mosquitoes, black flies and more than 2 hours for ticks. WATERPROOF • SWEATPROOF • REPELS UP TO 8 HOURS • DEET FREE Pets   Ticks Off Concentrate  Makes TWO  32-ounce spray bottles!  *Mix exactly 5 ounces concentrate to 27 ounces of purified water*  Our professionally formulated Oil-Free coat conditioner applies easily and safely to horses and dogs making their coats literally “Too slick for ticks”. Our scented conditioner is a natural deterrent. Just spray on and ticks cannot hang on! Simply apply to a clean animal companion anywhere that may come into contact with grasses, weeds, or shrubs. Pay special attention to legs and tails.   A single application will last up to a week or longer unless going through water or mud. In which case, just clean and re-apply!   Property   TickWarriors™ All-Natural Yard Spray TickWarriors Yard Spray is a natural alternative to chemical-based insecticidal soaps. It quickly kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other soft-bodied insects without harming lawns, landscaping, gardens, and waterways.   Kills Ticks, Mosquitoes, Cockroaches, Ants, and Spiders on contact.      Links Kangen Water- http://www.lymewater.com/ Envita Medical –Envita Medical Lyme Voice Facebook  The Lyme Voice Podcast- Lymevoice.com Lyme Documentary-Disappearing From Society, Life with chronic Lyme in 14 minutes…Documentary Little Bite, BIG TROUBLE, available on Amazon –Children’s book about Lyme disease Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com

About My Guest: CEO and founder of The Mighty a platform in which people can write about their own experience with health-related issues.   Bio: Emily Levy is an award-winning social impact entrepreneur and patient advocate through her work as the CEO and Co-Founder of Mighty Well. Mighty Well creates innovative products in the emerging Adaptive Wear market that is focusing on inclusivity in the chronic illness and disability communities which affect 1 in 3 Americans. As patients and caregivers ourselves, we apply sportswear fabric technology to the medical industry and building a digital supportive community of Friends in the Fight for our consumers. Levy and the team are leading the global charge of helping patients and caregivers turn sickness into strength with the vision of Mighty Well being the Under Armour of Health Care.   While Emily does love speaking and inspiring health care professionals, she loves her husband, Yousef, and dog, Olive, more. Together, they live in New York City. Key Takeaways: It took 7 years to get an accurate diagnosis of Lyme disease and co-infections. After getting sick in 7th grade I couldn’t finish that year of school. When showering hurts. Instead of being an athlete and playing three sports, I could barely walk to class. Chronic pain, light sensitivities, extreme fatigue became part of everyday living. Mighty Well the company came from an entrepreneurial upbringing. I think of patients as athletes. “I love my life, but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone”-Jessica Donaldson Learn to use your voice to help others. Sometimes your health has to come first. Maybe I need to take a few days off, but I’ll be back. Created Mighty Pack Backpack for easy IV infusions as well as an antimicrobial PICC line cover sleeve.     Connect With My Guest: Website https://themighty.com/ www.mightywell.com  Email: [email protected]     Resources Mentioned: The Joy of Living Bitten by Kris Newby   Links Kangen Water- http://www.lymewater.com/ Envita Medical –Envita Medical Lyme Voice Facebook  The Lyme Voice Podcast- Lymevoice.com Lyme Documentary-Disappearing From Society, Life with chronic Lyme in 14 minutes…Documentary Little Bite, BIG TROUBLE, available on Amazon –Children’s book about Lyme disease Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com

About My Guest:   Callie Dixon is a school psychologist, chronic illness blogger, and host of The Chronically Well Podcast wants everyone to know it is possible to live chronically well even while chronically ill. If you’d like to live a healthier life, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually, welcome to the Chronically Well Podcast where we will discuss how you can thrive in all of these areas, even in the midst of your current pain or struggle.   You may be sick, but you don’t have to live that way, friend. Stop living chronically ill and start living chronically well, today.   Key Takeaways: Can your MINDSET make you well?  Interstitial cystitis (in-tur-STISH-ul sis-TIE-tis) is a chronic condition causing bladder pressure, bladder pain and sometimes pelvic pain. The pain ranges from mild discomfort to severe pain. The condition is a part of a spectrum of diseases known as painful bladder syndrome As a psychologist, I saw that there wasn’t a lot of support available to people after receiving a diagnosis. When you are under stress your sympathetic nervous system comes into play. You will feel physical changes in your body, breathing changes Find 15 minutes a day to do something that you love (writing). “You don’t have to be healed to be healing.” “If I have to be in bed, I’m going to be learning something.”-Sarah Schlichte Sanchez I couldn’t control the physical pain, but there were things I could do (like reading) Victim vs. Badass~So much gets taken from us when we are sick. But a lot of the talk within the chronic illness community. I still deserve a beautiful life, even if I’m sick or in pain. Fighting the panic of a flare-up. I had to start believing that I could get better. I couldn’t get out of the anxiety, or out of the depression until I had hope.”  Finding stories of people who have healed was very helpful. Finding a good functional medicine doctor was a GAMECHANGER. Be aware of the reality that many people battling a longterm chronic illness are wrestling with thoughts of suicide.  Recognize the role you are in with your spouse or caregiver. And understand that those roles ebb and flow. “Being sick taught me how to be Well.”-Callie Dixon Shame comes as you lose your sense of self, your identity. You feel a lot of shame because you don’t connect to people in the same way. When your body is “broken” you tend to judge yourself negatively. There is shame because you aren’t connected to your true self.  Yoga is healing and enables us to reconnect with our bodies. Connect With My Guest: Callie Hunter Dixon-https://www.facebook.com/CallieDixon Instagram- @riverandquill   Resources Mentioned: Mind Over Medicine-Amazon link   Links Kangen Water- http://www.lymewater.com/ Envita Medical –Envita Medical Lyme Voice Facebook  The Lyme Voice Podcast- Lymevoice.com Lyme Documentary-Disappearing From Society, Life with chronic Lyme in 14 minutes…Documentary Little Bite, BIG TROUBLE, available on Amazon –Children’s book about Lyme disease Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com

About My Guest: Kris Newby is an award-winning science writer at Stanford University and the senior producer of the Lyme disease documentary, Under Our Skin, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was a 2010 Oscar semifinalist.  She has two degrees in engineering, a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and a Master’s degree from Stanford University.  Previously, Newby was a technology writer for Apple and other Silicon Valley companies. She lives in Palo Alto. And now…my interview with Kris Newby.   Key Takeaways: Her husband and she both have a personal fight against Lyme after contracting Lyme Disease after a vacation to Martha’s Vineyard Her journey down the “rabbit hole” of Lyme as she researched and filmed Under Our skin.   Lyme disease is often worse for children because of their maturing neurological systems.  Lyme disease can remain dormant for years. It was pretty clear when filming Under Our Skin the documentary that we couldn’t get funding if we went down the route of “conspiracy theories.”  Willie Burderofi  “The NIH knows that this Lyme disease thing is chronic, that it can sometimes remain dormant for 5, 10 or 15 years and it is worse in children.”  “The symptoms in the filed DON’T match what is in the medical literature, something is going on.” I didn’t tell you everything... Lyme research is a shameful affair. All of the money is going to people who know beforehand what the results of the experiments will be before they are done. “It took $60,000, 10 doctors and 1 year to find a diagnosis” The diagnostic barrier-what it takes to get a diagnosis is unacceptable. No one has done a good study on the cost of the disease. Really the lost income because I was completely disabled, is hundreds of thousands of dollars, and who can do that? So many of these people are permanently disabled.”  “I felt like something was sucking the life out of me.”-Sarah Schlichte Sanchez  “No one was going to follow this story to the end.” -Kris Newby “No label=No disability” 29 cents a death Heavy silence “You are trying to keep your mind focused, but you realize what an evil program it was.”   Anyone who has been through Lyme treatment realizes that treatment is often worse than the disease. The medical goldrush-Their isn’t money in the cure for tick-borne illnesses. Blue Cross Blue Shield reported that their most expensive illness was AIDS, with Lyme disease being the 2nd most expensive illness. 1968 outbreak-This is an unnatural vector. Connect With My Guest: Kris Newby: https://www.facebook.com/kris.newby.3 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bittenthebook/ Resources Mentioned: Under The Eight Ball documentary.   Links: Alkaline Anti-oxidant Water- http://www.lymewater.com/   Instructional videos on ionized alkaline water! Electrolyzed reduced water Envita Medical –Envita Medical Lyme Voice Facebook  The Lyme Voice Podcast- Lymevoice.com Lyme Documentary-Disappearing From Society, Life with chronic Lyme in 14 minutes…Documentary Little Bite, BIG TROUBLE, available on Amazon –Children’s book about Lyme Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com