Last week, I started getting flu-like symptoms. I thought it was possibly a sinus infection. The next morning I woke up feeling even worse- achy, feverish, sore throat, sinus pain and pressure, nausea, fatigue, weakness, headache, with chills and sweats.
Read MoreMy whole life I felt like I needed to be doing something “productive” at all times- working, studying, going out, exercising, etc.
Enter Lyme. I was stuck in bed, unable to work, unable to move, in physical and emotional pain. My brain felt like mush and it was hard to read, think, or talk. I could barely do anything, let alone anything “productive.” At times, all I could do was sleep, eat, and shower (and even those were a struggle.) I felt guilt, shame, and embarrassment.
I made it through my first year back at school.
After two years on medical leave, I was nervous about returning to work in September, even part-time. It meant waking up at 5:50am, commuting over an hour, walking up and down five flights of stairs all day picking up and dropping off students, working with special needs kids who need a lot of attention, and then commuting an hour home.
So I was reminded how unpredictable chronic symptoms are this week, unfortunately while on vacation in Colombia.
I haven’t mentioned it much on here, but every month I deal with intense PMS symptoms (unbearable cramps, nausea, achiness, headaches, sweats, chills, and occasional vomiting and lightheadedness) for 2-5 days each month. I plan everything around this, including this trip, and I have always been able to do so with accuracy.
Fifteen years ago I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) after a month of taking antibiotics for a bladder infection. My stomach hurt after every meal and I was experiencing daily gas and bloating. I had consistent constipation and diarrhea. I felt as if there was a rock in my stomach and my digestion wasn’t working. I was prescribed colon relaxers, but they did nothing.
Read MoreIn order to get to where I am today (I still have fatigue and occasional headaches/sinus issues, but I used to have over 20 symptoms), energy healing played a big role.
We all have energy flowing through our bodies. Stress or trauma can create energy blockages in our body which can manifest as physical symptoms. Energy healing is a practice that removes energetic blocks in the body so that the body has a better capacity to heal itself.
Read MoreI think we all can say that other people trigger us. And when we are dealing with chronic illnesses that involve anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and mood swings, this triggering easily becomes amplified. I’ve been triggered a lot from other people in the past, especially since becoming sick.
Read MoreI always got stressed out easily, but when my Lyme symptoms started I began to get intense anxiety and panic attacks seemingly out of the blue. It was really scary because I had no idea how to manage it at the time. I have created a toolbox of strategies that have helped me when it comes on:
Read MoreThree years ago, after getting back from a trip that involved hiking in California and Oregon, my body began to go haywire. I had struggled with health issues on and off for over the last 10 years, but I was always able to function. Now, I had no idea what was going on- I started getting flu-like symptoms that lingered, my digestion got worse, and I became unable to ignore the fatigue. I had constant sinus issues and headaches.
Read MoreAbout a year ago, I was chatting with a friend and she mentioned that she had started meditating. She told me how meditation helped to manage her stress level and emotions. I was intrigued. So the next day I took the plunge and signed up for the Headspace app’s free 10-day Basics pack. When I finished the pack, I was ready for more. I was hooked.
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