It’s true, I travel with a blender! Green smoothies are the ticket! I can’t believe I am celebrating another year of Lyme Disease-free living. Prior to this, I had been chronically ill and medically disabled for over 20 years. I no longer suffer from Lyme Disease, Babesia, Bartonella, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Bipolar Disorder, Migraines, PTSD, Hypoglycemia or Adrenal Fatigue. If you are new to my page and have been battling Lyme Disease you can read this latest article to find out all that I did to recover from 20 years of chronic illness.
A Look at the Past Year
Writer’s block
It was a very full year with a lot of twists and turns. I know I haven’t written much but there is a good reason for that. After completing my grueling work/study year with the Nutritional Therapy Association last November 2017 I just couldn’t bring myself to write much of anything. Nada! Zilch! A blogger that doesn’t blog! I am hoping that this will change soon as I still have many things I would like to write about.
Typhoid Fever
One year ago, I got blindsided by Typhoid Fever one week after I wrote my final exam with the NTA. It was quite unexpected, and I went undiagnosed for 10 days. Blood tests came up empty, and I was told it was Dengue. You can read more about this experience here. I suspect raw chopped garlic saved my life and provided the antibiotic that I so desperately needed. Once I recovered, it took me about 3 months to get strong again. I have never had such a serious acute infection as this. They say what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger and I feel this rang true for me.
Cancelled Kilimanjaro
I was supposed to climb Kili last January. I knew I was just too weak from the Typhoid and had to put this dream on hold. This really was a big disappointment but I knew it was the sensible thing to do. I returned here to Playa del Carmen to work and focus on self-care.
The Overdevelopment of Playa del Carmen
I went through a low time following my return here after this past Christmas. Playa has changed so much in the last 6 years that I have been coming here. This building boom has forever changed this once small and quaint tourist destination. Many of the authentic Mexican restaurants and quaint hotels have been torn down and replaced with massive hotels or condominiums. The traffic has increased exponentially, and 5th Avenue is full of people at all hours. It is noisy and busy morning and night.
The Carribean Sargassum Problem
This last year has been a rough one for the beaches. The sargassum seaweed just kept rolling into the shallows and piling up on shore. I swam very little, as most days, the seaweed came in faster than it could be removed. You could smell it rotting, all the way up to 5th Avenue. The beaches at my end of town were completely deserted. This last month, the seaweed has cleared for the most part, and we are back to enjoying the sea again. I am so grateful for this reprieve of sargassum. It really has made me appreciate my beach days on the weekends.
Ecuador
Discouraged over the state of Playa del Carmen, I set out last Spring on a quest to find a new home – a place with clean air, water, and food. I spent 10 weeks working as a digital nomad and exploring on my 3 day weekends. I started in Quito and then went to Baños, Cuenca and finally Vilcabamba. I hiked, went whitewater rafting, horseback riding, canyoning and soaked in volcanic thermal baths. It was a really interesting trip and I did so much while I was there. The food was incredible and I loved the people. It is a very affordable country and I now understand why so many expats go there to retire. I absolutely love Ecuador but just never found the right place that I could call home.
Two broken ribs
I was hiking one afternoon in Baños and fell on a wet rock! Going down, I could hear my ribs crack! I then had to hike out about 4 km. I haven’t experienced pain like that since giving birth. I could barely breathe, and getting in and out of bed was excruciating. Slowly, as the weeks went on the pain lessened. At the third week, I was hiking again in Cuenca and then did lots more in Vilcabamba (I discovered that I could hike but had to be very careful bending and sitting). Hiking is my most favorite thing to do, and I wasn’t going to let the broken ribs stop me from enjoying the many mountainous trails that Ecuador has to offer. I had to give away my blender, as I couldn’t lift my carry-on anymore. That ended my traveling green smoothies. The cleaning lady in Vilcabamba was really thrilled to get my blender.
Mini- makeover of my apartment in Playa
My little apartment in Playa was starting to look dull and tired. I had the whole place painted, bought a new table and chairs, sofa, and had my bed and nightstand painted white. A few pictures were hung, and the whole place got a lift. It is amazing what a good de-cluttering and new paint can do to a place. I have always loved this little apartment and I love it that much more now. It will be for rent for a 6 month period this year, as I travel from March – September 2019. Comes with a great blender and Berkey water filter. Drop me a line if you are interested.
Mexico City
I spent 10 days in Mexico City for my birthday in September. It was a wonderful break from work, and I was blessed to be with my girlfriend Jackie. We climbed pyramids, visited museums, walked and walked, enjoyed lots of good food and just had a great time. We stayed right in the historical center. I love Mexico and really enjoy visiting new places here.
Maintained a Full Caseload of Clients
I have been very fortunate to be able to work and travel. I know it looks like I don’t work but I actually work quite a lot. I have been blessed with so many wonderful people to work with. It is a privilege and a blessing to help others heal from chronic illness. I address terrain first. Then we begin cleansing and reducing the infectious load. Many are recovering and that is what is so encouraging.
My maintenance protocol
My diet is primarily Wahl’s Paleo. I still eat about 9 cups of vegetables each day. After 5 years of morning smoothies, I have switched to a big salad with some type of animal protein for breakfast. I have almost quit fruit altogether and only eat it occasionally. I just feel stronger and have better blood sugar balance without much fruit. This is my 5th year with intermittent fasting. My first meal is at 11 am and dinner is usually around 5 pm. I still have my morning black coffee and drink water the rest of the day. I am careful to give my body everything it needs to be healthy. This includes minerals, essential fatty acids, whole food multivitamins, digestive supports, seaweed and whatever else my bi-annual hair test suggests.
Regular parasite cleansing
I hadn’t done a parasite cleanse in over a year. Coming back from Ecuador, I felt kind of depleted. So when I returned to Canada last summer, I began a parasite cleanse. Lo and behold, there were some visible parasites. I cleansed full dose with my recipe for 6 weeks and couldn’t believe how much stronger I felt. My recipe can be found here. The parasite herbs are the only herbs that I take every 6 months. I haven’t taken any Lyme specific herbs since October 2014.
Daily exercise
I continue to walk 6 – 8 miles, at least 3 days per week. The other 3 days I do 45 – 60 minutes of resistance training. I feel really good and have been steadily gaining muscle that I lost while recovering from the broken ribs.
Canada
I return home to Canada twice each year now. I love to visit my family at Christmas and in the summer. They come to visit me here as well, which is always such a blessing. I am so grateful for Skype and being able to keep in touch with regular calls.
Gratitude
My life is full today! It is not always easy to look back on the years of suffering, financial ruin, lost time and being mostly unsupported. I often can’t believe that it has been 4 years since that nightmare ended. It still haunts me at times.
One thing I know for sure! In order to have great health, we must feed ourselves a nutrient-dense whole food diet, reduce toxins and lower the infectious load. I am now in the best shape and health of my entire 56 years. I still have a few mountains left to climb, and plan on living life to the fullest for the rest of my days!
If you are still struggling with Lyme Disease and other chronic infections, take a look at this article. 10 Reasons You Can’t Get Rid of Lyme Disease and Parasites.
My passion lies in helping others with similar health issues. If you would like a little extra help, I offer nutritional therapy consultations and hair tissue mineral analysis for a fee. Please go to this page for a list of my rates and to book an appointment for health coaching.
Blessings and Best of Health!
Brenda♥
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