This is a question that I have been asked many times. In the early months of recovery I automatically responded that I was in remission. The Lyme doctors seemed to think that remission was the best that we could hope for. The word “cure” has become a dirty little four letter word amongst doctors. I don’t know a single doctor that will say that he/she can cure anything, let alone Lyme Disease. Since I was feeling so much better, I didn’t really care about the correct answer. I just kept feeding myself the most nourishing Wahls Paleo Diet, my daily Super Healthy Green Smoothies , whole food supplementation, Buhner’s Lyme Herbals, intensive parasite cleansing and living a healthy lifestyle. My health was turning around and that was all I cared about. I have now been completely free of all Lyme symptoms since November 2014. This question of cure or remission has been on my mind a lot the last couple of weeks, so I thought I should research it a little more.
The following definitions are taken from Dorland’s Medical Dictionary and Stedman’s Medical Dictionary.
CURE (noun)
1. Restoration of health; recovery from disease.
2. A method or course of medical treatment used to restore health.
3. An agent, such as a drug, that restores health; a remedy.
4. Something that corrects or relieves a harmful or disturbing situation.
CURE (verb)
1. To restore to health.
2. To effect a recovery from: cure a cold.
3. To remove or remedy (something harmful or disturbing): cure an evil.
REMISSION
a. Medicine; Abatement or subsiding of the symptoms of a disease.
b. The period during which the symptoms of a disease abate or subside.
A good example of remission is taking Tylenol for a headache and the pain would subside. The headaches and migraines would return and more pain killers would be needed for the pain to subside. Remission is temporary or can be long lasting. I experienced a brief remission from Lyme Disease symptoms a few years ago, after one month of intensive ozone treatments. Unfortunately I relapsed two months later. I relapsed because the cause was ignored.
Lyme symptoms are all gone.
I no longer suffer from headaches, body pain, fatigue, heart irregularities, head pressure, migraines, dry hair, hair loss, dry skin, stubborn weight gain, inflammation, muscle tightness, depression, anemia, constipation, intestinal pain, liver pain, swollen lymph, ear pain, tooth pain, sores in my mouth, bleeding gums, dizziness, weakness, chronic cough, air hunger, boils, yeast infections, parasites, low blood pressure or low body temperature.
After looking at the definitions for remission and cure I would have to say that I feel I am cured. I have been restored to health. I have received an amazing gift of healing and have been restored to wholeness. I am now in the best shape and health of my entire life. I not only am free from the horrible symptoms of Lyme Disease but have been restored mentally, emotionally and spiritually and enjoy true vitality and wellness. I still have some lingering cognitive issues but even these are much improved. I will never be perfect, but the transformation is astounding.
My hair has doubled in volume. My skin is absolutely amazing. I am building muscle and am able to exercise every single day. I no longer need to nap and can function well on 7 hours of sleep per night. I have lost about 25lbs and can easily maintain a healthy weight. My outlook is positive and I feel very serene and grounded. I am really enjoying my life and am so excited to be alive. Such a miracle from being bed bound and planning my funeral in the spring of 2014.
Health restoration is a function of the body, not a function of a drug.
I gave my body everything it needed to heal itself. The body is a self-healing machine. I am able to maintain this level of health by correcting my low stomach acid, staying well hydrated, eating a Paleo Diet, correcting mineral deficiencies , beach therapy , stress reduction, simple living and parasite cleansing every 6 months now. I haven’t taken any Lyme specific herbs since January 2015. I continue with homemade probiotic-rich foods and daily green smoothies. I surround myself with people that love and support me. My energy is amazing and I exercise at least 2 hours per day. This has really shocked and surprised me, as I can’t believe what I am able to do each day. After being sick for over 20 years and on a disability since 2004, my turnaround has been miraculous. Every aspect of the human condition must be explored, identified, and corrected at its source before lasting health can be restored. You can read here all that I have done to recover my health! It’s about becoming the best version of ourselves! We are what we eat, drink, think, feel and believe!
Go for the “Cure”! I’m so happy I did!
Blessings!
Brenda♥
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Brenda can you please share with me what you do for parasites. This has been an ongoing issue with me and my family along with Lyme. I need a good protocol to follow that is safe and effective for all of us.
Hi BrandyWillmot – I really can’t say what you and your family should do for parasites. Here is what I did to get rid of mine. Parasite treatment can be really rough. It is really important to change the terrain so that the parasites can no longer have the upper hand.
http://realfoodrebel.com/parasites-a-serious-co-infection-of-lyme-disease/
Blessings!
So happy for you! I looked through your pictures and what a difference. You so courageously pounded your way through to recovery,. Slowly, but surely I feel I am doing the same. You look amazing now. …and better still, you FEEL amazing!
Can’t wait to be where you are! Keep pounding Brenda!
Love and blessings,
Wendy
Ella,
Thanks for being here! Yes it really was a pounding. They say that if it doesn’t kill you it will make you stronger. Keep pounding and never, ever give up! Let me know when you are healed.
blessings and Best of Health!
Brenda,
Loved your final evaluation of yourself. Just shows me how far you have come with believing in yourself and your outlook on life. Its all a matter of the heart or spirit I should say. The journey though not easy brought you to this understanding at this time in your life. All the obstacles and purging of useless thoughts, of treasures you thought you must have now gone. We really are like an onion peeling back all those layers over the years. God is definitely using you in my life, I don’t know where I’d be if you hadn’t have started your blog at the perfect time. We all must experience the journey or else it is useless. You are healed…….God is good !!
Blessings, Renee
Hi Renee- Thanks for your kind words! Life really is about love, service and relationships. I know that without physical, emotional and spiritual health none of those are possible. I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams living a love filled, simple life here in Mexico.
I am humbled to be able to help you through my blog. God is good indeed!
Best of health!
Hey Brenda,
This is Wendy again. I have a couple of questions for you when you get a minute to write.
The first one being that I have been very dry skinned for probably the past 4 years. It has gotten much worse recently..I am not sure if the herbs are drying, but my husband took a picture of me yesterday in a sleeveless shirt and showed it to me. I was so surprised at how dry and old my skin looked. My arms are skinny, but have crepe like skin…its not a pretty sight. I have taken to wearing long sleeves and turtlenecks to cover them, but summer is only a few months away here in the south. Do you have any suggestions as to what might help this? I use baby oil after I bath and take fish oil internally, but still hasn’t helped the dryness.
My second question is about the green smoothie. I have been eating Walhs paleo for several months, even though I ate similar to this for almost two years. I added in your green smoothie about two weeks ago.. for it’s the simplest way for me to get all those cups of veggies and colors into my day. The only problem I’ve notest is that it seems to be raising my Candida levels. I have felt sluggish and tired again and yesterday felt like I definitely had a vaginal yeast infection. I stopped with the smoothie yesterday, but thought about it this morning and decided to try changing it a little since I have for years had a very bad Candida infection. I think instead of the orange, could I not use a lemon or lime? Instead of pineapple, how about a green apple? I still could add raspberries or blueberries to give it a better taste, but less sugar. I am wondering if this would change the nutrient value or does it matter so much as long as it’s veggies and fruits of many varieties and colors? Did the sugar in the smoothies not have any effect on your Candida? Or is it possible that due to you taking the herbal protocol for five months before starting the smoothies, that you had eradicated your yeast by the time you started with the green smoothies?
BTW..my husband and daughter think the smoothies are disgusting looking and can’t see how I can drink them. Ironically, I find them one of my most favorite parts of my day and think they taste great. I sometimes have a second one in the afternoon. I guess going two years with NO fruit makes a girl grateful for small pleasures!
Thanks greatly for all your help. It’s been wonderful knowing someone who has beaten this awful disease and has firsthand knowledge of what works and does not.
Blessings to you, my friend!
Wendy – I too had really dry skin. I think it was caused from being so hypothyroid. I prefer coconut oil on the skin as it will be more nutrient dense and will not contain toxins like the baby oil. I found that the addition of kelp really helped with the hypothyroid symptoms. My last hair test showed that my thyroid ratio was much improved.
Yes by all means cut back on the fruit if the candida is flaring. When I first started I only used enough fruit to just make the green smoothie palatable. Whatever you enjoy just use that. Everyone will find what they like best. The main thing is to be consuming all of those veg per day in an easy to digest form.
I no longer have yeast issues so I can tolerate the pineapple and papaya in my smoothies. I did have the candida under control before I began the smoothies. My parasite cleanse contains olive leaf and pau d’arco and both of those are yeast killers. Plus I had completely stopped all sugar and processed foods.
You might feel worse as you clean up the diet as pathogens will be dying. The more alkaline you eat the more die-off you will have. Eventually your body will balance itself wit good flora.
Blessings to you too!
THANK YOU!!!
I am so sick of hearing Lyme is incurable, it is chronic, this is forever.
NO.
We CAN heal!!!
Thank you for being one living vibrant proof of that!