Cowden Support Program: Days 18, 19 & 21

If you're wondering what happened to Day 20, I skipped it. Well, technically I should be on Day 21 so I didn't really skip Day 20. If you've been following my journey so far, you know a while back I said I "repeated" a day, but looking back I now consider that just increasing my dosage slower. I don't want to be behind even a day in case it causes me to run out of any herbals. As of yesterday I am on the full dose of all herbals all day, so moving forward a day doesn't mess up anything. I hope this explanation makes sense!

The past few days have been the usual fatigue and an increase in my dizzy/spaciness. I think this is because I'm now getting hit with the full dose of all herbals consistently since the night before last. As of the evening of Day 18, Tuesday, I am at the maximum 30 drops of all antimicrobials and 10 drops of the detoxes. I was nauseous yesterday afternoon and into the early evening, and I do feel that way again today so far. I wonder if it's from the high dose of herbals, or herxing? I'm still going strong with my water intake, but there have been days here and there (2-3) where I only made it to around 90 ounces, but I am not stressing over it. That would be worse for me than not getting enough water! 

I'm not sure if I have posted this yet or not, but I noticed that I no longer have the chills and my joint pain is A LOT less frequent. My POTS symptoms have slightly improvement, although they wax and wane. The two main symptoms that are still really affecting me are the fatigue and the dizzy/spacey/off balance feeling. I hate it, it's like my mind is stuck behind a brick wall of fog that I just cannot break through. I'm not sure how else to explain it, but I'm sure my fellow Lyme sufferers will understand. 

I think I'm going to start doing weekly recaps instead of daily, or every few days. We'll see how it goes. I'm off to take a nap now!

Cowden Support Program: Month 1, Days 15, 16 & 17

Saturday, Day 15, was an awesome and supernatural day. I'm just so thankful to the Lord for all I was able to do. I had decreased my dose of Sealantro the night before to half, so I only took 20 drops instead of 40. I did wake up feeling quite dizzy with a slight headache, but I was determined to persevere through it. We ended up buying new shrubs and flowers for our yard and I wanted to do yard work so I spent the whole day digging, planting, weeding and watering. I didn't even consider taking a nap! I was out in the sun too, which is hard for me. I can't say I didn't struggle with fatigue and my POTS symptoms from all the bending down and standing up, but I did it. Not only that, but after a shower and some dinner, my husband and I did some painting. We followed a tutorial on Youtube and made these cute "cat in a window" signs. My finished painting is shown below. I was up an hour past my usual bedtime, and this without a nap during the day! I went to bed praising God and just so thankful for His faithfulness to His promises to be the strength in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:8-10), and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)!

Sunday, Day 16, was not as energetic a day as the day before. I was worried I had overdone it on Saturday, but the fatigue I felt on Sunday didn't feel that way. It was the usual fatigue, the I need to rest A LOT type of a feeling I've been going through. Sundays are my rest days anyway so we went to church and then I took a long nap. I didn't do anything except relax and it felt good.

Today is Day 17. I took a half dose of Sealantro again last night, 20 drops instead of 40, and I have that familiar groggy feeling with slight headache. I guess I will slowly increase those drops but I'm honestly not looking forward to it. That stuff hits me hard.

The symptom I hate the most, which is my dizziness, off balance and vertigo, is the one that seems to be the most prominent going through this treatment. It's really affecting my head a lot. I just continue to hope that's a sign of healing! 

Cowden Support Program: Month 1, Days 12, 13 & 14

I missed a few days of blogging so I'll do my best to recap the past few days. 

I know Day 12 wasn't too bad for me. I was still tired but managed to get a bunch of house work done. I had been wanting to deep clean my floors and I got two rooms done! That was an accomplishment for me given my current situation. It wore me out though so I did take a nap, but was okay the rest of the day. 

Yesterday, Day 13, was a different story. Because I had to take the dreaded Sealantro the night before, as predicted I woke up feeling awful with a headache. I felt as though I hadn't even slept all night and really dragged through the day. (But I did get the floors in my hallway done, yay!) I ended up taking Alka-Seltzer (which is recommended for a herx reaction) and a really long nap. I woke up feeling better, but not great. Although I will say that instead of feeling 10/10 bad, I felt about 8.5-9/10 bad, so that was an improvement!! A small one, but I'll take it. I did go to our church service last night and we continue to pray for my healing. 

Today is Day 14 and I feel better than yesterday, but still quite tired. I noticed my chills have been gone, and my joint pain has not been as bad, so I'm hoping that's progress. In the meantime, I'm still feeling off balance and a bit spacey/dizzy. 

I forced myself to start exercising again a few days ago. I walk my dog every day, but I also like to do Pilates. It's nothing strenuous but it gets me moving and keeps me healthy and in shape. I'm starting out with 10 minute videos. It's hard to get through, but I'm always glad I did it when I'm done. I guess the bonus is that sweating is releasing toxins! I don't normally sweat during my Pilates workouts when I'm healthy, but even a 10 minute video is taking a lot out of me right now.

I just ordered Month 2 of the program, so I'm in this for the long haul!

Cowden Support Program: Month 1, Day 11

Today was a day like Sunday where I just slept all day long again! I'm starting to think there's a connection between taking the Sealantro and feeling really awful the next day. That is the herb you take every other evening. I'll see what happens on Thursday since I'm due to take it again tomorrow night. 

I have to say, I don't ever remember feeling this awful on antibiotic treatment. I had my days where I felt bad, but I had a lot of days in between where I felt okay. This time around I seem to feel awful every day, just extra awful some days! It's really affecting my head A LOT and I don't like it. I feel so out of it, off balance, dizzy and foggy/space headed.  I'm really down about it today and it's only Day 11! I hope this means the herbals are working and not that I'm just getting worse. I'm praying for some relief tomorrow, and that God show me I'm on the right path. I will continue to walk through this by faith, but I can use prayers for encouragement!

Cowden Support Program: Month 1, Days 9 & 10

Yesterday, Day 9, was one of those days that I just slept all - day - long! Thankfully our church service gets live streamed over Facebook so I did get to watch from home, although I admit to falling in and out of sleep during the teaching. I also made it through dinner with my father-in law for Father's day. I honestly wanted to cry at the thought of actually getting out of bed, but I did it. It was one of those walk by faith God moments. Truly He is the strength in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Today is Day 10 and I'm not nearly as tired as yesterday, but I will be taking my nap after lunch in just a bit! As far as the herbals go, the dosing of everything keeps increasing on a daily basis and I'm still going strong with the water intake. Although yesterday I don't believe I met my goal of 3 liters because I slept too much, but I'm not going to stress about it.  Should anything develop the rest of the day, I will put it in my post for tomorrow.

Cowden Support Program: Month 1, Day 8

If you read yesterday's post, then you know that I realized I was accidentally taking a double dose of Burber & Pinella. Well, I also realized I was taking the Sealantro, which I believe is the metal detox, every evening instead of every other evening. Ugh, Lyme brain!!  I honestly don't know how I made that mistake, but I do believe these two oversights were the cause of how horrible I felt a few days ago. I mean, I have felt downright awful from Lyme and past treatments, but this was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I was ready to go to the Urgent Care! Since getting on the proper dosing schedule, that feeling is gone and has not returned, thankfully!!  I will say that yesterday was a better day than today. I was SO tired again all day, with chills and dizziness. I persevered though. 

One last comment for the day. If you've been on the program, or have ever tried Stevia or Sealantro, then you know how awful the taste of these two herbs can be. I'm not even on 1/4 of the dose I need to work my way up to and it's getting hard to endure!  It makes me shudder, but you have to do what you have to do. That's it for today!

Cowden Support Program: Month 1, Day 7

I ended up repeating Day 6 yesterday because I really struggled with some major symptoms the night before last, and all day yesterday. I didn't want to increase my dosing until I felt better. My main issue really was (and is) feeling off balance and dizziness. It was so bad yesterday, I felt like I was having an out of body experience. I can't fully explain it, but my head just felt so strange and full of pressure. It felt difficult to breath (not in a shortness of breath kind of way, but a heaviness I can't explain), and my limbs felt like I was moving through quicksand. It worried me and I started questioning whether or not I was doing the right thing with this protocol. 

I decided to sit back, relax and listen to some comforting scriptures on Youtube. I laid back on my recliner, curled up under a blanket with two of my cats on top of me and fell asleep to the sounds of the only thing that brings real encouragement to me - the word of God! I have to say that when I woke up, I did feel better! I was not feeling 100%, but much better than I was before. I'm going to share a link to the video I listened to here for those who would like to check it out. I highly encourage listening, especially if you feel anxious stressed. 

One other thing I discovered yesterday is that I was accidentally taking a double dose of Burber and Pinella! This can very well be the reason my head felt like a hot air balloon that was going to explode, and I felt like I couldn't walk or even see straight! After a good night's sleep and the correct dose, I don't feel nearly as off as I did yesterday.  

I hope you will take a listen to the video I included in this post. I pray it blesses you with peace and comfort as it did me!

Cowden Support Program: Month 1, Days 5 & 6, and VBS!

I forgot to blog yesterday, so I'm catching up now on the last two days. I don't have a whole lot to report. Every day the dose of each herbal medicines increase and I seem to be handling that okay for the most part. I slept a lot yesterday and felt a bit sick to my stomach, but that's better today. Although I'm still really tired, and I kind of feel like I'm coming down with something. I have some sinus pressure and sneezing, so we'll see what happens. I just took a hot shower and that makes me feel much worse. I have read about this phenomenon happening to others with Lyme too, so I guess it's normal. My LLMD mentioned once that spirochetes don't like heat and it must be true because I feel worse after being in the sun as well. 

On a separate note, I have a God story to share! I recently went with a friend to visit her mother in a nursing home. I really have a heart for the elderly and enjoy visiting with them. We brought her one of the "Senior Gift Baskets" from my online shop, and she loved it. I posted on my shop's Facebook page what we were doing, and I included a picture of the basket. One of the ladies from my church who runs VBS (Vacation Bible School) saw it and asked if I would help the kids make baskets for the local nursing homes this year! 

I was excited and nervous at the same time about the opportunity. I've never done anything like this before, but I had been praying for the Lord to show me in what areas I can serve using my God-given gifts and talents, and this came up! I know it is what He wants me to do, especially since I feel unequipped to do it. Isn't that just like God? He asks us to do what we feel we cannot do, and when we do it by faith, trust and in His strength, He gets the glory! I'm looking forward to seeing how it all turns out. I'm not sure how I'll feel physically, but I am leaving that in the Lord's hands too. Please pray for me and for this event!

Cowden Support Program: Month 1, Day 4

Today was a doozie! In addition to the Parsley and Burbur/Pinella, I had to add the following: Banderol, Samento, Takuna, Sparga, Stevia and Magnesium and Serrapeptase (which are capsules). I'm supposed to add 40 drops of Sealantro before bed for the first time too. I will definitely be starting at a lower dose.  

As for how I'm feeling, I definitely felt strange after drinking my doses for the day, and I noticed my chills and overall feeling of "blah" increased. I felt really clammy, kind of sick to my stomach and the usual extreme fatigue, but I'm hoping these are signs of things working already!  I didn't take the full doses of Parsley and Sparga yet, but I'm working my way up.

From the way it looks on the treatment calendar, these liquid herbs and supplements will be the same every day, but with increasing doses, for at least the rest of the month, if not longer. 

I'm doing really well with my water in take, surprisingly. I thought that would be the hardest part. I really didn't use the bathroom as much as I thought I would the first day so maybe I was a bit dehydrated. However, since that day I practically live in there, which is kind of annoying but, it is what it is!  I lay out six 16.9 once water bottles every morning so I have a visual of all I need to drink. So far this system has worked really well.

If you're on the program, or have been and are reading this, please feel free to share any input or tips! 

Cowden Support Program, Month 1, Day 3

I almost forgot to blog today! I know I said I might not blog every day, but since I remembered and feel up to it, I figured why not.

Today I increased my dose of Parsley to either 6-7 drops (I can't remember!) and I did feel it in my head again. This herb definitely makes me spacey and I'm hoping my body adjusts to it soon. I increased the Burbur/Pinella to 8 drops and seem to be okay with those for now.  Tomorrow starts the treatment other than these detox herbs. I will be starting some of the herbal antimicrobials and one of the supplements. I forget exactly which ones, but I'll post about it tomorrow. 

I was extremely exhausted again today, but I managed to go to church and stay for a meeting after. I pretty much relaxed the rest of the day, and had another nice, long nap. That's about it for today! 

Cowden Support Program: Month 1, Day 2

I made it through my full first day of the Cowden Support Program, and am almost done with Day 2. I'm happy to say that I did reach the recommended goal of drinking the 100 ounces of water, and I'm almost at that goal today as well. 

The first three days of the program have you drinking Parsley and Burber/Pinella. I have been on Burber/Pinella in the past, but this was my first experience with Parsley. The recommended dose to start is 10 drops in 4 ounces of water, but knowing from past experience (and advice from my LLMD!) it's best to start lower and work your way up, I started out with 5 drops of each. I have to say that my head felt extremely spacey after drinking the Parsley the first day. The feeling wore off after a few hours, but it was really uncomfortable. I was fine with the Burber/Pinella. Today I did not seem to have the same reaction, but I stayed at the 5 drops just to be sure. I will increase tomorrow and see how it goes. 

Today my fatigue was really bad! It was one of those days where I just felt like a complete zombie. As a matter of fact, I just woke up from a several hour "nap". I did my best to stay productive today, but I hit my wall and had to rest. I feel a little better now and just took my dose of Parsley before dinner. 

Available for purchase in my shop! 

Despite my fatigue, I did have the pleasure of going with a friend to visit her mother in a nursing home for a few hours. She had purchased a gift basket from my shop for her mother that I specifically designed for the elderly, and we went together today to give it to her. She really loved it, and we had a blessed time! 

On my own I would not have been able to do it, but I knew the Lord would meet me in my weakness and be my strength. 

"But He [the Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

I'm done for the day now though, and it's only 6pm. I plan to have dinner and then head back to bed. We'll see what tomorrow brings as I increase the dosing of the Parsely, Burber and Pinella. 

Cowden Support Program: Month 1, Day 1

As I mentioned in my previous post, I decided to try the Cowden Support Program for my reoccurring Lyme Disease symptoms. I have been on numerous courses of antibiotics through the years, starting in 2016 when I was finally diagnosed after being sick for 2 years. Earlier this year I tried taking Doxycyline again for my symptoms but it really didn't help this time. I was only on a short, 2 week course whereas normally I would take it for a month. I'm thinking the short duration, coupled with the fact that I was not taking any bio-film or cyst busters with it, made it ineffective this time. There is also the possibility that I am immune to it by now, having taken it so many times before! It also caused a side effect I never had before such as intense head pressure, massive headaches and problems with my vision. So, I decided it was time to try an all herbal approach. 

My LLMD has had success with other patients, and even family members, so it sounds hopeful. If you've been around my blog for a while, you know where my ultimate source of hope comes from anyway - from the Lord. Should it be His will that this treatment plan work, I will be very happy! If not, then He has His plans for me, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:16). 

I'm not sure I'll blog about my experience everyday. I have been extremely tired these days, and using the computer too long seems to make it worse. I'm most interested in keeping record of my own spiritual growth during this time of trusting in God and seeing where this course of treatment takes me. I would also like to share the experience for others who might be wondering what it's like. So we'll see how the blogging it goes!

This sign is available for purchase in my shop!

The protocol itself seems a bit overwhelming when you look at it from beginning to end, so my Bible verse for this experience is going to be: "Do not worry about tomorrow" (Matthew 6:34). I'm going to remind myself each day to take one day at a time. I think the hardest part for me (out of the recommended dietary changes, the herbs and supplements schedule) is going to be drinking 100 ounces ( 3 liters) of water per day. I'm just not good with drinking tons of water, especially when it feels like a chore that I have to constantly remind myself to keep doing! Well, I'll do anything to feel better, so I'm giving it a go. It's too much to think about how I'll be able to do this for months and just focusing on today with the Lord's help makes it doable. At the moment, I have already had 68 ounces and it's only 2pm, so I'm doing well!

The program basically recommends eliminating all common food allergens: wheat, dairy, soy, corn, peanuts, black & white pepper and sugar. The pepper part threw me off. I never knew it was a "common allergen"! I have already been gluten, dairy and soy free for some time now, so this part shouldn't be a problem. I already mentioned the water, and then there are some other instructions for those taking other medications or antibiotics. It's a 9 month program in total, but they recommend doing it until you feel better, and then for 2 more months after that. 

That's about all for Day 1. If you're reading this and have been on the protocol, feel free to share your own experience! 

Hope in God

I have been blogging more recently over at my shop's website, Living Word Decor, but I wanted to share one of my latest posts here too for those who follow. I have really been struggling with my Lyme disease symptoms again and wrote this post to share my feelings on this latest relapse. I also recently made the decision to try the Cowden Support Program for treatment. I'd like to blog through my decision to try this program, and my experience with it, but we'll see how that goes. I will receive the first month's treatment package sometime this week so stay tuned! If you have experience with this protocol, please share!! 

Now, on to my blog post... 

This sign is available for purchase in my shop! 

During this particular season of life, I have been finding a lot of comfort in the Psalms. As someone who struggles with chronic illness (or rather, relapsing Lyme Disease), it's hard to accept the times when I'm not feeling well again. I have learned so much about the Lord in each new valley that I'm confident to walk by faith knowing that He is the strength in my weakness, that suffering produces perseverance, character and hope, and all things work together for good! (2 Corinthians 5:7; 12:7, Romans 5:3-5; 8:28).

When I'm dealing with a relapse and my immune system is in overdrive, I'm tempted to look around for help. A specialist, medicine, diet changes, etc. Yes, these things help sometimes, but not always, and I have to be careful where I put my hope. Maybe that sounds familiar? We place our hope in things that can disappoint and miss the blessings that come from waiting on the Lord (see Isaiah 40:31). If you're like me, it might be tempting to take control. We can only do what we can, and the rest is in God's hands. Sometimes I can't do a thing to get out of my situation, and that's when I'm reminded to find my comfort in knowing that God is in control. Nothing comes our way that has not first been filtered through His sovereign hands, and often times in the battle is right where He wants us, in the refiner's fire.

One particular Psalm that has really spoken to me recently, and has been coming up time and again through devotionals and sermons, is this:

"Why are you in despair, oh my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence" (Psalm 43:5)

Maybe you're going through a trial right now, whether it's an illness, financial, job related or something else, and it's bringing you down. I pray this encourages you to hope in God! Remember His faithfulness in the past and believe He will be faithful again to carry you through. Because of Jesus, we can all walk in victory above our circumstances as He walks with us through them. Lord help us to always look up, knowing that is where our true help and hope comes from for both body and soul!