As we close out this season of the Test Don’t Guess podcast, I’m taking a moment to do something a bit different. I’m going to get a little personal for a change. Inspired by a trend of transparency I admired on Instagram, I’m pulling back the curtain on my life and opening up about my struggles and revelations, particularly my recent battle with Lyme disease. This episode is all about ditching the “perfect persona” and embracing the messy, vulnerable realness of life.
The Power of Authenticity: Why I’m Sharing My Story 💬
I’ve always been someone who cherished privacy, especially online. I avoided sharing personal details about my family or my deeper struggles. But something’s shifted. Maybe it’s the amazing community we’ve built here – a community that thrives on support and understanding, that has inspired me to open up more. By sharing my story, I hope to connect with you all on a deeper level and perhaps offer insights to help others facing similar challenges.
A Shocking Diagnosis: Lyme Disease 🔎
My journey took an unexpected turn in January 2024 when I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. This was a huge shock especially because, despite my extensive background in functional medicine, Lyme was a condition I knew very little about.
I want to walk you through the testing and the not-so-fun backstory. It all started back in November of last year when my family and I came down with a nasty virus. At first, it seemed like no big deal, but the after-effects were far from normal. Severe and lingering symptoms led me down a path of desperate searches and multiple doctor visits, which initially brought more frustration than answers.
Navigating Through Testing 🧪
No answers really came to light until I saw a functional medicine doctor who looked beyond standard testing. The turning point? A test I would never have considered on my own—a Western Blot test for Lyme, which came back positive. The relief of having an answer was immense. My treatment began with a single herb, Cryptolepis, known for its effectiveness against Lyme, as supported by research from institutions like John Hopkins. Within a month of starting on Cryptolepis, my symptoms, including severe brain fog and dissociation, began to clear. It felt like a cloud was lifting.
The Genetic Thread of Lyme 👨👩👧
The implications of my diagnosis extended beyond my own health. It led to a revelation about my family’s health history and prompted me to get my children tested. My three-year-old daughter’s tests also indicated Lyme, which was both heart-wrenching and a call to action. We began a treatment protocol for her as well, adjusting dosages appropriately and monitoring her response. This part of my journey truly helped me to understand the importance of considering familial health patterns and proactive testing.
Advocating for Awareness and Understanding 📚
Reflecting on my experience, I’m more committed than ever to education and advocacy around Lyme disease. It’s a condition that, I believe, doesn’t receive enough attention or understanding. Lyme can masquerade as various other conditions, making it a silent but significant player in many chronic health issues. My mission now includes increasing Lyme disease awareness, enhancing the dialogue within the health community, and ensuring that both conventional and functional practitioners consider it in their differential diagnoses.
A Renewed Vision for Health
As we wrap up this podcast season, I hope my story resonates with you, whether as a practitioner, a client, or simply someone interested in the complexities of health. This journey has taught me the importance of questioning, exploring, and never settling for incomplete answers.
Thank you for being a part of this season, for listening, and for your invaluable feedback. Your engagement not only enriches our community but also shapes our journey forward. Here’s to more discovery, more healing, and more wellness in the seasons to come!
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