Here I am...!!! :) :)

Sunshine_Joni
Sunshine_Joni Posts: 2 Member
edited November 14 in Introduce Yourself
3/16/2016 Let me tell you about my journey (so far!)

In the summer of 1986 I was bit by a Deer Tick in Minnesota. I suffered 10 years of illnesses such as "traveling" arthritis in my hands, knees, shoulders, and hips, severe weight gain, migraine headaches, memory loss, inability to read (comprehend), reoccurring pneumonia, myoclonic jerks, light and sound sensitivity, and well, the list goes on and on!!! :) I finally went to a doctor who thought (because of my history) and confirmed with blood work that I had been suffering for the past 10 years with Lyme Disease!!! By this time it was everywhere and had specifically done damage to an area of my brain near my brain stem!!! :)

In November of 1996 I started on antibiotic therapy (4 antibiotics at the same time, 2 were constant and the others were alternating with new ones every six months), medications to treat physical symptoms that arose from the years of the disease (high blood pressure, water retention, gout symptoms, depression, again the list goes on!) And then were the medications that I took to counter the side effects of the medications!!! I also had HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy) and Rife treatments throughout the years!!! :) For 9 years I was under the care of that one doctor... :( The best we can figure, about 5 1/2 years into the treatment we were able to eradicate the "bug"!!!! That means that I was taking ALL of that medication (with more added each time I saw him for new "symptoms") for a good 3 1/2 to 4 years!!! :( At that point in time I was taking 19 prescription drugs along with supplements equaling 102 pills a day!!!!!! :):)

The Rx were killing me...!!! I weighed 307lbs and had digressed from a cane to a walker to a wheel chair... I was incoherent, couldn't think, couldn't stand, fell continuously (bruised everywhere from falling), slept all of the time... I was totally incontinent, wasn't aware of time passing, my breathing was severely encumbered, and my kidneys were shutting down... My blood work was terrible with my Triglycerides in the 800's, pre-diabetic, and experiencing pain everywhere...

About the middle of October 2014, after a horrible 4 days with my daughter (she was unable to wake me up though I was sitting up in a chair), she took me to an emergency room... GOD WAS THERE!!!! They immediately took me off from 9 Rx (4 antibiotics and 5 high blood pressure medications)... That was on a Friday and by Monday I was on my way to a rehab to work on my balance issues before going home!!!! :) I remember the ride in the van on Monday but that is all... My body started to come back almost immediately and after 2 weeks (and some hard work) I had regained my balance (only using a cane) and on my way home!!!! :):)

At that time I was down to 297lbs. and I felt so good that I was ready to do it!!! Within 2 months I was losing weight and feeling great!!! By April 2015 I had lost about 67lbs and felt really wonderful but I had a ways to go!!! :) I decided to start counting calories using a web site called CalorieCount.com!!! :):)

I had cut out all refined sugar and grains with my NEW doctors blessings but felt it was time to learn portion control too!!!! The weight just kept falling off!!!!! :):) By the end of June I had lost a total of 97lbs!!! :) I felt so thin!!! :):) I reached my "first" goal (175lbs) on the Sunday before Thanksgiving of 2015 and my second (and final) goal (153lbs) on January 6th!!! :):) Total loss is 154lbs.!!!!!!! :):):)

Since then I've been working on my maintenance plan!!!! :) I continue to not eat grains nor refined sugar. I'm starting to exercise some daily. I'm working at getting all of my nutrients from my food rather than taking supplements. It's going great!!! :):):)

I will continue logging and posting daily on CalorieCount.com as long as the site is here! I believe that you CC-ers (What we affectionately call those on caloriecount.com who are friends and supporters) and the CC data base is going to help me and many others make this a true lifetime of freedom from excess weight and poor health!!! :):)

Thank you for your time and attention!!!! :):):)

I THOUGHT I WOULD ADD MY CURRENT HEALTH NEWS:

After being on antibiotics (9 years of 4000mg amoxicillin, 1000mg Azithromycin daily, plus 4 others that were added 2 at a time to the first 2 and switched around every 6mo.) I am not resistant to any of them!!!

My kidneys are back to normal function without any medication nor dialysis needed!!!

Cognitively my brain is working well. My comprehension of reading materials is 100%. I still have vision and audio problems from permanent damage that the bacteria caused in my brain stem area. This damage prevents me from working and driving manifesting it's self through visual movements and low audible sounds causing the myoclonic jerks to begin. At that time, my brain becomes irritated and the jerks will come more easily (a myoclonic jerk is also known as a "startle reflex" and is most prominent is a baby, because the brain stem is still developing, who's whole body will "jump" when there is a sharp noise) and my body will "jump" as if I'm startled but I'm not!!!!

Balance and strength issues are at a 100% as I used to fall over if I shut my eyes or turned my head to the side. I would fall all of the time but never feel dizzy... just turn and fall to the ground!!! I now am 100% free from any walking aides and can even walk on my treadmill at 3mph without holding on to the bars!!!

The only arthritis complaints are natural familial arthritic problem areas! I have no other aches and pains and no migraine headaches!

As far as I'm concerned, for a 61 year old woman who was days away from deaths doors (Neither my family nor my doctors expected me to come out of the hospital alive) I am the picture of health!!! God wasn't ready for me... I must not be done with what he has planned for me so I'm getting with it!!!!! :) He is my Rock and my salvation and He and only HE deserves the glory and honor and praise for my miraculous recovery to health!!!! :):)

Thanks again for your awesome support and love for me and each other!!!!! AMEN (which means, "So be it!) !!!! :):):):):):)

Update... CC is closing and I have joined MyFitnessPal along with many other former CC-ers!!!

I need you to help me maintain my current weight for life!!! :):)

Replies

  • sugaraddict4321
    sugaraddict4321 Posts: 15,884 MFP Moderator
    Welcome to MFP. :):):):)
  • eday79
    eday79 Posts: 86 Member
    Hi lovely strong woman, you have been through a lot!
  • dejavuohlala
    dejavuohlala Posts: 1,821 Member
    Sunshine_Joni wrote: »
    3/16/2016 Let me tell you about my journey (so far!)

    In the summer of 1986 I was bit by a Deer Tick in Minnesota. I suffered 10 years of illnesses such as "traveling" arthritis in my hands, knees, shoulders, and hips, severe weight gain, migraine headaches, memory loss, inability to read (comprehend), reoccurring pneumonia, myoclonic jerks, light and sound sensitivity, and well, the list goes on and on!!! :) I finally went to a doctor who thought (because of my history) and confirmed with blood work that I had been suffering for the past 10 years with Lyme Disease!!! By this time it was everywhere and had specifically done damage to an area of my brain near my brain stem!!! :)

    In November of 1996 I started on antibiotic therapy (4 antibiotics at the same time, 2 were constant and the others were alternating with new ones every six months), medications to treat physical symptoms that arose from the years of the disease (high blood pressure, water retention, gout symptoms, depression, again the list goes on!) And then were the medications that I took to counter the side effects of the medications!!! I also had HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy) and Rife treatments throughout the years!!! :) For 9 years I was under the care of that one doctor... :( The best we can figure, about 5 1/2 years into the treatment we were able to eradicate the "bug"!!!! That means that I was taking ALL of that medication (with more added each time I saw him for new "symptoms") for a good 3 1/2 to 4 years!!! :( At that point in time I was taking 19 prescription drugs along with supplements equaling 102 pills a day!!!!!! :):)

    The Rx were killing me...!!! I weighed 307lbs and had digressed from a cane to a walker to a wheel chair... I was incoherent, couldn't think, couldn't stand, fell continuously (bruised everywhere from falling), slept all of the time... I was totally incontinent, wasn't aware of time passing, my breathing was severely encumbered, and my kidneys were shutting down... My blood work was terrible with my Triglycerides in the 800's, pre-diabetic, and experiencing pain everywhere...

    About the middle of October 2014, after a horrible 4 days with my daughter (she was unable to wake me up though I was sitting up in a chair), she took me to an emergency room... GOD WAS THERE!!!! They immediately took me off from 9 Rx (4 antibiotics and 5 high blood pressure medications)... That was on a Friday and by Monday I was on my way to a rehab to work on my balance issues before going home!!!! :) I remember the ride in the van on Monday but that is all... My body started to come back almost immediately and after 2 weeks (and some hard work) I had regained my balance (only using a cane) and on my way home!!!! :):)

    At that time I was down to 297lbs. and I felt so good that I was ready to do it!!! Within 2 months I was losing weight and feeling great!!! By April 2015 I had lost about 67lbs and felt really wonderful but I had a ways to go!!! :) I decided to start counting calories using a web site called CalorieCount.com!!! :):)

    I had cut out all refined sugar and grains with my NEW doctors blessings but felt it was time to learn portion control too!!!! The weight just kept falling off!!!!! :):) By the end of June I had lost a total of 97lbs!!! :) I felt so thin!!! :):) I reached my "first" goal (175lbs) on the Sunday before Thanksgiving of 2015 and my second (and final) goal (153lbs) on January 6th!!! :):) Total loss is 154lbs.!!!!!!! :):):)

    Since then I've been working on my maintenance plan!!!! :) I continue to not eat grains nor refined sugar. I'm starting to exercise some daily. I'm working at getting all of my nutrients from my food rather than taking supplements. It's going great!!! :):):)

    I will continue logging and posting daily on CalorieCount.com as long as the site is here! I believe that you CC-ers (What we affectionately call those on caloriecount.com who are friends and supporters) and the CC data base is going to help me and many others make this a true lifetime of freedom from excess weight and poor health!!! :):)

    Thank you for your time and attention!!!! :):):)

    I THOUGHT I WOULD ADD MY CURRENT HEALTH NEWS:

    After being on antibiotics (9 years of 4000mg amoxicillin, 1000mg Azithromycin daily, plus 4 others that were added 2 at a time to the first 2 and switched around every 6mo.) I am not resistant to any of them!!!

    My kidneys are back to normal function without any medication nor dialysis needed!!!

    Cognitively my brain is working well. My comprehension of reading materials is 100%. I still have vision and audio problems from permanent damage that the bacteria caused in my brain stem area. This damage prevents me from working and driving manifesting it's self through visual movements and low audible sounds causing the myoclonic jerks to begin. At that time, my brain becomes irritated and the jerks will come more easily (a myoclonic jerk is also known as a "startle reflex" and is most prominent is a baby, because the brain stem is still developing, who's whole body will "jump" when there is a sharp noise) and my body will "jump" as if I'm startled but I'm not!!!!

    Balance and strength issues are at a 100% as I used to fall over if I shut my eyes or turned my head to the side. I would fall all of the time but never feel dizzy... just turn and fall to the ground!!! I now am 100% free from any walking aides and can even walk on my treadmill at 3mph without holding on to the bars!!!

    The only arthritis complaints are natural familial arthritic problem areas! I have no other aches and pains and no migraine headaches!

    As far as I'm concerned, for a 61 year old woman who was days away from deaths doors (Neither my family nor my doctors expected me to come out of the hospital alive) I am the picture of health!!! God wasn't ready for me... I must not be done with what he has planned for me so I'm getting with it!!!!! :) He is my Rock and my salvation and He and only HE deserves the glory and honor and praise for my miraculous recovery to health!!!! :):)

    Thanks again for your awesome support and love for me and each other!!!!! AMEN (which means, "So be it!) !!!! :):):):):):)

    Update... CC is closing and I have joined MyFitnessPal along with many other former CC-ers!!!

    I need you to help me maintain my current weight for life!!! :):)

    Wow what a story you certainly have been through it, I feel for you. You are doing great and I wish you a very good journey with improved healh. I will have to cone back for another read to absorb some more but wanted to wish you very good luck. Carol
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