Olympian fought Lyme Disease and won!

Since we're in the thick of the Sochi Olympics, I wanted to bring your attention to a very brave and determined woman, Angeli Vanlaanan.  Angeli is a halfpipe freeskier who made the U.S. Olympic team after a 3 year battle to regain her health.

What an inspiration and message of hope this is for all Lyme sufferers everywhere.  Yes, it is possible to regain your health, your strength, your life. 

To watch Angeli's documentary about her illness, click here.

To visit Angeli's website, click here.

All the best to you, Angeli!  We are very proud of you!

 



Urgent Message! Contact your MP! Help get Bill C-442 passed!

This is Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada.  About a year and a half ago, she tabled Bill C-442 which would create a National Lyme Disease Strategy for Canada.  The bill is finally coming up for debate in Parliament, beginning on March 4. 

Please read her letter below, and write to your MP in the next week or two to urge him or her to support this bill.  For all Lyme disease sufferers, this bill could be the beginning of everything we have been fighting for!  There is a link below to all of the MPs' contact info, as well as a sample letter you can send.  You may want to edit the letter as the sample provided requests an in-person meeting with your MP.

Here's hoping for good things!



Dear Lyme disease advocate,

Today, I am asking for your help in making a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of Canadians. On March 4th, 2014, the House of Commons will begin debate on my Private Members’ Bill, C-442, an Act to Create a National Lyme Disease Strategy.

Many of you are already too aware of the shortcomings of the Canadian medical system in dealing with Lyme. And while not a panacea, Bill C-442, if passed, would bring together Canada’s Health Ministers, medical professionals, scientists, and the advocates for Canadians with Lyme Disease to work toward common goals: increasing awareness and prevention, ensuring accurate diagnoses, tracking the spread of the disease, and establishing national standards for the care and treatment of Lyme that reflect best practices.

This is not about politics, it is about helping the thousands of Canadian families who have had their lives turned upside down by this terrible disease. We have received strong indications of support from the NDP and the Liberals, and many Conservative Members of Parliament have similarly expressed their willingness to stand behind this important initiative. We are cautiously optimistic that this plan can succeed, but we can’t take anything for granted.

We need you to help make sure that this Bill becomes law. Members of Parliament will be back home in their communities during the week of February 17th and, during this time, we are asking you to meet with your MP to share your story, help educate them about Lyme, and explain to them why Canada urgently needs a National Lyme Disease Strategy. Please go to www.greenparty.ca/lyme-disease to call your MP and schedule a meeting during the February 17th constituency week.

Many of you have already shared your stories with us, and we urge you to continue to do so. Please go to www.greenparty.ca/lyme-disease to write how Lyme has impacted your life of that of your loved ones, and why Canada needs a National Lyme Disease Strategy.

Finally, if you haven’t already, please add your name to the online petition and, if you are able, please print out the paper petition and collect signatures in your community. These petitions will be tabled in the House of Commons, and shared with other Members of Parliament who have indicated their support for Bill C-442.

Thank you for taking action. If you would like more information about Lyme Disease or Bill C-442, please go to www.elizabethmaymp.ca/national-lyme-disease-strategy.

With hope,

And the saga continues...

Gee, wasn't it just a couple of weeks ago that I wrote about going off my antibiotics....hopefully for good?  Thank goodness I didn't bother to celebrate because it would have been a terrible let down!

A week ago, a few symptoms crept back.....vibrations in my legs and body, and weird head vibrations when I'm falling asleep (which prevent me from actually getting to sleep).  Sleep meds have helped immensely and I'm taking some herbs/supplements to help my symptoms:  Banderol and Samento, and curcumin (along with all of my regular supplements).

My LLMD told me to wait it out and see if the symptoms would go away on their own.  Perhaps they are stress-induced.  Yes, it's been a stressful month.....4 family birthdays, report cards, and added workload due to my hubby having a brutal flu for a couple of weeks.  Lack of sleep, lack of regular exercise (although I am trying!), and a little too much sugar in the diet could also be contributors to my problem.  It's time to clean things up!

I have my next doctor's appointment in 2 weeks, so I guess I'll see what he will want me to do about this.  Go back on antibiotics???  I hope not!  But I'll do whatever I need to do to keep these symptoms at bay and be able to live a normal life.

I'm so enjoying the normality....even banality....of life these days, and never ever want to take the simple things for granted again!