Our Blessing.. 2/2014

I am so sorry that I have not written on here in such a long time! So much news to share!

First, I want to say that I am still in full remission! Yay!! I am feeling so blessed that I have not had to take any Lyme medications for a while now! I was on supplements but currently am on nothing!! It crazy to think back how many different things I was on before and now am on nothing! I see my integrative medicine Dr. every 4-6 weeks... he monitors me and all is well! Sometimes I look at my old videos and pictures and just can not believe how sick I was... Lyme stinks!!

So what is new with me now. Well, I am back to teaching my preschool disabled class! I was out of this classroom for 2 years and am so grateful that I was about to go back! I love the class that I teach.. the best part is I am able to keep up and feel like "me" again! I will say I have SI joint instability now and degenerative disc disease in my lower back all from the Lyme and how I "walked" for that year.. but I will take that over everything else!!

So the best news of all..... I am expecting a little bundle of joy!!! The baby's due date is February 14, 2014- Valentine's Day- How sweet is that! Picture above is me 11 weeks pregnant! All I can do is thank God for giving me this blessing!! I really never thought this would happen for me after have Chronic Lyme- but it did! No, I am not on antibiotics. I figured since I am in remission why would I? I would go on them if Lyme is active. Baby is healthy and all is good.. I do take prenatal vitamins daily- but that is it!!! So there really is joy and light at the end of the tunnel after this terrible battle! Stay strong and positive you will get through this too!!! God is good and will bless us! Keep fighting and Let's Raise Awareness!!

 <3 Samantha

feeling good!

Hi All!

Just wanted to give you an update! I am still in remission- yay!! I have been feeling wonderful. Yes, I have some joint pain or numbness here and there, but hey- I will take that over what I did have! I have come to learn that My Body will never be totally the way that it used to be and I have accepted that. I am so blessed to feel the way that I do now. I am back to teaching my preschool disabled class. I really couldn't have picked a better profession for myself. I am exhausted after 2 hours but its totally worth it.  I enjoy every minute with those kids and I learn something new everyday!

I want to let all of you who are fighting this terrible disease to stay positive! If you are negative I guarantee you will not get better. You need to love your body and stay positive and show this Lyme who is boss! Also, it helps you feel better mentally by staying positive. So yea you want to sleep all day- set your alarm and get up and try to do something for your self. I know- its is hard.. But with determination, positive thinking, and a good medicine concoction you will feel better- I promise!

I have made so many friends across the world by having this blog. I email with them and we talk about about experiences. It is nice to talk to others who are feeling and going through what you are. If you ever need a friend please e-mail me samanthadawn1211@gmail.com. I will listen, and give any advice that I may be able to give.

Thinking of all my Lymies and Let's Raise Awareness!! ((HUGS))

mini interview

In May 2012 I did an interview with Clearview Regional High School About Lyme Disease. I just got the video sent to me. It is short but gets to the point. In this video I am still very sick with my piccline still in ( I am wearing a brown piccline cover over it), Bells Palsy, and lots of weight gain.... Here is the video: Let's Raise Awareness!!

Thanks Pine Hill School District!

The Bean Goes Green in May for Lyme Disease Awareness Month!!! Thank you so much to the Pine Hill School District for all of of your love and support! I am so lucky to work with such a great group of people! ( This is a picture of the Staff at the Dr. Albert Bean School, where I teach. I am the one in the middle holding the sign.)

                       My superintendent came to show his support as well! Thank you Dr. Koczur!
I decorated the school office, handed out ribbons, and Lyme Disease brochures! Let's Raise Awareness!

May- Lyme Disease Awareness Month!!!

        MAY: Lyme Disease Awareness Month!

Raising Awareness for this horrible disease is very important. Here are a few ways that you can help:

"Samantha’s Project” Turn your porch light green for the month of May! Help spread awareness by replacing your porch or outdoor lights with a green bulb. It’s fun, easy and a cheap way to bring attention to this nasty disease!

* Wear lime green the month of May : Shirts, ribbons,bracelets, headbands, NAIL POLISH..etc.

* Tie lime green ribbons around poles and trees

 * Hand out Lyme Disease info cards: www.lymediseaseassociation.org under resources

* Share on social networks to check for ticks and help educate about Lyme Disease

 ** To prevent Lyme Disease check for ticks daily**

 

I will be adding information about Lyme Disease throughout the month of May.

To read my story please start from the beginning of this blog : Feb 2011 (I was diagnoised in August 2011) Thank you for reading and Let's Raise Awareness!!!

Looking Good :)

I went to my Integrative Medicine Doctor this week and had him test me for EVERYTHING! Everything I always tested positive for last January 2012.

Good News: My Lyme is still gone- non active! I couldn't be happier!! Hoping to stay in remission forever! He said that if it did come back he is confident that my immune system would be able to fight it off. Yay! All negative for the co-infections I had, Parasites, metals, mold! I got a good report.

The only thing that he did find was that I had an Iodine Deficiency? I was very confused about that. I did look it up ( Google) and read about it. It seems that it is common but you should take some supplements if you are on it.

So as of right now I am taking supplements for that and Vitamin D. THAT IS IT! I feel like I went from 30 pills a day to 2.. crazy!

The Spring is here and Summer is near.. Please continue to check yourself, your children and pets for Ticks. DAILY! This disease can change your life in a flash. Also, remember, May is Lyme Awareness month. Get those green light bulbs for your porch, wear some lime green clothes and nail polish, educate others!

Let's Raise Awareness!!!

1 year since my 2nd round of IV!

I am so sorry that I have not been writing on here since the end of December but since then I have seen my Doctors. I have been to both my LLMD and my Integrative Medicine Dr. and I have been testing negative to active Lyme!! I have been negative since June 2012… so I couldn’t be happier.

 In January 2013 I saw them both and here were my results:  When I first started in January 2012 my c6peptide number was at 1.88(anything above .91 means that you have active Lyme in your system). My number now is at .62 so that was great news to hear!!!

But my CD57 number was too low... Low for this can be bad. The number should be between 60 and 360. My number is 27. So what this means is that my immune system is very compromised.  The other thing about this number being low is that I could relapse with the Lyme. I have been getting pretty sick a lot. I am actually home now with Strep Throat and have had a 102 fever on and off for 4 days. Overall, I am just hoping that my body can continue to fight this. With all the supplements and vitamins that I have been putting into my body I will only be able to continue to get stronger. Today- March 13 I am 9 months in remission!! J

Today- March 13 is exactly one year from when I started my second long term round of IV and Oral Antibiotics. If you look back on this day on my blog you can read how I was dealing with my active Lyme then- it was not good. I have really come a long way and I am forever grateful for that. thing about this number being low is that it means I could relapse with the Lyme. I have been getting sick a lot. I am hoping that my body can continue to fight this Lyme and once I put some supplants in me that my immune system will get stronger. I do feel week. So overall still happy - NO ACTIVE Lyme!! 7 months in remission!!!! thing about this number being low is that it means I could relapse with the Lyme. I have been getting sick a lot. I am hoping that my body can continue to fight this Lyme and once I put some supplants in me that my immune system will get stronger. I do feel week. So overall still happy - NO ACTIVE Lyme!! 7 months in remission!!!! Thanks for all of the support

What am I still dealing with? Well, I still have numbness/coldness on my right side. It has gotten better but it is still there. Nerve damage takes forever to heal so I am just trying to be patient. I have been experiencing really bad hip pain though and other joint pains. I have had manipulation done to help and I also continue to go to my wellness program at my PT. But from everything that I had if I am left with hip pain and numbness I would say I am lucky.

 I will continue to write on here and I am sorry that I have not been for a few months. I do update on my Facebook page daily/weekly you can friend me on Facebook at : Samanthas Lymelife. Or you can always email me at Samanthadawn1211@gmail.com. Thanks for all of your support and let’s continue to raise awareness.

                                             ** May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month**thing about this number being low is that it means I could relapse with the Lyme. I have been getting sick a lot. I am hoping that my body can continue to fight this Lyme and once I put some supplants in me that my immune system will get stronger. I do feel week. So overall still happy - NO ACTIVE Lyme!! 7 months in remission!!!!