The Nutritional Plan report

As most of you know, Trevor and I diligently follow the Esselystyn Plant-Based, No-Added-Oils Nutritional Plan for about the last year (but who's counting?). It has been good in some respects. Trevor has lost 35 pounds, lots of numbers on the lipid reports, and amount of medication. I think it helped me stabilize with some of my symptoms. As one chronically fatigue patient said, "My lows are not so low." However my lipids are still crazy.

Trevor commented as we enjoyed a plant-based meal, even with mushrooms, "Would you have  thought I would stay on this diet for over a year and plan to continue it for life?" My answer "NO"! The longest I remember Trevor being on a different eating plan is nine months and none of them made a lifetime change. Not only are we enjoying the foods, we see the benefits regularly and are hopeful that they will have a lifetime of changes preventing many of the chronic, life-style-induced illnesses that plague our society and break our hearts.

The only issue is I am relearning recipes and cooking methods. This requires time and energy that are already in depleted supply but I look forward to the time when it is all second-nature. Oh, one other difficulty is people's response of can we get together for a meal but "what will you eat?" Hey, let's get together and not worry about the food! :)

Dr. Esselstyn's book and plan

http://www.heartattackproof.com/

Healing Lyme by Stephen Buhner

I am following the protocol in Healing Lyme by Stephen Buhner. I do not really know if I have Lyme Disease but my symptoms are similar to Lyme's and I was bit by a tick about 6 weeks before the onset of those symptoms.

Healing Lyme

This is an herbal protocol of a mixture of different herbs. I was pleased with the understanding of bacteriology in the book, the studies that have been done with these herbs, the author does not sell the herbs (conflict of interest), and Mr Buhner presents the reasons behind his herbal selection.

I started on this about 4 months after I discontinued the Marshall Protocol. My physician-recommended nutritional plan was not enough. I knew I was not getting better. Thankfully I was not getting worse.

As typical, I have to add the herbs very gradually. It took me about 3 months to work up to one-third of the lowest minimal dosage on the herbs--and then I had to back-off because of increased lightheadedness. This is not atypical but it can be frustrating.

I miss a support system for this protocol. My doctor is encouraging me to do what I think I need to do and he even took a copy of the book. The web support system is kind of disjointed and the master herbalist who authored this book is no longer practicing.

One recent victory is that I was able to hike to a beautiful waterfall in New Hampshire. It is great to have little bright moments. Trevor and I both agree that I could not have accomplished that 4 months ago.

Four Years and Counting

A dear friend and I decided to share scripture first when we spoke over the miles yesterday. This sharing then seeped into the rest of our conversation. She shared some experiences in her first dealings with chronic pain and I realized that my illness has now reached its fourth year. We both said that on the onset of our symptoms we had no inklint that we would be dealing with them so many years later; hers twice as long as mine. God grace has enriched this friendship through those similar experiences.

Some measure of peace and comfort entered our realizations as we spoke of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10,

My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with ____________________________ (fill in the affliction/difficulty) 

for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Oh, God's economy is so different than mine: Weakness = Strength?

It is hard to wrap my lightheaded, fuzzy brain around let alone my stubborn, limp heart, but it is true. He is true.

Wonder how He is counting the length of my illness? Does God's economy look more like Colossians 1:9-12? Oh, I hope that it does because then my chronic fatigue would be God's tool to achieve those things that I long for but ever seem out of my grasp:

knowledge of His will, God-worthy walking, 

pleasing Him, bearing fruit, increasing knowledge of God, 

strengthened with all power, steadfastness, 

joyously giving thanks to the Father. 

I think I will leave the counting up to the Father.