Taking my son for his first driving lesson. Doing mommy things again! Lucky me!

I am getting there!

When sharing with others about my ongoing recovery from Lyme Disease, people often want to know “how” I am doing it, what treatments are most helpful and what advice I would offer others looking for help. Before answering these questions, however, and in the interest of full disclosure, I want to be clear that I don’t consider myself to be cured from Lyme Disease (M.S.I.D.S, etc.,).

Yet.

I am still actively treating Lyme and other related infections, as well as working within the holistic framework of healing which includes emotional and spiritual work, mitigating environmental triggers (EMF/ RF, mold, GMO’s, etc.,), supporting detoxification (movement, saunas, hydrotherapy, hydration, organ support) and supporting the nervous system (bodywork, grounding, nature, friends, meditation and prayer, singing, journals, crystals, fuzzy socks, etc.,).

Me + Husband @ Date Night. Yep, that’s happening!

My Lyme Treatment Update 

I am presently a little more than two years into treatment for “Lyme” and I have definitely reached that place in my journey where I have faith it will only get better from here. In the course of a few years, I now have access to treatment, tools that support the work both emotionally and physically, and a network of practitioners that can provide direction when I need help. I worked for this, it took a really long time, but I am here now and I want to share some of what I am learning with all of you. But I also want you to know something that I didn’t know back then.

Healing is possible. People do get better.

I don’t remember seeing stories of people that had recovered from Lyme so I am determined now to make sure I do my part to share what I have experienced firsthand. I am getting better. So is my daughter. And I also know people that are back to their lives again, working demanding full-time jobs, going to concerts and traveling internationally (and not for medical treatment either). But if you are researching online, you may not be seeing that, and it is the one thing you need to know more than anything.

Here are some things that may help you to get from here to there.

Find Tools that Support Your Ability to Cope. 

Choose carefully what imprint you are creating for your unconscious self by being really mindful of what you are focusing on, sources of information, how you are defining this challenge (victim or survivor), and how you are relating to this on a daily basis. I was a huge mess at times, I can still be now, but I get back quickly to what works, and I am sharing that with you now, not because I think my tools should be your tools, but because I want to share and encourage you to find your own inner strength.

My “little-bird”, fellow Lyme-Warrior, daughter and partner in treatment

Find Mentors that Inspire You

Who are your mentors? What about Angeli Vanlaaned, professional free-skier, who returned to the Olympics after Lyme Treatment? See, people do get better!

My list of mentors follows (I used first names only!): Kim: Grace. MaryEllen: Kindness. Scott: Dedication and Humility. Perseverance. Katie: Biggest heart on the planet. Superhuman. Wisdom. Humility. Keeping it real. Chay: Fierce. Brave. Funniest creature I know. Tenderhearted. Christine: Balance, Staying in the Flow of Life. Candice: Gentleness. Grace. Wisdom. Nancy: Altruistic and kind.

Trust the Process

I spent more than ten years researching before my “Lyme” diagnosis.  I learned so much! I mean, can you imagine? Of course you can. No doubt it is your story as well.

All of the research you did and continue to do can positively direct your healing and guide you to new treatments. But at some point it becomes helpful to relax, to the best of your ability, and trust the process. This is easier, in my opinion, when you have found a trusted Lyme-Literate doctor to manage your care.

Don’t Believe Everything You Read or Hear

I once had a massage therapist tell me that the scar tissue along my spine was permanent, irreversible. That seem like something that should scare me a little bit, right? It didn’t. Here is why.

I don’t believe her.

Here is the thing. Much as we know about the body and how it works, there is still a lot more that we don’t know. Miracles happen all the time in medicine, so don’t forget that.  And if you move outside of the allopathic model, there are so many more resources for healing!

But Laughter is the Best Medicine of All!

Laughter moves oxygen and lymph and resets the nervous system and wakes up your cells and it also tells your whole body that “it is okay“. So don’t forget that. I mean, it should probably be at the top of the list. So my first bit of advice is to find the humor and to seek out those people that also want to share that part of this experience too. And if you cannot find that in others, then be that person that brings levity and a smile to someone else that needs it.

Now let’s get to my list of resources, treatment, advice, etc.,

1. Find a Lyme-Literate Doctor. (My personal preference has been to work with the doctors at The Sophia Health Institute because of the work of Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt.) It is not enough that your doctor or wellness practitioner accepts or diagnoses Lyme, you need the support of a clinic that specializes in Lyme and has a support staff that can provide access to tools to support your treatment for possible referrals, IV-Therapy, prescriptions, additional support staff to facilitate treatment when your doctor is busy or away from the clinic. See ILADS for additional resources for finding a doctor.
2. When treatment is especially challenging, focus on detoxification and supporting your nervous system.  
3. Be here now. Try not to anticipate or predict the future, or look back with regret. Get back to this moment and ask yourself “What do I need right now?” Do what you can to support yourself in this moment.
4. How do people heal from Lyme Disease? How am I healing from Lyme Disease? Every time you treat an infection, your system is not exactly the same as it was the last time you treated for that infection. I am throwing this in there because it is easy for some of us to assume we cannot tolerate garlic because that one time we tried it, we got sick. Having said this, my protocol has changed a lot over the years and some things just never worked and other things did and then they didn’t the next time, and so on. My current protocol reflects what is presently working and will be noted with some details just so you know that I am not uniformly recommending anything to anyone. 1) Neural Therapy and ART (Autonomic Response Testing – biofeedback/ energetic testing). I don’t know where I would be without these two tools. I highly recommend you research the work of Dr. Klinghardt to learn more. 2) Cannabis (varying dosage and as tolerated, wonderfully neuro-protective; this has been very helpful with cognitive challenges), 3) Albenza, Ivermectin, Itinazole (as tolerated and when energetically tested; generally noticed a a decrease in most of symptoms but this protocol is hard), 4) Detoxification Support (see above), 5) Nervous System Support (see above), 6) Essential Oils (particularly Balance, Protect, Watch Your Mouth, Just for Grins, Shine, Over the Moon, Frankincense and Vetiver), 7) Bolouke, 8) Binders (charcoal, chlorella, clay, Ecklonia Cava, Takesumi Supreme), 9) Plant-Based grain-free organic diet, 10) BioMat (pain management and stress and anxiety support).
5. Do not ignore the elephant in the room. It is helpful to focus on Lyme Disease if that is your diagnosis, but don’t ignore other possibilities that may be causing or exacerbating your present challenges. I recommend considering possible dental infections (root canals, cavitations, etc.,), amalgam fillings, mold exposure and EMF/ RF stressors.

If you have any questions, comments or feedback, please share that here so that others may benefit form the communication we share! Thank you!

Love + light + healing | Stacy Shuman

For more information:

Well Scent Recommended Wellness Resources

Amethyst BioMat

BetterHealthGuy

Stacy’s Lyme Disease Treatment 

The Sophia Health Institute

The Klinghardt Academy