Jinx

I was right. I jinxed it.

I started been having tons of nerve pain over the last two or three days. Deep pain caused by nothing apparent (such as swelling or inflammation). It is caused by the infection of Lyme going deeper into my nerves and my brain, and so sometimes the nerves are just stimulated, and sometimes my brain tricks my nerves into pain. It's kind of like phantom pain, but I still have all the limbs. I can't do anything about it except take the edge of the pain off with some pain killers. But that doesn't stop the constant throbbing pain in my hands, wrists, legs, and feet.

Also, my blurry and double vision is worse. I have to focus on one thing for awhile to be able to see it clearly. I have difficulty reading.

So prayers for those would be much appreciated!!!!

God is Faithful

Hey guys!

Time for another update. Things have kind of slowed down for me lately, health-wise, so I haven't had much to write.

First, I want to thank all of you for your faithful prayers!!! I have feel them constantly, and thank God for you all. You, my friends, mean so much to me during this difficult time - You have no idea!!!

Second, I'd like to give you a short update on my symptoms. The eye spot that I wrote about in my last post has thankfully diminished! Now it's just a transparent/lightly colored spot which makes the upper part of my vision look fuzzy & slightly darkened. However, a few days ago I saw a small black spot in my right peripheral vision. Up until then, I had very few problems with my peripheral. Then today, I saw a flashing white light, also in my right peripheral vision. I see all sorts of colors and shapes now. I have almost constant blurry vision in my left eye, periodic blurry vision in my right eye, regular double vision, a lot of floaters, and frequent visual hallucinations.

But on a more positive note, for the last few weeks I have hardly been in any pain!!! God is good! I can move around almost normally! Some things are still affected, like my ankles. But I can walk virtually pain-free! Running is still very hard. I still have swelling in my hands, but there is hardly any pain :) It's such a miracle!! Pray that it is permanent!

Third, I'd like to share how God has been moving and working in my life. I am definitely growing in my relationship with God! For the first time in a long time, I am having regular quiet times. For the first time EVER, I actually want to read the Bible! Like, I will think about it randomly, and long for it! :) I also have realized that I should not only lean on my friends to cheer me up when I'm down, but I should also, and more frequently, rely on GOD for that! He has made me cheerful. Happy with life. Content, yes, even happy with school. Comfortable with my body and fine with the way I look. It's been amazing getting to know Him better, and growing closer to Him.

Needless to say, regardless of my eyesight problems, life is good :) [Yet I am hesitant to say it in case I just jinxed it :P Haha] So again, thanks for your prayers! :) No update on my appointment, it's still July 22. Prayers that it would get moved up would be great!

Love you guys! God bless you all!!!

Things are getting worse

Well, things had been rather good for me since I'd last updated......until yesterday, that is.

I developed a large black (but still transparent) eye spot that, when I fully extend my arm, is as big as the palm of my hand. It is in my right eye, in the upper part of my vision. This is probably eye spot #10 or so, and it is the biggest so far. I guess the infection is moving deeper into my optic nerves, causing more voids in my vision.

And then over the past three days or so, I've developed severe pain in my feet and legs (all over). It really hurts to walk and stand. I could barely make it through a 5 hour shift at work, today.

So, please continue to be in prayer for me, specifically in walking/standing/leg pain/mobility, and for my vision. Thanks!

Bible Verses from Simone

Thanks for the verses, Simone! :)

"And the prayer of the faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up."

-James 5:15a

"Behold, we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the purpose of the LORD; how the LORD is compassionate and merciful."

-James 5:11

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

-2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away."
-Revelation 21:4

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

-Isaiah 40:31

Letter From the Specialist

So I just got news about the medication. Apparently I can't get ANY treatment [meds included] until July 22 when I go see the Infectious Disease Specialist.

Here is the letter we received from him:

"Background:
Lyme disease is a complicated illness, which results in a variety of symptoms. Standard treatment protocols may be ineffective in alleviating symptoms. Because of this, I have worked very hard to develop more aggressive treatment approaches that will achieve beneficial results in the majority of patients, even with chronic Lyme related symptoms. Most individuals experience significant improvement or even complete resolution of their symptoms after such an aggressive, individualized treatment.

Problem:
Unfortunately, a minority of individuals will notice worsening symptoms after stopping antibiotic treatment. It may seem logical to attempt re-treatment in theses instances. However, after offering one (or more) re-treatment courses of antibiotics to patients with relapsed symptoms over the past several years, I have concluded that this approach is not beneficial, and exposes patients to unnecessary risk.

Conclusion:
I will do my very best to eradicate your Lyme infection, utilizing aggressive treatment algorithms that combine leading edge, evidence-based and scientifically sound principles whenever possible. You will receive one course of treatment. My successful results with hundreds of patients indicate that this is the proper approach. Most patients will enjoy reduction of symptoms or complete resolution of symptoms. If not, perhaps alternative therapies may be beneficial. These are outside the scope of my clinical practice. Thank you for your understanding in this matter."


Please be praying that enough people cancel their appointments with the Specialist that I can get my appointment moved up!!!! And please be praying for me, as it's extremely difficult to handle this news and I feel really...hopeless.

Thanks guys.

Health Update

I feel like I've only been updating on the technical aspects of my illness, like appointments and such, so I will give you an update on how I've been feeling lately.

One word - crappy. BUT, the swelling and severe pain in my left knee went away!!! Now just normal amounts of pain. Normal, as in BAD, but it's everywhere, so it's normal. I have pain over my entire body now. All my joints, muscles, tendons, skin bones...so pretty much every fiber of my being HURTS all the time. It's horrible, I'm 17 years old and I feel like I'm 80!!!
The neurological symptoms have gotten much worse the past few weeks. All of my colors are mixed up, so half the time it's like I'm partially colorblind in places. I see yellow in place of white a lot, that's the worst messed up color. I see things that aren't there....like random lines, lights, things are distorted, things appear to be moving when they're not (like clocks on the wall move back and forth, when obviously they don't), bad eye spots, and my blurry vision has about doubled since the last time I wrote. I literally can't see half the time. It is definitely not fun. Again, I feel old and dilapidated. Not the kind of thing you wanna feel like at 17 :( So please keep sending up those prayers!! Thanks guys! <3

Praise!

HUGE praise!!! My mom heard back from my allergist - She (the allergist) wants us to talk to my Primary Care Physician about treating me right now, and if she won't, my allergist is willing to prescribe me the medication I need!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I will have the meds SOON!!! As soon as we hear back from my doctor. :D PRAISE GOD!!!!!!! But still pray that my Primary doctor will prescribe the meds. It would be much easier on everyone. Thanks for all your prayers! :]

APPOINTMENT!!!!

I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's on July 22, with the Infectious Disease Specialist. I am also on the cancellation waiting list, so if someone else cancels, my appointment may get moved up!
And my mom is emailing my Allergist today, to ask her about getting me a prescription! So please pray about that!!!

Complications

Unfortunately, I have bad news. The doctor situation got much more complicated this past week.
Right now I have no appointment, I'm not on any waiting list, and we haven't heard back from any doctor. It's really complicated...they won't let me be on a waiting list with more than one doctor, so I pretty much have to pick a doctor and stick with them. The bad news is, the one we'd like to pick most likely won't be able to see me until late-summer, which is much too late. Tomorrow my mom is going to call my Primary Care Physician, and if she has to, literally beg her to start treating me. So PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!!!! I'll write another update as soon as I get news.

More Bible Verses

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
-Romans 8:18

"In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation."
-1 Peter 5:10

"To keep me from being conceited because of these surpassingly great revelation, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ' power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
-2 Corinthians 12:7-10

...Make you think?

Could you all please be in prayer for a teenage guy in my town? He's a Senior in High School, who got in a skiing accident a few days ago. He had minor injuries like a concussion and a collapsed lung... but he pretty much severed his spinal cord. He will be paralyzed (most likely permanently) from the mid-back down. He can move his arms and breathe on his own, praise God. Please pray for his recovery, and for a miracle, that someday he'd be able to walk again. He's only a Senior in High School!!! His name is Josh Sorvik, and here is his CaringBridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/joshsorvik.

Josh's situation has really caused me to think. I am not paralyzed from the mid-back down. I haven't had surgeries to fuse my spine, I haven't been in an accident, I can move my legs (even if it is painful), and one day I will be fine. He won't. His life will NEVER be the same. God has been so good to me!!!! Make sure you take time to consider that in YOUR life - do the little things *really* matter? Thank God that you can walk and that you are fine. Thank Him every day. It's a blessing that is denied to a lot of people.