Thursday, January 20, 2011

I feel good, da da da da da da

I just finished what should have been a grueling day, not getting back home till 1:30am.  Errands, homeschool, sick child, meals on the fly, software trouble, dishes, clean up, rush off to work.  I should be ready to collapse.  But I'm not, and I'm not even over-caffeinated!

I have talked before about my struggles with a systemic post-antibiotic candida since intravenous treatment following the birth of my daughter.  She will be two in just a few weeks.  It has affected most of my internal organs: stomach, GI tract, spleen, pancreas,  liver, and brain.  Even some skin. I had gradually spiralled downward into a crabby, depressed mommy who ached in every muscle and joint,  had no energy, and was struggling to put a sentence together some days.  Then more severe symptoms began that were much more graphic, but I'll leave those out for decency's sake.  This has been a long battle.  It took several months to even figure out what the problem was in the first place. 

Now, I don't want to be over confident, but I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!  THIS is what I used to feel like.   See, I KNEW it wasn't just the 'aging' process.

I have been using natural homeopathic treatments and have changed the way I eat fairly drastically.  Despite feeling desperately deprived for a few weeks, it was all worth it.  I don't think any of it would have done the job though, had I not broken down  in prayer.  Here's the story.

After several weeks of natural treatments (I was using grapefruit seed extract, probiotics, and activated charcoal.) alone not finishing off this nasty little bacteria, I begged God to show me what I needed to do. 

Diet needed to be addressed.  I started researching and He started  putting people in my path to help.  A very dear friend had already been giving me tons of help in treating, and then others started sharing their stories.   I knew the diet part was going to be very difficult, but also knew there was no victory without it.  Goodbye sugar, caffeine, all wheat products, anything with yeast, and most dairy.  This meant most of my favorites were gone.  Chocolate first.  Coffee.  Bread, (what, no challah!), cheese, ice cream, even fruit. No pasta, beans, potatoes, carrots. I was down to a few veggies and meat.  And it made me a little crazy!!
And it didn't work.
I thought I was going to cry.
And then I did cry.
And I called out to God - what else can I do?????!!!!
And then there was just one word that he put into my mind: garlic.
What!?  I usually love that in pasta or when we make beans and rice.  I can't have pasta OR beans!
But it reminded me that I needed to use God's medicine and garlic is one of his most potent ones.  I needed to support my immune system as it was fighting to overcome everything being thrown at it.
Then I started supporting with vitamin C as well.
And within a few days, I began to see major improvements.  Clearer thought, things started tasting better.  One morning I noticed my shampoo had a great smell.  I hadn't even noticed my sense of smell had been so diminished.  Then my energy started picking up.  I no longer fight falling asleep at the wheel toward the end of my routes.
The medicines man made didn't work this time.  God's medicine - our Great Physician - and my Healer came through.
And I just wanted to let you know.
Isn't He awesome!?!?