I thought you would be interested in reading what a treatment day is like. They happen twice a week at this point, and the days in between I recover and work on things with my hands (while reclining on a squishy, comfy couch:).
The combination of the medicine I am on and "Lyme brain" (foggy, forgetful, slow reaction time) make it so I feel unsafe driving. I brake a little too late and feel dazed, like I'm in a dream. I wouldn't want me driving on the roads if I was another driver.
So I enlist people who love me to drive me 45 minutes to the place where I get poked.
Today my husband took time off work, packed up the kids, dog, and wheelchair, and made a grand time of it.
I am trying to switch up IV sites to reduce scar tissue, and I was poked twice because of this. I'm not afraid of needles so long as I don't have to watch it being inserted.
We did the ozone treatment first. 60 cc (2 ounces) of blood is drawn (with heparin in the syringe), mixed with ozone (look it up), and dripped back into me. The tubing runs through UV light. These measures basically turn my blood into stealth Lyme-fighting ninja blood. This treatment makes me ever so tired.
This week started a new phase in my treatment. I'm off oral antibiotics now (thank goodness--my guts were brave but couldn't handle them in the end). We're starting a IV antibiotics now--yay.
After the ozone-infused blood (which is super bright red--yay oxygen) finished dripping, the phlebotomist changed lines and dripped in an antibiotic. This makes me exceedingly tired, weak, wobbly--a good sign that the Lyme is being attacked. I feel like I've had little warriors working on the Lyme before this, and the IV abx are like a grand army that comes to attack twice a week. Yeehaw!
We'll change up the abx every couple weeks to a different class. This will kill the strains at a few different angles. Die, Lyme, die!
This took a couple hours. My family and dog went to play in a state park. A friend who was two minutes away when I texted her randomly popped in almost immediately. She and I are the kindredest of spirits--old study buddies who know each other's minds and hearts like the back of our hands. It was sweet, sweet, sweet to see her! It made my whole year. We lounged in squishy chairs like we did in the library so many years ago and chatted like nothing had changed--yet everything has! I'm growing to be more like her, which I love--more chill and c'est la vie. What a great friend. She also gave us our dog a year ago and got to say hi to her when she left.
It took about 2 1/2 hours of infusion time to finish, but when I left I wished all my office buddies a good weekend. They each have their own nicknames for me...we're a cool, weird little family. :)
My taller, better, handsomer half drove us through the stunning canyon to arrive at our kids' favorite waterfall. I took the kids there on my own this summer once and seriously almost died from exhaustion from the short walk/hike that leads there. It's asphalt and almost even. But my muscle fibers are so pooped out lately, and ten times weaker since getting sicker and also starting treatment.
My sweetheart had the new wheelchair in the back of the car (I got one!!!) and steered me to the waterfall. Our dog is half husky and pulled me with glee and a great sense of duty most of the way. What a girl.
Everyone played in the water while I parked it next to the shallow area. I was cold (I always am), but so happy. The treatments made me so grateful for those wheels. I basked in perfect weather and the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. It was a beautiful time for me.
On the way back I thought I better not let our dog pull me as there were some downhill areas. Then I figured out that either I'd get friction burns on my hands from the wheel grips or the spokes of my wheels would take my fingers off (because of going downhill, you know...I'm great on even surfaces). So my taller half handled our silly dog AND me. Our children held hands ahead of us, clutching favorite rocks in their free hands. They are the cutest little people.
When we got home, I changed and lied down. That's standard for me. I get Lyme brain to the max and weak everywhere after treatments...for a few days. Then I go to my regular level of feeling ew. Normally we don't have an outing after I've had infusions, but it was worth the effort (even though I didn't do much) to get out. I'd do it every time if we could.
We had a great time. I love getting out with my family, seeing old friends, and making strides toward wellness. :) It's grand.
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