Spring, 2010

~A little review since my last post in November.

I have been on JuicePlus – 2 capsules each of Orchard Blend, Garden Blend and Vineyard Blend – for 11 months now. In October, 2009, I had an appointment with Dr. Clinton Pomroy, my naturopath of 4 years, and he performed a full Phazx Body Scan. The test results were good and showed that I was completely balanced without adding in any supplements! That was a first for me! I attributed these positive results to JuicePlus. As of October, I was detoxing faster than my body could get rid of the toxins, so my kidneys were beginning to flush back into my system. Even though I felt pretty good at that point, Dr. Pomroy indicated that these symptoms would begin to increase. He said that I could have symptoms much like ADD, ADHD, or Autistic-like symptoms as a result of the detox. Oh JOY! As if being 50-plus years old, going thru menopause, and having Lyme were not enough! This ought to be “fun”. God sure has a sense of humor.

The next couple of days I indeed began to have more symptoms: there was a general swelling over my entire body, I had inflammation in my joints and muscles, and I had swelling on my brain and in my glands, giving me a swollen neck and causing dizziness much like vertigo. I had difficulty walking, visual disturbances, and difficulty speaking and comprehending. At that time, I began taking 3-4 capsules of Valerian Root before bed, which has helped me to sleep better and has reduced the pain.

By the end of February, I was beginning to panic that I could not get to a doctor soon enough. A few of my close friends were getting quite concerned for my health, and I felt I needed help with the detoxing. I was beginning to wonder what we could do next, so Larry and I prayed, along with many of you dear folks, for provision and answers. God, in His perfect plan for my life, provided an appointment with Dr. Mike Casey.

At the end of February, 2010, I had an appointment with Dr. Casey, where he performed a live blood cell analysis. The results were encouraging and showed that I was progressing since the last testing. He encouraged me, noting once again that combating Lyme takes effort. I value the fact that his wife, Tanya, has Lyme, giving him first-hand experience with this debilitating illness. I have had the opportunity to speak with Tanya, learning from her vast experience with Lyme disease…Lyme is so confusing and complex. Dr. Casey wanted me to get back on Waiora Natural Cellular Defense (NCD). I had had good results with a few bottles of Waiora a while back, but we did not have the resources to continue with it. I was so tired and emotional and discouraged, so I walked out to my car and just fell apart. I prayed for the Lord to make a way for me to get back on NCD. A peace began to fill my heart, and within a couple of days I was given some NCD and have been provided with it for each week since. My JuicePlus has also been provided for a year now! God is so good, and I am very thankful for those who have stepped forward to help us out at this difficult time.

I have just started my third package of 3 bottles of NCD. I have had good results with NCD. (NCD chemically bonds with heavy metals and toxins at the cellular level, allowing them to be removed from the body, and it also promotes a healthy immune system and helps balance PH levels.) All of my symptoms have decreased considerably over the last couple of months. Even though I am still quite stiff and sore, my energy has increased, the swelling has decreased, and my general well-being and outlook on life has improved. For example, I, along with my co-leader, led an overnight event with 5 of the freshman girls from our church youth group. This was a huge first for me in many years! I was fearful beforehand about how I would feel, but I wound up loving it and felt wonderful. I have not been able to do crazy things like this in a long time!

So that brings me up-to-date. My journey has many turns, hills and valleys, but God is so good, and He is ever faithful.

Into the Fall!

Peg had a pretty good summer with her Lyme disease. Some days it was one step forward and two steps backward, and occasionally she had some “episodes” (more about that later), but she made it thru OK. She was able to reduce some of her medications and supplements without negative impact. Like many others, we had difficulty obtaining Armor thyroid medication because of the nationwide shortage, but we have been able to receive the amount Peg needed for now.

Last month, Peg had her first opportunity in ten months to return to her naturopath in Southern California to check out where she’s at physically. We were given some extra money to cover the travel costs and office visits, so she braved the 5-hour trip (with Andrew and David). After the tests, the report from the doctor was encouraging. He uses a “bio-feedback” scan to see what things might not be right in your body, and, for the first time ever, Peg was right in balance without any supplements or medications. The test results proved that she no longer needs most of the supplements that she previously needed. We attribute much of this balancing to the JuicePlus that Peg has been taking regularly since the spring. Peg had a lot of energy and did really well on the trip.

Recently, though, Peg has been struggling a bit. Sometimes, she has what we refer to as “episodes” with more frequency, usually after a day with more activity than usual. Peg has difficulty describing how she feels, but they appear to be sort of like a light seizure. At first, she feels a sensation in her hip muscles, and then there is some involuntary tensing of some of her muscles. These episodes are not painful, but they are uncomfortable, and she is exhausted afterwards, and she has a lot of muscle soreness, especially in her hips and neck. We honestly don’t know what is causing these episodes, but they seem to be more muscle-related than neurological. At this point, there is no hope of funding any further medical tests, so we just need to pray for healing.

Peg also seems to be at more risk of the episodes when she sits for long periods without elevating her feet or when she over-exerts herself. For example, last week she sat on a hard chair (even with some padding) at a Bible study we attend, and afterwards, she had an episode in the car. Also, this past weekend, Peg went to a JuicePlus conference in Clovis. There were meetings on Friday evening and all day Saturday. She had some episodes after the meetings, and yesterday she was just feeling sick all over. She’s been a bit better today, but not 100%.

Peg realizes she needs to take thing a little easier. She works hard around the home as a mom and homeschooling our 9th grade son, plus she is involved in ministries at church. In order to avoid overtaxing herself, Peg is stepping down from the work she is doing with the Awana girls each week. She will still continue with her freshman girls class in the student ministries and the student ministries worship team once a month, as long as she is able. Also, she continues her part-time work as a Wellness Consultant with JuicePlus.

So, life has been quite a struggle for Peg recently. Maybe she is just going thru another level of de-toxing, or maybe her Lyme disease is gaining ground. Whatever it is, we covet your prayers for her healing.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

- Psalm 91: 1-4 (NIV)

One of my favorite verses to get me through our valleys with over 20 years with Lyme disease has been Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

I have not written in a while. We have been adjusting after our move and getting settled now. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

Since we moved, my health and my Lyme symptoms have been generally better, but I have still had some ups and downs. I have been following the protocol prescribed by Dr. Pomroy, my naturopath, and he has graciously provided much consultation over the phone, but I have not been able to go back for any follow-up visits in over 7 months. I’m sure that his protocol has had a great positive effect in strengthening my immune system. Even so, for a while I was experiencing some frightening episodes where I had seizure-like symptoms, and then they would subside for a time. It has been a daily battle to keep up my health and attitude.

I wanted to share a new amazing part of my health journey. I heard about Juice Plus from a friend, and I was intrigued because Juice Plus would help me to enjoy whole food-based nutrition. Juice Plus made sense to me because it is a whole food in a capsule. Easy to take and for only about $1.40 a day, this product would fit into our limited budget. My husband, Larry, always said, “If it is in a capsule I can take it.” I try to eat the 7 -13 daily recommended fruits and vegetables every day, but I knew I didn’t come close to that, even with juicing every day. Juice Plus bridges the gap, and the clinical research confirms that it really works.

In the last three months I began using Juice Plus, I have experienced even more health. This is a whole food capsule providing 17 fruits & vegetables and grains daily. I know I can't eat that many fruits and vegetables a day. And, after starting with Juice Plus, my "episodes" (the seizure like attacks), blood pressure, joint and muscle pain (much like MS and Fibromyalgia), short term memory loss, brain fog and slurred words have been so much better. The Lord has been so faithful!

Another aspect that highly appealed to me is the Juice Plus Children’s Health Study. For every adult order of Juice Plus Orchard and Garden Capsules, you can add a child for free! My son, David started when I did and, in the three months he has taken Juice Plus, he has increased his awareness of health and nutrition and I was assured he was getting his veggies in. He had more focus with school and recently he began trying more veggies, which he has had trouble eating because of allergies, textures and in general, does not like them. Sound familiar? Well, he is beginning to take ownership of his nutrition! He sees the result himself and has been so much healthier.

I have experienced such positive results with Juice Plus that I have signed up with them as a Wellness Consultant! You may want to check it out for yourself at http://www.peg4juiceplus.com/, and you can contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss it further.

JuicePLUS+
Peggy Owens
Wellness Consultant
Scientifically proven to build the immune system, reduce risk of cancer and heart disease.

Finished with HBOT!

Well, today Peg completed her 40th and final HBOT dive. When we started this process in July, it seemed like such a huge mountain to climb, but now we stand at the summit and rejoice!

We are very encouraged that this has been a beneficial and successful treatment for Peggy. All indications are that her Lyme disease was aggressively attacked (as evidenced by the Herx reactions that she experienced, and by the gradual diminishing of those reactions). Let me be very clear…we do not put our trust in HBOT; we put our trust in God. The HBOT is beneficial in killing off Lyme, but Peg’s total healing comes from God.

And I do mean ‘total’ healing. Peg has been very strong throughout this entire process, even in the face of adversity, and she has stayed strong through some difficult physical reactions, emotional ups and downs, and some spiritual trials. I believe she has gained strength from God to help sustain her through this journey. In fact, several people who Peg has talked to have commented how much Peg has changed for the better over the last few months. Not only is she feeling better mentally and physically, but she is calmer and more mature spiritually.

So, where do we go from here? Even though Peg has finished her HBOT, we expect a period of time where her body needs to ‘catch up’. Many Lyme patients experience some Herx reactions up to a month after the HBOT sessions have ended, so we are braced for that. Also, we expect it will take some time for Peg’s body to build up strength in the areas that Lyme has weakened. We know of no blood tests that will reliably confirm that Lyme has been eradicated, but Peg has an appointment on Friday with her naturopathic doctor to get a ‘post-HBOT’ assessment in order to gauge what immediate effect HBOT has had. After that, she will begin to build up her body with rest, vitamins, and exercise … and then we will watch and wait.

We will post periodic updates to keep you informed about Peg’s progress and to report her success. Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement, meals, and support (including the invaluable financial support), without which Peg would not have been able to accomplish this milestone.

God bless you,
Larry and Peggy Owens

…let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

- Psalm 5:11-12 (NIV)

Time keeps on spinnin'...into the future

We are still in a holding pattern, waiting for Peg's blood pressure medication to take effect. Her BP numbers have been down, but not enough (at least consistently enough) to start the HBOT, so we will probably wait out this week.

In the mean time, Peg visited her naturopathic doctor, Dr. Pomroy, again on Monday. He is based in Calabasas (New Horizon Naturopathic Clinic), and he has been instrumental in Peg's health improvement over the last two years. Peg has recently undergone IV treatments, including chelation (to help the body rid itself of toxins) and vitamin and mineral boosts. These IV treatments have had a pretty dramatic effect in rebuilding Peg's weakened immune system and have been helpful in preparing her for the HBOT treatments. Under Dr. Pomroy's care, Peg experienced a steady improvement in her BP, without the use of prescription medication.

Please do pray for us during this time of watching and waiting. It has been discouraging to be at the point where Peg is "ready" for HBOT, and yet we have been unable to proceed because her BP is not consistently down. And, in fact, Peg has long suffered from a case of "white coat hypertension", where her BP rises in clinical settings, even in the relatively comfortable and non-threatening setting of the Hyperbaric Center we are using.