Hey everyone!!! Let's all say a big welcome to our newest Moderator!!

Heathers Dad!!!

I think he will bring a great perspective, as it was his daughter, Heather, that was so very ill with these infections, so he was able to be clear headed and listen closely to what he was being told. I also happen to know that he has done a lot of research into these diseases, as it was his precious daughter that was ill!

He has so kindly agreed to help out here! So I would love it if you all would just post a few words saying thanks!!! Lord knows I'm not able to keep up with things by myself!! I'm just a Lymie brain myself!!

Welcome Heathers Dad!!!
I look forward to working with you on this level now as well! I'm sure you will have a lot to give on the forum. And a BIG thank you for offering to help!!!

LOL! Oops!! I forgot to add that it's not official yet, so you won't see the "Forum Moderator" in bold letters under his name yet!!

To Everyone

Thanks for the welcome!

Its interesting how I got to this point. about 4.5 years ago, Heather had gotten to the point that we refused to believe that she had "growing pains" or that "she is just looking for attention, and needs psychiatric help." I started my own little "Manhattan Project" to find a solution. There was about a 2 year period when I spent about 8-12 hrs. a day on the computer researching. I have read many thousands of patient posts in the archives of all of the lyme forums that I could find. I read several of the popular lyme books, and I've read hundreds of free technical articles online in various areas of relevance- lyme researchers, lyme doctors of all persuasions, nutrition, etc. I watched all of the videos on youtube that I could find pertaining to any related issue to Lyme disease. The time that I spent doing my "homework" could easily have earned me a heavy duty masters degree elsewhere. Last, but not least, we prayed that God would grant me insight and understanding.

Well, the Manhattan Project has been disbanded, and has now morphed into my "hobby." I still spend on average 1-2 hrs. almost every day reading patient posts and a few technical articles here and there. I am still adding this data to my "mental database" and frequently pause to evaluate my findings. I don't keep a strict statistical database, but I think in terms of trends.

I know that my hobby is a very strange one, but I enjoy it. It is especially fulfilling to hear that someone has made a breakthrough, due at least in part to some advice that I had given. Remember the documentary "Under Our Skin?" I remember the scene near the end when Dr. Burrascano was being interviewed in his office. He pointed to a shelving system containing thousands of patient files. He said that it was all "so unnecessary." I agree with him. That is why I am here. We feel that God has answered our prayers in using the mind and hands of Dr. J. to heal Heather. My wife and I feel that we owe so much for what we have received. We have a moral responsibility to help where we can. Both my wife and Heather urged me to accept the offer to be a Moderator here.

I am looking forward to getting involved in the lives of others on this forum!

Don

Post Edited (Heathersdad) : 12/10/2012 6:26:10 PM (GMT-7)

WELCOME! Looking forward to your insight!

Thanks so much HeathersDad for helping us all out. I can't wait to learn more from you, especially from your non lyme mind! Glad to hear another parent who fought for their child and didn't give up!

Thank you everyone for your warm welcome. I really appreciate it.

I'd like to explain a few things about my approach. While I have learned a few things over the years, I certainly don't know everything. I would feel really bad if I came across as a know-it-all. My approach will be to state a proposition and then to provide links to articles that I considered to arrive at my conclusion. I will also include my reasoning process. If most people seem to believe a certain thing, and then I state something that I believe as fact, and runs contrary to the conventional wisdom, then it requires me to do more than say that "I believe _____. I will invite others to interact with my line of reasoning. I certainly am not a think tank, but if we can reason together, then we will get somewhere! At the same time, I must keep my posts brief to conserve bandwidth, and to make them readable to cognitively impaired lymies!

Also, I am not a newby here on this forum. I was here for 2 years, and then I left for a year. Many of you don't recognize me because this forum is just exploding with new people recently. It is sad that so many people are getting sick, but it is a good thing that we are bonding together for support.

Don

Heathers Dad, welcome back to the forum and thank you so much for volunteering to help us out.  We are bursting with new members which is sad but glad that they found us. 

We are all in this together!!

 

It is especially good to be welcomed by some of the "oldtimers" here such as Traveler, Deejavu, and Springsjean. I feel like I have known them forever. I was a lurker here well before I had joined the forum the first time. I have to be careful though when referring to women as an "oldtimer." It wouldn't be the first time that I have stuck my foot in my mouth!

Tickledpink- Yes, I do take a pragmatic approach to things. That statement generates flashbacks from the past when Heather was very sick. I added a combination of the Buhner and Cowden protocols to her antibiotics. I had ordered a lb. of the boneset plant, and I made a cup of tea for her 3 times a day. Boneset is a very very bitter herb and helps to get rid of Bartonella along with the Resveratrol. I brewed it extra strong. Then I poured it through a strainer into her cup. Then I personally delivered it to her and stood there watching until she drank it all. A look of revulsion registered on her face as soon as she started drinking it. She wanted to only take little sips with frequent "rests" in between. My goal for her was all that mattered, and I didn't want to stand there very long so I pressured her to quickly drink it. We went through this ritual 3 times a day every day for about 1.5 years. Yes, this gives new insight into my pragmatism! I will try to be more gentle as a moderator here! I am mellowing with age.

Opugirl- You are quite the little character.... a little firecracker with your "dance moves" and your inclination to "punch that doctor." Frankly, I think that with your positive attitude and feistiness, the Lyme and coinfections don't stand a chance! I can't answer your question about wanting to punch the doctor because it might incriminate me!

Don

Post Edited (Heathersdad) : 12/11/2012 3:52:27 PM (GMT-7)

Hello Heathersdad!!

SO HAPPY to see you here!!  I am "Caity's mom" and have shared your journey in so many ways!!  My daughter is now 18, was diagnosed when she was 17--in March of next year, it will have been 2 years for us.  My husband and I also felt like Caity was a "drama queen", wanted attention, etc. until our "AHA!" moment when she was literally sobbing from walking down the driveway.  Wow. . .  it hurts to even remember that.  We tried antibiotics for a year, driving to Missouri from Texas and returning from one of those trips read (on this blog--thank you Gary!!) about Hansa.  We also read your posts and I was so dismayed that you were no longer on the site!

We were at Hansa for 3 weeks in Jan 2012, then went back twice.  Caity is so bonded with Dr. J and we all love him of course!  Unfortunately, for us, it was not a cure all, but rather a large step forward and away from traditional medicine.  We have continued our journey and now Caity is tons better--though still not 100%.  She still has a lot of pain and the insomnia has continued.  Would love to return to Hansa, but you know, it is expensive.  Right now, she is doing a modified Cowden protocol, some NUCCA chiropractic and something called ClearMind.  We have a PEMF mat, and though she is super sensitive to it, we are hoping it will be beneficial. 

Like you, I have spent many many hours researching and learning!  I hope some day I can also help people.  But I have 2 other kids, and a job, so right now, I am still putting all of my energy into trying to help my daughter.  We also blogged about our Hansa experience--the site is under my signature. 

Anyway, a long welcome--but really glad to see you back here!!  Would love to hear more about your daughter's experience -- sure wish that Caity was well, but she is so much better than she was, we know we are on the road to recovery!!

God bless you greatly for making yourself available.  It is people like you that have come to mean so much to people like me!!  Also the many other great moderators on this site--all amazing people who TAKE THE TIME!!!!  SO grateful for the people we have met on this journey, many silver linings and new appreciations.  Our lives have been enriched by this heart wrenching experience. . . .even Caity has said that she is actually glad for Lyme and all of the lessons we have learned.  It has been amazing to watch her strength and growth. 

THANK YOU Don and all of the AWESOME MODS!!  <3  <3  <3

Heathersdad,

So glad you volunteered to be a moderator! We need folks like you here to help us Lyme-brain folks muddle through this mess! And I'm thrilled to know your daughter is doing much better. I remember you posting before when you were doing your heavy duty research. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and knowledge with us!

Blessings,