LymeTrez said...
Hello all,
I have combed through all of these topics. I have bought the Buhners book. I have attempted to find a LLMD in my area and... I am struggling.
I have a very difficult time concentrating. I have a full time job (fundraising for a non profit) that takes up ALL of my brain power during the day. Meeting with clients and having to constantly explain why my brain just shuts off mid sentence and I need to reboot. Having days where I am SO tired but, I still have to go out and - with a smile on - explain the importance of funding for research....etc.
At the end of the day, I come home, crawl onto the couch and I don't wan to move. Eating is challenging because cutting out most of what I need to cut out means cooking more which, at the end of the day ... is SO dreadfully hard for me to do.
At this point, I honestly just need someone who would be willing to walk me - step by step - through what I need to do in order to feel better. There are no Lyme doctors in my area (that i can find or that I can afford). I try reading the book but, I can't process this all. It is SO much. So much that I don't understand.
Advice!? I just want to feel better. I want to lose weight again. I want to be better.... This is tearing me apart.
Hey LymeTrez
It sounds to me like after work you are crashing. I understand how that can be, I have a very technical/physical job and it wipes the floor with me some days. I would also be weary of candida, as it sounds like it may be the major contributor to your current symptoms (the brain fog, losing mid sentences). Remember if you've started Buhners protocol, there's space where the stuff in your gut is gone for candida to grow. I would get some probiotics in there.
Here's a simple kick starter:
You will need a blender, a food processor, some ziploc bags, 16 small small Tupperware (3-5oz), a trip to the grocery store, and 2 hours.
Here is your shopping list:
1)Frozen Mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and combinations will do)
2)2x Apple
2)2x Pear
3)2x Orange
4)2x Nectarine/Peach/Plum
5) Yogurt/Kefir (depending on dairy tolerance, kefir can be dairy free, yogurt isn't too bad for me as I get probiotics)
6) Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds (all raw, shelled), halved walnuts, almonds
A)Dried Chick Pea's
B)Garlic
C)Tahini
D)Lemons
E)E is for Eggs
F)Vegetables you enjoy snacking on (carrots, celery, cucumber, whatever, the greener the better)
When you get home, take the # items, cut the fruits into 1/8th pieces and place them into the ziploc bags (1 bag will contain 1/8th of each piece of fruit. Add 1/2 cup of mixed berries to each bag. Close the bags and throw them in the freezer.
open the Tupperware containers and add 1/2 tbsp. of each of the seeds, 1/2 walnut, and 4-6 almonds. Put the lids on and throw them in your cupboard - you now have your breakfast fruit for the next 16 days! Just
open the blender, toss in the bag from the freezer, add the seeds, add 1/2 cup kefir or yogurt, maybe a dash or 2 of water if you want to thin it out, and blend. Wash and re-use bags to save some money. The blender basically washes itself.
Fill a large bowl with water, soak 1 cup of dried chick peas overnight. The next day, boil water, add the chickpeas for 1 hour and cook. strain them, add them to the food processor with 4 tsp tahini, 2-4 cloves of garlic (the more the merrier to me), 6 tbsp virgin olive oil. Blend it up and make some hummus! Cut the veggies up and divvy them into bags as well (I only do 1 week at a time). Boil some eggs and throw them in the fridge as well. Bring the veggies/hummus/eggs to work and dip them for a decent snack for lunch.
It's relatively easy to do, takes no more than 2 hours (after shopping), and will get some good nutrition in you, reliably for 2/3 of your day, for up to two weeks (Except for hummus). I found my biggest pitfall is nutrition and falling off the bandwagon. It sounds like a lot of your day to day debilitating symptoms may be candida, and a diet like this can help cut that down. Not eating is just as bad. Also the meals may sound boring and simple - but that's because they are. They have a good balance of natural sugars, fiber and protein to keep you from going hungry and crashing :)
Also bluelyme had a great idea with the slow cooker. Especially come winter. Slow cookers are the best, you barely have to throw the food from your fridge into it and it will make everything taste like you've been nursing it for hours with a bit of salt. I find myself often doing easy meals like "Baked Chicken w/ onions and carrots" for dinner with whatever spice is easiest to get to, then throwing the carcass in the slow cooker for some bone broth down the road (also a great snack).
Anyways, I just wanted to share these tips. When I first started trying to adjust my diet, I set my expectations too high for my energy levels, not realizing good diet would allow me to create the "4 squash roasted portabello mushroom salad" I had always dreamed of. Let me tell you, you don't need a 4 squash roasted portabello mushroom salad to get good nutrition.
Goodluck, it gets easier once the fog is gone :)