The story of DiveGirl Deb,
I've suffered with Fibromyalgia since a workplace accident in 1984, over 30 years. I may have been born with these infections as we know they are congenital. Many in my family are & were sick as well. We now know Lyme Infections are passed via the womb & in breast milk, many of us suspect they are sexually transmitted too. The trauma of my workplace accident was the lynch pin for over 30-years of increasing suffering & unrelenting pain.
Let's face it, our current medical system is failing us badly in the treatment of these growing infections.
My symptoms have been all over the map during that time. I've had “brain fog” or cognitive issues, cardiac issues, vertigo, malnutrition, intractable pain, neuropathy, loss of sleep, poor sleep quality, muscle stiffness, tendon/connective tissue damage, visual imbalances, ringing in the ears , TMJ disorder, hypoglycemia, inflammation of the appendix, and many other symptoms.
My weight dropped 45 pounds, which highlights just how serious the infection causing malnutrition was for me. The fatigue, inability to think clearly, uncontrollable pain, and depression started after a work-related injury in 1984. I was officially diagnosed with Fibromyalgia Syndrome in 1991. My chronic pain has been so serious during this time that it was managed for 15 years with opiate medications. My body felt like it was turning into stone, which I like to call “walking rigor mortis.”
Over the years, I have seen 39 doctors and taken 63 pharmaceuticals. All used to mask my unbearable symptoms. In fact, many made me sicker with toxic fillers, and all of them, certainly made me poorer. The drugs all had awful side effects. All this was frustrating, difficult, and adversely impacted every single aspect of my life. It reduced my earning potential and caused me to be fully disabled and on food stamps.
None of this treatment offered me healing and my condition was progressive, worsening all the time. While Fibromyalgia Syndrome provided a name for these cluster symptoms, the actual underlying cause was infections. Lyme disease and multiple co-infections may present in a wide array of symptoms.
It's amazing that I wasn't offered a proper test for Lyme disease. It only cost $260 with Igenex Labs. All of this could have been avoided had any one of my doctors properly tested me for Lyme Disease and its co-infections along the way. There was this turning point, where a friend of mine said, “Deb. You have Lyme.” From there, I found out why I had become increasingly sick.
That's an understatement, because I nearly died from cardiovascular complications the summer of 2013. My Tachycardia heart rhythms, we a kin to a metal band, banging away. I felt as though I had a chest wall injury from the impact of my heart slamming against the walls. I carried & used Nitro pills all the time. Some events took up to 6 to settle my heart. This was a frightening time, not knowing if I’m gonna drop dead at any moment. My POTS was bad too, I passed out several times from the low pressures. The arteries I could see on the back of my had were wide and relaxed, they looked 3 times larger.
Once I had an indicative Igenex test result, I had a direction. Finally I felt I was healing. I was excited to talk to the right doctors, and it turns out I did have Lyme disease. I broke through the glass ceiling of the medical community. Or so I thought . . .
March 3, 2014 my journey had me on an Amtrak train and go to the Bay area to see one of the top LLMDs in the country! While I knew through my friend that I had this disease, I was officially diagnosed, and was told I had very late-stage Lyme disease. We also got a positive Igenex Babesia test for the West Coast version.
With my deeper research into Lyme, I now feel it's likely that I'm a congenital patient, and that would mean I have had this since 1961. In addition my 23 & Me DNA test results indicated, I have 8 major and 8 minor genetic defects. I’m a perfect storm for death, certainly a great deal of suffering, frustration, expense and loss of life’s experiences. That brings me to the most important part of this journey--my treatment--which really excites me to discuss and share with others. I did a happy dance when treatment was about to begin. I was ready for healing.
I wanted to save my life, rid my body of all of the viruses, parasites and bacteria that were residing within it. I have wanted to go back to work. I have goals, projects, and family. I don't want to spend my time on th
e sofa wasting away. I want to experience the outdoors, the ocean, and interactions with other people.
My treatment protocol with BVT involved a commitment of 3 years or more, but I want my life back. I want to be healthy, happy, and pain-free. So that commitment is worth it! I started stinging with bees on September 8, 2014.
I did one sting per session, three times a week for the first month. After that first month passed, I increased my stings by one at each session, as tolerated. It took me 3 months to get up to 10-stings per session. That’s where you really begin to target the Lyme bacterias. They are not only some of the smartest bacteria known to mankind with its shape shifting abilities, but it tough!
When I herxed, which was mild for me, I'd back off my stings when needed. It's paramount to learn to manage herxing, but if you follow the protocol, it can be done! I drink fresh lemon / Celtic Sea Salt water all day long to keep my detox pathways open.
After about 4 months I began to sting my arms & legs. I began at my hips, then into my knees. I did about 10-sting sessions on my leg, which had Neuropathy Pain and that brought 90% or more relief. My restless legs are much improved also!
At 6 months I stung my head. Even some of my teachers had not tried this but read about it. I went for it. This certainly is a more advanced form of BVT only for the well prepared patient who never stings more than 4 times to the head/session. But I wanted to treat my head. I tried the hairline above my eyebrows, two stings. The venom migrated down my face, merged between my eyes and flowed into my cheeks. I did swell for 2 days. I had Puffy eyes and skin. No pain, but I could feel it working! Later I went to the nerve feeding my face. I’ve some Facial Palsy on my left side (a symptom of Lyme). The nerves felt like I was growing a new face, really amazing. This treatment has nearly cleared my Brain Fog and Cognition issues. The floaters in my eyes are gone and I can be in the sun with no shades. Properties of BV do penetrate the blood brain barrier.
After I complete my infection treatment period of 3 years, I will step down my regular stings to weekly. I’m intending to continue well after I obtain remission. I see this as ‘Re-infection Insurance’, we know the pathogens are on the rise. This seems a prudent means of retaining my health as I go back into the world and the outdoors. It’s a way of life for me.
This is a highly effective form of treatment which most any patient can afford. I was spending $32/month for my mail order bees and treating at home. I keep my bees in a Bee Buddy or short term housing unit. The neat feature of Bee Venom is its healing powers. I’m recovering. My hormones balanced, my pain dropped, my cardiac symptoms ended, and now I sleep well for 6 to 7 hours & bounce out of bed in the morning.
I’m getting my life back. I have control of my healing. Best of all my sense of humor is restored. This feels great. If I can get better in mere months of treatment, anyone can!
I’ve done more than 1,000 stings over some 10 months, and I am tending my own beehive & bees and helping teach others. I have a many groups, the main called Apitherapy to treat Lyme & Co-infections Eugene OR and you are welcome to come there to begin your healing journey. I encourage chronically sick & pain patients of all types to take the BVT challenge. Anyone, with one click of the mouse, can see my entire journey at; #DiveGirlDeb2015BVTChallenge on Facebook.
This is a miraculous treatment, and it's an affordable one that can benefit not just patients but their families. I never want anyone else to endure what I've been through. That's why I am paying it forward and dedicating me to this cause and helping others treat with bees.
The Flippin Lyme Foundation we will help teach Chronically Sick patients about Bee Venom Therapy. To find my videos on ‘Bee School for Lymies’ visit Youtube or our BlogTalkRadio show series, search for Flippin Lyme.
To all of you who are just starting BVT or those of you on the fence, here is a little encouragement that I recently wrote on a FB page:
“I love the baby BVTers! I miss those days of firsts....how fun it is this process of discovery, this ability to finally have your health in your own hands.
Ya all have me grinning with you.
Enjoy the journey; you'll likely never bee this sick again....”
Hugs to you all, with love
~ DiveGirl Deb
