We decided to go into town yesterday to buy new clothes to replace the three outfits we each have currently. The hope is that it might help to reduce the total load. Not to be graphic but I’ve drenched my clothes with sweat repeatedly this hot summer. So, it seems at least possible that the toxins from my own body have slowly contaminated all my clothes. I’m not certain that this is what’s going on but last time I had a big setback, replacing our clothing helped significantly.
Unfortunately, I didn’t do well in town yesterday even though I stayed in the van the whole time. My brain just about shut off and I was not able to think or focus. I tried to write but I just couldn’t. I also had a significant increase in pain and fatigue. I’ve never had these issues in Rapid City, which makes me wonder if my reactivity is going up for some reason. Maybe something problematic is blowing through the whole area? The wildfire smoke? I don’t know. I sort of feel like the burning paint cans might have flipped a switch that made my body go into hypersensitive mode again. Who knows.
Thankfully, all of these “reactions” are relatively mild compared to what I was having several months ago. It’s really frustrating to take a step backwards so it’s always helpful to remember how far I’ve come. My reactions don’t involve life-threatening allergy symptoms anymore. I’m limited in what I can do but I’m not miserable. Today I’m tired, achy and my brain is painfully slow, but my body isn’t trying to kill me. I can sit in my chair and be pretty comfortable. That’s something to be thankful for. Setbacks are still setbacks but they seem to be getting less dramatic each time.
It’s always good for me to call up the past when I need some perspective on the present. And that’s the most profound thing I can come up with for today. My brain is so done with this blog post. Sorry friends! I hope Mrs. Brain will be back in the game soon.
By the way, Brett and I made a beautiful PDF of my favorite resources for suffering souls. I created the content and he made it look fancy with his superduper graphic design skills. It’s available for free to my email subscribers. Click here to sign up and receive 5 Resources for the Suffering Soul.
13 Comments
Praying that the brain fog and increased sensitivity go away soon, Ana! So glad you can see how far you’ve come, even in the midst of these small steps back. We love you!
August 18, 2017 at 7:51 pmPraying for you, Ana! I’m so glad you’re able to see how far you’ve come, and I hope you’ll be able to recover from this setback soon. Just remember to be kind to yourself through all this, especially when it’s frustrating you. Love you! <3
August 18, 2017 at 8:00 pm🙁
August 19, 2017 at 5:16 pmYou’re so brave. My thoughts are with u and I wish you strength. This is a fine post. It shows us how to keep going, because there will be hard times after good times.
August 20, 2017 at 7:44 amHi Ana 🙂 Thank you for writing your journey done. It is helpful and encouraging. The ups and downs are challenging for sure. We are on month 11 of complete mold avoidance and our daughter with Lyme too is doing hugely better. The first 4 months were amazing and then we started to do increasingly more hiking or brain tasks and we quickly saw symptoms come back. However, it turned out to be from nutrient deficencies and clogged endocrine pathways (especially the liver) instead of new exposures. We saw overnight changes even in brainfog when we changed our supplements and the reactivity went down much further too. We have replaced the clothing a few times too though from our own toxins and it did help but wasn’t the big fix that it was closer the beginning of avoidance. God led us to an amazing doctor who has helped us with knowing which brands os supplements are best and not made with mold as well as which symptoms are caused by which deficiency. She is in AZ but does have phone consult patients. Please let me know if you want her contact info or any other way we can help.
August 20, 2017 at 7:50 amPraying for you guys in your winter home search and your whole journey 🙂
Hi heather
August 21, 2017 at 10:37 pmI’d be very interested in the dr in az you found helpful. My daughter struggles with POTs and perhaps mast cell disorder and we are getting desperate for some improvement as she’s been struggling more frequently. Would you mind posting the dr name or a link to their website? Ana, would that be ok?
Thanks
Hi Ana! I’ve gotten caught up on the posts finally and I left a comment on the one after you’re reading of Gerald’s book. So all thats happening lately is a major bummer. But I bet its just temporary. Probably you are on to that is contamination from either the paint, motorcycles or fires. And possbily moving and doing all the other things will lower the load. As I was reading the bathroom post (ha ha ha) I was thinking is it possible to get one of those camping toilets and set it outside the van (kinda make your own little outhouse LOL) and then empty it once a day. I know this would be a yucky job, but maybe it would help to not have to go into town. But then I know you don’t want to be exposed to those toxins either. Hmmm. There are all these little bugs to work out in mold avoidance huh? The rest of us should not be complainng about anything!!!!!!!!!!!
August 21, 2017 at 7:10 amI have kind of fruity code that I use to explain my various levels of “brain fog” to my family. I walk around in a daze, saying thinks like, “Strawberries have a flavor”, “The strawberries are strong today”, “It’s a blueberry day”, “Raspberries everywhere”, and Blackberries I save only for really bad days (rare). 😀 It’s kind of silly, but it helps others know when I’m struggling to answer questions, that I’m not upset (if I seem short), while also lightening the mood, and telling them that while my head is muddled, the rest of me is doing pretty okay. Hope Mrs. Brain comes back soon from your own strawberry patch. 🙂
August 21, 2017 at 8:45 amhttps://romans535blog.wordpress.com/2017/08/14/having-quiet-time-with-brain-fog/
I thought of you as I read this today and thought it might be an encouragement. There is also a blog about worshiping.
August 22, 2017 at 8:01 amThank you for continuing to pray! We continue to pray for you both on this journey.
This brain rehab program has helped me so much with my Lyme & illnesses over the last 2 years since I started working on it & it’s being studied by universities right now as it is legit. There have been many people who were mold & chemical poisoned who have been able to get their brain out of that “over protective loop” that reacts to all the triggers & opened up the world to them again.
August 23, 2017 at 12:00 pmhttps://retrainingthebrain.com/success-stories/
We miss you Ana.
August 23, 2017 at 6:52 pmOh, Ana! I keep hoping to see a post like “Getting better!” Or “The end of mold avoidance in site!” I can’t tell you how much I want you to get well!!! I pray for you guys often! Is the YouCarubg thing still up for you guys? Is financial help still a blessing?
August 24, 2017 at 12:37 pmMe too! Praying for you Ana!
August 24, 2017 at 7:04 pm