Proverbs 3:5-6

Industrial Hemp: Future Medicine and More

Published on March 19, 2014February 15, 2016 by Jesus is for the Wounded1 Comment

Industrial hemp is the legal cousin to medical marijuana. While legal in all 50 states, it has not been legal to grow in the United States for decades. It has to be imported then processed into the products noted below. Here’s a little summary of the possibilities:

Hemporium-The-Global-Benefits-of-HEMP-Tony-Budden As it turns out, the cannabinoid, CBD (cannibidiol), has tremendous health benefits for persons struggling with serious medical challenges. Who knew that a plant grown with only trace amounts of THC (the compound that creates the high in marijuana, a different type of cannabis) could help so many? This is not medical marijuana. For the medically minded, here’s a Scientific Review of the literature on the medical benefits of cannibis including high CBD oil. To continue the discussion, “Like” the “Seizure Free Zone” page on Facebook and let’s chat!

So why am I so fascinated by high CBD hemp oil? Well just last night in the middle of a wretched flare up of seizure attacks (brought on by unknowing noxious fragrances of house guests) about 30 drops stopped the episode. Since the exposure would not end until morning, my husband and I did the best we could to get me through the night when the tic attacks re-flared thereafter with less intensity. In the past I would have endured a hellish night: all night long with no relief. While I would prefer to be cured with this substance, I know that it will not be that easy. There are methylation and biotoxin illness issues yet to be resolved; gratefully I’ll be seeing some doctors in a new clinic to address them very soon. Usually a new treatment creates convulsions for me. That has not happened here. Where would I be if I had nothing at all to arm myself in this battle? More living hell indeed.

I am grateful to the Lord for any relief at this time. The overall pattern of suffering is broken. The Lord is at work even in this confusing situation. To say more about that might sound like I know what the Lord is up to so I won’t because I’m not quite sure! Faith in the promises of the Lord, Jesus Christ will sustain me. Let’s just say this that I am reasonably at peace in this recent situation and am grateful for the endurance granted to get myself to the appointment on Monday! Others have had life-changing experiences with new treatments such as CBD. My prayer is that any of the episodes of my life not be wasted and if it is the Lord’s will, I will be healed. Everything is usually not resolved overnight anyways . . . unless there is a miracle.

My miracle happened decades ago when I found hope in Jesus. I would be dead in my sins today if He had not called me to his throne of grace. That is more important than my health. Perhaps, Gentle Reader, He can be of some importance to you too? What good will it do to gain our health and lose the battle for our souls? We won’t always be here battling the trials of living in a fallen world. Someday we will die. The Bible tells us that the decisions we made during our lifetimes will determine what will happen after our lives are over. I’m holding out for the party in heaven, free of pain and suffering. I can say that with confidence having believed the truths of Proverbs 3:5-6, John 3:16, and John 14:6. This suffering is temporary. I am not home yet. When I am home, all suffering of every kind will be over. Cool beans, man.

In the meantime I share a tool that may be of interest to you. But make no mistake, nothing is more important than the eternal question. If you stop with the first and never get to the second then this blog is of no value to you. “Hope beyond” is about looking beyond what we can see to that in which we can believe without a shadow of doubt. If you would like to have the confidence that your life is in the hands of the God whose thoughts of love and compassion towards you exceeds the grains of sand on the earth (Psalm 129:18), then I invite you to humble yourself and cry out to Him today. He is waiting to hold your cares, your tears in the palm of His gentle hands . . .

Forbidden Fruit

Published on December 28, 2013December 28, 2013 by Jesus is for the Wounded1 Comment

It’s everywhere. I look in one area then into another and I cannot avoid seeing it. I go to the store and displays everywhere tempt my senses. I must be strong. I look forward as if I am wearing blinders (those “harness winkers” or leather patches that keep horses from looking to their peripheral vision) so I don’t stray from my mission. The forbidden fruit beckons. “No!” I will not cave.

It’s not that I can do this in my own strength, by the way. The cravings are too great. Every cell in my body has probably been affected at some level since I’m without the glucose and carbohydrates that provide energy to battle the infection raging therein. Oh you thought I was writing about something sinister, didn’t you? Nope. It’s an elusive fungus, partially protected in a mucous-y biofilm but not sinister per se. It is CANDIDA! And at level 3 of 4 levels, gut yeast is hurting me badly. The “forbidden fruit” includes actual fruit plus food containing any form of sugar plus any simple carbohydrate or starchy vegetable. This includes all grains, even the gluten-free kind. Now even several months into this this extreme diet I have yet to see the endpoint.

Now let’s add another layer: any food that is fermented, aged, seasoned with just about anything but salt, or at risk for trace amounts of mold! Evidently even walnuts and pecans can harbor mold in the folded areas of the nut itself. Leftovers in the frig for more than 24-hours can harbor mold. Black pepper can harbor mold. And the list goes on. Tonight I decided to sacrifice some more seasonings to try to prevent the side effects of consuming the wrong foodstuffs. The consequences have been severe: three and one-half hours of seizure attacks plus hours of recovery yesterday convinced me of the need for some more tweaking. I also stopped one of the medications that feels like it’s killing me. When a pathologist stated online that seizures change the matrix of the brain, well that woke me up again to the seriousness of this battle. Seizures can be a part of a level 3 Candida infection. Geez. And most people associate yeast with vaginitis. That was a cakewalk compared to where I am these days.

Yes, this is tough stuff. Yes, it takes total discipline, focus, endurance, and patience with the repeated setbacks. Chronic illness requires grace from one’s family, especially one’s spouse. I am grateful for a loving husband who relies more on the Lord for his happiness and peace than on me. He sees things from a hopeful place and speaks to the little improvements or the sweet moments between us no matter how small. His God-given strength is very humbling. The only way we are able to endure this is through the love of our Lord, Jesus Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit. We believe that this is the Lord’s plan for our lives and that He is here with us no matter what happens. And if it is His will, I will be well someday. I will be able to put to use that awesome carbon fiber canoe paddle Steve bought me for Christmas! Such a gift of confidence from my beloved. I love my man!

The forbidden fruit of today have become the hedges of protection I need to keep me from getting worse. Just like the corrective events of life (those we bring upon ourselves from our own mistakes and those the Lord allows for His Divine purposes), they are not to be hated, feared, avoided, or teased. We must face that which is forbidden and directly choose otherwise, place a barrier (physical or mental) in the way of temptation, and simply go forth on a different path that leads to victory. Nothing else will do if we want to win. I did not dink around with my diet at all during Christmas and I still was very sick. Imagine if I had “cheated” on my survival diet. I would have not been able to visit with family for three consecutive days, cook for several hours at a time, and enjoy a delightful time of fellowship. Sure I “crashed and burned” around 8:00 p.m. each night. The sacrifice was worth the reward that was available to me. The reward was greater this year than last year at Christmastime. That’s cool.

From here the journey ahead is unclear. I will continue the treatment approaches I have described above yet do not know yet if any new medical approaches are warranted. I have an upcoming appointment with my Lyme and mold-literate medical doctor where we will review the difficulties I have had functioning these past two years. There’s another functional medicine clinic of interest that is 3-hours away . . . We sure will be praying for direction about all of this in the new year. Wherever the path leads I know the Lord is already there. I welcome His plan for my life that has created more joy than I ever could have imagined on my own. If that joy must come through serious illness then I would not want it any other way. Really. I’m just believing what He tells me, you know. Picture me and Steve in an outrigger canoe along a sandy beach somewhere warm . . . Yes, I can picture it . . .

Brief treatment update

Published on September 20, 2013September 24, 2013 by Jesus is for the Wounded3 Comments

Here’s a brief update in my continuing adventure of recovery from Lyme, fibro, mold, and whatever:

Saw a new chiropractor for 7 visits and while the treatment got rid of my headaches and increased my overall ability to move, I had seizure attacks every visit! I finally got word this past week that Dr. N did talk to my LLMD as I had requested. Still Dr. N referred me to another chiropractor for more “comprehensive” care. That did not work out so well. (See posting from Tuesday!) I’ll probably go back to Dr. N after a few more magnesium treatments and after I’m able to drive 30 minutes to his office several times per week.

Began treatments of IV magnesium on Friday the 13th; spent the evening with seizure attacks/convulsions followed by 7 hours of tic/seizure attacks into the morning. Yipes! Had a better day by the time Sunday came, albeit weak from the previous 2 days. (Only had one episode that night, on the way home from our Sunday church home group.) Getting the IVs started has become an arduous, painful process with a minimum of 2 wretched sticks before the RNs find a suitable vein. What follows on the day of treatment or the day after appears to be a herx reaction or healing crisis of sorts. This treatment is scheduled to continue for a month; supplemental magnesium is a promising treatment for me despite the difficulties. I’m praying that the Lord sustains me and that my tender vessels endure it! Tomorrow I’m going to let them give me the PRN narcotic pain med. with the treatment. I just need a break from these awful neck headaches that come from the wrenching head-n-neck motion during attacks. Gratefully, there is improvement with one fewer attack per day, barely a few tics last night and significantly less chest compression pain! Yes!

Rife or Beam Ray treatments are on hold. My tolerance for this sound and light wavelength technology was decreasing so it’s on hold for now.

Waiting in the wings is a new round of low dose antibiotics after some lab testing pending soon to rule out a new UTI. Got lots of itchy, burning, ringing, stinging, stabbing, aching symptoms all over right now possibly flared up by the stress of the IV treatments. “Rest” is my focus at the moment in my weakened state. I do make dinner most nights, however!

A neurology appointment is now scheduled for October 1st at the Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis. IU is the go-to place for persons in the Fort Wayne area needing a special consultation. So to Indy we will go at 5 in the morning. Hey, if my beloved can take off at 6 in the morning for a kayak race, 5 should be a piece of cake, right? Gooooo Steeeeeeve! As for me, well I might still be up from the night before!

Steve and I are grateful for some help with a meal once per week from the lovely ladies at our church. It seems like the night they bring dinner something bad happens later on, like an emergency room visit 2 1/2 weeks ago. Their generosity is a real blessing and it sure breaks up the isolation for me when they stop by!

Well that’s the main stuff or at least the news for the masses. If you wouldn’t mind praying for us that would be great. My heart is tender for Steve right now because we had to cancel our trip to see his grandson for Jackson Rees’s first birthday and to see some dear friends in South Carolina. I really need Steve in the evenings when the attacks and physical episodes of collapse are usually quite nasty. This would be too much for a female friend to handle if a gal was staying with me at night and Steve went out of town by himself.

Steve has travelled alone 3 times since this process of illness began for me nearly 2 years ago. We have cancelled a trip before but rarely decline local invitations. Steve just goes to them without me and that is cool with me. Travelling to Arkansas this past summer was very hard on me despite a couple of nice visits during the 5-day trip. So to cancel the South Carolina/North Carolina trip is just what we have to do this time, although it’s a bummer. JR is going to get a big box in the mail real soon! Anyways, if you wouldn’t mind praying a prayer of sustaining grace (for me) and strength (for Steve) that would be super. The Lord has helped us and even blessed us. We are trusting Him and hopeful for all He has in store for us. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Take care all,

Just Julie

Yup, Hanging in There

Published on June 19, 2013 by Jesus is for the WoundedLeave a comment

Leaning on Proverbs 3:5-6 today as I face the reality that is mine. Then again, only the Lord knows the path, the bunny trails, the destination and the ice cream stops along the way. Ice cream. Hummmm. I sure hope there’s ice cream in my future!

Proverbs 3:5-6

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)

Enough Weirdness Already!

Published on June 1, 2013June 1, 2013 by Jesus is for the Wounded5 Comments

I realize the last posting was a bit weird. Please forgive me. This is how my mind works sometimes: trying to be funny, sincere, and well, express myself in some creative way. The result this week: an odd blog posting!

And now for today. The Lord is laying on my heart the reality that I may not be able to return to my profession of occupational therapy. To work in healthcare requires an incredible ability to serve others under stressful circumstances; work in environments laden with noxious smells, microorganisms, temperature and sound variations; meet a wide range of physical demands from extensive sitting to heavy lifting; and to continuously learn, apply, and re-evaluate extensive amounts of technical/scholarly information on a daily basis. This is impossible with the ongoing neurological complications of Lyme Disease and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. On the positive side, the need to be adaptable, resourceful, and creative in OT has graciously remained during this time of illness. These skills have been instrumental in helping me cope with the chronic illness that continues. The other skills come and go. Maybe they will come back? Who knows. This is a big realization.

Thankfully I do not need to make a decision about my career this evening! (However I do keep my licensing and continuing education requirements current, you know.) The Lord is also laying on my heart my next project within my home business, Trinity Jewelry by Design, so I will focus on that for the next few months. I’m thinking of developing some sports-related products that may be attractive to the kayak paddling community. If some additional research looks promising, I may move forward quickly now that it’s canoe and kayaking season in much of the United States. I do continue to learn a lot about using the internet, my online shop, networking, and the administrative requirements of a home business. Watch this blog for new developments as you will be among the first to get the news!

Since Steve and I never really know the stability of his employment as they undergo more changes this year, we remain open to the larger issues of where we will live and what work will carry him into retirement. We are not concerned about these types of unknowns, really. It would be challenging if the Lord leads Steve in any career moves at this time in our lives yet we both have experienced successful job changes and relocations under a variety of positive and negative circumstances. Jesus is already there, ahead of us in space and time with a plan for our lives. So glad for that! For example, I lived in the suburbs of the 3rd largest city in the US (Chicago) before I moved to marry Steve in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area. In a city .04% the size of the Chicagoland area, I found the best husband, best doctor, best home, best quality of life, and best Bible teacher that I have ever had in my life! I had no idea all this was possible! Wow. God is amazing and provides for our every need no matter where we are on the map. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Very humbling, for sure.

So enough of the weirdness. Enough of the need to know. Enough of the need to control this or that. Enough of the worry and strife. I am going to stay in the moment and enjoy the crazy thunderstorm outside no matter what affect it may have on my illness or even if it blows out the power and this blog is lost forever.

I think I will be prudent and sign off now . . . :J