My Life before Lyme

The pic on the left was prior to my diagnoses and I was not me. I was inflamed. I was REALLY TRYING to look ALIVE in the picture. My boobs were up to my neck...the medical docs kept telling me all tests were normal...

No one seemed to want to dig deeper. Why was everyone OK with me looking so ILL?!?!

ON the right I was already on my path to healing...naturally. 

Over the last year I experienced a $^*ton of health issues that just compounded 1 after the other....

I will chronicle them below because if it helps one person from the agony of waiting it out like I did before finding an answer, I know my journey was there for a reason. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It started with an overall feeling of unwell. 

I was SO tired ALL the time. I thought it was ME...something I was doing WRONG, you know?

If I slept more, rested more...I would feel better....it didn't work. I never felt rested. 

I started to gain weight...no matter how healthy I ate and it never stopped. 

All blood work for thyroid, adrenals, etc would come back NORMAL...left me scratching my head.

So I went to a holistic nutritionist. 

We found I had a HIGH level of Mercury in my body that needed detoxed. HOW the heck did I get that??!

Either way, we started a protocol with natural supplements and the end result was supposed to be me feeling better, more alive, more well rested....

One month later, I developed Migraines...I am not a person that gets headaches...the pain was intense and came with light sensitivity, loss of eye sight in my left eye and severe left eye pain. 

That migraine lasted 5 weeks before anyone could get it to stop. I did see a medical doctor and a neurologist as well. Had many tests to try to figure out what kind of migraines they were and WHY they came on so suddenly. 

Everything came back normal. That is the greatest news and most frustrating at the same time. 

One month from the migraine starting I developed HORRID digestive issues. Imagine a meatball the size of a softball sitting in your gut that wasn't able to digest for DAYS. That is was I felt. Soon, it became visible on my face because the acne showed up...you could tell I was unwell. 

I felt like an alien....what the heck was going on in my body and NO ONE could figure it out. 

My digestion continued to become more and more stressed and I did develop PAIN in my abdominal area...even drinking water was difficult. 

I took myself to the ER at one point because I was afraid. The ER doc palpated and that HURT. However, ALL my blood work he ordered was NORMAL...he said, no cancer, all organs are working like NORMAL. Sent me home in the same pain I entered the ER with. 

I was told to follow up with the Gastro Intestinal Doctor in 3-5 days. Upon calling the office the next day, first available was in 2 weeks. I cried. How was I going to handle the pain for 2 weeks?

After my mini panic, I started to think....maybe my PCP could get me in sooner!?!?! It was a shot, right?!?!

They couldn't pull any strings but offered to see me to see if they could help make me more comfy. Offered me a prescription to see if it would help, taking it 30 minutes prior to eating. It did take the edge off and I was grateful .

Fast forward to the GI, i had 3 different tests {endoscopy, sonogram, and a HIDA scan} and the first 2 were NORMAL! How crazy is that! So I asked, "Is it normal for a test to come back normal when it was physical painful?" I was told "YES"! Which is why they ordered the HIDA scan.

The HIDA scan found my gall bladder was operation at 22%...so i guess the ER doc's blood work saying my gall bladder was working GREAT, was not accurate. 

THIS is why I say, it's so important to LISTEN to your body, because YOU know it best...regardless of the credentials behind any persons name. YOU are your own expert. Trust yourself.  <3

Now, they did recommend a surgical consult and I def wanted to do that but my GUT feeling was, "Karie, you need to keep your gall bladder, bc you will only get worse without it. YOU need to find another option."

Not everyone gets better or feels better with it removed. {do some research if this is you...I have read about so many people that didn't know there were ways to heal a low functioning gall bladder and also didn't know that you NEED to supplement daily for a removed gall bladder bc you need to replace the function of it. 

I was lucky to choose a female surgeon for my consult...‪#‎girlpower‬ ;) I was open to what she had to say and also shared with her what I was hoping to do...HEAL my gall bladder...Was it possible?

SHE said it WAS!!!! My ONLY issue was the tempting component and when that happens that is usually a SYSTEMS issue and can be resolved without surgery  <3

Did you hear me? No surgery needed. BUT if what I was going to try didn't work, she was always there.

‪#‎partyon‬!! 

A few days later I had an appointment that will forever be a ‪#‎life changing‬ moment for me and my family. It was the day I learned I have ‪#‎lymedisease‬. 

I wasn't even upset...I already had a feeling I had been fighting this the entire time...1 symptom at a time.  

You see, I had been doing my own research in between all the appointments, specialists and tests that were NORMAL. I was searching for my own answer because I knew I didn't FEEL normal.

I knew I wasn't NORMAL. 

I knew I needed HELP.

All the months, all the ailments came down to 2 words. 

Come to find out...all along I had LYME DISEASE. I struggled for about a year with compounding health issues before I had an answer and a clear direction for treatment. I did choose a natural route for treatment.

What can Lyme Disease FEEL LIKE?

One thing I didn't expect was the level of PAIN I have experienced...it's because I have Lyme in my nerves and the bartonella co-infection...not everyone does. It can mimic fibromyalgia...I do have days where it's difficult to walk, sit or stand. I do what I can when I can. This won't last forever. 

Lyme can mimic, Fibromyalgia, ALS, Lupus, Parkinsons, Alzheimers ...if you or anyone you know is diagnosed with the above and have never been tested for lyme, I urge you to do so. It may save your life. The Igenex blood test is the most accurate and you will want to see and LLMD {lyme specific doctor} for an accurate reading. 

If you would like to know who I am treating with, I am happy to share. I do use a non-medical approach and it is working beautifully. 

I am a FIGHTER and I will never give up. We get one life and I am Motivated to get fit and live FIT <3

If you would like support on your wellness journey or your Lyme journey, please reach out.



UPDATE!! One of the co-infections I have is Liver Flukes...This is especially important for ANYONE that had/has issues with the emptying function of their gall bladder. My gall bladder was functioning at 22% bc of these and once you read about them and where they take up house...you will know why. You will also understand why my surgeon said it is most likely a "systems issue" and could be healed naturally.

Once you read more about this you will see why so many don't feel well after removing their gall bladder bc it wasn't the gall bladder that was the issue...but the parasites. Removing the gallbladder won't remove the parasites...those stay in your body until you do a simple cleanse. It's not hard.

This crash course has been eye opening.

Fill out my online form.

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My Life before Lyme

My Life before Lyme

The pic on the left was prior to my diagnoses and I was not me. I was inflamed. I was REALLY TRYING to look ALIVE in the picture. My boobs were up to my neck...the medical docs kept telling me all tests were normal...but were they?

No one seemed to want to dig deeper. Why was everyone OK with me looking so ILL?!?!

ON the right I was already on my path to healing...naturally. 

I did have a lyme blood test in February of 2016 and was told my Lyme test was negative. Do you know what? That did NOT mean I had ZERO lyme in my body. When I found that out, I was shocked and angry bc I went 3 more months with compounding  health issues. I HAD lyme bacteria in my body...just not enough for them to deem it positive enough.

Let me give you some background. IF you have a lyme test and it is any number other than zero...YOU have lyme bacteria in your body. The docs will ONLY call it positive if your number is >.91

So, if you have .12
or .89
or .07

YOU will be told your test is NEGATIVE. 

Over the last year I experienced a $^*ton of health issues that just compounded 1 after the other....

I will chronicle them below because if it helps one person from the agony of waiting it out like I did before finding an answer, I know my journey was there for a reason. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It started with an overall feeling of unwell. 

I was SO tired ALL the time. I thought it was ME...something I was doing WRONG, you know?

If I slept more, rested more...I would feel better....it didn't work. I never felt rested. 

I started to gain weight...no matter how healthy I ate and it never stopped. 

All blood work for thyroid, adrenals, etc would come back NORMAL...left me scratching my head.

So I went to a holistic nutritionist. 

September 2015: We found I had a HIGH level of Mercury in my body that needed detoxed. HOW the heck did I get that??!

Either way, we started a protocol with natural supplements and the end result was supposed to be me feeling better, more alive, more well rested....

October 2015: One month later, I developed Migraines...I am not a person that gets headaches...the pain was intense and came with light sensitivity, loss of eye sight in my left eye and severe left eye pain. 

That migraine lasted 5 weeks before anyone could get it to stop. I did see a medical doctor and a neurologist as well. Had many tests to try to figure out what kind of migraines they were and WHY they came on so suddenly. 

ALL of my tests came back normal. That is the greatest news and most frustrating at the same time, you know?

November 2015: One month from the migraine starting I developed HORRID digestive issues. Imagine a meatball the size of a softball sitting in your gut that wasn't able to digest for DAYS. That is was I felt. Soon, it became visible on my face because the acne showed up...you could tell I was unwell. 

I felt like an alien....what the heck was going on in my body and NO ONE could figure it out. 

My digestion continued to become more and more stressed and I did develop PAIN in my abdominal area...even drinking water was difficult.

I began to treat for parasites. That lasted for 6 months and never got better. 

February 2016: I needed a second opinion from a neurologist on my migraines. The specialist I was seeing didn't seem to know why my migraines started and HOW to keep them gone. I was walking around with constant head pressure and could NOT bend over at the waist. I was stuttering. I was blanking out. I could not talk and think at the same time. I could not spell words backwards. I was not able to think of the letter the word would start with.

I take that back...I could see the letter in my brain but I couldn't verbalize it. I cried. WHAT was happening to me?!?!?

I also was light sensitive and would become VERY confused with cross talk. I was unable to read black and white without becoming mentally confused. The works would jumble all over. IF the words on print were too small I was unable to decipher what I was reading. 

May 2016: I took myself to the ER at one point because I was afraid. The ER doc palpated and that HURT. However, ALL my blood work he ordered was NORMAL...he said, no cancer, all organs are working like NORMAL. Sent me home in the same pain I entered the ER with. 

I was told to follow up with the Gastro Intestinal Doctor in 3-5 days. Upon calling the office the next day, first available was in 2 weeks. I cried. How was I going to handle the pain for 2 weeks?

After my mini panic, I started to think....maybe my PCP could get me in sooner!?!?! It was a shot, right?!?!

They couldn't pull any strings but offered to see me to see if they could help make me more comfy. Offered me a prescription to see if it would help, taking it 30 minutes prior to eating. It did take the edge off and I was grateful .

May 2016: Fast forward to the GI, I had 3 different tests {endoscopy, sonogram, and a HIDA scan} and the first 2 were NORMAL! How crazy is that! So I asked, "Is it normal for a test to come back normal when it was physical painful?" I was told "YES"! Which is why they ordered the HIDA scan.

The HIDA scan found my gall bladder was operation at 22%...so i guess the ER doc's blood work saying my gall bladder was working GREAT, was not accurate. 

THIS is why I say, it's so important to LISTEN to your body, because YOU know it best...regardless of the credentials behind any persons name. YOU are your own expert. Trust yourself.  <3

Now, they did recommend a surgical consult and I definitely wanted to do that, but my GUT feeling was, "Karie, you need to keep your gall bladder, because you will only get worse without it. YOU need to find another option."

---> Not everyone gets better or feels better with it removed. {do some research if this is you...I have read about so many people that didn't know there were ways to heal a low functioning gall bladder and also didn't know that you NEED to supplement daily for a removed gall bladder bc you need to replace the function of it. 

I was lucky to choose a female surgeon for my consult...‪#‎girlpower‬ ;)

I was open to what she had to say and also shared with her what I was hoping to do...HEAL my gall bladder...Was it possible?

SHE said it WAS!!!! My ONLY issue was the EMPTYING component and when that happens that is usually a SYSTEMS issue and can be resolved without surgery.  <3

Did you hear me? No surgery needed. BUT if what I was going to try didn't work, she was always there.

‪#‎partyon‬!! 

May 24, 2016: A few days later I had an appointment that will forever be a ‪#‎life changing‬ moment for me and my family. It was the day I learned I have ‪#‎lymedisease‬. 

I wasn't even upset...I already had a feeling I had been fighting this the entire time...1 symptom at a time.  

You see, I had been doing my own research in between all the appointments, specialists and tests that were NORMAL. I was searching for my own answer because I knew I didn't FEEL normal.

I knew I wasn't NORMAL. 

I knew I needed HELP.

All the months, all the ailments came down to 2 words. 

Come to find out...all along I had LYME DISEASE. I struggled for about a year with compounding health issues before I had an answer and a clear direction for treatment. PRIOR to that,11 years to be exact, I had health symptoms that were seemingly insignificant. However, they were all connected. I just dint know it yet.  

I did choose a natural route for treatment and started right away.

The medical community in my area turned their back on me...instead of helping me find the root cause of my ailments I was being medicated for my symptoms...I was on 5 medications and NONE of them were helping me. 

They documented a psychiatric referral. REALLY? In this day and age? With all the info out there about LYME? 

Of course I never went. 

I KNEW I wasn't the crazy one. I knew if I was going to get help, I would need to travel outside my area. So, I did.

Remember those parasites I was treating, unsuccessfully, for? Come to find out the LYME creates a wonderful environment for these kinds of things to FLOURISH. So, unless we clear the lyme...the friends will stay. 

What can Lyme Disease FEEL LIKE?

One thing I didn't expect was the level of PAIN I have experienced...it's because I have Lyme in my nerves and the bartonella co-infection...not everyone does. It can mimic fibromyalgia...I do have days where it's difficult to walk, sit or stand. I do what I can when I can. This won't last forever. 

Lyme can mimic, Fibromyalgia, ALS, Lupus, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, ADHD, MS, some cancers ...if you or anyone you know is diagnosed with the above and have never been tested for lyme, I urge you to do so. It may save your life.

IF you have been tested for lyme and were told your results were negative. I urge you to call your doc and ask, "Does my negative result mean I have ZERO lyme bacteria in my body?" Find out what your number was. Remember, anything under .91 they will call negative.

If you would like to know who I am treated with, I am happy to share. I did use an herbalist and his herbal protocol and it worked beautifully for me. 

I am a FIGHTER and I will never give up. We get one life and I am Motivated to get fit and live FIT <3

If you would like support on your wellness journey or your Lyme journey, please reach out.

CLICK here to learn HOW I BEAT LYME

UPDATE!! June 2016

I feel good! I have ALL day energy and that hasn't happened in a long time! It would eb short lived though. Toward the end of June my body was become so tender, sore and fatigued. I struggled to walk, sit or stand bc of the pain. 

WHO was I in this body that felt like a stranger?

I had to use alternative pain options bc I was afraid to put anything my body that would harm it more. My organs were already taxed. Click on the link above to learn more about what I used to beat this thing. 

UPDATE!! July 2016 
One of the co-infections I have is Liver Flukes...This is especially important for ANYONE that had/has issues with the emptying function of their gall bladder. My gall bladder was functioning at 22% bc of these and once you read about them and where they take up house...you will know why. You will also understand why my surgeon said it is most likely a "systems issue" and could be healed naturally.

Once you read more about this you will see why so many don't feel well after removing their gall bladder bc it wasn't the gall bladder that was the issue...but the parasites. Removing the gallbladder won't remove the parasites...those stay in your body until you do a simple cleanse. It's not hard.

This crash course has been eye opening.

UPDATE!! August 2016
I had good days and bad but kept on. One thing I hated the most is the rapid weight gain. Some ppl lose rapidly and others gain weight. I have not found any in betweeners. I really hated myself. I was lost.

UPDATE!! October 2016

I AM LYME FREE!!!!

UPDATE!! November 2016 

I began to physically rehabilitate my body from the damage it caused. My body was so weak. 

UPDATE!! October 2017

I am physically rehabilitated. 

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7 Day Shakeology Challenge

7 Day Shakeology Challenge 

Anyone interested in doing a 7 day shakeology challenge with me? Ok so I drink Shakeology 

everyday but I KNOW how nervous I was to commit to it. I was kinda freaking out that you 

could only get it online without trying it first (what sort of scam is this?!) 

Thankfully, my friend Hillary was drinking it and assured me it was legit... so I trusted her...took 

the plunge and ordered it on home direct. I am soooo weird about getting things on autoship 

because I don't want to get charged a million dollars and sucked into something I can't cancel. 

Lucky for us, Beachbody has an amazing customer service staff and if you need to postpone or 

cancel your order, you just shoot 'em an email.

I am sooooo glad I got the full 30 day supply because to be honest with you...the first time I 

made it...I made it with water and ice to see what it tasted like BARE bones. I liked it but wasn't 

IN LOVE with it, you now? 

Maybe it's because I had no idea how to mix shakes...maybe it's because I wasn't a shake person...

But after reading some recipes and getting tips on how you should blend it, I figured out how 
to make it the way I LOVE. Guys, I am serious OBSESSED with this stuff- I would not 
lead my friends astray!

(Some tips I learned from that first week....always put your liquid in FIRST! I didn't know if you 

put the powder in first it creates this air pocket that is impossible to mix haha)

If you are not yet addicted to Shakeology...Try it out for a week and see/FEEL the benefits for 

yourself. 

The purpose of this Challenge: Well it's designed for people who need a little help getting 

their fitness and nutrition journey going, but aren't ready to commit to a full 30, 60 or 90-day 

program yet (I know how overwhelming that can be!). This Shakeology Challenge will help you 

lose weight, incorporate exercise into your daily routine and get in the habit of eating healthy, 

balanced meals a day. 

During the seven days, you will be asked to:

• Replace one meal a day with Shakeology
• Exercise at least 5 of the 7 days for at least 30 minutes (walking, jogging, Beachbody 
• workout, gym, your choice! Just get moving!)
• Eat healthy, nutrient dense meals 95% of the time. You can browse the challenge group for 

       recipe ideas- I promise they are yummy. We will follow the Shakeology eating plan found here.

• Drink at least 64 oz. of water per day
• Weigh in only on days 1, 4 and 8 (for 7 full days of nutrition and exercise)

What do YOU get out of this? 

• In 7 days you will FEEL the benefits of Shakeology, the energy it gives you, and honestly...eating 

       clean just puts me in a better mood!

• A closed Facebook group for Accountability, Support and new friends hehe
• Workout routine ideas and encouragement
• Clean eating guidelines, tons of healthy and delicious recipes
• A healthy routine that sets the wheels in motion for a healthier lifestyle 
• Weight loss is an added bonus, the real benefit is in the foundation you lay and the nutrients your body will 

         be getting

The Challenge starts May 16th! 
You have three options for getting started:
#1 To purchase your 7 Day Shakeology Kit Send $40 to mysilverconnection@yahoo.com as a personal 

gift via paypal if you prefer Chocolate or Cafe Latte Only.

#2 LOVE Variety and want to try ALL the flavors? Order your 7 Day Shakeology Sampler {1 of

 each flavor} 

#3 A) Order a month supply of Shakeology (If you opt for the month supply, make sure you select Home 

Direct to save yourself $10-15 in shipping.) 

      B) Get the most bang for your buck and order a Combo pack {Includes fitness program + Month 

supply of Shakeology}

Ready to get started? Make sure you scroll down and fill out the 7 Day Shakeology application so I get to 

know your goals and I will add you to the group!

If I am not yet your coach, what are you waiting for? Go here to make it official 

Once you complete this Shakeology Challenge,it will be easier to stick with your new fitness and 

nutrition routine!

Looking to take your nutrition to the next level? Choose YOUR Challenge Pack and ask me about 

next my monthly fitness challenge.

Chocolate Caramel Delight Smoothie

When Girl Scout Cookie season rolls around (it counts as a season, right?), we know it can take every ounce of self-control – and then some – to avoid devouring the sugary treats by the box-full. 

That’s why we created this craveable Chocolate Caramel Delight Smoothie recipe. It tastes like one of your favorite Girl Scout cookies, but it’s so healthy that you can enjoy it any time without sabotaging your diet. Whip up one of these whenever your sweet tooth strikes, and in no time, you’ll have earned your willpower badge.

To make this decadent smoothie, we blended rich Chocolate Shakeology with caramel extract and toasted coconut flakes. If you can’t find caramel extract in your local grocery store, look for it online or substitute it with butter rum extract.

Toasting the coconut brings out its buttery flavor and adds a nuttiness that makes this shake taste so much like a cookie. It’s worth the added step! To toast coconut flakes, heat a small pan over medium heat. Add coconut and stir constantly for 1-2 minutes until the edges of the coconut turn golden brown. 

Remove the pan immediately and let cool. If you have extra, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month.

Chocolate Caramel Delight Smoothie

Total Time: 10 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1 tsp. pure caramel extract
2 Tbsp. shredded unsweetened coconut, toasted
1 cup ice

Preparation:
1. Place almond milk, Shakeology, extract, coconut, and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

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Dana Lost 15 pounds and is LOVING herself

Not all transformations are physical. When I met my friend, Dana Buchko I envied her legs. They are a mile long heart emoticon

Little did I know she was struggling with LOVING herself. What I admired about her, was something she was struggling with.

We never really know what someone may be going through, do we?

Dana says...

"Life is a transformation. For me the process has been slow and steady. The number on the scale may not be where I want it to be, but I’m working on it. I struggle with my nutrition on a daily basis. I take the easy way more often than I should.

I am the Queen of excuses!! I can always justify why I’m eating whatever I want. The justification is not right but at the time it’s all that matters. I try to start every week with the right mindset but it never fails that I go off course. One of these days I will get it under control. It’s just so hard when my other half doesn’t want to eat healthy. It’s easier to give in to him than make 2 separate meals. I’m sure I am not alone on this.

What I can say through this whole process of trying to live a healthier lifestyle, is I have gained so much more than what I have lost in pounds. I have gained…confidence, self love, strength, muscle tone and so much more. So when the numbers on the scale do not budge, I can look back on what I have accomplished and know that I am changing. I’m changing for the better in my own time."

I am so proud of you and have loved watching your journey unfold. You are stronger, wiser and have really ROCKED your results. YOU finish any program you start. YOU inspire me.

If you want to join us and get healthier, fill out this form and I'll be in touch.

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