The one thing to remember is that Lyme affects everyone a bit differently, just like the treatment is different for each individual. Tolerance to hot and cold temperatures is something widely reported in those with Lyme. I can't have it too much one way or the other, however, I do feel flushed lots of the time, but I am not running a fever. I am actually one of those weirdos whose normal body temp always reads at around 97 degrees.

Try to find a balance that suits everyone in the family. One thing we all have to be aware of and sensitive to, is how this illness affects our family as well. I know my wife has to be going a little nuts at this point. I rarely complain out loud, except for the few times when I have to say something or I am going to explode. If my wife asks how I am feeling, I try to be short and concise with it, unless I need her help or opinion.

Our needs are going to seem weird to others, but what can we do except make ourselves feel better, without alienating our families and friends too much.

Tom

I was getting so bloated and so sick --- now things are great in that department. Life is so much better without stomach issues!

And to get off topic/not off topic - I had a banana and pineapple pizza in Brazil once - it was awesome! I'm def. gonna try those quesadillas!!!

I tried everything for eating healthy over the last several years and seems I have been on a diet forever....and for the most part I still do (I use healthy choice selections, low fat cheeses, EVOO, low fat everything, virtually no sugar in most things that I eat...)and try to get to the gym whenever my body will allow me to (try for three times a week) but I have to admit that with this last few months of doxy, I have not been as good about it all the time because I have started to miss my mommy and thus have started to cook...thus all the random talk about food on this thread! LOL

Speaking of which, I have no problem staying away from Sushi (yuck) but I don't think I can give up pork! I make the best pork chops in the universe! Not just world, UNIVERSE! LOL Yes I am quite full of myself when it comes to my cooking, but if you've ever had it, you would be too, I have many who can attest to the rumors and they travel from miles around when they hear I am making pork chops that night....LOL and there are many things I will outright say I can't make worth a damn though so I don't claim to do everything just right. Like Steak, I just can't cook a good steak for nothing. My husband can from time to time on the grill though, but not me. I over cook it time and time again, a cardinal sin in the steak world.

Over the last few months my family has eaten VERY well. I have been crockpotting and baking like crazy! I am trying to stick to healthy meals (they would be surprised how often I use healthier choices in how I am making these meals!), but they have had lasagna and home made baked ziti (my husband is 3rd generation in this country full blooded italian and I make it better than anyone in his family-according to THEM! - AND I'M IRISH!), tons of concoctions made at a moments notice in the WOK with whatever meats and veggies I find and sauces I mix in...Fritatta's for breakfast, just because it was easier to throw it in the oven....and of course the Banana Quessadilla's! I've learned how to make Pulled pork because I wanted some....I made pork ribs in the crock pot because I just knew it would fall right off the bone after ten hours of soaking in a good zero fat bareque sauce....I make olive oil chicken cutlets and all kinds of home made soups, chicken and dumplings, and so on...I've even been doing this amish friendship bread thing since April now where every ten days you make two loaves of bread and you give a 'starter' to four friends and each time you can make them different so then I leave them out for the kids to have a nice warm breakfast....It's been crazy, but it somehow just makes me feel better.

Now I've had Pineapple pizza many a time, but Banana Pineapple pizza? That's awesome! I would SO try that!!

I think you can get the recipe for the Quessa's at foodnetwork.com, although because I was going to a party with them I didn't make the topping, I just brought a jar of caramel and let people drizzle it over the ones they were going to eat.

As far as finding a way for us all to be comfortable, I feed them good...they can be cold. LOL It's getting hotter here anyways so they aren't minding so much.

I noticed your remark about the effects alcohol has on you. The same reactions - sensations affected me prior to my Lyme diagnosis. I would get so sick on just a tiny amount of alcohol I had to give it up. It turned out the extreme intolerance to alcohol was just another manifestation of the Lyme. My Lyme Doc stated the lyme disease had affected my liver's stage 2 detoxification. This meant any alcohol I drank was converted via the stage 1 detoxification to an aldehyde. However the aldehyde normally produced in the stage 1 process was then very slowly oxidized in the stage 2 process. Normally the Stage 2 oxidation process for alcohol is very quick.

My lyme Doctor prescribed standard ABX'x and about "1 million and 1" supplements to combat my lyme disease. I was totally off all alcohol for about 12 months. Once I was feeling better and seemed to be beating the lymes back the doc said "you need to test your liver go home and have a Margarita." So, being the good patient, I did. Whoa! The only side affect was smile on my face. My liver had healed.

I still remember how god-awful i felt with just a miniscule amount of alcohol. So while I have suffer zero bad side affects now. I am still careful and seldom partake. But at least I am now able to enjoy if desired.

I really understand your last comment "I really feel I'm in HELL! It's a good thing I have a good sense of humor......." Suzie, my wife, and I have made the same comment too many times to count. Hot, cold, herxing, medications, shots, pic lines, expenses, etc..... Damn this is one tough bug. You can laugh or cry. Thankfully, we might occasionally get grouchy but for the most part we choose to laugh at it constantly.

Exercise is also up there with laughter. Most of us can't do a lot, but get up and move around and do something, whatever you can tolerate. It will help in the end, more than it will hurt. I now refer to Sunday as "cut the grass and die day", but I'm going to keep doing it. It's just my way of telling this thing...oh no you don't!

Another thing I find helpful is music. I'm a child of the 70's, and I have found www.radioio.com. It has a 70's Pop station that I listen to all day at work. It has tons of other stations as well...and it's FREE to listen to! Keeps the mind occupied, I'll tell you that.

Low stress, high happiness...that does the trick. And writing to everyone here doesn't hurt either...you guys are an important lifeline for me, so thanks to all my friends out here!

Detoxing, laughing and staying busy are best for me!

Who knows, maybe we'll have an MDJunction Reunion one day and we'll all be feeling great enough to drink together. Cheers -----

I have to admit that the description of how my liver is processing the alcohol made my head spin in circles and say "Wait, what?" several times....but I think I understand what it was you were saying for the most part. I have a lot of cognitive issues and I don't understand things right away sometimes these days, but what I really got out of it was to tell my doctor and maybe someday I can have two pina colada's.....one for each hand!!

Anyways, I agree, This site is really helping me more than I could possibly say! I learn so much from all of you and I can really just ask you guys anything and talk about it without getting that feeling of "oh shut up about the lyme already!" I'm so glad I found you all~

An MDJUNCTION Renuion...now that'd be fun! Lets make sure we pick a park not known for having lyme...lol

Yeah, I've learned a lot, too. I feel like I've made a lot of friends and I have so much trust in you guys. I feel like we are all looking out for each other.