A new hope for Clay

So basically anyone who has been reading my blog for years knows my husband's health issues...but if not, I'll update you a bit.

We don't talk about it much, but my dear hubster has some MAJOR health problems. For years he was in pain 24-7. His hips and knees mainly. He had to come home early from his mission because of it, and has since just suffered through it. He went to numerous doctors directly when he got home from his mission, to get no help. He eventually settled on one doctor and once I was married to him (stubborn, high-expectation, no settling woman that I am) I decided he was a PIECE OF CRAP! He pumped Clay full of HEAVY medications that Clay's body became immune to after a couple weeks. So he was on a constant rotation of probably very harmful medication, to ease the pain. The doctor simply didn't care about fixing the problem, but only cared about treating the symptom--pain.

Eventually we were led to a chiropractor, who practices homeopathic methods. He diagnosed Clay with Lyme disease, and he helped Clay immensley. He took Clay off of all those heavy meds and gave him lots of herbs. Clay went from walking like an 80 year old man (and feeling like one too) to being able to walk without pain. However, after so much time...it felt like they weren't improving anymore, so Clay didn't want to waste the money. Also, he told Clay that the Lyme was gone, so we figured maybe he would just have certain symptoms the rest of his life.

Over a year has passed, and Clay has gotten to the point that he can't do much. He is a lot better than the early years of the marriage, when I felt bad asking him to take the garbage out...get me a glass of water, anything really. Now he can do basic things without too much pain (or so he tells me). However, if he wants to help someone on a roof, go paint-balling, play basketball, go shopping for a while with me, really- any long amount of physical activity- he is in extreme pain. He will sometimes be out on the bed for 2-3 days, unable to walk more than from the bed to the bathroom. This past year he has also gotten sick a lot. Major stomach issues, lots of colds, and lots of insomnia. I think his body is fighting so hard to not be in pain, that it is susceptible to other kinds of illness easily.

Less than a year ago we heard of a doctor in Seattle who specializes in Lyme disease, and heard great things about her. We kind of brushed it off....who knows why. I think we had both just started our jobs after graduation and life was going good and we just...didn't do anything about it. Well, lately the symptoms have been bad. I've done research and seen that Lyme disease can often be misdiagnosed as GONE, while it really is lying dormant. Someone can feel better for up to a year before the symptoms come back. Lyme disease is a DEFENSIVE disease, meaning- it feels attacks on it, therefore disguises itself, and changes it's looks so that doctors think it's not there. It will even hide until it feels it can for sure come out again. Lyme disease is soooo serious. People are often misdiagnosed with MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibermialgia, so many things- when in reality, it's Lyme disease. So anyway- being that the symptoms have gotten so much worse lately, I've kind of just been thinking...Clay is 25. He should NOT be feeling this way all the time! And when is a better time going to come to try and figure this out? We don't have kids, we have a double income, if we are going to do this, NOW is the time. So, I called the doctor in Seattle, and we have an appointment for September 24th! Clay and I are thrilled. We are still both a little scared though...just that we'll put all this time and money (as we've done before) to get no results...or only temporary results. But, this doctor is different than any we've heard of, and the treatments she does is different than how any doc we've heard of does it. She said she has many patients from Idaho and has them come to Seattle every 2-3 months. Which is awesome! Definitely doable.

So, that's what's going on right now. Clay-actually, is sick on the couch right now (a stupid cold), and I talked to the doctor today, and we are so excited. I think this is what we need to be doing, and I feel like we are headed in the right direction for once. Please keep us in your prayers if you can, I'm sure they could help- they helped last time...when we found out it was Lyme disease. Maybe this time, we'll actually get rid of it and who knows- Clay might just get his body back!