A gift

Looking back at my Easter post about having Covid19, I wanted to return to this paragraph...

And what if thinking you are going to die becomes a gift going forward? Surely you don’t sustain such high temperatures without knocking out an unwelcome bacteria or two? I’m keeping everything crossed that this may just have been a blessing in disguise. For example, people talk about losing their sense of smell through CV. I haven’t been able to smell for years thanks to Lyme. But I’ve got an incredible sense of smell back again in the last week! The fatigue I’ve known for so long? I’ve only had an amazing sense of energy throughout this recent battle, give or take feeling a bit pooped in the last couple of days. Just maybe, my broken body has undergone some repairs in the process? 

Astonishingly, it appears to continue to be the case; I AM WELL. The energy I speak of remains, and I am better than I've been in a decade. I am literally pinching myself every single morning on waking pain free. I have yet to research 'fever therapy' but understand that it is a thing. Meanwhile, I'm just happy to think of my brush with Covid19 as a gift. Please God, long may this last.

I choose life - A poem

Recently, I said to my husband Simon, 'I thought I was going to die.' He replied, 'I thought you were going to die.' In the midst of being desperately ill, I wrote this poem for my children. What began as a eulogy - in case I wasn't able to let my two beautiful daughters know some of the simple stuff about me - soon morphed into a mantra of positivity; as I shifted into believing this disease would not take me, I was going to live to tell them myself.

HOLD STILL

This picture captures life in lockdown with a mummy that is seriously sick. I couldn't get any closer to the girls and at this particular moment they both were so upset, I asked them to take comfort from each other.

A COVID19 EASTER - A close call

I went to Birmingham at the start of the year. It was something I wanted to do, although I knew it would take it out of my non-existent immune system. Sure enough the same week, headaches and fatigue kicked in. In Feb, I managed a night away with Simon and friends. I went for it, I paid for it. Another immune system fail. Truth is, thanks to Lyme, for a long time I’ve been living half a life. It’s the way it’s come to be and yet is a vast improvement on how things were a couple of years back. Thanks to naturopathic and Traditional Chinese Medicine I’m better, but these have only taken me so far, the latter stopping recently as I felt I no longer responded to treatment. I came to accept the status quo. Then Easter. Team Newland enjoyed a lovely Good Friday, but come the evening, in the space of 30 minutes, I went from feeling tired, to having a temperature and coughing.

The ten days between now and then have rocked our world. I can say that was far too close for comfort. I’m not out the woods completely but I’m over the worst and I know now that I’m going to be alright. Obviously, my Simon, chest physio extraordinaire, is a bloody legend and his halo is very much intact. The girls have swung between extremely anxious and super brave and positive, the two of them taking great comfort from one another. Not being able to cuddle them has been the hardest, and I’m holding out for the two-week marker so we can do just that. So far so good and please God, they and Simon will not go under with CV too. 

I have to thank the amazing community around us, the shoppers amongst you leaving food on the doorstep, the lit candles, the positive vibes, the daily photos and general well wishes and love that has been so apparent. Then there was the help and advice. Reiki Dawn and Nurse Nicki, my sister-in-law JanJan– a nurse practitioner on A&E who had only just recovered from the virus herself and goes back to work next week. Karen, who consistently and positively checked in on me and gave me such hope having been there recently herself, ‘You got this!’ The brilliant NHS, 111. My parents, who I know have been so frightened, and anyone else I’ve forgotten. Oh and my Grandpa, who died when I was 12. I thank him. At my worst point he carried me. 

When my Grandfather died, my Gran always kept a single rose in his memory. Simon bought me a dozen roses about three weeks ago. They were a £3 yellow sticker bargain and soon past their best, perished. All but one. Not only has it survived, but it has new life on it.

And what if thinking you are going to die becomes a gift going forward? Surely you don’t sustain such high temperatures without knocking out an unwelcome bacteria or two? I’m keeping everything crossed that this may just have been a blessing in disguise. For example, people talk about losing their sense of smell through CV. I haven’t been able to smell for years thanks to Lyme. But I’ve got an incredible sense of smell back again in the last week! The fatigue I’ve known for so long? I’ve only had an amazing sense of energy throughout this recent battle, give or take feeling a bit pooped in the last couple of days. Just maybe, my broken body has undergone some repairs in the process? It’s a bit too soon to say, but one thing is for sure, the love has shone out brightly here at no.19, and I know it is that which will help us all win this battle of uncertainty. This battle against CV. And for all those that haven’t made it, fly high angels. You have helped in creating a future of love and oneness for all humanity. 

Stay safe all. 

Forwarned is forearmed: blog update & Jeremy Hunt

LIFE AS IT IS has taken a back seat while my Lyme disease has been driving. I'm in a much better position than I was a few years ago though and wanted to say thanks for supporting me along the way. My numbers on the lyme posts are staggering. Clearly there are lots of you interested in how to recover naturally from a disease that takes out ones immunity.

Next month, I've planned a one-to-one with MP Jeremy Hunt. I'm making it my mission to have warning signs put up in place, reminding people that ticks are present all over the UK. Not just the New Forest and Scotland. I don't mean to scare people, only to remind them of the unseen dangers, and the havoc these minuscule little creatures can create. I'll keep you posted.

I took this photo in France. Why do we not have anything like this here?

UPDATE

So I met with Jeremy, and he was incredibly helpful. Together we sent letters out to The National Trust, Public Health England, Surrey Wildlife Trust and The National Wildlife Trust as these were the groups that covered the local green areas surrounding my home which I wanted to target. 

The results were better than I hoped for with a great response from all accept Hilary McGrady the Director General of the National Trust who frankly was rather patronising. Shame, but 3 out of 4 is a good start! 

The surprising lives of animals - a book review

TITLE: The surprising lives of animals, how they can laugh, play and misbehave
AUTHOR: Anna Claybourne
ILLUSTRATOR: Stef Murphy
PUBLISHED BY: IVY KIDS
RELEASE DATE: FEB 2020
FOR AGE: 6+
ISBN: 978-1-78240-816-1
PRICE: £12.99

Featuring many different animals at play, laughing and misbehaving, it is easy to understand how this beautiful hardback book appeals to all children. Its bright colours and incredible illustrations entice the reader and make it a joy for younger children to look at, while friendly text and stimulating facts entertain older children.

Enriching their understanding of animal life cycles and habitats, they'll discover animal species from around the planet who do some of the quirkiest things in the name of survival and play, different scientists who have dedicated their lives to the animal kingdom, and, be able to learn lots of new words and their meanings with the dedicated glossary.

LIFE AS IT IS VERDICT
The writer links animal behaviours together under the headings of HAVING FUN, THINKING AND FEELING, EVERYDAY LIFE, LIVING TOGETHER and SETTLING DOWN. The result is both refreshing and relatable. It's fun to have a book on animals presented in this innovative way, and it must be said, with such exquisite illustrations.


Emma Oliver was gifted this book in exchange for a post on LIFE AS IT IS

Match A Mummy, The Ancient Egypt Memory Game - A review

Laurence King in partnership with the British Museum are releasing a great new matching game for children. They'll need more than mere memory skills for this one though...

TITLE: Match A Mummy, The Ancient Egypt Memory Game

AUTHOR: Anna Claybourne

ILLUSTRATIONS: Léa Maupetit

PUBLISHED BY: Laurence King

RELEASE DATE: 6 April 2020

SUITABLE FOR AGES: 7+

PRICE: £14.99

Following hot on our golden-sandal-clad heels and a trip to see the Tutankhamun exhibition (have you been yet?) comes the chance to review the latest product from quirky kids publishing house Laurence King... The Match A Mummy Ancient Egypt Memory Game; out early April.

This product is not only topical to us right now because of our recent museum visit, but also because 8yo Fia has been studying ancient Egypt as part of her school curriculum, i.e. she knows a fair bit about the content. This happens to be 20 matching pairs of 40 cards, and a booklet with explanatory text - for those who aren't so up to date on their ancient Egypt facts - but what a fun way to learn?!

It's a simple and popular concept: locate and match up the pairs.  But use the pairs to learn more about how the Egyptians lived. Children will be encouraged to ask questions, such as 'Why did Egyptians shave their heads but wear wigs? Why did they worship dung beetles? What about the dark eye make-up they used? And which internal organs did they remove before mummification?'

LIFE AS IT IS VERDICT

This simple and colourful matching game has proved a big hit at home with Fia taking the lead and talking about the pairings of fun facts. I think it'll be a huge hit with other parents because it's very different to other pairing games - not relying solely on memory.

Emma Oliver was gifted this game in exchange for a post on LIFE AS IT IS 

Pure Gold. Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh - A review

PURE GOLD

Celestial and goose-pimpling, the greatest archaeological find in history, Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh exhibition allows you to leave reality and look beyond our world to another time entirely.

Moving from gallery to gallery, you can't quite take it all in. The art is simply staggering. The fact that what you are looking at; the unveiled mystique of so many intricate wonders which laid buried with the boy King in his Valley of the Kings tomb for over 3,000 years, are all so perfectly preserved, and now here in London on display for the visiting public. Only until 3 May 2020 though, when it makes its way back to Egypt for good. Knowing this, adds a great sense of urgency to behold the treasure.

The canopic jar which guarded King Tutankhamun's liver 

It is a  wonderfully insightful tour, and the audio set is brilliant at £6. The Saatchi space and layout make the exhibition accessible to all. You can take your time and enjoy all you've come to see. Why not spend all morning gawping at for example, the splendour of the gold inlaid canopic coffinette - its first time ever out of Egypt? And revel in the stories that accompany these fascinating relics; such as the eerie tale of conflict relating to the silver trumpet - which every time sounded, was followed by an outbreak of war.

This exhibition is a chance to revel in wonder, and as such, should not be missed. Children will be as captivated as the adults, and families really ought to take advantage of the holiday deal offering a unique glimpse into an intriguing world which has all but disappeared. Mind blowing.





"Mummy, come see. There's something unbelievable." Here my 8yo and 11yo are enjoying the family friendly audio tour of the Tutankhamun exhibition at London's Saatchi gallery which wowed us all at the weekend. It was the launch of the Family Holiday Pass Deal.

Tickets are on-sale now via www.tutankhamun-london.com and Family Holiday Passes are also available for a limited time only, where a family of 4 can visit from £70 + booking fees.

FAMILY HOLIDAY PASS:

• Cost: £70 + booking fees when paid for in advance online OR £80.50 from the Box Office
• Includes entry for 2 Adults and 2 Children OR 1 Adult and 3 Children
• Valid only for the 9am time slot on weekdays from Monday 16 until Tuesday 31 Dec
• Children this pass applies to are aged 16 and under
• Children aged 3 and under go free
• Limited availability, so book now to avoid disappointment!

GENERAL LISTING INFORMATION:

• Exhibition: TUTANKHAMUN: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh presented by Viking Cruises
• Venue: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY
• Dates: Saturday 2 November 2019 – Sunday 3 May 2020
• Opening Times:
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday – Open from 09:00 with last entry at 17:30
• Thursday, Friday, Saturday – Open from 09:00 with last entry at 20:30
• A timed entry system is in place, with tickets allocated every half hour
• You may spend as much time as you like enjoying the exhibition but please note that the gallery will close 90 minutes after last entry
• The average length of stay is between 60 and 90 minutes
• N.B. The gallery is closed on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25th December)

Emma Oliver was gifted this press trip in exchange for a post on LIFE AS IT IS 

Framed - Five gold rings

Advent countdown has begun and the lane that we live on is marking it with decorated windows again this year. Having the 5th of Dec meant of course that we had to go with 5 gold rings!

A suppressed immune system? (Fighting Lyme naturally).

A suppressed immune system?

Having chronic lyme means you don’t tend to get a lot of colds. The immune system is simply too suppressed to react to viruses. That doesn’t mean we don’t have those viruses taking root in our body, just that we aren’t developing a cold to kill them off. 

That in mind, I'm celebrating the fact that I've had a stinker of a cold, complete with chest infection over the last ten days and therefore my immune system did not only kick in, but with the help of acupuncture, echinacea, dandelion and fennel, has completely kicked the virus! In short, my body has done exactly what it's meant to do. For the first time in 4 years.

The alternative medicine programme is working. I can see progression on two counts: First the digestive system wakes up, and now the immune system. After so many years of neither working, trust me, this is great stuff. 

Recovering Stars - A poem

Recovering stars

Completely well is in touching distance

Like the stars in the night sky, shining so brilliantly they’re tangible

Clearly reachable

And as I stretch toward their brightness, the shadow behind begins to dance

And I too dance

For I now know, it is the shadow

That helps us recover stars.

Treating late-stage Lyme disease naturally, not with antibiotics

If you've got late-stage Lyme, I can't shout loudly enough about treating it naturally. When I think about all the supplements I take, yes they're not cheap, but they are helping me recover naturally, and I'm seeing great gains. Antibiotics are way more expensive, and continued use of these over the years will mean that in the end, your body will suffer.

From what I have read on the matter, when it comes to late-stage Lyme and other tick-borne disease, those that take antibiotics, do so for long periods of time. This of course is at great risk to an immune system that is either already weak or frankly non-existent due to the ever-breeding cycle of bacteria wreaking havoc - as it does in the case of someone with late-stage Lyme.

These patients appear to live in hope financially, physically and emotionally, that each cycle of antibiotic treatment will be their last. Will be the one that wipes out the bacteria for good. However, you then hear of people saving money (we're talking tens of thousands), to get themselves to specialist clinics for IV antibiotic treatment, as the afore-mentioned has not worked. What makes people think that this treatment will be any different? Desperation. In the long term, do you ever hear or read stories of how these patients are health-wise ten years after having intravenous antibiotics?

We know the tick-borne bacteria is clever. That it shape-shifts. That it fools the immune system into cohabiting within the body. Well, my belief is that the Lyme bacteria is so stealth-like, antibiotic treatment will never quite be able to zap absolutely all of it. Along with the fact that every month a new batch of bacteria hatches out; probably adjusting to meet its new conditions. As well as being capable of moving into cyst form as it wishes - which of course would be as it was being targeted by medicine - rendering antibiotic treatment worthless. And then, weeks, months, years down the line, when more favourable conditions return, it can of course begin to replicate, all over again.

As I said at the beginning... 'If you've got late-stage Lyme, I can't shout loudly enough about treating it naturally.'

Fighting lyme disease with Chinese Medicine

On World Mental Health day, I'm sharing this pic of the supplements I take to support my immune deficient, nutrient depleted self. As advised by the doctor treating me. This lot, three times daily, because Lyme disease strips the system, thanks to the ever-breeding cycle of bacteria running amok.

My brain has been to hell and back thanks to tickborne disease and I've suffered lots with my mental health over the years, as lyme attacks the nervous system.

Thankfully the treatment I'm getting means the brain inflammation has improved... I've been reading books again. I've been able to express myself again. Able to speak with composure again. To join in again. Late-stage Lyme disease is scary. At my worst I had dementia. And suffered seizures. I've never been so frightened. I still forget stuff but I am so much better that I was. The Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment I receive weekly is helping. Recently, my gut started working again... I'm waking up hungry for the first time in four years. It's astonishing; a bit like waking from the dead. Small steps, yet ones that feel huge to me.

 If you've got late-stage Lyme, I can't shout loudly enough about treating it naturally.

Lyme disease and menopause

MENOPAUSE AND LYME
Three months on, I'm wanting to report on how I'm doing having come completely off HRT. (HRT? Yes, thanks to a full hysterectomy in 2016, courtesy of Lyme disease playing havoc with the endocrine system, I was put on 75mcg of Oestrodot overnight).

STOPPING THE HRT
So what happened? Tits sagged, eyes sagged, gut sagged? Perhaps a little! And yes, my Lyme regressed. As the Chinese Med doc suggested it would. And together with no downtime as a result of the school holidays, I found myself back to boringly bedridden for a burst. It was a case of riding it out, and thanks to the help of good friends and grandparents alike, I took the time to rest and gather my energy and sense of recovery once more.

STEP BACKWARD
After getting better to a degree and feeling so good in May, it was a huge surprise to remember exactly how Lyme and co-infections hit hard. Symptoms literally blow you away, as you helplessly sit by and watch your body fail, multi-systemically. First thing I noticed this time were the lumps and bumps of Bartonella as it marched over my scalp, resulting in a head that was painful to lay down. Then came the headache and hangover feeling each morning, temperatures, uncomfortable aches and pains, memory loss, weight loss and of course exhaustion; all courtesy of the Lyme and Babesia bacteria also gaining a foothold.

HRT WITHDRAWAL
Along with acknowledging the bacteria, I also weathered the usual kind of menopause mayhem. Crazy hot, freezing cold, insomnia, feeling emotional over the slightest thing.

ACUPUNCTURE?
For all the emotional upset however, I never endured the see-sawing moods and irrationality that can arise due to a sudden departure of oestrogen. I wonder if this is down to the weekly acupuncture I've been receiving? Or the diet and supplements this new form of Chinese Medicine dictates? Natural oestrogen's, Wild Yam and Rhodiola Rosea included.

THREE MONTHS ON
So where am I now? Not doing too badly at all, safe in the knowledge that my lyme disease and co-infections are no longer able to hide behind HRT - which helps to mask symptoms. Instead, after the chronic fatigue passed, miraculously I realised my body was starting to work again for itself. For example; I've been waking up hungry! Hunger pangs are something that haven't happened since 2015, so at first I worried about this rather strange sensation, wondering what was wrong? Of course as soon as I realised it was a natural sensation, there was only delight at the prospect of remembering what it was like to have an appetite. It's all good!

Fighting lyme naturally during the menopause - the final hurdle

My Chinese Med Doctor told me, in order for the true treatment of my lyme disease to begin; to truly balance my system, I have to come off HRT. COME OFF HRT. Yeah right, whatever!

If you read LIFE AS IT IS, you'll know that since starting Five elements TCM, I've seen gains, and although admittedly, at first I felt A LOT worse when I dropped my HRT from 75mcg to 50mcg - I almost cancelled New York, I then picked up, as he had suggested. A few weeks on, my body stabilised, and New York was a walk in the (Central) park.

A week ago today, I got brave and dropped my HRT from 50 to 25. A few hot flushes and a few headaches later, (and not the sort that I associate with the killer head of lyme disease), I'm doing fine, so guess what? Today, I've really gone for it... from 25 to 0mcg. I've literally just taken the final patch off. How liberated and empowered do I feel?!!

Not sure what sort of week lay ahead, but with a positive mind and natural oestrogen x 2: Wild Yam and Rhodiola Rosea in my system, I'm going for it, pleased to be free of synthetic hormones that are screwing my endocrine system as far as making a full recovery from Lyme disease.

NEW YORK NEW YORK

Taken from Bar Sixty-Five, The Rainbow Rooms, Rockefeller Centre

New York. Travelling with Lyme. Could my energy hold up? Would I cope? Yes and yes. Using my senses to take me where I needed to go when. And my journalistic skills too. This photo is taken from the Bar Sixty-five restaurant (on the 65th floor above the Rockefeller centre), from the gorgeous restaurant that adjoins the Rainbow Rooms, my thanks to them for miraculously finding us a table in exchange for the mention here on LIFE AS IT IS. Delicious food with stunning views. Be sure to reserve a table well in advance of travelling, and for sometime around dusk to watch magical Manhattan as it changes from light to dark.

What happens next? A trip to New York

A trip to New York.

Only a bloody trip to New York. With three friends. We all worked out there together 25 years ago as nannies. In Connecticut. We would travel to Manhattan at weekends and party like it was 1999. Accept it was 1994 and 25 years on, we're having a reunion. A gift to ourselves that we have been looking forward to for six years... when we began saving £20 a month. Flight and Airbnb booked, and this week, we're off. How exciting!

Crystals and a crystal healing

In a bid to stay well and have energy for my upcoming trip to New York, I had a crystal healing, which left me feeling fantastic. It was really remarkable and put me into a deep state of relaxation. I can't help but feel it has left me in a much better place for travelling. Of course you have to be open to this very spiritual type of healing before going in for it. And I suppose I always was. As a child I was used to being visited by a spirit that sat on the end of my bed. It was an old lady. I was frightened and thought it was someone a bit like my great gran, but she was still alive at the time, so I never did figure it out... Then I saw a ghost when I was in my 20's. Had some very strange goings on in my 30's, nannying in a house that was clearly haunted. Plus had numerous other psychic stuff happen throughout my life.

8th acupuncture appointment...

When the acupuncturist asked me to stop the herbs and a lot of the homeopathic remedies, initially I felt uneasy. I had made good progress on it all. But I was not yet well. I spoke to my naturopath about the changes and her thoughts were that Lyme is such a complex disease, it can be a good thing to change your treatment and bring a surprise attack element to a bacteria, that can and probably will eventually become resistant to what you are doing.

And so, I've settled into a routine with the acupuncturist. Each weekly session leaves me feeling either drained, unwell or both for approximately one to two days, then clears leaving me feeling that bit better. (So long as I stick to the protocol).

The first three occasions were by far the worst. They left me bed-ridden and hurting - in itself not unusual with lyme, but having been with the naturopath it's been a while since I was in that state. There were all sorts of aches and pains associated with the new treatment, but after that, I noticed my lyme symptoms were better. The sharp stabbing pains in my head had ceased. The swelling behind my ears was gone. The pressure I felt in my skull, subsided. There was less confusion and word searching. Less brain fog. Less headaches. Less waking up with the hangover from hell. More remarkable than all of that, my ears, which have been plagued with screaming tinnitus non-stop for two years, began to quieten, so that for parts of some days, I actually didn't notice them.

Needless to say, I'm continuing with acupuncture and the Chinese Medicine protocol for 'wood yin type' - the new diet, exercises, hot baths, supplements, and rest.

Healing Lyme with Chinese Medicine and acupuncture

I'm hardcore me. I went back for more. You see the thing was, by the end of the week I was feeling more like my old self for the first time in ages. My brain felt a lot sharper. I've had way more energy. There can be no denying that once I recovered from the initial healing crisis brought about by the acupuncture, I was left feeling stronger.

This time there was no chicken or fish; only an infrared lamp positioned over my gut, and several needles (complete with electrodes attached) to probe my meridians. I'm going to have to research acupuncture before I even begin to understand it, but from what little I can gather, these stimuli all work together in waking up the brain. Retraining it if you like, to do the multi-systemic jobs it should automatically do within ones body to keep it healthy.

My naturopath is happy for me to trial acupuncture, and with her blessing so am I, even though as I write this, I'm preparing for the next lot of fall out I've been promised.

Weird science.