If you think I am biased you are right. After 2 months of being sick I don't care who thinks what. All I want is what works.
By 'being sick' I mean: spending 20 hours a day in bed unable to do anything, waking up in the middle of the night with irregular heart beats and getting very scared about it. Having an electrocardiogram reveal that the left side of my heart was acting up (LBBB) (something I did not have on the previous EKG 6 months prior), feeling a creepy energy crawling up and down my back, having arthritis pain in most joints.
It also meant having to postpone a teaching opportunity and cancelling my first ever speaking event at a Yoga Conference in Minnesota.
It also meant scaring James to his core, and adding stress to his already overbooked schedule (he did all the grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, comforting), Gosh! I am lucky.
On Sept 28th I was on my 41st day of very powerful, 'specialist-recommended' antibiotics (West), I also was able to do my third practice since the Lyme Disease started. Right after that day I collapsed and could not practice again. (If you cannot see the pictures go to ClaudiaYoga.com)
The antibiotics continued for another 5 days (after I thought I could stop them on my own for a few days). A total of 46 days, until I really could not take them anymore.
The doctors told me that it is common for people to be on them for very long periods of time. The doctors also wanted to send radiation into my heart to make it turn into colors and 'see' the internal workings of it. Just in case. As a precaution. Radiation.
In all fairness to the west, the doctors DID discover and accept I had lyme early, and really wanted to see me get better. They are good people.
-
Yesterday I was on the 11th day of my herbs and acupuncture treatment (East) with Dr H, the Chinese Doctor that blew my mind. I also was able to do my third practice since starting this new treatment. I have energy again!
Not only that but it seems East attracts east and a good friend of mine (I think she is a saint) came all the way up here to visit to give me reiki. Thank you N!
First 3 Practices on Antibiotics:
While under the influence of antibiotics I only got 'windows' of energy here and there. Mostly I slept (used the time to work on dreams), but the asana never really came to me. I attempted anyway, and:
The First practice: Was a meltdown
The second one: Was scattered, I skipped poses, breathed only 3 times in each pose. Discovered that twists are not liked by what? Lyme? antibiotics?
I did respect my timing and the fatigue, and did only what I could, just in a very scattered way.
The Third one: Was better, yet still scattered, and I could not hold the five-breaths counts in most poses. However I did kurmasana (?!), skipped all over the primary series and practiced for almost 1.5 hours.
First 3 Practices on Herbs/Accupuncture:
Perhaps listening to the Dr. H say that the herbs "take time", that I need the rituals of feet in hot water before bed, patches applied in certain points, massage for other points, teas, herbal remedies 3 times a day, etc. made me realize that nature moves at a slower pace, things take time. And rituals. And full involvement.
The herbs started giving me energy within a week.
Whereas every change into a new antibiotic or dosage (changed 3 times) made me worse (herx reactions which is medical jargon for awful, suicidal reactions followed by less energy), the herbs gave me one HUGE herx reaction for 3 full days (maybe too much of a detox?) and then they started GIVING me energy. A little more every day.
The first practice: Was as much a meltdown as the one on antibiotics. No difference. I even have a video but my heart says 'don't show', and I'm following my heart alright.
The Second One: Before I started I decided I would do the Ashtanga primary series the way it is. I would do all five deep breathing counts, and all poses, no exceptions. This did NOT mean I would overdo, it just meant I would NOT pick and choose which poses to do. I would do up to wherever I could without skipping.
I surrendered and understood that the practice is just like Eastern medicine. It takes time, and it should get better by the day.
So on this second practice I ONLY did the Standing Sequence. Warrior Poses were the end. No skipping. 5 breaths in every pose. I would have attempted the closing sequence if I had energy, but this was literally the end.
The Third One: This was yesterday. I stayed in all poses for the full 5 breaths as before. Utitta Hasta happened in full. I got all the way to Mari A, which means I did all the standing poses plus some of the sited poses. Then backbends. Then the closing. No skipping.
Worst pose? Janu A and B. I know. What? Seriously? what can be so hard about a forward bent 'tree pose' while sitting down? I have no idea. Something needs to connect internally.
Time of practice: 1 hour.
Best Pose? James joined me and adjusted me (or pushed me down) after the 15th count in the last forward bend. That felt good, and he learned how to do it.
Today:
It's Friday! Sacred day of "Primary Series Only" (meaning that even advanced practitioners do not do second or third/fourth/fifth/sixth series, everyone does the first one).
Will I collapse like after the third practice on antibiotics? We shall see.
I have a feeling I will be rolling my mat pretty soon as part of the ritual: herbs, tea, mat. Thank you East.
-
Thank you West too. You tried, and you probably killed bacteria, quite a bit of it, but there is no way you were getting me back to health, my body was in disarray. Also, you are excellent in emergencies, when someone breaks something or to alleviate pain right away. God bless.
The biggest surprise
The biggest surprise is that I am surprised to see that the eastern approach is working, I was brainwashed AGAIN and I fell for it. Antibiotics... forgedabaoudem!
By 'being sick' I mean: spending 20 hours a day in bed unable to do anything, waking up in the middle of the night with irregular heart beats and getting very scared about it. Having an electrocardiogram reveal that the left side of my heart was acting up (LBBB) (something I did not have on the previous EKG 6 months prior), feeling a creepy energy crawling up and down my back, having arthritis pain in most joints.
It also meant having to postpone a teaching opportunity and cancelling my first ever speaking event at a Yoga Conference in Minnesota.
It also meant scaring James to his core, and adding stress to his already overbooked schedule (he did all the grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, comforting), Gosh! I am lucky.
On Sept 28th I was on my 41st day of very powerful, 'specialist-recommended' antibiotics (West), I also was able to do my third practice since the Lyme Disease started. Right after that day I collapsed and could not practice again. (If you cannot see the pictures go to ClaudiaYoga.com)
 |
| 'It is totally normal for people to be in antibiotics for years' and I believed |
The doctors told me that it is common for people to be on them for very long periods of time. The doctors also wanted to send radiation into my heart to make it turn into colors and 'see' the internal workings of it. Just in case. As a precaution. Radiation.
In all fairness to the west, the doctors DID discover and accept I had lyme early, and really wanted to see me get better. They are good people.
-
Yesterday I was on the 11th day of my herbs and acupuncture treatment (East) with Dr H, the Chinese Doctor that blew my mind. I also was able to do my third practice since starting this new treatment. I have energy again!
Not only that but it seems East attracts east and a good friend of mine (I think she is a saint) came all the way up here to visit to give me reiki. Thank you N!
First 3 Practices on Antibiotics:
While under the influence of antibiotics I only got 'windows' of energy here and there. Mostly I slept (used the time to work on dreams), but the asana never really came to me. I attempted anyway, and:
The First practice: Was a meltdown
The second one: Was scattered, I skipped poses, breathed only 3 times in each pose. Discovered that twists are not liked by what? Lyme? antibiotics?
I did respect my timing and the fatigue, and did only what I could, just in a very scattered way.
The Third one: Was better, yet still scattered, and I could not hold the five-breaths counts in most poses. However I did kurmasana (?!), skipped all over the primary series and practiced for almost 1.5 hours.
 |
| Kurmasana way back in April or so |
After that I collapsed and could not practice again for the duration of the antibiotics.
First 3 Practices on Herbs/Accupuncture:
Perhaps listening to the Dr. H say that the herbs "take time", that I need the rituals of feet in hot water before bed, patches applied in certain points, massage for other points, teas, herbal remedies 3 times a day, etc. made me realize that nature moves at a slower pace, things take time. And rituals. And full involvement.
 |
| No antibiotic will make a cherry tree bloom out of season |
Whereas every change into a new antibiotic or dosage (changed 3 times) made me worse (herx reactions which is medical jargon for awful, suicidal reactions followed by less energy), the herbs gave me one HUGE herx reaction for 3 full days (maybe too much of a detox?) and then they started GIVING me energy. A little more every day.
The first practice: Was as much a meltdown as the one on antibiotics. No difference. I even have a video but my heart says 'don't show', and I'm following my heart alright.
The Second One: Before I started I decided I would do the Ashtanga primary series the way it is. I would do all five deep breathing counts, and all poses, no exceptions. This did NOT mean I would overdo, it just meant I would NOT pick and choose which poses to do. I would do up to wherever I could without skipping.
I surrendered and understood that the practice is just like Eastern medicine. It takes time, and it should get better by the day.
So on this second practice I ONLY did the Standing Sequence. Warrior Poses were the end. No skipping. 5 breaths in every pose. I would have attempted the closing sequence if I had energy, but this was literally the end.
 |
| Virabadrasana, Warrior II - Statute of Liberty behind |
Worst pose? Janu A and B. I know. What? Seriously? what can be so hard about a forward bent 'tree pose' while sitting down? I have no idea. Something needs to connect internally.
 |
| I don't even have a picture of Janu A... That [Center] is me in Janu C at Yoga Thailand in 09... I mean to brag, I'm so much better at it now |
Best Pose? James joined me and adjusted me (or pushed me down) after the 15th count in the last forward bend. That felt good, and he learned how to do it.
Today:
It's Friday! Sacred day of "Primary Series Only" (meaning that even advanced practitioners do not do second or third/fourth/fifth/sixth series, everyone does the first one).
Will I collapse like after the third practice on antibiotics? We shall see.
I have a feeling I will be rolling my mat pretty soon as part of the ritual: herbs, tea, mat. Thank you East.
-
Thank you West too. You tried, and you probably killed bacteria, quite a bit of it, but there is no way you were getting me back to health, my body was in disarray. Also, you are excellent in emergencies, when someone breaks something or to alleviate pain right away. God bless.
The biggest surprise
The biggest surprise is that I am surprised to see that the eastern approach is working, I was brainwashed AGAIN and I fell for it. Antibiotics... forgedabaoudem!
I am really happy that the TCM is working for you, Claudia :-) I had a good feeling about it, anyway. Keep working on getting better and stronger!
ReplyDeleteQuentin, as long as i am fine I am fine
ReplyDeleteNobel, I am too. Practiced again today, to MARI B that is progress!!! :-)
I'm so glad to hear you're feeling better Claudia.
ReplyDeleteThank you LIA, you have no idea how good it feels to be back somewhat, little by little... I am soooo grateful! Hugs!!!
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you Claudia, that you've got some energy and are building your practice back, seems like a good plan building it back up pose by pose. Have turned to primary myself too in an attempt to reset my bones and joints that seem out of sorts, almost buying into this Primary as Yoga Chikitsa idea myself.
ReplyDeleteso glad to hear it. warm and healing thoughts your way
ReplyDeleteivana xxx
Great news Claudia!
ReplyDeletealchemy!
congrats on progress! thanks for the post. teaches us about chinese medicine some also.
ReplyDeleteYeay! So glad. Sending u lots of love and more energy!
ReplyDeleteHey Grimmly, thanks, yes I am enjoying the re-building pose by pose, will have a post about it, I feel like I've got a new body, things are somewhat different I am rediscovering everything.... And will test the chikitsa thing... In my own body...yesterday added Mari B! Never felt so happy!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ivana! Min, Nat!
Nat thanks for the other thing too... The reiki.... Felt so good :-) and I still keep the crystal close :-)
Glad to hear you are feeling better Claudia. It's possible antibiotics killed the disease causing bug, but the Chinese medicines help heal your body. It's also possible that the antibiotics you're on kills some of the good bacteria in your body as well, and that would make you feel crappy too. You'll never know for sure.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know who the Chinese doctor is and where he's located so I could have him on file just in case.
ReplyDeleteI believe sometimes the least medicine is the best medicine. I mean the least invasive, the least disruptive thing you can do and still get results.
You sound very good now and I think you are on track.
YY thank you. Yes, I agree, the way I see it is that e antibiotics had a plan to kill bacteria and everything else, at least that is howmit felt, but no plan for recovery afterwards. For coming back to balance. Tcm seems to be providing that.
ReplyDeleteAnon, thanks, I am with you completely. Also if you know of someone in or near, or visiting NYC that needs help email me privately about the doc.