A Quick Update

Dear Ones, this is just a quick update to let you know that I've started the new meds (Nystatin) for Candida yeast overgrowth, which the insurance is covering, praise God.  The meds can make me feel as bad as the disease and it continues to be a rough patch.  However, since it appears that the meds are making me feel sick, that would seem to indicate that there is an overgrowth of Candida, so we'll stay the course and see how things go over the next couple of months.

I so appreciate your prayers during these coming weeks.  It's really a day-at-a-time, sometimes an hour-at-a-time getting through the nausea and tiredness when they hit hard.  It helps to have low-key things to do, so I try to have projects at hand to distract me, so to speak.  :-)

In the midst, my dear daughter Jessie has a wonderful blog post today about the centrality of Christ.  It brought a sense of undergirding to me today.  She is a wonderful writer and if you'd like to read it and perhaps be blessed as I was, you can read it here.

Thanks so much for praying.  I'll keep you updated as we go along here.

Every Day......

In this you greatly rejoice,

even though now for a little while, if necessary,

you have been distressed by various trials, 

so that the proof of your faith,

being more precious than gold which is perishable,

even though tested by fire,

may be found to result in

praise and glory and honor

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1 Peter 1:6 & 7

Over two years ago, I posted this verse and these song lyrics in an update on this blog.  I was looking at the lyrics again tonight and realized how the truth of them remains through the days and months of life, because they are based on the truth of Scripture.  I love this song.  I can now offer a link to it on YouTube.

Every Day

In Your grace You know where I walk.

You know when I fall, You know all my ways.

In Your love I know You allow

what I cannot grasp to bring You praise.

Thank You for the trial,

for the fire, for the pain.

Thank You for the strength,

Knowing You have ordained every day.

Your great power is shown when I'm weak.

You help me to see Your love in this place.

Perfect peace is filling my mind

and drawing my heart to praise You again.

In my uncertainty, Your Word is all I need

to know You're with me every day.

Joel Sezebel and Todd Twining

The past two weeks have been another rough patch along the trail.  I've been blessed with two good days, one of which was today and the other of which was last Thursday, and an incredible gift.  I was able to go to Tillamook with some of my quilt group and view antique quilts at the Latimer Textile and Quilt Center.  If you'd like, you can read about our day here.  It was fabulous and I'm so grateful to the Lord for blessing me with that day.

I talked with my doctor again yesterday, a week earlier than anticipated.  I've been struggling with a number of new symptoms and I'm just so confused.  The doctor thinks there's a good chance that Candida yeast has reared its ugly head, so we'll be treating for that as soon as the insurance company gets on board.  I dealt with the same thing about 25 years ago when my daughter Maggie was a baby.  In some people it just never really goes away, and vigilance is the best treatment.  While my diet isn't conducive to feeding yeast, all the meds I've been taking can trigger a flare.  So, we'll see what happens when I start the new meds.  If it is yeast, I'll be experiencing die-off symptoms (which can be pretty tough) and then we'll know.  If nothing happens, we're probably barking up the wrong tree.

I'm going to close for tonight, but I'll write again soon and let you know how things are going.

Bless you, each one.

Quick Update

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 

  who comforts us in all our affliction

so that we will be able to comfort those

who are in any affliction with the comfort

with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

How I've found this to be true.  Affliction causes a deeper appreciation and understanding of the suffering of others.  I pray that mine will produce the ability to comfort others as God has comforted me.

I have completed the most recent course of antibiotic treatment recommended by my new doctor.  At this point, there doesn't seem to be any change in my symptoms.  I'm taking an intensive course of probiotics for the next few weeks and we'll see if that increases the number of good bacteria in my system.  He says that usually in about a month, the allergy issues show improvement if all allergens have been avoided.  I'm doing well on that point, so we'll see if the next couple of weeks show any difference in that arena.

For the past 5 days, I've been beset with major flu-like nausea again.  It's been awhile since it's been this bad.  I'd appreciate prayer as we continue to walk this path.

Bless each of you for your involvement in our lives through prayer and encouragement.  We're so grateful.

Good Information.....

Therefore, having been justified by faith,

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 

through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith

into this grace in which we stand;

and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations,

knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 

and perseverance, proven character;

and proven character, hope; 

and hope does not disappoint,

because the love of God

has been poured out within our hearts

through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:2-5

In my devotions lately, I've been reading in Romans.  Oh, what a book.  This particular passage hit home all over again, and I am encouraged by it.

In Romans 8, Paul talks about the fact that we have been saved in hope, "but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?" (8:24)  Having hope for something that is as yet unseen is an amazing thing.  It keeps me going.

Truly, "while there is life, there is hope."  We'd smother without it.

So, we are once again on the threshold of hope with my health journey.

I talked with my new doctor today to review the allergy and stool testing results.  There are 3 really interesting pieces of information:

1.  I am highly allergic to eggs and almonds, as well as to several other specific foods, but to a lesser degree.

2. My stool test reveals that I have only one opportunistic bacteria that is overgrown and that the populations of 6 out of 8 good bacteria are way too low.  There are no pathogenic bacteria or parasite issues.  Nothing is showing on yeast either, though that is a hard one to really determine because they know how to hide really well.

3. The test they ran for my sensitivity or resistance to various pharmaceutical and botanical antibiotics shows that I am resistant to four of the 23 for which I was tested.  Two of them are Allin (garlic) and Rifaxamin.  These are the two that we used to treat SIBO which resulted in higher levels of bacterial overgrowth.  What an amazing thing to discover!

So, the treatment plan is first to avoid the foods to which I am allergic.  And second, to use Berberine, a botanical antibiotic, which the doctor believes will get rid of the opportunistic bacteria strain, and then take a high-powered probiotic to build up the good bacteria which I am lacking.

The outlook from the doctor's perspective is that I will probably be experiencing die-off for the next few weeks, which is normal and I've been through it before.  And then that I should be noticing a difference within about a month in how I'm feeling and how my gut is working.

Time will tell, and during the ensuing month, hope will win.  Again.

Thank you for praying with us.  I'll let you know how it's going as we progress through June and July!

Next steps.....

We live by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

As you sit quietly in my Presence, remember that I am a God of abundance.  I will never run out of resources; My capacity to bless you is unlimited.  It is impossible for you to comprehend the lavishness of My provisions: the fullness of My glorious riches.  Even now you have access to as much of Me as you have faith to receive.  Rejoice in My abundance--living by faith, not by sight.

From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Just a quick update here for all of you.  My appointment with Doctor #8 went well on Tuesday, I think.  He is a good listener and conservative in his approach to testing beyond the immediate things he sees as necessary.  Two particular types of testing are what we are pursuing right now.  Blood anti-body tests for food allergens and a DNA stool test which is able to determine things beyond the normal cultured stool tests.  He's looking for food allergens in three different antibody types, and the stool tests look for bacteria, yeast and parasites, and a number of things related to them.  We won't know anything for 3-4 weeks and then at that point I'll be able to eliminate the foods indicated as allergens and start whatever treatment is indicated for the revealed bowel ecology issues.

I am cautiously optimistic.  There've been a number of times where we've thought, "Aha!  This is the problem and when we treat it, I'll be headed for feeling better," but each time has brought the reverse.  So, we walk by faith, not by sight, knowing that God has this covered and whatever He desires for me will be played out.

Thanks for your faithfulness in praying for us.  When I talk with those of you I see and you ask how I'm doing, letting me know of your continued support in prayer, it encourages me so much.  We are greatly blessed by all of you.

Doctor Number Eight!

"For I am the LORD, your God,

who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,

'Do not fear; I will help you.' "

Isaiah 41:13

Do not long for the absence of problems in your life.  That is an unrealistic goal, since in this world you will have trouble.  You have an eternity of problem-free living reserved for you in heaven.  Rejoice in that inheritance, which no one can take away from you, but do not seek your heaven on earth.

Begin each day anticipating problems, asking Me to equip you for whatever difficulties you will encounter.  The best equipping is My living Presence, My hand that never lets go of yours.  Discuss everything with Me.  Take a lighthearted view of trouble, seeing it as a challenge that you and I together can handle.  Remember that I am on your side, and I have overcome the world.

Sarah Young in Jesus Calling

Once again, Jesus Calling has hit the mark in my heart. Especially that second paragraph. "Discuss everything with Me...see trouble as a challenge that you and I together can handle."  The aspect of drawing near to Him to tap into His strength and power.  Mine doesn't cut it.  Never has and never will.  Just that thought is comforting.  Climbing up in His lap and letting Him rock me as we work through the issues.  Every. Minute.

So, a little update here.  

Since I last wrote almost a month ago, we have been sitting before the Lord, asking Him to please make clear the next step.  We considered another round of herbal antibiotics, considered seeing a local ND and also the possibility of going to the IBS Treatment Center in the Seattle area.  After considerable prayer, thinking and talking, we've decided to pursue the IBS Center.  I had a phone consult with the doctor last week and will travel to Seattle next week for an intake appointment and a litany of tests.  Once again we find ourselves in a place of hope that this next part of the journey will reveal truth in my situation.  It is also difficult, because we've felt this way many times before, but to no avail.

Blessedly, the Lord allowed a two-week respite for me in which I felt as well as I have for a long time.  The nausea has closed in again, but it was so good to be free of it for those days.  Perhaps Doctor #8, with his powerhouse of testing, will be able to solve the mystery of what ails me.  We'd surely appreciate prayer in that direction.

Bless each of you for your continued prayer and support in our lives.  We are so very grateful for you.

This is the day the Lord has made.....

This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

"Begin the day with open hands of faith, ready to receive all that I am pouring into this brief portion of your life.  Be careful not to complain about anything, since I am the Author of your circumstances.  The best way to handle  unwanted situations is to thank Me for them.  This act of faith frees you from resentment and frees Me to work My ways into the situation so that good emerges from it.

To find Joy in this day, you must live within its boundaries.  I knew what I was doing when I divided time into twenty-four-hour segments.  I understand human frailty, and I know that you can bear the weight of only one day at a time.  Do not worry about tomorrow or get stuck in the past.  There is abundant Life in My Presence today."

From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

I need these reminders today, to thank Him for unwanted situations and to not worry about tomorrow.  I find myself in a place where it would be easy to succumb to tears of frustration and to descend into melancholy over the seemingly endless journey of my health issues.

I finished the course of "big guns" antibiotic treatment last week and then took the SIBO breath test again on Monday.  I talked with my doctor today via Skype to get the results and discuss the findings.

There are two elements the breath test evaluates: methane and hydrogen.  Both are indicators in SIBO.  The first test showed moderate to severe levels of both.  The second test showed elevated levels of both, pushing the results to the severe level.  This third test shows that the methane is at a negative level which means it's under control.  The hydrogen levels, however, have spiraled way up.  The numbers will tell you more than I can.  From first test to third, these are the findings: 51 - 71 - 144.  So, the hydrogen has more than doubled while using the big guns.  My doctor is at a loss to understand what is going on.  She hopes to talk about my case with the doctor under whom she has studied about SIBO.  Meanwhile, we will be trying another herbal antibiotic and seeing a local doctor next week for some further testing.  In the midst, I am seeing no improvement in my symptoms.  Still up and down with good and bad days.  No rhyme or reason to either.

As Jessie says, "We need Doctor Jesus."  Amen.

How you can pray:

1. Bolstering of my faith and spirits.

2. That my doctor would be able to talk with the specialist in LA about my case.

3. That testing will reveal something if there's something else going on.

4. That God will provide the resources we need to continue this journey.

5. That all of us in our family will feel the encouragement and comfort of the Lord in the midst.

Thank you so much for praying.  Bless each of you.