Recovery

It’s been a rough go. Reactions have been ramping up instead of lessening, and so we walk through chaos attempting to make sense of what I am experiencing. My situation is unusual, there are variables a plenty, and navigating what may be causing what and how concerned to be is an ever evolving story. Yesterday was the worst for symptoms, and perhaps it was a day where everything was culminating and jockeying for attention in my body.

My sustenance has been amino acids which can mimic protein intake, but without food the nausea has been fairly present, and without nutrients my body is less resilient than it could be. Since I am now starting to eat soft foods, we are hoping for more stability. The mornings have been very painful as fluids are trying to drain from my head after being somewhat horizontal through the night. Head pain, swelling and body pain are very present. The last few mornings have started with emotions as another day is to be faced and the pain is harder to cope with.

We’ve narrowed down the sources of my reactions to potentially, high EMF exposure, as there would still be metal in my blood, mold exposure (there is high humidity and a lot of rain here), the high elevation (3000 ft), food exposures, the elimination of the surgery medications from my body, and my body’s attempts to start removing the toxins and viruses that the metal areas were harbouring as well as the metals themselves, Previous testing showed an alarming amount of toxins, which gravitate towards weak spots in the body, were amalgamated around my jaw plate. The most logical main source and cause of my current instability is likely the sudden flush of toxins my body has been exposed to. As my elimination organs were compromised coming into surgery, the struggle is real.

I’ve been icing the surgical area of my face every morning to compensate for the night (and throughout the day). Yesterday, after getting up and moving about I experienced renewed difficulty breathing and sharp, stabbing pains in my left chest and back. My left arm has been quite sore since surgery, and my left heel, for whatever reason was tender to walk on. Fear tends to make its way in at a fairly fast pace when chest pains start. I could feel my heart felt steady, so it was analyzing the situation and trying to figure out if we needed to ask for help, or if there was anything we could do to compensate for the symptoms. In Tennessee I had significant breathing issues attributed to the EMF exposures. So this could be a replay, or something all together different.

Sitting quietly outside we went through the options. I had brought an EMF sheet useful as a tent we could put up for me if needed. We had an EMF tester so could see readings both inside the room and outside were very high. Jeff talked about possibly bringing me to a park down the road, but on a subsequent walk he found EMFs were high everywhere, The chest pains got quite sharp so I moved myself inside, and we increased the air conditioner to bring the humidity down. God had planted a thought in my head which proved to be an answer to prayer. My symptoms were all left sided which made me think the source may be more metal plate related as it had been located on the left side of my jaw. The rashes I had experienced were showing up in areas where lymph flow tries to exit the lymph system, and specifically in my left chest (the more concerning area) there is a big lymph port by the armpit and it was very sore to the touch. I have learned a great deal in previous years as I’ve searched for answers. Trying to find ways to cope and keep me functional. One thing I learned from a lymphedema specialist was how to use my hands to encourage lymph flow in the body. Who knew it would become critical to have knowledge of in this week of my life. So for the rest of the day I did multiple rounds of encouraging my lymph to flow. Dr Fernandez had already theorized I would experience a detoxification, but no one knew how bad it would be, and the therapies offered at the clinic would likely have been too powerful for me. The doctor in California had been very concerned just one cavitation removal would be too much for my body to cope with. What I am experiencing is likely the previous unknown. So now, how well can I cope and how long will it take. How strong is my body. Answer… it doesn’t feel super strong right now, but I have some tools and that gives me renewed hope.

Jeff hung our EMF sheet by a hook and for the most of the day I sat ensconced in a 2’ area. Fairly claustrophobic, but I was so tired I just let me body rest most of the day. By bed time he had more 3M hooks up and we were better set up to sleep without blankets falling on our heads. I reached out to a few people for advice on the breathing. If it was elevation, could I find oxygen somewhere. I did not receive any replies from the clinic, but after most of the day struggling, the evening saw improvements.

We also worked through the medications and reactions I was having and came to the conclusion there was a strong chance I was reacting to the pain killer and anti-inflammatory, even though it was compounded in Canada and should be the least reactive for me. I am attempting to go without and will see how I manage. I’ve noticed as well a fair bit of pain in my limbs which could be the blood clots and fibrin returning, which is a massive concern for flying home, or its lymph stagnating. I’ve re-introduced the meds for the clots (I was hopeful with the plate out the clotting and blood thickness would minimize, but realistically realize this will likely take time). It’s now a balance of how much to take post surgery and will it be sufficient before our flight early Tuesday morning. I will ask at the clinic tomorrow if there is any bloodwork available to check my levels prior to flying.

Jeff has been able to find epsom salts and baking soda. He goes out every day and walks to find me water or other things which may be helpful. The epsom salts and baking soda are known to be helpful for detoxification. I don’t have access to a bathtub, but if I am able, I crawl up onto the bathroom counter and stick my feet in the sink for a foot detox soak. There is no hot water with the sink, but we do have an outdoor shower with hot water, so Jeff brings me little buckets in a pot I brought from home. We didn’t know what we would have access to, so I bought a little hot plate from Amazon, and stowed the small cooking pot in our luggage. The pot has come in quite handy, as yesterday while soaking my feet, Jeff used it to boil me a potato with some butter and mushed it up nice for me. I am quite a sight with my bruised face, sitting on a counter eating delicious home-made by Jeff, mashed potatoes out of a pot. I’m just grateful we found something I can eat and that I can eat. It’s not a lot, but its something.

After Jeff had his dinner last night and crawled into bed, he had a massive food poisoning episode. This kept us up for a fair bit. We didn’t sleep great, but regardless, our EMF tent may be helpful as I am in less pain this morning. I’m realizing I need to try and keep both my head and legs elevated for drainage and lymph flow. Jeff is in good spirits today and seems to have weathered the nasty episode well. He had some tea with Costa Rican chocolate this morning, and apparently the chocolate is up there with the best he’s ever had. Hopefully someday I will be able to try it too! Jeff also gets to watch the Netherlands play in the World Cup today, so he’s a happy boy.

As I work through my morning routine here of what I need to take and going through the motions, I see the package of metal from surgery sitting on a shelf in our room. I pick it up and bring it over to Jeff. It is still so surreal it is out of my body and is a reminder how much has already been accomplished, and how much God has led me through already. I am so grateful. My heart sings with gladness. There is so much potential now and renewed hope for all the tomorrows.

Jeff and I go to the clinic tomorrow morning to meet again with Dr Fernandez and another doctor. I am not sure what to expect. There may be nothing new or earth shattering, perhaps just an inspection with, “you’re doing good, keep going”. Hopefully tomorrow will set me up with strength and resilience to not only manage but be strong for the flight home Tuesday. Please pray for our safety in the next few days and specifically for the flight home. Our fight leaves at 7:10 in the morning Costa Rica time, which is 9:10 EST.

The journey has been complex and long. What I have gone through is not rare, but it is also not widely acknowledged as a causative factor in the medical realm for chronic illness, which makes it hard to understand. For the curious, I’ve included a Youtube video of Dr Scott Schroeder, a surgeon, on what he has discovered when putting in metal implants or removing them in his patients. It’s part of his presentation to the FDA. He has been interviewed by others online as well for those who want to dig deeper.. Not everyone will have metal issues, but it is definitely a possibility for some. Hopefully the video is a small excerpt of insight into how my immune system ended up taking such a beating and with year after year I regressed.

Just for Fun - Jeff’s walk in a local park found this video similar to the kids movie Ants. A long line of ants is marching to bring their queen some flower petals.