We've had an interesting year so far. It started out by getting stuck in Massachusetts in January. Not that I don't love having more time with my family. But we had timed our return so that we'd be home for the start of school. The snow made it impossible to go anywhere for a number of days and we got home a few days later than we had planned. Everyone (but me) was sick upon our return, though. By early February we had to get antibiotics for two sinus infections that just wouldn't go away. This started an interesting cycle for Coleman. He got sicker. And sicker.
I knew, at least suspected I knew what was happening to him because I'd gone through it myself a few months before. Finding a pediatric doctor who could actually help, that was a challenge. Five weeks after Coleman's appointment we got the news we were anticipating, with even more information than we expected. In addition, we got what we thought was a really good, carefully thought out treatment plan.
Coleman has been diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease, with a co-infection of Bartonella. There are a number of other complicating factors with his genetic makeup that make him susceptible to mold and viruses. To further complicate matters, it is difficult for his body to rid itself of toxins - I don't know if this is simply how he is or if this is temporary. This component in particular was likely what made him so very sick after being treated for a sinus infection. The skeptics among you will ask, how did he get it? Did he ever get a tick bite? A rash? I don't believe it. My answer is: I don't know if he had a tick bite. I never saw a bulls eye rash. But I know I had it while I was pregnant. I know I had it the entire time I nursed him. And there is evidence that either one of these conditions can cause infection. Indeed, I am being treated now for Lyme disease with a co-infection of Bartonella. It's possible he has had this his entire life. Believe it.
The big relief here is that we know what it is. We know also how to treat it. And finally we know Coleman will be a healthy young man again, soon. By soon I don't mean in a month or so. I mean a couple of years. He will still get to go to summer camp, hopefully play football (this remains a little up in the air - it's a highly strenuous sport, and they train hard) and in general be the goofball he is. We just need to keep it simple and mellow.
I'll be rolling out a series of posts about the "new" diet we'll be adhering to. It's an anti-inflammation diet and I've talked about it before: Gluten, dairy and sugar are all out. We've got a long way to get this one down. I, myself did it for years, but that is a trio of foodstuffs Coleman keeps near and dear to his little heart. So far, two days in and we're doing okay on the gluten part. Sugar seems the most challenging. We've used goat cheese which we got an okay from the doctor for.
This is going to be fun! Right?
