First Visit With The NP

So I visited the ND ( Naturopathic Doctor ) a week ago. It was “different” for lack of better words. I wouldn’t say it was a bad experience. It was just different and new to me. I found it odd, I guess. But I am also very interested in this technique. I guess this would constitute a paradigm shift for me. It’s like my usual way of thinking about medical science is being replaced by alternative ways of healing. I am learning that healing the body is not only through an avenue of medicine. Rather I am learning that there are natural ways to heal through diet, exercise and healthier natural alternatives. I have learned that running to an MD is not always the best answer. Unfortunately, I have learned this quite a few times in my life experiences. So with this new way of looking at health and healing, I will share my experience of my first appointment with the ND.

The first thing I noticed about the office as I entered was that it was tidy and clean and nicely decorated, even down to having a neatly written inspirational quote on a large old-fashioned chalkboard as you entered the building. I guess I was expecting simple and boring. Instead, the building was quaint and welcoming. And to add to my surprise was that when I entered the building I saw an old friend sitting as the receptionist. A woman of faith that I dearly admire. I had no idea she worked there. That too was a pleasant surprise. So to begin the appointment it was the usual, sign here, sign there, fill in this section on the form, check this box, list of medications etc. then I was lead into the doctor’s room for the visit. The room I was lead into was an office style room vs an examining room. The far wall across from the door was stacked with books and a desk sat to the right surrounded by a few plush chairs.

First, the ND asked some questions about the type of symptoms I was experiencing. We spoke for a long time. I wish I could say we spoke about my health in general. However, the ND was quite a talker and he often trailed off to nothing in particular such as politics and religion. hahaha!! Good thing we had very similar ideas and beliefs!! I didn’t mind it too much. I relate to trailing off in conversations because I am quite a talker myself and often even scatterbrained. Nonetheless, I was paying for the visit and I was limited to an hour visit on my budget so I tried to redirect us every time we seemed to get off topic.

After some winded conversations between the ND and I, he pricked my finger with a needle and placed a sample of my blood onto a glass slide to review under a large microscope he had sitting on a table across the room. I got to watch as he examined my blood. The microscope was attached to a large screened monitor sitting beside the microscope. He began to examine my blood under the microscope explaining to me what the different components were that made up my blood. It looked nothing like what I expected under magnification!! As he zoomed in on my blood he pointed out the various “things” moving around in my bloodstream. First, I saw the blood cells. I was familiar with that part of my blood. He confirmed that in fact, I was looking at many blood cells as he explained to me the different components that made up my blood type. Then he pointed out all the fat cells swimming along beside the hundreds of blood cells and asked what I had eaten for lunch. I replied, “Mexican food.” and after seeing all those fat cells swimming along, I instantly regretted my choice of lunch that afternoon. After that, he pointed out the Candida that was in my blood. Candida is yeast. I had read that Candida overgrowth is especially common in people who have autoimmune diseases, so I wasn’t shocked to see that. But I certainly wasn’t happy about it.  He continued to search my blood for Lyme Spirochetes but didn’t seem to find any.  So he crushed my blood cells with light pressure. That is when we saw them. Two spirochetes swam out from blood cells. I can not even begin to explain the creepy feeling I got seeing that!! It’s almost as if I wanted to turn my skin inside out and bleach all of my insides!! Apparently, the Lyme Spirochetes can embed and hide in your cells and organs. That’s frightening!!

After taking a look at my most recent lab results, my fresh blood and my compiling list of symptoms, my ND decided to start me on Samento. Samento is a natural extract that is derived from Cat’s Claw.  It is sometimes recommended to fight bacteria and inflammation in people with Lyme disease. It is also considered to be as powerful and sometimes even more powerful than antibiotic treatments used to combat Lyme disease.  I am 1 week into treatment and have been feeling awful. I have even come down with Strep throat and am now on antibiotics to combat that as well. Not sure if I am herxing or dealing with normal seasonal illness. I assume this is only a glimpse of the fight I have ahead of me. But I’m ready. With God’s help, I am ready to fight!!

To be continued………………….