Two Much Lyme

In a follow-up to the previous episode, "Hope, Healing, and Living in the Gray," Julia and Maddy talk about the emotional side of healing. Illness is traumatic, but living in survival mode often forces us to prioritize physical healing. Both of us have come to realize how important it is to our healing to address our emotional health and calm our nervous systems. Listen in for the unique ways doing this has played a part in our healing journeys.

When it comes to healing, the light at the end of the tunnel can be very dim at times. In a hopeful conversation, Julia and Maddy talk about the big strides they've taken in healing and what it feels like to get something back on this illness journey. Both discuss the moments they believed healing was impossible, and how learning to live in the grey has helped them find peace.

On this episode of the Two Much Lyme Podcast, Maddy and Julia talk to Emily Levy, Lyme Warriror and Co-Founder of the Mighty Well adaptive wear company and community. Emily started the company out of necessity after beginning IV therapies and struggling to find comfortable covers to keep her PICC line safe. Mighty Well has expanded to all types of products that make the lives of patients so much easier. Emily speaks to the challenges of starting a business while chronically ill, the tips she has for anyone with an idea, and how she ultimately combined her passion and illness into a company that fights to ensure patients live with confidence, comfort, and dignity. Learn more about Mighty Well: https://mighty-well.com/pages/our-mission The Global Lyme Alliance: https://www.globallymealliance.org/donate-today/?hsLang=en Connect with Us:  Instagram: @two.muchlyme podcast  Website: twomuchlymepodcast.com

As a celebration of the Two Much Lyme Podcast's one year anniversary, one of Maddy's favorite people in the world is on the podcast. Taylor and Maddy's 17- year friendship has seen it all over the years, and it has evolved to incorporate Maddy's illness. This episode is for supporters and friends, aiming to validate their feelings of fear, guilt, and frustration. Taylor gives awesome tips on how to support a friend experiencing an illness, and talks about the emotions that come up in these unique relationships.

Exam season is challenging for everyone. It can be stressful, long, and require an enormous amount of work. When dealing with an illness, these challenges are magnified. Listen in as Maddy recalls her recent experience taking law school exams, and gives tips to manage a flare while studying!

The holiday season can be a time of intense joy, but can also be really challenging when you are dealing with an illness. Being in new environments and out of your routine can often cause flare-ups that put a damper on the holiday season. Misunderstandings are common, and it can be difficult to stick to your boundaries. Listen in for Julia and Maddy's experiences during the holidays, and how they've tried to manage their illnesses while around different people, foods, and opportunities.     

Illness often changes your perspective on life. It can cause you to redefine who you are and how you interact with the world. In this episode, Julia and Maddy discuss a few words they have redefined since getting sick. Words like “rest” “joy” and “success” have shifted meaning as illness changed their perspectives.

In this episode, we talk to Lyme and tick-borne disease (TBD) expert, Dr. Joseph Burrascano, who after pioneering the care of Lyme patients in his Long Island practice, now works in the biotech space and consults for IGeneX Laboratories. As many know, the testing for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases can be incredibly inaccurate. However, advancements in testing over the past decade have made are providing hope to millions of individuals. IGeneX is a leading lab for Lyme and TBD testing, and their research has created more accurate tests for not just Lyme but other coinfections as well. Listen in to hear Dr. Burrascano explain the science behind why mainstream Lyme testing is inaccurate, his opinion on the greatest innovations to date, and what to look for on the horizon. Overall, this interview is one of hope for the Lyme and TBD community. If you want to know more, IGenex hosted a webinar with Dr. Burrascano all about advancements in testing! Click the link below to listen. https://igenex.com/webinars/ Don't forget about he Global Lyme Alliance Gala on 10/3/21! Click below for the event page and donation link. https://www.globallymealliance.org/globalgala21?hsCtaTracking=c35b574d-1afb-4bbd-8ea8-29b8f7b3975a%7Cbb3ab52e-9233-42d4-af61-8585f3d4e965 Connect with us! twomuchlymepodcast.com Instagram: @two.muchlymepodcast

Starting something new can be incredibly stressful, especially if you have a chronic illness. As with all parts of life, having an illness or disability adds another layer of complications. Listen in as Maddy talks about her transition to law school, and how she is managing the realities of Lyme disease alongside the work and stress. If you are starting something new or love someone who is, this episode aims to validate your anxieties and give a few tips for navigating the ever challenging balance of life and illness.

In this solo episode, Julia dives deep into her personal mental and emotional shifts that have occurred over the past few months. She talks about the root cause of this perspective change being trauma showing in her body, returning to trauma therapy, how her mindset on illness has changed, and a life changing out of body experience she had recently. Contact Us: Instagram: @two.muchlymepodcast Website: twomuchlymepodcast.com Donate to Global Lyme Alliance: https://globallymealliance.org/

Illness puts enormous stress on your relationships. Family, friends, and partners may want to help but not know how, and it's easy to feel like a burden or for misunderstandings to lead to conflict. With limited energy, those who are sick often have to prioritize themselves and their well-being, but it can come at the expense of time with those they love. Julia and Maddy describe the challenges they face with relationships while navigating chronic illness, and how their relationships have evolved since getting sick.

Being a 20 something with a chronic illness or disability is challenging for a multitude of reasons, but a huge one is that you're just starting out. Maybe you just graduated, are starting a your career, or are considering graduate school. Being sick throws a wrench in all of it. Will I be able to handle the stress and workload? Do I need to change career paths? Maddy and Julia share their experiences with all of these questions and discuss what a challenge it is to not compare yourself to your healthy peers.

Welcome back to the Two Much Lyme Podcast! Today's episode focuses on the challenges individuals with chronic illness face while completing their college careers. From infusing medication during class, to flying across the country for doctors appointments, and the frustration of struggling in the shadows, listen for Julia and Maddy's experiences. They provide tips about disability accommodations during college and speak to the decision to take time off. If you are struggling, and would like someone who understands Lyme disease, please visit the Global Lyme Alliance's Peer-to-Peer Mentor Program at:  globallymealliance.org/get-involved/mentor/peer-peer-mentor-program/ Connect with Us:  Instagram: @two.muchlymepodcast Website: twomuchlymepodcast.com 

Living with Lyme disease often includes a lifestyle shift. Lyme can become so imbedded in the brain and nervous system that it causes a myriad of psychiatric symptoms. These symptoms and the damage done to your stress response system can make even little things a challenge. Energy becomes precious and flares are easy to trigger. Listen to hear Julia and Maddy's experiences with this side of Lyme, and learn how they have shifted their lives to protect their health! Connect with us: Instagram: @two.muchlymepodcast Website: twomuchlymepodcast.com Donate to the Global Lyme Alliance: globallymealliance.com

This episode of the Two Much Lyme Podcast includes an interview with Dr. Timothy Sellati, the Chief Scientific Officer of the Global Lyme Alliance! Dr. Sellati breaks down the most influential GLA-funded studies on topics including the connection between Lyme and neuropsychiatric disorders, evidence of persistent infection, and so much more! Donate to the Global Lyme Alliance: Globallymealliance.org/donate-today/ Research Studies (in the order they are discussed): Dr. Nigrovic's Pedi Lyme Network: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/12/20-0920_article Dr. Aucott's PTLDS work: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5735370/ Dr. Lewis' Antibiotic tolerance work: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26014929/ Dr. Zhang's Essential oil work: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316231/ Dr. Baumgarth's Antibody immune dysregulation work: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22547698/ Dr. Embers' Neurological Lyme – spirochete detection work: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.628045/full

The Two Much Lyme Podcast and the Global Lyme Alliance are celebrating Lyme Disease Awareness Month with two episodes specific to Lyme disease. This episode focuses on the experiences of Lyme patients in society and healthcare systems. There is a stigma surrounding a diagnosis of Lyme and tick-borne disease, which often fills patients with shame and frustration as they navigate debilitating symptoms. Julia and Maddy share their personal experiences being dismissed and torn down while at their most vulnerable, and they highlight the burden this places on those suffering and their families. If you would like to learn more about Lyme disease, you can find out more information on our "Lyme 101" episode or at the Global Lyme Alliance.   Connect with us for support:  globallymealliance.com  twomuchlymepodcast.com  Instagram: Two.muchlymepodcast 

Welcome back to the Two Much Lyme Podcast! On today's episode, Julia and Maddy take you through some of their favorite books for hard times in healing. They talk all things from memoirs to fiction. Let's face it, chronic illness is not easy, but finding words that resonate can be such a relief. If you are searching for that comfort or your next great read this is the perfect episode! Glennon Doyle's, Untamed, and Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen's, Kitchen Table Wisdom, top the list!

In this episode of the Two Much Lyme Podcast, Julia and Maddy dive into the tough realities of traveling while chronically ill. The prep work required, medication packing, the flare up afterwards, and the desperate desire to keep up can be incredibly anxiety producing. Listen now for support, validation, and to increase awareness of Lyme and chronic disease. Connect with us! Website: twomuchlymepodcast.com Instagram: @two.muchlymepodcast  Donate and Learn from the Global Lyme Alliance  globallymealliance.org

Julia and Maddy dive into the connection between humor and chronic illness. They talk about how humor can be used as a defense mechanism and comic relief, and they discuss how that duality leads to communication challenges between a sick individual and a caretaker. This episode ends with a few lighthearted jokes about life with chronic illness. “You might be chronically ill if...” send us your answers!

In this solo episode, Julia walks us through a major perspective shift that she has undergone in her healing. In catching us up on her journey since December, Julia describes how she has felt an immense shift in how she views her health and body. Julia is finally at peace in her healing by honoring her body's needs, listens to what it is asking, and feels as though she is now working with, rather than against, her body in healing. This mental shift has been central as she now focuses on whole body, mind, and soul healing rather than thinking of specific diseases. She talks about her journey with adrenal problems, HPA axis dysfunction and impaired stress response from trauma as the root cause of her challenges, and how she now uses lifestyle, diet and intuition to heal.

Welcome back to the Two Much Lyme Podcast. As a surprise, we are bringing you an extra episode this month! Maddy and Julia are doing solo episodes to give health updates and talk about topics more specific to their experiences. In this episode, Maddy talks about her recent struggles with healing fatigue and how challenging it can be to gear up for treatments when you're seeing little progress. She also jumps into her recent opportunity to advocate for Lyme federal funding and details opportunities for others to get involved. Link to Maddy's Blog on Lyme Advocacy: maddymeetslyme.com  Contact Us:  Instagram: @two.muchlymepodcast  Website: twomuchlymepodcast.com Donate to Global Lyme Alliance:  https://globallymealliance.org/

Welcome back to the Two Much Lyme podcast! In this episode, Julia and Maddy discuss a theme central to the chronic illness experience: isolation. They chat about the toll Lyme disease-induced isolation has taken on their mental health, relationships, and identities. They are both so fortunate to have supportive family and friends, which is not a given in the chronic illness world, but they aim to validate the feelings of guilt associated with the inability to fully engage with peers and family. They share their personal experiences navigating the divide that seems persistent between those with and without chronic illness.

Welcome back to the Two Much Lyme podcast. In this episode, Maddy and Julia dive deep into the relationship between weight and chronic illness. Fluctuations in weight are incredibly common with Lyme disease and invisible illness in general. Between food allergies, various medications, and inflammation, weight is another thing out of our control. While highlighting the importance of healthy nutrition, they discuss the challenges of adhering to a “diet” plan and how disordered eating habits can easily creep in. Julia and Maddy vulnerably discuss their personal experiences with this relationship and the inappropriate comments about weight common in our society.

Welcome back to the Two Much Lyme podcast! On today's episode, Julia and Maddy walk through a general overview of Lyme and tick-borne disease. As Global Lyme Alliance Ambassadors, both Julia and Maddy have access to some of the most current research and data on tick borne disease. We cover topics such as the pathology of the disease, common co-infections, the three stages of lyme, and the most common symptoms in each stage. For anyone listening who may not be familiar with all the details of tick borne disease, we hope this helps provide a foundation of understanding to rely on in future episodes! Connect with us! @twomuchlymepodcast twomuchlymepodcast.com goballymealliance.org

Welcome back to Two Much Lyme Podcast! On today's episode we take a deep dive into Maddy's health journey, beginning with Vesicoureteral reflux and ending in a multitude of complex diagnoses. Throughout the episode Maddy vulnerably discusses experiences of medical trauma, mental illness, autoimmune challenges, several tick-borne diseases, and her struggle to find answers through it all. In hearing all the pain and hardship that Maddy has gone through, we hope this episode provides an honest lens into the reality of life with invisible illness. Click here to support Global Lyme Alliance: https://globallymealliance.org/donate-today/

Welcome back to Two Much Lyme Podcast! On today's episode we take a deep dive into Julia's health journey, beginning with a traumatic brain injury and ending in a multitude of complex diagnoses. Throughout the episode Julia vulnerably discusses experiences of sexual assault, ongoing trauma, mental illness, autoimmune challenges, several tick-borne diseases, and her struggle to find answers through it all. In hearing all the pain and hardship that Julia (and up next Maddy) has gone through, we hope this episode provides an honest lens into the reality of life with invisible illness. Click here to support Global Lyme Alliance: https://globallymealliance.org/donate-today/

Welcome to the Two Much Lyme podcast! If you looked at either of us, you would never know we were sick: this is the struggle of living with invisible illness. Add on to this challenge that Lyme is an incredibly misunderstood and complex disease. This is our true, unedited life living with Chronic Lyme. On today's episode we introduce ourselves and our partner, Global Lyme Alliance, as we speak to the ways illness has changed our lives.  We're here to offer support, hope and information about this disease! Click here to support Global Lyme Alliance: https://globallymealliance.org/donate-today/