Podcasts about igenex

Topic: Dr. Cipriano's journey from ICU nurse to Lyme disease practitioner, inspired by her son's diagnosis and the challenges of navigating the medical system. Key Takeaways: The Power of ILADS Conferences – How attending ILADS helped Dr. Cipriano learn about innovative Lyme disease treatments and naturopathic approaches. From ICU Nurse to Lyme Specialist – Dr. Cipriano shares her transition from hospital-based care to focusing on preventative medicine and helping patients get off medications. A Mother's Fight for Answers – Her son's Lyme disease journey, the difficulties of getting an accurate diagnosis, and the perseverance needed to find effective treatment. Polymicrobial Infections on the Rise – The growing complexity of Lyme disease cases, including Bartonella, Babesia, and other co-infections. Breaking Barriers in Medicine – The challenges of being an outlier in the medical field and the importance of collaboration through ILADS. The Evolution of Diagnostic Testing – Advances in Lyme disease testing, including the accuracy and comprehensiveness of iGenex panels. Chronic UTIs & Tick-Borne Infections – How Lyme disease and co-infections contribute to chronic urinary tract infections and why they require a different treatment approach. Resources & Links: Follow the latest ILADS updates at ILADS.org Learn more about Dr. Pamela Cipriano Stay connected with Tick Boot Camp: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter (X)

Dr. Jyotsna Shah, PhD, is the President and Laboratory Director of IGeneX, a leading Lyme disease testing laboratory. With over 40 years of research experience in immunology, molecular biology, and microbiology, she holds more than 20 patents. Dr. Shah's journey in Lyme disease research began at Harvard University, and she has since played a pivotal role in advancing diagnostic tools for tick-borne diseases. Under her leadership, IGeneX has developed innovative testing methods, including the first Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) test for Babesia. Key Takeaways: IGeneX is considered the premier Lyme disease testing lab by the patient community due to the positive outcomes patients experience. Dr. Shah's early exposure to Lyme disease research at Harvard University and a personal connection through a colleague led her to focus her career on this field. The development of the Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) technique was a crucial factor in Dr. Shah's decision to pursue Lyme disease research. Navigating the clinical lab management aspect of IGeneX was an unexpected challenge, but Dr. Shah worked closely with state inspectors to ensure the lab's safety and trustworthiness. Obtaining insurance coverage for IGeneX's specialized tests has been an ongoing challenge, but the lab's focus on patient outcomes has earned it the trust of the Lyme disease community. Resources & Links: Follow the latest ILADS updates at ILADS.org Learn more about Dr. Jyotsna Shah and IGeneX: IGeneX Leadership Stay connected with Tick Boot Camp: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter (X)

Introduction: In this powerful episode, Tick Boot Camp Podcast Rich Johannesen and special guest co-host Dan Wagner welcome Lyme disease survivor and advocate Sophia Denison. Dan shares insights on his new Global Lyme Alliance-sponsored podcast, Lyme Plus, which he co-hosts with Kenzie Vath, where they spotlight essential information from doctors and researchers in the Lyme disease field. Rich then introduces Sophia, an inspiring young leader in the Lyme disease community, whose journey of resilience has fueled her advocacy efforts. Sophia's Advocacy and Community Engagement: Sophia Denison recounts her transformative journey from Lyme disease patient to a leading activist. Now fully recovered, she dedicates herself to raising awareness and empowering others. As an ambassador for the Global Lyme Alliance, she has organized community events, including a screening of The Quiet Epidemic documentary on her college campus. She discusses how storytelling opens up powerful dialogues and fosters empathy, helping others understand the struggles of Lyme disease sufferers. Sophia's Early Life and Initial Symptoms: Growing up in Barrington, Illinois, Sophia was an active child who participated in sports and triathlons. However, at age seven, she began experiencing unexplainable symptoms, including intense stomach pain, weight loss, and severe anxiety. Her symptoms were initially misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal issues and anxiety, which delayed her Lyme diagnosis for over a decade. The Challenges of College and Escalating Symptoms: Upon starting college, Sophia's symptoms intensified. She faced body pain, fatigue, and unusual neurological episodes like uncontrollable laughing and crying. Balancing academic demands while sharing facilities with other students added to her stress and exacerbated her symptoms. Despite seeking help from specialists, her symptoms were often dismissed as stress-related. Sophia's Search for a Diagnosis and the Role of IGeneX Testing: Sophia recalls the emotional toll of visiting multiple specialists, only to be told her symptoms were "all in her head." Desperate for answers, she decided to undergo a Lyme test with IGeneX. With encouragement from her best friend and neighbor, Lulu, who shared her own Lyme story, Sophia pursued testing that finally confirmed her suspicions. Discovering a Treatment Path in Germany: Sophia sought treatment at Klinik St. Georg in Bad Aibling, Germany. There, she underwent treatments including whole-body hyperthermia, blood ozone therapy, and detoxification therapies. The intensive treatment program helped Sophia begin her journey toward health, though it was a difficult path both emotionally and physically. Building a Personalized Toolbox for Recovery: Recovery for Sophia meant building a personalized "toolbox" of health strategies. Today, she maintains her health through supplements, a balanced diet, regular movement, and stress management. She emphasizes listening to her body, and understanding its needs has allowed her to reconnect with herself and rebuild her life. Lessons Learned and Empowering Advice for the Lyme Community: Sophia's key advice to others is to trust that their symptoms are real. By tuning into her body's signals and understanding its resilience, she was able to shift her perspective on Lyme disease. Sophia encourages patients to see their bodies as allies and lean into their strength through the journey. Her recovery serves as a beacon of hope for Lyme patients, demonstrating that healing is possible. Action Items and Future Goals: Sophia is committed to her work with the Global Lyme Alliance and other organizations to connect Lyme patients with Lyme-literate healthcare providers. By sharing her experiences, she hopes to continue empowering others and raising awareness of Lyme disease. Conclusion: This episode offers a hopeful message for Lyme sufferers worldwide. Sophia Denison's journey from illness to advocacy serves as a reminder that recovery is achievable, and her story encourages listeners to trust their instincts, seek proper care, and find a supportive community.

In this compelling episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, we are honored to welcome Adam W. Finnegan, a researcher, writer, and Lyme disease advocate. Adam shares his deeply personal journey through the complexities of Lyme disease, from his early symptoms to his profound insights into the disease's connection with biological warfare and immune tolerance. Dive deep into the discussion as Adam also explores his groundbreaking book The Sleeper Agent, revealing the intricate world of biological stealth weapons and the historical research of Erich Traub. Join us as we explore the transformational power of resilience and knowledge in battling Lyme disease. Introduction to Adam W. Finnegan Background and current work Discussion of his book, "The Sleeper Agent" Adam's Early Life and Initial Health Challenges Early symptoms and misdiagnoses The tick bite in 2016 that changed everything Diagnosing Lyme Disease The struggle to find answers and the eventual Lyme diagnosis The role of the IGeneX test in confirming Lyme disease and other infections The Impact of Lyme on Adam's Life Changes in personal and professional life How Lyme disease shifted his career path and personal philosophy "The Sleeper Agent": A Deeper Dive The concept of biological warfare and immune tolerance Insights into the life and work of Erich Traub Living with Chronic Lyme Disease Strategies for managing symptoms and improving health Importance of diet, exercise, and spirituality Advice for Those Battling Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Encouragement and strategies for coping with the disease Adam's message of hope and resilience Closing Thoughts Adam's outlook on the future of Lyme disease research and advocacy How listeners can access his book and further information Farewell to Adam and Closing Remarks

Come learn about why YOU need to have the chronic infection & virus component on YOUR radar if you are dealing with systemic metal hypersensitivity and other chronic issues. Many with metal hypersensitivity could be dealing with Lyme Disease, Bartonella, HHV6 or EBV, worsening all systemic symptoms & immune status with NO idea. Systemic metal allergies are driven by antigens and T-cells, which put your immune system into rebellion and overdrive. With a compromised immune system so inflamed by metals, it can't work as hard to fight off chronic infections and viruses that healthy people can hold within no problem.This can leave you with more than one chronic issue. Join the renowned integrative health veteran BetterHealthGuy Scott Forsgren, FDN-P and I as we explore what you need to know within the chronic infection realm and how you can heal from said infections, metal hypersensitivity and more to become whole, healthy and functional again. No doom and gloom here! In this episode you will learn: How metal hypersensitivity can pre-dispose you to chronic viruses & infections such as Lyme, Epstein-Barr Virus & more. The best detox methods for metal hypersensitivity.  11 steps to immune wellness & optimizing your health. What Limbic System Retraining is and why it's critical.  ~Links and Resources~ ~ To visit the BetterHealthGuy website, click HERE.  ~ ~ Lyme & Co-infection testing options: IgenEx, DNA Connexxions, Armin Labs, InfectoLabs.~ ~ ~ Limbic System Retraining Programs: DNRS, Gupta Program, Primal Trust. ~ ~To make a comment or petition to the FDA, click HERE.  ~ ~To learn more visit ⁠HeavilyMetalled.com⁠. ~ Check out the “Heavily Metalled” resource page: ⁠https://www.heavilymetalled.com/resources⁠ ~ Sign up for the FREE newsletter and email list on HeavilyMetalled.com & get a FREE symptoms list & next steps bundle!~Sign the petition asking medical providers and facilities to pre-screen for metal hypersensitivity here: http://tinyurl.com/2458ea8 ~ Follow Heavily Metalled on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HeavilyMetalled⁠ ~ Follow Heavily Metalled on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/heavilymetalled/⁠ ~ Subscribe to Heavily Metalled on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HeavilyMetalled⁠ ~ Check out our sponsor ⁠https://melisa.org⁠ ***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***

Many have heard of Lyme Disease, but did you know it's just one of many other vector-borne illnesses? I sit down with Dr. Tania Dempsey to discuss vector infections as well as the best testing and treatment options.   Watch More Videos Like This Gut Health Q&A: Constipation, Bloating, Eczema & Parasites https://youtu.be/pCZ0nK7Hz9E?si=fd461XuCvAM2UYRq The Most Effective Brain Health Diets & Supplements https://youtu.be/j0b-5ovJJwc?si=7upHV9wGEynfiAYA NEW Science-Backed Ways to Improve Fatigue, Insomnia, Stress https://youtu.be/kEmj83EIfyU?si=4zdZsOIG3GlLP7dO Is it Regular Bloat or MCAS Bloat? https://youtu.be/zd_LXtkOhac?si=v7cd8NFCTHRkvGQ9 Has Your Recovery from Mold Exposure Plateaued? https://youtu.be/AvcBBMY1iB4?si=hBqfYEpyQ8tJHf5f The MOST Effective SIBO Treatments https://youtu.be/gP4GWWDDFOY?si=9KuXZCfttqa7H_wM 4 Simple Ways to Improve Gut Issues (That AREN'T a Stool Test) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuTKXRyDKDg&t=111s Featured Resources  Horowitz Lyme -MSIDS Questionaire https://restorativehealthclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Horowitz_LymeDiseaseQuestionnairev.pdf T-lab FISH test https://www.tlabdx.com/ IGeneX test https://igenex.com/   Read These Next  Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) with Dr. Tania Dempsey https://drruscio.com/mcas-symptoms-with-tania-dempsey/ Do You Have These Unusual Symptoms of Lyme Disease? https://drruscio.com/unusual-symptoms-of-lyme-disease/ The Connection Between Lyme Disease and Your Gut https://drruscio.com/lyme-disease-and-your-gut/ Lyme Disease Causing Chronic SIBO https://drruscio.com/lyme-disease-causing-chronic-sibo-dr-rahbar-episode-33/ Do Parasite Cleanses Really Work? https://drruscio.com/parasite-cleanse/ How to Get Rid of Brain Fog: Your Action Plan https://drruscio.com/how-to-get-rid-of-brain-fog/ Best Diet for Brain Health https://drruscio.com/best-diet-for-brain-health/ Best Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Diet https://drruscio.com/mcas-diet/ Timestamps 00:00 Intro  02:59 What is and is not Lyme disease 04:04 Vector-borne infections 09:23 Approaches to treatment 14:21 Symptoms of vector-borne infections 20:57 Efficacy of testing  33:05 Tests we recommended 39:09 Exploring treatment options 46:35 Hyperbaric Oxygen and IV Ozone 52:40 Vitamin IVs 57:10 Methylene Blue 01:05:29: Lumbrokinase 01:08:10 Finding the right care Featured Studies  Tick-Borne Disease Diagnostics and Surveillance Methods https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37895430/ Abnormal Laboratory Values for Vector-Borne Illness https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33511252/ Empirical validation of the Horowitz MIDS Questionnaire for Lyme disease https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28919803/ Get the Latest Updates Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DrRusciodc Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drrusciodc/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/drmichaelrusciodc    DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment. Music featured in this video: "Modern Technology" by Andrew G, https://audiojungle.net/user/andrew_g  *Full transcript available on YouTube by clicking the “Show transcript” button on the bottom right of the video.

Introduction In this episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jimmy Pemberton, a successful entrepreneur, musician, and Lyme Disease warrior. Early Life and Lyme Disease Awareness Born and raised just north of Lyme, Connecticut, Pemberton was aware of Lyme disease and its typical symptoms, such as fatigue and achy joints. However, his understanding of the disease was minimal until his own journey unfolded. As an athlete, and particularly as a golfer, he encountered ticks quite often, but he never suspected the significant impact they would eventually have on his life. Career and Pre-Lyme Life Pemberton led a fulfilling, hybrid life of building or helping others build companies, playing gigs in front of large audiences, and teaching students. The sense of fulfillment and excitement in his life started to change when his health took an unexpected turn. The Onset of Lyme Disease Symptoms Pemberton experienced a decline in his health shortly after taking a COVID-19 vaccine. He began to experience flu-like symptoms, which gradually escalated. Within 7-8 days post-vaccination, Pemberton started to feel unusually sick. The symptoms took a toll on him, both physically and emotionally, resulting in him ending up in the ER. Diagnosis Journey In the ER, doctors took notice of Pemberton's symptoms and suspected Lyme disease. A nurse practitioner, Beth Galon, suspected that Pemberton had Lyme for a while, and his immune system could no longer keep control over the Lyme post-vaccination. A subsequent IGeneX test confirmed his diagnosis of Lyme disease and Bartonella. Emotional Impact and Support The diagnosis and debilitating symptoms left Pemberton in a constant state of fight-or-flight, impacting his emotional well-being. However, he found comfort and validation in his regular appointments with his chiropractor, who was aware of his changes and consistently reassured him of his progress. The Healing Journey Pemberton began his healing journey with a slow start, avoiding pushing his body too hard. His healing process included regular sauna sessions to detoxify his body and lessen the Herxheimer reaction. He also found relief in cold water immersion therapy, which helped in resetting his nervous system. Spiritual Healing Pemberton also found solace in spiritual healing practices like meditation and Reiki. He turned to meditation to connect his mind, body, and spirit, while Reiki helped align his electromagnetic field, creating space for his body to heal. The Role of Nutrition and Exercise Proper nutrition and exercise played a crucial role in Pemberton's healing journey. He followed an anti-inflammatory diet and maintained a regular workout regimen. His functional medicine doctor ensured regular blood work every four to six months to monitor his hormones and vitamin and mineral levels. Current Status and Future Plans Currently, Pemberton is in remission and has resumed his regular life. He is determined to use his experience to help others battling Lyme disease. He believes in the importance of emotional support for Lyme patients and recommends resources like the Tick Boot Camp Podcast to guide them through their journey. Conclusion Pemberton's journey with Lyme disease is a testament to his resilience and determination. He highlights the importance of a multi-faceted approach to healing, incorporating physical, emotional, and spiritual practices. Despite the challenges, Pemberton continues to thrive and uses his experience to inspire and guide others on their healing journeys. You can connect with Jimmy on Instagram @JimmyPemberton and TikTok @JimmyPemberton.

Jody Hudson was born in Michigan but has moved a number of times since graduating high school. She spent 15 years in the retail industry. She then spent five years being a stay-at-home mom before finding new employment in the nonprofit sector. Her story sounds somewhat typical, right? Not really. Jody has a much different story to tell which you will get to hear on this episode of Unstoppable Mindset. Jody is the penultimate unstoppable person. Jody's second child, Alex, was born in 1995. Alex was a very active child and worked hard at everything she did. While in the fifth grade, Alex began exhibiting physical symptoms which eventually lead to her no longer being able to be an athlete and active person. In high school, she began losing weight. No doctor could diagnose what was happening. It wasn't until college that happenstance lead Jody and Alex to a doctor who correctly diagnosed Alex's condition as Lyme's Disease. Listen as Jody tells hers and Alex's story. She will tell you about the book she wrote as well as about the Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation. This episode is very powerful, and Jody leaves us with strong advice we all can take to heart when we are presented with life challenges. About the Guest: Jody Hudson, Grants and Philanthropy Director for California CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), is a fundraising professional with over 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience. She is the CEO and founder of the Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation, an organization that seeks to increase research efforts and patient support for Lyme disease and MCAS. Before joining California CASA in 2021, she served as Vice President of Development and Communications for Girls Scouts of Central California South and, before that, led the Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno as Director of Operations. In 2018, Jody was honored with the Marjaree Mason Center Top Ten Professional Women Award. Hudson is also an author and speaker. Her book, My Promise to Alex: Through Pain Comes Purpose, is a memoir about her daughter's journey with Lyme disease and her passing at the age of twenty-two on March 24, 2018. For more information on Alex's foundation, please visit www.alexhudsonlymefoundation.org About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes You have been listening to the unstoppable mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes please visit w w w dot Michael hinkson.com/podcast. Michael Hinkson is spelled mi ch AE l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site. Please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of anyone or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hangsen.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free ebook entitled blinded by fear. The Unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessibility and is sponsored by accessibility. Please visit w w w dot excessive b.com excessively is spelled ACC e ss IBE. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for listening. Please come back and visit us again ne Michael Hingson  00:00 Access cast and accessibly initiative presents unstoppable mindset, the podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet Hi, I'm Michael Hinkson, Chief mission officer for accessibility and the author of the number one New York Times best selling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion, and acceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The Unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessibility, that's a cc e ss I, capital B II. Visit www.to. Access a b.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson  01:20 Well, Hi, and welcome to unstoppable mindset. Today we get to interview Jody Hudson and Jody has got a very good and strong and compelling story to tell. She is a person who has worked in the world for a while. She is the Director of of grants right for California casa.   Jody Hudson  01:43 That's correct. The advanced philanthropy director,   Michael Hingson  01:46 advanced philanthropy director Wow. And, and, and again, but there's a lot more to Jodi than that. So we're gonna get to it. So Jodi, welcome to unstoppable mindset. Now, where are you? Exactly.   Jody Hudson  01:58 So I'm in Fresno, California. And we have just been getting hit with these recent rains. It's really sad to see what's going on out there. But in fact, before I jumped on, we just had another big downpour. So we're, we're right now good, but you never know when a next one is going to hit us.   Michael Hingson  02:18 Yeah, we don't get that level of rain in Victorville. I don't think it's rained here today. We had a little bit of rain Tuesday, but we just don't get that kind of rain here. And as I mentioned earlier, I heard on the news that there are a few places in the Sierras that have had something over 670 inches of snow, and they've gotten more snow this week. So how will this affect the drought it will, at least in the short term, but whether this is really going to have enough of an effect on the aquifers to really give us long term aid remains to be seen. But the way it's going, I think we're going to see more years of a lot of rain and other things happening. So we'll we'll kind of see how it goes.   Jody Hudson  03:05 I yeah, I agree. It was crazy. Last week, the 99 was shut down because of flooding. So you just never know what's going to happen. Right?   Michael Hingson  03:15 Go figure I know. Well, so let's start a little bit by you maybe telling us some of your background. As a younger God, what you did when going to school and all that give us all the highlights from an earlier time.   Jody Hudson  03:33 Oh my goodness. Okay, we could be here a long time because I'm not a young man. You know, I'm in my early 60s here now. But now I'm teasing.   Michael Hingson  03:41 So just talk about the early parts.   Jody Hudson  03:44 So I'm a Michigander born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, went to school at Central Michigan University where I graduated with a degree in retail. I've always loved fashion clothing. And so that's what I did for quite some time. Worked at Marshall Field's Lord and Taylor made my way west to Los Angeles. My claim to fame was that I was the manager of the Chanel boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. I felt like I had arrived, so to speak. Then got married and made my way to Fresno where I currently reside. Two children, Garrett and Alice, my son's 29 My daughter's 22 And I stayed at home for about five years just to be a stay at home mom. And then when I decided to get back into the work environment, I got into the nonprofit world which I absolutely love. I have a servant's heart and it really spoke to that worked at Catholic Charities for about 1314 years. I worked at Girl Scouts for a little bit until I couldn't eat any more cookies. It was not good for my waistline and at all. And then I've been with California, Casa for two years, and we oversee all of the 44 Casa programs throughout the state of California. I am a product of foster care, I was born to a single mother who put me up for adoption. So I was in the foster care system for the first six months of my life until I was adopted. So I've kind of come full circle in that whole realm. But so that's what I'm currently doing. And then we'll get more into my true purpose and mission, which is the Alex Hudson line foundation.   Michael Hingson  05:46 So Marshall Fields, so did you get good deals on Franco mints?   Jody Hudson  05:50 Oh, my gosh. I know, Chris, and at Christmas time, because I worked out in Chicago at State Street at their flagship store. And during Christmas time, they'd have like the big pyramids of frango mints and I just devoured those. Like there was no tomorrow I have a weakness for sweets. I could not have sweets in my home, because they will be gone. I don't have willpower. I don't know what the word means.   Michael Hingson  06:17 No. Have you ever had mint? Meltaways? Yes. Which do you like better? Franco mints? Yeah. I like them both. But I do have to admit that there is something about Franco mints.   Jody Hudson  06:29 Oh my gosh, that just brought me back. I love that brought me back in time for sure. Yeah, and I miss them. I do too. I do too. I love those Frank moments. So good. It's kind of like melt in your mouth.   Michael Hingson  06:42 Yeah, really tasty stuff.   Jody Hudson  06:44 I think that's probably why girls with the Girl Scout cookies, then men's is my favorite. Because I was born and raised with the kids go mess with men. Go into the cooking mode. Then minutes. So what's your favorite Girl Scout cookie?   Michael Hingson  07:00 And Miss? Then Miss? Yeah. Although I've also enjoyed venture foals, which is one of the newer Well,   Jody Hudson  07:06 that's yeah, that's one of the the newer ones.   Michael Hingson  07:09 A new one rasberry one that I haven't tried yet. Yeah, you   Jody Hudson  07:12 know what I'm not a big fan of of the data, kind of like to keep my my the fruit and the chocolate all separate love them both, but really like the the combination together, but anything with chocolate, mint, peanut butter, I'm down for all of that stuff.   Michael Hingson  07:31 So I bought a case of Thin Mints. Well, actually, last year, I guess, I bought a case of Thin Mints. But somebody misunderstood and they made the order for two cases. Oh, and so I accepted that and I took them all. But even with the one case, what I did with two would have been the same with one which is they all mostly get put away mostly in the freezer. And for me, especially out of sight out of mind. And so most of them are still there. And they will be eaten over time. Which makes it a little bit frustrating for the Girl Scouts every year because I don't buy a case every year. It'll take me three years sometimes to eat those two cases, as I said, out of sight out of mind. But I do know where they are now having thought about them. This may cause a open so   Jody Hudson  08:26 I think I know where you're going after this little conversation here.   Michael Hingson  08:31 Yeah, I promise I won't get up and go do that while we're talking. Okay, but still. So So you got into this whole idea of the nonprofit Well, I actually another memory going back to Chicago and Marshall Fields. Do you remember Robert Hall? I do. Where the values go up, up, up and the prices go down? Down? Down?   Jody Hudson  08:52 Yep, yep.   Michael Hingson  08:55 Ah, those were the days having been born in Chicago and live there for five years and been back occasionally. But still. Great stories, great stories.   Jody Hudson  09:05 Yeah, I just don't like Chicago when it's December, January. It's like 80 degrees below with the windchill factor and you're trying to make your way from where you live in Lincoln Park down to State Street a little bit.   Michael Hingson  09:18 A little bit tough. And even with the L it could be tough. Oh yeah.   Jody Hudson  09:23 Oh, yeah. But boy, I had good good times there. I just graduated from college. So I was making a little bit of money hanging out and living with my sorority sisters. So it was just like an extension of of college. But when you have a little bit of money, it's a little bit more fun. Yeah.   Michael Hingson  09:41 Well, you were you bring back memories for me also, a few years ago, I was in Chicago for a speech or I was there for a convention I don't recall which now, but they were doing the event where you Um, to raise money for something, they did the Polar Plunge so everybody would go and jump in Lake Michigan. And I think Rahm Emanuel was the mayor. And Jimmy Fallon was there and they decided they were going to go do the plunge. And I was watching it with my cousins on TV. And they went in the water. It was zero or colder. Oh, we were very happy to be in a heated house. And the reporter said, these guys are doing it all wrong, because they went in in their suits, you know. And as soon as you get out of the water, you can go into a tent that was warm, where you could dry off. But just before they got out, a woman got out who was just wearing a bathing suit. And the reporter said, How much smarter she is because it'll dry right off and she won't be cold very long. And they were right, you know, but Well, that's the difference between intelligent people and politicians sometimes, I guess. I don't know.   Jody Hudson  11:01 My gosh, when my dad had a summer camp in Grand Haven, Michigan, and that brings me back to those memories that summertime with like the Polar Bear Plunge, we had that with the kiddos getting up early in the morning, like at six o'clock and going down. And if you if you did it every day, then you got like a special award. But yeah, I never did it. I watched my campers go in. But I'm like, Yeah, that's too cool for me.   Michael Hingson  11:29 Yeah. But you know, it's part of our country. And it's always fun to go to, to different places. And of course, go into Chicago go always for me at least. There I'm sure better places. But I like to go to UNO's and get a nice good deep dish pizza to   Jody Hudson  11:46 deep dish pizza. And it's a fun place to be in Chicago on St. Patty's day too. So Oh, yeah. That's always a blast. Dine the river green and drinking green beer and all that good stuff. Yeah, Chicago. Chicago is a fun fun city.   Michael Hingson  12:02 Yeah. Memories will tell us about California casa a little bit. So you've been doing that for now? What two or three years? Yeah,   Jody Hudson  12:10 for two years. And as the grants and philanthropy director, I helped to raise money not only for California, casa, but for our network. So California, CASA is the the parent, the umbrella so to speak, over the 44 Casa programs throughout the state of California. And we our initiatives, our mission, our you know, philanthropy, everything is in support of foster children. And there's 80,000 foster kids in the state of California. And what a casa does is they are that one person that link to help these kiddos to navigate through the court systems to be that voice for them, to help them where maybe they don't have a mom, dad and adult anybody to help guide them through life. And it can be transformational for these children to have a casa appointed, watching over them, it really makes a big difference.   Michael Hingson  13:24 Do foster parents help with any of that? Or is this really kind of pre them or our in spite of them? Sometimes,   Jody Hudson  13:31 you know what I mean, it's kind of done in conjunction with them as well as a CASA is a volunteer, they go through a training which I went through a training as well, just to kind of better understand what a CASA volunteer does, it's about a 3040 hour training commitment. Once you go through, you actually get sworn in as a casa and the in the court system. And then you are assigned a child and you could be assigned a child for maybe a year, two years, some people have had classes for, you know, even greater longer periods of time. It just depends upon, you know, the the cases. But it really is such a great meaningful program. And we definitely, you know, right now, we have probably 12,000 classes, but as I said earlier, there's 80,000 foster kids, you know, in the state of California, so there's definitely a gap. And that's what we try and do is you know, raise money raise funds to recruit classes, to train them to help the local network, you know, really pouring into the hearts of these foster kids.   Michael Hingson  14:51 So are their centers that these people are based out of or how does it work?   Jody Hudson  14:55 The classes themselves? They Yeah, so There's, you know, like I said, 44 class of programs throughout the state of California. So there's like a casa in Kern County, there's a casa and Fresno County. It's all, you know, based upon that the counties, each county is really supposed to have a CASA program. And, you know, there's what 51 counties, I think, in the state of California, so, yeah, 58 So we're, we're missing obviously, a couple of Casa programs, but each CASA program is you know, their own 501 C three, they, you know, raise their own funds money, they have their own board, executive directors, own staff, and we come alongside them to support them, and to give them you know, additional training, additional resources, and help where we can, we were lucky enough California casa, to be working with a lobbyist team who petitioned and we did receive a state appropriation in Governor Newsom budget for $60 million. And that is, you know, going to be funneled out to our Casa programs. However, as we know, the state of California is a little messed up right now with with budgets, and we only received the first wave of that $60 million, we received $20 million, and we were able to pump out that money to our network. But the other two bases are in jeopardy right now. And we are petitioning and trying to get that money back. So we will see   Michael Hingson  16:39 is that because of the legislature in some way or what? Yeah,   Jody Hudson  16:45 we are very grateful for what we did receive, and that was a blessing, we didn't even think that we were going to get that. And it really is to help our, our programs with infrastructure, it's to help them with, you know, recruiting, it's to help them just really build upon their their programs. So yeah, we're hopeful though, the, you know, legislators and other government officials and senators and people in the Capitol, they were not happy that our funding was was cut, because they really have become aware of our programs and the impact on the foster children. So we do have some really good people in our corner. So we'll, we'll see what happens.   Michael Hingson  17:30 He cut it. Who cut the funding, if the governor had it in his budget, and so on what happened,   Jody Hudson  17:37 it was in the legislative portion of the budget. So I don't know all the details. Yeah, in our inner workings of how all that happens. And, you know, with politics, things can be moved around, things can be cut, because maybe they're negotiating and looking for something else. Who knows what goes into all of those discussions. But like I said, we've got a lot of good champions and people in our corner, and it wasn't just cost of that was cut, there was a lot that was cut. So yeah, we're just hoping that we're gonna get that back.   Michael Hingson  18:14 I remember. Now, a number of years ago, the national level, there was a major discussion about the government. And what it had been doing through what was called the Talking Book program, which later became the National Library Service of the Blind and Physically Handicapped. And they, the Congress decided that they wanted to cut a bunch of the funding. They said, we can get things from other ways. And one of the magazines that was produced under the program was playboy. And the Congress people's fee with a conservative said, Well, that's ridiculous to publish Playboy, that blind people can take advantage of all the pictures and stuff. And the answer to that was, that's correct. But go read Playboy read the articles, because there were there were many, well written articles. And mostly, they are really good articles in Playboy. The original story, the short story, the fly came out of Playboy among other things, and eventually it got dealt with, but people do get some very strange ideas about things from time to time, don't they?   Jody Hudson  19:26 They sure do. And, you know, I've never seen a playboy, but I did hear that. There are some really great, great articles in there. So but yeah, so you know, well, we'll just have to kind of wait it out. I mean, we're so full speed ahead. And we are, you know, implementing what we can with the the funding that was awarded to us in our in our programs and and we're grateful for that.   Michael Hingson  19:49 We are a 501 C three, right. So you do you obviously do a lot of soliciting outside of what the government provides.   Jody Hudson  19:55 Oh, absolutely. I mean, we have, you know, government money. We've got you no private funding. So, yes, we have different pockets that we definitely, you know, reach out to. But, you know, from the pandemic, it's it's tough. Yeah, for for fundraising for nonprofits, I mean, everyone, you know, that was was losing out because they weren't able to have fundraising events and other things. And people were really tightening up their belt. So, yeah, well, we'll have to see how how things work out. But the nonprofit world is definitely definitely hurting.   Michael Hingson  20:37 Yeah, and it's gonna be a process. Well, for you, though, what made you go into the whole idea of doing nonprofit stuff? So it's different than what you've done in the past?   Jody Hudson  20:49 Oh, absolutely. Retail and nonprofit, very, very different. But   Michael Hingson  20:54 although you, you can tribute it to the nonprofit of Marshall Field's with Franco mints, but that's okay.   Jody Hudson  21:00 That's right. So, so I had my son in 93, I had my daughter and 95. And then I stayed home for for five years. And then when I was deciding to you know, get back into the workforce, one of my girlfriends, became a development director over at Catholic Charities, and she called me up. And she said that she was going to be starting this position at Catholic Charities, and she was going to be forming a women's Guild and that she wanted me to be on it, there was gonna be about 12 of us that were going to, you know, be the the pioneers of this Guild, and a common, you know, take a tour of the facility and see what I think, see what I thought so sad to say, I mean, I'm Catholic, but I had never heard of Catholic Charities before. So got my car went and down and opened up the doors, took a tour, I saw the clientele, I saw the people there that were, you know, waiting for services. And I just had this aha moment where this was where I was supposed to be, I was supposed to be giving back. I was supposed to be helping those, you know, less fortunate. And I told my girlfriend Kelly at that time, I said, Yes, I go, I want to be part of this guild. But even more importantly, I want to see if there's employment here, I would love to work at Catholic Charities. And as luck would have it, there was a position open. And it was for in the food pantry overseeing the food pantry. And check this out, overseeing the thrift store. Well, I think with my degree in retail, and working on Chanel boutique, I qualified to oversee the Catholic Charities thrift store. So the joke was always, you know, hidden, here's Jody from Rodeo Drive to Fulton Street, where Catholic Charities was and yeah, the price tags are just, you know, a couple of zeros off, but hey, she's, she can handle those. So, I fell in love with it. And it was so good as my kids were getting older, you know, to bring them to these, like food drive events, and, you know, the the farmers market that we would have, and they would see what the face of poverty looked like. And they fell in love with it. And you know, they were always there supporting my fundraising efforts. And and, you know, just supporting, giving back. So it was it was wonderful. It was really good. It must   Michael Hingson  23:45 get pretty emotional. Because you see so many people who are facing challenges and so on. How are you able to just move forward and not take it so emotionally personal, if you will?   Jody Hudson  23:59 You know, that's an excellent question. And it was very hard for me in the beginning, I wanted to take home these children that I saw, I wanted to fix everything I wanted to be the Savior. I wanted to be the knight in shining armor and I realized that I couldn't do it right. I mean, there I was limited in what I could do, but I could go out and raise money so that the pantry would be full of food so these families could eat so these families could you know go into the thrift store and purchase clothing or be given clothing, clothing and hygiene every so often so I can I can do you know what I can do in my in my wheelhouse. But you're right, it was tough. The first six months, I took it home with me there was no separation of my work and my life. But it just became more of a driving force for me in my job, more motivation to really get out there. and get the community involved with our mission and what we were doing. And even though the names of Catholic Charities, we never asked what people's religion was, hey, if you have a need, then we're going to be there. And we're going to meet that need.   Michael Hingson  25:18 Yeah. And it's, it is a an issue and a challenge for, for I know a number of people to get beyond the being so emotionally involved that you can't separate it, while at the same time developing a greater empathy. And I in fact, I think it's, it makes sense to develop the empathy and the understanding. But you can't take it personally because you didn't cause it all. And all you can do is try to work to fix it.   Jody Hudson  25:45 Right? And, you know, I said about my children going down there and being exposed to that, to this day, my my son, he'll tell me, Mom, he goes, it's a blessing and a curse, this empathy that has been passed on to me because he wants to be now that fixer, and he wants to, you know, when people come to him and share their problems, I mean, he wants to, you know, help them and he's going through that process right now realizing that he can't fix everyone's problems, right? He can, he can only do so much. But yeah, it's definitely tough. What does he do? So he used to work at Merrill Lynch. He graduated from ASU in 2008. Teen got a job right out of college, I mean, super smart, young man. And he worked at Merrill Lynch for over a year. And that just wasn't him. Like I said, he has that empathy, that very sensitive heart. And we also had a, you know, family crisis during that time. And I'll get into that later. But he just really, and then we had, you know, the pandemic hits. So he left Arizona, came home to Fresno to try and figure out what it was that he wanted to do. And now he's been with his current job for over a year. And really, really excelling in it and doing well. And I think he has found his niche. And he works for this organization called behavioral stars. And they are assigned troubled children from the school system. And he meets with these kids one on one, he has about 12 kids right now in his caseload, and he really tries to work with them on behavior modification, trying to work with them on just, you know, being a positive influence in their lives, because so many of these kids come from such troubled homes that they don't have that. And so Garrett is kind of trying to fill that void. And he's done very, very well, just this morning, he sent me over a text and he had to present to his team on some like motivational, inspirational messages. And it was like a 2030 minute presentation. And I love the two YouTube clips that he shared, and one of them spoke about how, you know, you can't let your past you know, dictate what you're doing today. It's like the overcoming and, you know, we're all going to have challenges, but how it's how you rise above from it. And I love it, because as he is administering to these kids, and helping them with their life challenges is also healing for him.   Michael Hingson  28:44 And it's clear, you've passed on a wonderful legacy that that he is taking advantage of, and he'll he'll expand out and I suspect,   Jody Hudson  28:58 Oh, absolutely. And, you know, I wrote a book, and I keep telling my son, I go get, your story is going to be even far greater than mine. And I can't wait to read your book one of these days, because it's going to be so inspirational with everything that you have gone through. I mean, I'm just really, really proud of him for climbing Klein, and just, you know, making it happen.   Michael Hingson  29:25 Well, we've talked about Garrett, and we should get to Alex, I know you want to talk about all of that. So you said that Alex was born in 1995. Correct. And, and a lot of things have happened. So tell us a little bit about Alex, if you will.   Jody Hudson  29:42 Sure. So Alex was supposed to be a Christmas baby. Her original due date was December 25. But she came a little bit early and she was just a sweet, sweet baby. She and her first five years I mean just a very sweet, shy, innocent little girl. And then she discovered sports and the tomboy in her really came out along with the the big brother that was right by her side helping her. So she was very active. She played soccer, she played softball, she ran track, she did cheerleading, volleyball, you name it, and she was very, she was a very good scholar to her brother definitely had more of the smarts. But he didn't apply himself out, worked much, much harder for her grades, and did very well with that. And then in the fifth grade, she started developing joint pain, inflammation, and we thought it was all related to her sports. And that's what the doctors thought as well that she was just an overworked you know, athlete. And so she would suck it up. She would like tape up her legs, ankles, do the ibuprofen. Well, that went on for several years, and nothing really changed. In fact, it just kept getting worse. To the point where her freshman year in high school, she was playing basketball running on the court, and her knees ballooned up to be like the size of grapefruit. And she dropped to the ground. And she was carried off by her teammates and coach. And they ran some X rays. And they discovered that she needed to have knee surgery that she had some issues with with her knees. So she had one knee surgery done on her right knee and they said if that took and did well, and it was successful, then they would do the left knee. Well, it didn't help but it didn't change anything. So basically from her freshman year in high school on Chica never run again. She it was the beginning of the the end for her because she couldn't play sports any longer. Everything that she had identified with was gone. And in high school, that's especially hard when you lose your your peer group. And so she really went through a dark period for a while only had maybe a friend or two, started losing weight started developing digestive issues. Then we, you know, started thinking, well, maybe he's got anorexia or an eating disorder. I mean, we just really went through hell and back. And she graduated from high school went to a junior college because we were still trying to figure out what was going on with her health. And she did well at junior college and applied to several colleges and ended up getting a full ride at UCLA. But she wasn't able to carry that out because she was losing weight. And she was down to about 87 pounds. And we were going from doctor to doctor probably 40 Plus doctors, and Alex on her own just by going on the internet, found this doctor down in LA who specialized in digestive issues. And she said mom goes I think I found a doctor that might be able to help me. And at that point, I'm like, Sure. What's what's another doctor? I mean, we we've been, you know, striking out with all of our local doctors and everybody at this point, just that she and I both were crazy, right? Because they would run tests and they couldn't find anything wrong with her. So we got in the car went down to LA. And within a half hour of talking with this doctor, he asked me Mrs. Hudson, has anybody test tested Alex for Lyme disease. And I innocently said, What is Lyme disease. And then he told me what it was and this was in 2017. And I'd really had never heard about it. And here I am from Michigan, you know, thinking that maybe I would have heard about it growing up. But we consented to her getting tested for Lyme disease and a couple of weeks later, sure enough, came back with a diagnosis that she she had Lyme disease. So now test, what's the test the test. If you go to a regular doctor, most of them are still testing with an outdated western blot test, which will give you false reads on it. This doctor was smart enough to have outs tested through iGenex and iGenex is out San Jose area. And they are very detailed. I mean, it's everyone sends people to iGenex just to because they know that testing that's part of the problem with Lyme disease. testing can be so. So what's the word I'm looking for? Not not reliable, inaccurate, inaccurate? Yeah. So tested her with the iGenex. And that's what it came back with. So in that moment, you know, I had to first of all, as a parent, figure out what this diagnosis was. And then second of all, how do I treat it, because I'm disease, you just can't go to any doctors, so many of them don't know about Lyme disease and how to treat it. And therein lies the problem trying to find proper doctors that know about this disease. And also, you know, the the treatment, because it's not like cancer, where there's a tried and true path. With Lyme disease. It's almost like, here's your buffet, you can do antibiotics, you can do this, you can do that. Or maybe you can do a combination. And it's a trial and error. But Alex didn't have have time to go through a trial and error. You know, she was at 80 pounds and 2017, down to a handful of foods that she could eat without reacting. And I had to get her better quick, like,   Michael Hingson  36:17 do you before going on? Do you have any sense of how she got Lyme disease?   Jody Hudson  36:25 No. And that's the thing. 35% of people that get Lyme disease will have what's called the classic bullseye rash, where it's a circular little red ring on your body of the point of impact where people are a bit, the majority of people don't know they have Lyme disease, until maybe they've been sick for a while. And by then it's hard to treat, because it's you know, once it gets into your bloodstream, and in your system, it can wreak havoc on every part of your organ. I mean, people have died from Lyme disease, because of, of, you know, getting into their heart, people have died from it from, you know, getting into their brain. It's, it's really quite horrific. And I mean, that can be adopted at this point from everything that I had to get schooled on real quick like in 2017. Till she passed away in 2018. But yeah, the majority of people when when you first have Lyme symptoms, it's like a summer flu. So you, you know, might have just being you know, feeling lethargic, joint pain, inflammation. And it's not until other symptoms appear when it can really become quite critical, like an Alex's case where it affected her whole digestive system.   Michael Hingson  37:53 You How did you how did you end up handling it? What did you do, because you certainly had to do something in a hurry.   Jody Hudson  38:01 So what I did was, you know, social media can work for you or against you. And in this situation, it definitely worked for me two things happen once I got Alex's diagnosis. Interestingly enough, she was diagnosed in May, which may is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and our local TV station, KC 24 had just done a episode a segment on Lyme disease. And I knew these people very well through all of my fundraising efforts at Catholic Charities. So I called them up and said, Hey, you guys just did a episode. You guys just did an episode on on Lyme disease. My daughter has just been diagnosed with Lyme disease. I need to know these three women that you spoke with because I need to find out how to treat my daughter. So that was number one. Number two, was I took to Facebook with Alex's consent. And I basically made a play saying, you know, my daughter has just been diagnosed with Lyme disease. I'm still trying to figure out what Lyme disease is. If anybody has any resources, know of any doctors locally, can put me in touch with people, please, you know, DM me, and you'd be surprised at how many people that I didn't realize had Lyme disease in the central valley that reached out to me. And Jessica Devine was one of them that lived right in Clovis, a couple of you know, Fresno, who had been diagnosed with Lyme disease had been battling it for a couple years. And she gave us the name of her doctor in Pismo Beach, and that's where we started. So it definitely helped by, you know, getting the message out there. And when you're a parent, parent and your child is struggling and you need answers, you do what it takes. aches. Right?   Michael Hingson  40:00 Right. So you reached out to that doctor.   Jody Hudson  40:04 So we reached out to that doctor. And then at the same time, we googled best Lyme facilities, best line treatment, because, you know, I'm a mama bear. I single mom at that time, Alex's dad wasn't in the picture at all, financially, emotionally, any of that. And I was working parents. And I thought, Okay, I need to tackle this, right. I'm going to roll up my sleeves, we've got a diagnosis, we're gonna get the doctor treatment, she's going to be better in a couple of months time, I was so naive. I had no idea what I was facing. And so we had this appointment with, you know, this doctor in Pismo in June. So Alex had been diagnosed in May that this appointment for June. But then I started researching best Lyme clinics. Sofia Health Institute was one, there was a couple others and I basically got on the phone. And I begged and pleaded to get into these facilities. And insurance doesn't cover a lot of this. In fact, it didn't cover most of it. In a year's time, I spent over $100,000 Trying to get Alex better, I sold cars. I had people give me money. I mean, it was crazy what I did. But again, any of us would do that in our situation with a sick child. So we went to the doctor in Pismo, we also went to Sofia Health Institute. And with every doctor that we saw, it was a whole new protocol. Everybody, you know, had their own opinions. And it was just, it was just really tough. Like I said, you know, with cancer, it's tried and true. These are the treatments that you go through. But with Lyme disease, because there's so many different co infections. You have to figure out who you know what symptoms are the most troublesome, you start there, and it's like, okay, eliminate that. So that symptom, and then let's move on to the next. And that's what we were trying to do with Alice. But at the same time, she kept losing weight, and she couldn't be strong and healthy enough with her treatments. Because she was so malnourished, so it was just, it was a mess.   Michael Hingson  42:35 And no matter what happened, nobody was able to come up with any solution that seemed to help.   Jody Hudson  42:41 We had a team of about 12 doctors we had, because as I said, once Lyme disease is in your blood system, which for Alex, it had been since. You know, if you go back when her symptoms first started, which we thought was just that overworked athletic body. It was in fifth grade. Now here she is in college, right? So I mean, it'd been 10 years that this had been living in her her system. So she had cardiologists she had a gastro doctor. She had, you know, a doctor, the doctor in Pismo that was kind of like the the lead on this. But we had so many other people that we had to bring onto the team. And then not to mention, just she was in and out of hospitals, just trying to get IVs and other stuff in her system to keep her healthy.   Michael Hingson  43:42 When did you get to the point where you realize that you weren't going to be able to fix her and how did you reconcile that?   Jody Hudson  43:52 So May of 2017 She got the diagnosis by December after going through a whirlwind of in and out of hospitals, different doctors. I knew in December that I was losing her she was we just we couldn't get a leg up. And from June until December, we literally had gone cross country Now mind you, I was still trying to hold down a job at this time, right? So I was just going back and forth and people were giving me their their sick time and vacation time. And I was just trying to uncover anything that I could to get her her better. But we realized that not only did she have Lyme disease, she had something else called mast cell activation syndrome, which she basically was allergic to almost every type of food she was down to like four or five safe foods. She could eat. And I detail all this in my book because I mean, it could take hours and days to go into all of this because it's just such a crazy, crazy disease. But   Michael Hingson  45:12 was that caused by the limes? Disease?   Jody Hudson  45:15 Correct? Yeah. When your immune system is compromised, it creates havoc in your in your system. And so everything gets Miss wired. And her histamine levels, everything we're, we're off. So you know, her treatments, she would try and have different types of treatments. And her supplements things that normally she could take before now, it was as if it was an enemy entering, you know, a danger zone here, she would try and swallow these supplements and take her, you know, treatment. And her histamine levels would just start attacking, thinking that was, you know, something bad that was coming into her system. Just horrific the pain that she was going through, but it was December. And I remember, you asked me, How did I reconcile with this, I remember getting in my car, and just driving. And I pulled over and I found it on the dashboard. And I had the serious conversation with God. And I was in tears. And I basically said, listen, here's the deal. Like I'm telling God what to do, right? I said, here's the deal. I go, you either take her right now, because I can't deal with this anymore, or you heal her. But this purgatory is not working for me, I cannot do this any longer. And that says, you know, and so that's what he did a couple of months later.   Michael Hingson  46:47 So you had so hard and I have some associations with Lyme disease in a different way. First of all, when I was living in New Jersey and the selling some products, I knew a couple guys who had accompany the turns out they they did have Lyme disease, it was apparently somewhat controlled, but they did have it. And I only know that because they told me but my fourth guide dog was bit by a tick relatively soon after we moved to New Jersey and we knew she was bitten we, we got the tick and we got it out of her and and the vet said there's nothing you know, we can do to analyze it or anything. And you know, as long as she's okay, she's okay. Well. One of the things I've learned about guide dogs is that they are and a lot of dogs, especially when there's a lot of love, and they want to please, they're incredibly stoic. We never detected any illness in her until May 1 of 1999 When I called her to dinner, and she didn't come and we found her on her bed, almost unresponsive. And through getting her to an emergency vet and then going elsewhere and so on. And finally meeting a woman who we regard as a very dear friend, although I haven't talked with her for a while Tracy Gillespie, who is in the University of Penn system. And working for emergency vet in Toms River, New Jersey, as I recall. She said Lynnae has glomerular nephritis. And it is morphed from Lyme disease. So she wouldn't keep the good stuff in her system, the kidneys would pass it out along with the bad stuff because the Lumeria went bad. So she had to retire. And we were able to keep her for three more years. But still, we we knew that there was was something there but it was just one of those things. So I appreciate all you are saying that's my closest brush, fortunately, or whatever with Lyme disease, but it's it is a very insidious thing.   Jody Hudson  49:04 It really is and you know, that's can be carriers of Lyme disease and, you know, with with the ticks and that's why I always when I'm you know talking make make sure that I recognize that it's not just humans. I'm glad that you shared that story. I mean, it is, you know, as we do tick checks from head to toe on our body, we need to do that as our animals come in from the outside because they are just as susceptible to it as as we are.   Michael Hingson  49:38 Well I'm being a guide dog. We kept a close eye on her so we found it right. Still it occurred. Well so. So Alex past, God listened to you and and did take her then what did you do?   Jody Hudson  49:57 So, what I did was yes, she she passed on March 24. In fact, tomorrow's her five year anniversary, I cannot believe. Yeah, I can't believe it's been five years and some aspects of it, I feel like it was just five, five minutes, five days and other times. So I feel like maybe it's been longer. But she and I were very close, we were just with everything that I'd gone through being divorced. And being a single mom, I mean, the mother daughter bond is very strong. To begin with, and ours was especially strong just with our our life experiences and challenges. And when Alex was, I mean, she was bedridden for for several months before she passed away. And she was always so positive. And she kept, you know, thinking that she was going to be this Lyme warrior, she was going to, you know, get to UCLA, finish that degree and start her own nine nonprofit. And when we knew that, God, you know, had other plans for her, I made a pact with her and said that I was going to basically carry her torch for her. And so after she passed, money started just flooding in. There was a GoFundMe account that someone had set up for me and I started receiving quite a bit of money. And I knew that was going to be my my seed money to start the outsets in line Foundation. And here again, I was working for a nonprofit, I was still working at Catholic Charities. And I thought, Okay, I'm gonna, you know, petition, I'll get someone to help me to, you know, see what that looks like. And, you know, people have told me, it's going to take about a year to get a nonprofit up and running. So that okay, good, that will give me time to adjust and make the transition. Well, I received status that I had been awarded 501, C, three for the outsets, in line foundation in 30 days. And in my classic CPA, comment, my CPA when I got the letter, I said, Okay, roll in, tell me that this is like a joke. Like, this isn't true, right? Like, I really didn't get this approved so quickly. And he said, God, sometimes the good Lord does things that there are no explanations for Congratulations. You have a 501 C three. Yeah. And so yeah, we were up and running in June, we started our first fundraiser, we were able to work with global Lyme Alliance and do a research grant with them, we were able to award some financial grants to lyme patients. So we, you know, we're doing everything according to Alex's wishes, and five years later, we're still doing that. So it definitely, like I said, before this mother daughter bond, I know I'm not doing it alone, I know that she, you know, is helping me every step of the way. And you wrote a book. And I wrote a book. And that was something that I did not expect at all, like I am a business woman, I write reports. I don't journal I don't write for fun. But this was something that was just laid on my heart. And I was a member of the Fresno State book club. And there was a gallon there who had just written a book, and I started talking to her. And I said, you know, I feel like I need to get this stuff out of my head and onto print. Because just as I'm chatting with you, there's so much that people didn't realize of the journey that Alex and I went on, especially that last year, even my closest group of friends, you know, when they read my book, they're like, God, God, we just didn't realize everything that you had gone through, we thought we did. And I said, No, I, I feel bad. I wasn't able to catch everybody up on this, I said that I was running so fast to get my daughter better, that I didn't have time to bring my team along with me. So this book was written for so many different reasons. Just to let people know how amazing my daughter was and what she went through, also to, you know, give people hope, inspiration. And also just to, you know, give validity to this horrible disease that so many people's still in the medical community don't recognize, or, you know, give it such a stigma. So the book came out. Last February, I self published it and Uh, you know, it's, it's done pretty well, I mean, I've received over 100 plus five star reviews on Amazon, which, to me, if I just, you know, was able to impact one or two people at that, wow, that would be great, you know, people would really understand what I'm trying to convey. But you know, just the, the impact, and what I'm getting back from it that people, you know, write to me or call me. It's just so overwhelming, you know, and for them to appreciate my daughter and love my daughter, with what she went through, it's pretty, pretty touching.   Michael Hingson  55:42 What a blessing. Well, tell me, what would you like people to take away from listening to you today.   Jody Hudson  55:51 So what I want people to take away from listening to meet today is, no matter what challenges you have going on in life, it's how you show up that people are going to remember. And for me, in that moment, when Alex passed away, it could have been so easy just to throw the covers over my head, and give up and be, you know, this grief girl, but I didn't want to be defined by that I wanted to, you know, have people look at me, and be that example, for others be that example for my son, be that example for my friends, that no matter what I had gone through, that I can still show up every day, and that there's still like to be lived. And to do that, also, you know, in honor of my daughter, right, with everything that she went through, how could I just lay it in bet. And I mean, she's suffered far greater than, than I did, and, and I just, I couldn't do that. So I needed to make some, you know, purpose out of what she went through. And that's what I'm I'm trying to do and I'm trying to accomplish?   Michael Hingson  57:05 Well, how can people reach out to you and communicate, correspond or learn more? And   Jody Hudson  57:11 yeah, so we have a website alexhudsonlymefoundation, website, www dot alexhudsonlymefoundation.org, there's ways that you can get a hold of me on the website, you can also go into Amazon, and look for my book, my promise to Alex written by me, Jody Hudson, I would love it if you know, people would, you know, by the, by the book, and, you know, support me through that, because all the proceeds from that book, go right back into the foundation. And, you know, if people are out there, struggling right now with, you know, medical mysteries, you know, check out Lyme disease, check out and see maybe if that's something that you might have in the doctors just haven't been able to diagnose. You know, be your own advocate, never, never give up. And that's one of the things that Alex and I never did, no matter how many times that door was slammed in our faces from the medical community. We still kept opening it up and trying to get to answers.   Michael Hingson  58:22 Never giving up is extremely important. We do it all too quickly. And we, we don't realize that we can do a lot more than we think we can.   Jody Hudson  58:33 Amen. Amen. You don't know you know how strong you need to be until you are in those moments where strength is all you got?   58:42 Well, I want to thank you, Jody, for being with us today. And for telling your story and having the courage to do it and to continue doing, what you're doing and anything that we can do to help through this podcast and so on, please let me know. And we met through accessibility, which I'm really happy about. And I appreciate your desire to help in dealing with inclusion and website accessibility but more important, anything that we can do to continue to promote what you're doing. We're in so I want to thank you for that. And I want to thank you for listening to us. We really appreciate it reach out to Alex through Jodi reach out to Jodi especially and Alex will know and we want to hear from you please email me at Michaelhi at accessibe.com. Accessibe is A C C E S S I B E.com. Or go to www dot Michael hingson h i n g s o n.com/podcast. Please give us a five star rating wherever you're listening and like especially if you're on iTunes, please give us a five star rating. Those tend to show up a lot and we appreciate it. But Jody most of all, once more. I want to thank you for being here and for not only inspiring us but I hope educating a lot of people about Lyme disease and just being stronger and more unstoppable than we think.   Jody Hudson  1:00:00 Thank you so much for having me and listening to my story and Alex's story It really means a lot to me   Michael Hingson  1:00:11

Kendal Sheppard-Darnell is an MTV reality TV star who has been featured on Road Rules: Campus Crawl, Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno (where she won the championship), and The Challenge: All Stars (seasons 1, 2, and 3). She's also a Registered Nurse (RN) and mother of 3 beautiful children. Kendal grew up in Washington state. She went to college in Chicago before traveling the world with MTV and then moving to Los Angeles to work as an actor. Kendal started getting sick in her early thirties and saw scores of doctors before getting diagnosed with Lyme disease, Babesia, Bartonella, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) through IGeneX. She was treated with methylene blue, BEG nasal spray, Argentyn 23 colloidal silver, antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, antimalarials, and red light therapy. Kendal is a bright shining light in the Lyme community now working as a hospice nurse and advocating for more research and awareness in the Lyme disease arena. If you'd like to learn more about how a driven, determined, and intelligent healthcare professional has tackled Lyme disease head-on, tune in now! PS Heather Glovack special guest co-hosted this interview with Matt from Tick Boot Camp!

Haleigh Hekking is a 24-year-old model turned actor from Los Angeles, California, who's now become a fierce advocate in the Lyme community after her personal experience with the disease. Prior to Lyme completely changing her life, Haleigh was very social, focused on her career, and ran 5 miles a day. At the young age of 21, Haleigh had tingling hands and feet, shortness of breath, and fatigue resulting in a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) misdiagnosis. Haleigh was treated with "bubble ozone" and IV colloidal silver which relieved all her symptoms. About a year later, Haleigh just finished working on a show as a recurring character, was cast in a new movie, and then a "perfect storm" hit her causing her health to decline so much that she had to stop working. Haleigh was bedbound and had to move back in with her parents who once again became her caregivers. Her doctor suspected Lyme, but after an indeterminate Labcorp test and a subsequent IGeneX test resulting in a positive Lyme disease diagnosis, a positive Bartonella diagnosis, and an indeterminate Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF) diagnosis, her doctors still wouldn't officially diagnose her with any tick-borne illness. Haleigh finally found a doctor who properly diagnosed her and added Borrelia miyamotoi to the list of tick-borne illnesses. She was treated with prescription antibiotics and antivirals, as well as an herbal regimen of natural antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-modulating ingredients. Unfortunately, she experienced an extreme Herxheimer reaction and after treatment, she didn't feel any better. Haleigh then underwent a dark period where she didn't leave her room and she thought she was going to die. After a few months, Haleigh started to reengage doctors to seek help and found a game-changer treatment. Today, Haleigh is working with her new doctor on her next round of treatment and she's hopeful for the future. She is using her time and energy to advocate for the Lyme community and she plans on using her platform as an actor to bring attention to tick-borne disease. If you'd like to learn how a determined young actor who was featured in the popular movie Plane that just dropped refused to give up and is now changing the Lyme community, then tune in now! PS Dani Tygr special guest co-hosted this interview with Matt from Tick Boot Camp!

Lauren Murphree is a 29-year-old certified IV technician from Tennessee. She's also the author of Silent Suffering: Finding God's Faithfulness in Chronic Lyme Disease. Ms. Murphree was flourishing and working full time. She was an athlete and was very social. Ms. Murphree was first diagnosed with Lyme disease when she was 9 years old, but it didn't “wreak havoc” in her life until she was around 20 years old. Some of Ms. Murphree's symptoms have included neuropathy, neck and back pain, brain inflammation, loss of energy, jaw pain, tremors, sharp shooting pains in her head and body, heart palpitations, body weakness and numbness, cognitive dysfunction, arthritis, heat intolerance, memory loss, insomnia, chest pain, panic attacks, Lyme rage, depression, anxiety, loss of appetite, nausea, light and sound sensitivity, POTS, heart and lung weakness, muscle spasms, tinnitus, exercise intolerance, dizziness, and more. Ms. Murphree's Lyme relapse wasn't diagnosed until her early twenties after two years of suffering. She was finally diagnosed with a Lyme relapse through a Western Blot blood test and an IGeneX specialty test. Ms. Murphree was treated with Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN), Disulfiram, Low Dose Immunotherapy (LDI), Bee Venom Therapy (BVT), Cowden Protocol (Nutramedix), various antibiotics, rife, ozone, and more. If you'd like to learn how a young woman has used an arsenal of treatments to treat chronic Lyme disease and wrote a book about her experiences to help the millions of people suffering with this horrible disease, then tune in now! PS Michelle McKeon, the Lyme Specialist, special guest co-hosted this interview with Matt from Tick Boot Camp!

Karen Widaman is a 62-year-old certified dog trainer and owner of a large dog training company from Glendora, California. Despite working in a high-risk industry, Ms. Widaman was unaware of that her contact with thousands of dogs increased her Lyme vulnerability. In 2015, she began to suffer from stomach, foot, and hand pain her doctors believed to be unrelated symptoms in part because she tested negative for Lyme disease. Unrelenting symptoms forced to treat with a plethora of medical doctors including internists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, oncologists, and infectious disease doctors. In desperation, she sought out a “natural doctor” who retested her for Lyme utilizing a test from IGeneX. Testing positive for Lyme disease offered Ms. Widaman a path forward. The Integrated Natural Medical Clinic began treatment with herbal supplements utilizing the Buhner protocol and ozone therapy followed up with stem cell, nutritional therapies, and SOT therapy. Today, Ms. Widaman is pain free and functioning at a high level utilizing supportive therapies to reduce inflammation and support for her immune system. If you would like to learn why a professional dog trainer had to leave the old dogs in the medical community to learn new tricks from an integrative medical discipline to heal, then tune in now! PS Tiara Smith special guest co-hosted this interview with Rich from Tick Boot Camp!

Zack Jones is a 48-year-old professional guide, trainer, trip designer, and photographer residing in Frankfurt, Germany. He is the “Zack of all Trades” with his current company and “recently added smitten father to an amazing baby girl to the CV”. Mr. Jones described his life before Lyme as “pretty good and at the same time full of blissful ignorance”. While on a trip to Honduras, he and a travel companion began to suffer from neck and back pain that progressed to fever, intense body aches, and diarrhea that rendered him “barely able to function”. After treating with an infectious disease doctor, he returned to work but suffered from 5 years of lingering mental health issues. Ten years after his initial symptoms, he traveled to Chile for work where he suffered relapsing mental health issues including anxiety attacks, depression, and insomnia. Thereafter he began to suffer physical symptoms including jaw pain, fatigue, neuropathy, bone pain and air hunger. After treatment with “30 to 40 medical professionals for one symptom or another” he was tested for Lyme disease and co-infections through Armin Labs in Germany and IGeneX labs in the United States. Today, Mr. Jones is in the midst of treatment utilizing genetic testing from traditional naturopath Bob Miller to guide him through the use of herbals, the Wave 1 bio resonance device, and the Patricia Kane protocol. If you would like to learn more about how a professional guide and trip designer is mapping his treatment plan through genetic testing, then tune in now!

https://www.GoodMorningGwinnett.com-This show is made possible by https://www.NoisePodcastNetwork.com Have you ever thought about getting an investor for your company? Would you even know what type of investor to look for? Do you know what it takes for your company to be investible? Well if your answer is no to any of these questions, listen to this episode and take notes. Renee McCalla-Taylor is an investor and entrepreneur who has a passion for helping businesses to grow and flourish. Renee is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of 4C Capital that has investments in IGeneX, Insight Medical Genetics, Stride Tool, and Chicago Switchboard. Mrs. McCalla-Taylor is a strong advocate for Minority and Women Owned Businesses. She has served on the boards of Florida Minority Supplier Development Corporation and as President of the Orlando Chapter of Business and Professional Women (BPW). She holds B.S. and M.A. degrees from the University of Central Florida in Communicative Disorders.In her spare time, she enjoys a great game of golf, traveling, dancing, and hanging out with family and friends.

Emily Hogan is a nurse and health coach specializing in gut health from Seattle Washington. She is the founder of the “Stick to Your Gut” health coaching business. Ms. Hogan began her Lyme disease journey while she was studying nursing during her sophomore year of college. She was studying abroad when she began to suffer a lengthy flu-like illness that she decided to ignore despite her gut telling her otherwise. Shortly after she returned from her foreign studies, she became gravely ill with “extreme GI issues”. She was rushed to the hospital and when her tests “came back negative” she was introduced to the dark side of western medicine: gaslighting. After 3 years of misdiagnosis and treatments that served to exacerbate her illness, she pivoted away from the modern medical system she “full heartedly believed in” and visited a naturopathic doctor. There she tested positive for Lyme on an IGeneX blood test and began to heal by using antibiotics and natural modalities such as herbals, probiotics, acupuncture, and sauna treatments. After being failed by the medical system she “dedicated her whole heart and life to” that “left [her] with nothing when [she] needed it most,” she began to study health coaching. While continuing to “work at the bedside” as a western trained nurse, she believed she had to supplement her training “to support others who were going through life experiences” similar to her Lyme disease journey. After learning from personal experience that “our gut and nutrition are both the most vital components to our healing journey,” she built a successful health coaching business. If you would like to learn more about how a western educated nurse learned to coach people on how to remove gut triggers, adapt diets to nourish the gut, and create a plan for long term healing, then tune in now!

Kelley Flannagan is an attorney, model, celebrity spokesperson and reality tv personality from North Barrington, Illinois and Miami, Florida. She became a household name when she starred in the ABC reality series: The Bachelor. Ms. Flannagan grew up in a large mid-western family. She and her siblings enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities during their childhood. At the same time, her body was forced to cope with the ebb and flow of a variety of childhood illnesses. After graduation from High School, Ms. Flannagan attended the University of Alabama and then the Chicago-Kent College of Law. After earning her Juris Doctorate degree and passing the bar exam, she joined a prominent Chicago law firm. In 2020, Ms. Flannagan was invited to pivot from her law career to become a member of the Bachelor Nation reality series. During season 24, she was eliminated after seven stressful weeks on the show. Shortly after departure from the show, she began to suffer severe health complications. After visiting with an array of doctors, she began to fear she may be suffering from Lyme disease. Sadly, several of her siblings were diagnosed with Lyme disease and she followed in her brother's footsteps and tested for Lyme disease with IGeneX. When her lab work revealed positive results for Lyme and several co-infections, Ms. Flannagan felt called to share her diagnosis on her social and mainstream media platforms to build Lyme disease awareness. If you would like to learn more about how a lawyer and reality tv star is using her celebrity status to generate attention to the Lyme disease crisis, then tune in now!

Kayla Stevens is a 27-year-old woman from Atlanta, Georgia. She has a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health Sciences from the University of Maine, a Master of Health Administration (MHA) from Georgia State University, and she's currently finishing up her Integrative Health Practitioner (IHP) certification. Prior to contracting Lyme disease, Ms. Stevens worked for a local hospital, was known as the “party girl,” and traveled frequently. At the age of 25, Ms. Stevens quickly fell ill from Lyme disease the day after a tick bite with flu-like symptoms and a bullseye rash. Within a week her symptoms rapidly progressed and included severe psychiatric symptoms she'd never before experienced, such as suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, severe depression, a constant feeling as if she were dying, seeing shadows, and feeling schizophrenic. Ms. Stevens went to the Emergency Room (ER) 3 times, saw an infectious disease specialist, rheumatologist, and Lyme literate doctor before she was diagnosed with Lyme disease through IGeneX and muscle testing a few months after getting sick. Her infectious disease doctor said she “couldn't possibly have Lyme disease” while all the ER doctors suggested it was a mental health disorder or Lupus. Ms. Stevens first treated using antibiotics for 16 months in combination with a mix of herbs. She then went on to treat at LymeStop in Idaho for 4 months. If you would like to learn how Lyme disease inspired a western trained medical professional to study and utilize integrative medicine, then tune in now! PS Kelsey Watkins special guest co-hosted this interview with Matt from Tick Boot Camp!

In this Facebook group live session, Dr. Evan answers all questions submitted and posted by our Facebook Group members. Read through the timestamps below and see if you have similar questions. Hope this helps!   02:40 How do you treat adrenal issues when your cortisol is very low in the morning and very high at night? - Joanie 07:10 What is your long haul protocol and which brands do you use? - Catherine 10:42 What is best to take for low iron count? - Lynn 14:30 I was recently I was recently diagnosed with stress cardiomyopathy and esophageal spasms.The cardiologists do not know exactly what causes it. I get chest pain about five times a week. Any suggestions? - Carol 17:01 The four steps of the EnergyMD method - Colleen 21:13 I had a mycotoxin test done it just okra toxin, a citrinin and micro phenolic acid.- Karen P. 23:45 I was diagnosed with micro microscopic colitis last December. And I have great fatigue and daily diarrhea, which I'm aware is part of the autoimmune condition. Do you know if there's a way to heal or put into remission this condition along with the fatigue? - Lisa 25:52 Do kidney problems also contribute to fatigue? - Maria 26:45 How can one rest on the ground safely and be protected from disease carrying insects such as ticks and mosquitoes, without using toxins that would further compromise health, you've got Hashimotos thyroiditis, long haulers and or long haul Epstein Barr Virus, mostly in active state in recent years. - Brooke 30:57 Are there tests bloodwork or other that can indicate and reconfirm one's body is suffering from fatigue, in other words, there are bodily systems not working well. - Deidre 32:26 Do you like use the new, newer iGenex immunoblot testing for spiral keyed infections, Lyme etc, or treat by symptoms, or both? - Galia 38:02 What are your thoughts on grass fed raw dairy and traditionally prepared grains such as long fermented organic sourdough bread? - Beth 43:20 Mindset steps - Colleen 49:28 Can we take the supplements with meds you have a lot of meds? - Katie 50:11 Has Lyme disease always has been? Or has it evolved? - Colleen 53:01 Had Graves disease and overactive thyroid - Veronica   For more information about Dr. Evan and his program, click here.   Prefer to watch on Youtube? Click here.  Please note that any information in this video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. 

Hayden Crook is a 28-year-old youth pastor from Bend, Oregon. He graduated from the elite University of Oregon with a bachelor's degree majoring in Psychology and Business. After college, Pastor Crook was appointed Youth Pastor for one of the largest churches in the State of Oregon. In this capacity, he supervised youth mission trips, including a mission to cut firewood for a Native American reservation. On the second day of the firewood mission trip, he suffered a headache and dizziness that “never went away.” The symptoms progressed from brain fog and memory issues to the loss of his capacity to speak and then he became bedridden. Pastor Crook's undiagnosed symptoms became so aggressive and debilitating that his wife had to leave her job to become his full-time caregiver. He was unable to perform basic elements of self-care including toileting himself without the assistance of his wife. Visiting over 50 doctors and 2 extended hospitalizations did not result in a diagnosis. In part, his diagnosis was delayed by a medical bias that the former Division 1 football player was afflicted by concussion-related disease. He was also misdiagnosed with a CerebroSpinal Fluid (CSF) Leak, a sinus infection, and mental illness. He was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease by a Naturopathic Doctor in Bend, Oregon. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by blood testing from IGeneX. If you would like to learn more about how a Pastor, psychology major and former Division 1 athlete is building a toolbox of spiritual, emotional and physical tools to heal from Lyme disease, then tune in now!

This week Tick Boot Camp invited Stuti Vora, customer service supervisor of IGeneX, to discuss how and why IGeneX has become the laboratory most trusted by patients in the Lyme disease community. In this comprehensive interview Ms. Vora discusses: The IGeneX origin story Blood, urine, and miscellaneous testing options available through IGeneX The new IGeneX Tick-Borne Disease Test Directory built to assist the patient community to find the information needed on Lyme and co-infection testing How to quickly filter IGeneX testing options by price, disease, methodology, specimen type, and availability by state How the IGeneX Immunoblot test has a sensitivity rate that is double the standard two-tier protocol The IGeneX advantage of testing for more species and strains of tick-borne illness no matter when a patient was exposed How IGeneX has armed scientists with the most cutting-edge technology in the world Why IGeneX has committed to building partnerships with Lyme community groups such as ILADS, Bay Area Lyme Foundation, and the LivLyme Foundation. If you would like to know more about how IGeneX can help you on your Lyme disease diagnostic and treatment journey, then tune in now!

Peter Owen is a 63-year-old geologist, photographer and entrepreneur from Melbourne Victoria, Australia. He is a founding member of the TICNA (Tick-Borne Community Network Australia) public education group and President of the Conquering Chronic Illness patient support group. While recovering from a badly broken leg from a fall at his home, Mr. Owen began to feel incredible pain all over his body. Beginning with headaches, shoulder pain, and neck pain his symptoms expanded and migrated to include fatigue, panic attacks, and brain fog. Mr. Owen was misdiagnosed with MECFS after he was examined and treated by 30 doctors over 18 years. Despite an official government “there is no Lyme dogma in Australia,” Mr. Owen's general practitioner sent his 50 most afflicted patients for IGeneX blood testing and Mr. Owen's tested positive for Lyme disease. His IGeneX lab results were confirmed by a follow up test from the German Infectolab. The lab tests provoked Mr. Owen to join Lyme Facebook groups and research Lyme and tick infection treatment on his own because “there is no such thing as an LLMD in Australia.” His journey required him to overcome “disbelief and denial by doctors, family and friends” while exploring treatment options. If you would like to learn more about how an Australian Lyme disease activist is standing up swimming against the tide of an official government policy that denies the existence of Lyme disease, then tune in now!

Madi Peters is a 22-year-old medical school student from Canada training to become a Naturopathic Doctor (ND). Her Lyme disease experience has shaped her life, values, and passions. She soon will be helping others suffering from chronic Lyme disease once she completes medical school. Prior to getting sick, Ms. Peters was a very active teenager engaged in competitive dance, teaching gymnastics, participating in her school's swim team, and actively serving as a member of her school's student council. Suddenly, she went from an extremely active, social, and academically successful teenager to becoming debilitatingly ill and bedridden. Ms. Peters' Lyme journey began when she was 16 years old in eleventh grade. She visited over 20 doctors during a one-year period prior to getting her Lyme disease diagnosis. Some of Ms. Peters' symptoms included debilitating migraines, extreme fatigue, noise and light sensitivity, dizziness, brain fog, and many more neurological and systemic symptoms. Many doctors misdiagnosed Ms. Peters' with things like a concussion, chronic daily tension headaches, stress, overexertion, and some even said she was making it all up in her head. She had numerous MRIs, CAT scans, spinal taps, and other tests which couldn't find anything wrong with her. Finally, Ms. Peters found Dr. Maureen McShane in New York who diagnosed her with Lyme disease through a clinical assessment followed up with an IGeneX blood test. She has also used ArminLabs in Germany as well as the Immunosciences Lab out of California to validate her Lyme diagnosis. Ms. Peters first treated with Dr. McShane using oral and IV antibiotics prior to treating at the Sponaugle Wellness Institute in Florida which utilized heavy detox protocols, IV supplements, herbal tinctures, infrared saunas, colonics, and more for 4 months. The institute also discovered that she had mold toxicity and fungal infections which were preventing her from healing. She continued with the recommended treatment once back home in Canada. Once stopping treatment last year, Ms. Peters has stayed on a maintenance protocol which includes immune support and detox tools. If you would like to learn more about how a young woman didn't let Lyme disease take her down and is now using her experiences to help others in the Lyme disease community, then tune in now!

Crystal Hefner is a multi-talented 35-year-old artist, model, entrepreneur, philanthropist and travel blogger from Los Angeles, California. The foundation for Ms. Hefner's chronic Lyme disease journey was built on the footings of the iconic Playboy lifestyle. While married to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, she resided in a mold infested mansion surrounded by emotionally unhealthy people. In 2015, Ms. Hefner fell ill and sought treatment from medical doctors. Confused by classic Lyme symptoms, her doctors settled on a “waste basket diagnosis of stress.” Unfortunately, the opportunity for an early diagnosis was missed because Ms. Hefner accepted the conventional wisdom that “there is no Lyme disease in California.” Diagnosed with Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia by IGeneX labs, she began to treat with an elite Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD). All treatment tools were rendered ineffective until Ms. Hefner honored her “intuition” and took steps to remove all toxins from her environment. She underwent breast explant surgery, contracted a $2 million mold remediation of her home, and removed toxic people from her social circle. If you would like to learn how a multi-talented artist discovered that healing from Lyme disease begins with removing all physical, emotional, and social toxins from your environment, then tune in now!

Julie Yakunich is a 40-year-old Integrative Health Practitioner and Certified Health Coach specializing in Lyme disease from Chicago, Illinois. She has her own private practice, Get Well with Julie, and sees Lyme and chronic illness patients at Case Integrative Health. Ms. Yakunich's battle with Lyme began when she was 29 years old after living a very active and high functioning life while working, attending graduate school at night, and traveling around the world in her free time. Her first symptoms were random fainting spells that started to become more frequent. As time went on, Ms. Yakunich's symptoms progressed and included constant severe headaches, air hunger, brain fog, fatigue, pain, tremors, blurry vision, and more. She visited 26 doctors over 5 years and none of them properly diagnosed her with Lyme disease. Many doctors misdiagnosed Ms. Yakunich with brain tumors, cysts, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), migraines, food allergies, asthma, hypothyroidism, and more. Eventually, she found a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) in Portland, Oregon, who diagnosed her with Lyme disease through an IGeneX blood test. Ms. Yakunich was treated using a combination of oral antibiotics for 20 months. She also used a wide variety of immunotherapies, herbs, ozone therapy, IV glutathione, and more to aid in her healing. After regaining her health, Ms. Yakunich climbed Mount St Helens with her siblings and friends and raised money for the LivLyme Foundation during this event. If you would like to learn more about how Ms. Yakunich went from being completely homebound and bedridden for almost 2 years to climbing a mountain and now helping others heal from chronic Lyme disease, then tune in now!

Patricia Cosulich is a 26-year-old multi-talented artist, entrepreneur and social innovator. She is the playwright and producer of The Great Imitator, a Lyme disease play designed to “change the way we view healing, build community, mobilize policy change and fundraise through storytelling.” Ms. Cosulich was a gifted child that enjoyed the exploration of her talents until she suffered the tragic loss of her father. The stress of the loss overwhelmed her immune defenses and unleashed Lyme disease. For years, doctors dismissed classic Lyme symptoms “as grief and trauma” until she tested positive by an IGeneX blood test. Securing a diagnosis permitted her to treat with “an out of state” Lyme literature doctor that utilized modalities such as a “rotation of antibiotics, herbs, immune support and nervous system retraining.” Although “not 100% [healed] yet,” her healing journey has allowed Ms. Cosulich to rediscover her “essential self” and at the same time feel “completely transformed - sort of like Patricia 2.0.” If you would like to learn more about how Lyme disease helped a young woman find her purpose while on a journey of rediscovery and transformation, then tune in now!

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

Dr. Janice Iannucci is a Nurse Practitioner and lifelong resident of tick endemic Long Island, New York. Dr. Iannucci studied and earned her nursing degrees, LPN, RN, NP, and Doctorate from the top universities located on Long Island, while working in hospital systems in the region. As Dr. Iannucci was climbing to the educational pinnacle of her profession, she felt but could not see “something on the back of her leg while she was driving” that resulted in a rash and chronic “flu-like syndrome that would put [her] down for months.” Unable to self-diagnose, she began to share her puzzling symptoms with hospital colleagues who were also unable to help her locate a diagnosis. Desperate for a diagnosis, Dr. Iannucci became a patient and visited over 10 doctors in search of a diagnosis where she was misdiagnosed with MS and depression. Finally, she visited the famous LLMD, Dr. Raxlen, where she tested positive for Lyme disease on an IGeneX lab test. The failure of her own education and training, the education and training of her hospital colleagues, and the education of her 10 medical doctors reset the concentration of Dr. Iannucci's doctorial education. Additionally, the challenges she faced on her healing journey caused her to study traditional eastern herbal tools to supplement the tools she had utilized during her career. If you would like to learn how Lyme disease changed the educational and career paths of a western-educated Doctor of Nurse Practitioner, then tune in now!

Ava Passarelli is a 15-year-old young woman from Chicago, Illinois. Ava lives with her dynamic mother Liza Blas, her father, and her younger brother. Prior to attending high school, Ava attending a sleep away camp in Minnesota where she suffered multiple tick bites over two summer seasons. The summer camp officials did not notify Ava's parents of the tick bites, nor did they provide Ava with prophylactic medical treatment. Ava's parents discovered that Ava was bitten by a tick after they received a letter from their daughter 10 days after one tick bite incident. Shortly after returning home from her summer camping experience, Ava began to suffer various neurological Lyme disease symptoms that were diagnosed by health care providers as anxiety, depression, OCD, eating disorders and Tourette syndrome. Eventually, a Chinese medicine doctor offered to test Ava for Lyme disease using an IGeneX test kit that returned positive results for Lyme disease. Ava's mother Liza built a multi-level healing framework for her daughter by locating and hiring many of the most highly regarded treatment professionals in the world; including in-patient treatment at Sanoviv Medical Institute in Mexico, Michelle McKeon (Tick Boot Camp Podcast episode 141) of Lyme and Cancer Services in New York and the renowned Lyme Literate Integrative Medical Doctor, Doctor Casey Kelley (Tick Boot Camp Podcast episode 98), MD, of Case Integrative Health. If you would like to learn more about how Ava Passarelli and her mother Liza Blas are working together to power through Lyme disease, then tune in now!

In this episode we have a scientist from IGeneX Labs to discuss everything about Lyme Disease and lab results. Learning about what bands show you have a new exposure vs old. They're 99% accurate when it comes to Lyme Disease testing, how coastal ecosystems are now a hot spot for ticks. Also Lyme Disease is not just in nature, can also happen in cities as rats and squirrels can host ticks. Educate yourself on Lyme Disease in this episode so you don't have to go undiagnosed like so many people. Leave a 5 Star Review on iTunes Full Youtube Episodes Follow us on @ToriPiskin @lulupiskin @Gotitfrommymamapodcast

Danielle Cosgrove is a 26-year-old sports management professional from Long Island, New York. Ms. Cosgrove's Lyme disease journey began in 2012 when her symptoms prevented her from achieving her dream of playing college lacrosse. Her progressing symptoms sent her to visit 9 doctors over 8 years before she was diagnosed with Lyme disease. Her diagnosis was incidental to treating at a immunological clinic and her nurse practitioner recognized her symptoms and recommended her to IGeneX for diagnostic testing. After a positive Lyme test, she moved back home to Long Island and sought treatment from the famous Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) Daniel Cameron, MD. Today, Ms. Cosgrove is ready to aggressively treat with the Cameron protocol and to study supplemental treatment tools. If you would like to learn more about how a sports management professional is working to manage Lyme disease out of her life, then tune in now!

Dr. Joseph Burriscano is America's first Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD). He began practicing medicine in Lyme endemic eastern Long Island, New York, a short time and distance from where the first Lyme infected ticks examined by Dr. Willy Burgdorfer were dragged. Dr. Burriscano's clinical observations resulted in the discovery and development of diagnostic and treatment protocols that were considered taboo in the 1980's and 1990's which have become gold standards for LLMDs today. He is now considered one of the world's leading experts in the treatment of Lyme disease. He has appeared on virtually every television, radio and newspaper outlet, published 16 scholarly papers in medical journals and advised governmental agencies including the NIH, CDC, armed services subcommittee and the US Senate. Currently, Dr. Burriscano works full time in the biotech arena at IGeneX. If you would like to learn more about America's first Lyme Literate Medical Doctor, then tune in Now!

Lindsay Ruiz is a 44-year-old large scale corporate organizational change leadership professional from Charlotte, North Carolina. Ms. Ruiz earned her B.S. in her native Venezuela, a master’s degree in the United States and she is currently doctoral candidate. Ms. Ruiz presented classic Lyme disease symptoms to over 20 medical professionals over the course of one year. One of the doctors that helped Ms. Ruiz on her diagnostic journey was her dog’s veterinarian. Ms. Ruiz’s psychologist reviewed her medical records and discovered she had tested positive for Lyme disease with one of her previous doctors. She then took an Igenex test which confirmed her Lyme diagnosis. Ms. Ruiz is now working with the brilliant Doctor Tiffany Brown-Bush and is showing promising results. If you would like to learn more about how Lindsay Ruiz used her organic fighting spirit to overcome medical gaslighting, then tune in now!

To watch this episode, please visit Rachel’s YouTube channel. Listeners can find Craig Emmerich at his website Mariamindbodyhealth.com, Keto-adapted.com, and on Instagram craig_emmerich. Craig Emmerich graduated in Electrical Engineering and has spent the last 15 plus years researching nutrition and working with thousands of clients alongside his wife Maria Emmerich. He is an international best selling author of “Keto: The Complete Guide” and “The Carnivore Cookbook”. He uses his knowledge of how our bodies work to help clients heal and lose weight leveraging their biology to make it easy. In this episode, we talk about Craigs experience using nutrition to manage lyme disease, the evolution of the ketogenic diet, benefits of PSMF days vs. fasting, bulletproof coffee, and more! "Insulin by itself is not something to fear. You shouldn't fear spiking insulin. You want it to be transient and come back down as part of the normal process." Craig Emmerich Top Takeaways: Benefits to using carnivore as a tool Higher protein keto diet vs. standard keto diet Craigs breakdown looking at protein as a building block Mis-education around foods that carry the most nutrients   Today’s Questions: Can you talk about how your nutrition has helped you deal with lyme disease? Can you talk about your experience using the standard keto diet versus a higher protein keto approach for yourself, and your clients? Is there any point in time working with your clients that you introduce more carbs depending on their activity level? How do you and Maria utilize PSMF days in your practice? Do you have any caps on how many PSMF days you have clients incorporate? Do you incorporate fasting for your clients aside from PSMF days? Have you seen women struggle more staying strict keto or carnivore? Show Notes: [0:00] Welcome back to MetFlex and Chill! Rachel introduces Craig Emmerich craig_emmerich to the listeners [0:30] Craig gives a brief bio about his journey after his wife Maria discovered the ketogenic lifestyle  [5:00] Question: Can you touch on how your nutrition has helped you with dealing with lyme disease? [8:00] Igenex test, Charlene Anderson  [9:30] The Carnivore Cookbook [14:00] Question: Can you talk about your experience using the standard keto diet versus a  higher protein keto approach for yourself, and your clients? [15:30] Protein Sparing Modified Fast [18:30] Question: Is there any point in time working with your clients that you introduce more carbs depending on their activity level?  [19:00] Zach Bitter [19:30] Michael McKnight Runs 100-miles on Zero Calories [24:00] Question: How do you and Maria utilize PSMF days in your practice? [25:00] The Art of Fat Loss [29:00] Question: Do you have any caps on how many PSMF days you have clients incorporate? [31:30] Question: Do you incorporate fasting for your clients aside from PSMF days? [37:30] Question: Have you seen women struggle more staying strict keto or carnivore?  [39:30] Question: Is there anything that you've changed your mind about in the past year? [49:30] End Your Carb Confusion: A Simple Guide to Customize Your Carb Intake for Optimal Health, The Art of Fat Loss [50:00] Check out Rachel’s FREE Guide to Hunger Hacks HERE [50:30] You can find Craig Emmerich at his website Mariamindbodyhealth.com, Keto-adapted.com, and on Instagram craig_emmerich [51:00] End --- Join the FREE MetFLex Life Course: www.metflexandchill.com Rachel Gregory (@rachelgregory.cns) is a Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist, Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and Author of the best-selling book, 21-Day Ketogenic Diet Weight Loss Challenge. She received her Master’s Degree in Nutrition & Exercise Physiology from James Madison University and Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Miami. Rachel helps her clients transform their lives by starting with the physical (body), realizing the power of the mental (mindset), and ultimately gaining massive confidence that bleeds into every aspect of their lives (family, relationships, work, etc.).

Today I speak with Dr. Motley about identifying underlying issues within the body. Organic acids test to identify microbial toxins is from Great Plains Laboratory www.greatplainslaboratory.com (http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/) Lyme testing www.iGenex.com (http://www.igenex.com/) Genetics testing www.myhappygenes.com (http://www.myhappygenes.com/) Parasite testing stool testing-Genova labs www.gdx.net (http://www.gdx.net/) Instagram: @doctormotley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctormotley/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3WphfdeV0ht-muOFtZFDXg Twitter: @DoctorMotley Website- www.doctormotley.com (http://www.doctormotley.com/) Sponsor: https://Paragonvitamins.com CODE: REALFOOD15

Ep.106 While studying to become a nurse practitioner at the University of Colorado, Elizabeth Kirt was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease, tick-borne illness, multiple chemical sensitivities, chronic fatigue syndrome, and toxic mold exposure.   The lack of relief Kirt received from conventional medicine changed the way she viewed disease and medicine.  As she began to heal from her illness, she discovered the healing power of herbs, homeopathic, lymphatic drainage, cellular drainage, ozone therapy, and other alternative modalities.  Armed with my knowledge and personal experience of healing chronic illness within her own body, she is ready to help lead others down the path of wellness and health. Key Takeaways: Elizabeth walks us through the initial phase of treatment at Integrative Health Colorado which includes testing from Igenex.  Mycotoxin panel from Real-Time labs. Mold and Lyme often go hand and hand.  Patients are offered a discount off of supplements through Fullscript.com. Payment plans are available for some patients who cannot afford treatment. Call 907-457-4481 0r 720-470-9124 for details. Disulfiram- Is having good benefits with patients and minimizing the use of antibiotics. Detox-Coffee enemas, saunas, detox baths, binders, glutathione.  Studies show that it takes about 10 years to off-gas a new home. “I just want to go on the record and say that life should not be this complicated.”-Sarah   Connect with my guest:  Phone: 970-457-4481 or 720-470-9124 liz@IntegrativeHealthColorado.com   Contact Sarah-Sanchezsmile@gmail.com   Sponsors:   Kangen Water- http://www.lymewater.com/ Envita Medical –Envita Medical Medical billing services MedicalBillGurus.com Lyme Voice Facebook  The Lyme Voice Podcast- Lymevoice.com Lyme Documentary-Disappearing From Society, Life with chronic Lyme in 14 minutes…Documentary Little Bite, BIG TROUBLE, available on Amazon –Children’s book about Lyme disease Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com Tick Warriors “Insect Repellent”  https://tickwarriors.com/ Organic coffee!  https://www.ovaldogs.com

Dr. George, an expert in Environmental Medicine teaches us about environmental toxicity, both internally and externally. 80% of all cancers and 75% of autoimmune disease are environmentally caused. We do have some control over the state of our health (internal environment), like what we eat, supplements we take and what we put on our body. Dr. Julie says that women on average use 14 personal care products before leaving the house everyday. She will teach you tools to shore up your internal health. She will also teach you about our external environment and steps we can take to clean up our homes and our work places. Why do we talk about HEPA filters, wood framed beds and organic mattresses? Tune in to find out! Dr. George also reveals how she spends her personal time. Links and/or products referred to in this interview: Reverse Osmosis System for clean water- https://amzn.to/33GCFtD (This fits under your sink) Far Infrared Sauna- http://www.saunaray.com/ (This is what Dr. Julie George has in her office) Vitamin D + K2- Designs for Health Brand is my fav. https://amzn.to/2WDjK1u Probiotic Dr. Julie recommended- Megaspore Probiotic (Can only be ordered through a doctor). Here is Dr. George's link to order through Full Script https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/rivercreek Organic Mattress: https://www.omimattress.com/ 7th Generation products for cleaning: https://amzn.to/2WEBj0Y Greatplains labs for mycotoxin testing IGeneX for Lyme disease testing underyourskin.com for free documentary movie on Ticks

Meet Lindsey Dockins a 28 year old mom of 3 girls. She's been married to her college sweetheart for 9 years. In 2018 Lindsey was diagnosed with mycotoxins, Lyme and 5 co-infections, parasites, Epstein Barr virus, MTHFR and other genetic issues, allergies, sensitivities, vinyl toxicity, gun cleaner toxicity, candida, Mysterious black necrotic legions in my stomach lining, multi-chemical sensitivity and mast cell disorder. She had to move out of her house and start all over. Hear her harrowing story of surviving mold toxicity, recovering from Lymes and how she is helping others do the same. Some of the recovery methods and tests mentioned in her talk include: Hyperbaric Treatments Far Infrared Sauna by SaunaRay http://www.saunaray.com/index.html IQ Air Purifier iqair.com Beau biologist and other healthy and sustainable products for the home https://buildingbiologyinstitute.org/find-an-expert/products-stores/ Air Quality Tests: ServePro and EnviroPro Lyme disease testing: Western Blot, sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA), IGeneX labs Parasite Testing- GI Map test OAT- Organic Acid Test Food Allergy Testing Underourskin.com (documentary on Lyme's Disease) Disclaimer: Lindsey and host Jolene Fisher are not claiming to cure, prevent or treat any disease. This is a case study and one person's story of what they did to help their body recover. Please seek attention and advice from your doctor before attempting the advice listed here.

Tick Boot Camp’s guest today is Sara Brunner. Sara Brunner is a clinical dietician from Ontario, Canada. In 2014, she was bitten by a tick and started experiencing flu-like symptoms. She was still suffering two years later and had an unsuccessful trip to the Mayo Clinic. The night of the trip, her husband conducted his own research pertaining to his wife’s illness, and Lyme Disease repeatedly came up. The next day, Sara Brunner ordered an IGenex test and her healing journey began. If you’d like to learn more about Sara Brunner’s tick disease journey and how she hopes to someday create a program that helps other Lymies, then tune in now!

Today I have Amina Eastham-hillier who has over 15 years of Naturopathic practice as well as 25 years of Nutritional practice. She owns a successful multi-modality clinic in Noosa comprising of 18 practitioners. Amina has successfully treated chronic illnesses and complex cases such as Lyme Disease. She is a Keynote speaker presenting to medical doctors and naturopaths at International conferences, medical documentaries, TV interviews, radio, seminars, webinars, podcasts & workshops. She is the author of the book 'Lyme Natural' encompassing Naturopathic treatment for Lyme Disease, co-infections, mould illness and stealth infections. Amina won the award for ‘Australian Practitioner of the year’ in 2017 and is currently finalizing her second book (Chronic stealth infections – Filling in the missing pieces). I was lucky enough to see Amina speak at a Mediherb seminar on Lyme Disease in 2016, I loved the presentation and how Amina was able to bring humour and facts together to keep the audience engaged! Which is why I'm super excited to finally have her on the show today!  PART 1 + Amina shares her journey into becoming a Naturopath + What drew Amina to specializing in Lyme Disease and writing a book on it + I'd also love to hear about how you began to specialize in Lyme Disease and also why you became a Naturopath  + What Lyme Disease is   + Whether Lyme Disease  is contagious + The first signs and symptoms of Lyme Disease + What Lyme Disease does to the body + How symptoms manifest and change over time + What is the most accurate testing for Lyme Disease + How Amina goes about diagnosing Lyme disease in a patient + AND SO MUCH MORE!! RESOURCES + Amina's book 'Lyme Natural' + Pubmed - where Amina loves to look up recent studies + Specialising labs for lyme disease or coinfections testing: Australian biologics Igenex in America  ArminLabs in Germany CONNECT WITH AMINA + Amina's websites are: www.amina.com.au www.lymenatural.com www.noosaholistichealth.com + Instagram: @amina_eastham_hillier  + Facebook: Amina Eastham-Hillier N.D Naturopath REVIEW Your written reviews and feedback inspire me to improve each episode. Plus they help spread it can't be that friggin hard message far and wide. If you love the podcast and the information shared then please leave a review and rating over at iTunes or Stitcher. Don't have an iTunes account??? No worries! Listen on Spotify HERE. I would also really love to hear about your own health journey, what your struggling with and what you'd love to hear covered in upcoming episodes please leave me a comment below or reach out to me at Ashleigh@itcantbethatfrigginhard.com

This is part 2 of my interview with Amina Eastham-hillier who has over 15 years of Naturopathic practice. Amina has successfully treated chronic illnesses and complex cases such as Lyme Disease. PART 2 + Amina shares her treatment protocol for Acute to Chronic Lyme Disease + Some of Amina's favourite herbs when treating Lyme Disease + Amina explains what Biofilms are and why they are important to consider when treating Lyme Disease + What you should do if you've been bitten by a tick + Ways to prevent yourself from getting Lyme Disease + Amina shares her journey with her health and why it's a priority + Why it's important to look at health as a puzzle (lots of different pieces coming together) and how this is helpful when treating chronic illnesses like Lyme Disease + AND SO MUCH MORE !!!   RESOURCES + Amina's book 'Lyme Natural' + Pubmed - where Amina loves to look up recent studies + Specialising labs for lyme disease or coinfections testing: Australian biologics Igenex in America  ArminLabs in Germany CONNECT WITH AMINA + Amina's websites are: www.amina.com.au www.lymenatural.com www.noosaholistichealth.com + Instagram: @amina_eastham_hillier  + Facebook: Amina Eastham-Hillier N.D Naturopath REVIEW Your written reviews and feedback inspire me to improve each episode. Plus they help spread it can't be that friggin hard message far and wide. If you love the podcast and the information shared then please leave a review and rating over at iTunes or Stitcher. Don't have an iTunes account??? No worries! Listen on Spotify HERE. I would also really love to hear about your own health journey, what your struggling with and what you'd love to hear covered in upcoming episodes please leave me a comment below or reach out to me at Ashleigh@itcantbethatfrigginhard.com

When you've been bitten by a tick, whether or not you have seen a rash, if you experience any symptoms in the days to weeks following the bite you'll need to be tested for Lyme Disease. Your General Physician will most likely recommend a blood test through a company like LabCorp or Quest (here in the US) but these labs are only really 50% accurate reporting many false negatives you need a western blot test from a lab that specifically tests for Lyme and co-infections: www.IGENEX.com www.MDLAB.COM https://renaissance.stonybrookmedicine.edu/pathology/tick Print out the test requisition test.  For the IGENEX Lab you'll need at minimum tests 188 &189 which are the Lyme IGG and IGM tests. If your doctor won't sign the forms you'll need to find yourself a Lyme Literate Doctor and I'm going to share with you just how to find one tomorrow so tune in. www.theguudcompany.com 

Lyme Disease is deadly. Education and early detection is crucial. If you suspect you were bitten by a tick please see your medical doctor and ask to be tested at one of these labs: http://mdlab.com http://iGenex.com http://medicine.stonybrookmedicine.edu/pathology/tick Our Wellness Warrior List on Amazon has all the products we talked about today: http://a.co/bTVcHjo Please be safe.

Not all labs are created alike. I have a few negative LabCorp ELISA Lyme Tests. Shoot for a Western Blot from one of the following labs: www.IGENEX.com (California) www.mdlab.com (NJ) http://medicine.stonybrookmedicine.edu/pathology/tick (NY) If you have questions or concerns hit us up on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook @theguudcompany. Happy to help.

Why You Should Listen: In this episode, you will learn about the various testing options offered by IGeneX in the realm of vector-borne diseases. About My Guest: My guest for this episode is Dr. Jyotsna Shah. Dr. Jyotsna Shah PhD is the President and Laboratory Director of IGeneX Clinical Laboratory, Palo Alto, CA. Dr. Shah has over 40 years of research experience in immunology, molecular biology and microbiology, has been published, and holds more than 20 patents. After receiving her B.Sc. and M.Sc in Biological Sciences in the UK and her PhD. in diagnostic immunology from Nairobi University in Kenya, Dr. Shah joined the International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases (ILRAD) as a post-doctoral scientist and started the first DNA sequencing laboratory in East Africa. On completion of her fellowship, she went on to join Harvard University's Department of Tropical Medicine as a research fellow and continued work on development of molecular tools for diagnosis of parasitic diseases. Since then, Dr. Shah has worked at several Biotechnology companies focusing on the development of novel molecular technologies for diagnosis of infectious diseases and has become a world expert on use of Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization (FISH) technique for direct detection of pathogens in clinical samples. Dr. Shah joined IGeneX as the Director of Research and Development in 1997 and in 2003 became Laboratory Director. During her time with IGeneX, she introduced the first Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) test for Babesia and also set up the PCR department for tick-borne diseases. Under Dr. Shah's direction, the laboratory has developed an excellent QA program and with her scientific guidance, IGeneX has become the world's leading reference laboratory for diagnosis of tick-borne diseases. Dr. Shah is now the owner of IGeneX and continues her mission to help those struggling with vector-borne illnesses. Key Takeaways: - What is the history of IGeneX? - What is the difference between antibody and antigen testing? - Why is IgM and IgG in Borrelia not the same as other infectious conditions? - Why are bands 31 and 34 included in IGeneX Western Blots but not other commercial blots? - What is the difference between the Western Blot and the ImmunoBlot? - What is the importance of the Relapsing Fever Borrelia test options? - What testing does IGeneX offer in the realm of coinfections? - What is the IGXSpot and when might it be useful to consider? - What microbes where found in her research on Morgellons? - How can tick testing be performed with IGeneX? Connect With My Guest: http://www.IGeneX.com Interview Date: April 23, 2018 Disclaimer: The content of this show is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or medical condition. Nothing in today's discussion is meant to serve as medical advice or as information to facilitate self-treatment. As always, please discuss any potential health-related decisions with your own personal medical authority.

Dr. Jyotsna Shah is the President and Laboratory Director of IGeneX Clinical Laboratory, Palo Alto, CA. Dr. Shah has over 40 years of research experience in immunology, molecular biology, and microbiology. She joined IGeneX as the Director of Research and Development in 1997. In this episode, Dr. Shah discusses testing for Lyme disease, Relapsing Fever, and other tick-borne diseases.     

I am thrilled to welcome Adidas-sponsored professional marathoner Neely Spence Gracey to the Ali on the Run Show! Neely lives in Boulder, CO, with her husband and their Vizsla, Strider. Neely was born to be a runner—literally. She was born on Marathon Monday while her dad was running the Boston Marathon. (He ran a 2:16:40 and finished in 19th place, and went on to make the 1992 Olympic team and become a world championship medalist.) On this episode, Neely talks about what it was like growing up in a running family—including the time she joined her grandma for a Turkey Trot and out-kicked her when the finish line came into view! She also shares what it was like being home-schooled for most of her life, and opens up about how running went from something she did because her parents did it to something she really discovered for herself. Neely made her marathon debut at the 2016 Boston Marathon, where she ran a 2:35:00 and finished ninth (and was the first female American finisher), and followed it up with a 2:34:55 finish at the 2016 New York City Marathon, where she finished eighth. (If you’re gearing up to run the NYC Marathon in a few weeks, get ready to take notes: Neely offers her best tips for tackling the tough course!) Neely also opens up about how both she and her husband have Lyme Disease, and she talks about the challenges they’ve both faced with the unpredictable disease. She shares how she deals with injuries as a professional runner and how she stays mentally strong at every point in her training, and dishes out her best advice for the everyday runner. Stuff We Mention on this Episode: Shippensburg University: http://www.ship.edu/ Boston Marathon: http://www.baa.org/ Adidas: http://www.adidas.com/us/ Get Running: https://www.neelyruns.com/meet-the-coaches/ Bart Yasso: http://www.bartyasso.com/ IGeneX: https://www.igenex.com/ ElliptiGO: https://www.elliptigo.com/ Runner’s World cover story: https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/young-american Competitor magazine cover story: http://running.competitor.com/2016/03/boston-marathon/neely-spence-gracey-takes-on-boston-in-marathon-debut_147289 New York City Marathon: https://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/ Rock ‘N’ Roll Arizona: http://www.runrocknroll.com/arizona/ Momentum Jewelry: https://momentumjewelry.com/ Iron Doggy Hands-Free Leash: https://irondoggy.com/ BolderBOULDER 10K: http://www.bolderboulder.com/ Gwen Jorgensen: https://www.instagram.com/gwenjorgensen/ ProForm 9000 treadmill: https://www.proform.com/treadmills/pro9000 Meb Keflezighi: https://marathonmeb.com/ Meb Keflezighi video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzL67lVbULE Follow Neely: Instagram @neelysgracey: https://www.instagram.com/neelysgracey/ Twitter @neelysgracey: https://twitter.com/neelysgracey Blog: https://www.neelyruns.com/blog/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neelyruns/ Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aliontherun/ Twitter @aliontherun1: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

In this episode you will learn: • How Lisa promotes lyme disease awareness • Lyme Light Vigil - Dallas, Texas • What you can do to promote lyme disease awareness in your area Seven years ago Lisa pulled what looked like a tick from the back of her head, she went to her doctor to check for lyme disease, who laughed and told her not to worry. over the next seven years she experienced numerous weird symptoms and went from doctor to doctor who diagnosed her with various chronic diseases. Finally connected her symptoms to lyme disease when she got in touch with a friend who had it, and she did more research into the symptoms. Her first test came back negative, but then she she was able to get a positive diagnosis with an Igenex test. Today Lisa is an advocate for Lyme disease awareness in Texas.