A Little Health Update

 I would feel like I wasn't being truth full with you, if I didn't share I am already dreaming of fall days!

   

          This heat is about to get the very best of your girl!

I miss setting outside! I dream of spending more time in nature! I actually have recently craved time in the nature taking walks! However I need for it to cool off so I can dream of bringing such  things to pass.

Until then I guess I will just have to bring fall to my home early indoors!

"Shh" don't tell my husband of my plan! I hope to bring our fall mid August! I am so excited for it! This will be the very first time ever I have done a fall tree! I have to say I believe that is my driving force behind decorating everything else for fall early as well! 

A girl needs something to look look forward to when she stays home as much as I do!

So look for fall decor post to come soon!

I have gotten behind on blogging again and did not keep you updated as I had hoped about the new supplements. I began to boost my health and start healing on the cellular level.

So I thought I would give you some health update info and fill you in on how that has helped! What I have seen in the past 30days.

So let me start with the name of the supplements I have been taking. They are made by the company called Life Vantage.I take three supplements, a probiotic, and a yummy water mix for brain fog in the mornings!

The  supplements I take are Protandim NRF1 & NRF2, their probiotic and Axio for energy and brain clarity.

We were told to allow at least four month's to see full effect of how they help my over all system. My lupus is all over the place, since being jerked all over the healthcare world thanks to insurance changes,

So everything seems to need longer than what we had hoped for! Now I want to share no two peoples experience is is the same. Never stop a medication your on by a doctor with out first speaking to your doctor!

I went through a pretty harsh detox phase when I first started my new meds! I was warned this may happen and of course my body wanted to be sure to get involved, 

It lasted about 2 weeks, I was really really tired, my gut was upset , and I had a headache. The fatigue was the worst part of all of it! I just could not do anything, It was all I could do was to go from one room to another. I spiked a high fever a few days much higher than I like! 

After the two weeks things seemed to level out and became more bearable.

 I have noticed a huge change in my mental clarity! Especially on the days I drink my axio! I can hold a train of thought and I can read and comprehend what I am reading! For those of you that have brain fog or have lupus you know just how precious those little gifts are! Now as far as having a huge jump in energy no. My body is still really out of whack. I am hoping this month I will begin to see some of that!

With the help of the life vantage and the new lupus biologic!

I pray we begin to see som much needed changes.

I had my very first Saphenella infusion Tuesday! I was so excited! This drug has showed promising changes in lupus patients! Including decreased flares, increased energy, and decreased organ involvement! We are praying for all of these things! However the first treatment knocked me for a loop! Its Saturday and I am still wiped out! Now I did get my lung biologic the next day as well! 

That mixed in with all of the other is surly the reason why I am still struggling with this crazy fatigue.

I hope next week holds better things! I am seriously over laying around, Your girl has better things to do than sleep all the time.

So if you would ask me would I recommend the life vantage. I absolutely would! Because many have seen faster results than I have! So there for I would not want you to miss out on this life changing healing for anything!

I have still been working hard on me. On the lines of self love that is! I don't believe I had truly seen the value in that till this year and how important that truly is! Just because we get older doesn't mean we grow out of it! I believe because we get older we need it even more! Especially in a world that feel like that it needs to find its self worth from self fame or social media! Or from what those around us think of us! 

Which if it is done in healthy ways these things can be okay, Still yet they are never okay when it it is the only way we seek our worth! Because again our worth should start with what our Daddy thinks of us, rather what we think of ourselves or others opoinions! 

I have learned to embrace what makes me who I am! The things that make me different and make me stand out from the rest! 

So are the things that make me exactly who my creator saw me to be when He spoke me into my Momma's womb.

Allowing myself grace and growth during this season of life. Has taught me some very valuable lessons!

I have love going back and resisting the redeeming love devotional. If you read the book you resonated with Sarah in the story. I highly recommend the devotional! All thought I have already been through it once! The second time around has taught me even more than the first time.

If you have unsettled things that haunt you. Things that has caused you to harbor unforgivness. 

Its time to allow healing so you can move forward as the healthiest version of you! 

You can not put into others if your drained empty or unable to see past your own pain,

We are called to point others to our Daddy! What better way than healing our bodies heart and physical aliments. So others around us can see our Daddy in all of his glory through us!

I have found the best way to start that off for us daily is a heartfelt of thankfulness! It's hard to not have joy or healing when we live a life go thankful for the daily blessings we have!

So Let me encourage to begin a habit I have made a part of my morning! Start off by telling our heavenly Daddy 3 things we are thankful for and 3 things we are joyful for! 

Try to make sure you choose 3 new things daily! You will see a shift in how you see the world around you when you do!

Don't wait for Thanksgiving to live in a season of thankfulness!

So I would like to end here today! I want to share my 3 things with you! I want you to see the rawness of my everyday heart! So you too can see the beautiful work my Daddy has been song in my heart and the changes He has brought around!

3 Things I am thankful for Saturday July 23,2022

1- For the way the floor feels cool on the bottom of my feet when I walk on them! It's a reminder that I am blessed to have relief from the smoldering temptress outside.

2. I am thankful for the sound of the clicking keys

 of board on my computer, Its a reminder that all though I have pain in my hands I am able to type and share my hear with you today!

3- I am thankful for clothes that are comfortable and soft. No matter the size they fit and are soft. It makes being able to be comfortable to live in my own skin.

3 Things I am joyful for:

1- For air conditioning to stay cool in this heat

2- The sound of my grand babies giggles

3- The way a warm embrace feels when given by someone you love. Especially from your amazing spouse.

the Bible teaches us clearly in Romans 12:12 To be joyful in hope! Hope makes each day bearable! Its a reminder that with each new day we have something new to look  forward to and to be grateful for the days that have passed!

Each day we practice these things, the easier it is to be happy and content no matter what we are facing!

Thank you for stopping by and sharing a part of your day with me! Time is precious the fact you were willing to spend some time with me. Over joys my heart to have you here!

I hope you know I am praying for you always!

If you are on Facebook or Insta

Follow me on Foot Steps of Grace there!

Until next time, I hope you will be walking in the footsteps of grace with Jesus and me!

Prayerfully  Yours,

~Shellie~

 

Whispers Of Hope

This week has been a week of celebration!

We celebrated Jody's Birthday! 

I began a new health journey! 

I am taking myself back! Health, Mind,  Body, and Soul.

That has meant some serious praying and soul searching! 

One of the first answered prayers, I had been searching for so long. Was what I can do to support my body. To help it be the healthiest it can be and fewer bad days and many more feel-good days!

I was surprised that the first step to take was to activate my cells and stop their aging from the inside out! 

Addressing inflammatory responses! Cutting out what I can and giving my body the best chance daily! 

I have been spending time truly researching Lupus. From a doctor's perspective and functional medicine perspective!

I feel that both together if you study and read enough you can find the lock and key elements that help to heal and support what the body needs.

All though there is still so much to be learned! One thing is for sure to activate my cells from the inside out. Work with my immune system instead of making it go crazy!

So the first thing I decided to do for myself is to start something unique on a pharmaceutical level but also filled with good things from a natural standpoint and not a chemical level.

I began this part of my journey last week! 

Actually, yesterday was my seventh day taking the new feel-better meds! I am very impressed with the results even in such a short span! I can tell the difference in many areas!  Including clearer thinking, energy levels are changing! I am not needing to nap anywhere near as much as I usually do.

I have also noticed I have more energy to do things. without the crash that comes later in the day.

However, towards the end of the week, I reached detoxing the bad out of my body from a cellular level.

Normally detoxing makes me so sick, that I won't continue. However with the wonderful support of the team behind me. I have been able to detox without a major crash! I have required more rest coming into the weekend,. I am okay with that because I have truly come to the place. I need more out of life than trying to survive.

I want to live and enjoy all aspects of my life. Not watch everyone around me living like I am a part of a movie directing what goes on but not participating in the actual film!

This journey will come with different things I am exploring! I have been doing tons of research learning even more about lupus. So I can advocate and help others like me to take control of our bodies and do things we love again

I am so aware there isn't a cure! Yet I serve a great big God who has the cure and the answers! Maybe I'm meant to have this to let Him shine through and to teach others what I learn and give hope!

Hope was the word I chose at the beginning of the year for the word I wanted to truly implement in my life! Hope comes with so many amazing things to look towards to! It's also the gateway to faith!  I have complete faith in my Daddys plan for me!

The next part of my new journey begins on Monday! I am going to start an inflammatory diet! This means I will cut out foods that cause inflammation! I have learned that the immune system lives in the gut! If my gut health is not good and I am feeding it things, that drives it crazy.

My immune system will go into overdrive and when it does that it attacks my organs, healthy cells, nervous system, veins, and the list keeps going on.

I am also learning the other things that I have like chronic pericarditis. All of these things are affected by the same things!

 So as hard as it may be to give up foods I love like grains, dairy, refined sugars, and nightshades. Will be a small sacrifice to have more good days and fewer bad days.

Please pray for me during this transition!

I want to succeed at this! I have done it before and I can do it again! 

I look forward to healing my body with whole foods and things God gave us! Not things created in a lab that destroy us from the inside out!

I have also been working on following people on social media who are working or already living what I am trying to achieve!

One of my favorites is a wonderful friend of my husband and mine.

Her name is Jessie Sales, you can follow her on Instagram!

She has helped me to know what kind of books to read to use ancient medicine along with my new medicine journey! 

Just this morning I asked what books would she recommend to read about self-care! She recommended her top 3 books on Self Care

Think Like a Monk -Jay Shetty

Untethered Soul -Michael Singer

Free Your Energy -Sylvester McNutt

I look forward to purchasing one of these books to help me with self-care and healing open wounds of the past!   So my heart and mind can be healthy and whole as well. I was thinking this morning it is a shame it has taken me so many years to arrive at the place, I make me a priority to heal.

I had already ordered a book Jessie recommended. It came Friday and  I learned so much in the few chapters I read! 

All though I am honest with myself and realize this will be a daily choice and journey! Our heavenly Daddy has given us all the resources we need to be able to heal from the inside out! 

I hope you will join me as I embark on this journey and pray for me! I am excited!

I look forward to seeing what the future holds as I take me back! As I take back the things I love and enjoy the beautiful world around me!

My Daddy has left me here countless times when He could have taken me home! For me that is proof my story isn't for me but the those who are watching and reading about it! That is what inspires me to keep moving forward! Looking doe ways to heal and become stronger! He promises to hold my hand everystep of the way! 

Heling has been a life long journey for me! Its time to help it come full circle and chase my dreams and make them happen! I know He know the plans He has for me! He will dde me through each and every step good or bad! I amecxited to see how I feel four months from now! Taking the new medicines that heal on the cellular level! Helps to stop the aging of cells that promotes good immune health! Giving myself the best chance from positive food changes and implementing movement to help combat pain and fatigue. Feel free to ask questions! I would love to help you start your own journey for a healthier you! Whether your in the fight of your life literally or trying to just be a healthier you! The truth is, We have to heal all aspects of our bodies. Only then will we be successful at sticking with it! Loveing the beautiful you, that you were created to be!

Thank you for stopping by and sharing a part of your day with me! Time is precious the fact you were willing to spend some time with me. Over joys my heart to have you here!

I hope you know I am praying for you always!

Until next time, I hope you will be walking in the footsteps of grace with Jesus and me!

                               Prayerfully  Yours,

                                     ~Shellie~

I would Like to leave you with this verse to think on this week! It is one of my very favorites! For so many reasons! But truly I need this promise I go into this new journey! I Hope it gives you the same courage it gives me to hope for good things to come!

Sometime the Answer is Wait A Little Longer

One of the hardest things I struggle with is waiting for something! Anticipation gets me every single time lol.

Waiting for health answers is no exception to this struggle.

For those of you who have followed my story knows for 2 years now I have been on a wild roller coaster ride! 

As much as I wish I could say that we are nearing the end of the ride. I think it has kicked up a notch is on its own tail spin! 

We have sought out a new rheumatologist. She is great, I really like her and she is determined to figure out whats going on.

One piece of the puzzle she feels certain about is she believes I rheumatoid arthritis.

We also have had a very slight positive to lupus.

We are still waiting on the last batch of blood work. 

We did finally convince the the cardiologist to allow her to give a very low dose of a steroid to get the flare under control so I can enjoy the holidays.

Its way to early to see if that's gonna happen.

I pray it does !
A couple weeks back I was treated for bronchitis .

As I was beginning to finish the antibiotic.

I noticed something was very wrong when I laid down at night. The pain in my chest was very intense and I had began to have a very difficult time breathing. I shook it off at first.However when I noticed a change in my weight a drastic change ! I realized I was holding a lot of fluid. 

So I followed protocol and used a  dose of lasix . That's where the tricky part came into play. As long as I was using lasix I felt better. Then on night I gained 7 lbs and the chest pain woke me from my sleep.

So I called my cardiologist, and the ordered a echo of my heart Tuesday. Wednesday evening when I seen their number on my phone I knew what I already didn't want to be. I have a small pericardial effusion again.

The problem is my body is so inflamed that if we don't soon figure out what the cause is it could grow into a large effusion that would result into another major heart surgery.

The last time this was talked about the cardiologist said we would probably just need to remove the pericardil sac from around the heart if another effusion prompted surgery. 

So I need your help! The cardiologist wants to give it three months.

To see if it grows or stays the same. Also he is hoping during this time that the the rheumo. can put the pieces of the puzzle together and get my body in the healing direction!

Please help us pray that is the case.

I know Gods timing is perfect .

Its just a chapter of my story, I have learned to lean completely on Him.

I know He will show up! 

So over the next few months if you think about please lift me up in prayers! My family as well! I really hate to see them worried...

Thank you ahead of time for the prayers and stopping by! 

Blessings, Shellie   

Why I Have Been Away

                                                      

I didn't intend to stay away for so long....

The summer months have been long and hard for me.

Each week greeted me with a new obstacle leaving me drained physically and emotionally.

So it left me with decision of what was the biggest priorities and what I need to let go for a time.

I have to say that was not an easy thing for me to do. After all I am a doer who often struggles handing things off or even asking for help at all. 

So for a season the smartest thing for me to do was walk away from blogging and take some time to recoup from all that seemed to be drowning me at the time.

During the past few months I have seen several specialist. I have seen my heart doctor who informed me I would in defiantly need to stay on my medications. He thought I was stable but with out the meds he didn't think my body would be able to keep the fluid of the heart. I have also seen the rheumatologist who has desperately tried to pin point the auto immune disease plaguing my body.

Test after test has lead to more unknown mysteries and no answers. Till she finally asked me to see a oncologist. This was a scary moment for us. All though we knew God had it, just to hear those words in your name in the same sentence.

The visit proved to be the best by far! After several scans we have learned the extent of the damage left behind by all the surgeries. we also learned their is diverticulitis, and a very rare auto immune disease. Until it is confirmed by the rheumatologist I would rather not share what yet.

However all though we have found answers my body has been plagued with chronic fatigue and pain. A irregular heart rate and up and down weight. Honestly all these thing have taken a tole on my body and my mind. After much prayer we decided I should step away from things that made me feel overwhelmed and added to the fatigue.

So I stepped away from doing the homeschool co-op at our church this year! I decided to still help a few of the girls who really just enjoyed doing school together! They stay with my family two nights a week and we do school together ! I have really enjoyed this so has my youngest! It is also so much easier to do it on my body to do it home. Things are more relaxed and hey I can do school in p.j's! It don't get any better than that lol!

I also decided to step away from children's ministry for awhile! Which was a huge thing for me! Working with kids have always been my passion! However I would be sick and unable to function on Monday mornings after working in children's church on Sundays. I hope that we can get answers and medicine that will help and I can return after December!

My favorite time of the year will soon be approaching! I love the Christmas season... I want more than anything for this year to be a celebration of all of the mile stones since last year! God has brought me so far and yet I have so far to go as well!

I hope now you understand why I have been a little absent and you will be a little patient as I try to reenter the blogging world. Little by little... After all I have missed sharing and seeing everyone's post as well. If you think about it lease lift me up in prayer, For I  know God has the plans for all things! I am just ready to feel better! 

Many Blessings -Shellie