I have worked from home as a sculptor (aka one-woman factory) for about 18 years now. Of course, during my worst Lyme years, for about 6 years, I accomplished very little to nothing. However, now that I am feeling much better I can compare my production to what it used to be before I got really sick.
I am sure my Adderall contributes to my viral symptoms, eye itching and sometimes swelling. But it also contributes to my ability to work- tremendously. But when I cut back the Adderall, my viral symptoms do improve. I have also been taking Vit. D3 regularly and notice a big improvement in my viral symptoms, and eye swelling on my left side, but Vit D3 makes my hair falls out like crazy.
One thing I have been taking for a few years now that I didn't even really realize what it did was my Chlorella Pyrenoidosa supplements. My original LLND had me start them a few years ago and they did make me feel much more awake, alert and energetic. I thought it was because they work to help the cells absorb nutrients much better ( Adderall, Vitamins, other supplements) This is the case, but I just saw an episode of Shark Tank where a woman was trying to get the Sharks to invest in her Chlorella Pyrenoidosa. She explained some of the benefits and they are 100% what I experience with it.
There are different forms of Chlorella, but the Chlorella Pyrenoidosa is the one my LLND had me get, and it's great, so I stick with it. The original brand I bought from his office were BioPure brand, "C.G.F. Chlorella" 100 capsules for $76. Spendy! So I went to Amazon and have been using Sunlit Supplements brand. $32 for 1000 tablets. They work great!
https://www.amazon.com/Pyrensoidosa-Green-Supplement-chlorophyll-preservatives/dp/B00N5IK07M/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481178395&sr=8-3&keywords=Chlorella+Pyrenoidosa
Now I want to outline four factors that contribute to my roller coaster ride of current symptoms.
These are not a direct result of spirochetes currently occupying my body~because they no longer occupy my body :) ~ But are rather a result of having had Lyme Disease. None of the below factors were ever present prior to Lyme, but are part of the aftermath: What I am left with to try and clean up after WWIII has been won.....
Hormones: A few months ago, I had tried taking the Progesterone prescribed by my doctor and didn't like some of the side effects, so stopped after a week or so. I paid dearly for it the next month. It was hell. I had terrible, terrible night sweats, like three per night, was a week early in my cycle, had nightmares, anger, insomnia, spotting....you name it. I had to do something. It was like after just one week, my body was addicted and was getting payback for not feeding it Progesterone.
So I decided on a 'do over'. I started taking the Progesterone faithfully every day. 50 mg at night before bed. All month, not taking it just during PMS week. I do feel much calmer, had less anxiety, only a couple minor night sweats (vs. like 3 every night for a week). My everyday symptoms were reduced overall by perhaps 20%-50% depending on the time of month. I think I'll stick with it. For about the past 6 weeks or so I have been on it, and it's working well. I have been getting 'bad' or hormone headaches ( I never get those type of headaches) once in a while, but the trade off is worth it. So far, no weight gain, so maybe that was just a fluke that week.
The Supermoon: On Nov. 14 there was a Supermoon. This is a full moon where the moon is much closer to the earth than it normally is during a full moon.
"November's supermoon —a term used to describe a full moon is at its perigee, or closest point to Earth during the lunar orbit — will be the biggest and brightest supermoon to rise in almost 69 years. In fact, the full moon won't come this close to Earth again until Nov. 25, 2034."
Quote above taken from this website: http://www.space.com/34714-supermoon-science-nasa-explains-closest-full-moon.html
For years, I have known that a full moon causes me pain, especially joint pain. But I had no idea the supermoon was coming and for a few days prior, I was in such terrible pain. I told Brian I didn't know what 'on Earth' (ha ha) was going on with me, because I knew it was not the right time of the month for me to have this unexplainable, severe joint pain.
Well, then I saw the news about the supermoon and it all made PERFECT sense! When the fullness of the moon subsided, so did my pain. Just a little something for those of you to consider that have strange joint pain cycles that seem to come and go for no reason. For many years, I could never get a handle on the cause of my symptoms. Just when I thought I knew it was hormonal, and the exact day it would start, I would get slammed in the middle of what was supposed to be my 10 'best feeling' days of the month. I would feel so ripped off!
Even though I hadn't changed anything in my supplements, suddenly, all this pain and exhaustion. Granted, Lyme Disease cycles ( My LLND called them "blooms". What a lovely way to phrase how spirochetes multiply! I prefer 'spawn' as in " Spawn of Satan") but you can imagine how crazy it made me to be chasing hormone cycles, moon cycles, Lyme cycles and weather changes. Which brings me to my next nemesis:
Weather Changes: "I can feel it me bones!" I can, really. I feel so awesome in the summer compared to winter. But if it is going to rain, even in the summer, I feel it~ long before any clouds appear. I just did some Googling on joint pain/weather relationship and discovered "Biometeorology" by accident: The study of how the weather effects living organisms! Very cool. I had no idea. As I Googled the word "Biometeorology" however, I ended up with a lot of scientific gibberish PDF files that were not very helpful. Many were for students or scientists, and way too many of them ran off onto the stupid 'Global Climate Change" rabbit hole. Disappointing.
Anyway, below are a few websites about how the weather effects health. Barometric pressure changes are known to cause migraines and higher blood pressure as well as other health issues, such as asthma attacks.
http://www.sld.cu/galerias/pdf/p34_s.pdf
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/weather_and_pain#1
https://weather.com/health/news/why-your-joints-hurt-when-weather-changes-20141105
Winter or SAD (Seasonal Affecitvie Disorder). Now, while I don't get 'depressed' in the winter, as the wonderful article below explains, I just feel more blah and unmotivated. I feel like it's very early morning all day long and my body can't completely wake up. When it's dark out, I am not sleepy (insomnia) but neither am I necessarily motivated to accomplish anything. Sometimes I am... since it seems like it is dark pretty much all the time, and my brain doesn't make melatonin like it should, the darkness does not cause sleepiness for me.
Great website explaining how I feel:
http://www.life-with-confidence.com/so-tired-SAD.html
Other websites on SAD:
http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/seasonal-affective-disorder#1
http://www.ecellulitis.com/conditions-and-treatments/winter-fatigue-why-are-we-always-tired-and-sleepy/
I hope this helps some of you perhaps nail down the 'whys' of some of your ongoing symptoms! Cheers!