Lyme disease and PANS are two complex and challenging conditions that can profoundly affect a person’s physical and mental health. Both conditions often involve chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and neurological disruption, making recovery difficult. The good news is that PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) therapy can be an invaluable tool in managing these symptoms.
By supporting both the physical and mental aspects of these conditions, PEMF therapy offers hope for those looking to regain their health and well-being. Join me in another fruitful episode as we dive into Elena's incredible healing journey. Today, we'll explore how she utilized PEMF and other powerful tools to overcome Lyme disease and PANS. Don't miss out on this episode as there are so many valuable insights and takeaways that could make a difference for you or your loved ones.
Elena's Lyme Disease Diagnosis and Misdiagnoses
Elena, a resilient Lyme warrior and health coach, has made a profound impact on the Lyme disease community. Her journey with Lyme disease has fueled her commitment to supporting others, drawing from personal experience to advocate for those facing similar challenges. Now a certified health coach, Elena channels her expertise and empathy into guiding individuals affected by Lyme and PANS. Her story provides invaluable insights into how these conditions affect daily life and the healing journey. She spent most of her life enduring health struggles, starting from a young age when Lyme disease was still largely unknown.
Growing up near Lyme, Connecticut, she recalls a summer in the mid-1980s when a large, painful rash appeared on her chest after playing outdoors. Her mother assumed it was a bug bite, unaware it could signal Lyme disease. Not long after, at around ten or eleven, Elena began developing unusual health issues: recurrent infections, new allergies, and even asthma. She also fell into a cycle of annual strep infections, leading to repeated ER visits. But, with limited knowledge of Lyme disease at the time, her family couldn’t connect these symptoms. As Lyme remained under-recognized, information was scarce—especially in the pre-internet era when medical knowledge was often outdated.
This lack of awareness made Elena’s journey even more challenging. Her struggles continued into young adulthood and worsened after a tick bite at a concert in Hartford, Connecticut. Shortly after, while visiting family in Chile, she was struck by severe illness with fever and infections. Despite treatment with antibiotics and steroids, Elena felt her health had fundamentally changed. From that point on, she experienced many cognitive and nervous system issues, including panic attacks and heightened anxiety, which began to disrupt her work.
She even experienced disturbing thoughts during her commute, amplifying her sense of unease. Seeking relief, she decided to shift to a new career in teaching, which brought joy and fulfillment but didn’t halt her underlying health issues. In the years that followed, despite the support of her new husband and family, stress and dysregulation only deepened. Eventually, a breakdown during a doctor’s appointment brought her emotional and physical turmoil into sharper focus, revealing the full depth of her health journey. Elena's health continued to decline, with worsening physical symptoms, fatigue, and difficulty focusing.
After nearly falling asleep while driving, she was diagnosed with narcolepsy and placed on high-dose stimulants, which disrupted her sleep further. Balancing work as a teacher, caring for her young children, and her husband’s demanding job added to the stress. Moreover, her severe Bell's Palsy was initially mistaken for a stroke. Despite her recent camping trip and potential tick exposure, doctors missed Lyme disease as a possibility. Allergic to doxycycline, her initial treatment proved ineffective. As symptoms worsened, doctors suspected multiple sclerosis (MS).
Over the course of a year, she saw 11 neurologists, but none reached a conclusive diagnosis, with Lyme disease still overlooked amidst the focus on MS and her narcolepsy symptoms, which she was managing with stimulants. Eventually, she sought help from a neurological chiropractor, who suggested Lyme disease as a possibility. Despite repeatedly failing initial Lyme tests due to a suppressed immune system, this new perspective started guiding her toward a clearer diagnosis.
Discovering Lyme Disease and Starting Treatment
There is a common misconception that Lyme disease, PANS, and PANDAS require specific tests, such as the Cunningham panel or Western Blot, for diagnosis. In truth, these conditions often involve elusive bacteria and toxins that don’t always appear in lab results, making clinical diagnosis essential. Experienced practitioners recognize patterns and can use standard tests effectively, viewing the body holistically—including nutrient and endocrine health.
Working with a specialist in Lyme or PANS/PANDAS can save time, resources, and ultimately lead to better outcomes than cycling through multiple in-network providers who may lack specific expertise. In relation to this, another issue is the phenomenon we refer to as “shopping cart diagnoses,” where patients accumulate multiple, isolated diagnoses without a focus on identifying an underlying cause. Instead of piecing together the bigger picture, each symptom gets its own label, such as MS or narcolepsy, which can lead patients to chase treatments without finding real relief. Elena’s story, documented in the film The Monster Inside Me, serves as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of traditional mental and physical health systems.
Her experience highlights the importance of searching for root causes rather than accepting fragmented diagnoses. It was only after Elena's chiropractor suggested that she try acupuncture for her Bell's Palsy symptoms that she began to gain clarity on her underlying condition. Her acupuncturist, a naturopath, suspected Lyme disease and connected her with a specialist, though Elena faced a long wait to see him. When she finally did, in 2013, tests revealed not only Lyme disease but also a range of co-infections, heavy metals, and other toxins.
Equipped with a binder full of her medical records from numerous ER visits, she received comprehensive care in a nine-hour appointment, leading to immediate treatment with a PICC line for IV antibiotics. Due to her allergies, the medication regimen required creative alternatives, which brought significant out-of-pocket expenses. Determined to continue teaching, Elena soon faced the physical toll of treatment. She lost weight, muscle mass, and even experienced cognitive issues that interfered with her role as a language arts teacher.
These challenges, combined with her frail health, ultimately led her school district to request that she step down for her well-being and that of her students. Elena reflects on the intensity of her Lyme treatment, highlighting the fact that recovery from Lyme disease is a long journey, not a quick fix, often demanding patience, ongoing support, and resilience.
Elena's Journey to Healing and Coping Strategies
Elena had a long journey through diagnosis, treatment, and continued healing from Lyme disease and PANS. While Elena’s in remission, she still manages symptoms, focusing on emotional regulation and nervous system health. Magnesium supplements are greatly helpful in nervous system regulation, and Elena credits them for improving her family's sleep and overall well-being.
She emphasizes the importance of addressing both Lyme and PANS through proper detoxification and self-care, including sauna therapy, herbal treatments, and a tailored detox protocol due to her genetic predisposition. Through her journey, Elena maintains a resilient, positive mindset, which she believes has played a crucial role in her healing. From her first Lyme-specific appointment, she refused to let the disease control her life.
Her determination and proactive approach, coupled with a strong support system, have kept her motivated. She emphasizes that maintaining a positive mindset can significantly impact health outcomes, inspiring others to stay mentally strong, even in challenging circumstances.
Elena’s Advocacy for Lyme Disease
Being an advocate for Lyme disease, Elena has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and support for others affected by the illness. In fact, she played a pivotal role in getting May recognized as Lyme Disease Awareness Month in Connecticut, where the disease was first identified, a process that took three years of advocacy and testimony before the state legislature.
She has also volunteered extensively, worked on films, and partnered with organizations like Lyme Connection to increase public understanding of Lyme disease and its impact. Her advocacy extends beyond just awareness–Elena believes in staying actively involved in the cause to avoid falling into dark, isolating thoughts that can come from focusing too much on the illness.
She stresses the importance of keeping busy and maintaining a positive focus, as it can help manage the emotional and mental toll of chronic illness. Elena’s journey as an advocate is deeply tied to her own experiences with Lyme disease and PANS, and she encourages others to stay persistent and hopeful, even in the face of long recovery processes.
Discovering PEMF Therapy and Neurofeedback
PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) therapy and neurofeedback are effective tools for calming the nervous system and managing symptoms related to Lyme disease, anxiety, and neuroinflammation. PEMF works by sending signals to cells to improve communication and promote a parasympathetic state, helping with detoxification and inflammation.
The good thing about this is that it is portable and easy to use, with specific protocols designed to address anxiety, stress, and focus. Neurofeedback, on the other hand, helps to retrain the brain by calming specific regions, and it is particularly beneficial for individuals with chronic stress or anxiety. It can also improve brain function over time, enhancing focus, emotional regulation, and overall cognitive performance as it encourages more balanced brain activity.
Elena’s journey was a long and difficult one, as she pushed through immense challenges, including physical fragility and near-death experiences, while balancing family life and work. Despite brief improvements, she continued to search for answers, ultimately realizing that if she hadn’t persevered, she wouldn’t have survived. The key takeaway from her experience is that recovery isn’t about returning to your previous state, but about improving through small, consistent changes.
By focusing on “little wins” like daily movement, finding joy in simple pleasures, and adjusting lifestyle habits like sleep and diet, she learned that sustainable health is a lifelong commitment. Indeed, it's important to focus on progress rather than perfection, recognizing that mental and physical health improvements, such as regulating the nervous system, are essential for long-term well-being.
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