Healing 2.0 – Peptides. Exosomes. And Hope.

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What a journey — this gig of trying to regain one’s health.

Pesky layers of illness. Layers and layers. Debilitating. Life-altering. Complicated. Frustrating. And at times, stratospherically overwhelming. That’s a lot of overwhelmingness!

Totally been cramping my “sassy” style.

Here’s where science, advanced medicine, and the development of new treatments swoop in for the rescue. Or what every living being suffering with disease, ailments, or injury hope for anyway.

Thank goodness for all science-y peeps who do science-y medical things.

I mean seriously. Right?!

Foundational + Regenerative Medicine

Most of you reading this post know my Lyme disease illness + healing journey. For any newbies to the blog, and to perhaps connect a few dots with respect to my most recent treatments, the first part of this reflection serves as an abbreviated recap.

After almost two decades of traditional (plus a splash of alternative) medicine treatments, with little to-no-lasting improvements, the hubs and I turned to Infusio Beverly Hills. Their integrative and foundational approach to help the body heal (at the cellular level) offered treatment opportunities we were in desperate search of.

In August 2017, I became a guest of Infusio BH for ten days of daily supportive therapies and SVF stem cells: Stromal vascular fraction — adipose-derived from my fat — stem cell therapy. Six months following SVF, I had autologous cyto-immunotherapy (ACT) — a process using my blood, dendritic cells, and stem cells combined — to help modulate my immune system.

The healing process from stem cell therapy can be (and was) slow and lengthy. The projected healing period is 12-15 months following SVF. Noting that as each patient’s illness and bodies are unique, healing experiences are, as well.

With SVF stem cells, many Lyme patients experience the healing they so desperately have been seeking. Which is an absolute and wonderful blessing, indeed!

As with any treatment for any disease, I knew going in to SVF that there were no guarantees. I remained optimistic and hopeful for even the smallest of improvements.

And that was the case. I did experience improvements, especially around months 3 thru 4 post SVF. These improvements were short lived, as expected, due to the projected neurological repair phase — which kicked-in for me during months 5 thru 11 post stems. This phase was quite a challenging part of the healing process (as predicted by my Infusio doctors). But toward the end of my 12 month post stems anniversary mark, I gradually began to feel as though I was turning a significant healing corner. As if I could almost reach out and grab what appeared to be just ahead — improved health, me upright… and living life… fully.

I was soooo close!

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In a previous post: Life is Precious… and Complicated. Where’s My Decoder Ring?, I write about how life has a way of adding to already challenging layers. Emotionally stressful events brought my healing to an abrupt halt in late September, 2018 — 13 months post stem cells. My health declined significantly, leaving me miserable and mostly bedridden once more.

Healing Complications

So many hidden / unexpected /complicated layers come with disease, major surgery and injuries, and can continue coming throughout any healing process.

Part of the complicated layers for myself, and so many others fighting Lyme Disease, is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). I share additional information about MCAS in this previous post: 18 Months Post Stem Cells.

Identifying MCAS (and inflammation-gone-wild) as an underlying, complex issue hindering my healing process, was a significant game changer.

I am grateful to my physicians for not giving up on me, and continuing (to this day) to research for additional therapies and treatment options.

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Peptides and Exosomes: Healing 2.0

To address the extreme sensitivities, inflammation, and neurological issues lingering 18+ months post SVF stem cells, mainly due to MCAS, and to help jumpstart the healing process, we introduced the following — my Healing 2.0 treatment plan:

Peptides

Peptide therapy provides my body with healing elixirs, consisting of three separate peptides — via daily subcutaneous injections — to help: in regulating inflammatory response and balancing immune response; with angiogenesis (the development of new blood vessels); in regulating sleep + help re-calibrate my circadian rhythm.

A little over a month after beginning peptide therapy, and I noticed fatigue lifting, less brain fog, significant improvements with GI issues and sleep patterns. All good in my book! Holding on to Hope for continued positive momentum.

Exosomes

As a vital part of Healing 2.0, hubby I traveled back to Los Angeles in March 2019, where I received Exosomes and supportive therapies (specific to my body’s needs).

Treatments were a full week and a bit exhausting — mainly because I had been mostly bedridden the five months prior to travel/treatments. It was a huge week for me, to say the least. An Airbnb complication only added to feeling so drained. I’ll spare you the long story! We ended up having to make a last minute, late-night hotel grab that put us further away from my doctor than originally planned. Which translated into unwanted, daily commutes negotiating LA traffic. Made long treatment days even longer. But I had the most handsome Uber driver all week. (thanks, hubby!)

After returning home from LA, I was tired and needed to catch up on rest. Worth emphasizing: I was tired – not fatigued! Those who know extreme fatigue understand the difference — the need to rest to catch up on sleep vs. overpowering weight and heaviness that encompasses your entire body. I can’t express enough what a welcomed and noticeable improvement it was not to have unrelenting fatigue plaguing this body. Silly to some, perhaps, but it was exciting to just be tired and merely needing to rest and recharge from a long week of treatments, travel, and daily life activities.

Think I did a happy dance over being tired!

At two weeks post exosomes, there was an overall lift in how I felt, acted, and even talked. My voice was stronger, my energy levels were gradually increasing, and on days when not as tired, there was a bounce returning to my step and sassiness had re-entered the building!

All such blessings and soooo encouraging! At least for me. My animation and sassy spirit was maybe not as welcomed by others. (lol!)

Keep in mind, the time period describes above was early in the post exosomes healing process. Potential downward dips were expected in the weeks to follow. And obviously, there’s no way of knowing the healing potential — or of sustainability — of this particular round of therapies.

No guarantees.

Is it possible additional exosomes might be needed in the future for maintenance? Only time will tell.

Healing. Optimistically Moving Forward. Holding on to Hope.

Remaining genuinely optimistic about this reset in my treatment path. Incredibly grateful to my doctors (and to all of the Infusio healing team).

Life remains all about taking one day at a time; one glorious sunrise and sunset followed by another. I’m immensely thankful for Healing 2.0., and thrilled to share uplifting, positive progress experienced — so soon following treatments. I’m eagerly looking forward to what the future holds within this healing journey. Most definitely counting my blessings and Holding on to Hope.

Until my next Reflection…

May this new season in nature, and life, bring kindness and love, busting-at-the-seams happiness, and encouraging forward progress — especially if you’re on a journey for wellness.

Hugs to you — from my lovely particle floating about within this wondrous universe.

Blessings and positive vibes — always!

—Terry xx

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Stay tuned for future reflections, hopefully brimming with exciting healing happenings!

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