​When I looked at the ingredient list on my deodorant and read the warning, "consult doctor if you have kidney disease," I knew it was time for new deodorant.

Natural deodorants get a bad rap. People say they don't work, which is partially true. Most natural deodorants do not contain an antiperspirant. This is because preventing us from sweating takes chemicals. Chemicals, which I might add, are easily absorbed into the thin skin of our armpits.

I understand the importance of staying dry and I'm ever so lucky that I don't sweat very much (except for Lyme-induced night sweats). But sweating serves an important purpose--we sweat to get rid of toxins and as Lyme patients we need to detox. One thing I've read is that you sweat more if you use a traditional deodorant, so after a few months on the good stuff, you will start sweating less.

My research led me to Green Tidings All Natural Deodorant in Lavender Scent:

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​This stuff really does work. It's a stick deodorant, which is more comfortable to me than a spray or roll-on. I prefer the lavender scented version. The smell is amazing. I love unscrewing the container every morning for a whiff of spicy lavender. It goes on easily and doesn't leave marks on my clothes. I'm in month two of using it and no pit stains.

​Yes, it is pricier than other deodorants, but them's the breaks with all non-toxic products. Also, my stick is lasting longer than I've read in reviews.

I love Shamrock Shakes. And I mean I LOVE Shamrock Shakes.

Back in the day it was not a stretch to ingest 10 of those bad boys in one Shamrock Shake season, which was an official holiday for me. I love the green color, the minty taste, the once-a-year excitement of it all.

But, alas, I have Lyme disease and as we know--sugar feeds Lyme. From the McDonald's Nutrition Fact website, there is 73 grams of sugar in the small Shamrock Shake. That is more sugar than I eat in a week. 

But the secret to a happy Lyme life is substitutions, not eliminations. We can substitute a walk for a run, a candlelit dinner at home for a night on the town, a small piece of dark chocolate for a triple fudge brownie sundae.

Lucky for me, Lisa Wells from Cook Eat Paleo, has developed a Lyme Diet friendly Shamrock Shake:  

Healthy Shamrock Shake Recipe

​In honor of my Irish heritage, and my former obsession with the Americanized Shake version of it, I decided to give it a whirl.  

I gathered up all the ingredients from Whole Foods and got out my Vitamix. It's not as fast as picking up at shake at the drive thru, but 5-7 minutes later I had a Shamrock-like shake.  

The texture and taste were great. I used maple syrup to sweeten. Of course it didn't taste exactly like the real thing, but there was no guilt or stomach ache afterward.  

Happy St. Patrick's Day and may you be lucky enough to find a substitution for your favorite treat. 

​What healthy recipe should I try next? 
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"For each petal on the shamrock this brings a wish your way. Good health, good luck, and happiness for today and every day." - Irish Blessing

Prepare to be inspired. This interview is with Nicole of the blog Bite Me. The Epic Saga of Lyme Disease & Me. As you read on, you will see she is a talented writer, and if you visit her fantastic  Etsy store (which I really  recommend you do), you will see she is also a talented knitter. I have yet to require a picc line, but if I do, I will run over to her store and buy one of her beautiful covers. Nicole's personality shines through her illness and she has wisdom beyond her years. I hope you enjoy the interview and visit Bite Me. to follow Nicole along her Lyme journey. You will definitely learn a thing or two. 
 
Tell us a little about yourself and your blog: 
My name is Nicole, I'm 23 and have been blogging away at Bite Me. since I was 15. I have always had a passion for writing, and it is a healthy, therapeutic way to share what I am going through, and to process all the craziness that comes with being chronically ill. I had very little energy when I started, but words are something that have always come easy to me. When I first became ill in 2008, there was much less Lyme disease awareness, and few people were sharing their stories. I want to help educate, and maybe bring hope to people using my tiny platform in this corner of the universe. 
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What are your passions? 
Okay, how much time do we have? I am an extremely passionate person, and have to censor my use of exclamation points! The Arts are a huge part of my life: I love making collages, singing in choir, playing classical piano and composition. I knit for hours every day, and have a shop on Etsy (Fresh Squeezed Lyme Aid) where I sell my creations. I designed knitted picc line covers for myself during years of treatment, and received so many compliments that I opened up shop. It seemed like a wonderful way to help people, raise awareness and donate money for Lyme disease charities. I also spin yarn (although I've yet to learn to spin straw into gold) and create art batts. It's such wonderful therapy for my legs, too. I started a sister shop on etsy for fiberish endeavors,  which is magical: Etsy (The Spinnacle). I practice  yoga and mediation. I read voraciously and am a photographer. I love cooking scrumptious gluten-free vegan foods (particularly refined-sugar free desserts). I spend a lot of my time resting, and have a ton of time to pursue passions, which is a lovely silver lining.

How long did it take for you to get a diagnosis? 
Like a lot of people, I don't know how when I was bitten, or how long I've been sick. I believe I've been unwell since early childhood, where I had some strange health problems. I became really ill when I was 12-13 years old, so it took me about 3 years to get diagnosed from the point I started "really" becoming debilitated.

What was your lowest point and how did you find your way out of it? 
Hitting rock bottom is so humbling, and an experience I hope you only have to do once, maximum. It has made me realize how simple most things in life are, and to not sweat the small stuff. 

I went from being a super active grade 10 student to being in a wheelchair in a number of weeks. That was crazy. What began as a short trip to the US. To see an LLMD ended with us travelling to 3 states, and staying 9 months while I was undergoing treatment. Doing IV therapy for several years was a sort of extended low point in my journey, because I felt pretty crappy. I guess a recent rock bottom was somewhere between getting pancreatitis and withdrawing from pain medication. I clawed my way out through sheer force of will, practice, mediation, hope, supplements, and love. Looking up from the bottom, it never seems possible, so I usually tell myself that in the future, I will look back at this moment with pride because I survived.  

What is the one thing you have found most helpful in treatment? 
Staying positive. Keeping my face to the sunshine, and being strong enough to reach out for help. I try to bring to mind the things I am grateful for in my life. Even if it's something simple, like the way today, in between stormy clouds, rain, and gusty winds, there was a bit of brilliant blue sky and sunshine. I try to hold on to those moments of simple joy, and store them for when I need them most.

Okay that's way more than 1 thing, but hopefully you'll forgive me because I am Chronically verbose. 

What do you want people to know about Lyme disease? 
Lyme disease is much more common than we've been led to believe. And I'd want people to understand more about it, to help break the stigmas surrounding tick-bourne infections. It is incredibly difficult to fight both an infection and misinformation and prejudice. 

Lyme prevention is like that teddy bear picnic song, so if you go out in the woods today, please check yourself for ticks after, and go in disguise (tuck you pants into your socks! Wear light colored clothes!). And If I never again heard the phrase, "Hard to catch and easy to cure," again it would be too soon. 

What are you most grateful for in your healing journey? 
Community. Family. Friends. Music. Ocean. Amazing, compassionate doctors of all different disciplines who put their livelihoods on the line to help patients. I've met so many incredible people on my healing journey, and feel so blessed to have been shown how much goodness there is on this beautiful planet.

I'm always looking for new stories and perspectives on Lyme disease, healing, and wellness. If you are interested in being featured on The Lyme Interview, head on over to my Connect page. ​​

"Passion is an amazing flotation device." - Lizz Winstead