Hi Melodye,

How long have I had MS?  I think I've had it since I was six or so.  Officially--I was diagnosed in 1993, finally!  I had been in a MS excaberation since 1984 after a drunk driver did a head on collision with my car.  I was not seriously hurt, just some bruises (I ride horses, I go limp when I fall, paid off big time in the car wreck) but it took NINE YEARS for my MS attack to be diagnosed correctly, and in that time I had TWO YEARS with my left leg being completely numb.  I finally told my regular doctor that I wanted him to refer me to a chiropractor since he was not doing me any good.  So he sent me on to specialists, and I ended up with a neurologist who diagnosed me.  It took me another 4 years to get my neurologist to perscribe me the medicine that works on my MS.

I no longer have faith in modern medicine either.  My grandmother was a MD, I was raised to revere and respect doctors, but I no longer do so.  I see my neurologist twice a year to get my prescription for the one medicine that helps my MS (dronabinol), otherwise I do herbal supplements (bilberry is VERY GOOD, Milk Thistle, Hawthorn Berry, Ginkgo biloba, Astragalus, ginger), oils, Vit C, some minerals and homeopathic remedies.  I also try to get 20 minutes of sunlight on as much skin as I can, I just started this after reading a book on Lyme's ("Disguised as the Devil" by M. M. Drymon), my neurologist had been suggesting this, after reading the book I am doing it religiously.  It seems to be helping me deal with the heat better this year, at least the horses are still allowing me to ride with a bit. 

I live 30 miles east of Charlotte, NC, my son lives in Raleigh, NC.

If Vitamin D is key to preventing/controlling Lyme's, modern medicing has been doing everything it can in the last 40 years or so to make the human body a good environment for Lyme's.  The sunlight phobia, the cholesterol phobia, the saturated fat phobia (lard from pigs raised in the sun is a super source of Vit D), and now some doctors are saying that kids should not drink milk.  Yep, Lyme's is being aided and abetted by modern medicine every step of the way, especially since doctors can lose their medical licences by treating chronic Lyme's disease.  What better friend can a neuronal parasite have than modern medicine?

How much are your lessons?  My husband goes North to the D.C. area to do trade shows several times a year.  He went to UVA so he is sort of familiar with the area around Charlottesville, Va..  I can't stand most modern dressage, but it looks like I could learn some things from your horses (hint--I HATE horses going behind the vertical.)  I am a Forward Seat rider, I've ridden for over 40 years, and I like my horses to go forward freely.  I can only ride 30 minutes, if I have to catch, groom and tack up I am too tired to ride.  Luckily I have found three stables willing to work with me, two down here and North Forks School of Equitation up near Jefferson, Md., the only Forward Seat school that I KNOW that will school me in the pure Forward Seat (no collection).

I'm going to friend you so we can "talk" privately.

Take care, Jackie     

Hi Melodye, I saw on your site that you have/had Lyme's disease.  My son has it too (chronic),  and I have MS.  Thank you for discussing it on your site.