Holly Owens: My journey with Lyme Disease

Every wellness journey is unique, but the most important thing is taking that first step. Almost no one knows that better than Holly Owens, holistic healing and toxic living expert. After a three-year-long search for answers, Holly was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease. Since then, this wellness warrior has been using her own journey as an opportunity to share her story and empower others to take charge of their own health. We sat down with Holly to talk about Lyme disease and how CBD has become an integral part of her wellness routine.

Q: Tell us a little about Lyme disease? 

A: "Lyme disease and other tick borne illnesses like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesia and Bartonella are transmitted by tick bites. It’s a common misconception that you can only get Lyme disease and other tick borne infections on the East coast, but you can actually contract these anywhere! Check your animals and yourself after going on hikes or places with long grass and bushes. Ticks cling to these and then hop on you when you or your animal brush past them."

Q: What were some of the big signs and symptoms that made you think it was Lyme disease?

A: "Another common misconception is that most people get a bullseye rash after being bit by a tick and that is a way to tell that you have contracted Lyme disease. The truth is only about 20% of Lyme cases had the bullseye rash, so don’t assume you’re out of the woods because no rash appeared. The symptoms of Lyme and other tick borne illnesses are vast! Headaches, brain fog, fatigue, gut issues, neck pain, muscle stiffness, arthritis type pain, anxiety, sleep issues, night sweats, memory issues, skin rashes, hormone imbalances, the list goes on and on. It sadly usually takes a person with these symptoms a few years to get properly diagnosed. Be aware of them and if you’ve been bit by a tick immediately call your doctor to get on antibiotics, they work best within a week or two after being bit. The sooner the better!"

Q: How long did it take you to diagnose? 

A: "I had most of the symptoms above for about 3 years before I got diagnosed. I went from doctor to doctor, had so many tests done and none of them could pinpoint what was going on. My lab work all looked pretty normal, they said I looked healthy but I definitely didn’t feel healthy. I happened to make an appointment with a new doctor that was Lyme literate at the same time that Lyme disease was brought to my attention. After that I got confirmation I had Lyme disease, Babesia and mold toxicity."

Q: What are ways you manage your symptoms?

A: "At first I went deep on nutrition since it felt like the one thing I could control. I did tons of elimination diets to figure out what was causing me to have brain fog after eating and painful digestion issues. I spent a lot of time in saunas, took tons of supplements, vitamin IVs, coffee enemas and colonics. Ultimately what got me to where I’m at now, which is completely symptom free and feeling amazing again, is Bee Venom Therapy. It’s the only treatment I did for Lyme and Babesia. I didn’t go the antibiotic, ozone or supplement route." 

Q: What would you tell someone going through this right now? 

A: "Don’t give up! You are the only one living in your body, if a doctor makes you feel like it’s all in your head, fire them and find a new doctor. I saw about 5 doctors until I found one that actually listened to me and felt like she was fully on my team. Unfortunately, the natural and holistic route isn’t really covered by insurance so it will be more expensive if that’s the route you take, it’s sickening to see how much money is spent on Lyme disease. Educate yourself, listen to podcasts, and read books. It makes a huge difference when you feel like you know what you’re talking about when you go to a doctor about your health. Keep a symptom journal and take that with you to your appointments, your time is short with your doctors so take advantage of every minute and have everything you want to discuss written down."

Q: How has CBD helped you through this journey?

A: "CBD has been a huge game changer when it comes to my anxiety and occasional cramps. I was experiencing anxiety a lot more frequently when I was in the thick of my health journey and CBD always helped get me back to a state of calm. I use the lime flavored tincture. It’s by far the best tasting CBD I’ve had. Also, I use the Rapid Relief Cream. it feels SO good on sore muscles!"