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Oral Lichen Planus and Life Update
Time for an update!
Aside from making my yearly review and scripture posts, I haven't been on this blog much for the past couple of years, so I decided I better get in here and let you know I'm still out here!
Even though my last update was almost two years ago, I still have many visits here every month looking for information on Lichen Planus. My posts, My Oral Lichen Planus Diet, Living With Oral Lichen Planus, and my Oral Lichen Planus Resource lists are some of my most popular posts. I hope these posts have been helpful to all who are seeking information about this terrible illness. I belong to a few groups online and hear so many stories of suffering far worse than I've experienced, so I do hope I've been a help.
How have I been the past two years?
I really wish I had taken the time to keep a record of how my OLP symptoms have been. I do know that at Christmas 2021, I decided to try an orange, something I hadn't risked eating in a few years. I was surprised to find that it didn't cause a flare up. Over the next months, I started adding other foods that had previously been on my list of foods to avoid, number one on the list being tomatoes. For several months I enjoyed eating a lot of foods I probably shouldn't have, and I still do. I've even been able to eat pizza! But eventually, I ended up with a flare up and that scalded feeling, although it never went away completely, it did intensify again. So, I had to go back to being more careful. I have to say, I did enjoy it while it lasted!
At this point, in January 2023, I'm feeling pretty good. Yes, I can feel the OLP, but it isn't in a flare, so it's manageable. I'm still able to eat tomatoes, citrus fruits, and a bit of spice in moderation. The one thing I've realized I need to avoid more than anything else is SUGAR. I know, I know, that should be a given, but sometimes I just want a bit of chocolate! Well, I need to find some other food to treat myself, because I'm guaranteed a flare up if I eat sweet things.
What do I attribute my progress to?
Supplements! I really do believe the supplements I've been taking for years now are the reason not only my OLP is milder, but I just feel good, for the most part. I have more energy in my 60s than I ever did 20 years ago!
Supplement List:
I take 8 supplements, some of which are blends or combinations of vitamins etc. The ingredient list is long on some of them, so I won't include the amounts of the ingredients in each one.
Multivitamin & Mineral: Beta caroten, Vitamins C,D,E,B6,B12, Thiamine,Riboflavin, Niacinamide, Folate, Biotin, Pantothenic acid, Calcium, Iodine, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum, Boron,
High EPA Fish Oil
Broad Spectrum Antioxidant: Mixed carotenoids, Vitamin C, Mixed tocopherols concentrate, Lycopene, Olive extract, Grape extract, Calcium (carbonate)
Inflammatory Support: Turmeric, Ginger, Green Tea, Devil's Claw, Calcium
Anthocyanin Rich Antioxidant: Grape seed, Resveratrol, Green Tea, Protease, Bromelain, Quercetin, Bilberry Extract, Ginko Extract
Probiotic
Extra Vitamin D3
Immune Function Support: vitamin C, E, zinc, Echinacea extract, Astragalus, Black Chokeberry extract
I can't say for sure why these supplements have helped me, but I do know the last three on the list seem to have made the most difference. I added these to my regimen a few years ago, and that's when I started to see improvements. These are also the supplements recommended to strengthen the immune system against a virus and I had a very mild case. Coincidence? Perhaps. But I do seem to be sick a lot less frequently than I used to be, so I'll take the win!
What am I doing these days instead of blogging?
As much as I've always loved writing, I just can't seem to get back into it. Even in the last two years I was blogging, I'd start off the first of the year with plans and ideas, but had a hard time following through. Our granddaughter was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in March 2020, at the age of 6. At that time, I started a Facebook page called Team Emberley, and I guess that took more of my focus. It was a way to update family and friends on her progress through the ups and downs of treatment. It also became a way to raise funds to help support our son and his family. With all the trips to the city, and long stays in the hospital or Ronald MacDonald House it was impossible for him to work full time. Two months later, his second daughter was born, making things even more difficult.
We're looking forward to our granddaughter ringing the bell after her last chemo in June, 2023, God willing.
We've been overwhelmed with the support and encouragement we've received during this time, but we didn't want to depend on the generosity of others indefinitely, so we started brainstorming other ways to raise funds. My husband came up with a novel idea; start a YouTube channel! In March 2022, he uploaded his first video on Coffee Walks and Whatever.
I'm mostly behind the scenes, but as time goes by, I've started taking part more in the videos. It's a long road to monetization for two old fogies like us, but it's something we can do together, and guess what? We're having fun!
I hope you'll come over and check out the channel, and you can also follow our FB page.
Coffee Walks and Whatever (FB page)
Will I be back to blogging?
I never say never! When I see how many people still visit here, it really does make me want to come back. And who knows, that need to write may return someday and I'll make my way back here on a regular basis. For now, I'll try to at least make an update now and then. I may even share some videos from Coffee Walks and Whatever. 😁
To whoever is reading this, Thank you so much for stopping by my little corner of the blogosphere. I hope you've found a little help and encouragement during your visit.
Until next time, Bye for now ~~~Deb
Verse for 2023 ~~~~ Micah 6:8
Last year I wrote:
As I thought about these things, I came across this verse that seems to best portray what I want my focus to be in the coming year:
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3
As well intentioned as I was at the beginning of the year, I have to confess, there have been many days that perfect peace has eluded me. I haven’t stopped trusting, but I know I’ve allowed my mind to wander…to go to places that bring anything but perfect peace. I have not kept my mind on the Lord in the way this verse instructs.
This year, as I thought about what I want my focus to be, I was thinking something about moving forward, embracing change, new things, or the future. But as I was reading, I came across Micah 6:8 and knew that was my verse.
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8
As we step into this new year, I acknowledge my total dependence on my Lord and Saviour. I just want to walk humbly with Him, seeking his guidance day by day as I move forward, embracing change in whatever He has for me.
Reflecting On 2022
1. What were the highlights or accomplishments of the past year?
The highlight of the past year was the Brian starting a YouTube channel in March. It came about when we were brain storming ways to raise funds to help out Justin during Emberley’s illness. We were watching a young guy walking around his city making videos and Brian thought, “I could do that!’ and so he did! It can be difficult coming up with a video at least once a week, but for the most part, it’s been fun and we’re looking forward to new adventures in the coming years.
I don’t know if I’d call it a highlight, but seeing Emberley out of the hospital more this past year has definitely been a blessing!
Attending church starting in spring when the mask mandates were lifted has been a highlight. Different from what we’re used to but we’re settling in and enjoying being there.
2. What were the major themes of the past year?
Emberley’s continued treatment for Leukemia has been the main theme.
The other constant has been the YouTube channel; coming up with places to go for a walk and trying out different ideas has been fun and challenging and definitely getting us out and about!
3. What disappointments or regrets did you experience?
I can’t really think of anything I would consider a disappointment or a regret. Of course we would love to see Emberley completely healthy and not undergoing treatment, but we’re looking forward to her ringing that chemo bell after her last treatment, hopefully in June.
4. What was missing from the past year?
I read my answer from last year and decided, it works for this year too… I guess I’m missing just having a normal life, one where I don’t have a granddaughter with cancer.
5. What did you learn from the past year?
I guess the main thing would be that we’re never to old to try something new or make a huge life change.
If we spend too much time focused on the negative things in this world or in our personal lives, it just gets us down. It’s so much better to have a positive outlook and make changes that will improve our lives. Some of those changes are just getting out of our comfort zone and getting in front of a camera. Others are more significant, like letting go of some things from the past, deciding to go visit a church and finding that maybe it’s the right place for us.
Verse For 2022~~~ Isaiah 26:3
I’m not sure how or when it came to me, but somewhere in the past couple of weeks I knew that my word for the year would be ‘Trust’. What else could it be? This past year has definitely been a reminder to me that the only way to get through each day is to trust in God. This world and our lives are in his hands, so what else can we do but to trust that he has a plan in everything we go through?
As I contemplated what I should write today, I was reminded of something I learned shortly after I came to know Jesus as my Saviour back in 1985. We’d begun home schooling out kids and in one of Dana’s Bible study books the lesson was on the account of Joseph’s life in Genesis. I think I may have gotten more out of that lesson than Dana did! It made such an impression on me as a baby Christian that years later I included it in my book.
Who would have thought that God had a part in Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery? I’m sure when he was going through it all, even Joseph didn’t understand why all these things were happening to him, but he remained faithful to God nonetheless. It took many years before God’s plan became evident, but in Genesis 45:8a Joseph tells his brothers, “so, now it was not you that sent me hither, but God:” God had a plan for Joseph’s life, even though it meant he would have to endure pain and suffering. It’s so comforting to know that no matter how confusing, or how difficult the circumstances of my life may be, God is in control.
I also read a quote from Charles Spurgeon’s message, A Happy Christian.
“And you, friend, when you are in good full work, and wages are high, and the house is well-furnished, and the cupboard is full, it is very easy then for you to kneel down at family-prayer and thank God for his kindness; but how about it when the husband is sick, when the funds have got very low, and when the little children look at their father wondering where the next meal will come from — to be satisfied even then that it is all right! Oh this is a grand thing! This is just the mark of difference between the Christian and the worldling. The worldling blesses God while he gives him plenty, but the Christian blesses him when he smites him: he believes him to be too wise to err and too good to be unkind; he trusts him where he cannot trace him, looks up to him in the darkest hour, and believes that all is well. O Christian, if your heart is right, you will understand this spiritual satisfaction, and your soul will be satisfied in times of drought.”
As I thought about these things, I came across this verse that seems to best portray what I want my focus to be in the coming year:
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3
There’s also a song based on Spurgeon’s words. It’s been a favourite for years, so I thought I’d include it.
Trust His Heart
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