Matilda Holman
Chico, CA
Lyme Disease

I had been sick for a very long time but by 1991, I was significantly worse. I had been under the care of a physician for what was diagnosed as migraines. These devastating headaches dictated my life—my six weeks of vacation time were scheduled around my headaches. They would last anywhere from 3 to 10 days in duration and I would get them every 3 to 4 weeks. The residual effects of the migraines would linger for days accompanied by vomiting, weakness and fatigue. I developed a rash on my right leg, which a dermatologist treated with cortisone. I also sought out the help of a chiropractor and acupuncturist but, like everything else I tried, it would work for a while and then quit. Even the Demerol shots I was taking every three months for pain stopped working—the effects would last only six hours. My condition and the pain steadily worsened and when I retired from my career in 1995, my vision was notably blurred and I was diagnosed with macular degeneration and fibromyalgia. It was in 1997 while visiting friends in Modesto, California that I first learned of the Sierra Integrative Medical Center. Seeing my obvious pain and suffering my friend said to me “Why are you here? Why aren’t you at the Sierra Integrative Medical Center?” That was the start of my recovery. On September 27, 1997 I made an appointment at the Sierra Integrative Medical Center for a complete physical and laboratory testing. It was during my evaluation with one of the physicians at the Clinic that I first discovered I was suffering from Lyme Disease. Although I had suspected this diagnosis, I had never been tested for it by any of the countless physicians I had seen in the past. Western Blot Lyme Testing revealed that I was positive to three bands. I also had elevated titers of Epstein Barr Virus, Herpes 1, Herpes Zoster, and Circulation problems.

Today I am not only headache-free but also Lyme-free as well. I returned to my “regular” physician in my hometown and asked that he test me for Lyme. His puzzled response after he completed the testing was, “You don’t have Lyme anymore.” He was shocked—I wasn’t. I knew I was cured.

I have joined a Lyme support group where I see hundreds of people-- men, women, and children—afflicted with this insidious disease. I see some wearing antibiotic shunts, desperate for relief. At one of the meetings I listened to a representative from a pharmaceutical company proclaim that they “...may have an imminent cure for Lyme”. I heard physicians from a famous medical institution offer little hope of their own for a realistic remedy. I sat there, knowing there was hope and help—I was living proof that Lyme does not have to be a life sentence. A number of people have approached me, eager to hear of my experiences with the Sierra Integrative Medical Center. Some are skeptical of alternative treatments; others are reluctant because they say they can’t afford it. But I asked of one person “How long have you been doctoring your Lyme disease?” to which she replied, “Three years, but I still feel terrible.” I told her that I had been treated for less than two months—and I was cured.

My experience at the Sierra Integrative Medical Center was the most unbelievable event of my life. I am convinced that I was “led” to the Clinic—not only to receive relief from my own malady but also perhaps to offer hope to others who struggle with unresolved illness. I want everyone who will listen to know that there is an alternative to traditional medical care and it can offer hope, help and more importantly- health.