dlp252

Wow!!! How is it possible that our little community was the very last post on page THREE of the new posts, lol! That must be a first!

One year ago I had my first appt with my current dr. and got my first test results. Remember? I kind of got my Christmas present

Indeed!!!!! We were all so very happy for you!!!

No I haven't been treated for bartonella, it didn't come up in my testing. I wonder too. I have pain mostly in the balls of my feet. My right foot especially. When I am having lyme pain, I get sharp pains in different parts of my feet. Top at times, big toes at times, I forget. This could be bart??

I've been setting the alarm to get up about 2 hrs after my last dose of Vit C (at bedtime) and take charcoal. I think it helps to take it at night. I know when I slept through a couple of days ago and didn't take any I felt worse in the morning.

Yeah, I have a lot of pain in my right foot...just about what you've described. My bid toe has been especially bad in the last two months.

I took my charcoal in the middle of the night last night (I've had the bottle for a few weeks, but couldn't figure out how to fit it in, lol). I woke up around midnight, so went to the restroom, and took my charcoal. I did sleep a little better last night--still a bit restless, but the one thing I DID notice is that I didn't have as much burning in my abdomin.

How much do you take. I have solaray, and the instructions say to take 1 capsule (can't remember the dosage offhand), two times a day. I can't fit it in during the day so I'm wondering if I can take the two capsules at the same time at night, lol.

Karen,

(sorry that post was so darned long that I broke it up, lol)

I just wanted to add that I have not been treated with antibiotics either. My doctor is doing exactly what yours wants to do...he is building up my immune system and my body's natural abilities to detoxify and in general just making sure I can handle treatment. I've been taking herbals and supplements and actually am feeling much better than I was a year ago. Part of my problem is that I have mold toxicity...I am still being exposed to the mold and my doctor does not want to start major treatment of any kind until that exposure is reduced or elminated.

great, let's hope so...if i had lyme, or anything with similiar symptoms, would it be surprising that i feel like that catscan dye i had 4 weeks ago amplified my symptoms? since i had that, i feel even more weak, dizzy, strange and it feels like it had an effect on my nerves, odd cold and hot feelings...before i had that dye, i'd sleep like 13 hours....now i sleep 4 hours and wake up like i never even went to sleep, my body feels MUCH more out of wack since i had that...and since i had that, i have an endless appetite, when these whole 11 months i've been sick i felt like i had to force food down and it seems like basic doctors just can't answer it

sorry to ask so much, but if either of you had an idea with that i'd love to hear it cause it even puzzles me, and i can tell you've gone through a lot with sickness so maybe it would ring a bell...it feels like i'm so reactant, and when i react to something, it sticks and just adds on to the pile...but it's just so much strain these 4 weeks....yesterday, i felt wired up and my mom even said my eyes looked like i was on drugs, and literally minutes later i felt like a truck hit me and couldn't stop yawning- crazy!

Well, I know that lyme can cause all kinds of imbalances in your body. Some of my main symptoms are chemical, metal and food sensitivities. I've not had the catscan dyes, but I can say that I started reacting to my own allergy shots. It wouldn't surprise me one bit that a dye (whether chemical or natural) made you feel worse. Of course other things can cause sensitivities too, but that's where the LLMDs did what other doctors didn't for me...they tested for TONS of stuff.

I have results from a Western Blot done by the local lab. We also sent one to Igenix but I don't have that back yet. The doctor wanted to compare them. According to him, this test means my daughter has been exposed to Lyme in the past but it doesn't necessarily mean it is active now. He is opposed to treating with antibiotics and thinks we should try to build up her immune system. Her results are:

Lyme Ab IgM by WB:

P41 Ab. Absent

P39 Ab. Absent

P23 Ab Absent

Lyme AB IGG by WB:

p93 Ab. Absent

P66 Ab. Absent

P58 Ab. Absent

P45 Ab. Present Abnormal

P41 Ab. Present Abnormal

P39 Ab. Absent

P30 Ab. Absent

P28 Ab. Absent

P23 Ab. Absent

P18 Ab. Absent

The doctor also said that other things could cause those antibodies.

Would this be considered positive by an LLMD?

Well, unless the lyme was treated, it's my opinion that she still has it. Carla is a good example of this. She's had it for years, but wasn't always sick from it. As far as being caused by other things...I think that's true...I'll repost (if I can find them) what the specific bands mean--some of them can be other things.

A LLMD would probably take into consideration any ongoing symptoms along with this test...the diagnosis would probably be "clinical".

I'm also interested to see how the Igenix testing compares to this. I can see that the IgM panel does not test for as many bands as the Igenix test does. The IgG has most of the bands I think.

So here were my Igenix western blot results:

IgG:

18 kDa -

22 kDa -

**23-25 kDa +

28 kDa -

30 kDa -

**31 kDa +++

**34 kDa -

**39 kDa -

**41 kDa ++

45 kDa -

58 kDa +

66 kDa -

73 kDa -

**83-93 kDa -

IgM:

18 -

22 -

**23-25 IND

28 -

30 -

**31 -

**34 -

**39 -

**41 IND

45 -

58 -

66 -

73 -

**83-93 -

I got a diagnosis of lyme (plus LOTS Of other things). My positives are mostly on the IgG side, but I have TONS of symptoms of chronic lyme. A lot of doctors don't believe in chronic lyme...somehow they believe that lyme just goes away.

Okay, here is a brief explanation (part of a MUCH longer article, lol) of the Western Blots:

The following is a brief explanation of the test results. Again, each band is an antigen complexed (bound together) with an antibody made by the immune system, specifically for that antigen (part) of Borrelia burgdorferi.

18: An outer surface protein.

22: Possibly a variant of outer surface protein C.

23-25: Outer surface protein C (osp C).

28: An outer surface protein.

30: Possibly a variant of outer surface protein A.

31: Outer surface protein A (osp A). 34: Outer surface protein B (osp .

37: Unknown, but it is in the medical literature that it is a borrelia-associated antibody. Other labs consider it significant.

39: Unknown what this antigen is, but based on research at the National Institute of Health (NIH), other Borrelia (such as Borrelia recurrentis that causes relapsing fever), do not even have the genetics to code for the 39 kDa antigen, much less produce it. It is the most specific antibody for borreliosis of all.

41: Flagella or tail. This is how Borrelia burgdorferi moves around, by moving the flagella. Many bacteria have flagella. This is the most common borreliosis antibody.

45: Heat shock protein. This helps the bacteria survive fever. The only bacteria in the world that does not have heat shock proteins is Treponema pallidum, the cause of syphilis.

58: Heat shock protein.

66: Heat shock protein. This is the second most common borrelia antibody.

73: Heat shock protein.

83: This is the DNA or genetic material of Borrelia burgdorferi. It is the same thing as the 93, based upon the medical literature. But laboratories vary in assigning significance to the 83 versus the 93.

93: The DNA or genetic material of Borrelia burgdorferi.

In my clinical experience, if a patient has symptoms suspicious for borreliosis, and has one or more of the following bands, there is a very high probability the patient has borreliosis.

These bands are 18, 22, 23-25, 28, 30, 31, 34, 37, 39, 41, 83, and 93.

This is true regardless of whether it is IgG or IgM.. But again, there is no universal agreement on the significance of these bands. Betina Wilska, M.D. from Germany is one of the world's experts on outer surface protein A (31 kDa).

At the international borreliosis conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, I asked her personally about the 30 kDa band. She told me it was the same as the 31 kDa band (osp A).

When you have the opportunity to talk to borreliosis experts, this helps in assigning significance to findings, on an imperfect test. As a medical doctor, I am stating all of this with no axe to grind, no professorship to protect, and no preset opinions. Patients, personal research, and conferences have helped me interpret the borreliosis medical literature in regard to testing.

Nobody would like to have available a bullet-proof, 100% reliable Lyme borreliosis test more than I would. But we must use what is currently available. I always welcome second opinions.

----------------------------------

Here is his update written sometime around 2005.

When physicians do consider borreliosis, they often start with a screening test such as an EIA, ELISA, IFA or PCR-DNA probe. If the initial screening test is negative, many physicians tell patients they do not have Lyme borreliosis and the testing is stopped right there.

Screening tests that are positive are often followed by a test called the Western blot. The blot is a

Happy Birthday dearest Judy!!!

A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one and all!!!!!

Kassandra,

I don't but I'm considering taking charcoal when I wake up the first time each night.

Melmark,

April,

I haven't tried accupuncture yet, but maybe I should give that a try.

Well, I guess I don't really try for coverage. I use a small eyeshadow type brush to dab on a little of the foundation on any spots (for instance I have a brown spot near my eye and the remnants of 3 blemishes), then put a couple of really thin layers of the foundation on all over. The spots that need to be covered are, but the rest of the face is just sort of blended.

The formulation of the foundation in this brand can make a difference in coverage I think, as can the type of brush used. If I use a kabuki brush, I get a very, very thing layer of minerals, but if I use a flat brush, I get a much heavier application. Since I'm old, lol, I tend to not want the heavy coverage, but go for a couple of thin ones...which seems to be just enough for me.

question though, should he have an accurate test for lyme? i know you said the igenex thing, but i just can't afford to order tests, it'd be great if he had the test, because i'm sure he knows...i just don't want to go for nothing...also, you said sometimes it doesn't come up if it's deep in even if you have it.? how would a doctor know in that case? is there other levels that would indicate it or something?

Most LLMDs, will take into consideration the Igenix test results, but will also do other testing to rule out other things. Even if the lyme testing comes out negative, having ruled out other things, they will usually make a clinical diagnosis. The Igenix test would be one of the most accurate tests for lyme...they specialize in lyme testing. My doctor had the tests already...I just gave them my blood and they sent everything in. Most lyme doctors do not contract with insurance companies so I had to pay up front for the testing, but the full cost of the western blots was covered and I was reimbursed for that.

Please forgive this intrusion of a serious lurker, but I DO have a bat story of my own.

A few years ago I went up to visit my sister who lives in the mountains near Yosemite. She dragged me out of bed one fine day and said "come on there's a bat in the overhang outside". So, she has this huge two story house...the bat can't be on a lower overhang...it's on the highest one. We tried throwing rocks, but decided that wasn't a very good idea...too many chances of breaking a window. No broom or other implement would reach that high, so we got out the water hose. At first all we did was drench ourselves but then, um, it worked really well, lol. Momentarily the bat had decided to dive bomb us, but then mid dive changed it's mind. That was enough to send us running. Doesn't sound as funny now, but it was hysterical at the time.

I'm counting on you ladies to all have been telling the truth...

LOL Well, I have to say that I've been using Bare Minerals for YEARS now and loved it, and probably would never have changed if it didn't seem to be reacting all of a sudden, lol. So the fact that this DOESN'T seem to make me react or breakout is a huge part of my big love fest.

Did you get a sample kit?

don't some walk-in's have specialists? i think there's different types, but people say he's great and "treating lyme aggressively"...supposedly he started off as a normal doctor, but contracted lyme

Well, anything is possible! You could still post on LN asking if anyone has seen him...I know the LLMD I see is not well known on LN...there are a few there that know who he is because he shares an office with a very well known doctor, but not many have actually seen him. There are two much more well known doctors in our area, so that is who most people in my area see. You could always set up an appointment just for consultation, and get a feel for how much he really does know, then make up your mind whether or not you want to see him regularly.

Grrr...been awake since 1:00 this morning. I DID doze off for a few minutes some time after 4:00, but unfortunately I have to get up before 4:40, so not much help. I even got up at 1:00 and took THREE more 3mg melatonin tablets (I take two at bedtime PLUS two droppers full of a liquid sublingual melatonin). I actually felt when it started to take affect (my whole body just felt like it was relaxing), but it didn't help me sleep. Then I was turning over to turn down my heated mattress pad and while I was turning I saw flashing lights. It was weird...I have a lot of floaters and sometimes the floaters are flashing lights, but this was a little different. Not floaters and they were in a stationary pattern.

So, here's my theory, lol. My sleep WAS getting better after starting the neurotransmitter supplements. Then it got bad again after starting the Humaworm. My doctor says that my body is working really hard detoxing, and the prime hours for detoxing are precisely when I'm waking up. So, my theory is that since the Humaworm is causing there to be a lot more that needs to be detoxed, I need to try to help it along a little more than I've been doing. I'm considering taking a hot epsom salt/baking soda bath right before bed every night, and taking more things to support the liver than I have been. I know there are some things in the Humaworm for that, but maybe just not enough for me. I used to give my poor little sickly dog milk thistle to help her liver and I'm thinking maybe I should get some for me, lol.

re the foot pain...yeah, I had plantar faciitis in both feet. My feet still hurt once in a while, and my stupid right big toe feels like it's broken at least two or three times a week. I supposedly do have bartonella, hum, maybe I'll look up some herbal stuff for that if any exist.

Well, even though I woke up incredibly late (4:40, for me that's late on a work day, lol), I actually wore makeup TO WORK today for the first time in at least 10 years! Not much...just a little foundation with a little of the blush and some lip gloss, but I think that's probably enough to cause most people to take a double take when they see me, lol. We'll see...I don't expect anyone else in for about another hour, lol.

Must....fight....the....urge....to....go....put....more....stuff....in my shopping cart!!

Seriously though...this is great stuff, but I REALLY need to stop spending money...need to have my carpet replaced SOON for health reasons, but lordy, my old makeup was causing breakouts and itchy skin, and this stuff so far is not, so...

I'm so conflicted.

maybe I'll take the Donna approach and forget washing them and just use them anyway........

Laziness almost always wins out in my case, lol. (Pssst, I actually DID wash my brushes today)

Cruelshoes,

You may also want to tap the side of the brush against the side of the lid or jar to get the excess loose powder off the before buffing it on your face. The BE motto is swirl, tap, buff, lol. That actually puts a very thin light dusting on your face...then you can repeat if you want more coverage. I often find that I don't need as much as I think I do.

Looks like Andrea's cuties in Tom's avatar! Can't wait to hear all about it...jealous, jealous, jealous, lol.

Yeah, stupid steroids...I was on prednisone for that three year period I was on the antibiotics...no wonder I kept getting sicker and sicker, lol

.

Donna,

Okay...so I *MAY* be able to give them to myself! I'd really rather NOT have my mom have to do it....lol!!

Yes, I just have to go in and have them teach me how. But first, I really must call them, lol.

I would not trust my mother with a needle! You never know what they are thinking. What if there is this life insurance policy you do not know about... I am just sayin'!

OMGosh, good thing I wasn't drinking something when I came to this...it'd be all over everwhere now.

Yay! I got an appt and they didn't sound TOO mad...lol!

Woo hoo!

Is it common to be able to digest white rice but not brown?

Sometimes. Brown rice definitely has more fiber than white rice. I tested badly for brown rice in BioSET...I can't remember how I did with white rice, but carbs in general are hard for my body to process.

Kassandra,

Yep, it was in my butt, lol. Actually really more the hip area, kind of where it starts to get "meaty", lol. If I give them to myself I can do it in my thigh. Reminds me I need to call them and ask about getting set up for it.

LOL! I am so with you on this! Doesn't it really look so nice and natural? You'll be stopping in the bathroom all day to check out your new look, lol!

That is EXACTLY what I've been doing! I normally avoid going upstairs as much as possible (that's where my bathroom is), but today I've been up there every hour or so, just to check to see how everything looks.

Yeah it's the same concept as Mineral Veil, but with a bit of a tint. It works on my very light skin - makes everything look blended and smooth.

Ooh, maybe I'd like it then...the mineral veil was too pale for me, but I did like what it did for the makeup.

How do you do it? You have new, fabulous make-up just sitting there, and you are not tempted to break it open? That's acutally very impressive

Indeed! I found the greatest little pack of mini lip glosses (with about 12 colors) for my secret santa person at work. I decided to get one for myself too. As soon as I got home, I tried on EVERY one of the 12 colors and THEN tried them on in combinations.

Donna will remember all of the pathetic Robert posts made by Yours Truly. And.....focusing our energies to make for what proved to be the Bulldogs' WORST LOSING SEASON in something like 75 years. :lol:

Indeed! What fun ruining their season was!

I am utterly confused, as is the doctor. I have an endoscopy scheduled for December 27th - the doctor is going to take biopsies no matter how the intestines look because in addition to villi damage, he is looking for abnormal T-cells.

I supposed it's possible that you have refractory sprue. I don't know...wish it were easier to find answers for this stuff.

If you're feeling better when you add salt to your diet, then your aldosterone's probably low. Its an adrenal hormone that regulates the sodium/potassium balance in your body. A lot of folks I've talked to with adrenal fatigue make sure to drink water with some sea salt and a little baking soda in it every day. I've done this for detox, but not as a regular thing. Its supposed to help regulate your electrolytes or somesuch.

...

What did you use when self-treating your adrenals? Have you mentioned that before and I missed it? (no surprise there)

I've not done the salt water thing, but I ALWAYS eat tons of sea salt, lol. When I don't feel well (which has been most of the time), I crave it even more, so what you said makes sense, for me, lol.

You didn't miss the thing about the adrenals...that was over a year ago. Carla was my expert back then, lol, so I picked her brain a lot and I started reading Adrenal Fatigue 21st century (something like that). Basically all I did was to reduce my sugar intake even more, I cut back on my more vigorous exercise in favor of more even keel stuff, made sure I got as much rest as my stupid insomniac body will allow and took lots and lots of supplements. They (the doctors and other practitioners I see) loaded me up with B vitamins and other supplements specifically formulated for the adrenals and for energy and I took progest, DHEA and another kind of sublingual drops to supplement the stuff that was low on my adrenal fatigue test. The HN doctors (the same ones that Rachel just mentioned), started treating me for the pain in my neck and shoulders...reducing pain takes a level of burden off the body so the adrenals can recover a bit.

I know a couple of people are on Humaworm. Did anyone find that it made them not sleep? I have been forgetting the night dose and then remembering right before bed, but everytime I take it right before bed, I have a restless night. Its very wierd.

I am on week 2 and am just so tired and drained lately. Hopefully I will feel better soon. Some sleep would be nice! My eyes are red and watery now, too since humaworm.

I don't sleep anyway, so it's hard to tell, but I can say that I've had several more bad days since I started taking it. It makes sense though. It's killing whatever parasitic whatever is in there so the body has to detox that. The prime detox hours are while you are sleeping. This is why my doctor is always giving me herbal stuff to take to try to help that process along (none of it works though, lol). Yeah, the first week or so I felt pretty drained, but I also started taking it at a really stressful/hectic time.

The Ambien CR is 12.5 grams .... I take 5 gm. of regular Ambien (but I get the 10 gm pills and break them). That way, some nights I take only five grams, like two nights ago, then other nights I take 15 grams, like last night. Last night I woke up at my normal 3:30 and took the other half ... then Adam woke me up at 5, and I took another half after half an hour of not getting back to sleep. I figured I'd rather sleep till 9:30 than get up at 5. It was a good call because I'm feeling pretty good.

Yay, I'm glad the prilosec is helping!

Yeah, see, I think I need to get the regular Ambien...it's more flexible, lol. The CR can't be broken in two at all, so at least I could break the regular one in half and take it in the middle of the night which is when I need it. I don't need the help in the early part of the night, lol. Stupid sleeping pills. Stupid insomnia!

Do you think I should have my regular primary doc test for lyme, and then look for a specialist? I think neurologists, etc., in this area won't see you without a diagnosis.

Also if they put you on long-term antibiotics, then that means the birth control pill won't work. I don't think that would go over too well.

Well, I wouldn't put much stock in whatever the testing from your regular doc would show unless it was a positive test. He most likely wouldn't use the proper lab or test. Unless he's really out of the box in his thinking, most will run an ELISA test, and ONLY if that shows positive will then order western blots, and then it's not usually through Igenix which is a specialty lab for lyme. Still it would probably be a low cost way to just get a preliminary test and if it's positive no need for further testing.

I'm not sure about the antibiotics/birth control, but there must be SOMETHING they can do.

How affordable is the BioSet? Are there payment plans? How do I get in touch with Scott? I suppose I just e-mail him from the www.thebetterhealthguy.com site. BioSet does seem better than these other methods.

...

P.S. Has anyone heard from Kat, Claire, Lisa, Kristina, Susie from the UK, Judy, or Ami?

It's expensive...the initial session was almost $200, but it was very informative. The treatments are $75 each, BUT they are all covered by my insurance. I have to pay up front, but my insurance company has so far reimbursed me for all of them. What's more expensive are the supplements and there are LOTS of them--no reimbursement there, lol. Scott doesn't do BioSET but he MAY know of someone who does in your area, and prices in your area might be different...we live in a kind of expensive area here.

I haven't heard from Claire since she was here...she briefly came back on the thread right after that, but I haven't heard from her since. I haven't seen Susie around the boards at all lately. I've seen Ami on a couple of threads. Haven't seen Kat around either. I think Lisa can't get computer access much. I think I've seen Kristina on a couple of other threads too, but not sure now. Yeah, where is our Judy?!

Friends, I have received a bit of information today that has me MOST titillated. And this just shows what a wicked, wicked girl I am.

Then count me amonst the wicked, but this whole post made me smile with joy! It even brought me out of lurkdom for the ocassion!

Please forgive me, but I just MAY BE IN LOVE, lol. I just placed that order that was waiting in my shopping cart (it's already packed ). I got some new brushes (mine are BE and are fairly old), some lip glosses, a couple of eye colors and another sample kit, lol.

So, I'm home from work today, and just went up and put on another of my sample foundations. Today I tried the Olive Fair (Intensive). This may be a much better color for me. The other one LOOKED darker in the jar and closer to what I have been using, but the Olive Fair looks a little less pale on me for some reason even though in the jar it looks lighter. I also lightly dusted the Weekend Getaway on and added a little of my own light pink lip gloss and sheesh, I look pretty darned good for a slouch day, lol. I don't normally wear makeup to work anymore because I have to get up and leave the house too darned early, but this took NO time at all and the difference it made is astonishing, lol.

Again, sorry, but I had to gush a bit.

Off to clean my brushes now to tide me over until the new ones come.

Offthegrid!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! That's major!!!! A major accomplishment! Very exciting. I put on a lot of weight after my father died (almost 50 pounds!) and had that for a few years, then lost all of it and more (well, except NOW, lol...got an extra 10 pounds from several cookie binges in August)...my favorite places to shop...just about anywhere, lol. It was really fun to be able to wear "normal" styles again and to NOT have to think about covering up. I find JC Penney has some good selections of basic stuff, but a lot of their brands run smaller than some of the larger department stores like Macy's.

Jin,

I know you are limited in the kinds of testing you can do, both because of where you live and your finances, but I think that BioSET did more to identify which foods I was sensitive to than the Enterolab (which only tests for a couple of things) and even the elimination diet. With the elimination diet, I couldn't find the "base" safe diet because everything that was supposed to be safe wasn't. BioSET identified all those safe foods, and then from there I could try adding new things as I was desensitized to them. As hokey as it all sounds, it was very accurate for me.

Nyxie,

Other than the supplementation, I basically just treated the adrenals myself, but it WAS nice having the guidance of a doctor who KNEW about adrenal fatigue to guide me. I also failed the standing BP test and the flashlight thing, lol.

I'll have to look at that website tomorrow...my home dial up is TOO frustrating, lol.

PS, I think you're on the right track too.

That was weird about your shot spot being itchy. Then, it stopped after you posted! Like Andrea said, it may have been the adhesive. Gluten is on bandaids and tape. How cute that you had a Tweety bandage! When I got my shot the other week, I had Snoopy on my butt!

What a heartwarming story! Stories like yours about your friend at church are what the holidays are about! I am glad you got to see her. She seems like such a wonderful person! It is so sad, because so many people ignore the elderly.

Yeah, the itching at that spot comes and goes...I had it when I woke up yesterday, then again in the afternoon for a long time. It's not bad today so far, but it comes and goes. Weird!

Yes, that friend is the main reason why I'm a lot more huggy NOW than I used to be, lol. She is a real southern lady and is just a joy to be around. If she met you today, she'd make you feel like she'd known you all your life. Her husband (the cute one I mentioned) died 2 years ago so it's been really hard for her. The three of us are "her girls", lol. My friend Becky is like a daughter to her...they live close so she physically checks in on her frequently.

Well, the Cool Whip thing is confusing me. I ate it three days in a row, and was fine. The fourth day, I got sick after eating it. WTH? This happens a lot. It occurs with other foods, and on days when I had not eaten the Cool Whip at all.

Okay, here is the thing with the Cool Whip. I ate it three days in a row with no problems. Then, on the fourth day, I ate less than I had been eating and ended up sick. I am thinking this is a sign of Leaky-Gut. I am thinking rotating my foods may help this situation. I have had this happen with other foods as well. It can be perfectly bland and make me really sick.

This happens to me a lot...I can eat something for a while and then BOOM, it hits me. This is one of the reasons why my now retired allergist wanted me on a rotation diet. Fortunately for me, it seems like BEEF is safe. Me and my slab 'o beef shall never be parted.