Lyme

I've considered writing this article for awhile now but honestly wasn't sure if anyone would want to read it. I hope that it might shed some light onto the often misunderstood long-term effects of Lyme disease through my own experience.

In my case, I found out almost 5 months after I was bitten by a deer tick. I had no idea that the severe 'flu' I had in September of that year was really the onset of the disease. At the time, I lived in an area where ticks were not incredibly prevalent. I'd never seen one on my dog and don't remember ever feeling bitten or seeing that hallmark bulls-eye rash.

Once I had my diagnosis and new what to look for, I was able to pinpoint exactly when the infection began as it was literally the worst flu-like symptoms I'd ever experienced. The chills were brutal, the body aches were awful. I didn't remember ever feeling that sick before, but it passed in a few days and life went on.

Until that following January.

I woke up one morning to so much pain. Every joint in my body ached so badly it was hard to think straight. My knees and ankles looked as though they'd been inflated with air. I had no idea what was happening. I was also so exhausted, I could hardly get out of bed, and I had a fever to boot.

I ended up waiting until the next day to see if things were better and when they weren't, I went to an emergency care clinic. At the time, I had no family doctor so that was the only place I had to go. Thankfully the doctors there ordered some blood work which came back positive for Lyme disease, fifth disease and mononucleosis.

As I think back to this time, I believe getting the adult version of this normal childhood disease, fifth disease, is what pushed my already compromised immune system over the edge. A few of my young children had recently had it, so I accepted that I probably contracted it as well.

However, I did not feel I had mono. None of my symptoms followed that diagnosis and upon doing some research, I discovered that it could be a false positive.

After receiving all of these diagnoses, the doctors felt that I could have developed rheumatoid arthritis, and I was shipped off to a specialist. I also received the antibiotic for Lyme, but in all likelihood it was too late for it to do anything as my diagnosis went undetected for so long.

I went to see the specialists for several months, during which time I was placed on a handful of medications including steroids, both oral and topical, and several others. One of them was a drug they give to cancer patients, and I was only getting a very low dose that I took once a week. It made me so sick. I will never forget the way it made me feel and couldn't imagine then or now, how someone could tolerate or even function on a full-strength dose. All of which barely took the edge off the pain.

Which was constant.

I had four young children at the time and two houses to keep track of as my husband worked out of town. The previous fall, we'd purchased an old farmhouse that we were renovating and the stress was already taking its toll before the diagnosis.

As I continued to see the specialists and heart doctors, and had more and more bloodwork done, I came to the realization that so little is really known about the long-term effects of Lyme disease.

I did a lot of research into rheumatoid arthritis, and then UTCD (Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disorder) as they switched my diagnosis, and also into all the medications I was taking. It was so much to process, and I'm thankful I was at least able to understand a lot of the publications and medical terminology because of my undergraduate degree.

The pain was constant and my energy hit an all-time low. It was everything I could do to get out of bed each day and care for my family. I eventually stopped going to the rheumatologist, and stopped all the meds but the topical steroid. All they'd done was make me nauseous, dizzy and tired as well as packed on the weight.

Unfortunately it took me over 2 years to finally start feeling a bit better and have my immune system on the road to recovery. To this day however (9 years later), my joints have been permanently affected, and I have issues with my connective tissue, especially over my heart. My energy has never quite recovered either, but that could be more due to the dreaded peri-menopause!

If you're in an area prone to having deer and therefore ticks, I encourage you to check yourself each time you go outside and check your pets as well. If caught early, Lyme disease can be treated fairly easily. I would not wish the long-term effects I'm stuck with now on anyone.

I hope my story brings more awareness to this preventable disease. I've included a link to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) which explains more on the topic if you'd like to read up.

Thank you for listening! And please spread the word :)

And make sure you stay safe no matter what you’re going through just know some day everything will fall in place

Take good care of your home, environment and work place

Remember health is wealth without sound health there’s no wealth.

I hope this enlighten you more and stick to the plan you will be happy 😃

3 things to quit right now:

1) Trying Please Everyone

2) Overthinking

3) Living in the past

You're the only person I want to talk to when I'm having a bad day. Thanks for always making me feel better.

You are perfect in my eyes.

You make me feel like the luckiest person in the world.