Lyme

How Lyme has affected me

Lyme Disease is a growing epidemic that has personally effected me and my family. My Mom started to see that my body was not functioning normally when I was very young. I was always sick with "flu like" symptoms. So our primary care doctor noticed this too and sent me to a number of specialists. I will not name names but these specialists all told me the same thing: "you are not sick, your just fat," "stop eating carbs, you'll feel better then," "your fatigue and sickness is from lack of exercise."

While all those factors may have been true, I was so tired that I would go outside and then come back in 5 minutes later and lay down. I was becoming ill every 4 weeks and was very pale. Finally we went to see a homeopathic/medical doctor who diagnosed me with Lyme Disease and 2 co infections: Beibesia, and Bartonella.

We began treatment and I was feeling great, I was able to competitive swim, go to summer camps and do all "normal" child activities. Then in the fall I began to fall ill, I had to stop going to school because I was so ill. I had an unrelenting headache for 2 weeks, and body aches. My doctor prescribed IV treatment, and central line placement.

It took a while but, I began to feel good again, while I'm still not able to attend school I am hanging out with friends more and doing much better. I've hit a speed bump this past month, but am beginning to fell better. It is a long road and it will take time before I feel 100% but I'm on my way!

Facts about Lyme:

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease was first discovered in 1975 after a mysterious outbreak of arthritis in children who lived near Lyme, Connecticut. Lyme disease is an infectious disease (a disease caused by an outside agent) that affects the skin first, then the joints, the nervous system and, if untreated, eventually other organs.

What causes Lyme Disease?

Many people think that Lyme disease is caused by ticks. However, it is actually a disease caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria is transmitted to humans via tick bites, so people associate ticks with Lyme disease. This way of disease transmission is a classic example of parasitology involving several organisms:

1. The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. These bacteria are found in the wild in white-footed mice and in ticks on deer.
   
2. Mice and deer. Small animals are bitten by juvenile (immature) deer ticks or Western black-legged ticks. The primary types of ticks that carry Lyme disease are the Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) and Ixodes pacificus (Western black-legged tick). Even when the tick leaves the deer or mouse, the bacteria stay in the bodies of the tick.
   
3. The ticks, Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) and Ixodes pacificus (Western black-legged tick). The ticks can attach themselves to humans and bite them. The ticks can then transmit the bacteria to the human.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is rather difficult to diagnose because many of its symptoms can occur with other diseases. Typically the first and most distinctive symptom of Lyme Disease is an expanding rash which usually radiates from the site of the tick bite. The rash usually appears 1-2 weeks after the tick bite. It may be accompanied by joint pains or general achiness, chills, fever and headache. Later there may be other rashes, a stiff neck, facial palsy similar to Bell's palsy, tingling or numbness in the extremities, headache, sore throat and severe fatigue. In the late stage of untreated Lyme disease, people may experience arthritis (pain/swelling) of one or two large joints, disabling neurological disorders such as disorientation, short term memory loss, mental "fog" and numbness in the hands or feet.

Chronic Lyme Disease

Some people with Lyme disease have chronic symptoms that do not respond to medication. These symptoms include fatigue, memory loss, and joint pain (arthritis). The knee is the joint most commonly affected. In treated adults, approximately 10% have chronic joint inflammation for months or years following the infection. The reason for these chronic symptoms is not known. It is unclear whether these symptoms are caused by Lyme disease or by some other cause.


For more information, and how to get treated vist: http://www.lyme.org/contents%20pages/front.htm