When Life Gives You Lyme... Make Limeade!

The realization of my diagnosis is starting to settle in and I’m finding myself feeling deflated and anxious. This disease has affected more than just my health. My mom has taken over a large amount of my mommy duties. My girls go to my mom before they come to me if they need something. Any relationships that were “in the making” before my illness plummeted are obviously “no longer”. My friendships seem to be on hold these days. I’m no longer on the call list when a friend wants to go out and be social. Everyone assumes I’m sick in bed… And to be honest, they’re usually right.  This disease is isolating and helpless. There’s no pattern to the symptoms, no warning signs before you turn into a puny, miserable person incapable of doing anything but lie there and breathe… It’s the disease’s world and you’re living in it. You have no idea what the next hour will bring. You live in the now and take full advantage of the good days because you never know how long it’ll be until you get an

According to CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Lyme Disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Most cases of Lyme Disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics.  CDC does not acknowledge Chronic Lyme Disease as a true condition. If symptoms last for more than 6 months, CDC calls it Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.  According to International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, there are 5 subspecies of Borrelia burgdorferi. Testing for Babesia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Bartonella should be performed. The presence of co-infection with these organisms points to probable infection with the Lyme spirochete as well. If these co-infections are left untreated, their continued presence increases morbidity and prevents successful treatment of Lyme Disease. Like Syphilis

   

         

April Rash (open skin lesions) on face and hairline  May, June, July Multiple visits to dermatologists 1st visit - Doxycycline 2nd visit - Amoxicillin, Prednisone, ANA lab test  Lupus? 3rd visit - Fluconazole 4th visit - Bactrim 5th visit - Valtrex I was told I had staph even though lab results showed I was negative. The final dermatologist I went to see advised me to follow up with my primary care physician. The dermatologist believed the rash was auto-immune related and told me they could no longer help me.   August Rash (open skin lesions) Stiff neck Swollen lymph nodes around neck Headache Blurred vision I was admitted to the hospital for 2 days. The infectious disease doctor visited me during the night. He told me I should visit him outpatient for acupuncture. I was told to follow up with my primary care physician.  2 weeks later in August, I was admitted to the hospital, again, for 2 days. They did a lumbar puncture and a CT scan and MRI of the brain.

Long story short, I went to my appointment at Mayo on October 4th. It was with the dermatology department since my symptoms started with a rash. The dermatologist referred me to infectious disease and neurology. Mayo was unable to diagnose me with Lyme Disease because, despite the fact that I tested positive for Lyme and have all the symptoms, I do not fit CDC criteria (total IgM/IgG bands). I'm ONE band short.  My last time at Mayo, I was told it was probably fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and migraines. Really?  I saw a Lyme specialist in town and spent 6 hours with her during my first appointment. I was extremely impressed with her knowledge and proficiency on the disease. She was like a mad scientist - full of facts. The Lyme specialist showed true compassion and was positive about treatment options and getting my life back.  I want my life back. I miss the old me. I want to have morning to bedtime energy. I don't want to feel like I'm always &q

My symptoms “started” in April but let’s quickly fast forward to Friday, September 30th. I was frequenting the nail salon every 5-6 days at this point in my life. The nail technicians and I were best friends! They knew I was more interested in getting an hour long leg massage and less concerned about the polish change at the end. I was experiencing the most intense leg pain and found having my legs rubbed was the only way to cure my aching limbs.  My legs weren't the only body part with piercing pain. Lately, all of my joints ached.  So I'm getting my legs massaged and my phone begins to ring. It’s a Minnesota area code so I figure it’s someone from Mayo calling about my lab results they did in the ER last week when I was there with my mom and aunt. I had an appointment to be seen at Mayo, October 4th, and tried getting seen earlier by going to the ER. I had spent the previous week in bed, convinced I was dying, and insisted my mom drive me to Minnesota.  I answered m

I am mommy to Avery and Addison. Avery is in the second grade and Addison is in preschool. We currently reside at my parents house - I know, I know.  I taught two years in early childhood before choosing to pursue a career in fitness. I became a fitness fanatic after years of taking Fusion Fitness classes. When I left the school I was teaching at, I auditioned at Fusion Fitness and was later given the opportunity to train and join the Fusion Fitness team. Unfortunately, I haven’t taught many Fusion classes because I’ve been sick.