When Life Gives You Lyme... Make Limeade!

I’ve had several people reach out to me after reading my blog to send their condolences and I so very much appreciate it. Although, I want to make it very clear that I am, in no way, writing to get attention for my illness. During this strenuous journey, I’ve found that writing is really therapeutic. My initial reason for starting a blog was to document my disease from beginning to end for my own personal records. I later decided to share my blog to the public to keep everyone informed as well as to become a kindred spirit to others.  Writing is not only therapeutic, it’s also a skill that I can STILL perform that Lyme has YET to hijack from me! My brain/mind are slacking. I feel very uneducated much too often. I struggle choosing my words when I’m talking to someone. People probably think I’m a little nuts. Or legitimately stupid. I’m a note taker now. Notes on notes on notes ya’ll! If I’m not taking notes, chances are, I’m not going to remember a darn thing. Brain fog, you m

It’s been 2 weeks since my last post. Life has been non-stop, I tell ya! My car suddenly died after a fulfilling 9 years of life. After a painful 8 hours spent at the car dealership, I got myself a purrty new car!  The following day, I had my port placement procedure. Holy discomfort! My neck vein was in so much pain afterwards. It still isn’t fully recovered. The home nurse came to my house the next day to go over the “how to’s” on everything. Next thing you know, I’m giving myself my own infusions. I’m PRACTICALLY a doctor now! Ain’t no thang!  The first week with my port in, I had 4 really good days. I took my girls to school, I ran errands, I went for walks, I helped make dinner and I took a couple Fusion Barre classes. I felt normal. I felt good! Things took a turn for the worse last Monday. Sunday, I met with a Fusion client whose boyfriend is battling Lyme Disease. When I got home from meeting with them, I felt like I had been hit by a bus. I anticipated the aching fe

My doctor called Tuesday with some exciting news… My lab results were in! My parents and I met with her that afternoon… 11 pages of results - 4 1/2 hour appointment! Lordy lordy! I was finally receiving confirmation of my diagnosis! Just as my doctor suspected, but now with verified proof, I am positive for Classic Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  My blood sugar levels are low, my eosinophils are elevated, my carbon dioxide levels are low, my immunoglobulin subclasses are deficient and I have vasculitis. Have I lost you yet? Enough medical talk! I won’t bore you with the details.   So now it’s “go time” with a plan! I am getting a port implanted Monday. The port will host my daily IV infusions. Along with the antibiotics, I’ll also be receiving anti-malarial infusions. Babesia is a cousin of malaria - pretty fascinating, huh? Just wait, it gets better! I’ll be injecting myself up to 6 times a day just like your average junkie! Holla at your girl if you’

Thursday morning, my alarm rang at 6:00 AM. Shortly after, my mom came in the room with all my morning meds. I took my medicine and went back to sleep. I woke up around 9:00 feeling somewhat normal. My sister and I met at Tomahawk Trail and walked before taking a noon Fusion class. I knew I was doing a lot but I didn’t care. I wanted to go to Fusion. I needed Fusion. I used to go to Fusion every single day. Fusion has always been my outlet - my happy place - my therapy. No longer having Fusion in my life has been a big ass bummer! BIG ASS - as in, my ass is getting huge! The noon class was only 45 minutes long. I lasted 30 minutes… I left the studio with purple lips, purple fingers and purple toes. I cried the entire way home. Where did my energy go? What’s happened to me? I’m so disappointed.  I spent the rest of the afternoon in bed. I had plans to meet friends at North for dinner but I had to cancel. I couldn’t move… My body ached and it hurt to breathe. I was slowly fading. I

I met Doug at YaYa’s Wednesday afternoon for lunch. My parents accompanied me. We were connected through a friend of my sister’s husband’s sister’s brother. Did you get all that? Anyways, Doug is a competitive fisherman and an avid hunter. He said he’s likely had over 500 ticks in his life. He said he would have loved to have had the bulls-eye rash, as would I, but most Lyme patients never recall one. My nerves mimicked the nervousness I felt right before teaching my first Fusion class - holy anxiety! Where’s the Xanax?  Doug found out he had Lyme Disease 4 years ago. He went to Washington, DC and saw Dr. Joseph G. Jemsek. Dr. Jemsek is an Infectious Disease Specialist in Lyme Borreliosis and Tick-Borne Infection. Doug’s treatment plan lasted 6 months. He had a port implanted and received all medicine through an IV. For maintenance, one week each month he takes a variety of antibiotics.  I left lunch feeling optimistic about my situation. Doug knew everything about this horren

Tuesday, my doctor called to tell me I tested positive for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Since RMSF is active - my doctor is required to report my case to the CDC. She added another antibiotic to my treatment plan along with additional supplements and homeopathic detox drops. RMSF causes a skin rash - usually a red or purple spotted rash - but atypical rashes are common too. A skin rash is an indication that the disease is more severe. RMSF damages the blood vessels which can cause clotting in the brain or other vital organs. Loss of circulation to the extremities can be a problem too.  Multiple times throughout the day my lips, fingers, knees and feet turn purple. I lose entire feeling of my legs and feet regularly. I constantly have a skin rash. I would be the perfect RMSF model!  I’m anxious to get the rest of my lab results back. I need clarity. How many co-infections do I have? What co-infections do I have? How long is treatment? Is this limited, debilitating and shat