How has Lyme Disease affected your life?
Lyme Disease has affected me in many ways, in August of 2014 I was bit by a deer tick while doing yard work around the house..soon after I got the classic bullseye rash with swollen glands, went to the emergency room, they prescribed me Doxycycline 100mg twice a day for a month. I had the herx reaction to the antibiotics, I totally felt like I was dying, body pain, sweating, bad headaches and joint pain…a really bad deep flu like feeling.
As time went on the bad flu like feeling never went away, back and forth to the doctors telling me to see a therapist until they did another Lyme test that came back positive with the growth of two more Lyme bands, was then put back on another course of antibiotics, this time also a herx with making my back go out due to weak muscles “muscle lost” which lead me bed bound for a few weeks, having to get around in a wheelchair, the Doxycycline has given me five seizures some being worst than others, before lyme I have never had a seizure.
Lyme Disease has also taken away my job with a historic outfitter of New England “L.L. Bean” a company built on enjoying the outdoors of Maine also makes tick repellent clothing….go figure!?, did not take the time to understand what I was newly experiencing my health issues and what Doxycycline was doing to me. It also took away my job with United Postal Service “UPS” at L.L. Bean Order Fulfillment Center, due to call outs because of the herx reaction that antibiotics most always gives to lyme patients, they didn’t understand as well to no surprise.
Lyme Disease will also attack PTSD by making the symptoms much worst. I have found through my battle with 13 years with PTSD and now with Lyme Disease, it is always best to keep in good spirits about everything. I have found for me that medical marijuana helps with Lyme Disease and PTSD. Lyme Disease is something you NEVER want to have!!
What inspires you?
~ Getting 100 percent healthy so I can join the United States Navy and or job at local ship yard.
~ Meeting a beautiful woman that will be my best friend thru my journey with lyme.
~ Having children
~ Bringing more awearness to Lyme Disease
“Try not. Do or Do not. There is no try. ” ~Yoda
“Get busy living’, or get busy dyin’.” ~Andy Dufresne
“What dosn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.” ~ my Grandma
“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” ~ Forrest Gump