Life in Lyme Light Posts

How has Lyme disease affected your life? What inspires you?

Roughly February of 2019, I started experiencing a range of symptoms and over time they started increasing. It started with migraines and then a series of neurological symptoms that put me in the ER. Everything was normal, told to go see a neurologist. On top of neurological symptoms (blurred vision, numbness and tingling, memory/cognitive intermittent changes, and the list goes on) I also started to experience excruciating pain intermittently. I am no stranger to medical issues or pain (I was born with spinal deformities- have had 7 surgeries for different medical conditions. Multiple surgeries were major operations and also had thyroid cancer). I figured maybe it was something exacerbated that I already had. My arms were going completely numb with shooting pains, it was horrible and greatly impacting my daily life.

Over time the symptoms would get worse, and sometimes they would get better. No rhyme or reason. I completed TONS of testing and every test came up negative. Every time I was devastated (crazy you want to hear something wrong with you right?). I started getting suggestions that this was a conversion disorder/psychiatric, maybe chronic fatigue, stress, fibromyalgia… but multiple times providers asked if I had been tested for Lyme. I did and it was “negative.”

 I remember my first (known) tick bite when I was about 13. We removed it and brought it to the pediatrician and they said it was no use to test and monitor for rash. No rash. Then 2 more tick bites that I’m aware of. No rashes. Prior to these symptoms starting- no tick bite I knew of, no rash…

Two ER visits, EEG, EMG, 5 skin biopsies, 6 various neuro-Opthomologist tests, an eye exam, 4 MRIs, two CT scans, multiple x rays, and I can’t even tell you how many vials of blood. Consulted with tons of doctors. My MRI showed white matter changes- but “nothing to worry about-could be nothing- maybe just migraines.” Did what I could to manage my symptoms with physical therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture. I stopped driving for the most part. Thank god I work from home- (very grateful otherwise I would not have survived working as long as I did if I was still in the hospital). 

Every time I left without answers I cried, I felt like I was going crazy. Other people I think thought I was going crazy. I was unable to care for my daughter at times which was devastating. Not being able to pick her up, or cook her a meal, or even to play with her. There were many days I was in so much pain I was bed bound and even found it difficult to care for myself most days. It pained and broke my heart when she asked me to play or pick her up and I had to tell her I couldn’t. I tried to always at least read her stories at night and do our prayers and songs. But even holding a book would hurt at times and dropped it on my face laying down with her. She would see me cry and say “it’s ok mommy don’t be sad.” I could hear her playing downstairs with my husband, and outside with the neighbors and hearing the chatter of the socialization I was missing out on. And then the burden I put on my family to help me care for my daughter and myself… 

The doctors would finish their testing and all finally say “there is nothing more I can do, I’m sorry I don’t know what’s wrong.”  

I started to lose hope. With the luck of having some people re-enter my life and support of family, church family and a few friends- I kept going. I worked the best I could but would have to stop early because I couldn’t sit or stand without suffering-and eventually every time I would cry and have to say I needed to stop working early. I hate letting people down, or leaving people with more work, or feeling weak, or the “cop-out” feeling. But I was weak. Every system in my body had seemed to change in some way. I knew in my heart something was wrong… and I knew I had to see every specialist I could and have them tell me they found nothing before I would stop. My body was failing me. 

My neurologist said there wasn’t much more he could do. He said he would refer me to Boston for further assessment. But we agreed to see if with my back issues I could safely get a spinal tap to rule a few other things first… Turns out I could have one-it would be tricky… but after some advice I sought out additional Lyme testing to just have one more thing checked off my list. I had to stop getting my hopes up for answers because it brought me down so much with every doctor who looked into my eyes and said they didn’t know…

So… as I’m sure you gathered… yes I have Lyme disease. I also tested for three co-infections as well which makes it much worse and more difficult to treat (two types of bartonella and Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection). We cried… It wasn’t the answer I wanted, but at least I had validation there was a reason. There is treatment. As a nurse I heard of Lyme and said, “ ohh well you take three weeks of doxycycline and you are good.” That is far from the truth. If you catch it early there is a very good prognosis with treatment (some people can also still have chronic Lyme even with that-  many in the medical community don’t recognize that as something that chronic lyme even exists though ). You can get Lyme without a rash, without even knowing you got a tick bite. Some of these infections can come from sand flies, mosquitos, fleas and even spiders…

I have learned so much and found a community of people that gets what I’m going through. I realized there are so many people with Lyme but I know that some might not know all the things they should do to treat it and recognize that it can linger and be harder to treat especially with co-infections. Some people can have Lyme disease and show no symptoms and have no issues, all it takes is a weakened immune system and boom. There are also so many ways to treat it, no two people are the same and lots of schools of thought over what is best etc. Lyme and the co-infections are tricky. They like to hide making it difficult to treat and diagnose. The tests are outdated and inaccurate… and the guidelines for treatment are misguided by those that made them using their own research as the reference for it and also having their hands in profits others would get by having these guidelines set that way. Most treatment had to be paid out of pocket costing thousands of dollars and bankrupting people. 

The bacteria creates what’s called a “bio-film.” A fancy term for a shield that protects itself from being killed making it harder to treat. The disease hides in different places in the body which is why the symptoms change so rapidly. 

I am lucky I found it when I did because things started to escalate quickly. Moments where I needed help walking, couldn’t feel my legs. Tremors, scary things that made me want to go to the emergency room type stuff. The scariest was basically having seizure-like activity for over two hours. I was conscious so not a true seizure. But imagine… having your muscles contract for hours… it was exhausting. Finally my husband had to physically hold me down to help them stop. My body literally was exhausted to the bone.

I have been on antibiotics since the end of January when I got my diagnosis: when you start to kill the bacteria it releases toxins which exacerbate your symptoms sometimes tenfold leaving you debilitated again. I had to change my diet drastically because Lyme likes sugar, gluten and dairy-among a laundry list of other things. I couldn’t tolerate the antibiotics and had to titrate the dose up so slowly. Eventually my body told me I couldn’t do it all. I was still working full time, trying to be a mother the best I could and care for myself. One afternoon I picked up a pen and couldn’t write anything because my arms were completely numb. I had to take myself out of work and I hated making that decision because it was so hard. I don’t want to add work to my co-workers, I don’t want to let them down, I don’t want to admit I’m too sick to do it, I don’t want to say I can’t do it, I don’t want to look weak or feel like a victim. But I had to put that aside if I wanted to ever get better. I have been focusing on myself and getting better the best I can. With this new virus out it has made it difficult to get access to the care I need which is frustrating. But I am continuing to move forward and fight this with all I have because I want my life back. I want to work to provide for my family, I want to be a better mother, wife, family member and friend again. I have been “socially distancing” for the better part of a year since I’ve been sick, so this new lifestyle everyone is forced into is one I have been forced to be in for other reasons. 

The longer you go untreated, the worse it is. Please, PLEASE educate yourself. I consider myself somewhat lucky. I caught mine within probably the first two years of having it, others go 10, 15, lifetimes. They are debilitated for life… I still hold hope for some part of me back. Scratch that… I don’t know who “me” will be when I finish treatment (please god tell me it has a finish line… Will I have flare ups? Will I work? Will I be the mom I want to be? Not leave my husband with everything on his shoulders? Will I feel I have the physical and mental ability to maybe consider the idea I could have another child? Can I cook more? Can I keep painting while working full time? Please tell me there is a slice of bread and a glass of wine in my future? Ha… The world is my oyster right? Well folks… that’s a snippet of my story. Thank you for listening (or rather reading). Check yourself for ticks, advocate for yourself when it comes to your health, reach out for help… you aren’t alone.

How has Lyme disease affected your life? What inspires you?

Lyme forced itself upon me on my first day of vacation with my dearest friends, big blotchy rash in three or so areas of my body, no idea what it was. I wasn’t too concerned honestly… then the pure fatigue set in about day three of vacation. Here I was on vacation, the ocean right outside my door and I can’t stay awake, can’t move! Slept two days straight. 

Upon returning home, I went right to my doctor’s office and they took me right in even with no appointment. The head doctor diagnosed me with Erysipelas, a sand flea bite infection which he used Wikipedia to educate me about. 

Having been in college recently I knew it wasn’t a trusted site for research and my gut was screaming no not wiki! Didn’t this doctor know, my professor would have never accepted this! Well a week of Keflex and the blotches went away. 

At the time I didn’t connect that I had to go to the ER two weeks prior for incredible sacral pain, I was in agony and I’m sure because of the way I was treated I was looked at like a junky! But Torridol relieved my pain! Not for long, a month after the blotches returned and it included my left leg up through the knee, my adult daughter spotted it and made me call the doc. He then over the phone said it was infected because of mosquitoes and called in another Keflex. Well in the middle of that night I woke to the worst pain of my life, worse than full blown childbirth! My left knee was in agony. Of course not wanting to wake anyone I suffered for hours laying there, at one point going to the bathroom was almost impossible, getting back in bed was a major challenge. 

Finally I fell asleep again and then my 10 pound chihuahua simply laid next to my left ankle barely moving my leg, however from a dead sleep the pain was crazy. I was screaming at the top of my lungs, waking my daughter on the other side of the house. She came immediately, she inspected my leg and it was extremely swollen, lobster red and called an ambulance immediately. 

I was adamant that the EMT’s couldn’t touch my leg, I would secure a towel to the bottom of my foot bracing my leg in place, they move me and I secure my leg. They did great! The drive to the ER was no picnic for my leg, luckily it was only ten minutes. Upon listening to my physician’s diagnosis and further inspection the ER doc found several more red blotchy areas and said nope you’re not going home today! 

Within 24 hours my knee pain had significantly decreased and redness was reducing because of iv antibiotics, yet they had no diagnosis. They kept me 5 days and honestly I didn’t mind being there resting sleeping and letting the antibiotics work. They had an infectious disease doctor come out from a major hospital and he didn’t have a clue what was wrong. 

Well after discharge I get a call — I’m positive for Lyme. I was pretty upset, but my Mom reassured me to take the doxycycline and I’d be fine. Well not so easy. I suffered for another two years almost, almost lost my Massage Therapy business. My quality of life was terrible. Of course if you look like 45 and put on a brave face, people don’t believe you that you’re sick, in pain, feel terrible etc. 

I went to two infectious disease doctors over that time because my knee was staying swollen, the brain fog was terrible, I knew I still wasn’t right. Both times I got, “there’s no such thing as chronic Lyme so there’s nothing I can do for you”, complete stonewall. 

Finally my heart started flip flopping to the point it was constant! My doctor didn’t believe it was Lyme carditis or anything to worry about because people can develop an extra beat as we age. I explained this was not an extra beat, another doc came in and said there’s no such thing as chronic Lyme. Well I explained I don’t give a shit what label you want to use, this is what’s going on and it’s not right. 

My doc finally agreed to give me a 24 hour halter monitor. Well a week later at my follow up she came in the room, had only listened to the first 5 minutes of the recording and said we need to get you to infectious disease right away! I explained not the last two she sent me to, because the swollen leg, the pain and fatigue, the foggy brain, etc. that I’ve been dealing with, only got me more pain management and not antibiotics like I had been asking for. She got me in with a Dr. Danielle. 

I went to her office and explained everything to her assistant, the doctor walked in and had been reading as he typed. She immediately took me over to the infusion center and had me on ceftriaxone, day one of thirty! She didn’t ask if I needed to clear my work schedule, or get anything else in order, I needed this now! They placed a midline and I could do my treatment at home, which was great because I couldn’t drive that far, one hour of driving myself was a suicide mission still! Well within two weeks my legs literally went half the size!! I was feeling amazing. 

It’s now been 18 months since she treated me, and I feel 80 percent back to normal. I still get periods of fatigue from nowhere. Still get foggy in the brain at times, but am working on a great quality of life! I completed my first Spartan Race last May, and number two in just two weeks. That doctor gave me life again! 

There has been one secondary setback, because of all the antibiotics my good gut bacteria has been wiped out. I’m now suffering from a ton of allergies and it affects my hands and wrists mainly, and randomly around my body. I’m allergic to cats, dogs, rabbits, weeds, grass, trees, weeds, urea diazinon 10 and all that includes; fake silver and so on. The allergies can make my hands miserable, and being a massage therapist, I now have to wear gloves all the time. So the Lyme is still taking from me, but I’m still fighting! 

Namaste

How has Lyme disease affected your life? What inspires you?

Lyme came into my life during a time I needed clarity. For so long, I carried the burden of my past and what surrounded me. It came during a time of transition. In fact, the day I received my medical results … I laughed! I had no idea or knowledge of what Lyme disease was or the impact it would have on my life. I strongly believe the root cause of this disease was my trapped trauma. Once I discovered that the healing needed to take place from the inside out. I went all in. 

I started with alternative medicine and owning up to my own self. I started doing the work and working with natural medicines, therapy and taking a holistic approach. I was so committed to purging this disease from my body that I was willing to try anything. I couldn’t make the connection with my mind, body, spirit. I was so disconnected from myself that I was beyond lost. 

At times, I would get so frustrated with myself because in all areas of my life I was being misunderstood. At the time, I was a financial officer for a book publishing company, engaged, a single parent, going to school and dealing with everything around me including grieving the loss of a man I considered a father to me (my boss). Dealing with not having a mother and father while growing up to protect and guide me. I have been a survivor since day one, but couldn’t grasp why this disease had a hold over me. It took over my brain not allowing me to think clearly, it caused so much pain in my body I didn’t have a choice but to stay in bed, it made me feel and cry out the tears of frustration, it made me so angry that what once seemed like my life was together was falling apart. What I found most frustrating was being misunderstood. 

Sometimes my speech was so off that I couldn’t understand myself. I was made fun of at work, by friends and even family. The pain I endured during this difficult time allowed me to have compassion for myself and others. The more pain I endured the more love I grew for myself. Since I’m so private about my life I wasn’t sharing much only in the right setting…. where I felt safe enough to be vulnerable. I started taking responsibility for my healing and growth. 

During this time, I started giving myself credit for my strength to have been able overcome all types of abuse, rape, growing up without a father and mother who was still figuring it out and wasn’t able to care for me, abuse was the norm for me and also was the way I saw love. The relationships I carried weren’t the healthiest, so I found myself taking on other people’s problems and just not being true to me. 

Then, something changed, I started saying goodbye to unhealthy relationships and opening the doors to endless possibilities. I planted the seed of Believe In Your Wings in 2015, because that was exactly what I needed growing up. Believe In Your Wings was born from my inner struggle with Lyme disease! I needed to believe in myself. I needed to know that I was that light at the end of the tunnel and that all the love I needed during the difficult times existed right inside of me. 

Being raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins from house to house allowed me to be resilient. I knew, I was a survivor from day one, I knew that the things happening weren’t to take me down but to build me up. I had so much faith that the Lyme would leave my body and that God would provide the necessary tools for me to overcome a minor setback. I learned that asking for help and sharing your story can help you and others. When you ask you will receive, you just have to be open to receive. 

I shared my story at a meditation retreat and the universe responded with the help of alternative medicines. This was when I was able to purge the parasites from my body to start the healing process of shading unnecessary pain I was carrying all these years, which I believe was the root cause of the Lyme disease. Although I purged what I believe was the Lyme disease from my body and the test results for the last few years show no sign of Lyme. The Lyme caused life changing effects on my mind, body and Spirit. Of course just like anything in life, you learn and you grow and you figure it out. So, grateful to be able to be alive!!! Thank you 🙏🏽 for the process and the support I continue to receive!

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – ANAÏS NIN

How has Lyme disease affected your life? What inspires you?

May is Lyme Disease awareness month. I wrote a huge article about it and Lyme brain that’s me — lost it in transmission. Basically I just want people out there who suffer and have suffered with Lyme and co infections to let you know I truly understand all of it. I am a 25 year Lyme disease survivor still not through it, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let Covid-19 take me down. Stay strong, persevere through it, baby steps to recovery, be patient and know that you are loved. Prayers do work, I know that for a fact I’m living proof of them.

Lyme hit me when I was 40 years old, now I’m 65 thank the Lord for giving me this time to impress upon all of you the dangers of having Lyme disease. I’m not cured of it, but I am in control of it. Lyme disease does not have me—I have it. It hasn’t been a walk in the park by no means, but I am truly grateful for my life and that I am still here to help others who continue to battle it God bless.

My book Ticked Off was a huge undertaking for me to do while battling Lyme. My LLMD was the one who encouraged me to do this. As he eloquently told me, I am your doctor, I will do everything possible to save your life, but you Janet have to keep moving forward, don’t look back. You see he couldn’t be with me 7 days a week 365 days a year, so I started journaling everything, my feelings, my anger, sadness, why me, feeling sorry for myself, blaming others and blaming God for this happening to me. I wrote in 18 journals when I decided it was time to share my journey with others who were struggling. And how this turned out was amazing! I met so many beautiful people on my walk, the lives I touched with my stories profounds me today in 2020. What an amazing journey it was, it is and will continue to do so to help and inspire others to keep fighting the good fight to recovery.

I had 4 doctors who impacted my life and my recovery efforts: My LLMD, ND/Chiropractor, My MD and My Eye Doctor. But the most important Doctor as my “Father in Heaven”, the healer of all diseases. I fought the Lord tooth and nail, I was so ill and unable to do for myself, resisting Him, wanting to do it my way. It took a long time to accept Him into my life. Once I let Him inside, I depended on Him, more so than my own husband. My husband has been my hero through this journey, we have been married for 46 years coming this June I could have never lasted this long without him by my side. My daughters, granddaughter, my family, friends, and all of YOU out there who understand the complexities of living with Lyme disease. 

God has taught me and continues to show me that in HIS timing, not my own, HE will heal me. In my book I wrote a poem about The Rugged Oak Tree, talks about strength and life’s purpose. This is what it’s all about while you are recovering, you must find ways to help yourself. Write down your thoughts, how you feel, etc.etc.etc.! Find an activity to do, color in coloring books, I have the most beautiful creative pictures by doing this, so what I’m 65 I like to color, lol. Even if you’re too weak to get up and move, just take one baby step everyday and before long you will have walked the length of your home. It’s hard to do — I know this, I was there once, but you will be so proud of yourself when you accomplish your goals. Before this Covid19 hit, I was going to a gym twice a week doing chair yoga and lifting weights. Now my body is fighting me again, they’re called setbacks, I’ve dealt with them before, but that won’t stop my zest to keep doing what I can and to move these limbs. 

Talk, share your journeys with others, be a voice, laughter is so vitally important, music therapy, don’t be ashamed to ask for help. 

I told my granddaughter, Monet, when she was 4 years old: Reach up, Little Child, touch the sky, see how GOD loves you and so do I. Don’t be afraid HE’s with you today, just kneel on your knees and Pray, Pray, Pray!

He is my lamp, my guiding light, I’m like a small sailboat blowing in the harsh winds on the sea, being tossed about but never losing sight of the land ahead of me, where my GOD will be reaching out to calm the seas, HE will guide me safely to shore!

God bless you all♥️

Click here to read the article.

“One of the nicest things in the world, is knowing someone cares.”

How Has Lyme disease affected your life? What inspires you?

Olivia, a Lyme and CIPD warrior who is turning sickness into strength.

I’m a 25-year-old survivor and thriver – and I wear many hats!

During the week I’m the Coordinator of STEPS Resource Center, an all access center for young adults in the greater Boston area who are struggling. I provide one on one therapeutic support and many other resources including food, laundry, showers, internet access, clothing, interview attire, job coaching and support groups. I also give motivational speeches all over New England on topics such as surviving Lyme Disease, CIDP and significant childhood trauma.

I spend my weekends chasing my dream to be an actress and model – a dream I couldn’t keep up with when my physical illness was much worse. I’ve recently been working on building my portfolio to sign with an agency. My mission is to use my acting and modeling to spread awareness of Lyme Disease as well as both physical and invisible disabilities while supporting body positivity, realness and self-acceptance. Though I’m much better than I was, things like random allergies and SIBO have come up since I’ve started working again and that has been challenging to work around in this business. I hope to start a YouTube Channel or blog soon about how to navigate the industry as someone who lives with chronic illness.

It’s been about 4 years since I was first diagnosed with Lyme Disease. That being said, my symptoms date back to about 12 years ago. I was misdiagnosed with many conditions including Hashimotos, POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) degenerative disc disease, recurring SIBO, autoimmune anemia, fibromyalgia, etc…

The scariest part of my journey was when I was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy which developed after having untreated Lyme for so long. At this point I had a lot of difficulty feeling my hands and feet and would have huge weird spasms. Sometimes I couldn’t walk so I had a cane and walker to use as needed. My brain fog and confusion was so bad that I couldn’t read very well either. I felt like I was dying. I started IVIg immunotherapy, which saved my life. I could think again, I could work and I can still walk, which not everyone with CIDP can do – as CIDP is a wheelchair bound disorder.

I think most of my strength comes from my experiences of both Lyme disease and childhood trauma. I would say my greatest strength is my resilience, which I wouldn’t have developed without all of the suffering I’ve endured. My trauma and illness have also given me the opportunity to inspire others to face their demons and illnesses instead of being victimized by them. An important part of being a model is being a role model.

One of the greatest gifts my experiences with illness and trauma has given me is gratitude. Especially after a few near death experiences, I feel like every day is a gift. I truly don’t think I’ve had a day I would consider completely bad since almost dying. The roses always smell sweet to me.

I love modeling for Mighty Well since Mighty Well’s mission coincides with mine – turning sickness into strength. The modeling industry is not always disability friendly in the way Mighty Well is. It’s so great to be a part of the industry I love and work in, while also supporting the disability community.

Many people believe that modeling is just about beauty and that it is skin deep. For me, I consider modeling the chance to tell a story using just one frame or image. I want the Mighty Well community to know that their story is my story, a story of resilience, like it is written on my wrist.

Want to follow Olivia’s journey? Check out her Instagram here.

How has Lyme disease affected your life? What inspires you?

Everyone reaches the top at different times and I know I haven’t gotten there. Does it piss me off? Hell yes. Does it make me sad when I can’t take my daughter out because I’m too tired and need to sleep? F*CK YES! But it’s not in my control. I pray.

One lesson I learned, and never forget this; “WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH, YOU HAVE WEALTH” I can’t emphasize that enough. It’s sad I envy healthy people.

To be honest, I’m not sure you ever totally accept it. Well maybe some do, but I can feel a tad of loss of my previous self knowing she will never come back. It’s not possible after all this trauma, but I do hold to hope and do trust the Lord had this plan for me, I know he’s taught me a ton!! About life, loving, saying no to something, cherishing the love and support I do have. So, if you believe in Jesus or God or both like I do, trust his will.

To be honest, you’re going to go through a grieving process. Just like with a loss of life. You grieve what was, what could have been, your loss of a healthy body, having to deal with all these medicines and doctors juggling so much at once, just you, you will miss YOU! I encourage you to embrace the process. Remember this is a grieving process, this is not a sprint to get to the end. Everyone reaches it.

It’s a long process for some, short for others. Your illness is going to be different than others’ illnesses and in length. The unknown is scary. But if someone told me this, or I read it from the beginning, it would have made much more sense to me while going through it and maybe I would have somehow embraced it better. Literally the 5 stages of grief will come and you may not even notice.

The anger phase was the worst for me. I was mad at everything, myself the most, the world, my pills, EVERYTHING! There was a fine line of when I accepted it and not.

ALWAYS if possible also have an advocate! ALWAYS take someone to your appointments. You won’t remember everything said. Find people like us for support!! They are the only ones who fully understand how you feel in every way. You’re going to be sad, that’s okay. ASK for help! I still can’t do this right by myself.

The other thing I can say is YOU take control over your healthcare! If you want something done, fine. If not these meds, say no! Just speak for yourself!

Lastly, learn to love yourself if you don’t. I still struggle with this. I trust Jesus! Now that I’ve written a book, TRUST your gut. If it doesn’t feel right to you, it’s not right.

God bless you all and I’m always here for anything, no $$ though XD

Oh LAUGH, it’s the best MED!! <3

How has Lyme Disease affected your life?

Lyme Disease changed my life forever. But I don’t want it to define who I am going to be for the rest of my life! Yes, I’ve been sick for going on 5 years now Lyme has been in my body for sometime but only started to show its true self about 5 years like I said… major brain fog sorry. I’ve been dealing with having Pneumonia but now I’m hoping Antibiotics have kicked it. So Lyme is rough it’s not nice to your body, it likes to play you for emotional rollercoaster ups and downs. Feel good one day, feel like you have been thrown around a few too many times… For me I just hope I can be strong tomorrow and the next day..if I get pushed down again I will probably cry, be a little mad, may scream a little. I’m being truthful, it makes you feel like you’re not you!

My brain does not always focus like it used to. I hate driving, but I still do when feeling somewhat normal… and normal is different everyday haha for me at least. Well I hope this helps awareness….

I almost forgot what Lyme disease did to me — I lost a lot of my friends… Lyme made me look crazy in some people’s eyes… Lyme disease is ruthless!

What inspires you?

One more thing — my FAMILY is my rock especially my husband. He lifts me up when I’m hard on myself! I just want to be healthy and happy again… Lyme is a constant battle, but keeping positive as much as possible helps ..okay I’m done for tonight everyone sleep well I have early morning IV’S…

How has Lyme Disease affected your life?

Lyme deteriorated my sense of worth and wellness to the point that I felt like I couldn’t get back up. But through the rumble I was able to rise up. I found that my worth was not in my accomplishments because there wasn’t much that I couldn’t do. My worth was so much deeper than that. My true worth was in my grit, my goodness and my godliness. The more I aligned that beautiful truth the better I felt.  Now I’m feeling happier and healthier than I have in years.

What inspires you?

“Without a vision a person will perish.”

My vision inspires me. I envisioned a better life and I’m living it. Now, my vision is to teach women how to build wild wellness by celebrating their amazing worth through life giving words.

How has Lyme Disease affected your life? What inspires you?

F*CK YEAH EASTER SUNDAY// we are here. We have survived!! Sometimes I need to stop and remember this, especially on this beautiful Easter Day (for those of you who celebrate, which I don’t, but shout out if you do! 😘)

If you’d told the old me that I would spend more than 12 months bedridden, I never would have thought that I could make it…. but here we are and we are happy little Easter bunnies!🐰

Lyme Disease and its friendly co-infections have truly taught me how strong I actually am. Here’s to the silver lining, I guess?! The hardest part for me? My first herx when I actually thought I might not make it. What has been the toughest part of chronic illness that you’ve survived? What does being sick on a day like today mean to you? Let’s share on this beautiful Sunday because I’ll be stuck in bed all day 😝

Also, is it bad to say f*ck in the same sentence as Easter? Non religious person over here trying not to offend anyone 😳

“So far you’ve survived everything you thought you wouldn’t.”