LymeNet Flash: coping and understanding lyme for myself and family

This is topic coping and understanding lyme for myself and family in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by donnaindistress (Member # 10781) on :

I have just been diagnosed with lyme disease 6 weeks ago. I was bit by a tick approximatly 7yrs. ago and have been misdiagnosed ever since. I am trying to deal with this dreaded disease and understand more about it. I would also like to know how to get my husband more interested in learning about this disease. As I'm sure you all know, it affects all your loved ones and every aspect of your life. Any stories about helping others to understand would be greatly appreciated. I am classified as chronic lyme and I am experiencing neurological brain fog, nervous ticks and numbness, muscular degeneration, severe joint pain and swelling, along with many other bothersome symptoms. I have recently experienced my first herxhiemer reaction. WOW! That was bad! Any advice, stories or information is greatly appreciated. Prayers to all who have taken the time to read my story. I pray for all who have had to deal with this vicious disease.

Posted by notcrazykate (Member # 10458) on :

I'm sorry you've been diagnosed with lyme, but glad you found lymenet! This sight has so much information and so many knowledgeable, kind people... it's been a fantastic resource for me.

I'm fairly new to this myself, and also from Michigan.

I've probably had lyme for 8 or so years, but perhaps nearly my whole life. Misdiangnosed with all kinds of things and never even thought of lyme disease until a suggestion from somebody who knew somebody...

I was amazed to find that I had tons of the symptoms of lyme; things I wasn't even connecting to the symptoms I was seeking help for (pain/tingling/numbness).

I found that the thing that got my family to understand what I was going through the best was having my mother go to a support group meeting.

You can get info. about Michigan support groups at the Michigan Lyme Disease Association Web site:

http://www.hvcn.org/info/mlda/

and clicking on the "support groups" link on the left side of the page.

I'm sure BettyG will be along soon to give you tons of other helpful links [Smile]

Good luck, and stay positive!

Posted by Beverly (Member # 1271) on :

Hi donnaindistress,

So sorry you have lyme disease. Yes, it is really hard sometimes for loved ones to understand what you are going through. It takes time.

Maybe he can come here and read or you could print some information off the computer and give it to him?

There are some good books out there as well. One I just recently finished is "Coping With Lyme Disease" By Denise Lang.

It gets better, just hang in there.