Since Lymenet has been down for "so long" I thought it would be a great idea to reintroduce ourselves. I've forgotten who half of you people are!
My name is Lymetoo. I've been on here forever and I live in Missouri. I'm really a Texan though....can you tell by my accent??
I retired on disability 13 yrs ago and now do more exciting things, like make costume jewelry and market a health beverage.
I enjoy people!! Posted by dlp252 (Member # 10711) on :
I am dlp252 (Donna). I joined this site somewhere around November (but didn't post much) because I was trying to figure if lyme could even be a possibility for me.
It was a long process of testing and ruling out other things, but eventually enough pointed to lyme to seek out a doctor and got tested (in May) and was found to be IgG positive for lyme.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
ok, ya'll. another texan, can ya tell?
5 feet 1 and weigh 200 (look like jabba the hut!!), but have joined jenny craig and hope to look like kirstie and valerie real soon...the before not the after....
live in fort worth, worked 30 years for the government in legal and civil rights (so be nice, my son is a cop and my daughter is a lawyer!!)
like to camp (ugh, not now anyway!!), travel, read tons of books, watch HSN and HGTV home shows. loved to eat, well, at least i did...
oh yes, going around the barn again wasn't I? lyme, right? had lyme since 2005 only given 2 weeks of doxy, then it got bad in december, and it's been downhill since then.
i did get an infec doc to give me a year's anti's and that has helped.
now starting buhner protocol.
sensitive to everything......
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
randi, how cute!!lol; your son's a cop; daughter is a lawyer; and your background as well!!
Tutu forgot to tell you she has the MOST posts, over 26,000+ to date on this board!!!
i'm no. 2 since i welcome all newbies and send them llmd info if i have some info!!
i've had chronic lyme since jan. 1970, dx mono/epstein barr virus ... my start of lyme by a tick OFF A LIVE XMAS TREE form my folk's farm house! no kidding!
MISDIAGNOSED for 34 yrs. by 40-50 mds/specialists.
correctly diagnosed july 12, 2004; 20 months long-term pulsed antibiotics; then 6 months of 22 supplements; off them all for now, and dealing with all the other health issues i have:
food allergies....
gluten ... wheat & rye
casein---cow's milk, cheeses, egg whites, & garlic plus dx with diabetes 2 6 months prior to my correct lyme dx!!
i'm a former state secretary who typed LEGAL documents involving transportation modes.
active political activist to congress, state legislatures, and love writing to newspapers on lyme newspapers feedback!
i'm 58, married for almost 33 yrs. hubby has mild parkinson's, severe tremors, and NOT dx correctly with chronic lyme by my 1st llmd, nor does he want to be treated for lyme! Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
hey betty, i was also a public affairs specialist and published a regional employee newsletter for over 5,500 employees.
i can't believe i wrote and published all those articles.
it's difficult now to write a decent paragraph and remember clarity, concise, correct, etc, right??
husband retired this past monday, now he's off flying, hunting, etc.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Who are all of you strangers???? Just joking.
Geneal here. Katrina survivor and going to be a Lyme survivor too.
Live in Louisiana with my husband, two children (5 and 4yrs old) and we all have Lyme.
I am a speech pathologist, but haven't worked since the hurricane.
First due to having no house....then because of Lyme and co-infections.
I think I have been infected at least 5 years, but the stress
Of the hurricane really set things off for me.
I love to read, collect cookbooks, play on slot machines (just for fun),
Play with my children.
Getting ready to finally begin building a new house.
Some days I really miss my Cokes....Have dropped over 28lbs since diagnosis.
I am a spiritual person who believes in the greater good of others.
Missed you guys a WHOLE bunch.
Glad to see everyone "rediscovering" Lymenet.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Hey meggie....[can I call you that?! ]...I'll PM my email addy to ya...I don't have yours either.
Randi...You were one step ahead of me! I forgot to say y'all!
Good to see all my friends again....Where are the rest of you strangers???
I'll be out and around the next day or two, but hope to check back in soon!! Posted by meg (Member # 22) on :
Hey meggie....[can I call you that?! [Big Grin]
I'm sorry, I don't think I know you well enough yet.......
I meant I'm late on mailing that to you and couldn't access my PM's! for your address--sorry
[ 25. June 2007, 08:46 PM: Message edited by: meg ]
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by meg: Hey meggie....[can I call you that?! [Big Grin]
I'm sorry, I don't think I know you well enough yet.......
hehehee! Posted by wiserforit (Member # 9732) on :
Hey the gang is back!
I'm wiserforit. I think I was bitten in 1999 and never diagnosed properly. Had many an ELISA back then. Lots of eyesight, balance and joint/fatigue issues ever since.
Got bit again in June 2005 and got waaay sick... Have been in treatment since April 2006. Had my ups and downs. Staying positive though. You all have been my Rock of Gibraltor.
I'm soon to be 49 and have a five-year-old and a 10-year-old who help me defy arthritic symptoms. I was a teacher K-6, then a learning specialist/tutor until I got sick and couldn't remember what to teach.
I'm far too curvacious for words since gaining Lymie weight (my curves have their own additional curves). Earth Mother-esque (lost that nubile twenties look a long time ago); gave up on wanting to look air-brushed and will settle for good health. My kids call me Beautiful Mother or Hot Mama if their dad is listening.
My life is good, when I can remember that through Lyme haze. I stay politically involved in local politics and national elections. I wrangle my boys. I organize the husband of 25 years; he's loyal and as supportive as he can be with my chronic stuff. We both love jazz and film and laughing with the kids. We're also New Yorkers who like to travel overseas when we can scrape the pennies together.
I'm like you all. I nap. I use the energy when it's there. I get anxious when I herx. I'm grateful for the good moments and less than graceful during the bad ones. I research, gather too much information, run away and then come back for more.
I'm pretty darn human, working on the spiritual aspect of things and very happy to know you all!
Best to you,
wiserforit
Posted by Raqual (Member # 12135) on :
Hello, I am new to posting but have been reading this websight since it was recommended by the Dr I used to have. I no longer have any health insurance or job for that matter.
I am Raqual and I used to work in Law enforcement.I was once beautiful and vibrant and out to help the world.
I used to volunter helping the homeless and victims of crimes. I no longer work because I was hurt on the job so now I find myself sueing my former employers and battling lymes with no way to see any Doctors.
So here I am after reading all of your stories, saying hello and here I am.
Oh I got lymes running to stay in shape for for my work, worked in narcotics.I wanted to be in the best shape I could be. and now my health is so shot, but this is a good day for me I live in So Calif.
How the hell did I get lymes in Southern Calif!
Posted by heiwalove (Member # 6467) on :
hooray! lymenet is back!
my name is heather, i'm 26 years old and have had lyme forever, i think, though got really sick in 2004.
doing pretty well now (knock on wood!) - can work part-time (haven't tried fulltime since being sick, though might in the near future), go out with friends, read, write, play music, laugh. huge improvement from being bedbound with essentially no working brain!
right now i do part-time childcare. violin and guitar are my main passions, and i'm really into the underground indie folk scene and helping out artists i admire in any way i can (selling merchandise, promoting shows, etc). i also write poetry, read A LOT, play with my cats, hang out with friends, aimlessly walk around nyc, etc.
i'm planning on applying to social work school this winter; eventually i want to work with homeless youth. *
Posted by Dan's Mom (Member # 11347) on :
Hello everyone! I've been lurking here for several months and figured this would be a good time to introduce myself.
My 22year old son has neuropsychiatric Lyme with seizures and violent psychotic episodes. He has been on oral abx for about 4 mos. and and IV Rocephin for 1 month. We are starting to see some improvement. His cognitive skills are starting to come back. He's initiating conversations and getting his sense of humor back. He is not able to type or stay on the computer for any length of time, but I hope that soon he will be able to and that he will find as much help on this site as I have.
We live on the south shore of Long Island, NY and would love to hear from anyone who has similar symptoms.
Dan's Mom
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
First of all,,welcome all these "Newbie's""",,,
When people see me coming,,,they all have one thing to say,,, its --just don--
Posted by LisaS (Member # 10581) on :
Hi Im Lisa. Im from Wisconsin. Ive been on here a year already. Have had lyme and co-infections for about 15 years. This site has been a Godsend for me!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Raqual: How the hell did I get lymes in Southern Calif!
LYME disease is prevalent in California. Welcome!!
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Raqual, california is no. 14; iowa no. 15 out of 50 states in 2005 LYME REPORTED STATITISTICS TO CDC! you're the only narc to sign up during my 3 years here! did you ever sit on logs; lean up against a tree/bushes, etc?
my tick came off a LIVE XMAS TREE! got terribly sick in early jan. 70; BELOW ZERO weather; no gardening, no pets, etc! go figure!!
did i send you my 58 pages of newbie links, advise, symptoms, tests, disability info galore, much more, and treepatrol's newbie link of 1000+ sites of GOOD INFO!
if i didn't, please send me a PM, private messge, 2 people standing by envelope, and request my newbie's package ok!
randibear, writing a newsletter for 5500 people; you'd better watch out or we'll recruit you for our lyme political activism things! lol
we've all very diverse backgrounds where we all exceeded in the types of work we did; now, we join forces to do what we can do politically!
amazing how many school teachers we have!
Posted by jaime1978 (Member # 11786) on :
Hi All! Boy, missed you guys.
I'm jaime. 28 years old. I believe I have had lyme for 20 years. Had two ticks burrowed in my back in texas....dad just burned them off with a match.
Around when I turned 20, started having problems, and have gone downhill fast since then. Several surgeries for tumors, dx with fibro (of course), and MCTD (autoimmune).
I have nearly EVERY symptoms on the list. My worst right now is pain. I have two toddlers. Mom's immagine having to tell your little one's, "I can't pick you up right now"....all too many times. Every single joint in my body is in excrutiating pain.
Also been getting fatigue real bad, and air hunger real bad....those are my top 3. But like I said, I have nearly all of them.
Going to my first LLMD appt TOMORROW!!!!!! I am so excited!!!!!!! FInally some answers will come my way.
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
I'm Sarah O., a stay-at-home Mom formerly a drug & alcohol counselor with the severely mentally ill, with 4 unpublished books, 6 rescued totally bratty cats- Xian, Catkin, Gink, Diamond, Duchess & Harley, 2 daughters from 2 husbands, Evan age 10 and Isadora Clementine, age 2, still married to the second husband, Ed, who is a master foreman electrician working on big buildings in charge of teams of other electricians...
We live in a dilapidated but charming falling down wreck of of an English country cottage house at the base of Nisene Mark State Park, Aptos, CA which has 17.8% in adult ticks, the highest documented in all of CA. Got Lymed 9 years ago when clearing land at new house, got bulls-eye rash, positive tests, got diagnosis of Post Lyme Syndrome after one month abx! then diagnosed "multi-system progressive neurological disease triggered by post-Lyme syndrome". Ha!
Wish it was funny*)!!!
Have been at 99.9% for 6+ years now, doing great and very grateful ebcause I was dying-
USED to be somethin' to stare at but now am very much a Mom*)!*)!! Love that actually... I wear my glasses all the time now although I want to get laser eye surgery now... Have long platinum blonde hair, grey-green-blue eyes depending on my mood & what I wear, still have 5-10 extra pounds since last baby even though I do 8 flights of stairs 3 times a week!!! But I can disguise it with clothes&*)!
My legs are very tan and covered in scabby flea and mosquito bites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They get me no matter what I do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a reader, reader reader and love pubmed, love reading Lyme & TBD abstracts...
Glad to be back, Best wishes, Sarah
Posted by Raqual (Member # 12135) on :
Dear Betty.
I wish I could say that I got lymes on a stake, but truth is I got it running to stay in shape to get the bad guys, so I could keep up with the boys.
I was in amazing shape till these last 3 years.
I have worked my whole life and have never been in this position, I can use all the help and ideas you all have.In another post I asked for ideas on how to make some kind of home based business to support myself.
I have gave all my life and thank God I was a saver, I have lived off all my saving for my old age ...which I am not sure I will see at this point.
I am trying to stay positive but its not easy being Green..ha attempt at humor.
Anyways mine is a long story as all of your stories are. I have no idea how to get all the stuff that other ppl get for free...
I had too much in saving to get aid and well.. All I know is work and helping others I have never been and never expected to be on this side of the tracks...Life takes us all on some strange journeys.
The one good thing I did get out of lymes is: I am no longer a workaholic.
I now know the value of spending time with those I love.
Posted by GenaD (Member # 11988) on :
I grew up riding horses competitively in tick infested Long Island, and I'm sure that's where I got Lyme. I was always tired as a kid, but never made the connection to Lyme or saw a rash. As I got older, new symptoms started coming and I was realizing that it wasn't "just me" to be so tired all the time.
I can relate to those of you who once felt vibrant and beautiful and in shape...I worked out hard in college and throughout my 20s' and was a fitness model. Now I'm skinny and have to force myself to eat.
I became a counselor and worked with all different populations until finding the best job ever--working as an outreach worker with homeless/addicts on the streets of Orlando. (Orlando is rougher than one would imagine!)
My partner and I would do everything from bring food to first aid to crisis counseling...we found ourselves in all kinds of dangerous situations and every night was different. We were out there trying to get the addicts into counseling or into the shelters. To do that we had to get to know them very well and get inside their worlds a little.
To me the job was great because I got to be a counselor and feel a little bit like a cop. We changed lives and formed connections with people. It was always intense and emotional. It was devastating to me to have to give that up. Making a difference in the lives of others was everything to me. It hurts me to see others out there being productive and contributing when I have days where i do absolutely nothing.
But, I said this on another thread somewhere...Lyme has forced me to slow down, be still, and realize that life isn't all about being in awesome shape or being in magazines. I'd love to be making more of a difference, but for some reason, this was the hand I've been dealt, and I'm trying to find the meaning in it.
I find that I'm definitely more spiritual. My priorities have changed. It took a while for me to get there, though. I now have to enjoy very simple things, but I'm realizing they're wonderful things.
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
Well I am new to Lyme and this forum, although I post a lot simce I can't keep my mouth shut!
I am a veterinary technician and have been doing this for 10 years. I mostly deal with Emergency and Critical Care. I love it and it is the only thing I am good at.
I am 2s and I have 2 small kids. I have been married for 6 years. I live in Massachusetts.
I became ill about 8 weeks ago after working like crazy I just woke up one morning and felt like I was going to die. i have had a fever ever since. My PCP is also an ID doc, so I had a diagnosis in 3 weeks. I was put on doxy and I started to have Neuro symptoms. My doc was on vacation.
I suffered for 2 weeks, when finally I called his office in tears and hearing voices. He admitted me to the hospital. I have had every test I swear. Lp to gallium scan to labs- All normal. I was sent home with a PICC line and IV Rocephin for 21 days. I have about a week left.
I do not feel well at all and I am desperate to get better. I am trying to get intouch with LLMD. All I want to do is sleep and cry.Sometimes I Wish Lyme would kill me already but it doesnt. I used to think I was tough, but have been reduced to a blob on the couch or bed from a stupid tick I never even saw. My doc thinks I got it from working with animals.
Right now I hate everything and just want to curl up into a ball and stay that way til I feel better. I am grateful for sites like this and the friends I have made.
Normally I am tough and a tell you how it is kind of person. A real leader and decision maker. I don't put up with BS. I tell people I am not a real people person, but I think that it is I am a person who cant stand jerks, ignorant, rude people. I used to be good in a crisis especially at work. My co workers follow my lead and I can deal with anything that happens.
I like to make people laugh.
I am currently on a medical leave and look forward to the day I am on old pro giving out advice to the scared and confused newbies, and tell stories of I remember when I was so sick I wanted to jump in front of a bus.
I love animals. I feel that I can feel what they are thinking and feeling. I have a real connection with them. It is a gift.
Well that is all I can think of- Thanks Lymenet and all of the people who continue to help me through this- God bless
Melissa
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
I've had Lyme since childhood, when I lived in OK, spent some time also in MO and CO during summers, but my guess is I got it right in OK, either at home or at camp (ya think?).
I've lived in VA for almost 30 years now, have three adult children. Oldest is a teacher, wants to start his own school in NYC in a year (working on grant for that now).
Youngest was a teacher, soon to be a law student, and moving back to the area from NC!
Middle one is aspiring Hip Hop artist, looking for a better job. Has Bipolar Disorder (could it be Lyme?), has Kaiser, so waiting for better health insurance to explore.
Actually concerned that at least my two youngest have Lyme, oldest hasn't shown any signs. I didn't breast feed him, did the others, but had it when I was pregnant with all three.
I was a teacher all my life, but had to leave the classroom in fall 2001. First dx'd with CFS/FM, but my doc saw the light and is now VERY Lyme Literate, we just joked about that yesterday!
I was given the clinical dx of Lyme in April 2005, still no positive tests. Currently being treated for Bart, Lyme and Babs (only art).
I want to know how so many of you got on yesterday. I tired several times last night and couldn't get on. Anyway, it's good to be back! Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by merrygirl: I post a lot simce I can't keep my mouth shut!
Sounds like me!
Lymed: Someone said if you have your bookmark set to this page, you can get in more easily. Now, I THINK they meant THIS time while they were still working on getting the site up.
I'm a big, blonde 40 year old who was even bigger when I got infected 4 years ago by a giant, engorged tick that was deeply embedded just above my navel on my 9-months-pregnant belly.
I have been on SS disability for nearly 2 years, but before I had to stop working I worked in advertising and was an editor at a smalltown newspaper.
I have 8 siblings. The oldest is a vet who had Bell's palsy and a severe psychotic episode last year (I think he's a lymie, but he doesn't).
My twin sister's son is currently suffering from many Lyme symptoms and has an appointment for an evaluation by my LLMD next month.
I have a husband and three sons. My oldest son has Down syndrome complicated by autism. He will be moving in with a care provider next month because he's too strong for me to handle alone.
I have to send my youngest (who tests positive for Lyme and recently became symptomatic) to a babysitter every day because I can't care for him properly, either.
My middle son is old enough now to care for himself to a large degree so he's the only one who stays with me during summer vacation.
I really enjoy Lymenet and missed it when it was down for a few days!
Well, I'm tired, so I'll end it here! - Lymelady
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
Cantigiveupyet here-
I was bit in 2000, the tick was in my car, i got it at work while parking under a tree. It was imbedded on my lower left stomach area. I feard lyme back then and started crying and freaking out.
went to the dr with sore throat, swollen glands, chest pain, the sore throat would not go away for about 6 months. Dr ran a lyme test and was negative,so no lyme plus i didnt have the infamous bullseye rash.
I would get sick every Decemeber with bad bronchtis, and always seemed to have a sore throat that would pop up now and again.
In August 05- everything hit hard and was overcome by and odd sensation while vacationing. i had two bad boughts of bronchitis in may and aug 05, so i believe my immune system collapsed. I woke up sept 05 and was too dizzy to work.
ive been down to the bottom and halfway back again. Its been a very long road, filled with suffering, but im at a point where im still disabled, but can manage it better. there was a point during my journey i thought i would die.
i slept with my laptop so i could reach out to my lymenet friends.
Before getting lymed, i was an accountant, just bought a new car and living it up. My life was sucked from me in a blink of an eye, and im working so hard to get it back.
ive learned much about myself and i do like the new person i have become, just wish i could get my body back, so i could rejoin the living.
Posted by aiden424 (Member # 7633) on :
My name is Kathy, I'm 48 and I live in South Dakota. I've been married for 29 years. I have 3 grown kids, 2 beautiful grandchildren, 3 dogs, and a horse.
I've had lyme for over 21 years. I was told I had CFS, and only found out it was really lyme in the spring of 2005. I've been on SS disability since 1988.
Two of the dogs are my husband's, who uses them for pheasant hunting. I have a horse at a boarding facility. So I'm sure I've been bitten by ticks many, many times over the years.
Kathy
Posted by Cassie (Member # 2106) on :
Hi Everyone, great post Tu-tu, it's nice to remember were we all started from and to here from the newbies.
Im a 52 year old (yikes did I just say that) I have a wonderful hubby,2 kids and 2 grandkids who I just adore.
I went back to college at age 37 and completed 3 years of Nursing which was what I always wanted to do. Like so many of us that was out the window when I became ill.
I was bitten by a spider yeah right in 1988. Had vague symptoms until 1996 then wham I hit the floor. Was diagnosed in 2002.
Like everyone here have had very bad times and some better days.
Merry-girl hang in there. You sound like my daughter, she is a vet tech also and is a animal lover. there is 3 dogs,2cats, 2 gerbils and many fish in her houshold. I love animals too but know when enough is enough. We have a black lab (Cassie) and a bird, he is a green-cheeked conure.
Take care your old and new friend Cassie
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
Lymetoo said,
quote: Lymed: Someone said if you have your bookmark set to this page, you can get in more easily. Now, I THINK they meant THIS time while they were still working on getting the site up.
I DO have it bookmarked and still coudn't get on until today.
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
Thansk for the kind words cassie! Melissa
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
Aside to GenaD- you should look up Bartonella and IV drug users!!! Bartonella is HUGE in IV drug users maybe because of homeless component maybe because of needles- soem very interesting abstracts on pubmed!!! Best wishes, Sarah
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
I am Katherine or KAM. Not sure who I am most of the time since coming down with this condition or who those are around me.
At first I could not recall my name so I would mutter to myself....I am Jose Imenez after a guy I saw on TV years ago who I thought was very funny and a little wacky.
I am in the nifty 50s club.
STill trying to find my nitch in the world since this has hit.
Still have trouble connecting the dots. sometimes don't even know where the dots are to connect.
Working full time one week as a teacher. Not able to do household chores or work the next week.
Went from earning over $50,000 to no income and depleting savings to SSI of $560 a month several years later.
That was in Oct. 2001. Others at work came down sick too and were approved for disability through work. They were dx with CFS/stress/fibro/valley fever.
These were considered for me too but could not accept the labels and that there was nothing that could be done.
AFter over 35 doctor's and 18 months, one doc knew enough about the symptoms of lyme and which lab to use to consider it.
I am still hoping and praying for approval also so I will have more resources to help improve my health and condition.
I am in the last stages of the process. If you are a praying person please add approval of CALPERS industrial disability to your prayers.
Six years of prayers were recently answered regarding a power chair that reclines and has leg lifts and supports my body.
I am assuming it took so long because I was not well enough to be out in a power chair until recently for the most part.
I have a lot to be thankful for. God has sent some wonderful people in my life to help me through this.
Going through a scary stage right now but this too shall pass. It is nothing like I have had in the past.
As I am typing this I just realized I have not been taking my Xango for several days as I was out of state to see my LLMD.
Thankful for the people who drove me to see him. Looking forward to being able to drive myself again some day.
Wondering if I get back on Xango if it will help. Worth a try. It also helps remind me of the caring people who provided it for me and we are not alone in this.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
so many touching stories that just tears out hearts apart about reading what you all have been thru and continue going thru.
ragual, i sent you my newbies links/advise and told you how to find specific links in there about needy meds, etc ... 4-6 good links i know of there.
plus check TREEPATROL'S NEWBIE LINKS in medical; skim the pages!!!
look for MINOUCAT'S NAME; she has links to many different things!! good luck to you/all who have posted their stories! Posted by Just Julie (Member # 1119) on :
Howdy pardners! I'm not from Texas, I'm originally from Southern CA. I could have very easily gotten a tick bite down there growing up as I camped, hiked in the San Gabriel mountains as a child growing up. . .
I could also have gotten a tick bite (many of them) while living in Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay from 1980-1982. I lived in the woods along the shore, and had many dinner plate size raised reddened itchy rashes that people told me were spider bites . . . Cecil County, where that teen boy recently (last few years?) won a huge settlement against his pediatric group of doctors that denied he had lyme, when he really did.
So, if I got bit in the early 80's in Maryland, but my immune system kept it in check, then the tick bite that I actually found the tick in my neck on, in 1987 might have done it to me. I had knee pain, and was working as a nurse at the time, so I actually saw a rhemuatologist then, this is 1987 folks, and he did a lyme test on me then!!! Can you believe it? I think I had the presence of mind back then to ask for one, because I hiked at least 4 days a week in the open space parks here in Northern CA with my dogs. And at the trailheads of each entrance to these open space areas, there used to be huge signs that warned about ticks and lyme disease. Hmmmm. This again, was in 1987.
Onward to 2000. It was May 5, 2000. I will never forget that day, I got an email from this creep who I used to date in high school. He had the nerve to contact me and ask me casually "how are you doing". I won't go into details, but he did assault me in high school, and I thought I'd never hear from this creep again. But I did, and that was my first of three, hugely emotionally upsets that month of May, 2000. The next upset came a week later when I heard that my mom (in a nursing home) fell and broke her hip. I knew that was the beginning of the end for her, and as I was trying to mentally absorb that shock, I thought I found evidence online of my husband cheating on me.
Well, can you guess what happened? My immune system could no longer keep the lyme at bay in my body, and my muscles started twitching all over. I went online and searched "muscle twitching" and came up with ALS, MS, and LYME! I also found Lymenet. I heard from the lovely Sarah (California Lyme) and she put me in touch with the famous LLMD here in No. CA. Before that, though, I went thru 5 docs who gave me misdiagnosis, etc. I was quietly reading lymenet for a year before I joined in 2001.
I took abx for 4 years straight. Oh, did I mention that both sons have lyme? Yep, we all have it, including the husband, who won't acknowledge that he does.
My son's had mysterious symptoms starting at ages 5 and 7. They were diagnosed with lyme at ages 8 and 11. they took continous abx for 3 years before stopping.
We are all in "remission" I suppose. None of us did IV abx, but that doesn't mean we never will. I consider this a remission, with relapse always a possbility. We still live in tick country here in Northern CA. One day, I hope to move to Europe and discover national health care, and not have to do the worry dance about our rotten health care system in the states. My youngest son will be 18 in 3 years, and then I will see about where the state of my marriage is, and if I am staying or going.
I am an animal lover. It breaks my heart that having a dog in this house, this neighborhood will not be my reality, but ticks are out my back door, and I cannot fathom having a dog that goes outside, and inside, to bring a deadly tick into our living space.
I don't know how my brain ever accepted the fact that I will never set foot in my beloved open space parks again, but it seems to have finally taken hold of me to be a reality. No more camping, no hiking, no outside anything, really. It's just beyond me how people who've been lymed can go back to the places we got this in in the first place.
I'm waiting for heaven, I think it will be green.
Posted by AZURE WISH (Member # 804) on :
i couldnt get on till today either.
I am azure wish and that is azure like the color blue not the other "as your"
got sick 1987
diagnosed 2000
disabled since 2000
i am an artist but have hardly been able to work on my art since 2000.
i was working towards being an art teacher when i became disabled and still intend on being able to teach art someday...
even though right now i am really far away from being able to.
I was 10 when i got sick and i am 30 now. there are far more cants in my life than cans right now. Still hopeful though. Posted by salydega (Member # 7309) on :
Hi everyone Salydega here and no my name is not Saly. My name is Sandra, I am 42 and I live in Minnesota. Land of 10,000 lakes (and ticks)
I am married and have 4 kids, 3 stepchildren and 2 grandsons. We have 6 kids living with us, and yes that is alot of work, especially with me not being up to par.
I am not exactly sure when I first got Lyme. I was biten by ticks many times as a child.
I am my father's only child so he pretty much made me a tomboy. (his son) and took me hunting and fishing, etc.. I spent almost every weekend in the woods with him up north.
I remember him do tick checks on my body and putting a match to them to kill them and then pull it off of me. So it is hard to say if that is when I was first infected.
In 2004 I was diagnosed with Lyme by an ID DR after having menengitis 3 times. His 30 day treatment didnt do the trick and I was naive. A year later, I found this board and an llmd.
I had a 1 1/2 year "semi-remission" or so I thought. I still had headaches and leg pains but not severe and I just thought that was how it was going to be for the rest of my life.
Then in May I became sick again. And I know Stress is what brought it back in full force.
I am a Real Estate Broker/Mortgage Broker and as most of you are aware the market has taken a nose dive.
To say the least my income has gone from excellent to below poverty. That among other things has totally thrown me under the bus and my immune system finally had enough.
I ended up with menengitis again and back in the hospital for a week.
I then realized that I still have not completed kicking this terrible diseases "a%&" to the curb and I am back on ABX. I came back to this board for more ammunition, and moral support.
It is nice to know that there are other people who can relate to what you are going through and can give advice when we need it.
I truly am grateful for all of you!! I am hopeful and prayerful that I will be whole again.
Sandra
Posted by cheleburgess (Member # 12493) on :
Hi all. I am Michele and I don't have lyme that I know of. I do however have a best friend that is near and dear to me that is suffering from what he was told is stage 3 lyme. He is constantly suffering from the syptoms and deals with alot of depression. I joined lymenet in order to see what kind of information I could find to help him. I am new here and BettyG thank you for all the newbie info. I don't know much about lyme but I am learning and I want to wish all of you that do have the disease the best of luck. My best friend has been suffering with lyme for over 13 years and he is disabled from it. He continues to have good days and bad days. I am trying to encourage him to join the site as well as I feel he would find it very comforting to know that he is not alone in this. My prayers are with all of you and I hope that one day someone will create a miracle drug that cures this disease.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
You have a wonderful heart, Chele. Thanks for being here!!
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randi, how cute!!lol; your son's a cop; daughter is a lawyer; and your background as well!! ![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
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