Between myself and my 2 children all having lyme, I have shared many challenges with all of you over the past 4 years.

Today I wanted to share a milestone. I stopped taking all meds in April of 2004 and I have now been of all meds for 1 year and am doing remarkably well.

I am so thrilled to have my life back and will never take a single day, or minute of my health for granted again.

I am back to work, am full of energy, and the best news is that I am able to play with my children again. They have a healthy happy mommy again and I thank God everyday for returning my health to me. And for giving me the opportunity to be a part of my children's lives.

And after 3 years of basically being too sick to exercise, I am now determined to get my body back in shape again as well... So I just started a 6 week body make over by Michael Thurman.. ( I'll let you know how it goes )

It feels so good to have energy again. I went hiking last Sunday to see a beautiful waterfall. With the snow melting off the mountains, the water was flowing in full force and it felt so good to be able to experience the wonders of mother nature again.

My road to recovery has been a long one.... one many of you have shared with me. And I want to thank you all for being there every step of the way. With out you and Dr.D, I honestly don't know if I would be alive today.

While I don't think I will ever be "cured", I am content with being 95% better and thank my lucky stars I have come this far.

My children Derek and Mikayla are still being treated by Dr.Jones and are both doing better. Derek's main problem is joint pain ( Dr.J tested him for juvenile arthritis) and I think Mikayla will go off meds in July.

I am thrilled with their progress...

So as a family, we feel so blessed to have found this site full of wonderful caring people, who were able to help us get through some of the worst times in our lives and I just wanted to take a moment to share some good news with you all.

I continue to keep you all in my thoughts and prayers and wish you all wellness.

Couldn't happen to a nicer person! I'm about 8 months behind you!

Now we'll be waiting to hear the same from Derek & Mikayla - two precious children!!
After their bouts with Lyme, I know they'll grow up with a special understanding of other people's pain.

as I told you when you started here....focus.

You did...and you won.

Trout

PS....You have one of the neatest families, and you are a great Mother.

way to go, Missy - I'm glad to hear you made it out of the pit!

How long had you been ill and how long was your treatment?

What wonderful news, Missy!!!!!!!!
Come back and share when the kiddos get there too

WAIT...

You are the Mommie...............never mind.

The good news you bring in spring is just the thing...to show everyone that getting better IS possible.

NOW...STAY INSIDE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!

(No ticks inside...hopefully!) Please be careful...I was bitten twice!

Your children are in our prayers as well!

Be well, stay well...and play well!

Stay well....come by and visit.........hope to join you on the "regular" life side soon.....

God bless -

That is great news Missy!

It feels great to hear from someone who went through so much at the same time I did.

I'm thrilled to hear you are doing so well.

Are you also working on detoxing? I've been discovering new methods and I think they may help me get over that last 5% too.

I went off abx in Jan. '05. Hope to be able to report next Jan. that I'm celebrating my one year too!

Thanks for all the wonderful replies and congratulations. I'm sure many of the ol' timers remember a time when I took myself off meds as I was rebelling... and 6 weeks later I was in the ER.

This time I stuck it out and went off meds when me and the LLMD agreed it was okay to give it a try. I was a little skeptical to post about this, as I'm a little superstitious and don't want to jinx my good health..lol

Looking back over the years, I've had my good times, bad times, dark times, and joyous times and you were all right there beside me and my family to share in our joys and concerns...thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

It sure has been along road to where I am today, and most of you who posted shared the ride. I can never thank you all enough for giving me the advice, friendship, support and an occasional kick in butt when I needed it , to help get me where I am today...

Also thanks for being there for Derek and Mikayla..you all have become a second family to us. I'll be sure to keep you all updated with their progress and I'll stop by often to check in on all of you.

Thanks again for everything. I hope I continue to feel well and will enjoy every second I can. I wish you all wellness!!!!

you said :Been with you through it all! I can say I "knew you back when" ....
Couldn't happen to a nicer person! I'm about 8 months behind you

Thanks!! and I am hoping that you too will soon be celebrating your one year anniversary off meds. You're pretty darn nice too Good luck!!!!

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cbb you said:

Wow!!!
That is awesome news!!!

Now we'll be waiting to hear the same from Derek & Mikayla - two precious children!!
After their bouts with Lyme, I know they'll grow up with a special understanding of other people's pain.

I'm thrilled for you, Missy!!
Thanks for taking time to share your fantastic news!!

Hey cbb aka green Santa,

Thanks for the post. How are you holding up? I'm so sorry for your loss. I wish I could reach out and give you a big hug from me and the kids but for now this (((((hug))))) will have to do. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers!

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Trout, you said

"I am so proud of you....

as I told you when you started here....focus.

You did...and you won.

Trout

PS....You have one of the neatest families, and you are a great Mother

Hey Trout,

My LymeNet Guardian Angel. I remember the first night I posted here, I was so scared and lost and you were the first person who posted to me and I will never forget the calming feeling that came over me as I read your posts.

You have been right there for me and my family through every agonizing step and I appreciate it. You and your family are pretty special as well!

Keep in touch, you have my email address. As always, keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

((((Hugs, Brat))))

I became sicker and sicker and by the time I went to my LLMD I was all but paralyzed on my right side, I could barley walk, I couldn't write, I stuttered, loss of memory, mixed up my words, facial pain, severe exhaustion, headaches, eye issues, joint pain, etc....

I was in so much pain that I spent most days on the couch or in bed doped up with Vicodin just to get me through the day. And I was unable to play with my kids....

I went to my LLMD and was put on Biaxin and Plaquenil which I took for about 3 years. My LLMD also added Minocycline about a year into my treatment to target my nuero symptoms.

And I was on Levaquin for my bart. So I was on oral meds for about 3 years.

(Also I did get bit last June and 4 days later, I ended up in the ER with Encephalitis, though there is no proof it was from the tick bite. They thought I had West Nile, but the test came back inconclusive. So as a precaution, they gave me IV antibiotics and 2 weeks orals just incase it was a reinfection. I was in the hospital 6 days and I had no further complications.)

So that in an nutshell is my story

Keep us posted now and then.