posted
I doing some research for a book I am writing ( I also suffer from Lyme) and am taking a poll.
What is your profession and age (if possible) and how long have you been ill?
Any journalists or media professionals out there?
Thanks!
Chris
Posts: 216 | From Upstate NY | Registered: Oct 2004
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cantgiveupyet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8165
posted
I'm 30 years old and Im a corporate accountant
I was bit in 2000 that i know of because I had to remove the tick from my stomach. I was sick soon after with a sore throat that lasted months....and then the big one hit in May of 2005...I havent been well since May13th.
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
Chris, I had undx Lyme for 9 years and have been on abx now since June. My body gave out completely last February.
Most of my professional life, I was a journalist with bylines in about a half dozen national publications. I can no longer work on that level and haven't been able to for several years. Recently, I've been working with kids, which is something I love.
I swear I'm going to beat this thing!
Andie
[ 13. February 2006, 12:10 AM: Message edited by: Andie333 ]
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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Nal
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6801
posted
Im a stay at home mom to 3 girls-youngest is 2. I was sick for 5 years before being diagnosed this past April. Im only 33 and feel like I am 92 most days.
Nancy
-------------------- Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you respond to it!
-Chuck Swindoll Posts: 1594 | From Colorado | Registered: Jan 2005
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I did some print journalism and worked briefly for CNN, but at the end I was an executive assistant.
Cheers,
Alison
--------------------
The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. --- Edward R. Murrow Posts: 923 | From California | Registered: Aug 2005
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I worked in a large clinic until just over a year ago....surrounded by Dr.'s.
Went to several of them over 3 year time period.
Finally diagnosed myself when I found Dr. Burrascano's guidelines on the web.
Found my Dr. on this site.
In treatment 15 months. Lyme Disease 4 1/2 years.
Bug
-------------------- Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see....Corrie Ten Boom Posts: 343 | From Northcentral Iowa | Registered: May 2005
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Had Lyme undiagnosed for 17 years or so. Tomorrow will make 2 weeks of treatment for me.
Posts: 20 | From Frederick, MD | Registered: Oct 2005
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi Chris
I work in the TV production and indy movie industry--
I got bit in 1986 in Austin-- Big Lyme Bullseye on leg-
I went from a young man in good health to feeling like I was 80 in about 3 months--
Around 10 years ago my health was so bad that I had to make a career change to one I could do that was not physicaly hard and that I could sit down alot--
I always thought I would like to make movies so I figured I would give it a try---
I read a lot of books and I started working for indy movie productions
I bought a good editing system and spent many hours learning how to edit video ---
Over the last 4 years my health went down hill so much I could not work as camera man any more--
I am really lucky I learned to edit because I have been able to work from home mostly now-
I figured out I have Lyme about 3 years ago by seeing a TV show on Lyme-- I had been to many doctors who did not have a clue-- They should have tho --
I did more research and found Lymenet-- Then I found a LLMD -- I was very Lucky-
The people on Lymenet saved my life-
Over the last year my health has gotten so much better I have been able to think about producing a 10 minute short soon--I am excited --
You can get better I have --Jay--
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
blood bank tech (currently not working due to memory problems), age 45, 2 kids, hubby, 3 cats---feel like I'm 90.
Posts: 13 | From WV | Registered: Dec 2005
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ticked in ri
Unregistered
posted
I'm an accountant in a managerial position. I don't know when I was infected. Started with strange symptoms in Sept 04 and started abx 11 months later in Aug 05. Now in treatment for about 5 months.
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hopeful123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3244
posted
late fifties, 5+ years of Lyme. was a lot of other things, but now ad. asst. I am supposed to remember things for my two bosses....
-------------------- some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield Posts: 1160 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
48, certified executive chef and restaurant owner, diagnosed 3+ months ago, was supposed to see LLMD today, they chnged appt. to the 16th, grrrr.
Posts: 203 | From Jacksonville, FLorida | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
born with borrelia, not "Lyme", which is a zoonotic disease. Sense highschool (strep complications) I've had chronic fatigue which would have led to a subdural empyema around the age 34. I'm an accountant.
Posts: 731 | From Humble,TX | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
28, police officer currently the school resource officer in a high school (was too sick to work patrol... much better now).
Was infected at least since October 2002 maybe longer looking back...was daignosed finally in March of 2005 and have been seeing my LLMD since April-May doing soooooo much better.....Jill
Posts: 83 | From Northern Illinois | Registered: Feb 2005
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
I'm 56; misdiagnosed for 34 years until 7-04!
Editing: Got sick at 21 with mono; never recouped from the chronic fatigue I experienced. Then came the fibromyalgia pain undx, EXTREMELY sensitive eyes to light/glare/reflection and NOISE/SOUND, IBS, stomach, period problems, and you know how the list keeps getting longer.
I NEVER saw a bulls-eye; not one of my 40-50 drs. ever mentioned lyme disease to me. I went to a support group meeting talking about FMS/CFS, and here it was an unadvertised LYME meeting talking about lyme folks have PRESSURE POINTS pain like my fibro!
That's what made me pursue the western blot igm/igg at IGENEX when I heard about it from that support group. I would have NEVER tested otherwise.
With all my memory problems, I felt like I have EARLY-ONSET ALZHEIMER'S/dementia. My brother's wife, 40, yes 40, died of this mind-robbing disease in 93 after 8-14 years of it. Treated for severe depression!
Feel & move like a 90 yr. old. Do I want to live another 10-30 years like this, NO!
I wish every dr./specialist who examined me in 35 years could have the opportunity to walk in our LYME shoes for 1 month. You bet changes would be made!
posted
I'm 29 and an Engineer, but have my prerequisites out of the way for med school when I got sick. When I get better I'm headed for med school and gonna shake up the medical community when it comes to Lyme treatment...
-------------------- jloisu Posts: 197 | From Seeing Lyme Green in Iowa | Registered: Jun 2005
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I'm a historic preservation consultant, frighteningly close to 40, and I've been sick since June 2004.
P
Posts: 449 | From Vermont | Registered: Nov 2004
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chroniclymie
Unregistered
posted
52 year old disabled retired mangled dentist. Lyme untreated 7 years, treaed 5 years 5 surgeries, 3 root canals,mitral valve prolapse, 5 years on vioxx. 5 years on and off abx. now living with old people in west palm florida on ssdis, workman's comp, and private disability
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Lymelighter
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5310
posted
DocDave, That you!? I saw your rightous Fedship on Flagler. You smoke the Donald at 18 yet?
Oh yeah, me, my turn? Well, I'm a retired gameshow host currently living in the Caribbean.
[ 03. January 2006, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: Lymelighter ]
Posts: 1010 | From Mars | Registered: Feb 2004
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
50 years old. May have had Lyme since I was 6 yrs old as 21 ticks were pulled from my head at that time, but was never symptomatic until 10 yrs ago. At that time I had extreme fatigue and some joint pain if I was on my feet too long. Lyme tested negative as did everything else drs could think of, but 6 mths of hit/miss antibiotics cleared me up. No more symptoms until 4 mths ago when extreme migrating joint pain began. Diagnosed with and treated for Lyme right away. Definitely doing better and hoping to again be well by 6 mths. My entire career has been and continues to be in the insurance field.
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
age 44, cat scan repair, misdiagnosed 18yrs, on treatment now for 9 months, self diagnosis with most of the info obtained from this website
Posts: 13 | From ohio | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
I'm 52 and a HS foreign language teacher. Negative tests 1998-2000, hence MS diagnosis. Diagnosed positive lyme with LLMD and Igenex test this past August. Still mobile but it's tough. I think I'm in this for the long haul.
Posts: 34 | From New York State | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
35 years old...have been sick at least four years...diagnosed last October...started official treatment November 2nd 2005 - have been everything from a shoe saleperson at Nordstrom, front office manager of a dental practice, to a tech support rep and consultant for a software company. I graduated with a degree in English and I love to write and am pretty good at it when I put my mind to it. Love poetry to read and write. As of December 7th of 2005 I am a graduated Massage Therapist and will take my National Certification test soon. I decided on massage therapy before getting sick...had to put off going to school but eventually got well enough to go and made it. Hoping my hands and body will hold up - I plan on helping Lyme patients with massage and energy work.
-------------------- �Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right.� - Ezre Taft Benson Posts: 655 | From NC, Exit 88 on the Deer SuperHighway | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
veterinary technician, 25 years old, originally infected in 1996, undertreated, re-diagnosed in December 2003. Aggressive treatment since February 2004.
Posts: 98 | From MA | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
Elementary School Library/Media Specialist, age 35. Advertising Media Buyer/Copywriter prior to gaining Masters in Elem. Ed. Undiagnosed 15-20 years minimum. Diagnosed March 2005. Daughter contracted at birth, took 9 yrs to diagnose- diagnosed August 2005. Expecting son to test positive at age 6. Good Luck- Tina
Posts: 9 | From Clermont, FL | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
30 year old IT consultant from Denmark. got bitten in 2000 and got EM but no symptoms. bitten againin summer 2003 and got ill shortly after. Negative blod and negative Spinal + tons of tests showed nothing. got 14 days abx and got better over the summer 2004, then relapse in autumn. Finally found the only LLMD in denmark and got a bowen test spring 2005 and have been on abx since april. getting better slowly.
Posts: 15 | From Denmark | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I'm 39 years old and self employed - I sell antique jewellery.
I was finally tested for and diagnosed with Lyme about three years ago after twenty years of having a variety of health problems.
Posts: 229 | From United Kingdom | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
29 going on 80!! I worked for the Regional Transit Authority in Mass. Have not been able to work for 2 years now. I believe I was infected about 8-10 years ago when I had so called Mono. Never felt right since. I am going on 2 years of treatment and long way to go. Michelle
Posts: 79 | From Oxford,MA,01540 | Registered: Jul 2004
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Ann-OH
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2020
posted
Bit in 1986, diagnosed in 1990, improved after about 3 years of treatment, rebit in 1994, had it under control after another 3 years treatment.
Retired college teacher, unable to teach any more, have lots of cognitive problems, back and joint pain remaining.
posted
Lyme Liter...thank you. I needed that laugh. I was getting so depressed as I was going through the thread.
I will be 54 next month. Darn. What was the question?
Let me peak..
Teaching is my profession but teaching doctor's and the public about lyme disease is not what I had in mind.
I do hope to give presentations in schools after I regain my health to other teachers regarding what to look for in a student who possibly may have lyme disease and how to help that student.
How is that for a run on sentence!
DX in Dec. 2004 via a letter from a doc who tested me with Igenex in August or Sept. 2004.
Could no longer work or do routine chores around the house in Sept/Oct. 2001.
Looking back I had symptoms that may have been lyme related since my second daughter was born in 1984.
But, if it was...lyme did not stop me in my tracks till Oct. 2001.
Have you checked www.lymeblog.com? There is a list of writers who have lyme on that web site.
Posts: 3 | From Arizona | Registered: Nov 2005
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char
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8315
posted
I am a special ed teacher.
Did you ask for age or did everyone just give it?
42
At home getting better and nursing my kids. Grateful I am not forced to work right now.
I am starting graduate word in counseling. Need to do something new and not so physical.
posted
I'm 47 and I got sick April 16,1986 (almost 20 years). I just found out this spring that I have lyme. I was wrongly diagnosed as having chronic fatigue syndrome all those years. I've been on medicare since 1988, but before that I was a customer service rep at a bank. Kathy
-------------------- You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. Posts: 807 | From South Dakota | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Age 59. Bitten 1993 and when I went to the first doctor I was told that I was just getting old (age 46) and that there was no Lyme disease in the state of Tennessee.
Did talk radio show on computers the became a consultant after the first symptoms set in.
In and out of bad symptoms for 10 years after that. Had to stop working finally 2003.
Private disability insurance company stopped payments in June, 2005 but reversed their decision in December 2005 but say it is not Lyme disease. It is mental illness.
Now live in Kentucky on SS disability and private disability. Spend part of my 120 minutes a day of clarity trying to fight Lyme disease ignorance by operating website LymeBlog News. Top Alexa rated website for Lyme disease in the world.
Any journalists out there your help is badly needed. Get your byline out to millions. It only takes 10 of us Lymies to equal one healthy person.
-------------------- 14 years with Lyme and counting. Read the latest news and personal stories of people with Lyme Disease - . Tell your story, start your LymeBlog today. http://lymeblog.com Posts: 5 | From Lexington, KY | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
I've told it before, but I'll tell it again; I'm 59, been infected since 1956 (49 years), and no doc ever put 2+2 together to make ANY diagnosis,I was a 'malingerer' because my 'too many symptoms' did not fit any established disease.Ergo,no treatment. Of course, I never got well, just better occasionally. I got bit (by a mosquito) in 1993, developed a bullseye,treated for 60 days, then in 2001 got a really nasty ,huge EM rash ;was inadequately treated,really sick in 2002.Till June 2005 was making some progress;got bit twice in two weeks, and was infected with Ehrlichia plus new Lyme.I am doing much better since having pulsed Minocin low-dose, then cat's claw (not Samento)in either liquid or powder with Echinacea.I finally have more energy! I am a professioal gardener, so I will always be at high risk (I also fly-fish); I spend so much time outdoors most of the year, it's a wonder that I'm not always covered in ticks - ugh! I think the answer to the problem is cleanses, nutrition, and herbs, not abx -- hate those yeast infections!
-------------------- ~*~ Carole ~*~ Young at Heart Grandmother of 4 Posts: 140 | From Morristown, NJ, USA | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
I am 43yrs old just diagnosised in October 2005, Just saw LLMD for first time today found out from her infected for many years did not know. I am now on temporary diability until Feb 2nd I do work for a bank as a teller supervisor.
Posts: 14 | From New Jersey | Registered: Oct 2005
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
I am 47 & have had lyme 20 years.Mis diagnosised for 7 years with CFIDS.Found a LLD & got 5 weeks abx in 1994.
Big relaspe three years ago .I was a classical portrait painter with a BFA. Now I can't remember how to paint,or have the concentration or energy to paint.
I am a litlle better now but was almsot catatonic before I started abx three years ago.
I am eternally grateful to my LLD for saving me from ending up in an nursing home being spoonfeed apple sause.Thanks to my doctor I now have some good days in which I have taken up sculpture.
This is not how I thought my life would turn out but I try everyday to dwell on the positives things in my life.
My love for my husaband ,family,my two dogs and the little things in life I can still do.
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
Age 42. Never found the tick. Really sick in 2002 and started getting sick in 1989. Physical Therapist part time.
Posts: 293 | From healdsburg, ca , sonoma | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
I'm 30 something (can't remember the exact figure most days - no kidding).
I was infected around 1980. I made it through OK with only "minor" symptoms for years. Full blown infection took me by surprise in 2002.
I used to work as a Marketing Executive. Had to quit, because I was too sick to handle the stress.
I'm now a translator/Technical Writer. The paycut was well worth it. I'm doing much better! Posts: 159 | From CT, USA | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
I m 30, and am a business development and project manager in a generic pharmaceutical company.
Posts: 52 | Registered: Nov 2003
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
48 years old. 13 years for the same employer as a paralegal in a criminal defense trial firm. How I got through last summer I don't know. Bitten about four years ago; few bodily problems but blinding headaches drove me to an eventual diagnosis.
I feel very lucky that in 7 months of treatment, I'm nearly there.
To me, it's crucial to think positive and especially to laugh at yourself - easy to forget but important.
I may be almost 50, but I feel about 30, and I intend to act approximately 25 at every possible opportunity...
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
54 years old, currently a substitute teacher when I feel well enough. Have been cashier, interior designer, waitress, bartender, truck driver, driving instructor, flight attendant, and mother.
Probably had Lyme since mid 80's before complicated birth of son, but no specific signs until tick bite on ear in 2001 that produced tinnitus questioned by me as LD but not recognized by docs/specialists as LD; next bite 2003 duck said was not LD but tested anyway (too early) developed rash several months later and hearing loss, still went undiagnosed; next bite 2004 acquired Erlichia and was physically devastated, developed encephalitis but went undiagnosed for Erlichia and LD another six months.
Son has had a very rough life, multiple problems. Finally diagnosed after 10 years of searching as Asberger's Syndrome. Wonder if he has Lyme too?
Treatment started 1/2005, Better, but not well yet.
Posts: 422 | From Luck home | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
I'm 37 and an LPN. Was bitten summer of 2004. Just thought I had the flu then BAM! that November came the joint and muscle pain. Getting better but wondering if I'll ever have a day that I won't have some pain.
Posts: 109 | From MN | Registered: Apr 2005
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I'm a 46 year old freelance print journalist who has had Lyme since 2003. I was undiagnosed for a year but even after dgx was not treated with appropriate abx for Lyme and newly dgx multiple coinfections untill recently by another LLMD. I've written about Lyme for my paper, but due to my setback of Lyme symptoms, I've stopped writing in the past months. I'm fortunate that my editors are very understanding about my medical condition and are waiting patiently for me to return. I hope to improve with my current treatment and want to resume writing soon. We lymies have got to think positive, although some days that seems really hard!
Lymehead
-------------------- RI Posts: 440 | From New York | Registered: Sep 2005
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I'm a 46 year old freelance print journalist who has had Lyme since 2003. I was undiagnosed for a year but even after dgx was not treated with appropriate abx for Lyme and newly dgx multiple coinfections untill recently by another LLMD. I've written about Lyme for my paper, but due to my setback of Lyme symptoms, I've stopped writing in the past months. I'm fortunate that my editors are very understanding about my medical condition and are waiting patiently for me to return. I hope to improve with my current treatment and want to resume writing soon. We lymies have got to think positive, although some days that seems really hard!
Lymehead
-------------------- RI Posts: 440 | From New York | Registered: Sep 2005
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Boomerang
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7979
posted
What an interesting thread! Good to read about some people who are feeling better. I'm not the sick one in our family...hubby is. He was diagnosed end of September....... not really sure when he first contracted Lyme. He gets easily 35+ tick bites a year...
His main problems are neuro........doing a bit better now.
It would be interesting to read a similar thread about what treatments everyone is doing.
Best wishes to all.
Posts: 1366 | From Southeast | Registered: Sep 2005
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