One woman's struggle with Lyme disease By Kathleen D. Perez Wed Oct 31, 2007, 09:28 AM EDT Hanson, Mass. -
Hanson, Mass. - One of the first things people think of when they hear ``Lyme disease'' is a tick and how many pets have gotten diseases from the bite of one of these tiny creatures.
What is not well known is just how quickly humans can contract the disease - with devastating results.
One Whitman woman is hoping to change that by creating an official Lyme Disease Support Group in town.
Melissa Kerins, 29, a mother of two young children and veterinary technician for 10 years, learned just how quickly Lyme disease can affect a person.
Within five months, the disease left her disabled.
She had to leave her job and was plagued by fevers, fatigue and chills that still have an impact upon her.
Kerins said she began to feel ill around mid-May.
She woke up one morning and felt like she had been hit by a truck.
She said she got her blood tested and was diagnosed with Lyme disease.
``I never saw a rash, never saw a bite or a tick,'' Kerins said.
She said she treated many dogs with ticks and Lyme disease in her 10 years as a veterinary technician, adding that she thought she could take antibiotics for a few weeks and beat the disease since that method worked with dogs.
She said she had a week of antibiotics. It did not work and she suffered as the disease grew. She said she wished for death at one point.
``I was in a dream world thinking that a couple of days of antibiotics could fix this,'' Kerins said.
Kerins said she originally was diagnosed with acute Lyme disease, and after a week of antibiotics, she had to have IV injections of her medication.
She did these injections at home and still did not feel better.
She said she still had fevers and went to a Lyme literate medical doctor (LLMD).
This time, she was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease and switched to oral medication.
She later learned the increased fever and chills were a sign of a reaction called the herxheimer reaction.
This occurs when a patient with Lyme disease is given antibiotics.
Kerins said she found that not many people know about the disease and she began to do research on her own.
``It's a very lonely disease,'' Kerins said, ``I'm 29 years-old, with small kids, and I've been disabled by a tick.''
Since there is so little known about Lyme disease, she said she found that many go for weeks without a diagnosis and are called crazy, or they are misdiagnosed.
Lyme disease has been called ``The Great Imitator'' because people with this disease have been misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis and other diseases.
The disease affects each person differently and it impacts the whole body.
Not only did she become weak physically, but Kerins said she realized her mental capabilities were affected as well.
``I used to be able to do math calculations in my head, but now I sometimes get lost in a store,'' Kerins said.
She said the disease affected her family life. She missed family functions and since she had to leave her job, they encountered financial difficulties.
``The first two to three months, I didn't get out of bed,'' Kerins said.
She said it hurt to hear noises and walk, and although she is doing better than before, she does not leave the house often and does most of her shopping online.
``It's really hard in the daytime, especially with a 2-year-old son and chasing him around,'' Kerins said.
She said she found a lot of information and support from the Lyme Disease Network, www.lymenet.org.
``These people have saved my life,'' Kerins said.
One piece of advice Kerins has for others is this: investigate thoroughly.
She said that one must remember that doctors are people too, and each person must look out for his own health.
``If I didn't do that, I'd probably not be here,'' Kerins said.
She also said she found that there were no support groups close to her in Plymouth County.
Since the disease weakens her, she cannot travel very far to attend a meeting in Boston. Because of this,
and the desire to bring people together, Kerins created the South Shore Lyme Disease Support Group in Whitman.
``I want to increase awareness of this growing disease,'' Kerins said.
Kerins said the meetings, which began earlier this month, are informative and supportive of those who have Lyme disease or know people who have it.
The meetings consist of a presentation and open discussion afterwards. Folders are handed out with information, and light refreshments are served.
Kerins hopes to have a meeting on the first Monday of every month in Whitman Public Library.
``Something good will come of this,'' Kerins said, ``...Even if I help just one person, I'll be happy.''
Kerins said the first meeting went well and they were able to distribute a lot of information about Lyme disease. Seven people attended and they were able to get through most of the presentation.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 5, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., at Whitman Public Library, 100 Webster St., Whitman. Further dates will be announced as available.
For more information about the South Shore Lyme Disease Support group, E-mail [email protected].
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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Beverly
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WTG Melissa, for putting your story out there. Posts: 6638 | From Michigan | Registered: Jun 2001
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Glad you are here! Will comment to reporter- you did a great job!!!!!!!!!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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cactus
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Very cool! Go Melissa!
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Goooooooooooooooooood !
Posts: 983 | From The sky | Registered: Feb 2005
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just don
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Merry girl, "YOU" get MY vote for lyme warrior of the week!!!being--just don--
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
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tdtid
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Melissa,
WAY TO GO!!!!!! You did an excellent job and should feel proud to be out there fighting so hard for the awareness this should help project.
Keep up the good work and good job on the support group too. Wish I lived closer. Would love to attend. You go, girl!!!!!
Cathy
-------------------- "To Dream The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha Posts: 2638 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2006
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bettyg
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my reply; too bad they ran it all together. YOU all know i would not type SOLID BLOCK TEXT!
MELISSA KARANS LYME STORY, HANOVER, MASS 11-7-07
Kathleen, outstanding job on writing Melissa's story of her recent tick bite and what all can happen to you afterwards. At least hers was caught EARLY, and she has a really good chance.
I'm not one of them. I have had chronic lyme disease for 38 years this Christmas; 34 years misdiagnosed by 40-50 Drs./specialists. I never had a rash or saw a tick but through the process of elimination and my keeping a daily journal for decides; I discovered how I was bitten.
I was bitten by a tick that had come OFF my folks' LIVE Christmas tree in 1969. We always had live ones growing up. When we 5 kids left, Mom got an artificial one. I won't go into someone's home with live trees and live wreaths.
How can ticks get into Christmas trees, etc.? Deer brush up against them, white-footed mouse and squirrels climb them, and birds fly into them. The ticks drop off the animals onto the tree branches and wait for a HUMAN to feed off next. They are so tiny, you can't see them or feel them until you start reacting to their bites! There are many others like me that I have talked to including a young 20's couple with 2 toddlers; all bitten by ticks from their live Christmas trees.
So be careful this Christmas! I read of a good suggestion for taking LIVE TREES into your home. Spread out several large white bedsheets on floor; tree on top, and then huge masking tape rolls all around the tree. When the ticks come off the tree, they will get STUCK on the sticky masking tape and die there I don't know if it works or not, but passing along this suggestion.
Also, since we end up having to quit or be fired from our jobs, it is extremely difficult getting SSDI, social security disability insurance benefits. It took me 5 years to get mine, and won the 2nd one going back 3 years vs. back 5 years. Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, etc. are all "invisible" illnesses, and we are NOT treated kindly by our government's SS disability administrators although we have supplied many with medical documentation stating why we physically can not do our jobs or any jobs no longer. Everyone treats us like we are "crazy"; we are not; it's the lyme's spirochetes going to our brains!
Also, we have to fight our health insurance companies although the majority of us have good health insurance companies we pay monthly for! Example, last year I ended up spending close to $4,000 OUT OF POCKET to go to an out-of-state LLMD, lyme literate MD, since Iowa has NO FULL-TIME LLMDs who are experienced with this dreadful disease. I also had $1,000 expenses for gas, food, and lodging since I need a driver to get me there. IV monthly antibiotics are extremely expensive and can go on for many months of treatment.
EDITING TO SHOW CORRECT NO. ON SENATE BILL OF S 1708; i typed this in the dark as hubby slept not wanting to get out a flashlight to find correct no!!
In our US CONGRESS, we have 2 lyme disease bills: S 1708 and HR 741, which we, the American chronic lyme patients, would like to see passed to form a LYME DISEASE TASK FORCE and money for our illnesses like WEST NILE VIRUS and the BIRD FLU. We have HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of lyme patients nationwide, but only very few west nile virus and no bird flu, bus their budgets are so high for so few. We get a little, but NOTHING compared to WNR/Bird flu!! That is not right.
Please write YOUR state senators and house reps in DC asking them to co-sponsor each of the bills and to VOTE YES for them. We had to start over this year since it sat in sub-committee for 3 years!!
Conn. Sen. Chris Dodd was one of the co-sponsors writing this HR bill! I plan to support Chris Dodd when he seeks the Presidential race in our Jan. 2008 IOWA CAUSAS; the 1st in the nation!! I have followed his actions in congress for decades on c span; I like what I see;; how about you?
Again, my heartfelt thank you for the excellent story you wrote on Melissa!
merrygirl
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Thanks for all of your support and comments! Much appreciated!
Melissa
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Truthfinder
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I think the story is very well-written. You are an imspiration, Melissa.
Good reply, Betty. That should give the writer some food for thought for future articles.
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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Truthfinder
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I think the story is very well-written. You are an inspiration, Melissa.
Good reply, Betty. That should give the writer some food for thought for future articles.
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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merrygirl
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I wrote the newspaper asking for a copy of the article because I had missed the paper.
I just received a copy in the mail and it was on the FRONT page and continued for another 1/4 page inside the paper!
Thought that was pretty cool!
Melissa
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map1131
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Good job merrygirl. Your story will make a positive impact on someone out there that will read your story. No doubt. Don't be surprised if you get some phone calls from people in the area.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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