Aa
Vacation!
Not really a question here...
I know we spend a lot of time commiserating, sharing information, and in some cases, mourning for our "old healthy selves." I wanted to lighten up the mood a bit to share that I just got back from my first vacation in years.
I swam, biked, paddle-boated, shopped, walked, and more. I did so many things that would have been out of the question a few years ago, when my symptom load from Lyme made it impossible to get out of bed some days. All of my senses were hypersensitive, so even going to see "The Wolverine" in 3D last week was a big deal to me as it was something I couldn't do before when I was sick.
Lyme has been a very difficult diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing issue in my life, but it is nice at times like this to reflect on how much better I am now than I used to be. I don't know exactly when I was infected, it could have been in childhood, but I was noticeably ill in 2007 (when I was 27/28), diagnosed with Lyme (and Bart) in late 2008. My disease had caused damage to my heart (mitral valve prolapse), brain (several lesions on MRI) and joints (some nodules and knuckles starting to fill in). I was fatigued and had symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia that made daily life overwhelming. I never stopped working completely but was on part-time status for about a year. It took 9 months of treatment before I saw real, lasting improvement. Still during treatment, I successfully interviewed for a competitive position. Based on evaluations and awards, I am doing well in my career.
Is life perfect? Not quite, I was a bit run down when I got back home, but I anticipated as much and built in some days at home before I go back to work. I have some lingering issues that come and go, but I am overall on with my life. Fatigue (and the associated "brain fog") was the last symptom to improve and is the first to return on bad days. I try to stick to a routine that allows for a lot of rest to stay at my best.
Just wanted to put it out there that even though Lyme made me feel awful, as though I would never get better, never be able to keep working, and never be able to enjoy myself again, with treatment I've taken back a lot of my life. I know first-hand that he depression and anxiety that Lyme can cause on top of the physical symptoms can be overwhelming at times, so I hope this message may serve as a reminder to hang tough. I'm not special, I just managed to get through the worst of it to come out on the other side.
Go with your gut, find a good LLMD, and get well.
I know we spend a lot of time commiserating, sharing information, and in some cases, mourning for our "old healthy selves." I wanted to lighten up the mood a bit to share that I just got back from my first vacation in years.
I swam, biked, paddle-boated, shopped, walked, and more. I did so many things that would have been out of the question a few years ago, when my symptom load from Lyme made it impossible to get out of bed some days. All of my senses were hypersensitive, so even going to see "The Wolverine" in 3D last week was a big deal to me as it was something I couldn't do before when I was sick.
Lyme has been a very difficult diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing issue in my life, but it is nice at times like this to reflect on how much better I am now than I used to be. I don't know exactly when I was infected, it could have been in childhood, but I was noticeably ill in 2007 (when I was 27/28), diagnosed with Lyme (and Bart) in late 2008. My disease had caused damage to my heart (mitral valve prolapse), brain (several lesions on MRI) and joints (some nodules and knuckles starting to fill in). I was fatigued and had symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia that made daily life overwhelming. I never stopped working completely but was on part-time status for about a year. It took 9 months of treatment before I saw real, lasting improvement. Still during treatment, I successfully interviewed for a competitive position. Based on evaluations and awards, I am doing well in my career.
Is life perfect? Not quite, I was a bit run down when I got back home, but I anticipated as much and built in some days at home before I go back to work. I have some lingering issues that come and go, but I am overall on with my life. Fatigue (and the associated "brain fog") was the last symptom to improve and is the first to return on bad days. I try to stick to a routine that allows for a lot of rest to stay at my best.
Just wanted to put it out there that even though Lyme made me feel awful, as though I would never get better, never be able to keep working, and never be able to enjoy myself again, with treatment I've taken back a lot of my life. I know first-hand that he depression and anxiety that Lyme can cause on top of the physical symptoms can be overwhelming at times, so I hope this message may serve as a reminder to hang tough. I'm not special, I just managed to get through the worst of it to come out on the other side.
Go with your gut, find a good LLMD, and get well.
Thanks so much for sharing.
I needed to hear your story to give me some hope after being in an accident and having a huge flare up plus gaining 6 herniated discs, I have been in non stop pain and depressed.
My prior symptoms were similar to yours. I really am so glad you had a wonderful vacation. You gave me something to look forward to.
Hugs.
I needed to hear your story to give me some hope after being in an accident and having a huge flare up plus gaining 6 herniated discs, I have been in non stop pain and depressed.
My prior symptoms were similar to yours. I really am so glad you had a wonderful vacation. You gave me something to look forward to.
Hugs.
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