Stories
No one really believed what I felt, and what I felt all these years is just pure pain. I have been many times to the point where I considered life useless and went through terrible bouts of depression but then again I just had to move forward because there is no other way…
I was bitten in April of 1993 on my right forearm. I never saw the tick, but several days after being out hiking, I developed a red bump like a mosquito bite, that then turned into a large rash like nothing I have had before. I saw a lyme specialist doctor in Maryland at the insistence of a coworker friend who had Lyme, but I was foolish and did not take all the antibiotics. I thought I could avoid getting lyme disease through ‘positive thinking’. I really did not think I had it…
A patient tell the truth on Lyme Disease and how this illness destroys the mind, body and soul…
A glimpse of Chronic Lyme disease from a patient and advocate…
I am one of the possibly millions of patients that suffered from Lyme Disease. But before this I had suffered mostly because most of the doctors would not come up with a proper diagnose for my extremely bad condition. I was bitten nine years ago by a tick, which probably was infected…
I am 28 years old and I was bitten by a tick while I was walking in the forest, at the age of 7. After a while I have red spots appeared on the skin, which then expanded and turned brown. Alarmed, my parents took me to a dermatologist immediately…
Glad to be able to share my lyme story here on your web site. I really believe that I kicked Lyme’s butt. I can say that I am symptoms free for a few months now. Just as all the other Lyme stories are so complicated, no story is similar, or at least the symptoms are not identical in all cases, I am no different. I’ve managed to cure myself all alone without needing to see any doctor or follow an antibiotic treatment.
I was a very healthy 47 year old woman. It was summer time; I just got engaged and was planning my wedding. It was the best time of my life until July 22, 2007 when I found a tick on the back of my neck. I was cutting the tree in my back yard for the party after the wedding that was taking place on 9-15-07. Cut the tree, went swimming, enjoying a glass of wine while tanning…
My doctor and I have been trying to figure out what’s wrong with me for the past two years. I’ve dealt with depression, major insomnia, foot, hip and lots of other joint pain, heart palpitations and increasingly feeling like I’m losing my ability to remember anything, find my words, or just manage my life like I used to…
A short summary of the past 13-14 years of my battle with lyme disease and lyme illiterate doctors. I didn’t mention that I saw probably over 2 dozen doctors, all ignorant and unable to diagnose nor treat me…
A Week in The Life of a Lyme Patient…
I found out I have demylination in my brain and my MRI indicates MS or lymes disease. I have memory issues, cognitive thinking issues, nerve pain, brain fog, speech delays. I had a positive test last July but was told it was negative and didn’t find out otherwise until I switched doctors. When will something be done to create more awareness with the medical profession… ?
So this is my life. I wanted to give those with lyme a voice. This information needs to be heard by everyone.
I filmed myself talking about my life in 2006, when I was bedridden due to Lyme Disease, when I was fourteen. I now went back and edited in my thoughts on it now, as a 20 year old.
Here’s my short story on lyme disease. Misdiagnosed Lyme Disease for 10 years, lastly clinically diagnosed spring 2011. Still looking for an efficient set of treatment protocols for me. Love Jesus, my wife & baby daughter, and all things motorized – esp motorbikes.
I’m passionate about teaching children. I love to see their eyes light up when they’ve comprehended a concept. I enjoy getting artistic with my classes. I am also an avid photographer. Natural light is the best and children are my favorite subjects. I LOVE to travel! Asia was next on my list when I got sick. Maybe someday…
Hi, I am married for 20 years to my very best friend. We have 4 children, 2 biological and 2 adopted. We have many pets. I currently have no diagnose, but know I have Lyme disease and waiting for the lab tests.
I am diagnosed with Lyme by western blot in Nov ’09 when I went to see the doctor about clusters of swollen lymphnodes that persisted for weeks. My symptoms were treated with steroids and prescription antibiotics before any of my rounds of testing and x-rays revealed my final diagnoses.
I have a story to tell about a strange illness I have had for over 2 years. It could easily happen to you or anyone you love and overnight your life can change. Had I never found out what was wrong with me I think I would have lost my mind wondering waiting and worrying never knowing what was going to happen next.
Here’s my story. On April 8, 2011, I woke up with the worst migraine I’ve ever had (I get them monthly with my cycle). I had a dr. appt that morning, and my dr. gave me a prescription to help the migraine. It went away in an hour or so. That evening, my left ankle felt funny, like it was swollen (but wasn’t).
Even with working in the medical care field for lots of years, I never heard much about Lyme disease. My last position included counseling and motivating clients on how to lead healthier lives. Out of ALL the people I spoke with, there is one story that I could never forget. It was a woman that shared with me how she had struggled for many years with continuous health problems and how she had been to a lot of doctors, all to no avail. Probably most chronic Lyme patients have the same sad story, going from doctor to doctor and being misdiagnosed again and again.
At 42, with six lovely children and a wonderful husband, I thought my life was over! I was very ill with migraines, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, atrophy in my muscles, excruciating pain throughout my body, memory loss, light and noise sensitivity, etc. These are just a few of the symptoms I suffered from on and off over the years, and they were progressively getting worse.
Diagnosed with chronic Lyme Disease 07/2011. This is my story.
I have chronic lyme and have been disabled due to it for about 6 years now. All signs point to me having had lyme all my life. Why? Severe allergies, lifetime of insomnia, week immune system, 10+ cases of severe bronchitis & pneumonia, and even common things kids get hit me harder and kept me down longer.
In October of 2009 I removed an embedded tick from my right hip/buttock and a couple days later I had a distinct bull’s-eye rash. I went to my Doctor the next day and he prescribed an antibiotic for 10 days. He also took some time to remove the head of the tick which was still deeply embedded. I questioned if I should be tested and he indicated that it was pretty obvious I had Lyme and that the test would only come back negative this soon after the bite. I was a little concerned as I had heard horror stories about Lyme but he reassured me that I would be fine as the antibiotic would kill it.
In January of 1999, Kelly Burke was a healthy, well-adjusted 39 year-old dynamo of woman. As a self-employed professional graphic designer, illustrator, wife and mother of two, foster parent, seamstress, church and school volunteer, in fact she was often criticized by some for doing too much – making the rest of us look bad!
Hi My name is Roxy and I’ve been battling debilitating symptoms for over a decade now. I am so sorry to see so many people suffering but all in all I am happy that I am not alone and can share my battle with Lyme Disease with fellow sufferers. I’ve just been through so much and am so glad that I am able to share my story with your readers. All stories are different, Chronic Lyme affects everyone differently, but at the same time – all stories are quite similar. Most of us suffer from neurological disorders, arthritis and psychiatric problems. Your story sound so familiar to mine.
* Do you have a story that you would like to share on our website? Feel free to email us your story at lyme@lyme.ws and we would be glad to have it published in this section of the site. You may either write a story or make a video recording, we would be happy to share it with our loyal readers and raise more lyme awareness that is utterly needed. (you may include photos if you like or remain anonymous).
The website has a link to my story.
I don’t have Lyme. My boyfriend may, though all his tests have been negative. His heart has tested perfect. He can walk/run three miles a good day. He’s had 2 MRIs, a zillion blood tests, all proclaiming him to be as healthy as a horse. He complains about a terrible feeling of cold inside and burning in his feet and head. 6 doctors decided it is “stress”. A lyme literate doc believes, though, that it is lyme and is treating his with strong antibiotics. she ran blood tests too. what if they come back negative. He has been mentally and sometimes physically abusive to me. How do you differenciate between lyme that doesn’t test positive ever… and plain old mental disease? If it is lyme, it’s destroyed our relationship. If its not lyme, it’s callous and dangerous to assume it is without any tests to prove thus. I am so sad.
Cindy, I’m sorry to hear your story.
I’ll make it short though, just like in chronic cases of syphilis, lyme is a spirochetal infection, that isn’t much different from syphilis, and can induce a whole range of mental disorders including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
People with lyme disease, usually, in a large proportion have one or more mental disorders (the most common are depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder).
Lyme tests are not reliable.
I have a question though, why do you think your boyfriend would be faking a severe burning feeling, cold feeling inside his head and/or his feet? There is no point in faking such an illness. I definitely think he is suffering from a chronic infection, not sure if it’s lyme or what, he needs to see a trained LLMD.
Best
Alex