Lady of Lyme
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • About
  • Products I Love
    • Supplements & Meds
    • Makeup & Skincare
    • Food & Diet
    • Apps & Organization
    • Gift Guides
  • Resources
    • Symptoms/Resources
    • Lyme Vocabulary
    • Printables
    • Books & Reading
  • Features
  • Testing
  • Contact
  • Treatment Info
    • DesBio Treatment Facts
    • My Treatments
    • Treatment Blog

A 4 Year Reflection

9/23/2015

7 Comments

 
"I can't be the only one.."

Those were some of the first words I uttered when I learned that I had picked up Lyme disease from my small hometown in Kentucky. I was not an outdoorsy person what so ever, so I knew that if I could get bit by a tick and get the disease then there was no telling how many other people were floating around out there misdiagnosed or undiagnosed much like myself. My hometown is a small town. It's the kind of place where everyone pretty much knows everyone else either directly or through a friend. It is not a large city. It is not a northeastern city. But since ticks don't understand state lines, they found their way into Kentucky (and all 50 states); a concept which many Doctors blatantly ignore. The city I live in has a lot of deer due to all the woodsy areas nearby. I can look out my window on any given fall day and see a deer just casually strolling through the yard, and I live in a fully developed quaint neighborhood; not out on a farm.

Prior to being diagnosed with Lyme disease I had never heard of it before in my life. Yes, you read that correctly, I did not even know something called Lyme disease existed; that's how uninformed I was. In September of 2011 when my Doctor delivered the news that I, Christina, avid disliker of grass and general outdoors had Lyme Disease I stared at him with confusion. Upon processing the information I realized if I could get it, then I can't be the only one in my small hometown. I hoped that by a freak coincidence I was bit by the only Lyme carrying tick in the area, but alas I knew that was incredibly unlikely.

My first order of business in May of 2012 was speaking to our local newspaper who so kindly ran an interview with me on the front page where I spoke about Lyme disease existing in the area. I felt like I HAD to get the word out, because it terrified me that everyone was living their lives uninformed, not taking tick checks seriously. The following year a local news station with an even greater reach came to do a TV interview warning people that Lyme disease exists in the tri-state, and more so that it can become a chronic condition. If I could have stood on a mountaintop and yelled "LYME IS HERE" I certainly would have.

The following year I did an interview/piece with a local TV station. After the TV interview I started to meet a lot of others who also were ill with Lyme disease and lived very close by. My worst fear was coming true as I read email after email that said things like, "I have a cousin who has Lyme disease," or "I know a friend who is sick with the same symptoms as you and I think it might be Lyme," and the worst of all, "I too live locally and after many years of sickness and misdiagnosis I was diagnosed with Lyme disease." This wasn't even counting the number of people my parents encountered when they went out in town and someone stopped them to say they saw me on the news and personally were touched by Lyme themselves (either a friend, family member, acquaintance etc). If the reach of this disease could be THAT large in such a small town then I knew the global reach must be astronomical. What an eye opening experience that week was.

I recently learned of another local woman my age who after many years of misdiagnosis had learned she was fighting Lyme disease. Although she moved away from home in recent years to pursue her dreams (much like myself), it was just another 'tick' on the growing number of locals who picked up Lyme disease in this sleepy little town.

Lyme is here. But my town and my story can be switched out with just about any town name in America and the story would fit just the same. A town where no one knew to be careful, where no one thought to pursue their flu like symptoms and demand their Doctor screen for Lyme disease.

It has been 4 years since I was diagnosed, and I take pause to look around at how much the conversation has grown about Lyme disease since 2011. I used to be a taboo; I used to feel like that strange girl everyone looked at with the random disease. But the voices are growing as more people get ill and demand that something be done to stop it. This epidemic can go on no longer, because it has invaded every quiet quaint town from high up north to way down south. Enough is enough.

My greatest prayer is that in the next year the conversation will continue to evolve even more. I hope that I can sit here 1 year from now writing about news that testing has improved, or that the CDC and IDSA came to their senses and acknowledge the scope of what this disease has become. But in the same breath I know a year from now my heart will be that much heavier with the burden of knowing how many more people both locally & globally are receiving a diagnosis that will change their lives.

The time to speak out about Lyme disease is the present, and as larger news stations and websites begin to share I hope that the message gets conveyed sooner and sooner, BEFORE someone gets bit by tick because they aren't wearing a repellent, BEFORE someone ignores the tell tale symptoms, and most importantly BEFORE it becomes a chronic condition.

xoxo,
Christina




7 Comments
Nanette
9/25/2015 08:54:24 pm

Thank you, Christina, for the upsurge in posting. I like seeing you in my email. :-) I am a mom of a 22 year old daughter still very severe and bedridden. Her older sister, Hannah and I have an open FB page for her titled, Petra's Battle with Lyme Disease if you so desire to have a look. Nanette

Reply
Christina
10/14/2015 05:03:37 pm



Hi there! Thank you so much for following along and your encouragement :) I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter, this is truly such a devastating disease. I look forward to following her strides on the Facebook page, I really appreciate you sharing that with me. Your daughter and your whole family are in my prayers.
- Christina

Reply
Laura link
9/29/2015 03:04:27 pm

It's really inspiring to see someone who has dealt with Lyme in the best way possible. I was diagnosed this year (initially misdiagnosed as RA) and am dealing with some myalgia and arthritis but luckily nothing worse. Do you ever have residual side effects after your treatment?

Reply
Christina
10/14/2015 05:04:01 pm

Hi Laura! Thank you for your kind words, and I'm so sorry you are dealing with this too. I have had residual affects, mine have been mostly neurological. A lot of patients with left over issues say that as time goes on if they keep their immune system supported that things improve. I don't have any personal experience with that yet, but if I do learn of something which helps I will definitely share.

Reply
Stuart
9/30/2015 05:20:30 am

I live in Kentucky and got Lyme twice here from tick bites. Still battling it. No, ticks do not respect state lines. It's in most states at this point. Great blog and Keep spreading the word Christina!

Reply
Christina
10/14/2015 05:03:05 pm

Thanks Stuart, I really appreciate that!

Reply
Rhonda Jamison
7/1/2021 08:17:36 pm

Hi Christina, I live in a rather small city too ... and the word is getting out more and more about Lyme and "friends" ... but also that Lyme can spread via the womb and sexually. I was not bitten by a tick that I know of - and it could have been a nymph the size of a pin-prick for all I know - or spread from cat scratches or my dog. Stress definitely caused my symptoms... even though I was healthy for 52 years. And they didn't gradually grow, either, but rather I was ambushed with them in my nervous system. But I'm thankful for the discussion and information wherever I find it.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Enter your email address to subscribe to new posts:


    Follow @ladyoflyme


    Follow Lady Of Lyme (@ladyoflyme)

    10.2k Followers, 618 Following, 51 Posts - Follow (@ladyoflyme)


    Categories

    All
    Crohn's
    Educational Posts & Info
    Gift Guides
    Giveaways & FREE Resources
    Health/Life Updates
    Interviews & Features
    Lyme Awareness
    Quiz & Polls
    Reflective Thoughts
    Things About Me

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2022
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

© 2011 Lady of Lyme™. All Rights Reserved.

Terms and Conditions  - Privacy Policy
Connect with me:
Facebook
Twitter
Contact   About   Email Me


Lady of Lyme is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.