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ARIZONA
Sue Bush - Hi, I am from Northern Wisconsin originally, and I
grew up in Minnesota. My mom says she had a "funny rash" when she
was pregnant with me, 50 years ago. At age 11 I stopped playing
piano because my hands hurt too much. At age 15 I had sore knees and
was diagnosed with "growing pains". At that time the Dr also took
blood and reported an elevated white blood cell count and told me I
would probably get a cold in two weeks. I didn't. But my appendix
burst and we didn't realize until 2 YEARS LATER when I was in
emergency surgery for something else. They could tell by the scar
tissue my appendix had burst approx. two years earlier. At age 18 I
went camping for what I knew would be the last time. I don't know
why I knew it was the last, I just did. I came home with a tick and
thought "wouldn't it be ironic if...". The tick came out in pieces,
the rash followed, I didn't connect the dots. I became very ill one
weekend a few weeks later and got to the Dr after 3 days of
paralysis. They gave me steroids. It was 1975 when steroids were new
and miraculous and doses were VERY HIGH. I took oral steroids for
two years after for what was diagnosed as "bursitis" - an
inflammation of the shoulder. By age twenty five I was living in a
lot of pain, every day. I couldn't figure out why I was so
exhausted. I developed a drinking problem, self-medicating and
feeling horrible about myself, calling myself lazy when I knew I
wasn't. It created depression. By age 30 I stopped drinking but
still suffered depression and constant pain. By age 35 I was
diagnosed with "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" and depression. By age 45
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. By age 48 I had CDC-Positive Lyme
lab results from IGeneX. It was decided I probably had Lyme Disease
all along, possible since birth with at least one big re-infection
at age 20. I turn 50 next week and still suffer. My Life Lost. It's
a [darned] shame.
* * * * * * * * A Prow - I became ill in
the summer of 1983 and spent weeks on oral antibiotics only to not
get better and have the need to spend 2 weeks on IV antibiotics to
be able to get my temperature down and be able function. The doctors
in Illinois did not know what was wrong. They put my Lyme into
remission without knowing it. After this treatment I felt OK but,
but never right. I was always tired and always had something wrong.
I had a lot of sinus infections. I had a toothache that was not
solved with 2 root canals and gum surgery and then extraction – and
it still hurt! I decided to have the sinus surgery doctors had been
recommending and I thought I would begin to feel better but just
continued to get worse. I worked as a trainer for AT&T and by 1993
was unable to walk because my legs were swollen and purple, and hurt
unbelievably. Then at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota I was diagnosed with
Fibromyalgia. I learned as much as I could about Fibromyalgia and
the more I learned, the less I understood. I was an Arthritis
Foundation Support Group leader lead groups for 4+ years. With each
person in my groups I learned a little more and saw some
commonalities with my illness and that of others – but we were all
affected so differently, could never understand this illness. I was
treated for that condition for 10 years+, on disability from my job,
and I realized I still wasn’t feeling well. In the spring of 2001 I
read an article in Alternative Medicine Magazine and I recognized
that they were describing me – I had Lyme Disease. I immediately
researched to learn all I could about Lyme. I found out that the
medical profession ignores that it even exists anywhere but the east
coast. Now in 2006, there is some agreement that people in other
parts of the country, including Arizona where I now live, are
dealing with Lyme Disease – especially Chronic Lyme. I have now been
treated by a Lyme Literate Doctor for 3+ years who feels sure he can
help me feel better. I have taken oral antibiotics and other
alternative medications and am feeling better.
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