The Faces Of Lyme

These Stories are REAL people
with Lyme disease & coinfections

LEARN  -  SHARE  -  GROW

"Together We Grow Stronger"


For the non-lyme literate: Common Lyme abbreviations: abx=antibiotics  dx=diagnosed/diagnosis

FLORIDA

* * * * * * * *
Paula Arenz - I was dx with RA December 2005 when I experienced extreme joint pain in my feet, ankles, hands and knees. Started treatment with IBU then switched to celebrex. Was tested for Heavy metal toxicity...and tests came back positive for multiple metals, i.e. tin, mercury etc. Had 60+ IV chelations done...and no improvement in condition and actually getting worse-neurotransmitters all messed up, anxiety, panic attacks, not able to sleep, cronic fatigue, could not drive, nausea, nutrionally depleated, hair falling out, skin color grey, cried all the time, depressed, unable to be left alone and take care of myself..... Changed doctors ....and my new Doctor, thank God, suggested I be tested for LYME....at that time I had no clue what LYME was. My test came back Positive in august 2006...so I started oral abx, along with IV nutritionals, plaquinil and areophyto therapy.... Today all my symptoms have totally disapeared except for my RA...which seems to be at lease not progressing ..... I have currently switched to a vegan diet and hoping this is the fiinal piece to this puzzle. Today I am driving, playing with my grandchildren, cooking, traveling with my hubsand, enjoying 90% of what I used to do. So there is hope....God is GOOD.....KEEP SEARCHING FOR WHAT WORKS....it seems every LYME case is unique and different.

* * * * * * * *

Karen Duffy
- Sometimes do not know where to begin. When I was helping, volunteering, when able. I listened to 100`s of stories. I wanted each time to cry from the loses to frustration, treatment from med. prof, family, friends. Then had to sit back each 1 their story was mine. Reading the forgotten I fit in most of this. What incite. ALL TRUE.... Have been a guinea pig many times, work with numerous groups connecting the dots of many names to illnesses, from FM/MS/ME/ALS/Lupus/Parkinson's, etc. No diff than cancer, lymphoma, brain tumors, numerous other names, fast kind slow moving++++. Same here a link, probably mycoplasma let out yrs. ago by Govt. for bio terrorism. 2 types let out, 1 that killed right away. Other let you keep just enough alive you do not want to be. Also side effects eventually kills, lost few close to me. Yet, not on death cert. real cause root of tree probably from yrs. research mycoplasma, branched off. Spirochete form developed some how, it can mutate on own, needs no host, hides deep, changes to hide from treatment. It is so bad, growing faster in world than any other problem. I was mis-dxed for over 10 yrs. Now from an active jock, business owner, non-stop schooling. Volunteer moocho hrs. to a BLOB. Why women over men, for some reason tests have proven testosterone is 1 thing that is a protect-ant, chetes can't break through. Until men get to 50, then knee prob., heart, neuro, all places likes to hide, after testosterone diminishes. Most of the names whatever you want to call, years ago told women they had housewives syndrome. DUH, what is that same as growing pain when you are not growing, DUH????
My info is lengthy some from whistle blowers. THE TRUTH from innocent eyes. How sad we let millions with no treatment. Just to hide the Real TRUTH. It has taken me & my life as I ever knew it. NO ONE CARES, I can moan all day in pain alone, an animal we cuddle, hug stroke. I have to force food down, nausea has become so bad. I am not alone should USE WE. List way tooooooo long to list. I ASK IS THIS HUMANE????? Not even proper pain meds this will turn against docs if Leaders Against pain keeps pushing. I won a scholarship to meet with TOP Drs. who care from around the world. Too sick to make, made me very sad to lose such opportunity with all my hard work with no energy to really do. MILLIONS NEED HELP NOW, this is waaaaay out control.

* * * * * * * *

Sandi Lanford
- My story is one of Chronic Lyme Disease. It started at a very early age when suddenly a rash appeared on the palms of my hands and feet. I was just 12 years old. My parents took me to a pediatrician who must have thought I had Syphillus because he put me on
antibiotics. They worked and the rash disappeared, but after that I suffered with mild panic attacks, fatigue, and mild depression. I also had problems with dyslexia. No one paid any attention to my complains, so I struggled alone silently for several years. Then at 21 years of age I got staff infection. It spread from my hand to my leg to my ears. I was put on IV antibiotics in the hospital and stayed on oral antibiotics for over a year. Then one day I was well and felt better than I ever remembered feeling. I decided to go to college. I was an A student in college, and graduated in three years. I got married and worked for about ten years before I had my first child at age 37. I had tried to get pregnant but was told by a doctor I probably would never have a child. At the time I got pregnant I had just started taking Shaklee vitamins, and was working at a Spa. I was in good health and felt good. My baby was born very health, but I couldn't get my strength back and started having aches and pains, fatigue, and sleeplessness. Fast forward.....I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia and finally LUPUS. For 27 years I suffered living a sub-normal life....I would explain it as feeling like I was pushing a wheel barrel filled with rocks up a hill. Then a miracle happened! Dr. Whitaker, the developer of the Bowen Q-RIBb test for Lyme disease walked into my kitchen. She had been invited by Florida State University Golf Association to return to FSU and be honored at one of the college tournaments. My husband who was the Golf Coach at that time invited her. Dr. W. had rec'd her undergraduate degree in microbiology from FSU before she went to Wake Forest Med School. Dr. W. diagnosed me with Lyme. My Bowen Q-RIBb test for Lyme disease was positive. All the other test I had taken before - the Western Blot, Elisa, Luat were all negative. I was treated for the Lyme disease by a doctor in Pennsylvania, a Dr. S. After being on antibiotics and continuing with a Shaklee vitamin regimen all my Lyme symptoms disappeared. That was three and a half years ago and I'm still doing great. The only complaint I have is sometimes my right knee bothers me, but I don't take any drugs except a maintenance dose of antibiotics. I do take thyroid medication, but nothing else except natural supplements. I wanted to tell my story because I think people should know that there is HOPE. I started a support group in Tallahassee called LIFELYME. In the last four years hundreds of people have been locally diagnosed with Lyme disease in our community through the efforts of our support group. Presently, I am a consultant for the Central Florida Research. I talk to approximately 200 people a month from all over the US, Canada, & Europe. I am passionate about educating as many people as possible about Lyme disease - the tests, the diagnosing, the importance of seeing a Lyme literate physician, and the latest research. Knowledge empowers us, so we must keep the Faith!

* * * * * * * *
 

In the interest of making the stories palatable for everyone, please spell-check your submissions, and substitute a word like "antibiotic(s)" or abx for drug names. This site is foremost about telling the story of our disease and problems with diagnosis, treatment, etc. Please refrain from listing every drug and/or dosage you have been on. We have all been through a unique experience and that is the focus of this page. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.
NOTE: If you ask for help when writing, please provide your email address so that we can respond!

MAKE YOUR VOICE COUNT

Please limit to approximately 500 words or less. E-mail us if your story is longer & I will happily edit it for you.

© Copyright 2006 by Lyme League of America, All Rights Reserved.

Contact Us  |  Home  |  Find your Representative  | 
ILADS web site | Sewill (SE WI/IL Lyme Site)