- Why Me ?

[Lymie97]

When i Was JUST 8 years Old i Had Tested Positive For Lyme Disease .
At the Age of 8 i Was said to have stage 3 Lyme .
I went to bed one night PERFECTLY Fine and woke up with a Swollen Knee .
I was Living in FL. At the time . They didnt believe in Lyme Over there so i was Never Tested for it . I was Sent to MANNNY Hospitals with NO ANSWERS . Nobody wanted to help me .
It then went away . I was SO HAPPPY Until i Moved to Waterbury Ct and woke up one Morning Ready to go to school . As i got up i realized i wasnt able to walk . The pain in My ankle was HORRIBLE . Screaming for hours !
I hated when night time would become because everyone was able to sleep except for me . I would make wishes and pray . I begged for sleep , but i never got it . I then got the rash so i was to go to the doctors . I thought He Was Just another "doctor" that was gunna ***** me with needles and Send me somewhere else because he didnt have an answer . I thought wrong ! A few days later the lab called my Mami an told her they have an answer . Not a good one but they had an answer . I have tested ( + ) for lyme . I was So young i didnt know what it was . I was Put on doxycycline .... It went away ! I was the HAPPIEST GIRL On earth . I thought it was Over ! No more sorrow ' no more pain ....... HA It was nice being pain free for four years ... One night i was in the car driving and i was gettin pain in my knee but i didnt care because i though the lyme was gone and i figured maybe its just growing pains . Next day i was walking through the halls of Wilby High School and noticed i was limping . The pain was coming back WORSE Than ever before . My mom took me to the hospital and they kept telling me i must've hit myself and caused my knee to swell . My mom tried to explain it was the lyme but they didnt believe i had it . They thought i was lying ! They decided to test me for lyme ... They did an they sent me home with crutches . I woke up one morning to hear mami on the phone talking to the lab people . Guess what ? I had tested positive AGAIN (+) . They once again Put me on doxycycline but the symptoms ONLY GOT WORSE . I was addmitted into the childrens hospital manu times this month . I have had extra fluid in my brain .  They did spinal tabs . And i had 5 I.V's .
My symptoms were horrible
• Hallucinating
• joint pain
• weakness
• brain fog
• insomnia
• backed up
• throwing up
• LOSS OF APPETITE
•chronic Migraines
• depression
With many more symptoms
They told me i have lyme meningitis
I was diagnosed with Lyme Arthritis Also ihave been showing signs of neuropathy
I couldnt deal with the pain . I felt i was too  young and i've suffered to much So i grabbed all the antibiotics i was given ( many bottles ) and was going to commit suicide . until my mother barged into my room Somehow and stopped me . That night i was rushed to the hospital . I now have a PICC Line <3
Lyme disease can make you feel crazy . All i want is my Life Back . I feel lyme is taking over .
Before lyme had took control i was a VERY Happy girl . I wanted to be a model. Actress , & a singer !
I was always dreamed of becoming famous and giving my first big check to my mother . now my dream is to get better an hope it doesnt do any more damage to me ,  i wanna have a normal life again .
I've Lost MANY People but then again i Gained Many More . I wanna be able to take pictures & hang with friends .
I see the doctor more than my own friends and family . Im Afraid of Lyme . It always comes back a million times worse than before .  My friends have been wearing lime green shirts for me <3
I hate when im tryin to teach myself how to walk in public and people are staring at me like WHTS HER PROBLEM . Or sometimes even laughing at me and so i then i have to pull up my sleeve or take off my jacket and show them the long I.V in my arm for them to know teres a reason why im not able to walk . I am very uncomfortable about going out because i watch people stare at my arm or my legs . One person told me " its Just a little disease ... Its not even a disease why dont you give your mother a break " all i could do was cry because that person doesnt know half of the things i went through . That person also didnt know that im one of the few whos suffering the worst case of lyme since the aga of 8 ( thats what the lyme speacialistO told me " his exact words were
" i am sorry that you are going through this , But unfortunately Jacquelin is One of thefew people with lyme who are suffering the worst case of it " i am now being home schooled until further notice .
I useda be in all honors classes but when i go back , i have a huge feeling that i will be put in the speacial education classes because i dont know how to write .
Thats a only half of my experience with lyme .
Hope everyone has a blessed day <3
God bless
P.S. I made a song about lyme . If you would like to see the lyrics dont be afraid to ask , i will give them to you .


  Im a Teenage girl tryin to live life to the fullest with a twist of lyme ;) .  

[Marinella82]

This broke my heart when I read it because i too were where you are.  I am cured now...so far.  The worst is the Lyme meningitis I know cause I was hospitaized 2X for it.  I've had the spinal tap too.  This happends cause your brain gets infected, kind of like a sinus infection but in your brain.  If you don't kill the lyme the 'brain infections keep coming."  You need to find out if you have co-infections as well.  I live in CT too.  I am in Old Saybrook.  I found a good Lyme doctor and trust me I went through everything and more when it comes to lyme but I got my life back.  If you or your family ever needs anyone to talk to you can contact me.  I can give you the number to a good doctor.  Stay away from Yale they don't help they don't believe in Cronic Lyme. ***@****

[nutrinut_bob]

I've probably had this stuff longer than anyone here.  Like you, I got it when young, probably around 11, perhaps even at a younger age as I was less than 5 when mom pulled the first ticks off me.  Parasites don't like to kill their hosts.  In many cases, doctors do more of that!  The point is, I'm now 54, and despite it all, I remained relatively normal and functional through life, with zero treatment.  You are lucky that you know what you're dealing with, you won't be misdiagnosed by the system and perhaps wind up dead because of the misdiagnosis.  

[Imajerk]

I can't tell you how sorry I am that people treated you so horribly and with such dismissiveness!  WHen I was an 8 year old I ran through the woods of Pennsylvania and Dutchess County NY all the time and no one ever checked for ticks. Lyjme did not seem to be an issue. Nothing ever seemed to happen to me or anyone else. I truly miss those times. I have to wonder what really brought this epidemic about that has done such damage to children, as well as adults.

I am glad you did not kill yourself though I can understand why you would feel that way. That should always be taken seriously! I mean for Pete's sake, you did have someone diagnose you. Why would anyone laugh? They are all ignorant. YOU know how YOU feel! And being "one of the few", if that is even true, doesn't make you wrong to speak out. No one ever seems to know how lyme can affect someone over time. ANYONE could be "one of the few". This seems to be what people are missing.

You are incredible. You can teach people a lot. You will be better. KNowing what is wrong gives you that power! Hang on!

[JackieCalifornia]

Well, you hang in there -- a PICC line is supposed to be the best way to deliver the medicine to the Lyme bacteria.  

Have you tried doing 'visualization' where you imagine the medicine overwhelming and wiping out the bacteria?  Some think it helps rally the immune system.

It may well do that, but I also think overall it probably helps psychologically too.  We live in 'earthquake country' in California, and they run TV commercials here on what to do when the ground starts to shake:  get low, get away from things that can fall on you (by taking shelter in doors or under a strong table or desk), hold on tight, and then start yelling at the quake to 'Stop!  Stop NOW!' and keep it up until the shaking stops.

Now, everybody knows that yelling at an earthquake won't actually make it stop, but there is an empowering feeling in challenging the earthquake.  And then when it DOES stop, you know you have taken action, and come through the other side.

In the same way, you might try visualizing the medicine wiping out the 'bugs' and know that you AND the medicine are fighting for victory.  It's better than feeling like the bugs have the upper hand, you know?

Be strong!

[Lymie97]

Thank You Guys VERRYYY MUCH !!!!!!!
Its the amazing people like you all who Make me Stronger .
In sorry i honestly dont know when i can have the PICC Line Out .
But i actually Like having iT ;) its pretty cool

[Ricobord]

You have definitely had a rough time with Lyme.  It can be very difficult.  Most of us have experience with pain, cognitive problems, and anxiety.  It's hardmfor people mot familiar with it to understand that. But now you're on IV abx, which sounds like you're on the right track. You should start feeling better soon.  Did your doctor say anything about how long you might need to be on it?

[mojogal]

It is not fair at all. Especially for those like you who are so young but you sound brave and you have a sense of humor. It won't be easy but you will make it!!!!  We are here for you. Take advantage of the support.
God Bless you!

[JackieCalifornia]

You have been through so much!  I am very sorry to hear it.

People who don't understand can be cruel, but just think of them as part of the illness and not a reaction to you personally.  

Keep on keeping on -- you sound very strong and very centered, and while that doesn't mean your road is easy, it means you can do it.

Take care --