Its hard to believe that this is my first actual blog post, as I made this blog a few months ago. From being busy with school to my processing issues, it has been so hard for me to sit down and write. I found out I had Lyme disease on my second day of classes for my senior year. I remember getting a message from my family doctor's office saying to call back to discuss my test results. Normally it is these kinds of messages that leave people feeling so anxious and worried, but I was so thrilled because for me this meant answers to a question that had been on my mind for months, "what is causing me to feel this way?"
I had been feeling sick all summer without knowing what was wrong. I was constantly tired, aching, and frustrated with not having an explanation as to why I was not feeling my normal self. After an entire summer of feeling lost, I went to my family doctor to seek answers. My family doctor is actually a nurse practitioner and she is better than any other MD I have ever seen. I talked to her about how I had been feeling and she decided to do some blood work to see if maybe I was anemic and test me for Lyme disease.
When I returned the call, I spoke with one of the nurses for my practice and she told me that my blood work showed that I had Lyme disease. I was so happy to finally have an answer, but was some what shocked. I was so ready to just have a solution that I didn't even remember my NP had tested me for Lyme. She informed me I would need to start 22 days of Doxycycline and find an infectious disease doctor as soon as possible.
I was so happy to hear this, because in my mind, I had answer to my lingering question and was one step closer to feeling like my normal self again. But then I paused for a moment and I said to myself, "what the hell is Lyme disease??!!"Growing up in an area where we get lots of tics in the summer time, I
was aware that you could get Lyme disease from a tic. Other than that, I
knew NOTHING. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It wasn't until after I informed my mom of these results that I realized this illness is not just something I can make disappear with just a month of antibiotics, I was going to be fighting this illness for a few months.
I have always considered myself a strong person. My mom is the strongest woman I know and raised me to always be a fighter, rather than let rough patches in life overcome me. As strong as I may feel, this healing process has been very difficult for me. I have had many sad times, break downs, and frustrations. (And if you are reading this as a Lyme fighter, you will experience these too) As hard as this whole process has been for me, it has definitely been a growing experience. Yes, these have been the hardest few months of my life, but I have learned so much during this time, that I cannot help but be thankful.
I started this blog wanting to connect with other fighters of this illness and hope that my story can help others. As I said before, when I started this journey I knew nothing. I had no facts or information about this illness or even know anyone who have been affected by it. People ask me all the time how I do it... "How have you been able to stay in school?" "How have you not given up already?" "How do you stay positive?" My answer: I have been able to continue fighting through my faith, and knowing that God allows every thing to happen for a reason. Rather than asking why this has happened to me, I remind myself of this everyday and am thankful that I have been given an opportunity that so many others my age do not get. I have been given a challenge to learn from, and grow from which will allow me to develop as a person, and prepare me for many more challenges in my future. And of course, I have my coffee to keep me going!! I hope that my blog helps you or someone you know struggling with this illness, and that its as therapeuitc for my readers as it is for me to write it!
Until next time,
Julie
