Question , does anyone feel like they look different since they have Lyme

JustMe -
I too feel that way. I was just mentioning that to my husband last week. I don't know if it's my eyes or if it's actual changes. I know that I lost a lot of weight when things got bad so I look different regardless. But my cheeks look more hollow. My skin looks more grey and my eyes more bloodshot. My hair looks darker and yes, my skin on my legs has looked all sorts of different. I chuck some of it up to the fact that I've lost weight, things have changed and the bart lines are showing a lot. Some of it just seems strange. I feel like I look empty. But when I ask my husband and friends they tell me that I look better then I've looked in years. Some days my hair is normal, my skin is glowing and my eyes are nice and white. Others not. Strange. Don't know if that's what you're talking about but thought I'd jump in.

Yes! Bloodshot eyes (what causes that?!?!), pale skin, saggy skin, loss of muscle tone, hair loss. I notice it most in my eyes though. I do feel like I look ill even though others might not notice it.

I was always told I looked much younger than I am...till Lyme. It has aged me. I look MUCH older. I was told illness can do that to you.

I feel that this illness has ruined my looks. My eyes are so puffy underneath them. I don't know what to do. I look much older since I got sick and I find it very upsetting.

I almost don't look like I was the same person a year ago. My eyes are sunken in , and blood shot all the time too. I usually have a red rash on my face but when I don't I am a pasty color. I don't know , it's just strange what Lyme does to us.

Well I hardly ever look in the mirror. I've noticed more dimples on my legs and I plan on working to get rid of them. Since I started feeling bad I've been hypersensitive and aware of everything on my body. I have WAY more freckles and moles than I remember but hubby says I've had them for a few years.
I've spent more time looking/noticing things than I have in years so I think that is partly just because I'm guessing most of you all are busy like me and don't have time to notice those things....until you feel crappy.

Lymeinthecoconut:

My self-image is down to zero - on a bad day, I feel ugly, fat (gained 20 kilos in 10 years), I just don't love myself... very bad for the healing process. I don't look much into those mirrors at home, far less than hubby does.

On a good day, my hubby says I look so young for my age, much younger than others of my age. When I feel 'good', I sometimes can see that he's right.

If I look at pictures from myself from a few years ago, I feel embarrassed: I'm swollen (no real fat, just swollen tissue), I'm pale - I used to tann so easily.

And then the way people think: overweight = doesn't take care of herself / probably gulps down her food. I lost 16 kilos one year and a half ago, but all came back - I felt the respect of some people, now I'm back to my max weight. Friends say they would never guess that my weight is 93 kilos... sometimes I think my self image is all deformed and out of balance, not realistic...

But: we're strong people, something to be proud of!

Lymeinthecoconut: Thanks for the sweet words

There's so less time for treats, but I need to put that first at some time...

It sure messes with your head.

I lost a lot of weight with an eliminating diet (lots of food intolerances), I try not to focuss too much on that, I have to deal with getting rid of the Bartonella first (I say now, until I see myself lol)

I think more and more that we need to be more loving towards ourselves...

Thank God for this forum...