Unfortunately, it is a roller coaster ride! That's why we need to educate ourselves carefully, making sure we understand as best as we can so that we aren't taken on that ride and get the care and treatment we not only need, but deserve. I'm sorry that you are a part of our ranks, but there is good news! You now know what it is and that it's treatable.
Chronic when used in talking about
Lyme disease is a state of the disease, not so much about
how long it's been in the body. In Lyme disease, chronic is the same as disseminated (wides spread). Disseminated Lyme has two 'stages', early disseminated (sometimes referred to as stage 2) and late disseminated(often referred to as stage 3). How fast this occurs most often depends on two things that I see:
1)the state of the immune system and
2)co-infections and co-conditions.
"If not caught early, the infection may then spread to many other parts of the body. This can occur over a period of days..."
www.columbia-lyme.org/patients/ld_lyme_symptoms.html