Life After Lyme - I did it!! I did the 40 mile 5 Boro Bike Tour Yesterday! See photos!

Well, I am able to walk today, LOL
Was I worried? Heck yeah, but I did it, and I really feel like I accomplished something! My legs began to hurt towards the end, man were the last few miles tough!! Riding on the BQE with the wind against us, and then going up the Verrazano Bridge were quite a challenge, but my husband and I finished it up!

For those of you who do not know me, please use my story as a source of inspiration - I was extremely sick in January of 2014 - could barely go up the stairs, my legs were getting numb on the inside, I had a "pulling" sensation in my arms, I had bladder issues, lost weight, was nauseous, had joint pain, nerve pain, muscle twitches, migrating pains, night and day sweats, anxiety, insomnia, low grade fever, foot pain (I had bartonella too) - all clinically diagnosed.

I was treated for 8 months with antibiotics. I finished my treatment in Sept 2014 and am just on vitamins now.

For all of my forum friends, and anyone new - here is the link to my Facebook post and my pics (I opened only this post to the public) - now you guys will know what I look like (the sporty me) I tagged the movie "Invisible" in the post because that is the film about chronic illnesses in which I will make an appearance!

https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.defrancocarroll/posts/10206747320745794

That's wonderful, Chapelle! So happy for you...and your family.

Ha ha ha, 40 miles would have killed me! Yippy for you though!! Congratulations, Chappell! You really did do it!

Wow awesome. So proud of you!!!!

Congratulations on your amazing achievement. Very well done!

Wow, very inspirational! Congratulations, you should be very proud of yourself. Those long rides are tough for anyone. I will be thinking of you as I continue through my journey to be healthy and fit again too!

Wow! That is a mind-blowing achievement! Congratulations!

Great to see your fb post too, and see a real life person - probably sounds stupid, but it makes me realise that the wonderful folk on here are actual, real life people behind the forum names, and that we are a real community of living, breathing, lovely people! .

You are a real inspiration, and give me so much hope for the future. I so want to beat this thing too!!

Good job! I don't think I would have the patience to do it LOL. But it must feel empowering!

That is great news . . .thanks for sharing it here and giving hope!

I'm so glad you are sticking around! I remember when I turned 40 it bothered me. 50 didn't bother me but now I'm not that far away from the 60 mark!! Wow, time does fly!!

And you look great! It is good to see people behind the name, yeah!

I still do detox baths and I will detox for life! I feel I have nothing to lose except everyday toxins, lol! Good for you for doing this and keep up the good work, cheering for you!! Can you hear me now?

Denise

Just stumbled upon this site--serendipity. Wonderful about your ride!

I was finally diagnosed in 2004 after 6 years of symptoms. (Don't know if I had co-infections--I was just lucky to be labeled with Lyme at all since many Nevada docs still argue that there is no Lyme here. Curiously though, the MS rate in my small town continues to climb.) Anyway, after a year on antibiotics, I started to backslide--couldn't remember my phone number of 20+ years. Came across the Marshall Protocol, which I did from 2005 to sometime in 2009. Felt much better but my endurance continued to be non-existent. Watched a Netflix DVD (Dying to Have Known) about the Gerson Therapy and tried it for six months. Mucho better after that.

Very inspiring to hear about your 40-mile success! I, too, am cycling now--usually 20 mile rides 3-4 times a week. My husband and I are signed up for the 54-mile Edible Pedal ride in September outside of Reno. Did I mention I just turned 60?!! There is life after Lyme!

Chapelle, do have problems with leg cramps? If so, how do you deal with them? I started experiencing a great deal of cramping in my inner thighs while at my sickest and it still continues to a more limited extent. One night, after especially strenuous activity, both thighs cramped up all over and I struggled to walk. Very painful. I take the potassium salts utilized in the Gerson Therapy and also take some Calm magnesium supplement by Natural Vitality, but feel like I'm always on the verge of a cramp, especially when I stretch my legs at night in bed.

Question for all: Did/does anyone have problems with facial recognition? I still have a hard time placing people I don't know well if I see them out of context. For instance, I ran into the woman I lived across the street from for 4 years back when I first became sick, and I could not place her. It kinda worries me because isn't that one of the components of Alzheimers?

hi - thanks out of the limelight - welcome to the forum!

wow, 60 and doing bikathons?! that's how I want to be when I am older -- I want to be young at heart and full of life for as long as I possibly can!

I don't get leg cramps per say, but I do get general muscle cramps from time to time - and that happens when I workout with weights and forget to take my coenzyme Q - that stuff works wonders for the muscles. If you don't take it, look into taking it because I am sure it will help your leg cramping.

I've never had issues with memory and lyme - but I know lots of people do have this problem. I Hope you stay on the forum so we can continue to answer your questions and help you!

LOL! I know what you mean - it seems I've lost some of my cardex cards though!! Good thing I have hubby - he's my cardex most of the time.