Hi everyone,
Here's my story. Over the last ten years I've pulled 50 to 60 attached ticks off of me while on backpacking trips, mainly in central Pa. Throughout that time, I would usually get up to 5 tick bites per trip. On some occasions after my trip, I would feel like I had a case of the flu for a week or so after which I would get better. In the back of my mind, I thought I had Lyme disease, but I never had a rash. That was proof enough for me that I didn't have Lyme; or that my body could readily fight it off. I had about
four or five episodes of this over the ten year period. In the Spring of 2011, after a backpacking trip, I had another episode of feeling sick, but this time I was getting the brain fog and slightly double vision (disseminated). But the flu feeling went away.
During the Spring of 2012, I pulled off about
the usual five ticks (nymphs) attached to me. Of course I've gone through this before and I wasn't concerned. about
two weeks later, I was sicker than ever before. I was sweating, shaking, and I could only drink fruit smoothies for 3-4 days. The acute symptoms subsided, but than 8-10 bulls eye rashes appeared on different parts of my body (I don't know if these were on previous bites that I had years earlier or not) I also had slash looking rashes in the same area of my shoulder (possibly barts or Babasia). I also could not sleep and I had the ever constant flu-like symptoms. This time I KNEW I had Lyme Disease along with a co-infection.
I was scared now and I started doing research at the library and on the internet. Naturally I landed on this forum (thank God!) and I tried to digest as much info. as I could. I went to a GP that I knew. He diagnosed me by my fading rashes and my history. I had no Lyme blood tests at all. I asked him if he would put me on Doxycycline 200mg x 2 daily for 2-3 months. I explained the idea that you should use high doses of ABX for longer periods of time. He wasn't clued in to this and he did some research on his own. He eventually agreed to Doxy 200mg x2 daily for 6 weeks only. I was a little hesitant but I agreed.
After about
four or five days the flu symptoms disappeared. I felt well enough, although I still had brain fog, and blurry double vision. I was able to sleep and able to function. I didn't try to stick to Dr. B's strict diet. I cut out all the junk and processed food, but I also ate fruit, whole grain bread, and pasta. My detox regiment consisted of lots of water, including lemon water and lots of strenuous exercise where I sweated a lot. Dr. B states no strenuous cardio exercise. I totally disagree! Mind you, I was fit and well enough to where I could exercise and the sweating in the summer heat worked for me. Has anyone ever mentioned going in a sauna? Lots of water and sweating seemed to be the key for me. Forget the coffee enemas. I also never had a herx reaction.
Now I feel perfectly well. I've come to the conclusion that your recovery coincides with the strength of your immune system and or any underlying illnesses or conditions that you may have. Also, your attitude is important to. There were days that I didn't feel like exercising but I did any way. I have also come to the conclusion that I might have gotten off easy after reading a lot of the despairing posts from a lot of you. I think that I had a strong immune system and that seemed to help me a lot. I do however think that I'm a tick bite away from getting sick again. And I still apparently have to be symptom free for 3 years (?) to be totally cured.
This by far, is the best Lyme disease forum for which I got most of my info. from. Everyone had great advice to share. I hope that I stay Lyme free and that this post shows others that you can beat this awful illness.
