“Practical Tips and Inspiration for Others Living with Lyme Disease”
Living with Lyme: My Journey from Exhaustion to Empowerment
Some stories start with a bang, but mine started with a whisper—or maybe a full-body scream disguised as exhaustion. One day, I woke up and simply couldn’t get out of bed. Not from laziness or a bad mood, but from sheer, unrelenting fatigue. On top of that, my memory—once sharp and reliable—was fading like a radio signal in a tunnel. Something wasn’t right. And little did I know, it would take over six years to get the answers I desperately needed.
The Diagnosis Maze: Six Years, Seven Doctors, and a Lot of Frustration
When you’re looking for answers, you imagine the process will be straightforward. Spoiler alert: it’s not. I visited over seven doctors during those six years, and every single one told me the same thing: “Your blood work and scans are normal.” Normal?! I wanted to scream. There was nothing normal about feeling like I was living in someone else’s broken-down body.
Anger and loneliness became my unwelcome companions. I was desperate for answers, but it felt like every door I knocked on stayed firmly shut.
The Aha Moment: The Allergy Doctor Who Changed Everything
It wasn’t until I saw an allergy doctor that the clouds began to part. He started by screening me for food sensitivities, and I went on a food elimination diet paired with supplements for three months. The result? No improvement. I felt hopeless, but thankfully, he didn’t give up on me.
More blood work revealed the culprit: Lyme disease and co-infections. At last, a name for the enemy I’d been battling all these years. From there, the treatment began: a continued elimination diet (goodbye sugar!) and nine months of IV antibiotics. Slowly, I began to reclaim pieces of myself. My memory improved, and my mind felt clearer, but the journey was far from over.
Living with Lyme: Adjusting to a New Normal
Life with Lyme requires a daily recalibration. I’ve learned to be mindful of how I spend my energy. These days, I focus on one task at a time—maybe a chore in the morning and then saving the rest of my energy for my family. Working from home has been a game-changer, allowing me to stay productive while managing my health.
But the hardest part? Letting go of the life I thought I’d have. I envisioned a thriving career and an unstoppable hustle. Lyme forced me to hit pause and reassess. While it felt like settling at first, I eventually discovered a new passion: helping others navigate their health journeys.
Silver Linings: The Lessons Lyme Taught Me
It took a long time to see it, but there have been silver linings. Lyme taught me to advocate for myself and to keep questioning doctors until I found one who listened. It also deepened my understanding of how the body works and the profound impact of what we put into it.
The most surprising lesson? Food is an addiction—one I didn’t realize I had until I started eliminating processed foods. Breaking free from that cycle has been life-changing.
My Treatment Journey: What Worked (and What Didn’t)
My treatment wasn’t glamorous, but it worked. IV antibiotics, a diet free of sugar and carbs, and a focus on protein and healthy fats laid the foundation for recovery. At first, I couldn’t tolerate synthetic vitamins, but I eventually started taking organic, natural supplements like vitamin C and D.
I also found unconventional remedies, like the carnivore diet, which helped me lose 8 pounds in four weeks without exercise. (Yes, even during the holidays!)
Laughing Through the Struggles
Lyme may be a rollercoaster, but I’ve learned to laugh through the ups and downs. Forgetting things has become a running joke in my family—I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve gone back into the house for something I forgot! My support system, including my husband, children, grandchildren, mother and extended family, have been my rock and constant source of humor.
Misconceptions About Lyme Disease
One of the biggest myths about Lyme is that it’s just a tick bite and you’re cured after treatment. The truth? The effects can linger for years, wreaking havoc on your body even when you “look fine” on the outside.
I wish more people understood that just because someone appears healthy doesn’t mean their body isn’t fighting a war on the inside.
Looking Forward: Finding Hope and Purpose
After living with Lyme for over 20 years, I finally feel a glimmer of hope. The inflammation is slowly easing, one day at a time, and I’ve found a new outlet for my energy: blogging. By sharing my stories, anecdotes, and lessons, I hope to help others who are searching for answers.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to health. It’s about finding what works for you—and never giving up until you do.
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