Introduction

Hello Everyone,

I have decided to write about Lyme Disease based on my personal experience, and also based on the suffering of so many others who have this devious and devastating disease. I was bit in 1983 while traveling in the south of France and within a few days My fever was so high, and my head and neck pain so debilitating that it was surmised that I had meningitis. Once a very large round rash was discovered on my spine it was guessed by the French physician that was treating me that I was either bitten by a tick or a spider. I was placed on Antibiotics for ten days. My improvement was dramatic and I considered the event resolved.

Over the next few years I developed more symptoms than I could possibly recount here. Roving symptoms that did not fit any medical category neatly. The Lyme Titre was negative, I was having random odd symptoms, including pain and exhaustion. Physicians ordered numerous tests, but all proved negative. In the absence of definitive medical proof that I had a clinically recognized syndrome, it was determined that it must be “in my head.” It must be psychosomatic illness.

It wasn’t until many years of suffering later that I finally found my way to a Lyme disease specialist in Connecticut who performed the Western Blot test. The numbers were “off the wall” and I had a severe case of Lyme disease. By that time the bacteria was deeply embedded in my body and brain; psychologically I was depressed, angry and disgusted by the lack of support that the medical community had provided.

Long term oral antibiotics proved ineffective, though at times I had an exacerbation of symptoms – the Herxheimer reaction. At least this worsening of symptoms showed that I did – indeed have Lyme disease, – and the drugs were creating an effect. This showed me that the medicine was working, but it was insufficient.

I was placed on IV Rocephan since this was the best chance at an antibiotic passing the blood-brain barrier. In other words, even though the other antibiotics worked to some extent, it essentially was not passing through to the brain to cure/heal the brain symptoms. Neuropsychiatric manifestations of Lyme disease was finally being researched and explored by Brian Fallon of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. His work validated, for me, the connection between Lyme disease and memory, the Lyme fog, depression, word retrieval problems, word reversals, difficulty with handwriting, and many, many more symptoms.

I had to fight for it, and switch Doctors, but I was on intervenous antibiotics for seven months. That provided the basis for marked improvement in my health. I learned to combine nutrition, exercise and many alternative healing methods to finally come to a balance of health in my life. I developed a fusion of energy healing, relaxation exercises, meditation and journeying in the context of spiritual development partially as a result of the SPIRITUAL CRISIS that Lyme disease induced in me. Good things can come out of bad.

I want to share my experience and expertise as a means of sharing the knowledge that will free us. Knowledge is empowerment, and it is with knowledge that we will be able to foster a more serious response from our medical providers. It is with knowledge that we will challenge the insurance providers and provide support for the courageous pioneers who research and treat us – in spite of potential legal attacks and peer pressure.

Blessings,

Cynthia