To read this information in an easy to read word document click on my Google Doc link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e4tniaOpY_p-KD2EsUKLLaBL1C-cHzblRhK3k14Tu0k/edit?usp=sharing

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May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month!
I am battling neurological Lyme disease and the damage it has caused to my body. It only takes one bite to ruin your life. The key is to become aware of how severe Lyme disease and other tick borne infections can be, so you take preventative measures to protect yourself and your family (don’t forget your pets)! May is Lyme awareness month and I challenge you to “Take a Bite Out of Lyme” by doing the Lyme disease challenge. Find out how to do the challenge by visiting: http://lymediseasechallenge.org/join-lyme-disease-challenge/

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https://preview.redd.it/440u7pmv1ry61.jpg?width=490&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4bea9649357276e807007b617d07c5e32fb8ac52

How to do the Lyme Disease Challenge:

1. Take a Bite out of a Lime: take a photo or a short video of you taking the bite – the more sour your face, the better and funnier! It is more fun with friends, so invite them to take a bite with you!

2. Share a Fact: State one brief fact about Lyme disease. You can say them in your video, write them on your photo, or include them in your post. Help us spread the true facts about Lyme Disease! Use the hashtag #lymediseasechallenge on social media.

3. Challenge Others: Keep the campaign going by challenging three other people to take the challenge! Challenge your friends, family to take a bite! Mention them in your video or if you do a photo tag them in your post.

4. Optional: Considering donating to one of the non profits who make a big difference to those of us suffering from Lyme (see below).

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Non Profit Organizations you can donate to:

LivLyme Foundation, mission is to provide funding for Lyme and tick-borne disease treatment and research, while delivering tick education and awareness around the globe: https://livlymefoundation.org/give/

You can support them by buying something from the “Lyme Disease Challenge store”: http://lymediseasechallenge.org/store/

Lymedisease.org serves the patient community through advocacy, education and research: https://www.lymedisease.org/donate/

Global Lyme Alliance, dedicated to conquering Lyme and other tick-borne diseases through research, education, awareness, and patient services: https://www.globallymealliance.org/donate-today/?hsCtaTracking=53dc8f96-3fd8-43aa-8a19-e7c440690fc5|0628d6f7-5054-4f5c-806a-b3de377c106f

International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), nonprofit, international, multidisciplinary medical society dedicated to the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and associated diseases, donate to the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Educational Fund (ILADEF): https://customer274405b6f.portal.membersuite.com/donations/MakeDonation.aspx

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Why do I want you to do this challenge?

Life threw me a lot of lemons and Lyme, so I am doing the best I can to live a happy life.

Lyme turned my life upside down. Late 2010, I went from being a senior varsity athlete to being bed bound after a bad ankle injury. We did not know it at the time, but my injury caused my immune system to crash, mainly due to the fact I could not sleep from the pain caused by damaged nerves. Six months later I finally convinced my doctor to order a Lyme test. She did not want to do it, but I insisted since I live on a farm. I tested very positive for Lyme. It was so high my doctor freaked out. Despite testing positive, doctors refused to help me and tried to diagnose me with other conditions. The first week of antibiotics landed me in the hospital. After I finally finished the four weeks of antibiotics I felt worse, not better, and doctors told me to “deal with it”.

If you learn anything today, let it be this “YOU MUST BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE!” Doctors don’t get to live with your symptoms, they go home every day to their families. If you don’t get the help you need, find a different doctor. Never give up on seeking answers or treatments to restore your health!

My Father has spent the last decade and thousands of dollars trying to get my health back, and sadly I am still not well enough to return to school or work. I will say that doing the intravenous infusions several times a day, for almost two years straight made a huge difference in my quality of life and saved my heart! I have Lyme and co-infections, which are other infections commonly found in ticks. I have Bartonella (bacteria), Mycoplasma Pneumoniae (bacteria) and Babesia (a parasite that destroys red blood cells). These illnesses plus Lyme have attacked every part of my body, especially my organs and nervous system. I have made huge progress with treatments, but insurance refuses to pay, since they are considered unorthodox, despite studies being funded showing otherwise. As you can imagine this has caused a huge financial burden on my Father. I don’t want other people to go through what I have gone through, so I am very proactive in spreading awareness. I tell people about how severe tick borne infections can be, how to prevent tick bites, how to remove a tick properly and what to do if bitten. Early treatment is key to beating Lyme. If your diagnosis is delayed (mine was 10 years too late), odds are you will never be 100% better, but you can reach remission where you will experience a mostly normal life (even though you will have to take supplements long term). If you catch it early you can cure it, which is why early treatment is LIFE SAVING! Those who have been sick for a long time tend to have flares, which often require treatment. I personally have relapsed. In order to avoid this hell, please take precautions to avoid tick bites!

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Tips:

1. Use a tick repellent, preferably one that does not contain DEET, since DEET does not kill ticks, it just slows them down. My family likes Ticks-N-All Tick Repellent, it works for us, but there are other options available. I would advise against Permethrin, which is heavily sold for tick repellent as it is neuro toxic (bad for nerves) and can make children and pets ill! Some studies have shown ticks are becoming resistant to Permethrin.

2. Wear tall socks and a hat if you go hiking, since ticks can fall off shrubs and trees.

3. Always check yourself for ticks every time you come inside from being outdoors, even if you only go outside for a few minutes! Use a flashlight so you can see well. Use a sticky roller on your clothes, socks and shoes!

(I got bit once being outside for only a minute. I walked out in the grass to get a package and got bit on my toe since I was wearing flip flops.)

1. If you find an embedded tick, use fine tweezers to remove it. Do not use alcohol, hand sanitizer, dish soap etc. If you use anything on the tick other than tweezers, you will cause it to regurgitate its infectious agents into your bloodstream, assuming it has not already done so.

2. A tick only has to be attached less than 24 hours to infect you.

3. Most people never recall a tick bite.

4. Not everyone gets a bulls eye rash. Less than 30% of patients get a rash and most of them are unusual rashes, not bulls eye rashes.

5. If you get flu like symptoms in the summer get evaluated for Lyme disease ASAP!

6. There are over a dozen other tick borne infections that ticks can carry: Bartonella, Babesia, Mycoplasma, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Rickettsia, Powassan Virus, Q Fever, Tick Paralysis, and Tularemia. https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/co-infections/other-co-infections/

7. Anyone can get bitten. You don’t have to live in the Northeast to be at risk for Lyme.

8. Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed. You can get infected by many types of ticks. If possible I would save the tick to be tested, so you can tell what it is infected with, but it is not always possible (depends where you live and if you removed it properly).

9. You can be bitten any time of the year. If the weather does not stay below freezing for at least two weeks, ticks are active. They tend to most active in early Spring when the nymphs hatch and are hungrily looking for their first meal.

10. The tests for Lyme suck! It is very common to test negative on the ELISA Test. Always ask for the Western Blot test. If you have been bitten don’t waste time getting tested as it takes at least 6-8 weeks to develop a reaction to be seen in blood work, which delays treatment which destroys quality of life.

11. If bitten see a doctor ASAP and try to get 6-8 weeks of Doxycycline (adults) or Amoxicillin (children). If they won't give you that much, get at least 4 weeks worth.

12. If you get sick make sure you find a doctor willing to help you. Seek out support from friends, family and online support groups. There is always someone online who can talk to you!

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Useful Links:

Lyme Disease Challenge:

http://lymediseasechallenge.org/join-lyme-disease-challenge/

About Lyme:

http://www.ilads.org/lyme/about-lyme.php

How to remove a tick:

https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/ticks/tick-removal/

Chronic Lyme disease:

https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/lyme-disease/chronic-lyme-disease/

Find a Lyme literate doctor (LLMD) near you:

http://ilads.org/ilads_media/physician-referral/

Link to ILADS Treatment Guidelines:

http://www.ilads.org/lyme/treatment-guideline.php

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To see Photos of a Tick Bite and how the tick compares to a Penny in size click here:
https://imgur.com/a/pDHgE2A