Heyo. I (28F) got Lyme disease when I was 8 or so (so like...20 years ago, now!).

My mom says it took about 6 months after the tick bite for me to be diagnosed, despite the bull's-eye rash, because the doc kept saying I was just depressed from my parents divorcing at the time. She finally forced him to test me, and wowie, turns out I did indeed have it!

During the course of antibiotics, my dad was giving me a dose during visitation and he spilled the bottle. He cleaned it up and told me not to tell my mom. I did, in fact, tell my mom--years and years later. She was pissed--"What if you didn't get the full amount of antibiotics you were supposed to?!" Thanks, Pops.

So, anyway--I'm 28 now, and tired. I've been tired all my damn life. There were like...two years in college when I was energetic, but then I had a personal trauma and was tired again...and it's never stopped. I feel like it's getting worse, recently.

About the fatigue: I could talk forever on this topic, but let's just say that I don't think it's related to depression. I once thought it was, and depression contributed for a long time, but like...it just doesn't feel mentally-caused. Currently, I have a full-time job, which thankfully allows me to work from home in the afternoons. I usually work as hard as I can in the morning to get all work done, so I can just lie in bed in the afternoons. I don't do anything most evenings. Go to bed at 10 at the latest, usually 8. Might stay up 'til 1 a.m. once a month or so, but regret it the next day. Sometimes I'll go to events in the city, but only stay an hour or so, I'm too tired.

My point: I'm functioning, but like...not well. I'm not tied to my bed, I still hang out with friends, but like...so tired. So fucking tired.

Got my blood tested a year ago, with nothing unusual but high cholesterol (I'm slightly overweight). This included a Lyme test, because I was concerned, and apparently that came back negative. Need to get my blood tested again, but if they don't find anything again, like...what do I do? I have the papers for getting my bloodwork done again, but like...I've been procrastinating making an appointment. Because I'm FUCKING tired.

I just want to know why I'm tired. If it's not Lyme, and it's something that can be treated, great! Hallelujah! If it IS, however, due to complications from Lyme as a kid, and will thus never get better, like, I need to know that too. Because I'm frustrated. I'm frustrated that I never have energy to do the stuff I want or need to do, and if this is going to be forever, I want to know that so I can come to accept it and live with it. (Would also like to get work accommodations.) But until I get a definitive that it's not going to get better, then by God, I want to do whatever I can to get better!

Anyway, anyone have any advice? What kind of doctor should I go see? How can I rule Lyme in or out? What are good resources? I know about chronic Lyme, but I doubt I have that, it's been so long--I figure it's just complications from Lyme, not a continuation of Lyme. Anyway, yeah...many thanks.