TGIF is probably one of the most overused acronyms, and in my opinion doesn't apply to a Lymie. When the rest of the world is "getting ready to go out," I am trying to relax on my couch with a remote in my hand doing endless IVs watching the drip rate like a nurse. Plus, let's not forget that if your symptoms and/or pain is flaring up it's because of the new moon! Well, you aren't going crazy, you can just blame the moon for ruining your Friday night. It looks like another movie night or catching up on some TV. I know other people might think this doesn't sound so bad. Do you know how many times I hear, "You get to relax, while I had a week full of endless stress!" Let's not even begin to compare a "normal" person to someone who is fighting a chronic illness. That's just WRONG on every level!
Lyme is an invisible illness. Lyme, is known as "The Great Imitator," because it mimics so many common diseases such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, alzheimer's, and even parkinson's! Even though every Lymie's case might be different, there are often common symptoms that Lymies share like joint pain, brain fog, insomnia, encephalopathy, "fibromyalgia" pain, headaches that resemble migraines, excessive sleep, and lethargy. This is why it is often very easy to form friendships online through social media with other Lymies! As soon as you find someone who is similar to you, FINALLY you feel you are not alone anymore in this crazy Lyme world. So on a Friday night when you feel all alone, send a text message, Facebook chat, Skype, or even call one of your Lymies!
It's almost as if Lymies are their own unique chocolate, sugar-free of course because spirochetes LOVE sugar, in a big box of assorted Russell Stover chocolates. Remember, as Forest Gump said, "life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get!" It's true though, when you get diagnosed with Lyme, do you know what your tick will carry? We wish we could choose a tick without any co-infections, but that is rare. It's bad enough that approximately 30 percent of people bitten by ticks carrying Lyme NEVER get the typical "bull's eye rash" and forget about being tested for Lyme because the Western Blot is often inaccurate! If anything, when you compare symptoms with other Lymies, you sound like you are ordering off a menu. "Yeah, I'll have a #1: a tick with Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia, and Mycoplasma neumoniae vs. a #2: a tick with Lyme, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesia, and Bartonella. Do you see how many different combinations there could be with just one tiny bite?! It's absolutely CRAZY! Let's not forget about parasites and yeast!
What isn't fair is how symptoms vary drastically among Lymies, specifically pain. For example, I can't handle herbals, homeopathic remedies, and most pain killers except a pain patch, which is barely doing it's due diligence these days. It truly boggles my mind how the same disease can debilitate some people and others can have minimal symptoms. Is this fair? Of course not! What's worse is that some Lymie's are able to go out and push themselves to do things and be normal for a few hours, days, or even weeks. Yes, every Lymie deserves that moment when his/her symptoms are at bay to "live in the moment" and "live it up!" The sad Lyme reality is that every Lymie is different, making Lyme Disease "so special" and extremely frustrating!
