Lyme Disease Activism

I need to pay it forward. So my new mission in life is to educate people about Lyme Disease. If I can save one person, it will be worth this silly blog, and the dollars spent to mail out this letter. I recently donated $1,000 to Open Eye Pictures who created the amazing Under Our Skin feature-length film.

As a result of my donation, I received five copies of the DVD. As a way to pay it forward, I plan to share these DVD copies with family and friends for the next year until I give Open Eye another donation, where I feel I can forward more copies of these DVDs. I want to pay my education and enlightenment forward. Thank you to Open Eye Pictures, to the light you shed on Lyme Disease, and so many other plights that our beloved country has to "not" face every day.

My open letter to the recipients of these DVDs...

October 21, 2010

I’m sorry for the generic letter but I have plans to send this DVD to many friends and family members over the next year. And this is the best way to proclaim my message to all of the potential recipients.

You’ve received this DVD because I need you to know that I have been diagnosed with Lyme Disease. My journey to this point has been long, arduous, and just a little bit scary. I have had a laundry list of very random symptoms for many years in my life. Just to name a few, I’ve suffered from:

·         chronic sinus infections

·         insomnia, where I literally do not sleep for several nights in a row before I pass out in the middle of the afternoon from sheer body breakdown

·         early-onset arthritis in my hands, knees, ankles

·         muscle tremors, mostly in my fingers and feet

·         restless leg syndrome

·         carpel tunnel syndrome

·         anxiety attacks

·         heart palpitations

·         debilitating exhaustion, thankfully only short stints of 1-2 days at a time

·         depression

·         extreme mood swings, including very short temper at times

·         two-year-stint of “dandruff” marked by scalp flaking and un-describable itch

·         night sweats that cause me to change my clothes 3 times per night and move to the sofa

·         vertigo and dizziness that make me walk into walls and furniture causing bruises

·         brain fog, where I don’t remember things I remembered just an hour before (“senior moments” at 35-36-37 years old)

·         floaters in eyes and chronic dry eye

As it turns out, all of these symptoms have been due to Lyme Disease.

I’ve been to many Doctors over the years, religiously keeping my annual appointments. I’ve been to several different Specialists, getting prescribed allergy shots, ENT treatments, counseling, and many MANY prescriptions.

I have (or “had” because I stopped taking or refused to take) two cabinets full of prescriptions that were given to me, at a very great financial cost. The funny thing is, I walked out of most Doc offices with wonderful FREE samples in a big fancy plastic bag. How nice of them, right? Not so much, as it turns out some of the free drugs I got have since been pulled from the market…

Moreover, the NEW drugs on the market (aka, those free samples) are extremely expensive. I don’t know about you, buy my deductable is $2,500 per year. That includes me and my Daughter for medical appointments and prescriptions. Unless we have a surgery in any given year, I would think it would take a long time to hit the $2,500 deductable. And it used to. But now, it really doesn’t take long to rack up $2,500 in charges when some of these prescription drugs are $20 or even $60 per PILL! And if you get a 10-day supply, you can understand when we reached our deductable in APRIL of 2010 (with absolutely zero surgeries or hospital stays). One of the prescription ear drops that Isabelle was given by the ENT was $240 for a 3-day supply (and no, I’m not joking).

Anyway, I went to special Doctors to treat my special symptoms, never realizing that each symptom may possibly be something more underlying. I never realized that maybe all of these weird things going on in my body may possibly be…ummmm…connected?

I never realized it, because my Doctors never, ever, once, even suggested it. Even though I told every Doctor all of my symptoms, all of my Medical History. How many hours did I spend filling out those blasted forms in all the new Doc offices, giving my complete history, listing all of my recent complaints, only to realize they would never feed them into any computer, never talk to me about those “other” symptoms, because I was only there to treat my ONE symtpom……(skin, nose, sinuses, heart, mind, spirit, etc.).

A small subset of my prescriptions (all at the same time, each Doc knowing I was on the other “stuff”)  in my house include:

·         3 anti-depressants ( from Primary Care, GYN, OB)

·         2 anti-anxiety pills (from Primary Care, Counselor)

·         beta-blocker (which acts as yet another anti-anxiety drug, from my Primary Care)

·         chemical shampoo (for the dandruff, from my Dermatologist)

·         prescription-strength pain killers (from my Primary Care)

·         prescription-strength anti-inflammatory (from Primary Care)

·         antibiotics (multiple rounds, from Primary Care, ENT)

·         steroids (multiple rounds, from Primary Care, emergency clinic, ENT)

·         nasal spray steroids (from Primary Care, ENT)

·         eye drops (from Eye Doc)

·         anti-fungal (from Primary Care, GYN)

·         hormones (b/c I was peri-menopausal at 35, from my GYN)

Needless to say, I was frustrated, confused as hell, and still feeling pretty sick.

But, therein lies the problem, was I sick? Every Doctor I had visited told me that I was just “too stressed”. They told me that it was “all in my head” and I just needed to exercise more (which I totally admit that I DO need to do). But, it was hard to get motivated to exercise when my joints hurt, my muscles were weak, my mood was crappy, I was Depressed, and I had a beautiful three-year-old baby girl who wanted to play Dollhouse with me. I just didn’t have the energy for all of it.

And poor Ed, we won’t even go into that, but the guy is a-m-a-z-i-n-g for putting up with this %#^%#$#&^ for so long . He’s very supportive, he came with me to one of my first Doc appointments after getting the LD diagnosis, and he understands what I am up against. What he probably doesn’t realize is that a lot of my “issues” (mostly mental) over the years have most likely been from Lyme Disease.

Now, all this stuff outlined here sounds scary, but I am doing very well. Considering what some of my friends (with Lyme Disease) are going through, I am doing very well, and have had pretty minimal side effects (from the treatments).

I am keeping my mind strong, and I am determined to fight this thing with every ounce of my being. But part of fighting this Disease, is making sure that I’m helping others. I need to educate other people, and support families who are suffering. That is why you have received this DVD. You may have received a hand-written note with a specific target to why you received it. Please take the time to watch the DVD. If you feel anyone in your family needs more information on this Disease, invite them over to watch the DVD. Take your time in getting it back to me, but I do need it back eventually, so don’t take forever J.

I have a long list of people that need to receive this same DVD after you, so please make time to watch it with friends and family and mail it back to me in the pre-paid envelope. This DVD will get mailed to another family who I think needs to see its message.

I hope you don’t think I’m preaching to anyone. I just want you to know that I am battling LD, and that I’ve taken on a new mission in my life to help educate the masses in learning about and fighting this Disease. Don’t be surprised if you see me on C-SPAN one day, talking to the Feds about this thing, because I have already been talking to some pretty big activist groups. Even if I get out of this un-scathed, I’m worried about the future, I’m worried about my Daughter, and I’m worried about the United States as a whole. It’s not just Lyme Disease either, there are a ton of bacteria and super-bugs out there just lying and waiting to infect us under our skin.

Thanks for listening to my diatribe. Thanks for watching the DVD. Thanks for sharing the DVD with your family and friends. Watch for updates on Lyme Disease on my blog, if you’re interested. One of my more interesting, entertaining, and disturbing posts is linked below describing my “night music”:

http://thesymptomsofme.blogspot.com/2010/09/night-music.html

Lyme Disease Support Group

My friend, Jamie, invited me to join her informal Lyme Disease support group after I was diagnosed. The group meets the first Tuesday of each month for dinner and discussion. There are six women so far, maybe more in the future as we meet more people. It's a fantastic outlet to vent your frustrations, discuss what phase of treatment we are in, share the various medications and supplements that we have been on, and most importantly, the various Herxheimer reactions that the individuals have experienced.

Since I'm just starting my treatment, it's important to me to know the possibilities out there. I know everyone's herx is different, but knowledge is power and I can't get my hands on enough information. This group has provided a much-needed outlet and sounding board.

I have plans to do some outreach in the next year, I've been researching various support groups, non-profit research organizations, etc. to see what volunteer options there might be. For some very odd reason (to me), there aren't a lot of events in Maryland to get the word out about Lyme, so I'm hoping to change that. I think it will help me stay focused on something positive, as I go through the highs and lows of what is sure to be a long and difficult road to health.

Lyme Disease Treatment Begins

I started taking my Doxycycline today. Three 50-mg pills daily with food. The herxes should begin on Day 4-5 typically which might land me in bed all weekend. I have several friends now with varying degrees of Chronic Lyme. Everyone's herx story is different. Some are in bed for a week or more, some are just really tired and take naps in the afternoon to get through. Many fall somewhere in between.

I'll try to post on a regular basis as I begin these herxes and list out my side effects.

Lyme Disease Has a Name

I updated the name of my Blog today. It started off called simply "The Symptoms" (cue The Simpsons theme song in the background).

But that was before I was diagnosed. Now that I know the name of my predator, I've renamed my Blog accordingly. Hoping more people with Lyme Disease will find me now.

Lyme Disease Research

My research into Lyme Disease began about four months ago, after a close friend was diagnosed. When I saw how sick she was, I realized that I probably didn't know everything about Lyme Disease that I thought I did. And to be honest, I'm not really sure what I "thought" I knew anyway. All I knew is that a few people have had it over the years, they take an antibiotic for a few weeks and they are fine. My friend's case was something totally different. So I needed to know.

It started the night she invited me to attend the Lyme Disease Info Session in our town back in May. I wanted to know more about LD so I could protect my own family, most importantly my young daughter. The outcome of that Info Session has led me on several months of internet research, and reading several books which I'd like to share because they were helpful to me.

If you have other books to suggest, please drop a comment. My bookshelf is never too full!

Cure Unknown, Pamela Weintraub

Pamela Weintraub's Cure Unknown was a perfect jumping off point in my research. The organizers of the Lyme Disease info session I attended highly recommended Ms. Weintraub's book which I ran out to purchase immediately. After reading this book, you will be more educated about Lyme Disease than most Doctors in our country (except for the fantastic LLMD's out there, if you can find one).

If you are unfortunate enough to actually have Lyme Disease, this book is best read in small portions. It can be overwhelming at times because of the conundrum that Lyme Disease sufferers find themselves in when battling the medical and health insurance communities.

But a warning. Whether or not you have Lyme Disease, if you read this book, it will make you never want to step foot outside again. Even your own backyard will become a dark and sinister place. When you're facing a predator that's the size of a freckle, it can make you feel as small as a grain of sand.

Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Germ Laboratory, Michael Christopher Carroll

After finishing Cure Unknown, I lent the book to a friend and went on a search for my next book. I just purchased and started reading Michael Christopher Carroll's Lab 257 : The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Germ Laboratory which is by far, much scarier than Cure Unknown. If you have any pent-up resentments toward the Federal Government, and if you think they are most likely not telling citizens the 'whole truth and nothing but the truth', and you want further reason to be incensed, grab a copy of Lab 257 today. If you suffer with Lyme Disease, it's a must read. I truly believe that I will beat this damn Disease with 2% medication/supplements and 98% grit and determination. For me, I need to be pissed off in order to fight, so I thank you, Michael Christopher Carroll, for giving me the fuel to make me fight Lyme Disease harder. I'm only 1/3 of the way through the book right now but I plan on plowing through the rest this weekend. It's a page turner that will leave your jaw dropped open.

Night Music

One of the strangest, and frankly the scariest, random symptoms I've experienced over the past year or so is when I hear what I call my "Night Music". It sounds a little less scary when I call it that, and it calmed me down when I thought I was truly losing my mind.

I’ve had really bad insomnia for a while now, several years at least. It comes and goes with severity, usually a week on/week off. I have both kinds of insomnia, the kind where I can’t fall sleep and the other one where I fall asleep at a normal hour (sometimes even early) but then I wake up at 2am and am awake the rest of the night surfing really bad cable shows. The insomnia has gotten so bad at times that I used to record cable movies and talk shows during the day on my DVR so I would have something more interesting to watch at 3am when I was by myself in the loneliness a night full of sleeping neighbors and family members.

Sometimes I would just go sit in my daughter’s room and rock in the rocking chair and listen to her quiet breathing. I would silently pray to God to let me fall asleep, or I’d scream at him silently for the horrors that insomnia brings over time. Why me, God, why? Then I would turn myself around and thank him profusely for the sleeping beauty that was lying peacefully just a few feet in front of me, and realize that lack of sleep was nothing compared to what some people in this world have to endure. I still didn’t fall asleep after these coming-to-Jesus moments, but at least I went back to my solitary sofa with a more peaceful frame of mind.

I think the night music started sometime last year. I was suffering from yet another debilitating sinus infection where I could only breathe air into one side of my nose, my head felt like it was going to explode, my eyeballs felt like they were being pushed out of my skull, and my throat was raw from the gunk slipping down the back. I blamed my chronic sinus problems for my insomnia, as well as other symptoms. Like my “Night Music.”

The Night Music was the one symptom I never brought up to any of the Doctors I’ve seeked out for my varying symptoms. I was so incredibly afraid, terrified, that there was something seriously wrong with me. Brain tumor? Mental Illness? So many other things ran through my mind. I guess I should explain what my Night Music really sounds like.

When I’m lying in bed, trying desperately to clear my brain and meditate and pray to fall asleep, the house is quiet, my husband and daughter are sleeping and we have the whir of an air filter in our room as well as a small fan that my husband has on his side of the bed. So it’s quiet but there’s white noise. And then I hear my music start. It’s a muffled sound, like maybe someone left a radio on in another room down the hall. Or maybe my neighbor two doors down has music playing outside in their yard. Or maybe I’m completely going insane. At least that’s what I was absolutely, positively, desperately afraid of.

Most nights the music sounds like a symphony, or an orchestra. It’s typically classical music sounding. I can’t hear an exact song (i.e., Für Elise). And I can’t hear any words typically (except for the night I heard a Bruce Springsteen concert in the neighbors yard?). But the music is clear as day (or shall I say night?). I can actually hum the tune if I wanted to. If this music doesn’t exist, I thought, am I meant to be a song writer? Is God talking to me right now? Is he giving me some kind of CRAZY sign right now? No. There is just no way. I’m just plain crazy. And so I told nobody. Not my husband. And certainly none of my multiple Doctors.

Another very common music I hear is Carousel music. VERY annoying at 2am. I also get a little woozy since I can’t help but picture my daughter on said Carousel riding a funky outfitted Zebra as he leaps and bounds in a dizzying circle in front of me. I feel like I have to watch it to it’s completion so I can maybe get it out of my head? Kind of like when you get an annoying song stuck in your head and you try to “finish” the lyrics so you can definitively STOP the music?

Except it never works, and so I relegate myself to the couch for some good ole Cable programming. At least the Night Music will stop. Until tomorrow night anyway, when I have to go buy more tickets for the Carousel from Hell.

So now that I’ve been researching and studying Lyme Disease for the past few months, as I talk to my friend whose whole family has been plagued by the diagnosis and treatment cycles, and as I am now diagnosed with LD myself, I can finally talk about my Night Music. Now that I know I am not going to end up in a rubber room with a straight-jacket on, I can almost laugh at this seemingly innocuous symptom. Tinnitis move over, I have Night Music to lull me to sleep. And maybe I’ll just go out and buy one of those little pocket voice recorders and hum the tunes I hear. If I can find a way to translate them to real music, maybe I’ll be a musical virtuoso. Heck, it would help me pay my mounting medical bills.

From Phantom of the Opera’s “Music of the Night”. Music written by the great and almighty Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Charles Hart.

Softly, deftly, music shall caress you.

Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you.

Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind.

In this darkness that you know you cannot fight.

The darkness of the music of the night.

Anemia be damned

Another piece of my bloodwork that was interesting is that my H&H (hematocrit & hemoglobin) are back within normal range but my Iron Serum level was higher than the normal range (depending on who you ask for a normal range).

This lab lists 35-155 ug/dL for the normal range but I've seen online that other labs consider 60-170 being the norm. My Iron Serum came in at 169 which got flagged as high from this Lab where my bloodwork was processed. I'm hoping that is just from the four-month iron supplement I was on for my Anemia.

I'll find out more about that # next Wednesday when I have my follow-up appointment to review my bloodwork and discuss what supplements and medications I need to start for the Lyme.

At least it has a name, at least it has a name...I keep repeating this to myself when I start feeling depressed and overwhelmed by the months and years of recovery I have ahead.

D-Day

I received the results from my blood test in the mail today. I have to call my Doctor in the morning, his office was closed by the time I got around to opening my mail. Turns out I have Lyme Disease. My CD57 count was a low 44. Anything below the normal range of 60-360 is indicative of Lyme. I don't know how many bands I have, I'm hoping to get more info from the Doc tomorrow. He will most likely put me on a few supplements for a week or two before starting the first round of Doxy. I'm hoping I can knock this out quickly but I know from the experience of several friends currently suffering with Chronic Lyme, that it could be a long-term thing, months or even years.

I hope I'm up for the challenge. I'm pretty freaked out right now even if part of me is happy I have a diagnosis. And my new Doctor will treat my whole person, so I'm going to try to stay positive, even though I have a serious and longterm illness that I know will be a long road to tackle.

The Meds

So after seeing the Holistic doctor, here is what I'm taking the first month of treatment. I have a follow-up with the Doctor in 4 weeks to review my bloodwork and assess how I'm feeling:

1. Diflucan - anti-fungal medicine for one month, to be re-evaluated at my next visit. May have to continue. There is a Herxheimer Effect from Candida die-off which produces toxins in your body as the yeast dies. It makes you feel worse, before you feel better. Should be a fun month.

2. Omega-3/Fish Oil - Taking 2 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon.

3. ActivNutrients - A powerful multi-vitamin, 2 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon.

4. Vitamin D - pretty much everyone is VitD deficient these days so he put me on a supplement immediately until we get blood work back.

5. Probiotic Pearls - 1 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon. Basically everyone should be on Probiotics daily. Especially someone like me who has such massive stomach issues on a daily basis. I was "diagnosed" with Irritable Bowel Syndrome in High School and have suffered the consequences for 20 years. I've enjoyed a very normal schedule for the past few weeks since I started popping these little gems. (I started the Probiotics before I had my appointment with the Holistic Doctor.)

6. Trazadone - a happy pill, non-habit-forming, to help me sleep. And boy have I slept well. I fall asleep quickly. I did wake up a few nights, but I feel right back to sleep. It was fantastic. I can't remember the last time I had such a peaceful sleep through the night. This is a drug you have to build up to. You start with 1/2 pill for a week, then 1 nightly for a week, then 1.5, then 2. If I'm not sleeping well still, it can go as high as 4 per night, but I'm already seeing benefits from just 1/2 so I don't think I'll ever get as high as 4. I hate drugs, but I'm enjoying this one so far.

7. Iron Supplement - until I get the blood work back, I still have to continue my Iron Supplement to battle the Anemia. Once I get my Hematocrit and Hemoglobin levels back, I'll know if I can stop the Iron or if I have to continue taking it. The Doc might change my dosage if I'm still deficient.

So that's it for now. I go back to the Doc mid-October to check my bloodwork. I also sent in my hair sample this week. Had to cut large chunks of hair from the back of my head and cut off the last one-inch sample closest to my scalp (new growth) and pile it up on a scale until it tipped. It took a lot of hair to tip that scale. So now I am waiting for those results too. They test for heavy metal toxicity (mercury, lead, arsenic, iron, etc.). I'm almost afraid to hear the results.

Another step we're taking is getting an indoor air quality test and mold check in our house. Again, totally afraid of those results since we know this house had 4 feet of water in it after Hurricane Isabel in 2003. That was before we owned our house but the previous owner told us he did a "total rehab" after the flood. But that doesn't mean there is not still water damage and mold lurking in our walls.

My Symptoms

First, let me document my most annoying symptoms, the ones I've been visiting doctors for, for years...

1. Anemia - This is a new and short-term issue. I had a bad miscarriage in May 2010 and hemorrhaged badly. I called 911, lost consciousness on the way to the Hospital and almost had to get a transfusion. Thankfully that didn't happen but I was left with a very low Hematocrit and Hemoglobin (I think it was 8 and 25?), which left me in the "severe" Anemia range. I was supposed to go on an Iron Supplement (my OB told me any old OTC would do) and I would be fine. I wanted assurance that the Anemia was under control and she told me to go to "any doctor" and ask for a blood test in a few months. (thanks, doc, for thinking of me). 4 months later I still feel like crap, but only my recent blood work will tell if the Anemia is gone and I can stop taking these horrible Iron Supplements.
2. Sinus Infections (chronic) - I've had sinus infections for years and years, they have become a fact of life. Although now I"m reading they don't have to be. I went to an ENT, I started Allergy Shots, they weren't for me. All the allergy meds they put me on made me feel jittery and insane. I hated them all. I got nosebleeds from some. How is this helping??? My allergy shot regimen was 2x/week and it took me almost 2 hours roundtrip to do the shots. I just couldn't keep it up with the demands of my job, when the allergy center was only open 10-4 and closed for lunch. What????  How is that helping people? My Internist willingly wrote me multiple antibiotic 'scrips month after month without ever suggesting I go see a specialist. I had to ask him if he knew of one. Fat lot of good that did me. The ENT actually asked me if I was a regular Cocaine user. Offended, I told him simply, NO! He then (in so many words) told me he didn't believe me because he'd never seen such horrible nasal and sinus cavities other than regular drug users. I explained to him that not only have I NEVER used Cocaine, I've never even SEEN it in real life. I was so pissed, I walked out of his office and I haven't been back.
3. Insomnia - I've never been a good sleeper. I have both kinds of Insomnia. Trouble falling asleep. Trouble staying asleep. Sometimes I fall asleep at 9pm with a book in my lap, but I'm awake at 2am and never fall back to sleep. Other times, I go to bed at my normal time (11pm) and toss and turn until 2am when I finally get up, go to the sofa or guest room and either read or watch TV for the rest of the night. Sometimes I will sleep for 2 or so hours at the end of the morning but most nights like that, I'm just awake the whole night, never sleeping for one...single...minute.
4. Dandruff - My head has been itching for one solid year. Head & Shoulders, Denorex, other random "scalp itch" solutions found in the pharmacy. A talk with my Dermatologist gave me chemical shampoo (I decided not to join that bandwagon). I still itch. I still hope to find out what the hell is going on with my body. I'll never wear black again at this point, I'm paranoid.
5. Joint Pain - As mentioned before, I have to score my child's banana in the morning because I can't peel it by myself. My finger joints are just that stiff and swollen when I wake up. Reminder...I'm only 37 with no history of early onset arthritis. My parents are in their mid-60s with no arthritis to speak of other than normal aches and pains.
6. Vertigo - Ever feel like the world is spinning and you want to get off? That's what Vertigo feels like. Turn your head one way, and the whole room keeps on moving. Lay down in bed and feel like the bed is floating on an angry sea. Get up from a chair too fast and your upper body keeps on moving in that direction and you either fall over or you bump into a wall. I bump into a lot of walls. My family calls me clumsy but I'm actually a pretty coordinated person. Now I absolutely KNOW this is not just silly clumsiness. Something is wrong inside causing this. I always linked it to the sinus infections (fluid in the ears, etc.) but now I think it's much more and linked to some other health issues.

It doesn't seem like a lot, but if you've lived with these things chronically for many years, you would understand the agony. Any chronic illness, whether it's an incurable disease or a relatively minor inconvenience, any chronic illness will wear on a person's soul. It tears you apart emotionally and physically and eventually causes other issues which just exasperate the problem. I'm hoping to help people find true health by following my own journey. I'm not a medical professional by any means. I'm a 9-5 employee for an IT company. I have just been sickly for many years and I have a cabinet full of prescriptions that I'm ready to burn.

Here's to health and happiness!

Sinuses, Insomnia, and Stomach, Oh My!

I've started a new journey. I'm not traveling anywhere. Not starting a new job. I'm not pregnant. I've been happily married for almost 10 years. And I'm not switching religious or political affiliations. I'm searching for health. The kind of health where I wake up feeling, well.....? Healthy! The kind of health where I don't grunt and groan when I get out of bed, where I can peel my daughter's banana in the morning without having to grab a knife to help the job, where I'm not constantly scratching my head (literally) from long-term dandruff and flaky scalp, where I can breeeeeeeeathe free and clear. Health that refreshes me, and invigorates me, and makes me happy that I'm alive today.

For the past few years (I don't really remember when or how it started), I've been seeking out some answer to my aching question...what the hell is wrong with me? My list of symptoms is so long, I didn't even know where to begin. So I started to write them down in a journal. And that journal became a reason to go into a Depression because there was such a long list that started at the top of my head and ended at my pinky toe. So certainly, I must be dying of cancer that had spread throughout my body, or some other crazy Disease that only Doctor House (on FOX) would be able to diagnose.

I made appointments with everyone. My Primary Care Physician, my GYN, my Dermatologist, my Dentist, Eye Doctor, ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat), Allergist, you name it. I was researching sleep studies in my area when my girlfriend called to tell me she had Lyme Disease. Oh bummer, I thought. Then I talked to her more. And the symptoms she was experiencing, very much mimicked the ones I had myself. Her new Doctor was having an info session in our neighborhood in a few weeks, and my friend invited me to join her. I was intrigued. I thought Lyme Disease treatment was just a simple round of antibiotics for the cure. Boy was I wrong!

After the info session, learning about the gross mis-diagnosis of Lyme Disease in our country, and how the Medical community is in the pockets of the Pharmaceutical industry, I was disgusted enough to start investigating on my own. I started a rampant Internet search on various topics involving patient mistrust, malpractice, pharmaceutical research, CDC protocol, diagnostics in the medical community, and much more. I read, researched, read, researched, and read some more. I came to the clear conclusion that our Society is being duped by the "medical" community (and more grossly by the Pharma Industry). Granted, I'm at the very start of my journey, so I may reverse this decision later. I just want to document this very BIG step for me, because I need to be able to read through my milestones as I run through this. What are my symptoms now? What am I taking? What do I feel each week? What does my new Doctor change in my meds? How does that make me feel? I want to document it for me, and for all of you (probably nobody). But at least I have a record and a timestamp for myself.

This is my journey, towards a total body health...