Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease
When I was finally tested for Lyme in January, I was honestly relieved when the results came back positive. After 5 years of chronic gut disorders, mental health illness, allergies, hormonal imbalances, and so many other random diagnoses, I finally had an answer. I thought that this meant it was over, that it was only uphill from there. But damn, I was wrong. No one really warns you that actually treating Lyme is only the beginning. Detoxing your body from this disease is far worse than all of the previous years of being sick combined. And it’s NEVER just Lyme. It’s autoimmune diseases, mast cell activation, mold toxicity, neurological disorders, and so much more. They don’t warn you that when you treat the Lyme, these other underlying illnesses will wreak havoc on every bodily system. You’ll become susceptible to even more diseases, reactive to almost everything, and your immune system will be absolutely annihilated. You’ll experience new symptoms you never have before and every time you take one step forward, expect to take two steps back. They don’t tell you that although you’re 25, most days you’ll feel like you’re 75. One day you’ll feel great, and the very next you’ll feel horrible. Some days you won’t even look like yourself, and you sure as hell won’t feel like yourself.
And all I can think about is why was this not discovered sooner. If I had known that my symptoms were actually related, I would’ve rushed my ass to the doctor to get tested and treated. But unfortunately that’s rarely the case with this disease, because it’s so misunderstood and so often overlooked. And it’s why when the majority of people who are diagnosed have already reached the state of it being chronic, which is when a round of antibiotics and supplements will no longer do the trick.
I’m sharing this because I wish I could’ve read a post like this years ago. And I really freaking hope that a simple post and infographic like this will help someone else find the answer they’ve been looking for. So please, if you’ve been experiencing chronic health issues for awhile that are seemingly unrelated, talk to your doctor and get tested immediately. I’m so passionate about sharing this topic because it literally would’ve saved me if I had known more about it in the past, so I hope more than anything that someone else will read this and find their answers much sooner. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it forever - if you know something isn’t right in your body, trust it. Continue to advocate for yourself until you find an answer, because you know your body and yourself better than any doctor ever will. Do not give up on yourself, because your health is the most important thing in the entire world and is something that should never ever ever be taken for granted.
And if someone you know and love also has this disease, please educate yourself on how damaging and complex it truly is. I know that I’m not alone when I say that it can be really overwhelming, frustrating, and even isolating at times, so offer your support in any way that you can. Continue to spread awareness as much as possible, because you never know who will be listening and can get the help they need much sooner.
Now without further ado, here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of Chronic Lyme Disease:
