So what is Lyme disease? Can I be cured?

Lyme disease is a potentially deadly bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi which is transmitted to humans by a tick bite. Once in our systems, the bacteria can affect the whole body. If treated early enough, Lyme disease can sometimes be cured with a 3 - 12 weeks course of antibiotics, however, if left undiagnosed (as I was for 14 years) or untreated there is NO CURE and very little treatment available. Untreated or undiagnosed Lyme is known as Chronic Lyme disease or Late Stage Lyme disease.

CHRONIC LYME DISEASE OR LATE STAGE LYME DISEASE CANNOT BE CURED WITH A COURSE OF ANTIBIOTICS, IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT.  THE BACTERIA HAVE NOW TAKEN UP RESIDENCE WITHIN CELLS, TISSUES AND ORGANS WHERE THE ANTIBIOTICS CANNOT REACH!!!

I have been a chronic Lyme sufferer now since 2001. People like me usually become their own guinea pigs and/or seek private medical help/treatment (often abroad), as unfortunately there is NO TREATMENT what-so-ever available on the NHS for Chronic Lyme disease. Life can be unbareable living with the condition and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Ticks also carry other nasty infections known as co-infections such as Babesia, Bartonella, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Q Fever, Rickettsia and Mycoplasma.

Unfortunately, here in the UK at the moment we do not have a reliable testing system for Lyme disease, therefore, diagnosis should really be based on symptoms and of course if a bulls-eye rash appeares then this is proof in itself!  Most U.K. doctors  are not trained in any way with regards to Lyme disease at this moment!  NOT GOOD!

Lyme disease bacteria drill through tissue, cells and organs. They are corkscrew in shape and known as spirochetes.

Contrary to popular belief, Lyme disease is very common, it's just also very common for it to be mis-diagnosed. Could you be living with it?????

What are the initial symptoms?

In the first few weeks or months following a bite from an infected tick, the initial symptoms that may appear include a bulls-eye rash (although not everyone gets one, I didn't), flu-like symptoms such as fatigue (which generally become severe to the point of being bed-ridden as I was for years), chills, fever, sore throat, achiness, stiff neck and swollen lymph nodes (I had all these symptoms and more throughout the illness. In amongst these symptoms, an infected persons will generally develop sore burning sensations in their feet (I found it difficult to walk or wear shoes, this comes and goes as do all the symptoms), muscle and joint pain, spontaneous muscle twitching and a "falling-over/tipping-up" feeling may manifest at random times, also, prickling sensations, as well as numbness may also be experienced and a crawling feeling under the skin is common aswell (that's the bacteria/spirochetes swimming around our blood stream and burrowing into our tissues). Neurological problems such as brain fog, facial paralysis (Bell's palsy) may also occur, in addition to encephalitis and cognitive dysfunction, such as short-term memory loss. Panic attacks, anxiety, or depression can also set in.  There is a high suicide rate amongst Lyme sufferes!

Symptoms can start quickly or take their time, everyone is different.

Symptoms may come and go from day to day, hour to hour or minute to minute (forget about making plans, you'll probably have to cancel)

LYME DISEASE IS SO UNPREDICTABLE!!!  IT IS AWFUL TO LIVE WITH!

Other symptoms

• Rash at bite site or other areas
• Headaches
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sore throat
• Swelling around the eyes
• Buzzing, ringing or ear pain
• Difficulty eating
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Stabbing sensations
• Dizziness
• Personality changes
• Mood swings
• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating or reading
• Trouble speaking
• Disorientation
• Eyelid/facial twitching or Bell's Palsy
• Joint pain and swelling
• Sore feet
• Excessive sleeping
• Cough, shortness of breath
• Unexplained sweats
• Severe fatigue
• Chest plain/heart palpitations
• Cardiac irregularity
• Double/blurry vision, pain or floaters
• Photophobia (abnormal aversion to bright light)
• Hair loss
• Air hunger

There are thousands of people in this country now with Lyme Disease. Lots of their stories are similar. Each and everyone's life has been turned upside down by their struggle with the disease. Some sufferers are bed-ridden, some have had heart attacks, some have died! Lyme Disease can be the trigger for lots of nasty illnesses within our bodies to spring into action. It's that dangerous! Lyme can also be mistaken for other serious illnesses like Althzeimers, MS, fibromyalgia, ME, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinsons and more than 350 other diseases.