TOUCHED BY LYME: “Why I stopped hiding my illness”

Guest blogger Sarah Israel tells why, after 10 years of silence, she started speaking up about Lyme disease.

By guest blogger Sarah Israel

Last year, after being sick for over 10 years, I began sharing about my disease. I am a private person and until last May, I only gave specifics of my illnesses to those closest to me. I did it to protect myself. But mostly, I now believe I did it because of my pride.

I have always taken very good care of my physical-self, working out and eating healthy. Having people know that I was sick embarrassed me. Plus, many of my diagnoses and the treatments that come with them are topics that do not belong in civilized conversation. It was never something I was comfortable sharing.

Every few years I would get a handful of diagnoses and begin treatment, but I was still sick despite my multiple doctors’ best efforts. Finally, in June of 2012, I was diagnosed by one of the leading Lyme Literate Medical Doctors (LLMD), as having Late Stage Chronic Lyme Disease and several co-infections, including Babesiosis and Bartonella.

This diagnosis of Late Stage Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD) was like an umbrella–it covered every single illness I had ever been diagnosed with (see list below). CLD is known as “The Great Imitator” for mimicking over 300 diseases such as MS, ALS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Rheumatoid Arthritis, to name a few.

Here is a list of the diagnoses I received over my lifetime that were caused by CLD:

Malignant Brain Tumor
Mononeuritis Multiplex

Neuroborreliosis
Fibromyalgia
Idiopathic Hypersomnia
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Dysautonomia
Hypothyroidism/Hyperthyroidism
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Fibrocystic Breast Disorder
Complex Ovarian Cysts
Endometriosis
2 Abdominal Hernias
Vestibulitis
Interstitial Cystitis
Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction (High Tone, Rated: Severe)
Pelvic Congestion
Tumors in Pelvic Floor
Appendix Stones
Kidney Stones
Arthritis: Left SI joint and Left Knee
Narrowing of both SI Joints
Abnormality in Cervical Spine
Coccydynia
Anxiety/Depression
Non-Epileptic Seizures
Pain Induced Panic Attacks
Severe Muscle Spasms
Acute Paralysis
Speech Paralysis
Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

More at this link: https://www.lymedisease.org/sarah-israel-2/

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Dear RM Agents and Readers,

As far as I go; I never had the energy to go to that many doctors; I just figured it was beyond them and up to me. This lady explains what many of us have had as far as symptoms and the dark road it takes you down.

Very good info for both those affected and those who may know someone affected.

Many Blessings,
CrystalRiver