No IV!

Good news from the doctor appt!! Apparently the pain I'm experiencing sounds like its good pain! (Lyme die-off: Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction) That's the same thing they thought when I was on the last medication (which didn't work - it was actually me getting worse) so I'm paying close attention to how I feel this month. At my appointment next month they'll evaluate how I'm doing on the doxycycline and if I need an IV installed. Pray the Doxy is really working!!!!

[Oh, and I've been on treatment for 15 WEEKS ALREADY. Doesn't time fly?!]

The day is coming . . .

Just thought I'd update you quickly on what I'm up against this week.
My doctor appt is on Tuesday... about 5.5 days from now. It is a very important appointment, as there is a fairly good chance I'll leave with an IV in my arm which will stay there for a very long time. It all depends on how much or how little I've improved in the last month. Right now I'm not even sure how I'm doing, but I can tell you that it is not good.
Please be in prayer that I would clearly be able to tell how I'm feeling and that the decision would be made clear to the doctor and nurses involved in making the decision. And pray for God's will to be done, whatever the decision, and that I would be acceptant of it.

***IMPORTANT*** Bad News...

I just went to the doctor this morning (third visit so far). I've been on my meds for 10 weeks, but it turns out they're not helping. The pain I've been experiencing is from the Lyme getting worse, not dying off. So I'm switching to a different kind of antibiotic (doxycycline) for 4 weeks (until my next appt) hoping it'll help me to actually get better. If I don't show signs of improvement in those 4 weeks, there's a good change I'll have to start on IV antibiotics. This would include a permanent IV port (with a catheter always in my vein - 24/7) for as long as it's needed.

I really need your prayers right now as I'm really discouraged and fighting depression. My level of disability is extremely severe - it's difficult to walk or stand because of the pain, I am unable to wake up in the morning ("excessive nightime sleep" is the symptom - it has made me sleep through my alarm almost every day and I have been late for several things), I have become fairly bipolar and go into hysterics regularly, I have no appetite, My speech impediments and dyslexia have become almost unmanageable, and my typing, writing, speaking, spelling, and word recall skills are almost non-existent (All of the above are probably down to a 7th grade level). School starts on Monday, so I'm fairly nervous that I won't do well because of my level of disability. Again, please pray for me!!!

Day 2..............or Day 42???

Yesterday was the day my original appointment with the specialist was supposed to be: July 22. But today marks the sixth week I've been on treatment and I've already had one follow-up appointment. God is so good! I've taken so many pills (164 HUGE ceftin pills [antibiotics] to be exact, plus probiotics and other meds) that I never want to see another one again, but alas, this is only the beginning. I was feeling better, well, and even normal for the first three weeks on the meds but three weeks ago I started to get very sick. I am suffering from the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction occurs when large quantities of toxins are released (back) into the body as the Lyme bacteria die, due to antibiotic treatment. Typically the death of these bacteria and the associated release of endotoxins occurs faster than the body can remove the toxins via the natural detoxification process performed by the kidneys and liver. It is manifested by fever, chills, headache, myalgia (muscle pain), and exacerbation of skin lesions. The duration with Lyme disease (for someone with my severity) is normally four to six weeks (I am three weeks into mine). The intensity of the reaction reflects the intensity of inflammation present. (Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herxheimer_reaction) My symptoms include fever, flu like symptoms, dizziness, nausea, chills, headaches, migraines, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, more severe eyesight problems, severe muscle pain, severe joint pain, severe bone pain, tremors, dyslexia, severe stuttering and speech problems, virtually no word recall, paranoia/irrational fears, exhaustion/lethargy, depression, and extreme introversion. These symptoms are much worse than they have been in a long time; since the beginning of 2008, actually. I can't decide if they're worse or not. In any case, I'm extremely uncomfortable. I could have three weeks left to suffer (or more), but after that I should start improving. However, I will likely relapse every four weeks (approximately) for two or three days, which is normal. BUT I will be getting better!! I have already started to see some improvements in certain symptoms! :)

I am continuing to ask for your prayers as it is most definitely not an enjoyable experience being this sick. I have had to take a lot of time off of work, can't do much of anything, and can barely even leave my house. I will update you all as soon as I start feeling better. Thank you so much for praying for me! God bless you all!! <3

Post Dr. Appt

My doctor appt went very well! I was told that everything that is happening is "normal." But I was also told that the sickness I am experiencing [the one I was supposed to get right when I started my meds] could last for up to 4 more weeks :/ ...And right now I am too sick and weak to stand up for more than a second. I will really need your prayers over the next few weeks!

Month 1 Update

Yesterday marked the completion of one month on treatment. The first three weeks or so went great! I was in almost no pain, energetic, and almost felt normal. But the past week and half or so has brought me exhaustion, sickness, pain, on and off partial blindness, and frustration. I guess, with the treatment, Lyme is an on and off kind of thing. So I can only pray that for the most part, it's off! I have my first follow-up appointment on Tuesday at 0930, so I hope that will also give me some answers. I am feeling fine so far today; usually the brunt of the pain starts in the evening. So please keep me in your prayers as I am finding out so much more about my condition and trying to juggle my life around, never knowing how I'm going to feel and when. Thanks! <3

E n e r g y = < 3

Well, today is day 18 of treatment! I feel pretty great! I have a lot of energy for the first time in FOREVER!!! I feel like I'm 17 again :) I still have some eyesight problems and some bad pain, but in general I feel a lot better! I think I'm sick right now, though, so I'll update you all more later.