Lyme disease by itself, caught early, is generally easily treatable. 14 days of antibiotics – 14 more if symptoms persist. That should do it!

But Lyme is rarely just Lyme. When it’s also bartonella, babesia, ehrlichiosis, brucella and any of the dozens of other tick borne diseases – it becomes trickier to diagnose, and harder to treat.

ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Disease Society) trains doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of tick borne diseases.

But that’s not all they need to know. A subset of patients (like me) end up not responding to treatment and developing so many other conditions that it becomes a game of whack a mole treating all of the rotating symptoms and conditions that can come into play. Mast cell activation syndrome. Postural orthostatic tachycardia. Cervical instability. Ehrlers-danlos Syndrome. Parkinsons. Multiple Sclerosis. Lyme carditis. Lyme rage. Psychosis. Digestive distress / gastroparesis. Chronic UTI’s. Chronic Inflammatpey Response Syndrome. Multiple viral infections. Parasites. Heavy metal and/or mold toxicity. Autonomic System Dysfunction.

And the newest one I’m just learning about – Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

As a patient, it’s frustrating as hell to be constantly battling something new. I get discouraged. I feel hopeless at times.

And my doctor feels it too. He wants the win. Easier patients would see a continual improvement of symptoms.

I challenge him. Now I’ve got this. Or that. We can’t even try to address the infections because we have to manage symptoms and the other issues the infections ‘inspire’.

I’m so thankful for a doctor who doesn’t give up on me. I’m so thankful that my family supports the effort. We keep trying because the other option isn’t really an option.

Through it all:

God is still God.

Good is still good.

To Him be the glory.