A Battle Against Lyme Disease

this is a blog about a student nurse's battle with lyme.

[stupidityismyjobsecurity]

I reach for non-existant cargo pockets when wearing civilian clothes

[lymefighter]

I do this all the time! Oops not in scrubs!

[lymegreen]

*posts studies about what cognitive problems Lyme can cause…. Can’t read it because my brain won’t comprehend it.*

[musehorse]

“Since Lyme Disease is just a myth, can I have a unicorn too?”

Very few people are fortunate enough to pursue diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Disease without encountering some variation of the “Lyme is a myth!” line. 

I’ve had Lyme disease since ‘09 and just getting diagnosed and treated has been a huge struggle.  There is a huge need for education and awareness.  I can’t do a lot of serious activism but I launched this t-shirt campaign, because I hope wearing this shirt will be a lighthearted conversation starter. People need to know that Lyme does exist, all over North America, and almost every other part of the world.

If this shirt gets fifteen preorders by February 8th it will be printed.  They’re just $10 each, screenprinted on Hanes tagless 100% cotton shirts.  The shirts are very nice but will shrink in the wash, so make sure to order a larger size!

To order one of the shirts, go here:

Lyme Mythology campaign on Teespring

For more information on Lyme Disease, please visit the following sites:

International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society

Lyme Disease Association

Lyme Disease Network

[lymefighter]

This is awesome!!

[lymefighter]

Change

So now that I am done with school I am going to try to lose this 50 lbs to get back to a healthy weight! I have worked on my diet and tomorrow I start bikram yoga! I am hoping this helps and that the heat helps to detox these spirochetes out of hiding and out of my body!! Wish me luck!

[lymefighter]

Well folks.....

It's official I have made it through nursing school while battling Lyme disease! When I was diagnosed in may I was not sure I could make it through my last semester but I did! It was tougher but I pushed through! My pinning ceremony was last night my whole family and n was there cheering me on and I was so damn proud of myself! I can not believe it is over but now on to studying for the nclex!

[lymefighter]

Four lectures left almost nclex time!!!

So what I have decided to do is make a list of everything I am not confident and maybe make some lists or concept maps for those and then questions questions questions... I hope this is enough! I'm so nervous!! I feel like i know nothing from fundamentals...

[blahandwhatnot]

She told me that her tip for new grads on making it through their first year of licensure if they’re feeling bad/down/discouraged:

Go to the bank, get a whole month’s paycheck in CASH $10 bills. Spread it out on your bed at home and just remind yourself that: I make more than most people do in a...

[lymefighter]

great advice I am graduating in Dec and i am scared shitless

[lymefighter]

So close!

So folks!!! I have two tests a final, five lectures left!!! And I started tindamax today for cyst busting so close to the end of all of this! Only 42 days until my pinning ceremony!! The light is at the end of the tunnel!

[luauh]

[lymefighter]

Got my iPhone 5 so pumped!!

[lymefighter]

Sim lab again today, i was primary and i practically killed my pt, im thinking about a career change...gah! Not helpful at all idk what to do i am mortified that i will be graduating in a few months and i have absolutly no idea what i am doing!!! Ok maybe i do just not under times of stress!

[lymefighter]

Sim lab

So today i am at a sim lab for nursing school we are writing a whole bunch of stuff down and my right hand(dominate) it feels like it is filled with little knives i just wanna cry and no one here can understand my pain! I just wanna stop writing (typing is not bothering it weird!) Oh on another note! I am getting an iphone 5 so pumped must treat myself to something...

[lymefighter]

I would like to hear for anyone who knows anything about pregnancy and lyme? I really want a child but im not sure with the lyme....i just want to hear other opinions on the thought....

[lymefighter]

long week!

So i Started classes this week and had to take the whole week off from work. Pure craziness. So this semester we have our psych rotation, very tough learning about mental health when the lyme makes me feel crazy all to often. I got extremely anxious during our orientation today. i hope this semester will go well. I am very nervous to test and i have been great at retaining info in the past all i have to do is actively listen, except this semester is so different now that i am in treatment... I Have faith it will be ok. I took a math quiz and felt as if i did terrible and i did not understand the test, i did not finish as fast as usual. I came out feeling like Lyme would take my dream away.... Well everyone else came out and felt the same way!! it was just a terrible test! I was pumped!

On other news I said good bye to summer by climbing a MOUNTAIN!!!! A real mountain it was MT Monadnock in NH. I had a break down on the mountain i had fears i would not be able to get off. N and I were terribly sore for the next few days but we did it!

but overall my lyme symptoms have not been that bad this week except the anxiety. OH YEAH! i can now make it though a 2 1/2 hour lecture with out sleeping!! pretty be accomplishment for me, plus no napping in the afternoon   

[diariesofabuggygirl]

You know your chronically ill when you hype up for a shower like most would a football game…

[lymefighter]

this is very true (the commitment of having to still get the shampoo out of your hair.)

[lymefighter]

Exercise

so  i have been feeling better lately, and i really want to be able to do something that makes me feel like me again. so yesterday i went for a "run" aka speed walking on a treadmill, i did 2 miles! i was only sore a little bit afterward but tolerable. Also groupon had this deal for shaun t's rockin body dvd set for $20. I figured that dance moves would be less impact exercise then running or other options. Well that came in the mail yesterday too, but of course after i did the two miles! I got up early this morning and did the first workout! i broke a sweat without complete pain. I think i will stick to this routine to hopefully lose some weight, I've gained 45 lbs since high school, four years ago. It has been tough for me to try cause when i would diet i wouldn't lose a pound. So here is for the best and hopefully i can lose some of this weight

[lymefighter]

Vitamins

Ok well first an update  on the outfit, jeans and tank are saved the shirt is a goner.

well anyways i was looking around on blog sites and found a good discount vitamin store online. N and I are really short on money due to this illness, but we want to get better as soon as we can. since these vitamins on this site are a fraction of the cost i was wondering if anyone had suggested or some good supplements to help in our crusade against lyme.