The Road is Long No Matter Which Way You Look.

I have had two separate Naturopaths, an MD and an NMD, give me the definitive diagnosis of Lyme’s based not only on symptoms and patterns but through labs. These labs are not used by my regular doctors. This is because they are not covered by insurance and to explain that would be another wormhole as to what is wrong with our medical system.

The test that stands out most strongly shows the DNA of one bacteria of Lyme’s as well as two other co-infections carried by ticks. The less definitive testing shows the antibodies for Lyme’s have been present in my body, much like if I took a test for Mono now; even though I had it when I was fifteen years old, it may show that it had presence in my body. However, I took this test right at the end of a course of Prednisone which suppresses the immune system therefore I was less likely to generate the antibodies.  

This caused me pause. My traditional doctors have tested me for Lyme’s antibodies, not the DNA, but only while I was on Prednisone. I was also told separately by these two Naturopaths that the reason I was having such an adverse response to Prednisone is because of the Lymes.  My immune system was being suppressed while I have had this active infection.

 For the past four years, outside my Optic Neuritis attacks, and always after them, I fight months of on and off fatigue. I could eat really well, not drink, avoid caffeine and sleep nine hours a night, and still feel wiped out. I always assumed that it was the post Prednisone and the being burnt out after trauma. Yes, going through a medical crisis in our medical system is traumatic.

I am following up with both the University of Minnesota and the Mayo, but have been cautioned by the two Naturopaths and other Lyme’s patients that the physicians will naysay the testing and diagnosis. So even as I write this and you read this, I have not exhaled. I am still in a fight. If I have Lyme’s and had gone on immune suppression, it would have been bad. If I have another Optic Neuritis attack, I don’t know what to do because I can’t handle the Prednisone. And in order to clear Lyme’s I have probably a year of healing work to do.

Just like we dig ourselves out of grief and confusion of a global pandemic and attempt to face our oppression of others, I will take it one step at a time. I am exhausted and the road looks long in front of me, but hell or high water I am going to strap a pack to back and go surf somewhere remote again.