Summer, 2015 - Participated in a series of tests and food elimination practices with a pain specialist. Test results were within normal range. It was determined that food was not attributed to any episodes. Numbness in mouth continued. Sore joints subsided.
Late Summer / Fall, 2015 - Experienced debilitating dizzy spells. When not controlled, it would result in uncontrollable twitching and full body pain the next day. By adopting calming practices used for non-epileptic seizures, I was able to stop the 'attacks' before they started. Numbness in mouth continued. Bumping into things would result in inflamed areas on my upper body (extreme reaction for a small bump).November, 2015 - Joint pain continued. Dizzy spells increased. Had a huge shaking attack on November 18 that affected my entire body, even my ability to control my voice (aka uncontrollable grunting). Numbness and tingling in the mouth remained. Uncontrollable itching of the upper body. Joint pain throughout. Twitching kept at bay with constant mental concentration. Increase in floaters in my eyes. Hearing limited, voices muffled. Extreme, immediate exhaustion, mind foggy. Burning sensations randomly on my body which felt like a hot poker or acid.
December 2015 - After attempting to manage it all on my own, as I assumed it was in my head, I finally waved the white flag and returned to my family doctor. Though he was appreciated what the pain specialist had ruled out, he was not satisfied with all of them. So he ran a CD57. It came back positive.
January - June 2016 - Before I could move forward with immediately antibiotic treatment, he had to get my immune system back. Multiple sleep tests and a CPAP later, I sleep like a baby. Then he changed my 'happy pill' so I could get more emotionally balanced. Add a smile to that sleep.
June 29, 2016 - Began a four-week antibiotic challenge then took the Igenex low-level blood test.July 27, 2016 - Boxed up my blood and dropped it in the FedEx bin (that was weird).
September 13, 2016 - Doctor made the diagnosis official: Chronic Lyme Disease
September 15, 2016 - I knew this was coming. I knew something other that my imagination was causing all of this. And yet, it hit me like a ton of bricks. As much as I wanted an answer (as long as others have to wait for an answer. Think years), I want to bury the news under my bed and pretend like it never happened.
I'll power through and the next post will be filled with rainbows and unicorns. But today, I mentally rock in a corner.
