O ctober 24, 2013, was probably an average Thursday in most people’s lives. For me, however, it was a life-changing day; it was the day I finally had some answers.
After numerous doctors and 10 years of declining health — 18 months of which I spent bedridden — I listened sharply on the phone as my nurse practitioner informed me, “You have Lyme disease. You’ve probably had it most of your life.”
I was both scared and relieved to hear the news. I was afraid because, well, I knew I would be embarking on one of the greatest challenges of my life. At the same time, I was relieved because I was no longer in the dark about what to call the mysterious illness wreaking havoc on my body.
Interconnected symptoms
The list of diagnoses I had collected over the years — from interstitial cystitis (IC) and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) to fibromyalgia and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) — all suddenly seemed interconnected. I knew the path to reclaiming my health would require patience, persistence, effort, and faith. Nevertheless, I was ready to confront the illness that had sidelined me for years. Thankfully, I had the support of my loving husband and family.
On that fall morning in October, my nurse practitioner laid the groundwork for a treatment protocol that would slowly help me rebuild my life, one tiny step at a time. There were layers of damage to address as a result of going years, maybe even decades, with undiagnosed, systemic infections.
My healing would be marked by ups and downs and the inevitable changing of healthcare providers. I endured stages where I could barely lift my head from the pillows, and at other times, it seemed as though recovery was within reach. After a decade of treatment, I reached a point of medical stability, and my energy levels and symptoms became predictable — a place I’ve been able to maintain for a year and a half.
Despite the highs and lows along this healing path, I am forever transformed by the lessons learned through the joy, pain, and self-discovery of the last decade. Here are those lessons:
Don’t dwell in negative headspaces for too long
When I first got sick, I spent countless amounts of energy thinking about the past, what I once could do, and the social life I had before my illness. Dwelling on the past immediately ushered me into a dark, negative place in my mind…………Join or login below to continue reading.
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