San Mateo County, CA
Infected: 1970s
Symptomatic: 1992
Diagnosed: 1996
Current health: “Three years of severe convalescence, substantial improvement since, but with intermittent setbacks”
I felt like I lost my life for almost two years… -Laure W.
Bay Area Lyme Foundation co-founder Laure Woods, shares her story in this video where she discusses her struggle with the disease, the difficulties getting treatment, the creation of the Foundation, and her hopes for diagnostics and therapies for Lyme patients.
Hello. I was bitten as a child in the 1970s. I was ill most of my childhood and young adulthood. I suffered multiple blood clots in 2000 and declined for many years. In 2019, I was hospitalized for low sodium a fb delusions. Finally diagnosed in 2020- I’m now 6 months into treatment. Are there others like me who were bitten in the Bay Area so long ago? My children are all Lyme-positive also, most likely passed to them in utero.
Flagyl and doxycycline for three months helped me a lot. I’m currently on rifampin, Clindamycine, and monolorium for 4 months — which is absolute hell compared to the doxy and flagyl. After that my doctor is putting me back on doxy and flagyl. I have Ehrlichiosis, Bartonella, Lyme and Rocky Mountain. Didn’t know what was wrong with me for 8 years till I showed my doctor my feet. I have a petechial rash, also called purpura rash, up both feet and legs which is from capillaries bleeding from the tick diseases.
I can’t get help, my pain is way more than I can handle .. and [I am] not getting help from Drs. They just keep sending me one Dr to the next. Two rounds of meds not helping.
Anita, we are very sorry to hear of your suffering. Lyme can be a pernicious and befuddling illness. Our best suggestion if you suspect Lyme, would be to consult a physician well versed in Lyme and tick-borne diseases. ILADS has a geographic physician directory that can help you find someone knowledgeable in your area. We wish you the very best of health and treatment and hope you find some respite soon!