Teton County, WY
Infected: 2012
Diagnosed: April 2014
Current health: “Perpetually flu-like. It’s a day-to-day thing.”
A lot of people have this misconception you just take antibiotics and you’re done. But it’s not that simple, you really have to change your lifestyle (alcohol and sugar just make the bacteria just thrive!). -Patrick P.
“My name is Patrick Plum, and this is my story.
“It was summer of 2012. I was living in the Midwest of the United States a few months before my 33rd birthday. I had my dream job as a pilot for a major airline for five years. I’d been dating a girl for two years and had just bought an engagement ring. I was in excellent shape. I had just earned my first degree black belt, was teaching boxing and working out 2 plus hours a day. I was an avid motorcyclist and on my days off I’d often volunteer taking friends and their kids on single engine airplane rides. I also taught flying part time at a local airport. To be cliche, I was living the dream. My hard work was starting to pay off.
“One day, I looked in the mirror and saw a big “yellow bruise” on the left side of my chest. It didn’t hurt, so I didn’t think much of it. Little did I know, this rash was about to change my life…
“In August 2012, I had just returned from a trip to Jackson WY. I’d also been spending a lot of time at my dad’s cabin in western Wisconsin. One morning, I woke up with a pounding headache and what felt like the worst hangover I had ever had. I tired easily and even though I continued to work out, I’d get weaker. I thought I’d been working too much or was experiencing jet lag from jumping time zones frequently, but no matter how much I rested, it got worse. Then came a myriad of other symptoms: digestive problems, swollen glands, fatigue, malaise, muscle stiffness and several others.
“I saw MDs, chiropractors, NDs [naturopathic doctors], nutritionists, dentists, physical therapists, infectious disease specialists, etc. After 36 doctors — including some very well known specialists, they found nothing major: low magnesium, low vitamin D, high Mercury, and high cholesterol. Several doctors attempted to steer me toward a mental health diagnosis, but I knew my body and wouldn’t accept that. I decided to seek out a doctor who just treated Lyme disease, a LLMD [Lyme-literate Medical Doctor]. I fit every symptom of Lyme disease. The LLMD asked if I had been tested for co-infections, which I (like most people) had no idea what that meant.
“In April 2014, I had an answer. I tested positive for several tick-borne infections. Since I had what is considered “chronic” or “late stage” Lyme disease, I was told recovery would not be short or easy. That was an understatement.
“In May 2014, I made the decision that in order to fully fight Lyme disease head on, I needed to temporarily hang up my wings. My company has been a godsend and told me to come back whenever I felt better. In May of 2015, I went public to friends, family, and over social media.
“It’s been the hardest four years of my life. Some of my symptoms resolved quickly and completely; others linger. Some of my friends and family amazed me with their compassion; others shocked me with their lack of loyalty. I continue to ride a roller coaster of symptoms. Above my counter with all of my meds and supplements, I have a photo of myself — happy, healthy, and in my uniform at work, since this is my goal and gives me something to work toward.
“Since my diagnosis, I have also learned that doctors are unknowingly very poorly trained in Lyme disease. In fact, some don’t believe in chronic lyme disease at all. Since they won’t get it until they ‘get it’ (i.e., get infected), I have made it one of my life goals to be a voice for the millions senselessly suffering due to medical ignorance with Lyme disease. I have vowed that the rest of my life will be used to try to change this. I’ll continue to do this long after I’m symptom free and have my ‘life back.’
“That tick attached itself to the wrong person!”
Patrick, aka “Lyme Warrior” as well as “Dr. Duznotnolyme,” is now a Lyme disease activist, working to create greater awareness and understanding of tick-borne diseases and compassion for their patients.
You can learn more about his story and mission on Facebook or YouTube as well as in several of his podcasts, including this discussion on Beyond the Basics: Health Academy.
Story was originally posted on Facebook and republished with the permission of the author.