Maybe one reason everyone had such a difficult time diagnosing me is because very few doctors understand that Lyme does not always cause joint pain, muscle aches, a bulls-eye rash, or a positive test result. I had none of these symptoms. If it weren't for one very open-minded, insightful, and heroic psychologist, Dr. Bennet Hirsch, I might never have been diagnosed.
It Was Difficult to Concentrate
My Lyme started with anxiety, mental confusion, and fatigue. I also had very little energy to do things I normally did or even hang out with my friends. My grades were slipping, I couldn't keep up with my school work, and I couldn't explain how I felt. By the fall, I was having full-blown panic attacks and didn't want to leave my house. I could barely concentrate and couldn't even answer simple questions.
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For a teenager, there weren't many acceptable reasons for this other than lazy, defiant, unmotivated, or overwhelmed with a new school. Soon, my mother was attacked by health care professionals and family members, because she believed me that I wasn't trying to be this way and that I needed help. That's when the court battles and family services added an almost unbearable stress to an already horrific situation.
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My Symptoms:
Anxiety/ Panic Attacks
Agoraphobia Fatigue- even doing simple things made me exhausted Mental Confusion/Fog- I couldn't express my thoughts or organize my thoughts Easily Overwhelmed Difficulty Concentrating- I answer questions the doctors kept asking me, and they thought I was being difficult Memory Loss Excessive Sweating- we had to put new sheets and pillowcases on every day Random Fevers- I would get fevers with no other symptoms |
Sleeping a lot without feeling rested
Sensitivity to Light/Sound- doctors thought I wanted it dark because I was depressed, but it would hurt my eyes and my head to be in a right room Headaches/Migraines Loss of Appetite Depression Weakness |
Some of these symptoms were caused by Babeisiosis and whatever other tick-borne illnesses I had. Click HERE for a list of symptoms from other tick-borne illnesses.