MY LYME FRIENDS

Four years ago I didn't know what Lyme disease was, let alone that I would have Lyme friends, or lymies.  In the world of Lyme disease, I suppose it is much the same as the world of any disease.  Those that you meet within your circle of recovery become your friends. 

On any typical treatment day, I might sit in the IV room with C, S or J one day, or K and E the next. We all had a story.  We all had been bit at one time in our lives and some of us didn't even know it. Most of us had nothing really in common except being bit.  Some of us had IV's with 2 grams of rocephin, some were just getting started with 1 gram.  Some had DMSO mixed in  and smelled of tomato juice or garlic.   Others came for a bit of energy and got a Myers Cocktail. We all knew what we needed and we all wanted out of there and done with Lyme as soon as humanly possible.  None of us had anywhere to go. All of us had been robbed of our lives. 

Some had IV's wrapped in foil to preserve the ingredient.  Others had chelation drips, Vit B or C drips, or Hydrogen Peroxide drips.  Some got stuck 2 or 3 times, if they couldn't find an unused vein, or if they just needed 2 different drips.  Some brought home-movies for the 2-3 hour wait- others music. Many came and hooked up for a much needed nap.  There were lavender and flax seed hot packs, camouflage band aids, rubber tourniquets and plastic surgical tape.  Some lymies had babies at home that in turn were infected with borrelia. Others were business owners, husbands, wives or parents that used to have a life. Some couldn't be understood because their speech was affected.  Others had rashes or couldn't walk.  Some were 16, others 50 but looked 80. 

One of my favorites was J.  He shuffled in, slumped down in a rocker-ankles the size of tree trunks. His knees and hands rattled away. He chatted to me in garbled phonemes. Turns out that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's originally, but his treatment for Parkinson's by another doctor only exaccerbated the Parkinson's. Five years ago he was a regular guy working in a mill.  A simple lab test discovered Lyme Disease, and now it may be too late to turn the ship around.  Progress is slow.  One IV at a time. ((update... Johnny passed away from Lyme...)) 

One day I met the mirror of my new life.  I sat there, hooked up, staring at my Lyme friend that had Lyme induced ALS.  His speech was limited, due to dysphasia- impairment of speech due to neurological brain damage. His gait was slow and shuffled.  He looked at me with his tender eyes, unable to speak and I just wept. ((update... Ernie passed away from Lyme...))

There are lots of Kleenex's in the treatment room. 

I love my Lyme friends.  I know they will always be there if I ever need them again.