I was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease at the age of 23, after years of battling a “mysterious illness” that no doctor could put a name to. I was told my illness was “all in my head” or told I was merely “depressed”. As my health continued to deteriorate, fighting to find out what was wrong with me became an exhausting chore. I finally went back to my family physician I had had as a child, who I trusted to listen to my side, when other physician’s wouldn’t. This physician diagnosed me, and continues to support me to this day. Unfortunately, the majority of the doctor’s I encountered were not so understanding and this is a common story amongst the Lyme community.
I had not realized the controversy surrounding chronic Lyme disease until I experienced it myself. A doctor I saw tried to talk me out of a certain treatment given to many Lyme patients, and when I made the decision to have treatment, he told me after the initial treatment he would provide; he would refuse to treat me any further. I was very ill and desperate for help and I was faced with professionals refusing to provide that service. From that point on I knew I needed to do something to help change how people with Lyme disease and other illnesses and disabilities were being treated. With the awareness created from dealing firsthand with this type of discrimination, it made me more aware of violations occurring to many different people across a broad spectrum.
In Maine and in other areas throughout the nation, there is very little awareness concerning Lyme disease. Many people I have come in contact with do not know what Lyme disease is or how it is contracted. I started to make it a point to tell people about my struggle with Lyme disease to try to raise awareness and to answer people’s questions with as much information as I could provide to help educate the public about the disease.
Coming upon the 4th Annual Lyme Disease Awareness Walk/Fun Run, I am in hopes of continuing to spread awareness and help educate the people of Maine about this devastating disease.