Six years ago, I began experiencing severe headaches and visual disturbances. Whenever I stood up my vision would either go black or I would see swirling colors. My doctor said it was migraines and left it at that. Upon visiting my eye doctor for a routine check-up, he saw that my optic nerve was swollen and raised and that I had hemorrhaging in my brain. I was told to get to the neurology center of a very good hospital right away. It was there that I found out I had viral meningitis and received a spinal tap that lasted 45 minutes. My spinal pressure was 400 (normal is 100) and they drained 30 CCs of fluid. A few days later, I got a call saying they tested my spinal fluid for Lyme disease and it turned out positive. I was then started on IV antibiotics for 28 days.

I noticed what I thought was a spider bite in July of 2007 on my lower abdomen. A couple of days later, I noticed a small, red rash (in the vicinity of the bite but not around it) that was hot to the touch and itchy. I spent a lot of time on the Internet looking for information on spider bites because I never saw a tick. However, over the next week, it progressively grew larger and developed a bull's eye-look. I had also been suffering from very painful joints since the rash appeared. Finally alarmed, I went to the doctor and was immediately diagnosed with Lyme disease. Since that time, I have gone through two treatments of antibiotics. The second was prescribed months later because I still suffered from joint pain. To this day, I still suffer joint pain in my hips, and the pain is worse some months than others. However, I think I am luckier than about half of those afflicted. If you are reading this (I really worried at all the horror stories when I was diagnosed), don't expect to be healed totally, just be thankful that it isn't worse.

About three years ago, I began do experience dizziness and severe fatigue, along with many other symptoms including chills, chest pain and low blood pressure. The doctors were almost certain that the problem was with my heart, but after many tests, no heart problems were found. A cardiologist recommended that a Lyme test be performed. The results showed one band as positive, but since this didn't meet the CDC's criteria, I was told that I didn't have Lyme, so no antibiotics were given. After several more doctors and diagnosis, a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was determined. As my symptoms continued to get worse, including severe brain fog, I began to experience pain in my joints. I requested another Lyme test, which also came back negative. After much research on my own, I found a doctor who looked at more than just the standard Lyme test. Tests performed on urine, stools, and blood revealed that I not only had the primary bacteria for Lyme, but also a co-infection bacteria. As I finally started the antibiotics three years late, I am hopeful that I will regain the ability for some normal activities.

I lived in NYC and I used to visit some friends in Northern NJ. Evidently I was bitten by a tick. My symptoms mimic a lot of different diseases, from ear and throat infections to literally explosive diarrhea. It went undiagnosed for months and I became very weak and very sick. I used to hear a buzzard like sound in my brain etc. Many times I was given antibiotics for an ear infection and the symptoms will be less for two weeks. Finally, a Lyme test was done, but it came back negative. Still I was getting progressively sicker! I had acute pain on my lower back and around my liver and stomach area. My gall bladder was taken out and there was nothing wrong with it. Finally a second Lyme test was done again and it came back 9 out of 10. I was placed on high dosages of Penicillin. Nonetheless, I suffered a facial paralysis and a brain bleed. Fortunately my "stroke" didn't cause any permanent damage. Somehow when I have a cold or a stomach virus, similar Lyme symptoms reappeared. I have also become sensitive to daylight.

It started with flu-like symptoms, fever and chills, which I found strange since it was summer time--not your typical flu season. I had a small, red bump on my leg, which 10 days later started to spread into the characteristic bull's-eye rash. I was not familiar with the rash caused by Lyme Disease, so I thought it was a spider bite or some other bug bite. After my dad mentioned that maybe it was a tick bite, I did some research online. I looked up pictures of tick bites/Lyme Disease and immediately knew that this is what I had. It was late evening, so I immediately went to the nearby Acute Care Center. The doctor took one look and had no doubt that it was Lyme Disease. I was put on a long course of antibiotics, which cleared the rash and thankfully, I have not had any residual symptoms thus far. I am so grateful that I was quickly and accurately diagnosed.