Living with Borreliosis and Lyme Disease

As a carer for my mother, who suffers the debilitating effects of Lyme disease, it can be frustrating at times. You just feel a sense of overwhelming hopelessness. But my love for my mother, and knowing of her struggle and all that she suffers, makes me feel the need to help educate others, and bring about awareness.

It's not JUST a tick!

Rebecca from Hinckley.

At the time when I was bitten and contracted Lyme disease, the lack of knowledge amongst medical professionals was shocking. Many of the doctors in our area (which is a tick "hotspot") are unaware of the relevant treatment and are unable to recognise an "Erythema Migrans" rash. I was told by one doctor that ticks do not live all year round, yet we have them in our garden and the dogs pick them up whatever the time of year.

Lyme disease is a debilitating condition and if not treated promptly can take over your life. I have nerve damage to my back and my body temperature is low so I rarely feel warm. I could go on, but choose not to. Instead I fight it with a positive outlook, loads of vitamins, good food and the support of a wonderful husband.

My personal thanks go to all who are working to find answers to it all.

Trish, Muir of Ord

Never heard of it? Neither had I until I became ill with a variety of symptoms: fatigue, muscle aches, vertigo, heart palpitations, arthralgia etc. Caught it in the countryside many years ago and re-infected on the Isle of Mull. I now wear long trousers when out walking, long sleeves too. Check all over for ticks when you return home.

See www.bada-uk.org for the recommended removal procedure. If you have it don't give up, I can now manage the symptoms, having gone through a period of antibiotics and long term alternative detox' and supplements. Persevering with treatment is the key!

Ailsa, Island of Mull

My son contracted Lyme disease from a tick bite ten years ago.

At that time, I was aware of tick-borne diseases through my work in the countryside and was aware that there was tick in the area. However, although I had heard of Lyme disease, I made no association with it at the time my son started to display the rash that is common with early signs of the infection.

If the information that is now available had been around then, I am confident he would have been diagnosed sooner and given the correct treatment more quickly, luckily he was diagnosed by a foreign exchange member of medical staff, that was familiar with the symptoms of early stages of Lyme disease and my son was successfully treated.

It is vitally important that knowledge of tick-borne disease becomes more widespread, and the symptoms and treatment for them identifiable by any GP.

Ross, Invernesshire.

Awareness is important as, if this illness is diagnosed and treated early, years of suffering and disability can be avoided.

I would not want anyone to suffer in the way that I have because of an incorrect diagnosis. I have been bed and wheelchair bound and in pain for many years. I lost my job and my livelihood, and my family have suffered enormously.

Lisa, Berkshire

As someone who has spent a large part of his fifty eight years outdoors in the west Highlands it seems rather ironic that it took me until last year, when I had to be treated for Lyme disease, to realize just how dangerous tick bites can be. And it's not just the adults, the ones you can see, that can infect, but the larval and nymphal stages as well, which are mostly undetected.

I wouldn't wish the many and varied symptoms I suffered on anyone. Among those, the utterly debilitating joint and muscle pain were probably the worst, but it doesn't necessarily end there, because one is quite likely, as happened in my case, to develop immune system reactions and problems downstream of the Lyme itself, and there's no way of telling just how long they'll last - possibly for the rest of my life.

With reports of infected bites now coming in from Richmond Park to the Orkneys, don't take the risk. Cover up: believe me, it's not worth not doing it.

Niall, Fort William.

I was infected after being bitten on my legs whilst cutting down long grass in my girlfriend's back garden on a housing estate in Birmingham. I was wearing shorts and no socks at the time. I never saw what it was that had bitten me. Two weeks later I developed two typical 'bull's eye' rashes. I only knew what they were because of information I had read on the BADA-UK website.

Don't let anyone tell you that just because you live in an inner city you're not at risk!

Alex, Coventry.

For me Lyme disease has been an invisible force that has been slowly working away at my body and mind, gradually grinding me down to almost a halt over a number of years.

Its plagued me with a number of different aches and pains, fatigue, depression, mood swings, memory loss, trouble spelling and speaking correctly and a complete butterfly mind. Its lowered my immunity, causing regular and varying illnesses and stomach upsets.

All of these symptoms were seemingly unconnected to both my doctors and me.

I am grateful to BADA for putting the last piece in the jigsaw for me and it all makes sense now.

I know what I'm fighting now, and fight I will!

Andy, Elgin, Scotland.

I was diagnosed with CFS / Post Viral Fatigue 10 years ago. Two years ago I heard of Lyme disease whilst attending an ME conference.

Following a private diagnosis and having funded my own treatment I am finally well again. I have never been camping, trekked through fields or worked with animals. I live in a city and drive around for a living; my feet are made for pressing on the brake and clutch not hill walking.

So don't let your GP or anyone assume you can't get this disease because you are not at high risk.

YOU CAN GET IT AND MOST OF ALL YOU CAN GET RID OF IT!

Fiona, Coventry

If we had been aware this time last year about the danger that exists around us, we might have been able to avoid the many trips to doctors and hospitals, not to mention months of anxiety and fear for the future.

This all came from a tick in our back garden, where we thought it was safe for our children to play ...

Justine, Guilford.