Take a look at these different articles regarding Lyme Disease:

• LymeDisease.org: She’ll use her “spoons” to help solve Lyme disease epidemic (8/14/17)

• CBS: When Lyme disease isn't caught early, the fallout can be scary (7/22/17)

• MD Linx: Science says: Too early for forecast on Lyme disease ticks (7/7/2017)

• New York Times: With a Tick Boom, It’s Not Just Lyme Disease You Have to Fear (7/3/17)

• Fox 25 Boston: Local researchers hope to have Lyme antibodies available by 2020 (5/23/17)

• CBS News: Lyme disease experts say this could be a "particularly bad year" (5/3/2017)

• Huffington Post: The Lyme Wars: Meet The Players (5/2/2017)

• Huffington Post: What the Media Don’t Tell You About Lyme Disease (But Should) (4/26/17)

• New York Post: We’re on the brink of an epic Lyme disease outbreak (4/4/2017)

• Huffington Post: An Open Letter to the Boston Globe About Lyme Disease (3/29/17)

• Huffington Post: Lyme: Fight Harder For Science and End This War (3/25/2017)

• Huffington Post: Where IDSA Guidelines Fail, Leading Lyme Doctor Succeeds (Part II) (3/9/2017)

• Huffington Post: Where CDC Guidelines Fail, Leading Lyme Doctor Succeeds (Part 1) (3/2/2017)

• Huffington Post: Lyme: The Infectious Disease Equivalent of Cancer, Says Top Duke Oncologist (2/19/2017)

• Huffington Post: Arrogance and Ignorance: A Catastrophe for Lyme Sufferers (2/10/2017)

2016

• Stat News: The ‘Swiss Agent’: Long-forgotten research unearths new mystery about Lyme disease (10/12/2016)

• Pro Health: Ten Common Causes of Symptoms in Chronic Lyme Disease (4/26/2016)

• Stanford Medicine: New compounds have potential to combat Lyme disease (4/8/2016)

• Northeastern University: Researchers Investigate Four Promising New Treatments for Lyme Disease (3/29/16)

• Science Magazine: Lyme disease–carrying ticks are now in half of all U.S. counties (1/18/2016)

2015

• The Chicago Tribune: Lyme disease still stuck in controversy, but there is hope (8/4/2015)

• The Wall Street Journal: The Mystery of Chronic Lyme Disease (7/6/2015)

• The Chicago Tribune: Take precautions against Lyme disease (6/17/2015)

• New York Magazine: What It’s Like to Have Severe Lyme Disease (6/15/2015)

•  The New Yorker: The Lyme Wars (7/1/2013)

2013

• NPR: 'The Lyme Wars' That Tiny Ticks Have Wrought (6/26/2013)

• Oceanus Magazine: Lyme Disease Bacteria Have Quirky Needs (3/1/2013)

2012

• PubMed: US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health: Tired of the Lyme Wars

  • Lyme disease--the challenge for patients. [Neth J Med. 2012]

  • Lyme borreliosis: the challenge of accuracy. [Neth J Med. 2012]

2011

• PubMed: US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health: Tired of the Lyme Wars

  • Tired of Lyme borreliosis. Lyme borreliosis in the Netherlands. [Neth J Med. 2011]

Chronically ill patients/spoonies get a bad rep for practicing self-care. Ableists think, why rest if you don't look sick? But the key to understanding patients in general is being sympathetic.

1. Your couch is your best friend.

Next to fibromyalgia and joint pain, fatigue is a big spoonie symptom. If you happen to feel energetic, pace yourself and don't cram all of your errands in the same day. That's why your couch/bed can be your best friend.

2. One does not simply work out.

It can take days of careful planning to go to the gym. To keep your muscles strong, exercise whenever your body allows. This starts with the simple things: resting enough, eating healthy, staying hydrated and coping with stress properly. Don't you just envy people who can just up and go to the gym whenever they want?

3. You have therapeutic items all over.

• Himalayan salt lamp: in theory, negative salt ions released by heating can purify the air
• Oil diffuser: disperses oil and steam into the air for a purifying smell
• Meditation beads: center yourself and reinforce faith
• Energy crystals: they have theoretically restorative properties
• Light therapy: exposes you to a safe amount of light (crucial for gloomy winter days)
• Heating pad: helps alleviate pain in sore muscles
• Back massager: also helps alleviate pain in sore muscles
• Air purifier: improves air quality, good for city-dwellers or allergy-prone spoonies

Like any human being on planet Earth, we all have bad days here and there. But these are some helpful treatments. Consult your doctor before trying any treatment.

For mild joint or muscle pain, we love Do Terra Deep Blue Rub lotion. It smells lovely and helps to relax the affected area.

For severe joint and muscle pain, 2 Aleve every 12 hours works wonders. This Naproxen Sodium formula always does the trick, with no side effects and no prescription.

For insomnia, use a silk blackout mask, sleepy time tea and 2-4 Valerian Root tablets.

Lastly, for feelings of restlessness or anxiousness, Relax Max works almost instantly. Mix a spoon into water or juice to rebalance your gut microflora (bacteria), making you feel nice and relaxed. It's not just a clever name!

Lyme Disease is the new "Great Imitator". I've seen friends experience a misdiagnosis because Borrelia causes symptoms associated with other conditions.

According to ILADS, less than 50% of Lyme patients don't remember a tick bite or rash. I can't prove a tick bite either, but when I was treated for Rheumatoid Arthritis, I felt SO MUCH WORSE. So I was my own advocate and looked into Lyme symptoms.

In my personal opinion, I believe that if left untreated for years, Lyme can trigger weaknesses in your DNA, leading to an early onset of the conditions below. So in my own opinion, I believe that my rheumatoid problems were caused by Lyme. Ever notice how Lymie's symptoms are different? The good news- I believe that with proper treatment, you can reverse these symptoms!

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis (Rheumatoid, Juvenile, and Osteoarthritis)
• Lupus
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Guillian-Barré Syndrome
• ALS
• Bipolar Disorder
• Anxiety Disorder
• Major Depression

Lyme tests from traditional medicine are inaccurate. I took the western blot and the ELISA, both "negative". So I saw an electrodermal diagnostician to identify Borrelia, and I've been on the right track ever since!

There are a lot of opinions regarding the effectiveness of a Rife Machine to destroy Borrelia, the root of Lyme Disease. I'm lucky enough to say that my experience was definitely good. 

The Rife Machine has two sticky pads and you place them on the small of your back. You then set its timer for eight hours, so you can have the machine on while you sleep. You then turn on the right frequency, which is a number that indicates what vibration Borrelia live at.

Once you turn on the machine, it emits radio waves at the frequency of Borrelia and feels like subtle vibrations. So the waves hit the bacteria and eventually kill the bacteria. I can tell you that within the first time of using the Rife Machine, I had some of the strongest Herxheimer reactions (bacteria die-off reaction when your symptoms get temporarily worse) ever. The proof was in the pain. 

Healing from Lyme Disease is a long journey, and I still get Herxheimer reactions from using the machine. Luckily, they're not as bad as they were before, so I know I'm getting rid of a lot of bacteria.

I was not paid or compensated to mention this product.

“I never saw the bite or the (hallmark) Lyme bull’s-eye rash,’ said Harrington. But her doctor recognized her fatigue, nausea and fever as common symptoms. Not everyone is as fortunate. Some Lyme victims are diagnosed late. Others are misdiagnosed. In 2012, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 30,000 Americans get Lyme each year. In 2013, it moved the comma to 300,000. Oops. Many doctors want the comma moved again.”

— Chicago Tribune, August 2015

Most people who have Lyme disease don't remember getting bit by a tick. Ticks are microscopic and hard to detect, and come from deer, birds, mice, squirrels and more. At first, you can develop common flu-like symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, nausea and fever/chills. No two people are alike, based on medical history, genes and immune system. So do you have five or more of these symptoms regularly? 

Physical Symptoms

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Joint pain (arthritis)
• Muscle Pain (fibromyalgia)
• Fever/Chills
• Sensitivity to light, sound or smell
• Lightheadedness, dizziness or motion sickness (vertigo)
• Facial paralysis or twitching
• Chest pain or heart palpitations
• Gastrointestinal problems: stomach ache, indigestion, diarrhea and constipation
• Shortness of breath or coughing
• Ear pain or ringing in ears (tinnitus)
• Blurry vision

Neurological + Mental Symptoms

• Mild to severe headaches
• Insomnia
• “Brain Fog” – confusion, poor concentration, forgetfulness
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mood swings/irritability

Did you know that George W. Bush was once treated for Lyme Disease? How about Michael J. Fox? See below:

1. Avril Lavigne: Singer/Songwriter
2. Ally Hilfiger: TV Producer
3. Bella Hadid: Model
4. Anwar Hadid: Fashion Model
5. Richard Gere: Actor
6. Jamie-Lynn Sigler: Actress
7. Jane Alexander: Actress
8. Christy Turlington: Model
9. Jennifer Capriati: Professional Tennis Player
10. George W. Bush: Former President
11. Rebecca Wells: Author
12. Alice Walker: Author
13. Amy Tan: Author
14. Karen Allen: Actress
15. Parker Posey: Actress
16. Pete Seeger: Musician
17. Peter Sarsgaard: Actor
18. Gary Player: Professional Golfer
19. Tom Seaver: Professional Baseball Player
20. Bill Chinnock: Musician
21. Yolanda Foster: TV Personality
22. Shania Twain: Musician
23. Kelly Osborne: TV Personality
24. Alec Baldwin: Actor
25. Ashley Olsen: Actress
26. Ariane Resnick: Chef
27. Daryl Hall: Musician
28. Kathleen Hanna: Musician
29. Neneh Cherry: Musician
30. Debbie Gibson: Musician
31. Christie Brinkley: Model
32. Michael J. Fox: Actor
33. Pete Seeger: Musician
34. Peter Sarsgaard: Actor
35. Gary Player: Professional Golfer
36. Tom Seaver: Professional Baseball Player
37. Bill Chinnock: Musician
38. Crystal Harris: Model
39. Irene McGee: TV Personality
40. Mark Ruffalo: Actor
41. Linda Ronstadt: Musician
42. Tim Simpson: Professional Golfer
43. Randy Travis: Musician
44. John Caudwell: Businessman

Courtesy of SHAPE and Tech Times:

• Keep It Dry: when coming home from the outdoors, check your clothing for ticks; even dry clothes should be tumble dried on high heat for 10 minutes (ticks can survive the washer, not the dryer)
• Use Proper Repellent: use a spray like this or this with Permethrin, a clothing-only repellent that kills ticks on contact. Use in addition to your normal skin repellent
• Watch Your Skin: important body parts to check for ticks: underarms, in/around ears, back of the knees, bellybutton, around the waist, your hair and between legs
• Treat Your Pet: tick prevention products like this or this keep your pet from bringing in ticks
• If You Get Bitten: Pull it out from the base to remove the whole thing immediately!

See a doctor ASAP if you find a tick on yourself. If you have the tick, keep it in a bag, so the doctor can get it tested. And DON'T rule out Lyme if you don't have a rash or flu-like symptoms. Most people don't see those symptoms!

The problem with invisible diseases is...they are invisible. It doesn't matter if you live in a big city or a small town; if you look healthy, people will expect you to present yourself and act a certain way.

Walking fast and straight, wearing fresh makeup, having styled hair and buttoning your jacket are some everyday expectations of society. But these standards can be true struggles for someone with Lyme.

According to the CDC, in 2012, about half of all adults—117 million people—have one or more chronic health conditions. Chronic fatigue, arthritis, fibromyalgia, depression and anxiety are just some of these hidden monsters. So remember that there's a half chance that the person who is moving slowly or appears sloppy may be struggling to stay awake, be in public or leave their home at all.

Take time to rest

Even if the big project is due by end of day, and even if clients are coming to town, make sure you have enough energy to get the job done. Take breaks throughout the day, drink plenty of water and tea and sleep as much as possible. Your health comes first.

Don't be too hard on yourself

You clearly set high standards for yourself. But take time to pat yourself on the back for what you have achieved so far. When stress comes along, remember that you're not the first or last person to feel this way, and it will pass.

Think happy thoughts

It can sometimes be as simple as watching a silly cat video, getting your favorite smoothie or hearing your partner's voice. Think of happy things to get you through the work day, and remember all that you still have to be thankful for.

Plan something to look forward to

Whether it's a trip to your bedroom or Starbucks, find time to treat yourself. Window shop at lunch, try that new restaurant on the weekend or sleep as long as you like on Sunday. Give yourself leeway by carving out time to do something that gets you excited. Even if that something is sleep!

Make sure it's worth your time

If you're pursuing dreams while fighting for your health, make sure it's worth it. Don't settle for a dead-end job, but if you have to for financial reasons, make a deadline for you to transition into a more meaningful career. Need to bartend while you save up money? That's fine, but have a concrete plan for the next five years of how you can chase your dreams and fulfill your calling.