Amanda's Path: From Lyme to Pectus & Beyond!

Nicholas Bruer is organizing this fundraiser.

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We're honored that you’ve chosen to read Amanda's story. To those of you who feel moved to donate, thank you for your generosity and rallying behind us! - Nick & Amanda

Hi, I'm a Lymie...

Lyme Disease has ruined friendships, muddied important relationships, stopped my career, stifled my self-esteem/worth, eliminated my favorite hobbies, isolates me to home often, impacted my cognitive abilities, complicated family choices, created great strength, supported truly epic personal growth, prioritized my world, pushes me to my limits daily, makes me authentic and intentional... a Lyme Warrior!

This May marks a year since my husband, dog, and I relocated to Colorado for more integrative health provider options in search of answers. I've been significantly ill for the past 5 years while struggling to find a diagnosis in MN. We took a leap of faith and headed west!

The literal blood, sweat, and tears this past year has taken from Nick and I during our transition to CO has been returned tenfold through getting an answer (even though not positive) that starts an intentional path towards remission.

This March, I was found positive for Chronic Neurological Lyme Disease and 3 additional aggressive tick-borne diseases (Bartonella, Ehrlichia, & Babesia). My llmd (Lyme literate MD) believes I was likely bit as child given my medical history growing up. I've experienced symptoms & moments I didn't fathom were possible! I'm working to be more open and raw with my experiences to both honor them and others on a parallel journey.

Last year, I had to step away from my career as a licensed psychotherapist in order to focus on stopping the deterioration of my body while having graduate loans & the rest of adulthood still knocking at the door. I initially used a remote work accommodation, I then dropped to PT; ultimately leaving my job due to continued unsustainable decline.

From the expensive across-state move for providers to various things I'm supposed be doing to help lighten the treatment blow - most require out of pocket which makes it VERY difficult to rationalize when you already aren’t contributing much financially. If you don’t do them, then you feel even sicker and unable to contribute- catch 22 anyone? We had to seek an out of pocket lab to get my results after years of other expensive tests and meds that led to nowhere but our pockets.

To name just a few of the routine costs: Insurance claims, EEG/brain mapping, antiparasitics & other homeopathic supplements, high pharmacy co-pays, chiropractic/Active Release Technique, infrared saunas & soaks for detoxing, muscle testing, labs/procedures, Glutathione & other IV’s for herx reduction, etc.

Some things I face daily include (sparing intimate ones):
Constant extreme fatigue
Rib pain: can wear bra for 20 mins max before unbearable
Nausea, morning sickness
75% diminished sense of taste
Numb, tingly feet
Insomnia: sleep 3-4 hrs/night with meds
Extreme night sweats: soaking the bed
ST memory loss & brain fog
Dizziness & orthostatics
Poor circulation & temperature intolerance
Swollen lymphs
Generalized anxiety/fight or flight
Depressive symptoms: both neuro and situational
Significant headaches with neck & jaw pain
Random facial/ear swelling
Hair thinning
Hormonal imbalances: menstruation and ovulation pains keep me in bed

The next couple years will be devoted to my treatment regimen, detoxing my body, regaining some health and transitioning into the life as we know it moving forward. It's a bittersweet outcome requiring a new life forward. I’m learning to embrace this as I grieve aspects of my former life... being a therapist, rock climbing, hopes of carrying a future child, etc.

I'm facing the consequences of being untreated for as long as I have been. Consequences of all facets- financial, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. The goal is remission since episodic relapses can happen indefinitely. Life now requires us to run a marathon we didn't know was coming. Your support helps get me back on my feet so I can hit that finish line!

PLEASE KNOW, YOU ARE APPRECIATED!

Lyme don’t kill my vibe!!!
Healthy Self - Heal Thy Self
May - Lyme Disease Awareness Month