Help Tess Afford Lyme Disease Treatment
Don protégé
As many of you know, after 8 years of debilitating back pain, 3 spinal fusion surgeries and multiple misdiagnoses, I was finally correctly diagnosed - with Chronic Lyme disease. In addition to that, multiple co-infections were also discovered; such as Bartonella (aka “cat-scratch fever”), Chronic EBV (Epstein Barr Virus), CMV (Cytomegalovirus), and Mycotoxin illness (mold). Basically, my body has been and currently remains under attack and overloaded with pathogens, which are in my tissues, organs, and brain. I have a laundry list of symptoms that I am faced with keeping track of, which includes neck and back pain, spinal degeneration, insomnia, bloating, slow digestion, memory loss, brain fog, numbness of muscles, rashes, heart palpitations, aching in my bones/skin, swollen lymph nodes, depression, anxiety… and unfortunately, the list goes on.
My story is rare. I’ve had various health issues throughout my life and have been misdiagnosed with everything from Arthritis to Lupus, along with a multitude of other autoimmune diseases. Many times, doctors just couldn’t figure out what was causing such symptoms; like why I was having lower back pain at 16 years old - and then again at 24 - or why my gut was malfunctioning when I was 19… especially since all of my labs/scans appeared normal and indicated no cause for alarm. It wasn’t until 2012 that the pain in my spine became so chronic that it fueled the beginning of my independent, determined and rigorous search for answers. I was teaching my first kindergarten classroom and was under tremendous amounts of stress. Due to the intensity of that first year of being a new teacher, my immune system was at an all-time low. It was the perfect recipe for the pathogens to attack and take over my body. Additionally, since childhood, my immune system had already been severely compromised due to being born into incredibly stressful circumstances. Throughout my life I continued experiencing ongoing trauma, which contributed to the devastation these ailments were wreaking on my body. It is scientifically proven that stress lowers the immune system. Thus, I was a perfect host for these tick bacteria to thrive.
Since the bacteria took over in August 2012, I have seen over 35 doctors in 8 years (that I can remember), and not one doctor so much as suggested Lyme disease to me. Doctors, especially in the Southern states, are still under the wrong impression that Lyme disease is confined to the Northeast, which explains why it took so long for me to obtain a proper diagnosis. I’ve undergone so many kinds of treatments, I honestly have lost track. Just to list a few, I’ve done years and years of physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractors (multiple different ones), played with my diet, attended therapy, consumed medication after medication, and have undergone multiple spinal fusion surgeries. It seems like I have been diagnosed with everything under the sun, except for Lyme disease. A few of my diagnoses include arthritis, scoliosis, herniated discs, spondylosis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lupus, undifferentiated autoimmune disease, somatoform disorder, anxiety, depression, Complex PTSD, “bad luck”… and as you can infer, some of these are accurate, some are not.
In May, I began treatment with an amazing Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD). Treatment has been rough on my spirit, mind and body, but I’m excited that I’m almost at the end of my journey toward total wellness. In addition to the treatment I’m undergoing with my doctor, I’m doing everything in my power to promote healing; including eating a squeaky clean diet, detoxing multiple times a day with Epsom salt baths and an infrared sauna, exercising when I can, getting rid of chemicals, and getting out of moldy environments.
I have been fighting hard for almost a decade, and the financial toll this disease has taken on me is beyond unfathomable…it’s downright outrageous. I am struggling to survive in every sense of the word. I’m trying to do all of this by myself, but sometimes I have to admit that I cannot handle all of it alone. When I witness how beneficial crowdfunding has proven to be for people in the throes of life’s difficult situations, I am imbued with hope and reminded that it isn’t shameful to ask for assistance from friends or those who can empathize with such stories. My treatment alone is between $600-$1,000 per month, on top of the ever-present, looming medical debt from the tumultuous havoc of being misdiagnosed for the past 8 years, which includes the 3 spinal surgeries…and the multitude of hoops I jumped through mentioned previously. The big fat cherry on top, is that absurdly - Lyme disease is not covered by insurance! I am paying for everything almost completely out of pocket (aside from the antibiotics), and obviously it is a feat to do so. It’s difficult for me to work currently because I’m in so much pain, and thus it is getting disconcertingly impossible to afford keeping up with the treatments I need to complete in order transcend this affliction fully. Your donation will help support the ongoing of this treatment for the next few months, until I can get back to work full-time.
I know that eventually I will thrive - that I still have a rich and joyous life ahead of me. I am finally feeling inspired after many dark nights spent in the shadows of doubt. I believe and know now, that I will reach remission. The most pressing and important thing to me, is getting better so I can live that prosperous life I have worked so hard to attain… the life I have paid so many dues for. With this, I have humbly determined that all I want for my birthday is to be able to afford treatment. Put into these few short words it all sounds so simple, but it is the greatest gift I could fathom having at a crucial moment like this. I’d like to sincerely thank those who have reached out with ongoing support through conversations, connection, prayers and unwavering love. You have been one of the most magnanimous and comforting parts during the complexity of my healing journey. If you are able to make a monetary donation, however big or small, I will assuredly appreciate every well-intentioned cent of it! I understand that this pandemic has negatively affected so many of us financially, and so it is my request that if you are unable to contribute toward my fundraiser at this time, but have read my story, to please leave an energetic donation by taking the time to send me your well wishes, positive thoughts and prayers.
My story is rare. I’ve had various health issues throughout my life and have been misdiagnosed with everything from Arthritis to Lupus, along with a multitude of other autoimmune diseases. Many times, doctors just couldn’t figure out what was causing such symptoms; like why I was having lower back pain at 16 years old - and then again at 24 - or why my gut was malfunctioning when I was 19… especially since all of my labs/scans appeared normal and indicated no cause for alarm. It wasn’t until 2012 that the pain in my spine became so chronic that it fueled the beginning of my independent, determined and rigorous search for answers. I was teaching my first kindergarten classroom and was under tremendous amounts of stress. Due to the intensity of that first year of being a new teacher, my immune system was at an all-time low. It was the perfect recipe for the pathogens to attack and take over my body. Additionally, since childhood, my immune system had already been severely compromised due to being born into incredibly stressful circumstances. Throughout my life I continued experiencing ongoing trauma, which contributed to the devastation these ailments were wreaking on my body. It is scientifically proven that stress lowers the immune system. Thus, I was a perfect host for these tick bacteria to thrive.
Since the bacteria took over in August 2012, I have seen over 35 doctors in 8 years (that I can remember), and not one doctor so much as suggested Lyme disease to me. Doctors, especially in the Southern states, are still under the wrong impression that Lyme disease is confined to the Northeast, which explains why it took so long for me to obtain a proper diagnosis. I’ve undergone so many kinds of treatments, I honestly have lost track. Just to list a few, I’ve done years and years of physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractors (multiple different ones), played with my diet, attended therapy, consumed medication after medication, and have undergone multiple spinal fusion surgeries. It seems like I have been diagnosed with everything under the sun, except for Lyme disease. A few of my diagnoses include arthritis, scoliosis, herniated discs, spondylosis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lupus, undifferentiated autoimmune disease, somatoform disorder, anxiety, depression, Complex PTSD, “bad luck”… and as you can infer, some of these are accurate, some are not.
In May, I began treatment with an amazing Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD). Treatment has been rough on my spirit, mind and body, but I’m excited that I’m almost at the end of my journey toward total wellness. In addition to the treatment I’m undergoing with my doctor, I’m doing everything in my power to promote healing; including eating a squeaky clean diet, detoxing multiple times a day with Epsom salt baths and an infrared sauna, exercising when I can, getting rid of chemicals, and getting out of moldy environments.
I have been fighting hard for almost a decade, and the financial toll this disease has taken on me is beyond unfathomable…it’s downright outrageous. I am struggling to survive in every sense of the word. I’m trying to do all of this by myself, but sometimes I have to admit that I cannot handle all of it alone. When I witness how beneficial crowdfunding has proven to be for people in the throes of life’s difficult situations, I am imbued with hope and reminded that it isn’t shameful to ask for assistance from friends or those who can empathize with such stories. My treatment alone is between $600-$1,000 per month, on top of the ever-present, looming medical debt from the tumultuous havoc of being misdiagnosed for the past 8 years, which includes the 3 spinal surgeries…and the multitude of hoops I jumped through mentioned previously. The big fat cherry on top, is that absurdly - Lyme disease is not covered by insurance! I am paying for everything almost completely out of pocket (aside from the antibiotics), and obviously it is a feat to do so. It’s difficult for me to work currently because I’m in so much pain, and thus it is getting disconcertingly impossible to afford keeping up with the treatments I need to complete in order transcend this affliction fully. Your donation will help support the ongoing of this treatment for the next few months, until I can get back to work full-time.
I know that eventually I will thrive - that I still have a rich and joyous life ahead of me. I am finally feeling inspired after many dark nights spent in the shadows of doubt. I believe and know now, that I will reach remission. The most pressing and important thing to me, is getting better so I can live that prosperous life I have worked so hard to attain… the life I have paid so many dues for. With this, I have humbly determined that all I want for my birthday is to be able to afford treatment. Put into these few short words it all sounds so simple, but it is the greatest gift I could fathom having at a crucial moment like this. I’d like to sincerely thank those who have reached out with ongoing support through conversations, connection, prayers and unwavering love. You have been one of the most magnanimous and comforting parts during the complexity of my healing journey. If you are able to make a monetary donation, however big or small, I will assuredly appreciate every well-intentioned cent of it! I understand that this pandemic has negatively affected so many of us financially, and so it is my request that if you are unable to contribute toward my fundraiser at this time, but have read my story, to please leave an energetic donation by taking the time to send me your well wishes, positive thoughts and prayers.
Organisateur
Tess Bizzle
Organisateur
Lexington, TX