Kelly's fight to beat Lyme disease
Donation protected
Kelly’s Story
In October 2016, on a family weekend away in Barrington Tops National Park, I was bitten by a tick whilst playing with our toddler. One tick bite has caused our family’s life to change dramatically.
In the weeks that followed the bite, I began to feel more and more unwell with a variety of symptoms. Joint pains, headaches, muscle aches, chest pains, night sweats, numb fingers & toes and burning/crawling sensations all over my skin to name a few. I had a toddler and a newborn so at first I thought maybe these were just normal “tired mum” issues but I really couldn’t shake the thought that these symptoms seemed to keep coming after that tick bite. I went to a GP who gave me 6 weeks of antibiotics, the standard protocol for a recent bite.
Around Christmas time the symptoms returned, along with bruising, skin rashes, ringing in ears and severe fatigue. The symptoms changed every day and I felt like I was going crazy. The problem with this disease is that you look “fine”. I continued to do normal day to day things but felt awful and increasingly anxious about my health.
After getting a second opinion and ruling out many other conditions, I returned to the GP who ran several blood tests including some that were sent to America at great expense. Reality hit hard when it was confirmed that the cause of all my issues was Lyme Disease and two types of Rickettsia. I also have symptoms of Babesia, a common coinfection of Lyme.
We were devastated. Lyme Disease and its coinfections are very complex to treat (despite what you may read on the internet). It is a progressive disease, which affects your neurological, musculoskeletal and respiratory systems. Treatment in Australia is very limited, not to mention extremely expensive due to many doctors believing that it does not exist here.
I started an antibiotic regime, which unfortunately my body couldn’t handle. I am now on an array of herbal treatments and supplements, some of which I take several times a day. Some of these medications are $300 a bottle. Each doctor’s visit costs hundreds of dollars. I am about to start twice weekly Intravenous
(IV) antibiotics.
As my symptoms have been getting worse as the months go by, I have not returned to work. The fatigue and pain can be so bad that I am in bed most of the day. Paul has been working so hard balancing the kids and managing his small business to keep our little family afloat so we have now had to move in with my parents to help with both the kids and ensure that I remember to take the huge amount of medications each day. Paul’s parents have also been incredibly supportive and helpful too and we are so grateful to our family and friends who we have told so far.
It is heartbreaking to watch helplessly whilst other people do all the things a mum should be doing for her kids. Even simple things like preparing their food and taking my toddler to daycare. Time goes so fast while they are young and you just don’t get these moments back.
Treatment
As a mother of two young children, I am desperate to do anything I can to ensure that I can be healthy for my family. My worst fear is that this disease progresses to the point where I cannot look after my kids or be the wife that my amazing husband deserves. I also really want to get back to work at a job I really love and contribute to our household.
At this point in time the most effective treatments are performed overseas. To date we have spent thousands and thousands of dollars on testing, medications, supplements, therapies and loss of income. This is only since October last year. We feel that the sooner we try this therapy, the better the chance of success is.
We are now reluctantly reaching out to our friends and family to help in any way they can so that I am able to fly to Cyprus to receive IV Ozone therapy treatment. Australian Lyme patients are having great success with this treatment performed in Cyprus. IV Ozone treatment is gaining recognition as an effective treatment for Lyme around the world, however it is most cost effective in Cyprus when compared to the US and Europe. The doctor has been performing these treatments for over 30 years and includes many supportive therapies to increase the chance of success.
We feel this treatment will give me the best chance of beating this disease and living a normal life again. This will only be the beginning of my journey to recovery, as ongoing treatment will be required to repair the damage already done to my nervous system and keep my immune system strong enough to keep the Lyme in remission.
How you can help
We would be forever grateful if our friends and family are able to donate any amount, large or small, to go towards my treatment in Cyprus in August this year and upon my return home. Any help that you may be able to give is truly appreciated.
The treatment in Cyprus is 4 weeks and includes daily IV Ozone sessions as well as additional patient specific support protocols. It would cost approximately $25,000 for our family to travel to Cyprus for my treatment, as I will require support whilst over there.
We will also have ongoing costs for treatment when I return to ensure the best chance of keeping the Lyme in remission.
From the bottom of our hearts we are beyond thankful for the support we have received from our family and friends to date and know that with everyone behind us we can come out on top and better than ever!
We know there is a lot of political debate around Lyme Disease in Australia. This article was in the media recently that gives an insight into this issue:
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/australians-living-with-insect-borne-illness-dealing-with-high-prices/news-story/7305d4497533ccce718e73c1250792b8
Please share this page to raise awareness and please protect yourself and your loved ones from ticks!
I've created a facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kellyslymetime/
to document my journey. Please follow to keep up-to-date with how things are going and I would love to hear from you all too!
Thank you so much,
Kelly, Paul, & family
In October 2016, on a family weekend away in Barrington Tops National Park, I was bitten by a tick whilst playing with our toddler. One tick bite has caused our family’s life to change dramatically.
In the weeks that followed the bite, I began to feel more and more unwell with a variety of symptoms. Joint pains, headaches, muscle aches, chest pains, night sweats, numb fingers & toes and burning/crawling sensations all over my skin to name a few. I had a toddler and a newborn so at first I thought maybe these were just normal “tired mum” issues but I really couldn’t shake the thought that these symptoms seemed to keep coming after that tick bite. I went to a GP who gave me 6 weeks of antibiotics, the standard protocol for a recent bite.
Around Christmas time the symptoms returned, along with bruising, skin rashes, ringing in ears and severe fatigue. The symptoms changed every day and I felt like I was going crazy. The problem with this disease is that you look “fine”. I continued to do normal day to day things but felt awful and increasingly anxious about my health.
After getting a second opinion and ruling out many other conditions, I returned to the GP who ran several blood tests including some that were sent to America at great expense. Reality hit hard when it was confirmed that the cause of all my issues was Lyme Disease and two types of Rickettsia. I also have symptoms of Babesia, a common coinfection of Lyme.
We were devastated. Lyme Disease and its coinfections are very complex to treat (despite what you may read on the internet). It is a progressive disease, which affects your neurological, musculoskeletal and respiratory systems. Treatment in Australia is very limited, not to mention extremely expensive due to many doctors believing that it does not exist here.
I started an antibiotic regime, which unfortunately my body couldn’t handle. I am now on an array of herbal treatments and supplements, some of which I take several times a day. Some of these medications are $300 a bottle. Each doctor’s visit costs hundreds of dollars. I am about to start twice weekly Intravenous
(IV) antibiotics.
As my symptoms have been getting worse as the months go by, I have not returned to work. The fatigue and pain can be so bad that I am in bed most of the day. Paul has been working so hard balancing the kids and managing his small business to keep our little family afloat so we have now had to move in with my parents to help with both the kids and ensure that I remember to take the huge amount of medications each day. Paul’s parents have also been incredibly supportive and helpful too and we are so grateful to our family and friends who we have told so far.
It is heartbreaking to watch helplessly whilst other people do all the things a mum should be doing for her kids. Even simple things like preparing their food and taking my toddler to daycare. Time goes so fast while they are young and you just don’t get these moments back.
Treatment
As a mother of two young children, I am desperate to do anything I can to ensure that I can be healthy for my family. My worst fear is that this disease progresses to the point where I cannot look after my kids or be the wife that my amazing husband deserves. I also really want to get back to work at a job I really love and contribute to our household.
At this point in time the most effective treatments are performed overseas. To date we have spent thousands and thousands of dollars on testing, medications, supplements, therapies and loss of income. This is only since October last year. We feel that the sooner we try this therapy, the better the chance of success is.
We are now reluctantly reaching out to our friends and family to help in any way they can so that I am able to fly to Cyprus to receive IV Ozone therapy treatment. Australian Lyme patients are having great success with this treatment performed in Cyprus. IV Ozone treatment is gaining recognition as an effective treatment for Lyme around the world, however it is most cost effective in Cyprus when compared to the US and Europe. The doctor has been performing these treatments for over 30 years and includes many supportive therapies to increase the chance of success.
We feel this treatment will give me the best chance of beating this disease and living a normal life again. This will only be the beginning of my journey to recovery, as ongoing treatment will be required to repair the damage already done to my nervous system and keep my immune system strong enough to keep the Lyme in remission.
How you can help
We would be forever grateful if our friends and family are able to donate any amount, large or small, to go towards my treatment in Cyprus in August this year and upon my return home. Any help that you may be able to give is truly appreciated.
The treatment in Cyprus is 4 weeks and includes daily IV Ozone sessions as well as additional patient specific support protocols. It would cost approximately $25,000 for our family to travel to Cyprus for my treatment, as I will require support whilst over there.
We will also have ongoing costs for treatment when I return to ensure the best chance of keeping the Lyme in remission.
From the bottom of our hearts we are beyond thankful for the support we have received from our family and friends to date and know that with everyone behind us we can come out on top and better than ever!
We know there is a lot of political debate around Lyme Disease in Australia. This article was in the media recently that gives an insight into this issue:
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/australians-living-with-insect-borne-illness-dealing-with-high-prices/news-story/7305d4497533ccce718e73c1250792b8
Please share this page to raise awareness and please protect yourself and your loved ones from ticks!
I've created a facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kellyslymetime/
to document my journey. Please follow to keep up-to-date with how things are going and I would love to hear from you all too!
Thank you so much,
Kelly, Paul, & family
Organizer
Kelly R
Organizer
Haymarket, NSW