Help Carlyn Kick The Tick
Donation protected
In July of 2012, Carlyn began exhibiting unexplained medical symptoms. All test results came back normal, but as time passed more and more symptoms began appearing at an accelerated rated. By 2013 Carlyn was going to the doctor 2 to 3 times a month and was having blood lab work and x-rays each visit. Additionally, at each visit she would be prescribed another medication. None of the medications worked and she progressively got worse.
By December 2013 Carlyn’s symptoms were migraine headaches 7 days a week, migrating joint pain, dizziness, tinnitus, balance issues, cognitive issues, insomnia, passing out/black outs, tingling in her hands and feet, and so much more. A friend of mine (thanks, Emily) suggested that we contact ILADS.org and get a referral to a Lyme Literate Doctor (LLMD). ILADS gave us three names of LLMDs. We chose a doctor in Delmar, NY (Ronald Stram) and made our first visit January 5, 2014.
After having been ignored for the past year and a half, Dr. Stram’s office was a breath of fresh air. His office listened to everything we had to say and confirmed what deep down we already knew….Carlyn has Chronic Lyme Disease. At that point I thought I knew what Lyme Disease was, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Dr. Stram began treating Carlyn immediately while we sent her blood to a lab in California for confirmation.
Carlyn has been in treatment since then. She has been on Doxycycline, Suprax, Plaquenil, Minocycline, Zithromax, Omnichef, Rocephin, Actagall, Azithromicyn, and an entire host of supplements. While on an oral regimen there were days when she was taking 15 or more pills. Sadly, her body was unable to handle the oral antibiotics. For three months we were taking Carlyn to her doctors for IV therapy, but then in October my insurance company approved a PICC line for her.
In addition to everything Carlyn has to deal with physically, she is also missing out on important high school experiences because she hasn’t been well enough to attend. She missed 79 days last year, and has been home instructed all of this year. She had previously been on the basketball team, and honestly enjoyed going to school. Carlyn will be going into the eleventh grade next year and the IV treatments could enable her to do so the way she so desires to – going to class with her friends like any other normal kid.
Unfortunately, my insurance company recently decided that they will no longer cover Carlyn’s treatments. Since this is the only treatment that has worked we have continued to treat her via IV therapy, but the bills are mounting. Her doctor is recommending sending her blood to a lab in Germany for testing. Like everything else in treating her, these tests are expensive.
We are reaching out to friends and family, and asking for help in getting Carlyn well and back to a normal life.
By December 2013 Carlyn’s symptoms were migraine headaches 7 days a week, migrating joint pain, dizziness, tinnitus, balance issues, cognitive issues, insomnia, passing out/black outs, tingling in her hands and feet, and so much more. A friend of mine (thanks, Emily) suggested that we contact ILADS.org and get a referral to a Lyme Literate Doctor (LLMD). ILADS gave us three names of LLMDs. We chose a doctor in Delmar, NY (Ronald Stram) and made our first visit January 5, 2014.
After having been ignored for the past year and a half, Dr. Stram’s office was a breath of fresh air. His office listened to everything we had to say and confirmed what deep down we already knew….Carlyn has Chronic Lyme Disease. At that point I thought I knew what Lyme Disease was, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Dr. Stram began treating Carlyn immediately while we sent her blood to a lab in California for confirmation.
Carlyn has been in treatment since then. She has been on Doxycycline, Suprax, Plaquenil, Minocycline, Zithromax, Omnichef, Rocephin, Actagall, Azithromicyn, and an entire host of supplements. While on an oral regimen there were days when she was taking 15 or more pills. Sadly, her body was unable to handle the oral antibiotics. For three months we were taking Carlyn to her doctors for IV therapy, but then in October my insurance company approved a PICC line for her.
In addition to everything Carlyn has to deal with physically, she is also missing out on important high school experiences because she hasn’t been well enough to attend. She missed 79 days last year, and has been home instructed all of this year. She had previously been on the basketball team, and honestly enjoyed going to school. Carlyn will be going into the eleventh grade next year and the IV treatments could enable her to do so the way she so desires to – going to class with her friends like any other normal kid.
Unfortunately, my insurance company recently decided that they will no longer cover Carlyn’s treatments. Since this is the only treatment that has worked we have continued to treat her via IV therapy, but the bills are mounting. Her doctor is recommending sending her blood to a lab in Germany for testing. Like everything else in treating her, these tests are expensive.
We are reaching out to friends and family, and asking for help in getting Carlyn well and back to a normal life.
Organizer
Kristin Keller Steigmeier
Organizer
Jefferson, NY