Lisa's Lyme Fight, The Next Chapter
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Hello, My name is Lisa Dittmann, I am 32 years old. I was diagnosed in Australia with Chronic Lyme and several co-infections in September 2015.
I believe my problems began in North QLD on Mt Bartle Frere where on May/ June 2013, I became infected with an unknown disease. I was athletically fit at the time, enjoying many adventure sports and was an active Auxiliary Fire Fighter with the QFRS. Over the following year I became ill, on and off for no apparent reason. Then in mid 2014 my health crashed in a very big way.
I was suddenly unable to work and quickly became incapable of doing the most basic of daily tasks. I had become bed ridden, unable to even watch TV. I spent the next four months battling the Queensland health system trying to get some answers. Doctors and specialist washed their hands of me, insinuating it was a psychological issue and no other investigations were necessary.
After being ignored and brushed off by many health professionals, it became clear I was not going to get the help I needed in Queensland. So with the support of my family I moved back to my home town in Tasmania, into the care of my parents.
My health continued to decline.
I was desperate to find answers. After several emergency admissions to hospitals and many visits to specialists, I was given a number of possible conditions, resulting in a cycle of trial medications with little affect, some of which made my condition worse.
After much searching we found a disease that fit so well with my collection of symptoms. We managed to find a Lyme Literate Doctor within Australia and completed the pathology tests. Results confirmed a Lyme type illness along with several co-infections.
We now had a diagnosis.
However, to our horror we discovered that Lyme Disease is not recognised within Australia; what followed was the beginning of a very long and expensive journey. Since September 2015 my prescribed treatment has included numerous antibiotics, dietary supplements, strict food regimes and intense therapies that take days to affect results that are themselves only temporary. Although these treatments are available in Australia, they are extremely expensive. They are not covered by Medicare, PBS, nor private health insurance.
These treatments are bandaid solutions... My condition at the moment has plateaued. I have reached a point where oral antibiotics have become ineffective and my only option is to have continual IV treatment on a regular basis.
The specific therapies with the greatest chance of curing this monster are found overseas. Europe has clinics, as do the America’s and there are several others opening throughout Asia. The clinic attributed to have the highest success rate is in Germany.
Many sufferers have come back from this facility with amazing results, going onto lead a normal life. The cost is very expensive but worth every cent if it means I can recover from Lymes Disease and the co-infections that continue to ravage my system.
My European treatment program will cost in excess of $40,000 AUD.
I am looking for funds to assist in my efforts to improvement my health, so I can become a contributing member of society once again
If you or anyone else are able to help in my journey back to health, please donate. Every little bit helps and is most appreciated. To share the love, please show your support by sharing this link with friends, family and colleagues.
Thankyou for your consideration and assistance.
With all the appreciation and gratitude I can muster!
Lisa Dittmann
I believe my problems began in North QLD on Mt Bartle Frere where on May/ June 2013, I became infected with an unknown disease. I was athletically fit at the time, enjoying many adventure sports and was an active Auxiliary Fire Fighter with the QFRS. Over the following year I became ill, on and off for no apparent reason. Then in mid 2014 my health crashed in a very big way.
I was suddenly unable to work and quickly became incapable of doing the most basic of daily tasks. I had become bed ridden, unable to even watch TV. I spent the next four months battling the Queensland health system trying to get some answers. Doctors and specialist washed their hands of me, insinuating it was a psychological issue and no other investigations were necessary.
After being ignored and brushed off by many health professionals, it became clear I was not going to get the help I needed in Queensland. So with the support of my family I moved back to my home town in Tasmania, into the care of my parents.
My health continued to decline.
I was desperate to find answers. After several emergency admissions to hospitals and many visits to specialists, I was given a number of possible conditions, resulting in a cycle of trial medications with little affect, some of which made my condition worse.
After much searching we found a disease that fit so well with my collection of symptoms. We managed to find a Lyme Literate Doctor within Australia and completed the pathology tests. Results confirmed a Lyme type illness along with several co-infections.
We now had a diagnosis.
However, to our horror we discovered that Lyme Disease is not recognised within Australia; what followed was the beginning of a very long and expensive journey. Since September 2015 my prescribed treatment has included numerous antibiotics, dietary supplements, strict food regimes and intense therapies that take days to affect results that are themselves only temporary. Although these treatments are available in Australia, they are extremely expensive. They are not covered by Medicare, PBS, nor private health insurance.
These treatments are bandaid solutions... My condition at the moment has plateaued. I have reached a point where oral antibiotics have become ineffective and my only option is to have continual IV treatment on a regular basis.
The specific therapies with the greatest chance of curing this monster are found overseas. Europe has clinics, as do the America’s and there are several others opening throughout Asia. The clinic attributed to have the highest success rate is in Germany.
Many sufferers have come back from this facility with amazing results, going onto lead a normal life. The cost is very expensive but worth every cent if it means I can recover from Lymes Disease and the co-infections that continue to ravage my system.
My European treatment program will cost in excess of $40,000 AUD.
I am looking for funds to assist in my efforts to improvement my health, so I can become a contributing member of society once again
If you or anyone else are able to help in my journey back to health, please donate. Every little bit helps and is most appreciated. To share the love, please show your support by sharing this link with friends, family and colleagues.
Thankyou for your consideration and assistance.
With all the appreciation and gratitude I can muster!
Lisa Dittmann
Organizer
Lisa Dittmann
Organizer
Merseylea TAS
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