Lyme Specialist Appt In The States
Donation protected
The last year and a half of living a normal, daily life of a 30-something year old has been robbed from me. I have chronic Lyme disease (along w some of its co-infections). I was diagnosed in April of 2014, but have been living w the debilitating symptoms for longer than that.
I used to be the girl who played ball hockey, who was able to get up and go teach kids every day, get together w my friends and be there for them in good times and in bad, just like they were there for me.
Now I'm lucky if I feel well enough from day to day to even be able to go get some groceries, or over to my parents house for dinner (just so I could say I got out for a bit).
It's a real treat when I have no headache or migraine and have enough energy to be able to grab a bite w a friend or go see a movie. I never know how I'm going to feel until I actually get up and get out of bed. Each day is an unknown.
People always tells me I look good, I don't look sick. Well, I know how to apply makeup, and like so many others in my situation, I have learned how to act and pretend I am feeling better than I actually am, when out in public. I do not want to be a burden for anyone or be seen or known as a sick person...so I hide it, and suffer in silence (and only those who are very close to me know my truth).
Very often, as upsetting as it is for me, I have to cancel plans or can only let people know last minute if I'm feeling well enough to do something. It has become quite frustrating. And life has become a lot more lonely and isolating...as everyone else moves on with their lives.
I have been in treatment for just over a year. I see a Dr at a private clinic, because not enough doctors know about Lyme or are treating it in and around Montreal. I have to be on many supplements to boost my immune system and support it, so it gives my body a fighting chance during treatment.
Treatments are expensive...each Dr visit costs money out of pocket, and I have to pay for physical therapy as well as psychotherapy, as my anxiety and depression has worsened w this illness, along w the constant chronic pain I get throughout my body.
I was lucky enough to be able to collect EI for a year, after not being able to continue to work--hard to work when you have brain fog, are in pain on a daily basis, can literally barely lift your head off the back of your chair/couch, and need to nap constantly. (I could go on listing all of the other symptoms I deal with, but it's exhausting to even list them all)
But now my EI has run out. I am still in treatment and suffering from symptoms daily, and so am not able to return to work. I do manage to tutor a couple of times a week, and being able to teach and interact w kids is a small ray of sunshine in this life I now am suffering through.
I am asking for your help...whatever you can give, to help me continue treatment and therapy, so that I can hopefully get back to having a "normal" life. I truly appreciate your support...you don't know how much it will mean to me and my family. From the bottom of my heart, I truly thank you for anything you are able to give.
I used to be the girl who played ball hockey, who was able to get up and go teach kids every day, get together w my friends and be there for them in good times and in bad, just like they were there for me.
Now I'm lucky if I feel well enough from day to day to even be able to go get some groceries, or over to my parents house for dinner (just so I could say I got out for a bit).
It's a real treat when I have no headache or migraine and have enough energy to be able to grab a bite w a friend or go see a movie. I never know how I'm going to feel until I actually get up and get out of bed. Each day is an unknown.
People always tells me I look good, I don't look sick. Well, I know how to apply makeup, and like so many others in my situation, I have learned how to act and pretend I am feeling better than I actually am, when out in public. I do not want to be a burden for anyone or be seen or known as a sick person...so I hide it, and suffer in silence (and only those who are very close to me know my truth).
Very often, as upsetting as it is for me, I have to cancel plans or can only let people know last minute if I'm feeling well enough to do something. It has become quite frustrating. And life has become a lot more lonely and isolating...as everyone else moves on with their lives.
I have been in treatment for just over a year. I see a Dr at a private clinic, because not enough doctors know about Lyme or are treating it in and around Montreal. I have to be on many supplements to boost my immune system and support it, so it gives my body a fighting chance during treatment.
Treatments are expensive...each Dr visit costs money out of pocket, and I have to pay for physical therapy as well as psychotherapy, as my anxiety and depression has worsened w this illness, along w the constant chronic pain I get throughout my body.
I was lucky enough to be able to collect EI for a year, after not being able to continue to work--hard to work when you have brain fog, are in pain on a daily basis, can literally barely lift your head off the back of your chair/couch, and need to nap constantly. (I could go on listing all of the other symptoms I deal with, but it's exhausting to even list them all)
But now my EI has run out. I am still in treatment and suffering from symptoms daily, and so am not able to return to work. I do manage to tutor a couple of times a week, and being able to teach and interact w kids is a small ray of sunshine in this life I now am suffering through.
I am asking for your help...whatever you can give, to help me continue treatment and therapy, so that I can hopefully get back to having a "normal" life. I truly appreciate your support...you don't know how much it will mean to me and my family. From the bottom of my heart, I truly thank you for anything you are able to give.
Organizer
Deb Trager
Organizer
Côte-Saint-Luc, QC
